“And maybe Noa Callaway has never sampled its delicacies or thought about writing of them. He writes about the big tourist attractions. Show him your New York.”

By Any Other Name (From ARC, quotes may have changed in publication copy)

Thank you, NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What she doesn’t know about love could fill a book.

With a successful career as a romance editor, and an engagement to a man who checks off all ninety-nine boxes on her carefully curated list, Lanie’s more than good. She’s killing it. Then she’s given the opportunity of a lifetime: to work with world-renowned author and her biggest inspiration in love and life—the Noa Callaway. All Lanie has to do is cure Noa’s writer’s block and she’ll get the promotion she’s always dreamed of. Simple, right?

But there’s a reason no one has ever seen or spoken to the mysterious Noa Calloway. And that reason will rock Lanie’s world. It will call into question everything she thought she knew. When she finally tosses her ninety-nine expectations to the wind, Lanie may just discover that love By Any Other Name can still be as sweet.

I’ve read a few books where the main character writes for a living, but when I saw that By Any Other Name is set in a romance publishing house, I knew I had to read it.

Lanie has everything in her life figured out—or so she thinks. She has a job she loves as a romance editor, and she’s engaged to a man who checks off every single one of the items on her carefully formulated list. Then, when her boss retires, she’s given the opportunity to be the full-time editor for Noa Calloway, her favorite author, and inspiration for her list for a potential partner.

But there are two problems: 1) Noa Calloway has terrible writers’ block and is several months late on their deadline already, and 2) Noa is is actually named Noah and is not at all who she thought. Upon finding out Noa’s secret, Lanie has to reconcile the new information with everything she thought she knew about love.

By Any Other Name was sweet, swoon-worthy, and a breeze to read. I loved the setting, but the publishing house and New York. Between Lanie’s love for the older couple that picnics in the park and the inspiration-seeking adventures Lanie and Noah go on, the book is like a love letter to New York City, which I always love reading.

Speaking of the inspiration-seeking adventures, those were probably my favorite part of the book (those and the break-in scene). They were so creative and served for so many good moments of character bonding.

I also loved the witty banter, not only between Lanie and Noah but of the side characters. The side characters were fun and supportive—especially Lanie’s grandmother BD, who was probably one of my favorite characters.

If you dream of being a romance author or of working in publishing, then By Any Other Name is the rom-com for you.