The Name Drop

by Susan Lee

Overview

When Elijah Ri arrives in New York City for an internship at his father’s massive tech company, Haneul Corporation, he expects the royal treatment that comes with being the future CEO—even if that’s the last thing he wants. But instead, he finds himself shuffled into a group of overworked, unpaid interns, all sharing a shoebox apartment for the summer.
When Jessica Lee arrives in New York City, she’s eager to make the most of her internship at Haneul Corporation, even if she’s at the bottom of the corporate ladder. But she’s shocked to be introduced as the new executive-in-training intern with a gorgeous brownstone all to herself.
It doesn’t take long for Elijah and Jessica to discover the source of the mistake: they share the same Korean name. But they decide to stay switched—so Elijah can have a relaxing summer away from his controlling dad while Jessica can make the connections she desperately needs for college recommendations.
As Elijah and Jessica work together to keep up the charade, a spark develops between them. Can they avoid discovery—and total disaster—with their feelings and futures on the line?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781335015914
Publisher:	Harlequin
Publication date:	04/15/2025
Edition description:	Original
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	5.31(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.88(d)
Age Range:	13 Years

About the Author

Susan Lee is the author of the young adult romantic comedies SEOULMATES and THE NAME DROP. Her work has been featured in national outlets such as Buzzfeed, NPR, and Pop Sugar. A graduate of UC San Diego, Susan built a career as an HR executive at some of today’s hottest companies, until she realized that writing stories was a more impactful and powerful format to change the world. Now she channels her energy into writing happily ever afters for those historically underrepresented in romance. When she is not writing (or painfully procrastinating from writing), Susan can be found down the rabbit holes of her many obsessions including listening to Kpop, binge watching K-dramas, collecting sneakers, building mechanical keyboards, and obsessing over her two adorable, but ill-behaved chihuahuas.

Editorial Reviews

07/31/2023

A case of mistaken identity allows two Korean American teens the chance to experience first-time independence while navigating class differences in this dynamic rom-com by Lee (Seoulmates). Eighteen-year-old Los Angeleno Jessica Lee is determined to make the most of her N.Y.C. internship opportunity at Korean tech company Haneul; because of her family’s precarious finances, she believes the company’s prestige is her “one shot to get a step ahead.” Meanwhile, teenage Elijah Ri, who yearns to experience a “life less sheltered,” dreads having to spend the summer managing high expectations while working at his father’s company—Haneul. When the two are mistaken for each other due to sharing the same Korean name, Jessica is whisked into a world of VIP treatment as the executive-in-training, while Elijah enjoys communing with fellow interns who treat him like one of their own. Elijah convinces Jessica to keep up the switch for the summer, and the two bond over their shared passions even as differing life perspectives threaten their budding romance. Told in the two teens’ alternating perspectives and brimming with classic K-drama tropes, this humorous and romantic story sparkles brightest when focused on the protagonist’s rapid-fire banter and gripping emotional connection. Ages 13–up. Agent: Taylor Haggerty, Root Literary. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

"I adore a good opposites attract story, even more when said opposites are in cahoots! Susan Lee crash landed on all my ‘must read,’ ‘forever favorite,’ ‘autobuy’ author lists with her debut, Seoulmates, and somehow still managed to write an even more spectacular sophomore effort! No one writes characters on the verge of becoming their real and best selves like she does, no has me gasping and laughing at the comedy in her stories, and no one makes me swoon quite this much. Quite simply, Susan Lee always writes the exact book I want to read!" —Ali Hazelwood, New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis


"Swoony, hilarious, and big-hearted. Drop everything and read this book!" —Axie Oh, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea and XOXO

"The Name Drop is the perfect reminder of why contemporary YA has my heart. I loved the depth, drama and sweetness, and couldn't get enough of the gorgeous New York City backdrop." —Jenna Evans Welch, New York Times bestselling author of Love & Gelato


"It’s official, I’ll read anything Susan Lee writes, knowing from the first page that it will be a five-star read. The Name Drop is everything I love about YA: fast-paced, voicey, swoony, with beautiful threads of not only romance but also social commentary of bigger issues facing young people today. Lee delivers a completely unique story about two teenagers finding who they are, together and apart, and I couldn’t help but root for them every step of the way." —Mazey Eddings, author of Tilly in Technicolor

"An amusing and romantic exploration, grounded by serious themes, of living life for yourself." —Kirkus Reviews

"Brimming with classic K-drama tropes, this humorous and romantic story sparkles brightest when focused on the protagonist’s rapid-fire banter and gripping emotional connection." —Publishers Weekly

Praise for Seoulmates

"The perfect childhood friends-to-lovers story—full stop." —Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling authors of The Unhoneymooners and The Soulmate Equation

"Adorable, heartfelt, and guaranteed to bring a smile to your face!" —Gloria Chao, author of American Panda and Rent a Boyfriend

"A deliciously swoony romance." —Helen Hoang, New York Times bestselling author of The Heart Principle

"Daebak! This debut has plenty to offer avid romcom readers." —Suzanne Park, author of Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous and The Perfect Escape

"Seoulmates will make you swoon. A smart, funny book not to be missed!" —Emiko Jean, New York Times bestselling author of Tokyo Ever After

"Laugh-out-loud funny with a solid gold heart!" —Elise Bryant, author of Happily Ever Afters and One True Loves

"A pitch-perfect romance with relatable, occasionally messy characters, heartfelt swoons, and so many laugh-out-loud moments." —Rachel Lynn Solomon, author of Today Tonight Tomorrow

A POPSUGAR Best YA Book of 2022

"Meaningfully examines issues around Korean American identity, code-switching, objectification of Asian culture and people, family dynamics, and finding inner strength. An honest, fresh, and thoughtful summer romance." —Kirkus Reviews

"Recalling the effusive expression, fast pace, and dramatic moments of a K-drama, Lee celebrates Korean culture, and examines its objectification within the U.S., via a good- humored and tenderly written second chance at love." —Publishers Weekly

"An inside view of the world of the machines that are K-pop and K-dramas will attract a wide range of readers. Most teens will see some of their own realities depicted in the main character’s story and that’s the best part of the book." —SLJ

"A quick and lovely read that touches on themes of identity and internal growth, this novel is perfect for the romantics at heart." —Booklist

From the Publisher

2023-06-21
A modern spin on The Prince and the Pauper with a little romance thrown in.

Jessica Lee and Elijah Ri are accidentally assigned each other’s seats on a Los Angeles to New York City flight because their Korean names, which appear on their IDs, are the same: Yoo-Jin Lee. Jessica, a top student who will be attending junior college while she saves money, worked hard to win a coveted summer intern position with Korean tech company Haneul Corporation despite the misgivings of her Haneul employee father, who feels the company treats its employees poorly. Elijah, the privileged but stifled son of Haneul’s Seoul-based CEO, will reluctantly be spending the summer as an executive trainee in the New York office. When they land, the name confusion continues, with Jessica being whisked off to a luxurious townhouse, while Elijah is taken to a cramped, shared apartment. By the time the two figure out what happened, Elijah, tantalized by this glimpse of a life utterly different from his own, proposes they continue as they are, and Jessica agrees. She proves to be an excellent leader, and Elijah makes real friends and real choices for the first time. The teens’ navigation of their precarious arrangement and their budding romantic feelings are well depicted and entertaining even as social class and misogyny are thoughtfully explored. Some dialogue contains heavy exposition, sounding unnatural, but the alternating first-person narrative structure works.

An amusing and romantic exploration, grounded by serious themes, of living life for yourself. (Fiction. 13-18)

Kirkus Reviews