The Name Drop

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.)