The Name Drop

2.5

3.5 stars. This is a cute, multi-cultural take on “The Prince and the Pauper,” in which the Elijah (the Prince) is the heir to a huge Korean tech company and Jessica (the Pauper) is a working class Korean-American whose college aspirations are limited by her family's financial situation. When their Korean names are switched upon arrival in New York City, Elijah is assumed to be one of ten summer worker-bee interns and Jessica is whisked away in a limousine to serve in the Executive Leadership program (aka “keeping the rebellious child under control”).

Once the two MCs figure out the reason for the mix-up, they decide to continue the ruse, mostly at Elijah's urging. He loves the freedom of exploring the City without his family's surveillance and the friendships he makes with the other interns. Jessica is more cautious, knowing that she has more to lose than Elijah, but she goes along with him because it is her opportunity to shine professionally and possibly earn a college scholarship. Plus she thinks Elijah is hot. What could go wrong (besides everything)?

The Name Drop is a breezy, predictable read. I appreciated learning about Korean business culture, traditions and cuisines. The differences between Elijah's and Jessica's family dynamics are incisively explored. The romance is marred slightly by Jessica's tendency to overshare when she's nervous, which Elijah considers “adorable” but is one of my least favorite heroine clichés. Also Elijah is supposed to be a selfish asshole who learns How to Be a Good Person, but while he keeps telling the reader about his dickishness, a far more altruistic person is shown. Those little niggles aside, this is a charming YA romcom with a well-deserved HEA.

ARC received from Net Galley in exchange for review.