This is a much meatier story than the usual ones by this author. Very ambitious and very, very good. Enjoyed the flip back and forth from the 1500’s to current time. Current Melina struggles to get her plays noticed in a male dominated world while her relative Emilia struggled centuries earlier just to find a place in the world as a female with no nobility or good marriage which leaves little else. The only thing she has besides her looks is her very creative brain and the writing of plays and poetry. Interesting to compare how much we have accomplished since that time and how far we still have to go to achieve equality.

This story sent me down a rabbit hole in the most amazing way possible. I COULD NOT STOP THINKING ABOUT IT! The idea of a woman actually having written all of Shakespeare’s stories is intriguing. This story was fantastic. It was such an emotional rollercoaster both from Mel’s side and Emilia’s. I wanted both of their stories to end happily but what is happy? While neither story was the true life that either heroine perceived in the end did they achieve their life’s purpose? These are the questions you’ll have to find out for yourself.

To me Jodi Picoult is the best author of my generation. She lends her voice to topics that may not be wildly discussed but should be. She STARTS the conversation so that others can finish it.

Picoult’s novels have long been favorites of mine for the characters and the topics. In each of her works I find something to relate to and something to open my mind to a way of thinking that I could not imagine before. In her novels we find scenes that make us accept that things are not always as they seem.

BY ANY OTHER NAME is a different novel for Jodi… it is more historical but blends contemporary so naturally with the dual time line. Picoult shows us in this novel that it’s ok to find your voice outside of what is expected of you- and it’s ok to break the tradition to be seen. This novel was the novel she was meant to write. Fans of her works for the love element and strong characters will love both Melina and Emilia. They will swoon for the men in their lives. For fans of the at Picoult turns all that the reader knows on its head- eyes will be open.

As an English major I always loved the stories of Shakespeare but at times I struggled to separate what I knew of the man from what I saw in the page. This novel allowed me to make sense of some of the questions I’ve held about the Bard. It has allowed me to see his stories in a new light- and as I will go back and reread some of works I will use this new sense to look at the characters differently.

This novel is for fans of Shakespeare, for those that didn’t fully understand him, and for those that at times feel unseen and marginalized. It is a story of strength, love and perseverance. An opus that allows in a timeline to travel 70 plus years and then 400 years ahead to see that while a lot has changed there is still growth that needs to be done This is N important read and one that teaches of belonging and the the need to be heard but not necessarily seen and the strength that comes with being seen I loved this book and can’t wait until others read it so I can share my thoughts and love with other readers

This will not only be a favorite of 2024 but a favorite book of all time

Wow.

I wasn't expecting Historical Fiction from Jodi Picoult but I'm definitely here for it.

Admittedly, I dove into this book with only a glance at the description so I had to stop about 50 pages in, re-read the description and Google to see if Emilia was a real person. She was and this story, while of course fictionalized, is a very possible "real" story about how Shakespeare's plays came to be.

The beginning parts drug a bit for me but by about 40% or so in I was sailing and didn't want to stop. If the beginning drags a bit for you as well, keep going. I promise it picks up.

The whole story - both the past and present - were both so good and thought provoking, which is what Jodi excels at. I'd never heard the theory that Shakespeare may have not been the author of his works but as it is laid out in this novel it makes sense and it's something I"ll probably wormhole myself into in the wee hours of the morning for some time to come.

This is a fascinating read - highly recommend!

Thank you to Net Galley and Ballantine Books for an eARC copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Wow, I loved this. I’m a huge fan of Jodi’s and she’s knocked it out of the park again. This is told in dual timelines and questions whether or not Shakespeare actually wrote his own work. I was fully engrossed in both timelines and learned a lot about the Shakespeare period that I didn’t know. Already can’t wait for her next book.

Thank you NetGallery,Random House Publishers for the opportunity to read ebook By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult. On sale Aug.20,2024. From what I had read about this historical novel,it seemed more interesting to me than it was once I started it. I never was a lover of Shakespeare,stop booing me now,but got through several of his plays by necessity not by choice. This story is presented in two different time lines from the later 1500’s England to 2023 NYC from chapter to chapter. The two main characters,both women are related by 400 years and are both frustrated writers trying to get their plays performed in theatres where in the 1500’s women were not allowed and in 2023 men’s plays were most often picked over women’s.Both basically had to have their work portrayed as being written by men and not as their true self. It got tedious,more so in the Elizabethan period, to read words as they were actually written then.Overall,I did finish the book.

jodipicoult has done it again! Upon first glance, this book is different from a lot of her other works, but upon further examination, it makes perfect sense that she be the writer to tell this story. I love a dual timeline, and I found both stories to be equally engaging. Picoult is always a master at navigating highly sensitive issues in ways that make the reader think (cue book banning snark here) and the way she addresses sexism AND racism in such an honest way felt groundbreaking. She doesn’t shy away from making the characters uncomfortable and in turn, forces the reader to examine their own biases and blind spots. This one will stick with me for a long time.

Jodi Picoult does it again. Another phenomenal read. She takes us on a parallel journey that explores Shakespearean England and today. She questions the voice of women throughout history and challenges the current beliefs of our society. She speaks to our current struggle of equality in the theater world AND publishing world. Thanks you to NetGalley and the publishers for the honor of reading this book. A rose by any other name…….

Wow!

Jodi Picoult hit it out of the park with By Any Other Name!! When I read the description and saw it was about poetry/plays - I kind of cringed. Poetry is not my favorite subject but the story line grabbed my attention and I was hooked. Emilia will be one of my favorite character in a book forever. She keeps getting knocked down but gets back up gives it another try.

I enjoyed reading By Any Other Name. The author weaves a historical tale of a strong woman trying to make an imprint on society during the 1500s. While a late relative, is finding similar challenges in the 2023s. This story was rich in history and gave insight on a time period many may be unfamiliar with. I felt like this text was a little different than Jodi's typical writing but was an incredible read.

Jodi Picoult has been an author in my life that I've been reading for a long time and I never know what to expect, but I always enjoy her books. If I see her name, I read it. This particular book is about two separate women, centuries apart who are "connected" to Shakespeare in one way or another. One story is set in olden times while the other story is set in recent day. It shows the journeys they undertake in life and struggles they go through. I want to give a super detailed review of this book, as I know that's what this platform wants - but I also don't because half of the experience was watching this story unfold - I feel like any small detail will ruin the majority of the book. And I don't want to ruin that experience for anyone else. The cover is absolutely incredible. I cried about 3x throughout this book and I never cry during books. Southampton was the prize winner of the story and the love he shared with Emilia was something I hope everyone can experience in their lifetime.

Let me start off by saying that this book combined two things that I absolutely love Jodi Picoult and Tudor England( and honestly a strong third was putting in a reference to Fall Out Boy) I am a big fan of finding small obscure historical facts and turning them into giant stories. I was not familiar with Emilia Bassano before reading this and now I have researched her thoroughly! It was an interesting time for this book to come out as I actually was just at a presentation by Michael Blanding on his book North by Shakespeare, which also questions if Shakespeare was the actual author of his works. I think Jodi Picoult presented really convincing arguments for it potentially being Emilia who authored some of his most famous works. I really enjoyed the book but I almost think my favorite part is the addition where Jodi speaks of potentially identifying an unknown miniature as Southampton. I'm really nerdy so that might not excite everybody but I cannot wait to see what happens. I do think that the time and how it was moving was a little confusing especially in the first few chapters but nothing that ruins the book. I did want to say though in no world is Paramore a better band than Fall Out Boy.

After reading a Jodi Picoult book I always feel smarter than I was when I started. Her books are SO well researched. This is a dual POV, dual timeline between present day and Elizabethan era. Present day Melina wants to be a playwright and she has a story to tell, she believes her ancestor is the real writer behind Shakespeare’s famous works. So that leads us to Emilia (a real life person) who is an extremely talented writer, but can’t tell anyone because women in the 1500s aren’t allowed to write, so she sells her works to a man (Shakespeare.) This story is tragic and beautiful and gets your mind really thinking. Definitely read the author’s note after finishing the book! (Being a women in the Elizabethan era sounded terrible.)

Fans of Shakespeare will love this novel, which seems quite the departure from Picoukt’s usual books. The spanning of centuries and the strong female characters will draw you in. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

By Any Other Name poses the question: What if Shakespeare's plays were written by a woman? It's an interesting theory and I loved the research that went into this topic. I was so excited when I heard Jodi Picoult was writing a historical fiction story set in Shakespearean times and this story did not disappoint. The book follows Emilia Bassano in Elizabethan England and her life as a musician, courtesan, wife, mother, and poet. It also follows her ancestor in modern times, Melina, as she strives to become a playwright. I love how the two stories echo each other in ways but also how each one has a distinct voice. They complemented each other perfectly. This book felt like an elevated version of Shakespeare in Love and the ending also reminded me of the end of the Broadway play Hamilton - that moment Eliza looks out at the audience and sees that she told Hamilton's story. It has that meta, satisfying feeling just like that moment. The commentary on gender, the plight of women and other minorities is also very insightful. And I loved the love stories in both timelines. The author's note must also be read - it adds to the story and after that there are a list of all the Shakespearean easter eggs added to the story. I loved this book and would absolutely reread!

Reviewed for NetGalley:

Melina, a blossoming playwright that takes a sabbatical from writing anything depth, soon comes across information of her ancestry: the first regarded female poet, Emilia Bassano. The story follows the two timelines of both Melina and Emilia, and the possibility that Emilia was behind some of the most famous plays ever written.

I really, truly wanted to like this more than I did. Style of writing was great, I just had a difficult time finding interest in the subject matter.

Jodi Picoult's new book, "By Any Other Name," focuses on the question: what if the majority of Shakespeare's works were not written by him? What if they many of them were actually written by a woman? The book alternates between said woman, back in Shakespearean times, and her distant relative in 2023-on, a playwright, determined to reveal the truth. The story is fascinating, and it shows that Picoult did her homework and thoroughly researched this topic. At times, it is heartbreaking reading what things were like for women during Shakespeare's time. Interestingly, this story did not read like Picoult's other books which pretty much parallels the central idea of the book. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5. Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review an advance reader copy of this book.

No one does social commentary like Jodi Picoult, but I was interested to see how she approached gender inequality between two time periods. Needless to say, I was not disappointed.

I’m no Shakespearean scholar (I’m a horrible English major, eek!), so I love that his authorship is questioned and that it’s the main theme of this book. I can definitely see how it’s going to rub people the wrong way, but the whole point of this book was discomfort. There were many scenes that made me uncomfortable as a reader, but they were necessary to the story and really elevate the storytelling and the drama.

I always love a dual POV, and I especially enjoyed that these were connected but never truly intersected. Emilia and Melina both had clear voices that were easy to tell apart. I thought their arcs were satisfying and that their development made sense.

Overall, and to no one’s surprise, By Any Other Name gets 5/5 from me. I love Picoult’s writing and subject matter(s). She approached gender inequality through the lens of intersectionality here, which I appreciated. Characters learned and developed and so did I. I would recommend this title to many readers, but it would work especially well for a book club pick. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review By Any Other Name. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

By Any Other Name was an excellent read and unlike anything I'd read before. It made me want to intentionally dig deeper into understandings I've held about the 1500's and male authorship. It was easy to follow the two story lines and watch the parallels unfold.

I love Jodi Picoult but this book just wasn’t my cup of tea. What I can appreciate is the amount of research she put into this book and the details. If you like Shakespeare this book is for you!