The Names

by Florence Knapp

In the wake of a catastrophic storm, Cora sets off with her nine-year-old daughter, Maia, to register her son's birth. Her husband, Gordon, a local doctor, respected in the community but a terrifying and controlling presence at home, intends for her to name the infant after him. But when the registrar asks what she'd like to call the child, Cora hesitates...

Spanning thirty-five years, what follows are three alternate and alternating versions of Cora's and her young son's lives, shaped by her choice of name. In richly layered prose, The Names explores the painful ripple effects of domestic abuse, the messy ties of family, and the possibilities of autonomy and healing.

With exceptional sensitivity and depth, Knapp draws us into the story of one family, told through a prism of what-ifs, causing us to consider the "one . . . precious life" we are given. The book’s brilliantly imaginative structure, propulsive storytelling, and emotional, gut-wrenching power are certain to make The Names a modern classic.

Genres: Fiction, Book Club, Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Literary Fiction, Contemporary, Adult

330 pages, ebook

First published May 6, 2025

About the author

I live just outside London with my husband, our dog, and sometimes one (or two) of our now-adult children. Some of my favourite things are: words, photo booths, old tiles, rain, long phone calls, clothing with pockets, book covers, dimples (I don’t have any of my own, but I covet the cheeks of those who do), houses lit up at night, the word eiderdown, notebooks, kaleidoscopes, homemade soup, Italy, taking photos, book chat, hummus, barre, house plants, a thick duvet with wool blankets piled on top, hand-stitching, making lists.

I’m less keen on condiment bottles, driving on motorways, and socks where the heel slips down.

Florence x

Reviews

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Florence Knapp’s debut novel, The Names, absolutely lives up to the hype as one of the most anticipated fiction releases of the year. With its thought-provoking and highly creative speculative premise, this novel explores how a single name can define a person’s fate, shaping their relationships and leading them down vastly different life paths.

I devoured this book in one sitting, completely captivated by the unique and emotionally rich journeys of Bear (strong, brave, and warm-hearted), Julian (inspired by the sky, limitless and ambitious), and Gordon (immovable, looming, shaped by tradition). Their lives unfold in three separate timelines, each revealing the profound impact of a single decision—one name.

The story begins on a pivotal day for Cora, a mother of two, as she walks to the registration office to officially name her newborn son. Her husband, Gordon—a respected doctor—insists the child be named after him to continue their family legacy. But Cora hesitates. She fears history will repeat itself, that her son will become a mirror image of his father—a man who, like his own controlling father, hides his toxic nature behind a mask of prestige. Trapped in a marriage where she endures suffering to protect her children, she realizes this is her one chance to change the course of her son’s life. By choosing a different name—perhaps "Bear" to make him strong and kind, or "Julian" to give him the boundless potential of the sky—she hopes to set him free from the cycle of the past.

This single decision splinters into three possible futures, following Cora, her daughter Maia, her mother Silbhe, and her son—who in different realities lives as Bear, Julian, or Gordon—across 35 years. Through their joys, losses, struggles, and triumphs, the novel masterfully examines how identity, fate, and personal choices intertwine. Each timeline invites deep reflection on the paths we take in life and the power a name holds in shaping destiny.

Without giving too much away, I can say that by the time I reached the final chapter, I was overwhelmed with emotion. The Names is filled with poignant moments, deeply relatable characters, and a message that lingers long after the last page. It’s one of those rare books that nestles into your heart and continues to resonate for years to come.

Final thoughts: This is hands down one of the best books of 2025—a must-read that deserves a spot on your TBR list immediately! If you love alternative-universe stories, Sliding Doors-style "what if" scenarios, or emotionally gripping narratives with unexpected twists, The Names is calling for you.

Many thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP VIKING/Pamela Dorman Books for providing this fantastic debut’s digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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[Brady Lockerby · Rating 4 out of 5]

wow, equally beautiful as it was heartbreaking. we follow 3 alternating versions of one storyline full of “what ifs” that can change so many people’s lives in an instant, all based off of what a child was named… please please check tws!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Tomorrow - if morning comes, if the storm stops raging - she'll register the name of her son. Or perhaps, and this is her real concern, she'll formalise who he will become.’

The Names is like a literary choose your own adventure, except you, the reader, are strapped to a ride powered by maternal guilt, patriarchy, and multiverse melancholy and you’ll love every twisty second of it.

Cora, knee deep in postnatal chaos, must name her newborn son. Seems simple. But Florence Knapp who apparently woke up and chose narrative complexity splits the story into three timelines based on the name she gives him: Gordon (ugh), Bear (yes, like the animal), and Julian (classy, probably has a trust fund). Each name leads to an entirely different life, and not just for the kid, Cora, her daughter Maia, and an entire constellation of relationships morph with every choice.

Knapp pulls off a literary hat trick here: The Names is sharp, gut punchingly emotional, and weirdly suspenseful. You will find yourself wondering things like, “What if I’d been named Persephone? Would I be a poet with a wolfdog and a collection of vintage blenders?” That’s the magic here, Knapp doesn’t just explore the power of a name, she weaponizes it.

Also: Bear’s timeline? Surprisingly legit. Do not underestimate the emotional growth of a child named after a woodland creature.

If Sliding Doors, Everything Everywhere All at Once, and your deepest maternal fears had a baby, it would be The Names and it would probably grow up to be a Booker Prize nominee.

Read The Names if you enjoy time loops, maternal drama, and low stakes existential crises wrapped in gorgeous prose.

Congratulations Florence Knapp, what a phenomenal debut!

My Highest Recommendation.

Thank you Hachette for my early readers copy.

Available now!

[Stefanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book, but I was disappointed because I believe it is being marketed erroneously. The subject of the story is misleading in so much as the summary states that it is about how the impact of your name can change the course of your life when in reality the book explores how staying in a situation of domestic abuse alters the life of the children in the family. The three scenarios that play out are in relation to the mother’s decision to stay with her abuser, not about the name itself. The choice of name only represents the decision Cora made concerning her own life. The summary made me think this book would be about scenarios directly related to how people can be treated differently (justly or unjustly) based on their name.

[Shelley's Book Nook · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Reviews Can Also Be Found On:
The Book Review Crew Blog

Oh my gosh, this book is an amazing debut. My sister's family has John I, II, III and IV, so I totally get it. They all have different middle names, but the middle names all start with the letter M, so I found this book personal in that aspect. This story is about Cora, who needs to name her son, and she doesn't like the decision her husband makes. I loved all the different points of view, getting into everyone's head and reading their thoughts. Each character name was well defined, and it was clear which name I was reading about. It goes to show that even the most mundane decision of naming your child can influence a child's life and those around him. Each one was complex and had distinct hardships, even though they all came from the same place.

This was a very unique book with different layers to each character's story, and the timeline flowed beautifully as well, all 35 years. It is a wonderfully written and emotionally profound story, and what I took from it is what one choice can do to someone's life and how that single decision can affect someone's life for a long time. And we all must remember that even small decisions can have big consequences. This was a tough read, and it really got to me without a doubt.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Terrie Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" ~ Mary Oliver, The Summer Day

Cora Atkin, wife of a beloved physician, is about to name her newborn son. When asked what name she has chosen, she pauses. She has three names in mind: one is her daughter's favorite, one is her favorite, and the third is her husband's favorite...

The Names is a debut novel with a unique premise that asks the question: Can a name change the course of one's life? In this story, Cora chooses each of the favorite names, and with each is an alternate life of Cora's family that plays out in alternating chapters, every seven years, from 1987 to 2022.

I love that this story is never predictable, always unexpected. Fully aware of the spousal abuse before I began, and the shadow it can cast, this story feels neither dark nor depressing. There is a lingering hope and an increasing sense of something more, an opportunity for something better to come during each alternate life. There are stumbles and sadness along the way, but that is part of life, right?

I didn't want to let go of these characters, and I didn't want the possibilities of this story to end. It is a remarkable debut with beautiful writing and creative storytelling, and I look forward to seeing what is next from this author.

The Names by Florence Knapp is why I read and love Speculative Fiction!

4.5⭐

Thank you to Viking Penguin | Pamela Dorman Books and Florence Knapp for the gifted DRC through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Angela M]

A quarter of the way in and one scene made me put the book down . I’ve had enough of the spousal abuse . Just can’t finish it . Three scenarios with naming the new baby three different names . An interesting premise , a different kind of read , I thought . I couldn’t help but want to know how the stories of this family would be different with different names . They were except for the spousal abuse that remains constant and is difficult to read about no matter how the stories varied . Done with it even though I thought the writing was good.

I received a copy of this book Penguin Group Viking through NetGalley.

[emilybookedup · Rating 3 out of 5]

i think i’m in the minority rating of this one—it was just okay for me. the premise and synopsis = yes, i was digging it. the execution… not so much.

at first, this book was giving MAYBE IN ANOTHER LIFE by TJR vibes (which i loved)—you get to see how life would play out based on one decision that sets it all in motion.

however for me, this book really wasn’t about “the names” at all… it’s more so about one woman’s decision when faced with three options:
1) does she pick a name for her son that is warm and fuzzy that her young daughter loves?
2) does she aim for some type of middleground name to appease herself and hopefully her abusive husband?
3) does she carry on with the family name and tradition that her husband is expecting (and avoid making him angry by picking anything else) and name her son after her husband?

as mentioned above this book cover some heavy topics, the main one being a family’s experience and crash course with domestic abuse. i think it was interesting for the author to explore how someone’s life would play out simply based on what he was named. but again, for me, it really wasn’t about the name at all… in my opinion, it was about the wife’s decision and the impact it would have on her family (and marriage).

idk! i wanted more from the execution of this one. but, i think it’s another good pick by Jenna in that it’s a good book club pick / to discuss with others.

i’m surprised to see this was the author’s debut novel. despite not loving this, i thought it was creative and her writing was enjoyable to follow. i’d check out another book by her!

🎧 i read a bit more than half of this on audio and then switched to the physical because candidly the audio was being a bit hard for me to follow with the alternate timelines and i was not really digging the British narrator in this one. could that have impacted my overall feeling on the book? perhaps, and i’m already in the minority here so take this with a grain of salt!

[Lindsay L · Rating 5 out of 5]

5+ STUNNING stars!

All Time Favourite List! 🏆

The weight of a name.

A woman enters the government office to register her newborn son’s name. Longing to leave her abusive marriage, she has three different name choices in mind for her baby. The plot then unfolds following three alternating timelines, each one exploring how their lives unfold through each different name choice.

What a unique and well-plotted novel! I thoroughly enjoyed this quiet and contemplative, yet powerful story. I had an immediate emotional connection to the main character who is a mother in a vulnerable and heartbreaking situation. Through her character, the story explores motherhood and marriage.

The clever narrative unfolds through each of the three name choices in seven year time jumps. The pace and flow worked extremely well for me and I was equally invested in all three outcomes and had a hard time putting this novel down.

This book does take focus and concentration to keep each name choice storyline straight, so it’s one that is best read in larger chunks of time, opposed to picking it up here and there when you can sneak in a few minutes of reading time. It’s easy to follow once you sink into the story.

These characters are truly unforgettable. The mom and her children each bring important layers to this thought-provoking, intricately woven story. My heart ached for them throughout the various circumstances they faced. Each had brilliantly written character growth and emotional depth.

This will be a stand out novel for me this year. There was something so incredibly “real” and emotionally touching about the writing. It surpassed all expectations for me. I loved this beautiful and heartbreaking story and highly recommend it!

⚠️ Warning: domestic violence. There are some extremely abusive scenes that were very hard to read.

Thank you to the publisher for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Canadian Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What’s in a name? Can it determine who you will become?

This starts off with domestic violence that will make you cringe. On the day Cora is to register her son’s name, she thinks of 3 names. Naming him Gordon, immediately puts a distance between her and her son- possibly transferring the violence her spouse inflicts on her to the next generation. Bear, is the name her daughter picks. An empowering name Cora believes will give him strength to be a good man.Then there is the name Julian. The sweet and gentleness of this for a boy which carries the possibility he can be everything to everyone.
The veining out of possible paths. Three scenarios of who her son will become.
The consequences Cora will face for what she writes on that birth certificate.

A devastating debut.
Is it nature vs nurture? Can a propensity to violence be avoided by a name? The psychological impact violence has on the family.

5⭐️

Call out to my BBB Tracy for sharing her copy!

[Tilly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started strong enough but fell down about a third of the way in and never recovered. The characters were woefully underdeveloped: as you’re constantly shifting between three different timelines you don’t spend the whole novel with each ‘version’ of the character, but this also means you don’t get to know them well enough, especially in the cases of the eventual wives and girlfriends who are entirely forgettable. Unfortunately I also found that none of those timelines were developed enough to form an engaging, interesting story. The concept was promising, but for me the execution wasn’t there. Nice writing but that’s about it unfortunately.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE NAMES is not merely a remarkable and deeply moving debut novel: it's the sort of heartbreakingly beautiful book that even writers with two dozen books behind them rarely produce. The premise is daring: how would changing a child's name change a whole family's destiny? So, Florence Knapp has written, in essence, three extraordinary novellas about one family, and how Cora's decision to name her second child Bear, Julian, or Gordon, unleashes wildly different lives for him, his sister, his father, and (of course) herself. Knapp has not merely designed an extraordinary architecture for her novel, she is also a stylist of uncommon talent, with sentences that left me staggered by their perfect rhythms and dialogue that was always spot-on. This book is riveting and whip-smart. Read it. You'll thank me.

[Taufiq Yves · Rating 3 out of 5]

The novel begins with a mother giving her child 3 different names - each one like a marker of fate, pointing toward a distinct life path. Every name carries a possibility, but also a limitation. Reading it feels like stepping into a literary RPG, except there’s no winning here - just endless loops of trying to escape.

Florence Knapp builds a family dynamic woven from control, violence, and silence. She doesn’t rush to expose trauma; instead, she slowly and methodically unpacks its mechanics. Can growth even happen in a space so tightly bound by oppression? Can a child - or a mother - find a crack to slip through and survive? As the story unfolds, what I see isn’t growth, but a constantly shifting trap. The desire to escape is there, but reality keeps slamming the door shut. Struggling becomes a kind of ritual - repeated, futile, heartbreaking.

Her portrayal of domestic violence is restrained to the point of being clinical. Knap writes like she’s documenting a medical case: precise, cold, sterile. She doesn’t dramatize pain or stir emotion; instead, she lets silence take center stage. And that silence is deeply unsettling. It’s real, yes - but when repeated over and over, it starts to feel like numbness. The protagonist doesn’t scream. The author doesn’t scream. And as a reader, I found myself quietly losing it inside.

The timeline jumps across 7 years, and the 3 name-based storylines weave together but never quite connect. The arc of violence that should have gradually unfolded ends up fragmented. Emotional development feels like a collage of broken memories - lacking detail, texture, and continuity. It’s like watching a heavily edited tape, where only scattered echoes remain.

I kept waiting for an emotional explosion - some moment of mental combustion, a desperate act of rebellion. But it never came. Knapp seems more committed to keeping her protagonist trapped in this quiet hell than letting her break, even for a second. That potential for rupture is buried deep in the text, never ignited.

So this is not a comforting read. It insists, again and again: you don’t get to choose. And when a novel spends its entire length reinforcing that idea, I start to wonder - maybe it’s not just describing domestic violence, but structurally mimicking it. That kind of calm, unyielding control is everywhere in this book.

Sigh.

2.8 / 5 stars

[Jaime Fok · Rating 4 out of 5]

SO beautifully done, oh my goodness.

The way this book explored the idea of how one decision (or a few decisions in a day) can alter the course of the lives of so many. And at the same time, how humans will come back to themselves in their own time and their own ways.

I appreciated how there was good and bad in each timeline, it wasn’t just on-the-nose with a good timeline, medium and bad - but more nuanced.

Just note that this book is HEAVY. Just be prepared before diving into this one.

[JanB · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Cora goes with her 9-year-old daughter, Maia, to register the name for her newborn son. There are 3 options: Gordon, his father’s preference, as it’s his own; Bear, chosen by Maia; and Julian, preferred by Cora.

The name least preferred by Cora is Gordon, because although her husband is a respected physician and a pillar of society, behind closed doors she suffers horrific physical and psychological abuse. How could she name her sweet baby boy after him?

The premise is a child’s name will affect the trajectory of the their life. But what follows is a sliding-door tale, of three different outcomes across three different timelines: one for Gordon, one for Julian, and one for Bear.

An interesting premise but it was lost on me that the name of the child altered his life. It was not his name that altered his life. It was the choices that were made, especially the choice to defy the abuser. In each possible scenario it was not only the child’s life that was altered, but also his sister, mother, father, grandmother, as well as the secondary character’s lives. There was generational trauma.

The choices we make along the way can and does alter anyone’s life. Not a novel concept.

This is not a story of names. It’s a story of abuse and the life-altering repercussions of that abuse. This is a heartbreaking and difficult read, with graphic descriptions of abuse. At times it borders on trauma porn. How many more bad things can happen?

I would have preferred it had the story been told in 3 parts instead of alternating names and timelines, which was sometimes confusing. While I didn’t think the book fulfilled the premise that was marketed, what saved the story was the thoughtful and poignant writing, which bumped my rating up to 4 stars. I will definitely check out her next book.

This was a buddy read with Marialyce, do check out her review!

[Norma ~ The Sisters · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Names by Florence Knapp
Happy Book Birthday, May 6, 2025
Genre: General Fiction / Domestic Drama
Content Warning: Depictions of domestic abuse. The opening section is particularly heavy, but if you can sit with those early pages, this becomes an incredibly rewarding and beautifully told story.
Format: Digital ARC
Rated: 4.5 ⭐️

Heartbreaking, intimate, and unforgettable!

This book. This book. It reached right into my heart and held on. I finished The Names with a tightness in my chest and tears in my eyes, completely undone by the quiet strength of its characters and the weight of everything left unspoken. Florence Knapp has crafted something incredibly special here, an emotional, layered exploration of identity, choice, and the fragile threads that shape a life.

Told through three alternate realities that branch from a single courageous and pivotal moment, the story unfolds with such tenderness and aching clarity. While Cora’s resilience shapes the path forward, it is truly her son who becomes the emotional centre across all three threads. Watching him grow, shift, and respond to the world around him in each version made the story all the more powerful. There are parts that are difficult, shadowed by pain that lingers quietly, but everything is handled with such sensitivity and care. I felt deeply connected to him in every version of his life, and I ached for him in different ways.

The writing is stunning, elegant, and emotionally sharp. Each chapter felt like stepping into a different version of truth, and I was completely swept up in the what-ifs and the ripple effects of a single name. I found myself pausing to reread lines, to sit with them, to let them settle. This is not just a story, it is a reflection on the life we live, the ones we imagine, and the courage it takes to choose ourselves, even in the smallest of ways.

The cover is just as striking, subtle but full of meaning once you have lived the story, and this one will stay with me for a long, long time.

The only reason this is not a full five stars for me is that a few transitions between timelines felt slightly uneven, pulling me out of the moment just enough to notice. Still, it is a remarkable, moving novel that I will not forget.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this digital ARC. I recommend The Names with my whole heart.

Sister Read with Brenda!

[s.penkevich [hiatus-will return-miss you all] · Rating 4 out of 5]

If Johnny Cash's A Boy Named Sue was part of the multi-verse with less fist-fighting your dad in a bar but just as much domestic abuse. Imaginative and a great examination of resilience. Full review to come.

[Jessica Woodbury · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. It's a fine line between a high concept and a gimmick. (They are the same thing, honestly, it's just one is a compliment and the other is not.) This novel doesn't quite move out of gimmick territory, mostly as it remains trudging through melodrama and doesn't bring these characters fully to life.

This novel isn't exactly about having 3 different versions of one family. Instead it's about 3 different worst-case outcomes of domestic abuse. It's tricky because these are all things that could happen. But because all of them are so heightened, I had trouble really connecting with these characters. Even when a timeline would slow down then suddenly there would be another tragedy. Murder, manslaughter, terrorism, addiction, on and on and on. For me, it does a bit of a disservice to the seriousness of the subject matter. And the three plots mean that we don't get things as fleshed out as I would have liked. In the Gordon plot, there is a very slow roll of Gordon deciding who he is going to be and we only get snapshots of it along the way, which made it hard to feel invested in the growth.

All that said, Knapp is a skilled writer and pulls you in to the characters well. There's just so many characters across so many timelines and so many years, I would like to see her do something simpler.

[Clare Pooley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes, maybe once every couple of years, a debut novel deserves ALL THE HYPE, and this is one of those. I’ve always been fascinated by the power of names. As a novelist, I find that my characters grow to fit their names, and I believe the same can be true in real life. So I adored the premise of this novel. And the writing - utterly sublime. Likely to be my book of the year.

[Alina ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

☆☆☆.75

The Names by Florence Knapp is one of those debuts that quietly sneaks up on you, emotionally heavy, unexpectedly tragic, and oddly thought-provoking. I really enjoyed the premise, but wow… this was not the kind of book you can read in one sitting. I had to stop multiple times simply because the content felt too weighty to keep going. It’s good, just not easy.

I went in expecting something more literal or thematic about names -identity, language, labels, that sort of thing but the title feels a bit misleading. Instead, the book focuses heavily on the choices we make and how the trajectory of our lives can hinge on a single decision or the influence of another person. Interesting concept, but the execution was occasional strange? Sometimes brilliant, sometimes confusing, and sometimes just plain bleak.

Speaking of bleak: the lack of redemption hit me hard. It’s a painfully realistic portrayal, life doesn’t always offer do-overs or clear resolutions but I still found myself wishing for a little more light at the end, something that said these characters get another chance. Instead, Knapp leans into a kind of quiet tragedy that lingers long after you close the book.

Also,honestly, can we talk about the gaslighting? Nothing makes me angrier than watching characters subtly manipulated while everyone else pretends it’s normal. That part was extremely well–written but also so frustrating.

Despite the heaviness and occasional odd storytelling choices, this was a strong debut with a lot to admire, especially in tone and character study. I’m genuinely curious to see what Florence Knapp does next. If you like emotionally complex fiction in the vein of Sally Rooney,cquiet but intense, frustrating yet compelling, this might be a great fit for you.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A woman is in a terribly abusive relationship and she has a couple of kids. How do the kids turn out if she stays? What about if she leaves? How would the lives and the souls of the kids be different, depending on what happens? This book is just plain cool! We get to see three different stories of what might have been, depending on happenings and decisions.

I have to say that I went into this book with a bad attitude. I had just finished The Elements and was flying high. It was a hard act to follow, so I was annoyed to open a new book and not be in the story I had dearly loved. So I was tough on it. It took me 30 or so pages before I calmed down and let this story in. I was really being unfair, and basically a spoiled brat. What could any author possibly say that would grab me like The Elements had? And then zap, I hereby got grabbed and I went on my merry way, satisfied and a little glowy.

First off, the book did its relatability thing—it made me think about how I came up with my kids’ names. I gleefully made long, fun lists and then had confabs with hubby. No names that were too popular or too weird, and absolutely no names of exes! And what’s with my name? Gawd, I was named after Debbie Reynolds! A movie star?? Really, mom? You could at least have picked an interesting one like Katherine Hepburn! And my mom didn’t know this, but Deborah (my long name) means “bee” in Hebrew! I happen to be terrified of bees. Great!

Now onto the story….It starts with a woman, Cora, who is being brutalized by a sadistic husband. She has a 9-year-old daughter, Maia, and a newborn son. There are a couple of disturbing scenes of dad physically abusing mom, but they’re just at the beginning of the book so I didn’t stay freaked and unchy for long. Maia witnesses some of the abuse, and of course it does a number on her.

Cora can’t decide what to name her son. She is afraid of her husband’s reaction—she knows he expects the kid to be named Gordon, after him. Cora is terrified of what he will do if she chooses a different name. She comes up with two other possibilities.

“Cora has never liked the name Gordon. The way it starts with a splintering sound that makes her think of cracked boiled sweets, and then ends with a thud like someone slamming down a sports bag.”

I love this language talk! She’s so right—“Gordon” does end in a thud. It’s a dud.

But that sentence is followed by a non-language-y sentence that’s also just beautiful:

“But what disturbs her more is that she must now pour the goodness of her son into its mold, hoping he’ll be strong enough to find his own shape within.”

The structure of the book is so imaginative—kudos to this new author! The book follows the life of three versions of Cora’s son, each with one of the names she considered.

I like the way Knapp doesn’t go overboard with the abuse. No trauma porn here. She could have decided to describe the trauma that led to each of the three scenarios, but she chose instead to concentrate on the outcome—of how the son (and Maia) survived after the trauma. The story really makes you feel for all three versions of the boy. I love it that they are all so different, reflecting realistically how each would react to what happened to the family. Knapp gives her characters depth. She handles the psychology of the kids beautifully—and it feels authentic. And Cora as the victim is realistic as well. The book made me think about how trauma breaks people and how they can never undo it, never erase it. Yes, the book is sad, but it’s also hopeful, showing how people can move through it and do okay, though not without scars.

Anyway, the idea is just brilliant and it’s well executed. Very satisfying! Each of the three stories is gripping, and I always looked forward to picking up the book. I can’t wait to see what Knapp comes up with next!

[Fran Hawthorne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of the publicity for this compelling debut novel has focused on the tagline: "Can a name change the course of a life?" But it's not exactly the name of the newborn boy that triggers the three alternative histories that form the focal point of "The Names." Had this infant been called Justin or Jonathan instead of Julian in Narrative #2, or Lion or Tiger instead of Bear in Narrative #1, there's no reason to think that the storylines would have been different than they are.

Rather, this is an insightful and beautifully interwoven story that asks how much is inevitable and how much we can control in our lives.

The book begins in October 1987, when Cora Atkin and her 9-year-old daughter, Maia, go to a London government office to register the name of their family's new baby. Cora's husband, Gordon, a well-liked physician, assumes that the boy will also be named Gordon, as all the men in his family are. Cora and Maia toy with other possibilities. Maia suggests the name Bear. Cora hedges with the idea of Julian, which means "sky father," wondering if that connection with fatherhood would mollify Gordon.

From there, the novel breaks into alternative trajectories in which the boy is named Bear, Julian, or Gordon. The stories are told in 7-year intervals over 35 years, mainly through the viewpoints of Cora, Maia, and the Bear-Julian-Gordon character. The key difference is whether and how Cora fights back against her husband.

In the Bear and Julian sections, the father is so furious about the baby's name that he tries to kill Cora. He is sent to prison, which allows the rest of the family to free themselves somewhat from his control, at least until his parole date nears.

In the Gordon narrative, meanwhile, Cora becomes the father's nonstop victim, from beatings and hair-yanking, to gaslighting, belittling, and isolation. He turns Maia and Gordon against their mother with a combination of charm and contempt.

Author Florence Knapp does a masterful job of scattering connections and hints throughout the book, some of them subtle, some crucial. One key character is injured in a terrorist bombing in Paris; in another narrative, a character glimpses a headline announcing the attack. An English high school student named Lily provides an important romantic interest for Bear, a more chilling experience for Gordon, and merely a walk-on for Julian. Perhaps the author is saying that Cora's triggering decision to defy her husband affected Lily's life as much as it affected her own children but has no impact on a world event.

Nature versus nurture? Maia and her brother maintain certain personality traits throughout all three narratives, yet these develop differently.

With so much rich material, the book stumbles only a little. The father is too much of a cliche, and too many ends are wrapped up too happily. But the epilogue is stunning and perfect. (Adapted from my review in The New York Journal of Books, https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book...)

[Maren’s Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5-5⭐️ When Cora sets off with her daughter and newborn son to register his name officially, she is unsure which name she will choose. What her abusive and controlling husband, Gordon, wants is for the baby to have his name. But Cora wants differently for her son. What proceeds is three alternate and alternating versions of her son’s life, from infancy through adulthood, in which we see his life through the lens of his name, and just how that small element shapes his entire existence.

While this has the feel of the “choose your own adventure” type book, it really goes to a much more root level. Debut author, Florence Knapp, isn’t afraid to tackle the heavy and emotionally wrought topics around domestic abuse and the generational trauma it inflicts, as well as ask the most core questions. Does our name make us who we are? How does it shape what we become? It is beautifully written in a quiet and circumspect, yet equally engaging way. To be clear, this book is heavy - I felt a deep sense of sadness while reading it, yet getting to know this family, and becoming emotionally attached to them and their stories, pulled at my heartstrings.

🎧 This book is beautiful in audio format. Dervla Kirwan does a magnificent job of bringing this dynamic story to life. I highly recommend doing an immersive read if you can.

Read if you like:
▪️debut novels
▪️complex family dynamics
▪️unique storytelling
▪️sliding doors trope
▪️emotional reads
▪️book club picks


Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥

CW: This book has quite a few triggers; however, domestic abuse and violence run through the heart of it, and can be disturbing at times. Please take care if you are sensitive to triggers, particularly this one.

Thank you PRH Audio for the advanced copy.

[*TUDOR^QUEEN* · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book employed an interesting trope where an abused wife named Cora is walking with her baby boy and 9-year-old daughter Maia to register the son's birth. She doesn't want to register the newborn's name as being Gordon, her husband's name, fearing the legacy of its abusive connotations. Her daughter would like to name him Bear and Cora would like to name him Julian. From this point the story shoots off into dueling chapters where these same people's lives played out differently depending on what Cora named the boy. I was struck off kilter each time the chapter changed into some other scenario, mostly because of the changing characters that became lovers and/or spouses to Cora's children as they grew older. The writing style was very good, but because of the horrific domestic abuse and the mental disruption caused by the varying storylines, I didn't enjoy it quite as much as I had hoped.

Thank you to the publisher PENGUIN GROUP Viking Penguin / Pamela Dorman Books who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

[Reid Page-McTurner · Rating 1 out of 5]

Shockingly, astonishingly bad. I’m at a loss as to why or how this is being pitched as THE book thus year when it has all the subtlety of a soap opera and characters as dimensional as a sheet of paper. I read half in about 1.5 hrs and just cringed so hard I had to stop. Zero tension, absolutely no stakes, and characters who just act because without motivation. I’m actually at a loss here, I expected to love it. It’s barely airport chick lit. It was really… bad.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mother had a particular name picked out for me, but around the time of her pregnancy the actresses Julie Andrews and Julie Christie were in ascendence and so I became Julie Christine. I love my name and have no desire for it to be otherwise. But I also love my other, once-possible name. And because my mother and I have been estranged for over thirty years, I can't help but wonder what would have become of me—of us—had I become that other, potential self. Would a different name have taken me down a different path? Would I have become someone my mother felt she could love?

And so the premise of Florence Knapp's dazzling debut The Names resonated deeply. Three concurrent family stories unfold through the course of the novel, each separated by one defining moment in the life of an infant boy: the name his mother inscribes on his birth registry. Will it be the whimsical "Bear" his sister suggests, the elegant "Julian" his mother ponders over, or "Gordon," the family name his father insists upon?

As this child grows into a boy and then a man, his life and those of his older sister, Maia, and his mother, Cora, diverge in trajectories and outcomes but are all rooted in the same tragedy. The boy, whether his name is Bear, Julian, or Gordon, is the son of a psychopath. Cora endures horrific abuse and how, or even if, she breaks free, is dependent on which story is the real story of her and her family's life.

Despite the high concept parallel narratives, The Names is grounded in deeply compassionate characters you identify come to love, no matter the storyline. Friends and family intersect subtly in each story, some becoming major characters in one timeline while fading into the background in others. And yet each story is fully realized, logical, and comes to its own inevitable resolution. Knapp holds the livewire of tension throughout the novel so taut it throws sparks—the pervasive dread of the father, Gordon Sr., is a constant—as she deftly prods the theme of intimate partner abuse.

Each story melds together in a poignant, lingering whole by the end—endings—that left me in tears. This is one of the year's best reads. Unforgettable.

[Shantha (ShanthasBookEra) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a triumph! A true masterpiece of literary fiction. Brava!

The premise of life turning out differently based on what you name your child is brilliant. Do people live up to their names, or does it influence who we become? In this story following the family of Cora and Gordon, we learn that it affects everyone in the family significantly.

Knapp's prose and imagery are beautiful with exceptional character development. It's definitely one of my favorite books this year! Fans of family sagas and literary fiction will love this!

CW: domestic violence - not graphic, but it is part of the novel.

[PattyMacDotComma · Rating 4 out of 5]

4★
“Cora watches as the letters form, each one emerging like some magical and extraordinary thing from the nib of the registrar’s pen as it moves across the page.”

England 1987. Cora has pushed the pram with her infant son to the registry to register his birth. With her is 9-year-old Maia, who is happily skipping along discussing names. Husband/father Gordon is a much-loved local doctor in whom everyone confides, and he wants his son to carry his and his father’s name.

“Cora has never liked the name Gordon. The way it starts with a splintering sound that makes her think of cracked boiled sweets, and then ends with a thud like someone slamming down a sports bag. GORdon. But what disturbs her more is that she must now pour the goodness of her son into its mould, hoping he’ll be strong enough to find his own shape within it.”

The ’Gordon’ mould is not one that Cora or Maia would wish for their new baby. At home, the kindly local doctor is a frighteningly temperamental bully who snaps without warning, scaring Maia, whom he scolds and lectures, and physically abusing Cora when Maia is at school or has gone to bed.

On the way to the registry, Cora asks Maia what name she likes, and Maia surprises her mum with ‘Bear’.

“ ‘Bear?’ Cora asks, smiling.

‘Yes. It sounds all soft and cuddly and kind,’ Maia says, opening and closing her fingers as though she’s scrunching sweetness in her hands. ‘But also, brave and strong.’ Cora looks at the baby and imagines him being all those things. She wants that for him.”

If it were up to Cora, she’d choose ‘Julian’ – sky father – “it implies transcending a long line of troubled earth fathers”, something she’d like for her son.

She can’t escape the registration because Gordon’s parents are coming for dinner and he wants to show off the birth certificate to them, especially to his domineering father, a famous surgeon who sneers at Gordon’s General Practice credentials.

The book cover I have shows a man on a path - or possibly positioned in the middle of an hourglass – casting three shadows, one for each name, or ‘mould’, as Cora called it.

This is the prologue, the set-up, so to speak. Next, there is a handsome drawing of a bear face with 1987 underneath. Those letters (in the opening quotation) that Cora was watching magically form in the registrar’s office obviously spelled out BEAR.

“A great surge of – what is this thing? – joy, yes, that’s it, joy – courses through Cora’s being. A whole-body dizzying happiness.”

Joy… until Cora realises that she had better farm Maia out with a friend for the night, anticipating her husband’s likely violent reaction.

Then the reader is presented with a drawing of needle-nose pliers, a small screwdriver, and a chain with a hand-crafted pendant, and we move into an alternate 1987 scenario.

“Afterwards, Cora is unsure what made her say it, only that she did and it felt right. Now, as this baby lies in his pram – Julian, ‘sky father’, ethereal, transcendent – Cora has a feeling of being more rooted than she has for years. As though, feet planted, she holds the two kite strings of her children’s lives safe in her palm.”

Before they tell her father, Maia suggests making his favourite lasagne. At nine, she already knows to dance carefully around his temper. Cora had discussed wanting to name the baby Julian, so she hopes for the best.

After that is the third drawing, a bottle labelled GIN London 1821 with a tumbler on its side, spilling what is unquestionably Gordon’s Gin.

“Coming back from the registrar’s office, it’s as though a cloud has descended. Cora looks down at the baby and feels she has broken something. Less than an hour ago, walking in the opposite direction, his small form seemed filled with hope and possibility. But now, that’s tainted. Where earlier she’d seen only the peach blush of his cheeks and the delicacy of blue-veined lids, now she sees a chin dribbled red and lips pinched in popeish judgement.”
[with apologies to the new Pope Leo XIV, who seems more like a Julian]

Although the book is not divided into Parts One, Two, and so-on, the author moves the timespan seven years to 1994, beginning each of the three sections (they are longer than chapters) with the same three drawings.

The seven-year intervals continue to 2022, and the family dynamics go through various developments with three very different stories, but the echoes of the parents’ pasts resonate throughout.

Incidentally, the father stops being referred to by name as time moves on, so we know which Gordon a story is referring to.

The problems Gordon (father) and Cora faced as children and young adults continue to affect them as a couple and as parents. Each story shows the different paths both Maia and her little brother set out on, but they can’t shake the influence of their parents (and grandparents), especially Maia, who was 16 in 1994 when the second timespan begins. The past is the same past.

The seven-year intervals remind me of the wonderful BBC documentary series which began with ‘Seven-Up’ and follows 14 kids from seven years old in 1964 until ’63 Up’ in 2019. It’s absolutely wonderful, and I think you can find it on Netflix and some of it on YouTube.

John Boyne made use of the seven-year spans in The Heart's Invisible Furies, as we watched young orphan Cyril grow up.

I found it confusing at first, not knowing quite where I was or what was happening. I don’t know if the physical book has different page breaks for these sections or not, but I’m certainly glad the illustrations came through in the digital version. Perhaps I’m just a bit slow on the uptake.

Each story arc is a small book in itself, but because there are many of the same characters in each (same grandparents, some friends), I think I fell into the trap of carrying the closeness of a relationship from one story arc to another, which isn’t the case, of course. It isn’t just the boy who is in the alternate universe – they all are.

Overall, I enjoyed how Knapp handled the different characters, even when they were the same person, and I thank #NetGalley and Hachette for a copy of #TheNames for review.

[Meagan (Meagansbookclub) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a complicated review because at the core, the story is a 5. Exploring abuse and the effects it has on spouses, family, and children. There is a lot to discuss and I totally agree this is a fantastic book club book. The sliding door structure with 3 parallel storylines also jumping 7 years at a time was hard to follow. It took a bit for me to keep the stories straight. Once I felt comfortable in one story, adding 2 more to keep track of, and then not getting much closure to the story and jumping 7 years forward was hard. I appreciated the author taking a risk and having a standout debut, but I think it she leaned into one story it would have felt more complete.

[Court Zierk · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

As someone who understands the impact a name can have on one’s life, I was fully ready to embrace this book. I was anticipating being able to hold it up as an example to my parents like, “see, do you see what you’ve done to me?”. But none of that happened, because this book isn’t really about names at all.

I mean, sure, the naming moment at the beginning does set into motion a lifetime of cascading events, but once they are set into motion the names rarely matter again. Because, it’s never really been about the name, Court. Do you hear that? It’s never really been about the name.

I didn’t love this book as much as others did. I found it to be dull and unmoving. The trauma was unrelenting, and hope was devoid of presence. The concept was interesting, but the plot was far from it. Let’s just say that plot is plodding.

I can see how some may love this book, but I struggled to connect with its characters or its storytelling. It was ambitious, but insufficient in its pursuit…