Thank you Netgalley and Penguin for an ARC of Read with Jennas May pick, " The Names". What is in a name.... famously written by Shakespeare.. and the topic of this book. Cora is a new mom who has to officially name her newborn son. Her abusive husband already has informed her that the baby will only be named Gordon after himself. However, on the way to registrars office she asks her daughter what he would name the baby, and then thinks about what she would name the baby, and the story is told as if each name was given ( Bear, Julian or Gordon). This was such an interesting concept and it truly delivers as we watch each story unfold throughout the son's life.

Stunningly beautiful novel stemming from a moment of hesitation of a mother about to formally name her son. It follows three potential outcomes from naming her son three different names, one a family tradition, one of her choosing, and one her daughter chooses.

Two considerations for those about to read. First, because this follows three different trajectories within the same family, you have what amounts to three different stories with the same characters with vastly different lives. It is hard to follow and may best be done in one long sitting. Secondly, our main character, Cora, is physically and emotionally abused. She is humiliated and we are not shielded from it. It is visceral and heartbreaking.

Highly recommended and deserving of all the positive press it is getting.

Does the name you receive at birth define your fate, your life path — as well as those around you? This is the underlying premise of this debut novel, which tells the story of a boy named Gordon — or Bear — or Julian —and those around him. Told in three different timelines, each related to one of the names the boy’s mother gives him, the novel reveals that each name leads to an entirely different life for the boy, his mother, and his sister, and also alters relationships that happen along the way. This is a beautifully written, unique and intriguing novel.

I really liked the concept of the what-ifs. How changing a name can take 3 very different routes in life. I liked the beginning of the book but struggled to stay interested after that. Not quite sure what it was. Maybe the 3 parallel storylines with the side storylines was just a lot to keep track of.

A brilliant debut novel explores how a name can shape a family's future.
The prologue of Florence Knapp's marvelous debut, The Names, begins on October 16, 1987, the day after the Great Storm hit England. We meet Cora, a young woman of Irish descent, as she and her nine-year-old daughter, Maia, push a pram through the debris, walking to a government office to officially register her new son's name. As the pair struggle along, they discuss what the child should be called. The baby's father, a well-respected physician, expects him to be named Gordon after himself and his son's grandfather. Cora's husband is abusive, however, as was his father, and she has unvoiced concerns that calling her son Gordon will perpetuate that "family tradition" as well. (She thinks to herself, "Do you not see that calling our son Gordon might mean he ends up like you?") Cora would prefer the name Julian, while Maia thinks Bear would be a wonderful name ("It sounds all soft and cuddly and kind ... But also, brave and strong.")

The section ends with Cora hesitating as she's about to fill in the baby's name on the paperwork. At that point, the plot splits into three parallel storylines, each of which follows the repercussions of Cora's choice. After we get an insight into each set of lives—Bear's family, Julian's, and finally Gordon's—the narrative skips ahead in seven-year chunks, revisiting the characters until Bear/Julian/Gordon turns 35.

The idea that one minor decision can influence the trajectory of someone's life is not new (there's even a fiction sub-genre called "sliding-door novels," named after a movie starring Gwyneth Paltrow that explored the notion). Knapp's treatment of this concept, however, is remarkable. She postulates that Cora's selection changes not only her son's future but also that of each member of the family, which in turn impacts those around them in a far-reaching web. Her husband's reaction to each name, in particular, sends each timeline careening in a wildly different direction.

Some aspects of the characters' lives are constant across all three stories, but even these traits differ depending on which name was chosen; Maia is gay in each, but she's strong and confident in one timeline, unsure of her sexuality in another, and completely closeted in the third. Part of what makes the novel so unputdownable is that many of the characters' actions are unpredictable, yet completely logical; we can see why each makes the decisions that they do, even if the choices surprise us.

Supporting characters add nuance, appearing in each tale to a greater or lesser degree depending on the direction their plot has taken (e.g., in one, Cora's mother is hugely influential, while in another she's barely mentioned). Although the cast is fairly large, no character is superfluous; each fills a vital role with his or her presence (or lack thereof) and all are drawn with impressive depth.

In addition to simply being a fascinating thought experiment—an exploration of "what if"— each storyline is engrossing in its own right. The book is almost like three exceptionally well-written novellas. Readers get wrapped up in the drama of whether Bear's romantic relationship will work out and if Julian will ever find his niche, for example.

One of the narrative's constants is that Cora is physically abused in all of the plotlines, and in some instances Knapp's descriptions are hard to read. It's particularly wrenching as readers watch the character overcome her circumstances in one story but not in the others; we grieve for her all the more because we've seen exactly what her life could have been like.

My only caveat is that due to the book's structure it's easy to confuse the three timelines. There's a Gordon, Cora, and Maia in each, but they're completely different characters with varying experiences depending on whether we're reading the chapter about Bear, Julian, or Gordon. Several times I had to stop and try to recall who was who, and about halfway through I started wishing I'd kept notes on the characters. This isn't a flaw in the author's technique, since given the parallel timelines there's really no avoiding this issue, but readers should be aware that this book may require more concentration than some.

I've been fortunate to have read many truly excellent books this year, but The Names has risen to the top of my list. I was awed by the author's technical prowess in creating such a unique, captivating novel, and surprised at how much I thoroughly enjoyed the plot and the characters. I highly recommend it to late-teen audiences and above, and I think that it would spark some great book group discussions as well.

When Cora arrives at the registrar’s office to name her infant son, she is debating between three names: Bear, Julian, and Gordon. Her husband is a well-respected and loved local doctor who is controlling and abusive. He wants his son named after him, Gordon.

When it comes time to choose a name, the story follows three paths that span over 35 years. One path follows the life of Bear, the name Cora’s daughter chooses. The second path follows the life of Julian, the name Cora wants to name her son. The final path follows the life of Gordon.

This book asks if a name can change a life and explores family, abuse, and healing.

Trigger Warnings
Domestic Abuse, murder

Why Jackie loves it
I started this book and could not put it down. The premise is so unique and the book is plotted in such a way that it is very easy to follow each timeline. The way each name changed the outcome of Bear/Julian/Gordon’s life was brilliant. This book is very poignant and powerful. I did mention above but anyone that is triggered by domestic abuse should be aware that it is a prominent aspect of the plot.

This was a super interesting and thought-provoking read. I really enjoyed the different storylines and how they differed and the message of the book.

Wow. I see why this book is deserving of all the hype! Be sure to check the trigger warnings for this one.

The story follows three alternate realities following a family who suffers from domestic abuse by the dad. What if the mom had named her son a different name than the dad wished? What would their trajectory as a family be? I really loved the three different stories featuring Bear, Julian, and George and the character growth of each of them. I liked that it wasn't predictable and yet I felt that the "boy" in question was inheritantly the same. There is a lot to unpack in this book and one I would reread again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Viking books for my ARC!

THE NAMES by Florence Knapp is a very dark book, but it is also a Read with Jenna pick and a LibraryReads selection for May 2025. The story begins in 1987 when Cora is deciding what to name her newborn son. From there the story splits into three scenarios, depending on the choice of naming the baby after his father and grandfather, or instead selecting a name Cora prefers, or choosing a more whimsical name suggested by her nine-year old daughter. Sadly, domestic abuse often features prominently in the vignettes and that makes for difficult reading even though debut author Knapp has created a fascinating book. She relates the story of this family in each circumstance roughly every seven years – book groups will be entranced. Expect to see a great deal of "buzz" on THE NAMES which received starred reviews from Booklist, Publishers Weekly and Kirkus ("inviting the reader to think about not just the ripple effects of a single decision and the workings of an abusive family but also about a profound and classic concern of fiction: How things we can control in life interact with things we could never have seen coming."). **4.5 stars overall**

What a creative story to get us thinking about how a name shapes us and helps us become who we were meant to be. Would you be the same person, if you had a different name. This story shares three different stories based on what the mother chooses for her son’s name.

THE NAMES by Florence Knapp is a marvel. On the surface, THE NAMES is the story of Cora registering the birth of her child including his name. What could be simple and straightforward if Cora does as she has been told, the story of what this downtrodden and silenced woman elects to do in registering her son's name unfurls over the next 35 years, with three different paths depending on what she decides....it is powerful, gut wrenching, and ultimately heartening to see Cora develop and the alternative choices intersect and shape the lives of a complicated family and a woman deciding who she is and what she believes in. This book is an excellent choice for book clubs seeking deep, thoughtful, complex, and beautifully written stories. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

For a debut, I'm blown away! As someone who has had two children, the process of picking a name can be daunting and this novel was a very interesting concept of how a name can influence a life's trajectory. The writing was beautiful and I liked how we followed the arc of multiple characters through the years. Stunning first novel!

This is my first five star read of the year. A truly beautiful, and beautifully sad, novel, telling the story of three different lives, checking in every seven years.

It was really fascinating to see how minor changes can create ripple effects throughout a life. I particularly enjoyed the way Knapp weaves the different timelines together, and kept the core of the characters the same, while showing how their different life experiences made them approach things differently. I cried several times. My heart ached for Cora, for Maia, and for Bear/Julian/Gordon in equal measure. Even smaller characters like Lily and Silbhe were given so much depth.

The story can be very dark at times (big trigger warning for domestic abuse), but I feel its themes are important to a larger conversation about domestic violence - how hard it can be to leave, the lasting ripple effects of trauma on those abused, the way abusers will manipulate others to prolong the abuse.

Strongly recommend reading this if you loved The Measure by Nikki Erlick (which I did). While significantly different in plot, it's as heartbreaking and beautiful in terms of style and characters. I will buy anything that Florence Knapp writes based off the strength of this book.

At the start of this book, Cora is the mother to a 9 year old daughter and a newborn baby boy - and married to an abusive man (not a spoiler as you learn this right away). Her husband Gordon wants his son named after him as is family tradition - but Cora isn’t so sure. The brilliance of this book is that it proceeds on three separate tracks - one where she registers the name as Bear, one as Julian, and one as Gordon. And then we check in with the characters every seven years in each of the three tracks as we see how not just the son but all the other family members’ lives are different depending on what name Cora chose.

A fascinating concept generally - and one that in this book makes even more sense considering that it is all set in motion in each track by how the abusive Gordon reacts to his son’s name. And, WOW, what a book! I am just blown away that this was a debut, it was so good. Intense and emotional and thought-provoking. Would make a fabulous book club pick - so no wonder Read With Jenna chose it!

4.5 stars

🪻Read with Jenna: May Book Review🪻

Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: speculative fiction
Plot: life takes 3 different paths based on the decision of one baby’s name
Emotion: 🥺😖😮

Summary: can a name change your life? Wife of an abusive, controlling doctor, heads to the registry to name her newborn. Does she obey her husband by naming the baby Gordon after him, select the name Julian that she loves, or make an impulsive decision to name him based on her 9-year-old daughters suggestion (Bear). Follow the family on life trajectories based on the 3 names spanning 35 years.

Opinion: this was a very thought provoking novel and I very much enjoyed the concept of how significantly life can be altered by the decision of a name. Not only did the boy’s life change dramatically, but the intimidate family members are also significantly impacted.

Each chapter is one of the three timelines and after each of the three are described, the next round of chapters jumps 7 years into the future until the boy is 35. This kept the story moving but it was a bit difficult to keep track of the storylines when everyone but the boy kept the same name. The beginning plots were more thrilling while the storylines fizzled out as the book went on.

The story touches on some very difficult topics, most notably domestic abuse, so be warned if that is a triggering subject.

Takeaway: I really liked the concept of this book, and would recommend to anyone who can follow a more complex storyline with multiple life trajectories.

Rating and review posted to Goodreads and social media account.

I always think it’s interesting to trace back the little decisions that led us on a certain path. In The Names, we get a Sliding Doors type story based on what Cora decides to name her baby.

Cora’s husband Gordon expects her to name the baby after him. Cora’s daughter Maia thinks he should be named Bear - because he’s soft and cuddly but will also be brave and strong. And Cora wants to name him Julian, which means sky father and would hopefully appease Gordon for honoring him even if it isn’t his name.

Based on that one decision, we then see the different futures the family would have if the baby is given each of the names with chapters alternating between names and jumping ahead seven years each time.

This is a challenging and at times heartbreaking read that I think would make for a great book club discussion. Thank you to the publisher for the free ebook to review.

The names by Florence Knapp is a very highly anticipated read of the spring and compared to the measure. Cora and her daughter Maia are going to register Cora’s son’s name at the courthouse. Cora’s abusive husband wants the son to be his namesake but Cora and Maia have other names in mind. Thus begins the tale that our lives are shaped by what we are named, as the story unfolds in three different timelines as the boys life diverges under three different names (Gordon, bear, and Julian). Told in seven year increments, the story follows these timelines as the family grows and ages and we witness how the name shape the trajectory of the boys life.

Loved the concept! Something about it just isn’t click for me sadly. I am not sure what was missing or why because I really wanted to like this one. The writing is good, the concept is good, but it didn’t personally click for me. However, based on reviews- I am in the minority as many love it and I encourage many to read it as it will click with the masses!

Thanks to the publisher for providing this arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Names
By Florence Knapp

This is an amazing book. It takes place between 1994 and 2022 – in seven year increments. Each seven year interval contains three sections named Bear, Julian and Gordon. These three names represent three possible life paths for a young boy; his physically and emotionally abusive father; his victimized mother; his sister; and various other people affected by the paths as they are taken.

The book deals with domestic abuse. The abuse has the same effect as the ripples caused by tossing a rock into a still pond. It causes damage in many different ways to anyone caught up in the dynamic. I have never read anything on the subject that has made this point so clearly.

While in parts a little confusing as the storyline changes to fit the name and also difficult to read because of the nature of the abuse, this is a book well worth reading.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

What’s in a name?

Florence Knapp explores this timeless question in her striking debut, THE NAMES.

After giving birth to her first child, Cora wrestles with what to name her precious son. Will she choose the name on her heart? Or the family name to satisfy her abusive husband?

Three parallel lives unfold for her son based on the name she selects—some leading to lives of fulfillment and success and others to heartbreak. The sliding doors structure offers vignettes into the distinct life paths and raises thought-provoking questions about the intimacy of a name and the factors that shape us.

It’s a beautifully written book exploring heavy themes you don't want to miss!

Read this if you:
-Love a riveting book club discussion
-Enjoy stories featuring imaginative structures
-Are eager to pick up a buzzy book—it is being published in 20 languages!

RATING: 4.5/5 (rounded up to 5 stars)
PUB DATE: May 6

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. What an amazing book!! Cora is to go to the registrar's office to register the birth of her son with her 9 year old daughter. Her husband insists that it is to be Gordon to carry on the tradition of himself, and father. Gordon - her husband, is a well like and esteemed GP doctor - he is VERY controlling and abusive to Cora.
When Cora is walking with your daughter to register her son - she doesn't feel that Gordon is the right name for her son. She really likes the name Julian and when she suggested it to her husband - he utterly refused. She asked her daughter what she should name the baby and she had said Bear. The story then goes on to be told as alternate choices were made. First choice was Bear, the second Julian and the third Gordon. It alternates between the three every 7 years for 35 years.
Does your name determine your life path and choices? And to what amount does our choices determine our path. I will be thinking about this book for a while. DEFIINTELY RECOMMEND!!!