How can our name change the course of our lives? In The Names debut author Florence Knapp writes of a family whose young son has 3 potential names. The reader follows the family as each of the names is picked over their lives. A wonderful and emotional novel!

4 stars
Thank you to Penguin Group and to NetGalley for this ARC

I picked up The Names because I was looking for a read that was a bit heavier and a bit different than what I usually read, and it met that criteria in the best way. I tend to avoid the triggers that this book touched on, but I'm glad I picked this up even if it was a tough read at times. I think the author did an amazing job and showing the darker sides of relationships in each timeline while also expertly adding in hope and light to balance. My heart was pulled in all different directions for these characters, but again, in the best way. I loved watching them grow through all of the hard things and find happiness each in their own ways. I also loved sitting and considering the difference that a name can bring, and I really enjoyed how this was written to consider all members of the family. I think that Florence Knapp is sort of a genius to be able to present these different characters and different timelines, and not have it be confusing or hard to follow. I'm really excited to see what she writes next as this was completely unique to anything I've read before.

I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories about families. As I mentioned above, Florence Knapp does such a good job balancing dark and light, but I would encourage readers with sensitivities to review the trigger warnings first.

4.5 stars. I had no idea what this was about, something about a wife going to register her baby's name and maybe the husband isn't a great guy?

So when I started in it threw me off that the second chapter was almost a retelling of the first chapter. That's when I read the summary and realized that this book is about a decision and that decision could have multiple endings depending on that choice. And in this case, if the baby is named after the father the lives of this family might go in one direction. But if the mother goes with the idea of what her daughter suggests, then something entirely different could happen. And if the mother chooses a name she would like then again, another life altogether.

I found this to be so well done. Cora has a 9 year old named Maia and a newborn who is supposed to be named Gordon after his father, as per tradition. And she is stressed about this because her husband Gordon is very abusive and would lash out on her if she doesn't do precisely what he says at all times and she can't imagine her son being anything like his father. But something comes over her and she makes a decision to go with Maia's suggestion which is to name her son, Bear. Bear means cute and cuddly and soft and when Cora agrees she sees Maia's face light up like she's never seen; and that sparkle is something missing from both their lives since they live under the thumb of a very awful man.

When she brings the kids home and reports what she chose to do things happen and they will have repercussions affecting their lives forever.

Then we see what happens when she chooses the name Julian. And then what happens when she did actually name her son Gordon.

You will see how three variations of lives unfold all depending on a single choice. This might make you think of your own life, your past decisions that impacted where and who you are today and it might make you second guess your present and future choices. So well done.

What is in a name? This wonderful story looks at a woman who has to register her new born son’s name at the registers and has three possibilities. Each possibility leads Cora, the mother, on a different life path. Cora is an abused woman and each life leads to a different path for her two children as they try to deal with the aftermath of their father’s abuse. The story was very interesting read and the characters were all very well written.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers for allowing me to read this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Synopsis:
The extraordinary novel that asks: Can a name change the course of a life?
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.

The premise of The Names is interesting, but I had a hard time keeping the details of each storyline separated. This took some of the pleasure out of the book for me. I feel like it would have been easier for me to read each story-Bear, Julian, Gordon all the way through.

Thanks to NetGalley and Pamela Dorman Books for the advanced digital copy of the book.

Solid sliding doors type of family drama that follows the same family throughout 3 different scenarios which have different consequences depending on what they name their son. The concept was great, well written, and doesn’t overstay its welcome - however i did find 1 of the timelines less engaging than the others.

4.5 stars.

✨I’m honestly not sure I’ve ever read a book quite like this. It was beautifully written and left me both heartbroken and full of hope.

✨The narrative is told in three parallel realities – each chapter titled by either the name Bear, Julian or Gordon. These are the names that Cora, a young mother, chooses to give her son in the three different threads. The story unfolds in seven year increments as we follow Cora, her children and various additional characters throughout thirty-five years of the three alternate realities. A sliding door trope, if you will.

✨The book explores the old adage “what’s in a name?” But beyond that, it causes the reader to consider the consequences of the decisions we make, both big and small.

✨This is a heartfelt and very emotional story that contains tragedy and anguish - but also moments of light and hopefulness as well.

✨In the end, I was deeply impacted and know I will not soon forget these characters and the way their lives unfolded.

✨I will say that anyone who has ever experienced domestic abuse should strongly consider whether they would be able to handle this book. It was brutal for me to read. But I’m also so very glad I did.

🌿Read if you like:
✨Alternate realities/parallel timelines
✨Literary fiction
✨Sliding door tropes
✨Debut authors
✨Tearjerkers
✨Books that make you think
✨Celebrity book club selections (this one is an @readwithjenna pick)

This is definitely gut wrenching but the title and synopsis do not match novel in my opinion.
It is well written and parts of it are very interesting and even touching.
This could have been much better without the graphic, extreme domestic violence and focused more on the actual title of the book.
The children’s lives were predominantly altered by their father’s mental and physical abuse of their mother and the loss of a parent (or parents depending), not by a name. The only difference in changing the boy’s name was how his father reacted to it. Maia’s name was the same the entire time and the majority of the abuse was witnessed by her (not the boy) yet both were affected their father’s actions throughout their lives in all scenarios.
Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity to read this complimentary advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I devoured this book. Cora has to register her young son and his name at.the local registry office. From there, you see the disintegration of her marriage with her physician husband, Gordan and the rebuilding her own life and her children. I loved it

@pameladormanbooks @vikingbooks | #gifted 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗡𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗦 is the debut novel from Florence Knapp and it’s a book I’d been looking forward to for a very long time. Its premise had my expectations set very high and I’m thrilled to report that in every way those expectations were met, at times even exceeded.⁣
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𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴 centers on a British family and opens on the day Cora is off to register her newly born son’s name. Her husband Gordon is insistent that the child carry his name, as has been the tradition in his family. Cora wants to name the child Julian, a name she loves and finds meaning in, and her 9-year old daughter Maia would like her brother to be called Bear. Cora knows that she will pay mightily for doing anything other than what Gordon demands, but the pull to go against his will is strong. She doesn’t want her child to grow up to be like his abusive father.⁣
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From there the story branches into three different versions, one centered on each of the name choices. Something so small impacts the lives of Cora, Maia, the boy, and even Gordon, in vastly different ways. The storylines were all beautiful, tragic, uplifting, and sad, each in its own very different way. I can’t say I liked one more than the others because all touched me. I loved how Knapp changed the circumstances for each character, but at their core kept their essences. I also liked how she structured the book, taking seven year jumps in their lives, each time with a Bear, Julian, and Gordon chapter. In some ways you were getting three different stories, but always with characters you recognized and felt deeply for. This was truly a stunning debut and I can’t wait to see what this author does next! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Cora is a mother to a nine year old daughter Maia, and a newly born son, she goes to register. Her abusive husband Gordon wants him named after him, but Cora and Maia both have a name in mind.

We follow the family over 35 years in 3 different iterations of how life played out depending on what Cora registered his name to be Gordon, her husband's choice, Julian her's, and Bear Maia's.

Honestly this book was truly an utter masterpiece. The authors gift of storytelling was stunning. They managed to fully flesh out 3 different stories, while it still feeling cohesive. We had plot, character growth, emotion, relationship development, and unique structure. This book does such a good job of balancing spousal abuse with lighter moments. I laughed, cried, felt hopeful, and hopeless. This is a book I will think about for a long time.

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Viking / Pamela Dorman Books and PRH Audio for the ARC and ALC.

This will be, already is, a great book club pick, it’s the kind of book you want to talk about with someone as soon as you finish. While it covers some very real and difficult territory (including spousal abuse, which I was aware of before starting), it never feels heavy in a way that weighs the story down. Somehow, the author creates space for light and possibility within even the hardest moments.

This is one of those books where I don’t want to say too much about the plot, because the journey is everything. The structure is so creative, and effective, via alternating perspectives across lifetimes — it all comes together. Each character’s voice adds something new, but it was the mother’s story, told across those lifetimes, that hit me the hardest.

The writing itself is something to sit with: not just heart-wrenching or heartwarming, but tactile. I found myself pausing often, just to take it in. It does require your full attention, but the payoff is worth it.

Unpredictable, layered, painful, hopeful. I’m still thinking about the ending and all the what-ifs it leaves behind. Would make for a great book club discussion.

If you read just one book in May, let it be this one!

Tysm @vikingbooks and @pameladormanbooks for the beautiful finished copy of this amazing book. I think this may be some of my most favorite book mail of all time!

@florenceknapp_ really knows how to tell a story. I think this will be a story that I will think of for a long time. The premise is very, very thought provoking and I love a story that makes you reflect on your own choices in life and this story really, really encourages you to do that.

This story is very, very character driven with so much depth. There are so many important themes explored like love, loss, family dynamics, the choices we make and the ones we don’t, and how regret can manifest in so many different ways.

There are some harder topics explored as well, so check the trigger warnings but this is one that should definitely be on your radar! It will definitely be one of my favorites of the year!

A mother of a newborn in England is supposed to register the name of her son as Gordon after her husband, a doctor who abuses her. But what if she chooses a different name? This book explores the lives her son might have if she names him Gordon, but also two other names. A few times it got confusing because there are three stories going on through many years but overall a very compelling book.

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." Well, William Shakespeare, it appears you are wrong. The premise of this book is one so many of us consider at some point in our lives. Can a name actually have that kind of impact. Three names and three life directions, and as always, family at the core. This book has legs and should do well for a debut novel.

What if a name could shape your entire path—your passions, your relationships, or even your future?

Have you ever made a snap judgment about someone—just because of their name? Maybe you knew one intense David, and now every David carries that same vibe. Or maybe you've wondered who you'd be with a different name. Would you feel braver? More creative? Less anxious? Softer? Stronger? And if you shared a name with a parent—would that shape who you became?

Florence Knapp takes these questions and weaves them into something unforgettable in The Names. It’s bold, brilliant, and honestly? She nails it.

Knapp’s concept is original, and her execution? Nearly flawless.

The Names is unlike anything I’ve read before. She doesn’t just explore the idea of names—she builds a whole narrative around it.

She gives us three alternate realities for one baby boy—depending on whether he’s named Bear, Julian, or Gordon after his father. And from that simple change, we follow three different lives unfold over the span of 35 years.

A story about Family

There’s one constant in all three storylines: his abusive father. But this isn’t a novel that centers the trauma—it’s not about the abuse itself. Instead, Knapp focuses on the effects, thier relationships, the quiet ways it echoes through time and identity.

At its heart, this is a book about second chances, how families who bend for each other, break and heal and about the infinite ways we might become who we are. It asks big questions without ever shouting. It lets you sit with them, slowly.

It’s Slow, It’s Quiet—And It’s Absolutely Beautiful

The pace is soft, measured, and full of quiet moments I had to let my mind slow down, to lean into the stillness and let the story pull me under its spell. And yeah, that’s not always easy for me. But once I did? Wow. The layers started to unfold, the depth came through, and the overthinker in me was fully activated.

I closed this book with my mind buzzing and wanting to talk about. This is one you will want to share your thoughts about and I did just that with Norma. Making this another sister reading experience we won’t forget.

This book had me feeling like I needed a flowchart, a strong drink, and possibly a therapist—but in the best way.It’s daring ,emotionally intelligent debut, and it’s anything but ordinary.

Thanks to@vikingbooks for the digital gifted ARC. I received this months ago and have been dying to talk about it. Now that it’s finally out in the world today, I can say this: Florence Knapp swung for the literary fences with The Names—and she mostly knocked it out of the park.

We meet Cora, a mother of two, standing at a quietly monumental crossroads: registering her newborn son’s name. Her husband, a controlling and abusive man, insists the baby be named after him—as per family tradition. But Cora is desperate to break the cycle, and the name she chooses sets the tone for not one, but three different versions of life that follow.

Each version of her child’s name—Gordon, Julian, and Bear (yes, Bear)—unfolds into its own life path, jumping forward in 7 year increments. It’s a bold and inventive structure, and while I loved the concept, I’m not going to lie: I spent a decent amount of time flipping back and forth trying to remember who was who and what timeline I was in. A little literary whiplash never hurt anybody, right? (Actually… maybe just a little.)

Still, Knapp’s writing is gorgeous, quietly powerful, almost meditative. The emotional weight is real, especially when you begin to notice the way pain and resilience echo across each life. It’s heavy, at times tragic, but not without moments of grace and glimmers of hope.

Check it out for yourself and see if it’s worth the hype!

As Cora takes her newborn son and nine year old daug
the registrar's to give him an official name, she ponders t
options. Her abusive husband assumes the child will be r
Gordon, like both he and his own father have been. Cora I
the name Julian, and the baby's sister opts for Bear. The
diverges into three storylines, one for each of the three na )
that could have been chosen, leaving the reader to wonder ust
how much is passed down along with a name. Or how much
impact there can be from one defiant act. Or if a mother's love is
enough to save a child from the repercussions of domestic
violence.


This was an ambitious debut with such a strong premise, heavy
themes, and a unique structure. I must admit I sometimes
couldn't keep the various storylines separate, and 1 think this wil
be a challenge for some other readers as well. And since the
characters live different lives in each of the three stories, I didn't
connect quite as deeply with them as I would have liked, but
still, the ending chapters left me teary, which is always a sign of
a good book.

The Names is a buzzy debut that, for me, lives up to the hype. Florence Knapp crafts a thoughtful, sharp, and emotionally layered novel that digs into the haunting “what ifs” we all carry—what if we’d made a different choice, loved a different person, taken a different path? I was impressed by how she explored this theme with both intimacy and ambition. The writing is confident and clear, and the story stayed with me after I finished. While a few pacing issues kept it from being a full five stars, this is an exciting debut. I’m excited to see what Knapp writes next.

I absolutely loved this debut novel from Florence Knapp. It tells the story of Cora, who has an abusive husband, Gordon and her two children, Maia and her son and the paths their lives take depending on what she names her son - Bear, Julian or Gordon. It starts with when she names her son and follows them every seven years from 1987 until 2022. It is so well written, and all three stories are equally absorbing. It is hard to read about Cora's abuse by her husband and so interesting to see how it affects the characters in all three storylines. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC.