This story follows a family across three alternate timelines, with the youngest child given a different name in each. As a parent, I found the premise deeply intriguing - doesn’t every parent at least briefly consider how something as simple as a name might influence the course of a child’s life?

What I didn’t expect was that the main focus of the story would be domestic abuse. While the child’s name does play a role, the bigger differences between the timelines come from how the father reacts to each name and the focus on abuse overshadowed the story’s original, intriguing premise. Readers should be aware that the book contains scenes of domestic violence that may be triggering.

The book is structured with separate chapters for each of the three timelines, jumping ahead seven years with each new section. While this format is creative, I found it confusing at times and it was difficult to stay fully engaged.

Despite my mixed feelings, Florence Knapp’s writing is strong and compelling. I’d be interested in reading more of her work in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for providing me with an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book! I thought the premise might be a bit contrived but it worked so well. My one warning to readers, start keeping track of the other characters in the different timelimes because their lives change also. It can get confusing.

First of all, I want to say a huge thanks to Pamela Dorman Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

The Name by Florence Knapp starts with a choice: what will Cora name her son? Gordon, after her violent, traditional husband? Julian, a name she chose herself but could potentially sway her husband to accept? Or perhaps Bear, the whimsical suggestion of her nine-year-old daughter? The narrative then dives into three different timelines, all trying to answer the question: does your name really dictate who you are?

I was immediately enthralled by this book. Right from the start, the writing was thoughtful, lyrical, almost poetic. This is especially welcome as we quickly learn the reality of Cora’s life: that she has to register her new son’s name, and that single choice could have catastrophic consequences for her or her children. In naming her son Bear, it is an act of defiance. Naming him Julian is an act of surrender, an attempt to placate a man who despises the very possibility of his wife’s independence. But naming the new baby Gordon, after his father, is in itself an act of violence: towards the child, towards her husband, towards Cora herself. She seems to condemn her relationship with her newborn to one of resentment, to stay safe in an unsafe marriage. But it is also an act of survival—a theme that remains prevalent throughout the rest of the book. How do you survive in the wake of learned, and potentially inherited, trauma?

The concept that naming someone essentially solidifies their personhood, and possibly their personality, rings so true, even if it’s not something we think about regularly. I love the exploration of how patronymic tradition, for example, can lay burdens on a child that they shouldn’t have to experience before they have a semblance of true cognition. Cora’s awareness of the nuance in her surroundings is so perfectly articulated. It’s heart-wrenching, knowing that her attention to detail stems from living on the edge with her violent husband. But it feels like an accurate portrayal of what it must be like to live in such a tenuous, volatile space. Seeing how Maia copes, even at a young age, to avoid her father’s anger is terrifying. Even though I haven’t experienced such a situation myself, it was difficult at times to read through Cora, Maia and the son’s experiences because it felt so visceral.

Despite the difficult subject matter, I truly loved reading this book. It’s a departure from my usual fantasy repertoire, and I’m so glad that I took it. Overall, it is a beautiful yet disquieting character study, with flowing prose that deftly navigates the reality of those living in a violent domestic environment, and how our choices can prove to define not just ourselves, but those around us.

Review posted on TheStoryGraph: April 24, 2025 (https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/d9ab9150-693a-40f1-88f3-276fe75fcbdc)
Review posted on Instagram: April 26, 2025 (I can't find the link, but it's on @seekayread!)

Florence Knapp’s The Names is a beautifully written, thought-provoking novel built around an irresistible premise: how the simple act of choosing a different name for a baby could shift the life trajectories of an entire family. Knapp explores the ripple effects of identity, fate, and choice with sensitivity and lyrical prose, weaving together the different possibilities in a way that feels both intimate and expansive.

While the shifting narratives and timelines can get a little confusing at times, the emotional core remains strong throughout. Knapp’s deep compassion for her characters and her elegant writing style make The Names a moving and memorable read.

This debut novel has two of my favorite bookish draws - an utterly unique premise and lots to talk about! The Names opens with a young mother deciding between three different names for her newborn son. From that point, the story explores three alternate narratives based on the mother choosing each of these three potential names. From the outset, I thought I knew exactly where each storyline was headed, but I was completely wrong on all accounts - which I loved. Knapp examines the ripple effects of domestic violence and the various ways our environments and our choices can shape our future. A thought provoking read great for book clubs!

I read this creative debut novel in one sitting. I loved the three different timelines based on the names Cora chose for her son in each scenario. Each timeline and each version of Bear/Julian/Gordon Jr. was so unique and clear, that I was never confused. I will gladly read anything Knapp writes in the future.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ebook ARC of this novel. It’s a great read for anyone who enjoys a compelling family drama with lots of emotion. It’s three stories in one. Each story has the same four main characters, but the youngest child is given a different name in each story, which results in each of the four person’s life having a different outcome.

What a beautiful telling of the assumed power of a name given to a child. We follow the born baby of Cora and Gordon. The assumption is made and Cora is told to register the newborn with the father's name of Gordon. We follow 3 distinct names chosen for the baby and then follow the repercussions of the name chosen through the decades told in 7 year increments. It's almost a sliding door book but showing 3 versions of this baby's life and his family.

I really enjoyed each of the storylines. The power of the individual, some nature versus nurture at play, circumstances that play out, it was really interesting to watch. That said, the stories were pretty distinct, BUT, I had to work hard to be aware of which name and storyline I was following and what the time period was. For this reason, I think listening to this on audio could be problematic. You need to pay very close attention to each name and storyline when it switches.

A lot to think on and discuss on this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Pamela Dorman Books for the gifted e-ARC of this book.

Fans of Kate Atkinson will absolutely devour this transcendent novel about the power of a name. Regardless of what he's called - the protagonist lives three lives with love, sadness, hope, and family at the core. Readers will weep with joy and loss throughout this tale of three boys, three lives, three families. An unforgettable book by a gifted writer.

When I got the email recommending this book to me, I couldn’t say yes fast enough! It sounded so unique and interesting! I will start by saying, I picked this one up one night and read about 100 pages so fast. It is beautifully written and thought-provoking. Then I found myself not wanting to pick it up the next day! I think the subject matter was depressing and it was so heartbreaking, the middle was hard to get through. But once I got through that little funk, I blew through it. I couldn’t stop telling everyone how much I loved it. It really is such an extraordinary novel that I cannot believe is a debut! I think it would make a great book club pick to discuss. I will be talking about this book for awhile and anxiously anticipating what the author has for us next!

The Names hasn’t been released yet but I have already seen a lot of hype for this one as well get close to its release date. It is ABSOLUTELY worth the hype- do not sleep on this one!

From the start, this book was so interesting. It was very unique and I loved how it felt like 3 books within a book. It really makes you think about how little choices can change someone’s entire life. Honestly all of the 3 stories were done so well that I had different favorites as they went along and ended up so satisfied with all of them.

The endings for each story were all beautiful and I teared up multiple times. Do yourself a favor and grab this book!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

Cora lives in fear of her abusive husband. Shortly after the birth of their son, she is tasked with walking over to the registrar and registering the birth of the baby. On the way, she and her nine-year-old daughter, Maia, discuss his name. Her husband has demanded that the baby be named after him, a long-standing tradition within his family. Maia doesn't understand why the baby must have the same name as their father, and when asked,d suggest Bear. Cora wants to name him Julian. What follows is a series of three chapters, every seven years, about what would happen if she had chosen each name.

There were stark differences between Bear, Julian, and Gordon, with each having a wildly different personality and interests. The events are entirely different based on the name of the young man. It really makes the reader examine what is in a name and how a name can change the course of one's life.

I started reading this book on a Saturday morning and finished it by that night. I talked to everyone I came in contact with about it, because it really made me think. The writing is exquisite. Florence Knapp is now an author I am going to have to follow.

Thank you to Net Galley, Penguin Group Viking Penguin, and Pamela Dorman Books.

WOW!! Actually 5 WOWS!! This book is so beautifully written. It will make you sad, happy, teary, heartsick and did I say happy. Being a debut novel I am so impressed with how the author handled the subject matter with so much depth and sensitivity. The story revolves around Cora, mom, Gordon, dad (not a nice guy) and their two children, Maia and now here is where it gets interesting and the boy child; Bear, Julian & Gordon. After her son is born Cora goes to the registrar's office to register his name. Her abusive husband wants him named after him, Gordon. Cora does not want that because she does not want her son to become her husband. The author takes us on a journey of what life would be like with each name. It spans 35 years with chapters of Bear, Julian & Gordon in increments of every seven years. You want Cora to develop a back bone and just leave her husband but she wants to protect her children so she stays. You see how each name takes a different journey in life. Just a wonderful book. I can not recommend it enough. It is definitely the best book I have read this year. It is being released on May 6, 2025 and I suggest you grab it and devour it. You will not be disappointed.
Thanks to #netgalley, #pameladormanbooks and @florenceknapp_ for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

It’s been quite a while since I read a book in just one day. I was determined to follow each of the separate stories and keep details clearly in my mind to find out where it all ended up. My conclusion is this author is extremely talented and I’m looking forward to reading anything else she writes.

This review has been posted to Goodreads and Storygraph on April 25th, 2025. Links provided.

The Names presents a speculative exploration of how a single moment of choice can reverberate through time, shaping the lives of one woman and her children. On one fateful day, Cora must name her newborn son, an act that becomes a metaphorical crossroads. Her decision launches three diverging timelines, each spanning several decades and structured around the name she gives the child: one that aligns with her abusive husband’s wishes (Gordon), one of her own choosing (Julian), and one inspired by her daughter (Bear). Through this inventive narrative framework, the novel examines the long-lasting consequences of domestic abuse, the complexity of maternal sacrifice, and the subtle interplay between identity and fate. As the story revisits the characters every seven years, readers witness how relationships, choices, and trauma evolve in parallel yet distinct realities.

Honestly, I thought the idea behind the book was really cool, but it didn’t totally land for me. I kept getting pulled out of the story because the constant back-and-forth between the three different timelines was just confusing and I occasionally found myself unsure which timeline I was currently reading. Every time I started to get into one version of the story, it would switch, and I’d have to reorient myself all over again. Sadly, this made it harder for me to really feel connected to any of the timelines and often left me feeling a little bored. I also went in expecting a deeper dive into how a name might affect someone’s life, but it ended up being way more about Cora’s abusive relationship and how that shaped her kids’ futures. That’s an important topic, no doubt, but the title and premise kind of felt like a bait and switch. The writing itself was really good in parts—some of the emotional moments hit hard—but overall, I found the structure a bit exhausting. I’m glad I read it, but it just didn’t connect with me the way I hoped it would.

Thank you to Penguin Group Viking Penguin and NetGalley for the opportunity to read to an ARC of The Names in return for my honest review.

What a debut! Loved this so much- the different timelines and stories were so heartbreaking. Trigger warning for domestic violence but you're going to want to get your hands on this one.

Cora will never know what might have happened if she had chosen to give her son another name, but in Florence Knapp’s affecting novel, The Names, we get to see the results of her visit to the local registrar to give her newborn his name. This novel follows three possible, plausible futures. I was fascinated by each one. Cora’s choice of name is just a catalyst for what follows; what happens is the result of a lot of different people’s choices and their tangle of consequences.

Cora has three different names in mind for her son when she visits the registrar. Her husband, the controlling and violent Gordon, wants the boy named after himself. Cora has been musing on the name Julian. Cora’s daughter, Maia, suggests Bear when asked for her thoughts. This name also appeals to Cora. We revisit the moment when Cora reveals what she wrote down on the form three times, where the family’s story turns into three possibilities.

I feel like I can’t say too much about what happens in The Names because almost anything I reveal could be a spoiler. Rather than give away what happens to Cora and her children, I’ll instead say that I was very interested in the variety of lives these characters live after Cora reveals what she named her son. Maia and Bear/Julian/Gordon become very different people from their other potential selves, being children when these stories diverge from each other. How much time they spend with their father has a lot of impact on how free they feel later in life to pursue their passions and relationships. Cora retains her desire to stay close to her children in all of her futures. She can be uncomfortably self-sacrificing but, given the malice and violence of her husband, I can’t really blame her.

It’s impossible to say if there’s a “best” future because they all contain periods of happiness and tragedy. It’s also impossible not to analyse the subsequent decisions made by Cora, Gordon, and her children. Should Cora stay or should she flee? Is it even possible to successfully run away from a monster like Gordon? Would it be better to live in England or Ireland? Which of the people Maia and Bear/Julian/Gordon date is the best partner for them? Who are the children meant to grow up into? And, of course, what about the choices that led Cora and Gordon to marry in the first place? The Names offers so many opportunities to second-guess everything that, for me, it brilliantly succeeded in showing me the futility of wasting time wondering about what-might-have-been at the cost of making the present absolutely miserable. This book would be an excellent choice for a book group to dive into.

This book is challenging for me to review. First, it’s structured around two distinct stories and three timelines. The two stories revolve around extreme spouse abuse, while the third revolves around birth names. It’s the names that drive the narrative.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have been named something else? I’m Linda, and I can honestly say that I might have preferred it, along with all the other names like Debbie, Barbara, Kathie, and Karen (oh, the poor Karens).

Cora, the abused spouse, and MFC has to register her new son’s name, accompanied by her first daughter, at the British registry office. Her physician husband, Gordon, has made it abundantly clear that the baby will be named after him, Gordon. However, the problem is that he’s so awful, so abusive, so unkind, and sadistically cruel that she can’t bring herself to name her little boy Gordon. It took a remarkable amount of willpower to name him Bear. When her husband finds out, he beats her severely and tells her the next day that she’s to return and name him Gordon. She returns to the registry and names him Julian, her first choice. But when her husband, who is a well-loved surgeon, finds out, he tears her apart almost limb by limb. From there, the domestic abuse escalates to horrific levels.

In the end, we have three stories told as if the boy was raised: Bear, Julian, or finally, Gordon. The question arises: How much does a name define you? Can it change your life? Will you have a different future? Do you live up to, or in this case, down to, your given name?

The book is well-written, but it’s also exceedingly gruesome to me. The kind of outrageous beatings that landed the father in jail didn’t stop his abuse. And to be frank, it was difficult for me to read. I had to give up reading the book at night, Was Is it a good book? Absolutely. Is it well-written? Very. Was it too much for me? Sadly, yes.

I look forward to reading other reviews by the author of this debut novel.

#TheNames @florenceKnapp @Viking @pameladormanbooks #grief #loss #torture #serialabuse #beatings #fear #names #future #death #wastedlives

This clever novel asks the question “what’s in a name.” Cora alongside her 9 year old daughter have just set off to register her son’s birth. Her husband is expecting him to name the child after him, but Cora hesitates when she gets there, imagining if she were to call him something else. The novel follows three alternate stories, three different names for her son, seeing how his, and their, life would’ve changed with each.

First, there is a major plotline of domestic violence that you’ll want to be aware of if you are a sensitive reader. But aside from that, this is an absolutely gut-wrenching book about this family and how their lives play out in various realities. I found myself racing through these pages, feeling both uncomfortable wondering what would happen next, and pleading that they’d all be okay.

This book jumps seven years at a time, but each story is told in the same years so that you really get a feel for how life would be for each of these alternate versions of the family. I felt so much when I closed the pages of this book thinking both how brilliant it is to a imagine something as simple as a name changing your life trajectory, and also still feeling so heartbreakingly sad for various outcomes in each of these versions.

To call this book a family drama doesn’t quite get at the power in the pages - because it is so much more - but also, so much of what is at the center is family dynamics with a healthy dose of trying to heal from your past. I loved this book and when it comes out next month I’ll be getting a copy for my keeper shelves.

This book had a very interesting premise of the importance of the name given to a newborn - and how can that name lead the direction of your life, if at all?? There is a trigger warning for domestic violence as that is what leads to the dilemma that Cora has in naming her infant son. Does she follow her domineering husband's family tradition and name the baby after him - Gordon? Does she name the baby with what she wanted to name him - Julian? Or does she let her daughter choose a whimsical name that she wants to call him - Bear? The book explores each name throughout their own chapters and follows the life the family and children have taken according to the name Cora chose. How has the boy's name directed the future he lives as well as his loved ones. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Viking Penguin for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #NetGalley #TheNames