4.5/5⭐

This book really really made me think and because of that I might be able to look past some of my irks about this and it might actually be a 5 star read.

Trigger warning related to domestic abuse and sexual assault. Capital T trauma and seeing the ripple effects through a family made for an intricate story that was at times hard to read.

Some of this was really really tough to read but the concept, asking what's in a name, what would happen if just one thing changed in someone's life, something as small yet big as a name being different, is something I find so so interesting.

For a debut novel this is fantastic! Sometimes the writing was just perfect and sometimes it felt a bit too detailed/thesaurusy.

I can't help but think that maybe the execution of this great idea for a novel didn't quite work out everytime? Maybe the author wanted to show that everything works out in the end no matter what happens that it just works out differently and we are all going to be okay. But being just okay isn't necessarily the best content for a book and it felt sometimes a bit anti-climatic?

Tricky following three characters who all have parallel/alternate universe stories with different events happening or sometimes similar ones but slightly different. But maybe that's the point? The stories and different timelines all interweave and blue together?

I really got attached to certain characters and storylines so it was challenging swapping to a different version in different chapters.

5 Stars
An unforgettable debut novel!
“Your name is your destiny.”

In The Names, Florence Knapp delivers a stunning meditation on choice, identity, and generational legacy. Cora is expected to continue tradition by making her son his father’s namesake. Her husband, Gordon, is a well-respected general practitioner—but behind closed doors, Cora endures a deeply abusive marriage. What weight does a name truly carry? Desperate to break the cycle and offer her son a different future, Cora considers naming him Julian, meaning “sky father,” to suggest a life full of limitless possibilities, or Bear, so he might grow up to be “all soft and cuddly… brave and strong.”

The novel unfolds across three parallel timelines, shaped by Cora’s fateful decision—naming her son Gordon, Julian, or Bear. Each path explores how a single choice reverberates through a child’s life and across generations. The ripple effect doesn’t stop with Cora and her son—it profoundly transforms the lives of his sister, Maia, and grandmother, Silbhe, in beautifully distinct and poignant ways.

At first, the shifting narratives can feel disorienting, but the structure quickly becomes intuitive—and ultimately brilliant. The character development is exceptional, and I especially loved how each name shaped not only the son's identity but also the emotional arcs of Cora, Maia, and Silbhe.
This is not an easy read. The depictions of domestic abuse are raw and unflinching. The Names is a gut-wrenching, deeply emotional novel that somehow leaves you heartbroken and hopeful in equal measure.

It even made me wonder: who might I have become with a different name?

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

At it's heart this book explores the question "What's in a name?. This is my exactly my type of book. Offering "what if", "alternative reality," at its finest.

Told in three alternating storylines, a baby boy is bestowed three different names, dictating the path of the boy's life and, indeed, the lives of everyone around him. Exploring the what ifs, the ripple effects of the simple act of naming your child and the highs and lows of life. Incredibly poignant and thought-provoking. At the start of the novel, Cora must register the name for her baby boy. Her husband wants to continue his family's first name legacy, Cora has her preferred name, and even nine year old Maia weighs in with her choice. The timeline diverges as Cora is asked by the registrar for the babies name.

This is the strongest debut I have read, ever. I was enthralled, I was shocked, I was emotionally wrung. I had to put the book down several times, which almost never happens. So please make sure you are in a good headspace and take care to read trigger warnings ⚠️. The narrative takes several really dark turns.

Absolutely brilliant and memorable.

I LOVED this book. The three plot lines, the complexity of Bear/Julian/Gordon's character, the weaving and wobbling of a life lived after a single decision. It was heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time. I could not get enough of it.

Grateful for this ARC - thank you, NetGalley! I was tremendously excited to read this, and it certainly did not disappoint. I did, however, have to wait a few days after finishing to let it marinate and gather my thoughts. If you are sensitive to themes of domestic abuse, you may find this a challenging read.

The Names by Florence Knapp is a bold and emotionally resonant debut novel that explores how a single choice of naming a newborn can shape the course of an entire life.
The story splits into three parallel timelines, one for each potential name for the child, tracing the child’s life over the next 35 years based on the name chosen. With lyrical prose and deep psychological insight, Knapp examines themes of identity, trauma, legacy, and reinvention.
Though structurally complex and at times intense, The Names is a powerful meditation on the ripple effects of our decisions, and the hope of rewriting our stories.

The Names is a compelling, ambitious debut that offers both imagination and impact. It’s a devastating yet satisfying read, one that challenges and lingers. It’s ideal for those who welcome literary complexity and emotionally vivid storytelling. If you’re up for a story about identity, choice, and the ripple effects of said choices, The Names is a novel not to miss.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Florence Knapp, Penguin Random House, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This book had such a compelling premise—could your entire life unfold differently simply because of your name? While I’m not entirely convinced that a name alone could change everything, the story invited me to reflect on the many small choices and circumstances that shape who we become. Exploring alternate timelines through this lens was both creative and thought-provoking.

As a reader in my 40s, I especially appreciated the depth of communication and emotional intelligence between the characters. It felt grounded and real—never cringey or overly sentimental—just honest, mature connection that mirrored what we often seek in real life.

Ultimately, this is a story that draws you in and leaves you feeling deeply connected to every version of these characters. It stayed with me long after the final chapter. I’m so glad I picked this one up—it gave me a lot to think about, and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on what Florence Knapp does next.

An absolutely heartbreaking and powerful read. Be sure to check trigger warnings but the topics are handled with care and compassion. The storytelling is spell binding and will stay with the reader for a long time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pengiun Random House Canada for the digital ARC. The Names was such a moving story that shows the amazing butterfly effect of how one choice spirals out to so very many subsequent events in a chain reaction fashion. The author touches on three different name choices for a family's second child - a son - Gordon, Julian and Bear. As the stories move forward from birth and name registration through the years as history plays out in each of the three name scenarios, it sweeps through multiple countries with such beautiful writing. The inclusion of historical events along with challenges that are faced in relationships brings such a great amount of humanity. One of the excellent quotes from the ARC which may or may not be in the published version was, "One day, as Julian was doing his accounts at the kitchen table, someone interviewed on the radio compared the act of running to a wish to escape something. 'Will you listen to that,' she'd scoffed. 'I'm running toward my life-the three of you-not away from it."

What’s in a name? Following the birth of her second child, Cora is sent by her husband, Gordon, to register the birth. Gordon wants his son to be named Gordon. Gordon is an abuser. The novel is told through three story lines, based on three names for the baby boy - Bear, Julian and Gordon. The stories jump every seven years. Terrific debut.

Title: The Names
Author: Florence Knapp
Genre: Literary
Rating: 3.75
Pub Date: May 6, 2025

I received a complimentary eARC from Penguin Random House Canada via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted

T H R E E • W O R D S

Original • Layered • Sensitive

📖 S Y N O P S I S

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.

💭 T H O U G H T S

2025 has certainly been the year of the debut novel and Florence Knapp's, The Names, was among those garnering all of the praise in the bookish world. I was eager to get my hands on a copy before all of the hype, as it sounded exactly like something I would binge. But it was glowing 5-star reviews from several readers that forced me to move it up my priority list and read it now rather than later.

What an absolutely fabulous concept and structure - 3 parallel storylines told simultaneously with seven year time jumps and based on the choice of naming a baby. The story changes based on which name a baby is given and the ripple effect of domestic abuse. I was invested in seeing how life would play out in each version. There is also so much beauty in the prose.

But as much as I loved the idea and writing, I really struggled with wanting to pick this one up. At times I struggled with keeping the storylines and characters straight, which in turn kept me at a distance. It's also quite possible I was expecting a much more emotionally impactful book than what this one offers. That isn't to say this is an easy read. It is not. But it didn't get under my skin the way other topics on the topic of domestic abuse have.

The Names had a brilliant concept and structure, but it is one of those cases where all of the hype affected my own reading experience. I went with sky high expectations and it didn't quite meet them. It's definitely the time of book that makes the reader contemplate the idea of fate versus free will. There are some cases where I highly recommend the print version as opposed to the audiobook, and this is certainly one of those cases.

📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• parallel stories
• contemplating fate
• character driven narratives

⚠️ CW: domestic abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, gaslighting, toxic relationship, violence, murder, death, death of parent, grief, sexual assault, confinement, injury/injury detail, mental illness, alcoholism, pandemic/epidemic, suicide

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"There’s something about that—when the quietest person, most reserved in their opinions, most reluctant to impose their thoughts on others, finally speaks; you hear."

"There was a subtle power in bowing out."

Thank you to NetGalley and Penquin Random House Canada for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Cora is taking her new baby and her 9 year old daughter with her to the registry office to register his birth and his new name. When asked what his name is she hesitates and thinks about it. Does she want to abide by her husband's orders and name her son after him, Gordon? Will her son turn out to be just like his father if she does? As a result she wants to name him Julian and her daughter wants to name him Bear. The story goes through each scenario as to what life would be like for the family for each chosen name and the differences a name can make.....Enjoy!!!

An interesting premise and each section was unique, however I was saddened at the amount of pain and death that were throughout this book. I guess I wasn't entirely ready for it.

The concept of how a name might shape a person was an intriguing idea for a book. I think the book was well written, though provoking and moving in so many ways. I thoroughly enjoyed that in addition to watching the young boy grow up, we see what happens with the rest of the family as well. It was three separate stories and yet, at the end, I’m not sure I could pick which name was best for this character. They were all well crafted, multi-layered and nuanced.
4 stars. Thoroughly enjoyed. Will be easy to recommend!

There's no doubt about it. This debut novel is beautifully written. It's also bleak and sad.

The story begins in 1987 and Cora has given birth to a son. She lives in England and takes her young daughter with her to go and register his name. Her husband expects his son to be named after him - Gordon (which is a family tradition.) Cora herself likes the name Julian and her little daughter suggests the name Bear. This leads to a unique story. The author breaks down the story in 3 alternating scenarios of what she named her son. The first being if she chose, "Bear," the second, "Julian" and the third, "Gordon." Then all 3 scenarios keep telling the story of the son's life every 7 years. This is where it got confusing me for a little. I might be in the minority but I would have preferred just one story of Bear, then Julian, and then Gordon. Not back and forth.

To me this story wasn't really about the names and if it shaped the child in any different way. It's a story about domestic abuse and how it effects the whole family from generation to generation. It didn't matter what the name of the child was. Each scenario was heartbreaking in its own way. Cora suffered in all three scenarios.

This is a story about things we can and can't control in life. I'm impressed with the writing and I can understand all the praise for this book but for me it ran a little slow in parts. It's a 3.5 story that I'm rounding up to a 4 stars because of the beautiful writing and heartbreaking subject.

This is a Read with Jenna Book Club selection for the month of May 2025

I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for granting me access to this Advance Reader's Copy.

This doesn't happen to me often but as I was writing this review, I upped my star rating. Here me out...

I was so excited to read this one! The concept hooked me right away. Can a name actually change the course of your life? It’s such an intriguing question.

In the end, I don’t think the book was really about your name, but more about the person who gives you that name and how that relationship shapes you. That shift in focus surprised me, and while I initially wanted a different ending for a few of the storylines, I’ve come to appreciate the fact that the author didn’t take the expected route. It stayed with me longer because of that.

This is a beautifully written debut... Thoughtful, layered, and full of emotional depth. Even when I felt frustrated, I never lost interest. And honestly, that emotional tension is part of what makes this book worth the read.

It would make a fantastic book club pick. There’s so much to unpack and discuss.

The Names is a quiet, lyrical exploration of memory, identity, and the power of names. Florence Knapp weaves past and present with subtle grace, creating a narrative that feels both intimate and expansive. The writing is poetic and emotionally resonant, inviting reflection without ever feeling heavy-handed. As a parent this created a different outlook on what we name our children and whether it has an impact on their life. What makes The Names resonate so deeply is its emotional precision. Knapp doesn’t rely on melodrama to create impact; instead, she leans into subtlety and silence. The result is a quietly powerful narrative that lingers long after the final page. Themes of generational trauma, cultural erasure, and personal reclamation are handled with nuance and tenderness.

Triggers warnings: domestic abuse.

Perfect for fans of literary fiction.

I saw this book pop up here and there on various places, and then NetGalley had a promo for it. A few minutes before I got the email, I saw someone reviewing it on Instagram and the review swayed me to try it. So, if you’ve seen this on some “great books of 2025” lists or whatnot, yes, it is worth the hype if you like contemporary fiction.

A deeply emotional story of the ripple effect of choices, for good or for ill, The Names is also a harrowing story of domestic abuse and identity.

There are scenes of domestic violence in this book. It’s not drawn out or graphic, but it’s disturbing. One thing this book does exceptionally well is show how abuse and manipulation begin, why DV survivors go back to their abusers, and how DV affects not just those directly impacted. I think this is an important book in that regard because it does show why questions around DV like “why didnt’ she just leave?” are asinine and, well, insulting.

If you’ve seen the 90s movie Closing Doors, this is probably the closest comparison, as it’s not a parallel universes book but uses three storylines to shows how one decision can cause major changes in people’s lives. I will admit I’ve wanted to write a novel about this for a long time now, but I hadn’t been able to think of a compelling storyline. With this book, its strength is that there isn’t really a plot. We are basically following one woman as she decides what to name her son and the impact the three different names have on her abusive husband’s reaction, the son’s life, and her daughter’s life. There are also minor characters who appear in two or all three timelines, albeit in different situations. And the story moves from the naming of the kid (in 1987) and jumps forward every seven years or so until the child characters are approaching middle age. In this way, we get to see how the decisions carried forward into the characters’ adult lives as well. I could have used a bit more contextual details regarding the time periods. Aside from a few historical events later in the book, I had trouble figuring out what years approximately things were taking place in. While stuff like the rise of the internet, for example, might have been hard to fit in, details about that sort of stuff would have been helpful.

How the book approaches the storylines is what makes it so succesful. The story is told in third person, multiple point of view of all the different iterations of the people. Cora, the mother, stays pretty much the same in all three, but the boy and his sister are very different based on the role the father ends up having in their lives. In this way, the characters are complex and interesting, as well as easy to understand.

I will say, though, that sometimes I had trouble telling the characters apart when they moved from one storyline to another. I sometimes had to double-check which version I was following, as sometimes I couldn’t remember which Cora was in which storyline, for example, but it wasn’t egregious. It does expect you to sort of pay attention to these switches, though we are provided headings.

What’s also really clever about the novel is how the meaning or history of the three names chosen matches the personality of the male main character. That was a fun aspect, especially for someone like me who puts a lot of stock in names.

The writing is also excellent. Very easy to follow and flows at a great pace, with natural dialogue and lots of introspection. For a debut, which tend to have some rough spots, this book was very impressive. A writer to watch, for sure.

Overall, despite how it can be a bit depressing and harrowing at times (honestly, the abuse is not described that much, it just runs through the background of the story), it’s an excellent novel. I highly recommend it.

The Names is a unique set of three parallel stories following the same family. Each story begins with a mother and a daughter who set off to register the name of the youngest new member of the family, a baby boy. The boy is given a different name in each of the three stories: one chosen by the daughter, one chosen by the mother, and one chosen by the father. Each story depicts how one's chosen name can completely alter one's path in life: how you can be in the same body in each reality, but whether you're named John, Joe, or Jack (as an example) can change the course of your entire life.

The Names is an incredibly thoughtful and emotional look at life and relationships. Each chapter will leave you reflecting and often in tears.

Read if you liked these recent bestsellers...
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall
What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange
The Measure by Nikki

🙏Thank you Penguin Random House Canada, Viking, and NetGalley for a gifted advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

⚠️ Potential Trigger Warnings (may not be an exhaustive list): postpartum depression, domestic abuse/homicide, sexual assault.

This is an emotionally gripping novel that takes the 'what if' concept and pushes it to its limits, splintering a single origin point into three distinct timelines. The same early events shape each path but diverge into their own reality, creating layered, parallel worlds that are surprisingly easy to follow and richly imagined. Each version of the characters felt fully realized and emotionally complex. I devoured this in a single day. The pace is relentless, not in action but in emotional momentum. I constantly wanted to know what happened next in each timeline. It’s a story of family, choice, identity, and the reverberations of trauma. The characters’ decisions and reflections felt believable and authentic. I was so invested in all three arcs, and only one moment involving Bear felt like it was done more for the plot. A content warning is essential: this novel contains graphic depictions of domestic violence and emotional abuse. It doesn’t handle this lightly, nor should it, but it’s important to know going in. Highly recommended if you’re looking for emotionally rich fiction.

Thanks to NetGalley and Viking Books for access to this book.

I realize I'm in the minority for my three star rating but it just was ok for me. The idea was an interesting one and definitely unique but I found that the storylines were not about the different name choices for the same boy. It was more about the life of one woman in three different scenarios.

Thanks for the opportunity to read this book.