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.

This book was incredible! Such a unique, creative premise.

I loved the way the three separate stories unfolded, bringing the reader along for a different journey with each point of view. This special storytelling technique felt groundbreaking in a way, giving pause to the idea of fate and how one single choice can change the trajectory of one's life. It was incredibly thought-provoking. I only wish that each chapter didn't jump forward every seven years. It would have been nice to see more of the 'in-between" timeline (but I suppose that would have made for a much longer book).

Overall, this was a complex, wonderfully written book about family and identity. The heavy subject matter (domestic abuse) was done with grace and expertise, portraying the complicated situation in a way that gave insight without being insensitive.

Probably one of my favourite things about this book was seeing how each boy's personality developed as a product of his environment, reflecting on the theory of nature vs nurture. It was so interesting!

The Names was an excellent read and I can see why it was chosen for the Read with Jenna book club.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for my copy!

I'll be recommending this book to everyone :)

This book is one you cannot tear your eyes away from. I read this within a span of a day, and then just sat there pondering the different journeys we are taken along with Cora and her family. In a stunning literary display of the butterfly effect, we see the impact that the naming of just one child can have on a family and all its bonds. The story also touches on social issues, with the most immediate being domestic abuse. I love that the author does not sugarcoat this in any way, and shows just how dangerous escaping can be for a woman.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a review. I will be recommending this to everyone I know.

Thank you Netgalley, Penguin Random House Canada and Florence Knapp for free e-ARC in return of my honest review.

The story begins with a new mother standing in the Registrar’s office, ready to name her newborn son. She weighs tradition against desire, wondering whether she dares defy her husband and a long-standing family custom to choose a name that feels right to her. Even her older daughter is brought into the decision, asked what name should belong to the baby brother she's just met. Does the mother have the courage to follow her heart? What consequences will come from this pivotal choice?

Florence Knapp presents all three possibilities. In one path, the older sister names the baby Bear, a name full of childhood imagination and wild affection. In another, the mother follows both heart and tradition, naming him Julian, a sky-father—symbolic and spiritual, honouring her husband while trusting her own instinct. In the third, she chooses Gordon, dutifully continuing the long family line.

From there, the novel follows each version of the boy’s life, revisiting his story every seven years. It’s as if the reader is stepping between parallel dimensions, each shaped by a single, powerful choice: his name. Each version of the protagonist faces unique challenges, yet all are marked by personal transformation. No matter the path, he emerges changed—hardened in some ways, softened in others, and ultimately more self-aware.

What makes the story especially compelling is the way it invites reflection on fate, identity, and the role a name plays in shaping both. Is it nature, nurture—or something else entirely? Knapp doesn’t preach; instead, she offers space to wonder: how much of who we become is written in the name we’re given?

Each dimension is richly imagined, with recurring characters—family members and friends—appearing in different roles across the three lives. While the main storyline is engaging, it’s the minor characters, subtly shifting across timelines, that I found most fascinating. Their transformations offer surprising insight and depth.

Plot-wise, the story moves steadily, though it’s the development of character and theme that truly stands out. The novel is thoughtful, inventive, and emotionally resonant—a rewarding experience for readers who enjoy layered storytelling.

A unique concept, beautifully executed. Worth picking up at your local bookstore—and discussing with anyone who’s ever wondered what one choice might change.

My family lore is when my dad was born, my grandfather went to register his name on his birth certificate, but instead of writing down the mutually agreed upon name Michael, he wrote down Rodney. My grandmother was rightfully ticked all the way off, and my dad ended up always being referred to as the originally agreed upon name, before having it legally changed once he was an adult. I would die to have been a fly on the wall for that conversation between my grandparents.

Which brings me to the review. How much weight is held within a name? In The Names we are presented with three alternative versions of a family’s story when a baby is given a different name in each one. But in the book, the mom is the one who goes rogue and the dad happens to be a respected physician who beats his wife. The book depicts a lot of domestic violence, and it was so interesting to see how it played out so differently in each storyline.

This was quite a remarkable book and I loved everything about it. I loved the thought provoking topic of what’s in a name. I loved the triad of storylines set in seven year increments. I loved the trajectory that each name set out for this little baby boy, and how it ended up affecting his entire family. It was a lot to mull over and I enjoyed it a lot.

A @readwithjenna bookclub pick, I can absolutely see this one generating lots of conversation and it was an incredible debut.

Very cute and interesting story. I enjoyed the plot, the characters and the vibe of the book. I’m happy I was able to read this one!

There’s a possibly gimmicky premise behind this book: an infant boy in London is given his name—three times—and for each of the three possibilities, a different life unfurls over the next 35 years. But this book is so beautifully and movingly written that it far transcends the foundational gimmick, building its worlds deeply, with insight and compassion. I think this one will stick with me for a while.

One of my most anticipated reads of the year, Florence Knapp’s debut The Names is a devastating and radiant work of art.

Beautiful and heart wrenching, through three alternating stories the author explores; can a name determine one’s fate? The Names is a tender and aching portrait of what it means to lose parts of yourself and still find a way to land gently.

Knapp’s writing is poetic, haunting and breathtaking. A brutally resilient and poignant book that will stick with me for a very long time. By far one of the best books I’ve ever read!!

Thank you Viking / Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you net galley for giving me this opportunity to read this book.
The story centre's around a young family.
Cora has given birth to a son and she and her 9 year old daughter set out to the registrars office to register his birth.
When Cora is asked what her son's name is she hesitates.
Cora's husband Gordon wants their son named after him as he was named after his father.
There are three names of possibly naming her son.
Each name has their own story.
Which name will Cora choose for her son? You will have to read the book to find out.
All opinions are my own.

One of the most unique books I’ve read this year. Really enjoyed the three storylines (one for each name the baby boy is given), and the author skillfully layered in just enough overlap between versions to make them all seem plausible and easy to jump between versions with each chapter. I probably would have read this one super quick - as it was always on my mind - but I did find the domestic violence pretty emotionally taxing to read. I basically read 3 chapters (one of each name) a day and that was pretty good pacing. The way that it skips ahead 7 years after each section made it easy to break it up that way.
Highly recommend giving this book a try.