The Names
by Florence Knapp
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Pub Date May 13 2025 | Archive Date Apr 30 2025
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Description
The unforgettable debut novel that became an instant global sensation, The Names asks how a name can shape the course of a life and explores the single what-if moments that can overturn a person's fate
Tomorrow - if morning comes, if the storm stops raging - Cora will register the name of her son. Or perhaps, and this is her real concern, she'll formalise who he will become.
It is 1987, and in the aftermath of a great storm, Cora sets out with her nine-year-old daughter to register the birth of her son. Her husband intends for her to follow a long-standing family tradition and call the baby after him. But when faced with the decision, Cora hesitates. Going against his wishes is a risk that will have consequences, but is it right for her child to inherit his name from generations of domineering men? The choice she makes in this moment will shape the course of their lives.
Seven years later, her son is Bear, a name chosen by his sister, and one that will prove as cataclysmic as the storm from which it emerged. Or he is Julian, the name his mother set her heart on, believing it will enable him to become his own person. Or he is Gordon, named after his father and raised in his cruel image - but is there still a chance to break the mould?
Powerfully moving and full of hope, this is the story of three names, three versions of a life, and the infinite possibilities that a single decision can spark. It is the story of one family, and love's endless capacity to endure, no matter what fate has in store.
Advance Praise
I've just been blown away by the best debut novel in years. Sunday Times
I read the first few chapters of this moving story in awe that it was a debut. Not only is it beautifully written, it's alive with raw emotion and both devastating and heartwarming by turn. Good Housekeeping
I predict this will be a big hit this year. Prima
One of 2025's most talked-about novels already. Red
The 2025 book that will be everywhere . . . It may well break your heart but it will piece it back together again, too - this is one of those rare books that shines with humanity and makes you glad to be alive. Stylist: 26 Must-Read Books That Will Be Massive This Year
An intriguing question cleverly explored... a sliding doors story exploring three different versions of a life. Independent
A sensation long before it hits the shelves, this heart-breaking debut was the centre of a bidding war. Daily Mail
A beautiful exploration of fate and the ripple effects of choice . . . Knapp explores how a single decision can reshape a life . . . richly layered with all the joy and heartbreak of this one wild and precious life. Reader’s Digest
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781399624039 |
| PRICE | A$32.99 (AUD) |
| PAGES | 384 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Debbie M, Reviewer
What a sensational and completely unforgettable debut!
Cora sets out with her baby, to register his name, young daughter in tow. She has her instructions. His name will be Gordan, as his father is and his father before him. But when faced with the decision, will Cora go against his wishes and break the cycle of these domineering and dangerous men or will she comply? Her choice will shape her future and that of everyone around her.
Seven years later we see the consequences of her life changing decision and how it has affected Cora and her family. The possible futures of Bear, named by his sister, Julian, named by his mother but still breaking tradition and Gordon.
This novel was so touching and really broke me in places. It demonstrated a mothers love for her children and the lengths she will go to in order to protect them, along with the importance of family and community. I must admit that I absolutely love this sliding doors type approach in novels and this format worked so well here. While this was heartbreaking, it was also powerful and brilliant and I found it hard to believe it was a debut. Highly recommend.
Jess F, Reviewer
Three names, three possible fates,
His name is Bear, or it’s Julian, or it’s Gordon and depending on which a life is already set in motion. A life centred around one family and love that endures against all odds. The idea that a name might tell others who we are, but it’s the people around us who help mould who we become.
Fast paced, compelling, heart warming one moment and devastatingly heart breaking in the next, The Names is so genius it’s the kind of book you wish you could erase from your brain to experience again for the first time. A deeply emotional story of the traumatic and life long effects of domestic abuse, the ripples it sends through lives and the strength and love of one family to survive in the face of it all.
Incredibly unique and fascinating, this story is unlike anything I have ever read before and something I could never forget.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette for the opportunity to read this advanced copy and congratulations to Florence on such an incredible debut novel which I’m sure is about to become a bestseller and bookclub favourite.
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