Great book club discussion book! The premise is how small decisions - in this case, the name chosen for a child - affect the trajectory of the child's life and others. Will the child fulfill the legacy of a name or the aspirations associated with a name? The author tackles domestic abuse and violence, personal agency, and how different characters navigate healthy and unhealthy family dynamics over time. Well-written and thoughtful.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC. I was so captivated by this debut's hook: can a name change the course of a life? I loved the structure and the prose, and the premise felt particularly fresh. Really loved this one!

3.5 ⭐️The three versions of the future span multiple decades in this Sliding Doors-type novel. Uplifting at times and heartbreaking at others, it explores how the name a couple chooses for their son could shape the course of their lives, told through alternating timelines. TW: Domestic abuse.

Florence Knapp’s debut novel, The Names, absolutely lives up to the hype as one of the most anticipated fiction releases of the year. With its thought-provoking and highly creative speculative premise, this novel explores how a single name can define a person’s fate, shaping their relationships and leading them down vastly different life paths.

I devoured this book in one sitting, completely captivated by the unique and emotionally rich journeys of Bear (strong, brave, and warm-hearted), Julian (inspired by the sky, limitless and ambitious), and Gordon (immovable, looming, shaped by tradition). Their lives unfold in three separate timelines, each revealing the profound impact of a single decision—one name.

The story begins on a pivotal day for Cora, a mother of two, as she walks to the registration office to officially name her newborn son. Her husband, Gordon—a respected doctor—insists the child be named after him to continue their family legacy. But Cora hesitates. She fears history will repeat itself, that her son will become a mirror image of his father—a man who, like his own controlling father, hides his toxic nature behind a mask of prestige. Trapped in a marriage where she endures suffering to protect her children, she realizes this is her one chance to change the course of her son’s life. By choosing a different name—perhaps "Bear" to make him strong and kind, or "Julian" to give him the boundless potential of the sky—she hopes to set him free from the cycle of the past.

This single decision splinters into three possible futures, following Cora, her daughter Maia, her mother Silbhe, and her son—who in different realities lives as Bear, Julian, or Gordon—across 35 years. Through their joys, losses, struggles, and triumphs, the novel masterfully examines how identity, fate, and personal choices intertwine. Each timeline invites deep reflection on the paths we take in life and the power a name holds in shaping destiny.

Without giving too much away, I can say that by the time I reached the final chapter, I was overwhelmed with emotion. The Names is filled with poignant moments, deeply relatable characters, and a message that lingers long after the last page. It’s one of those rare books that nestles into your heart and continues to resonate for years to come.

Final thoughts: This is hands down one of the best books of 2025—a must-read that deserves a spot on your TBR list immediately! If you love alternative-universe stories, Sliding Doors-style "what if" scenarios, or emotionally gripping narratives with unexpected twists, The Names is calling for you.

Many thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP VIKING/Pamela Dorman Books for providing this fantastic debut’s digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Florence Knapp’s debut novel, ‘The Names,’ explores three distinct plots stemming from Cora’s decision to name her son. The concept of alternate paths based on names is captivating. Each timeline is compelling, yet their intertwining creates a unique read.

Who knew that a name given at birth could determine how your life plays out. The Names gives us a view into that concept with Bear, Julian and Gordon, all the same person.
At first I was a bit confused with what I was reading but once I realized what the author had in mind the book flowed freely. I enjoyed this book despite the spousal abuse which was difficult to read about.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the idea of how a name can influence a persons’ life,

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC.

This novel follows Cora, her husband, and two children down three separate tracks of life based on the name she selects for her son. The reader checks in on each different scenario every 7 years.

The domestic violence that is so prevalent in this book is hard to stomach at times, so I would be cautious in recommending it to sensitive readers. I had to set it down for a week and come back to it because it was too disturbing. The characters are well developed and the writing is thoughtful and authentic. I've never read a novel with this format and I appreciated how the author covered the themes of destiny, free will, and nature vs. nurture.

The epilogue was unnecessary and uneven and knocked this book down from 5 stars to 4 stars for me. Skip it if you're reading the novel.

When I first read the description for this book, I thought the premise sounded promising, as well as interesting. The story centers around Cora, who, while on her way to register her baby boy’s name starts thinking about the different paths her son‘s life might take based on the name she chooses for him. Her husband Gordon, who is extremely abusive towards her, automatically assumes she will name the baby after him. But Cora has a different name that she prefers while her 9 year-old daughter Maia comes up with her own name for the baby. The story then progresses in 5 year increments, each with three subchapters based on the three different names and how their lives develop over time. I found this format to be incredibly confusing and I had a hard time throughout the book trying to keep each of the three different stories straight. I wish the author had written the book using a different format with 3 complete short stories - one for each name - so that it would be easier to keep the details straight. That being said, I do have to say that the author is quite the gifted writer and her storytelling is exceptional and really draws the reader in. I would most certainly want to read her next book, given her beautiful writing style, however I hope she comes up with a different format - one that is not so confusing! I am giving this book a three star rating based solely on how confusing it was and not on the author's writing style.
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a heartbreaking and beautifully written debut novel that will stay with me long after I turn the final page. The plot was fresh and interesting, and the structure, while difficult to follow at times, aided the narrative quite a bit.

I fell in love with so many of these characters and was so heartbroken as they faced such trying circumstances. The topic of domestic abuse wasn’t sugarcoated, and the varying effects on a family were staggering.

I am so impressed with this author and her tender writing. I foresee a bestseller and I absolutely adored this novel.

I do think the structure is difficult for a first-time read of the book. As a reader just getting to know the characters, it’s tough to keep the stories straight. I think chunking together longer time periods would have been helpful rather than alternating so frequently. Maybe two seven-year chunks at a time instead of one. Every time it switched I had to really think about the side characters, what had happened to Cora in that version, etc. I didn’t mind but I think some readers will set it aside.

Perhaps the team working on this got so familiar with the characters that it was no longer confusing for them, but they should know that for some readers on their first exposure to Bear, Julian and Gordon it will be confusing!

The writing was beautiful, but I just couldn’t get into this story. When I read the review, I thought it would take on other story. I have this discussion with a lot of my friends how a child’s name can lead to their history. I’m sure this book will be on the bestseller list.

I really enjoyed this book. The premise was so unique and well-planned, and the various paths that the characters might have taken were so well thought out.

What's in a name? In this ambitious book, the author explores what might happen if a child is given a different name. Would our paths be different?
Written in three parallel stories, we meet Cora and her abusive husband Gordon at the critical juncture of naming their son. Will he be called Bear as their daughter wants, Julien, Cora's choice, or Gordon after generations of men in the family?
This book is really well done. The only flaw for me was I should have kept notes. If I read the book in large chunks, I loved it. But at about 60% I couldnt do large chunks and could only do a little at a time. This was the undoing. Because all three stories have the same main characters, its hard to keep them apart unless you are reading it in chunks. It took me a few minutes each sitting to remember what was happening with the characters and this repeated strain started to make the book difficult for me. If you can sit and commit, its wonderful.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this advance reader copy in exchange for a review. The opinions here are my own. Be careful of the trigger warnings early. 3.75*

4.5 stars! I requested an ARC of this book because it's premise sounded interesting to me and the premise reminded me of Kate Atkinson's Life After Life. I was mesmerized by all three alternating storylines in Florence Knapp's The Names. Cora lives under the oppressive, controlling, abusive control of her doctor husband. When her son is born, she takes her 9 yr old daughter with her to register his birth (and give him his name). Set forth are three separate storylines based on the choice she makes that fateful day. The character's are well developed, and sometimes make frustrating and disappointing decisions, but I read through this book eagerly to learn what was in store for Cora, her daughter, Maia, and her son.

I love the premise of this book, showing the alternate timelines and significance of giving her son a specific name, one that will change the course of his life. The writing is intimate and visceral - I could feel the raw emotion seared onto the pages. The characters felt real and fully developed, and the pacing was perfectly executed.

We see how the lives of the family members would have been different in seven year intervals, based on what name was chosen for the new baby. There are certain aspects that are vastly different and other interesting parallels that seem destined to take place. The portrayal of the familial relationships that develop are captivating and completely true to life.

This was a true masterpiece - stunning, evocative, and enthralling.

How is this a debut? With absolutely beautiful prose the author explores how choosing a name can affect the lives of a family (with an abusive father) for generations. The book uses a “Sliding Doors” device to show three different outcomes: Bear, Julian and Gordon. Each is so wonderfully plotted and emotionally engaging. I felt for each version of this young man and his family. The brother/sister relationship reminded me at times of the relationship in Dutch House while the impacts of the abusive dad reminded me a bit of Ask Agajn, Yes. I loved both of those books and yes I loved this one too. I have to imagine this will be a big book club pick or a botm pick this year as it would make for a fabulous book club discussion.

One to watch out for!!

The Names is a lovely and devastating book in the mold of Jo Walton's My Other Children (and countless other books and films such as Sliding Doors), in which a decision on the part of one character splits a single narrative into multiple ones. Cora, a young mother, is tasked by her violently abusive husband with registering the name of their baby boy. In one instance, she lets her daughter name him: he is called Bear. In the second, she gives him the name Julian, and in the third, in accordance with her husband's demand, she names him Gordon. She, her daughter, and the baby return home, and when she tells her husband what she's done, her story breaks into three paths, all with some similarities and some differences. The various lives of Cora and her children are each about the legacies of domestic violence, about finding one's own self, about manipulation and responsibility, about trust and love, and about grief. Knapp is excellent at getting into the character's thoughts in a way that feels entirely natural and comfortable. The narratives have unexpected twists and turns, making the entire novel a journey of discovery. I will caution readers who have experienced violence that this may be a difficult read or be triggering, but it's also a book I recommend very highly.

Names have always been of importance to me. So coming across this book, that gives various points of view due to the chosen name, it was a must read. And I was not disappointed! Reading this story or really three stories in one, I felt the hatred, the fear, the anxiety, the concern, the unbelievable occurrences and the moments realizations were realized by those involved. This book is one that anyone from book clubs to Independant readers will be in deep discussion and thought with.

This was such a well crafted masterpiece!

Three stories are told: what happens as a result of a name chosen for a baby boy? We follow the boy, along with his orbit of family, through 30 years, dropping in on them every 7 years. And you grow to love each character in each timeline as separate people, but also as the same people, just with different circumstances? It's a wonderful magic trick that Knapp has pulled off.

Trigger warning: one of the book's main themes is the consequences of domestic abuse

I predict this will be a bestseller! Such a unique premise, and I enjoyed the use of third person omniscient narration to really get more out of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Viking, and Pamela Dorman Books for providing this book, with my honest review below.

For anyone who has thought ‘what if’, it’s rare that the what if centers around a name. In The Names, however, that becomes the concept. For Cora, in a marriage with Gordon that sees no ends to her shrinking into herself in every way, she and her daughter Maia, as well as the character of her baby boy, are explored in three different timelines - each with her son named differently, and each timeline resonates in that they brought heartbreak and happiness, some more immediately than others. Nothing was ever perfect, which leant unexpected realism but made the book even more thought provoking.

The Names will tear you up but it’s also incredibly touching and hopeful. There is a lot happening in each timeline, but in each readers will keep going back to the opening chapters and wondering how one choice might cause all these ripples, and if that could create so much bearing in our own day to day. A must read for those that love to reflect in an emotional and well done story.