I loved this clever take on the Sliding Doors narrative that asks ‘what’s in a name?’ A compelling and terrifying depiction of coercive control and physical abuse over three versions of a lifetime, but which still manages to be uplifting and focus on hope and beauty.

Very lovely, sad and also hopeful. No criticisms although ultimately it felt a little light - i think i wanted to think more, feel more than i ultimately did

I was really blown away by Knapp's debut, highly recommend it. Its less a story about naming and more about all the different people we have the potential to be as our lives take different paths. Its a haunting exploration of abuse and its ripple effects and I think the dark content needs to be clear - the book goes there, and it doesn't allow simple answers but balances well the dark with the light. I think the Gordon storyline, with the difficult look at growing up with an abusive father and staying in an abusive marriage may be difficult for a lot of people, but Knapp clearly knows what she's doing and doesn't shirk from really exploring that darkness. Massively recommend for bookclubs and will be an easy hit for fans of tomorrow, tomorrow and tomorrow or one day; I actually enjoyed this far more than either of those.

Thank you for my copy of The Names by Florence Knapp. I was hooked from the first page. It is a beautiful meditation on the significance of a name and the impact certain moments can have on the unfolding of lives. The three part narrative worked wonderfully and I didn't want it to end. This is a wonderful book that I will be recommending to friends and family.

Cora is on her way to the registry office to put her newborn son's name on his birth certificate. She has a decision to make whether to name the child Bear, as suggested by her nine-year-old daughter; Julian, a name she loves, or Gordon, after her husband to keep it in line with his family's tradition. Does she want her son to potentially turn out like his cruel father? How will her decision she made for him impact the rest of his life? A massive congratulations to Florence for this stunning debut novel. It's touching and heartbreaking.

“The Names” looks at how one choice—what to name a child—can change a life. The book follows Cora and her children in three different versions of their future, shaped by whether her son is named Gordon, Julian, or Bear.

The novel deals with some sensitive themes (domestic abuse) however, is dealt with with care and sensitivity. The timelines can be a bit tricky at times, that said; it is a beautifully written and emotional read, one that is full of memorable characters.

I thought it was very clever, the way Florence Knapp created three distinct interwoven alternative narratives around Cora and her children's lives in 'The Names'. This is the poignant story of one family and the terrible domestic abuse suffered by Cora at the hand of her seemingly upstanding doctor husband. Despite the gritty, upsetting subject matter, the story was told with great sensitivity, I enjoyed it very much.

How different life can be from a turn in the road, a quick decision on the naming of a son. This is heartbreaking, joyful, tragic and life affirming, each of three stories bringing every emotion.

The Names was a wonderful surprise to me, and it caught me off guard how much I enjoyed this book! The premise sounded interesting, but Florence Knapp navigates the concept masterfully, and delivers the goods with an unforgettable tale of how life can change on a single decision.

I was sceptical at first at how a simple name change could truly affect the future of a character, but the context from the opening chapters quickly put any doubts I had to bed. The domino effect of events spreading out from the prologue in three directions was absolutely excellent, and showed off a lot of depth and variety in its character development. Watching some characters play a starring role in one reality, and fade into obscurity in another is fascinating! The tiniest moments really can have a huge effect over the course of a life, and The Names captures the gravity of that concept perfectly.

I wouldn’t call this a comfortable read, as there are strong themes of domestic violence and abuse throughout; these themes are highlighted and captured marvellously, but it definitely makes for an emotional and uncomfortable read at times. I also found the novel to become more challenging to follow the further into the narrative you get. With three alternate timelines of the same characters going about their lives, and the jumps forward in time during which jobs and relationships change, it can be tricky to keep tabs on everything that’s happening! It’s the gift and curse of such a premise, and I happen to think The Names handled it relatively well, though I still found myself getting a little lost towards the end.

What a highly original and fantastic book.
How does your given name impact your personality, your social interactions and ultimately your path in life. The whole basis of this book is genius and the delivery is brilliant.
The Names by Florence Knapp is a mesmerizing exploration of identity and destiny. The central premise, a child living out three different lives based on the names his mother could have chosen, turns what we often take for granted into a thought-provoking journey.

Florence Knapp's storytelling is captivating and masterful. This novel is a brilliant reflection on how something as simple as a name can shape our experiences and choices in profound ways.

The depth and creativity in this book make it a must-read for any book club, and even for those who usually shy away from such gatherings. It's a gem that you won’t want to miss out on, and it’s bound to spark meaningful discussions.

Highly recommend!

I have read quite a few books recently on domestic abuse but this one was at times hard to read. The book is primarily about what name should be given to Cora’s son. Her husband insists on the family name of Gordon. Three versions of the story are told over the years from when Cora takes her baby to be registered to when her son is grown up with his own family. In one version of the story, the boy is named Gordon, in the second version he is Julian and in the third he is Bear. The story shows what happens after Cora’s husband finds out what his wife has done. The suspense makes this book a real page turner. Each story is well told and each one different and at times heartbreaking. Bear, Gordon and Julian make different choices. An interesting idea. At the end of the book the author’s note talks about artworks in the book. The artworks add an additional interest.

I’m a big fan of those ‘if only’ type stories like The Midnight Library, Life After Life, The Versions of Us or even Sliding Doors so The Names fits the literary bill perfectly.

One small change – in this case, the choice of a baby boy’s name – can impact not just those directly affected, but also, children, parents, those people who, except for a twist of fate, could be your wife and mother of your child or someone you fell out with in school. The story sweeps us from 1987 to 2022

They say thar grief is the price we pay for love so although I loved large parts of this book, you will definitely need a box of tissues too.

Moving, poetic, emotional and fully deserving of your reading time.

This is the most unique book I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. A tough read but a must read. And how amazing is it that our lives could be altered by a name change. I will never forget these characters and I will never forget this book. It is absolutely amazing and beautifully written. A absolute talent of a writer!

This is a very thought provoking and clever idea. Can our lives really be influenced by what we are named? The circumstances around the three different outcomes hinges on the naming of a baby, although the repercussions of an innocent act are determined by the reactions of a brutal and controlling husband. I thought it a clever idea to section the lives into chunks as they go forward, and look back at what had happened, although it was difficult at times to keep up with the different versions. What I have issue with, is that the boy not only leads a different life, but seems completely different in the things he is good at. In one he is an archaeologist, another a silversmith and then a computer and maths whizz kid. All this while those around( whose circumstances are changed too) seem to be solidly themselves. So I didn’t buy it. The construction of the story was clever and compelling, though it was confusing and was best read in one go.

It's only January and I've already read my book of the year. This was an absolutely engaging look at the multiple potential lives we all lead and I loved every moment. I cried, but I also smiled when I saw the overlaps when I understood the symbolism when things went well for Cora, for Bear and for Maia. Just an absolutely wonderful book, I was so sad when it ended.

THE NAMES is a beautiful, emotional novel with a clever premise, it is a difficult read at times, but the characters are wonderfully drawn, and the questions of inevitability, fate, are fascinating.

A beautiful novel. It’s such a brilliant idea that essentially sets out to answer the question ‘what’s in a name’ and it turns out there’s a LOT in a name. I was very moved by this book - its brilliantly done

Bear, Julian or Gordon? What to name her son is Cora's dilemma as her domineering and abusive husband expects her to name their son Gordon after him. She confronts the possibility of naming him something other to break the cycle of abuse and this novel follows Bear, Julian and Gordon, three different versions and how the different choices of name affect her son, and all of their family. It reminded me of Kate Atkinson's novel, Life after Life.

This is a very good novel. The subject matter of domestic abuse is difficult, and it is an emotional and sometimes shocking read. Gordon the husband is a doctor, a 'good' man, supposedly, and at a point in the novel Maia, Cora's daughter, considers" how anyone would believe how he treated their mother" because he was so incredibly charming.
Every seven years we are introduced to the three boys, growing up into men, and how the consequences of the three different scenarios have affected them, as well as their sister Maia and Cora herself.

This is an engaging and worthwhile read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me access to the ARC.

Oof, this starts off with an unexpected sucker punch to the gut. Really difficult to read in places and gut-wrenching beautiful in others. Loved this.

A clever way to approach the subject of domestic violence and family. We have three scenarios where Cora is an abused wife. In the first she takes the children and leaves her husband. In the second and third she stays and there are different repercussions. The characters are well drawn and each of the stories is very well developed. I enjoyed this book very much