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

I absolutely loved this book. It’s uplifting in parts, heartbreaking in others. I loved the three different lives based on the names chosen. I always think it’s brave to write about domestic abuse as it can go wrong but this was done properly. It portrayed the reality of abuse and its various forms as well as the knock on effects exceptionally well. These characters will stay with me. I’m so glad I read this book and met them all.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for my honest and unbiased opinion.

This was beautiful. I had a very strong emotional reaction to the first trio of stories- I think I'd already connected with the characters in their various forms and was dreading what might come for them. The different pathways their stories took were heartbreaking and uplifting in turn. I will definitely be recommending this to people

When Sliding Doors meets Versions of Us. A story of a family - domestic tyrant Gordon is the father, Cora the mother and Maia their daughter, and now a newborn son who still has to be named. How much will the name they choose for him determine the course of their lives. Cora and Maia take the young baby to register his birth - will he be Gordon too, named after his domineering violent father, or will Cora try to break the spell of the dominant paternal line and register him as Julian, her chosen name for him. Or will he be Bear, Maia's choice.

The three versions of the future span multiple decades - how will Gordon, Julian or Bear develop and emerge from this auspicious day and decision.

A really interesting concept - what is in a name. Can it really make that much difference to a life lived.
Sensitively told, despite the very dark themes of domestic violence and coercive control with far reaching impacts.
very much recommend - but with a word of warning if your name is Gordon (as my Dads name is!) or you have a family with a tradition of naming after a parent.... it is hard to not take personally!! :)

I loved this so much - really tender, harrowing at times but also filled with lots of hope. The characters are ones that have stuck with me and that I will hold close to my heart for a long time. Very special!