In the wake of a catastrophic storm, Cora sets off with her nine-year-old daughter, Maia, to register the birth of her son. Her husband, Gordon, respected in the community but a controlling presence at home, intends for her to follow a long-standing family tradition and name the baby after him. But when faced with the decision, Cora hesitates....
Spanning thirty-five years, what follows are three alternate and alternating versions of their lives, shaped by Cora's last-minute choice of name. In richly layered prose, The Names explores the painful ripple effects of domestic abuse, the messy ties of family, and the possibilities for autonomy and healing.
Through a prism of what-ifs, Florence Knapp invites us to consider the "one ... precious life" we are given. 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.
The Names is a strong debut. At its heart, this book asks an intriguing question: does your name really shape who you become?
That question sits at the center of the story, which I do think should come with trigger warnings for domestic abuse. While I don’t know if that counts as a spoiler, it’s central to the narrative and important to know going in.
The book is told through three “what if” scenarios rather than traditional timelines. What if this baby boy is named Bear or Julian or Gordon - after his well respected Dr. father. A decision his mother Cora makes. What follows is a look at of how their lives might unfold under each name. The writing was smooth and kept me engaged, though I did feel taking too long a break had me pausing to remember where I was and which story I was in.
The Names is a thoughtful, imaginative and emotional debut. One that has stayed with me weeks after I finished.
This book was part of my 2025 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge (#52)