The Names: A Read with Jenna Pick: A Novel

This book was so compelling it was difficult to put down. It weaves together numerous themes—domestic abuse, manipulation, sexuality, art, and genetics—all orbiting around Cora, the mother of Maia and her newborn son. The baby’s name becomes a central tension in the story: Gordon, reflecting his father’s expectation that the child be named after him and follow in his footsteps; Julian, meaning “sky father,” the name Cora chooses in an attempt to placate Gordon while still allowing her son the freedom to forge his own path, and Maia’s name choice—Bear—chosen because she wants her brother to be soft and cuddly, yet strong and brave. Although the shifting names and timelines can feel confusing as the characters move into adulthood, the novel’s central idea remains clear: the names we are given shape who we become and carry the weight of others’ expectations long before we can define ourselves.

I truly wish I could embody the way human interaction and thought is presented in this book. The contemplations and actions make it feel like change is as easy as considering it and just acting on it one step at a time. The base concept of this book proves to be non-stop fascinating. The little nuances and nods to each of the stories make for a consistently enriching and eye opening read. Strap in though, this book is absolutely brutal and truly provides an emotional rollercoaster that had me in utter awe, sobbing heartily, and still occasionally laughing. Such a strong and beautiful story(ies).

So, so beautifully written. Inevitable comparisons will be made to stories like “sliding doors”, but I found “The Names” uniquely captivating. As both an adoptee in touch with my birth family and an abuse survivor it also rang many bells (ie: I could have had other names - and I have some idea what they might have been - often wondering how they might have shaped me differently). This book therefore captivated me entirely. Florence Knapp does a marvelous job advancing her narrative over the three “named” subjects and the core family Maia and (Bear/Julian/Gordon) experience after the pivot point of “Naming” then the cascade of events after. This is a novel impossible to put down once you reach that point. Definitely recommended!

This was not my favorite book. Kind of disturbing but glad I read it.

Sometimes a book is about the journey. Sometimes it’s about the destination. The Names is solidly in the “journey” camp, although at times it felt like we missed the exit and were cruising down a somewhat aimless highway. This debut novel from Florence Knapp follows one woman, Cora, across three parallel lives, each shaped by the name she gives her son. Will she choose the sweet name her daughter loves? A neutral option to keep the peace? Or will she cave to the generational pressure of naming him after her abusive husband? It’s a creative premise and a clever take on how one small choice can change everything. Think Sliding Doors meets The Butterfly Effect, but with more emotional trauma and less Gwyneth Paltrow. Knapp’s writing style is thoughtful and often beautiful, and I genuinely admire what she was trying to achieve here. That said, the execution didn’t quite land for me. The shifting timelines and multiple realities became muddled, and the transitions were fairly choppy. (Pro tip: skip the audiobook unless you have monk-like focus. I do not.) The book does a compelling job examining domestic abuse and the quiet, heartbreaking decisions women are often forced to make. But despite its central question being “What’s in a name?”, the story isn’t really about the names at all. It’s about survival, sacrifice, and the invisible weight of keeping everyone else happy. While I didn’t five-star love this one, I’m definitely intrigued by Knapp’s voice and will read whatever she writes next. The Names was ambitious, original, and full of good ideas. It just needed a little more clarity and cohesion. Still, it’s the kind of book you’ll want to talk about after finishing.

This is a tale with three alternate paths, so distinct, yet so entangled. A choice as simple as naming a child leads to such variance in outcome, you would never guess as much, but it kept me hooked until the end.

Wow, this was such an interesting book. How decisions made have a ripple effect through a life. In this instance it is in the naming of a child and how the mother's decision on what name to register affects her life and the lives of her children. This is not a light read. It deals with domestic abuse. It shows how the actions of a parent can have far-reaching effects on a child. This is an intricately woven story. It is so well written, that through each iteration of the lives surrounding the different name of the child, we're drawn into those lives and laugh and weep along with the characters.

This book came at the perfect time for me, I couldn’t put it down. It’s so beautifully written and I am always struck by the power of a mother’s love to change the course of one’s history.

I enjoyed it. An interesting and painful story spanning many years.

The moment I read the synopsis of the book I knew it will be interesting, but I did not think it would break my heart and made me cry a lot hehe I highly recommend this book. Is one of the best books I have read this year. Thanks to Goodreads challenge I got the opportunity to read this book so I am very happy I chose to read it.

Names is a well-written and original story that explores how a person’s name can shape their destiny in an alternative reality. The author’s concept is creative and engaging, and the writing feels confident throughout. The book also handles domestic violence with honesty and sensitivity, showing clearly how victims think and feel, as well as how abusers manipulate and control. Overall, Names is a thoughtful, impactful read that blends emotional realism with a unique speculative idea.

The Names is the debut novel from Florence Knapp and what an incredible debut it is. The concept is simple enough: do our names affect the person we become and influence the paths of our lives? Names used to be chosen very carefully for their meaning, although we don’t do that so much these days, perhaps hoping to imbue the child with the qualities of the name. Cora is in an abusive marriage and when she goes to register the birth of her son, she has three names to choose from. Her daughter, Maia, wants the baby to be called Bear, Cora favours Julian which means sky father but her husband Gordon wants the baby named after him. The story then splits into three parts and we follow the journey of boy to man, with each section showing an alternate version of life for each name choice, jumping forward seven years each time. Cora’s choice of name for her son has three different outcomes and leads to three very different lives for her, her son and Maia. Although the book is about the life of Bear/Julian/Gordon, I’d say it’s equally a very powerful exploration of controlling relationships and how they affect a family. It was so fascinating to read the three different scenarios and see where the lives diverged over the years or sometimes where they touched. Are the characters essentially the same, regardless of name or does it have a profound effect on their lives in so many ways? This book is so thought-provoking. Each variation of the life has its emotive, memorable and moving scenes. This is an amazing debut novel and Florence Knapp is without doubt a very talented writer. I found The Names utterly compelling, incredibly moving and very powerful. Without doubt, one of my books of the year.

À Nice and interesting story about different scenarios to reactions to domestic violence. Sad truth about the reality of domestic violence and how it destroys families