Set in the wake of a devastating storm in 1987, the novel begins as Cora walks with her nine-year-old daughter to register the birth of her newborn son. Her husband, a well-respected doctor, insists the boy be named Gordon, as tradition dictates. But Cora hesitates. Naming him Gordon would tie her son too closely to a man whose abuse she can no longer ignore.
From this pivotal moment, the story splinters into three alternate trajectories, each following a different outcome depending on whether Cora names her son Bear, Julian, or Gordon. Through these parallel narratives, we witness how one decision ripples through the family, reshaping the lives of Cora, her daughter Maia, her mother Silbhe, and her son across 35 years.
Author Florence Knapp says: “We carry our names with us through life, frequently oblivious to how they might shape us as people, and how our path might be influenced by the weight of an inherited name, or the associations that come with what we’re called. In The Names, I was keen to unravel some of these things by tracing their impact on one woman and her family.”
Heralded as one of the most anticipated debut novels of 2025, The Names is utterly, suspenseful, and beautifully measured. It grapples with themes of identity, abuse, sexuality, addiction, and resilience. I’ve never read anything quite like it. Heartbreaking, thought-provoking, and effortlessly readable – The Names is a truly outstanding debut.
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