Review: The Names by Florence Knapp

Synopsis

What’s in a name? Would your life have played out exactly the same if your parents had chosen a different name for you? In her debut novel, The Names, Florence Knapp explores this question by following three separate timelines in which Cora, the abused wife of a well-respected doctor, chooses either to defy, to manipulate, or to obey her husband’s orders in the naming of their newborn son.

My Review

Let me start by saying that the cover art pictured above is absolutely genius. Three very different flowers growing from the same stem perfectly encapsulates the structure and heavy symbolism of this novel. It’s also very striking in its simplicity, which can also be said of Knapp’s writing style. Well done to whoever designed it.

I’ll be honest with you, this is a hard book to review. When I got to the end, I just sat for a while staring into space and trying to figure out how I felt about it. First of all, the domestic abuse that Cora suffers is horrific and uncomfortable to read. No, not just uncomfortable… downright maddening. Please check trigger warnings if depictions of abuse are likely to disturb you. I’m sure some of the scenes in this book will haunt me for a while. Secondly, I had trouble figuring out what message the author was trying to convey. I’m still not sure I have a good handle on it, but it’s certainly left me thinking.

The three timelines

Cora’s decision in the opening chapter comes down to three names for her baby: Gordon, after his abusive father and grandfather, which she fears will doom him to turn out just like them; Julian, the name Cora favours, which she hopes to convince her husband is in tribute to him, since it means “sky father”; or Bear, the name her 9-year-old daughter Maia wants to call him, since he’s cuddly like a teddy bear but strong like a real bear. Whichever name she chooses seals her and her children’s fate. From that point, we check in on each timeline in turn every 7 years. I found it interesting that Knapp chose 7-year intervals, since the number 7 holds great symbolism in many cultures, and 7 years is considered to be the time it takes for the body’s cells to renew themselves. Very fitting.

I thought at first that I would have trouble following each timeline in this format, but they were different enough that I rarely felt lost, even when I had to set the book down and pick it up again mid-chapter. Knapp does an excellent job of thinking through the details and making each storyline believable. For instance, a boy named “Bear” would hear a lot of animal references throughout his life and would think of himself as connected to the animal kingdom, while a boy named after his father and grandfather would think of himself as an extension of their legacy, for better or worse. Knapp clearly put a lot of thought into how details like those could shape a person’s psyche and alter the course of their life.

Is the message of The Names even about names at all?

My confusion about the message of The Names grew with every time jump. “What exactly is Knapp trying to say with this story? Is she trying to say anything at all? Maybe it’s just an interesting writing exercise and I should stop overthinking it?” But then I got to the Epilogue, and I’ll try not to dive too deep into spoilery waters here, but it did answer my questions to some degree. I believe there is a message in The Names, but it isn’t about names at all.

Cora’s decision of what to name her son was a turning point in her life, but it wasn’t the only one. It wasn’t even the biggest one. Every life is full of crossroads moments, when each possible decision would lead us in a different direction. It’s impossible to foresee the consequences of every action, and quite frankly, stuff’s gonna happen no matter what you do. Not one of the three timelines is The Perfect Life. Would a fourth be perfect? No, of course not. Nobody’s life is perfect, even if you always make the right decision. But isn’t it infinitely more satisfying to see Cora take control of her life than to watch her submit to her husband’s tyranny? Yes!! And when it comes right down to it, I think that’s what Knapp is trying to say.

Conclusion

Basically, The Names is a story of life’s infinite possibilities. Knapp’s writing is exquisite, her attention to detail is impeccable, and the story is thought-provoking, heartbreaking, and powerful. I highly recommend it.

Pre-order The Names now on Bookshop.org* (Release Date: May 6, 2025)
*As an affiliate, I will receive a small commission from any purchase made through this link.

Many thanks to NetGalley for granting me early access to an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!