--- product_id: 806620118 title: "The Names: 'The best debut novel in years' Sunday Times" price: "VT2729" currency: VUV in_stock: false reviews_count: 8 url: https://www.desertcart.vu/products/806620118-the-names-the-best-debut-novel-in-years-sunday-times store_origin: VU region: Vanuatu --- # The Names: 'The best debut novel in years' Sunday Times **Price:** VT2729 **Availability:** ❌ Out of Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Names: 'The best debut novel in years' Sunday Times - **How much does it cost?** VT2729 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Currently out of stock - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.vu](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/806620118-the-names-the-best-debut-novel-in-years-sunday-times) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description A once-in-a-generation debut from a major new talent, The Names is the story of three names, three versions of a life, and the infinite possibilities that a single decision can spark. THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'I've just been blown away by the best debut novel in years . . . A genius idea for a book' Sunday Times 'Wildly original and emotionally profound' Observer 'An unadulterated success: moving, evocative and utterly convincing' The Times OVER HALF A MILLION COPIES SOLD It is 1987, and in the wake of a great storm, Cora sets out with her young daughter to register the birth of her son. Her husband expects her to follow tradition and call the baby after him - but is it right for her child to inherit his name from generations of domineering men? Her choice will shape the course of their lives. Seven years later, her son is Bear, a name chosen by his sister, hoping he will grow up to be brave and big-hearted. Or he is Julian, the name his mother set her heart on, keen for him to become his own person. Or he is Gordon, named after his father and raised in his cruel image - but is there still a chance to break the mould? Powerfully moving and 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. A BOOK OF THE YEAR IN THE SUNDAY TIMES , GUARDIAN , INDEPENDENT , IRISH MAIL ON SUNDAY , COSMOPOLITAN AND MANY MORE | A READ WITH JENNA AND HAPPY PLACE BOOKCLUB PICK 'The viral literary hit' Grazia 'A beautiful, heartwrenching, utterly original novel' Miranda Cowley Heller 'One of those rare books that makes you glad to be alive' Stylist 'Magnificent . . . Read it. It's very special' Chris Whitaker 'Beautifully written, and wise and tender . . . An utter original' Jojo Moyes 'Exceptional . . . will stay with me for a very long time' Anita Rani, Woman's Hour 'Heart-shattering . . . a sucker punch of a novel' Pandora Sykes 'A modern classic' Jenna Bush Hager 'Heartbreaking and yet brimful of hope . . . Exceptional' Mail on Sunday 'Brilliant . . . one of those books that will make you irritable with anyone who interrupts you, but which you'll finish wanting to press into the hands of a friend' The Times 'Astonishing, unique and incredibly moving, The Names is a beautiful novel about the courage of a mother in the moment she names her child . . . I know it will stay with me for a long time' Jeanine Cummins Review: One of my books of the year - 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. Review: inventive, unsettling, and deeply moving - Florence Knapp’s debut novel, The Names, is a compelling exploration of how a single decision can change the course of an entire life. After the Great Storm of 1987, Cora goes to register her newborn son’s birth. Her husband, Gordon, insists on tradition, naming the boy after himself, but Cora hesitates. From that moment, Knapp spins three alternate timelines shaped by three different names: Bear, Julian, and Gordon. With remarkable dexterity, Knapp examines themes of identity, fate, family, and the limitless possibilities that can unfold from one choice. She also confronts the lasting impact of domestic violence and the ways its effects echo across generations. This inventive, unsettling, and deeply moving novel filled me with dread at times, yet it also offers moments of hope, beauty, and love. Knapp captures the warmth and wonder of human existence while weaving a story marked by tragedy, and ultimately bringing it together in a poignant, beautifully crafted ending. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | 23 in Kindle Store ( See Top 100 in Kindle Store ) 1 in Parenting (Books) 1 in Parenthood & Children Fiction 1 in Multigenerational Fiction | ## Images ![The Names: 'The best debut novel in years' Sunday Times - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71an8NHMNsL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ One of my books of the year *by P***E on 18 September 2025* 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. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ inventive, unsettling, and deeply moving *by P***S on 23 January 2026* Florence Knapp’s debut novel, The Names, is a compelling exploration of how a single decision can change the course of an entire life. After the Great Storm of 1987, Cora goes to register her newborn son’s birth. Her husband, Gordon, insists on tradition, naming the boy after himself, but Cora hesitates. From that moment, Knapp spins three alternate timelines shaped by three different names: Bear, Julian, and Gordon. With remarkable dexterity, Knapp examines themes of identity, fate, family, and the limitless possibilities that can unfold from one choice. She also confronts the lasting impact of domestic violence and the ways its effects echo across generations. This inventive, unsettling, and deeply moving novel filled me with dread at times, yet it also offers moments of hope, beauty, and love. Knapp captures the warmth and wonder of human existence while weaving a story marked by tragedy, and ultimately bringing it together in a poignant, beautifully crafted ending. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Highly recommend *by M***S on 21 April 2026* What a beautifully written book about such important topics. This book is about the impact of domestic abuse. But its also about much more than that. It's about motherhood and trying to do the right thing, its about the bond between siblings, its about the stories we tell ourselves and others tell about our lives and how that comes to define us, its about unspoken expectations, its about intergenerational trauma. An incredible debut novel. Looking forward to reading more books by this author! --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.vu/products/806620118-the-names-the-best-debut-novel-in-years-sunday-times](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/806620118-the-names-the-best-debut-novel-in-years-sunday-times) --- *Product available on Desertcart Vanuatu* *Store origin: VU* *Last updated: 2026-06-06*