The Names

‘Wildly original and emotionally profound’
Observer

‘An unadulterated success: moving, evocative and utterly convincing’
The Times

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

It is 1987, and in the aftermath of a great storm, Cora sets out with her nine-year-old daughter to register the birth of her son. Her husband intends for her to follow a long-standing family tradition and call the baby after him. But when faced with the decision, Cora hesitates. Going against his wishes is a risk that will have consequences, but is it right for her child to inherit his name from generations of domineering men? The choice she makes in this moment will shape the course of their lives.

Seven years later, her son is Bear, a name chosen by his sister, and one that will prove as cataclysmic as the storm from which it emerged. Or he is Julian, the name his mother set her heart on, believing it will enable 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. It is the story of one family, and love’s endless capacity to endure, no matter what fate has in store.

CHOSEN AS A SUNDAY TIMES, DAILY MAIL, RED, PRIMA, STYLIST and EVENING STANDARD BOOK OF 2025 A READ WITH JENNA BOOKCLUB PICK

‘The viral literary hit of the summer’
Grazia

‘A beautiful, heartwrenching, utterly original novel’
Miranda Cowley Heller

‘The 2025 book that will be everywhere . . . 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