Welcome to Litsy!

This book has probably been recommended to me the most this year. Loved the premise, what if your name determined your future? So cleverly and tenderly written. The subject is brutal in places and it is definitely worth checking out the trigger warning before you begin. Hard to believe this is a debut for the author. My final book in Canada. Photo to show why I was so easily distracted! Canada is stunning on a whole other level! ❤️

Loved it! Devoured it. Wish it had kept on. Just a teeeeensy tiny bit hard keeping the narratives straight, but overall So Good! (38)
⭐️: 4.5/5

I finally read this - I'm not sure what made me wait. I agree with what others have said about struggling at times to keep the stories straight, and here and there it was a little soppy and on the nose, but altogether I really enjoyed it. It brought up quite a lot of sadness about lost time and opportunities though.

The narrative structure of this novel is really done well, and serves to keep the reader's interest in the story, but I agree with another review about the ending being a bit of a thud. But overall I did enjoy the book and I'm glad to have read it, the audio performance is excellent, although this is a novel where you must pay close attention to the chapter names.

Lent to me by a friend I can‘t help thinking “ what‘s in a name” . 3 story lines. 3 different names. One boy. We follow each name and story through the years. 3 very different stories but all with a domestic violence theme.
I enjoyed it but it fell a bit flat at the end for me. A commendable first novel.

Up next…my book club‘s October read!

#bookspinbingo

3.5 Stars • The Names by Florence Knapp (2025) is a gripping debut about Cora, a young mom in 1987 England, choosing her baby boy‘s name while stuck in a toxic marriage. The story splits into three paths, each following a different name, showing how one decision shapes a family‘s future. It‘s a heartfelt mix of raw emotion and subtle what-if vibes, exploring love, struggle, and healing with vivid prose.

#TheNames #FlorenceKnapp #Bookish

I read this book in one sitting. I loved the concept, the premise, and the structure chosen to tell the story. I pondered reading each life separately rather than the narrative order. The writing was exquisite, I often reread a line just to taste it.