Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books

Length: 336 pages

Publication Date: May 6, 2025

I purchased this book myself after receiving a recommendation. I plan for this book to be my book club pick too.

Cora has given birth to a son. She needs to go into town to register the child’s birth information including his name for a birth certificate. As she walks with her daughter on the errand, she thinks about the name of her son. It has been a tradition in her husband’s family for the eldest male to be named after his father. Her husband, Gordon Jr., expects her to register this name for their son. Except, Cora doesn’t want her son to grow up to be like his father. Cora is abused by Gordon. She wants a different life for her son. As they walk, Cora and her daughter, Maia discuss names and have two alternates: Bear, and Julian.

Does your name define and shape you? This is the premise of the book. Every seven years we see the life of Cora’s son with three different names. What type of a person does this child become? In following the child with each different name, his life takes a different path. Not only the lives of the boy are different but also the lives of his family vary too. This is such an interesting concept. Would you be exactly the same as you are today if your parents had named you differently?

Florence Knapp’s debut novel is an amazingly gripping story, with richly developed characters! This book takes us into domestic drama with all of the good and bad on full display. I am still thinking about this book, the premise, and talking about it to others. This excellent book is my favorite of the year. I highly recommend this book to anyone enjoying family drama, conflict, and coming of age stories. Warning: There are several scenes of domestic abuse, it could be a problem for sensitive readers.

I look forward to the next novel by this talented new author.

My rating:🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻/5