---
product_id: 578953623
title: "The Names: 'The best debut novel in years' Sunday Times"
price: "12868 Ft"
currency: HUF
in_stock: false
reviews_count: 8
url: https://www.desertcart.hu/products/578953623-the-names-the-best-debut-novel-in-years-sunday-times
store_origin: HU
region: Hungary
---

# 4.5/5 Star Rating Top 20 Bestseller Free Delivery Eligible The Names: 'The best debut novel in years' Sunday Times

**Price:** 12868 Ft
**Availability:** ❌ Out of Stock

## Summary

> 📖 Unlock the power of a name — the debut novel everyone’s talking about!

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** The Names: 'The best debut novel in years' Sunday Times
- **How much does it cost?** 12868 Ft with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Currently out of stock
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.hu](https://www.desertcart.hu/products/578953623-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
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## Key Features

- • **Exclusive Name Index:** Gain unique insight with a curated index explaining the meaning behind each character’s name.
- • **Deep Psychological Insight:** Explore how names shape identity, fate, and relationships through three compelling parallel stories.
- • **Masterclass in Storytelling:** Experience a debut novel hailed as 'the best in years' by Sunday Times, blending poetic prose with gripping narratives.
- • **Emotional & Thought-Provoking:** Dive into themes of domestic violence, trauma, and redemption with unforgettable characters.
- • **Critically Acclaimed Bestseller:** Ranked #19 in Books and #1 in Parenting & Relationships, proving its wide-reaching impact.

## Overview

The Names by Florence Knapp is a critically acclaimed debut novel exploring the profound influence of names on identity and destiny. Featuring three intertwined narratives set across decades, it combines poetic writing with deep psychological themes. With a 4.5-star rating from over 29,000 readers and top rankings in multiple book categories, this bestseller offers a fresh, emotionally rich reading experience complete with an exclusive name meaning index.

## Description

Buy The Names: 'The best debut novel in years' Sunday Times by Knapp, Florence (ISBN: 9781399624022) from desertcart's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

Review: Outstanding Debut - I really cant recommend this book highly enough. I have read hundreds of novels and this one is particularly breath-taking and unlike anything else I have ever read. I have often wondered how our first names shape us and found people to often live up or down to the name, so many times....it seems no mere coincidence. In this novel shaped by the aftermath of domestic violence we see three narratives in Bear, Julian and Gordon. A baby boy registered in 1987, whose name-choice affected his birth family and himself in various ways. Told in 7 year intervals, we see the different lives the child had growing up into a man dependent upon his name and likewise his family. I wont detail more of the plot or outcome, but the story was breath-taking and thought provoking. Knapp's style of writing was like poetry in motion. Captivating and descriptive, but not repetitive, flowery and long-winded as many mid-sections of novel's get. Some sentences really touched your heart and each word was needed. I read this book in one day, almost unheard of for me as it was so original. Put simply it's the book I wish I'd wrote!
Review: This story explores the power in a name & how a name might steer identity, relationships, and fate! - This novel is a masterclass in storytelling and psychological depth, built around a simple yet profound premise: what if your life changed based on the name you were given at birth? It follows three parallel narratives; where Cora has named her son Bear, Julien, and Gordon. The author explores the power in a name, and how a name might steer identity, relationships, and fate. I found the concept so clever. The idea that a name could shape the lives of a person and that of their close contacts really resonated with me. I’ve often questioned my own name fit, finding Anne-Marie too ordinary, too ‘religious’ and too safe. Regardless, I still feel I ended up in the life that was meant for me! The author also provides an index of the meaning of the different character names at the end which was an enriching touch, as each name was so deliberately chosen. Bear’s arc was my favorite: warm, emotionally grounded, and quietly heroic. His love story with Lily, his moment with the crying child on the train, and his struggle to balance ambition with love were beautifully told. Julien’s story was tender and sad, yet redemptive. His battle with self-doubt and inherited trauma, and eventual emotional awakening, brought a quiet satisfaction. Gordon’s version was hardest to read with a transfer of abuse, control, and manipulation chillingly portrayed. Ultimately, the novel asks: do our names define us, or do we shape our own stories? This book shows how it is possibly both. A super and highly original read.

## Features

- New Store Stock

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | 19 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) 1 in Parenting (Books) 1 in Partnership & Relationships 4 in Society, Politics & Philosophy |
| Customer Reviews | 4.5 out of 5 stars 29,038 Reviews |

## Images

![The Names: 'The best debut novel in years' Sunday Times - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81mVIiEQ8cL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Outstanding Debut
*by �***� on 8 July 2025*

I really cant recommend this book highly enough. I have read hundreds of novels and this one is particularly breath-taking and unlike anything else I have ever read. I have often wondered how our first names shape us and found people to often live up or down to the name, so many times....it seems no mere coincidence. In this novel shaped by the aftermath of domestic violence we see three narratives in Bear, Julian and Gordon. A baby boy registered in 1987, whose name-choice affected his birth family and himself in various ways. Told in 7 year intervals, we see the different lives the child had growing up into a man dependent upon his name and likewise his family. I wont detail more of the plot or outcome, but the story was breath-taking and thought provoking. Knapp's style of writing was like poetry in motion. Captivating and descriptive, but not repetitive, flowery and long-winded as many mid-sections of novel's get. Some sentences really touched your heart and each word was needed. I read this book in one day, almost unheard of for me as it was so original. Put simply it's the book I wish I'd wrote!

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ This story explores the power in a name & how a name might steer identity, relationships, and fate!
*by A***N on 16 June 2025*

This novel is a masterclass in storytelling and psychological depth, built around a simple yet profound premise: what if your life changed based on the name you were given at birth? It follows three parallel narratives; where Cora has named her son Bear, Julien, and Gordon. The author explores the power in a name, and how a name might steer identity, relationships, and fate. I found the concept so clever. The idea that a name could shape the lives of a person and that of their close contacts really resonated with me. I’ve often questioned my own name fit, finding Anne-Marie too ordinary, too ‘religious’ and too safe. Regardless, I still feel I ended up in the life that was meant for me! The author also provides an index of the meaning of the different character names at the end which was an enriching touch, as each name was so deliberately chosen. Bear’s arc was my favorite: warm, emotionally grounded, and quietly heroic. His love story with Lily, his moment with the crying child on the train, and his struggle to balance ambition with love were beautifully told. Julien’s story was tender and sad, yet redemptive. His battle with self-doubt and inherited trauma, and eventual emotional awakening, brought a quiet satisfaction. Gordon’s version was hardest to read with a transfer of abuse, control, and manipulation chillingly portrayed. Ultimately, the novel asks: do our names define us, or do we shape our own stories? This book shows how it is possibly both. A super and highly original read.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 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.

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*Product available on Desertcart Hungary*
*Store origin: HU*
*Last updated: 2026-01-24*