The Names

What's in a name? Like, really? Could one simple choice, one single word, completely reshape a life? That’s the stunning question at the heart of this book.

So, picture this: A catastrophic storm has just ripped through town. A woman named Cora is making her way to register the birth of her newborn son. Her husband, Gordon, is a respected doctor, a pillar of the community. But at home? He's a terrifying, controlling presence. And he fully expects Cora to name the baby after him. It’s not a request.

But when Cora stands in front of the registrar and they ask for her name, she hesitates. In that one, fleeting moment of defiance, the entire story fractures.

And this is where the book does something brilliant. It splits into three alternate realities. We get to follow three different versions of Cora and her son's lives over the next thirty-five years, each one spiraling out from the name she chooses in that moment. It's a breathtaking exploration of the "what-ifs" that haunt us.

But this isn't just a clever gimmick. It’s a deep, gut-wrenching look at the ripple effects of domestic abuse, the messy bonds of family, and the profound journey toward healing and finding your voice. The story is just dazzling, thrumming with both pain and the glorious possibility of love and redemption.

It’s one of those rare, magnificent novels that feels both epic and deeply intimate. It’ll make you think about your own precious life and the small choices that ended up defining everything.