The Names

'I've just been blown away by the best debut novel in years . . . A genius idea for a book'
Sunday Times

'A beautiful, heartwrenching, utterly original novel - this one will stay with me for years to come'
Miranda Cowley Heller, bestselling author of The Paper Palace

'The 2025 book that will be everywhere . . . one of those rare books that makes you glad to be alive'
Stylist

A once-in-a-generation debut from a major new talent, The Names is the story of three names, three versions of a life, and the infinite possibilities that a single decision can spark.

CHOSEN AS A SUNDAY TIMES, DAILY MAIL, RED, PRIMA, STYLIST and EVENING STANDARD BOOK OF 2025

'Magnificent . . . Read it. It's very special'
Chris Whitaker

'I'm in AWE. Powerful, moving and beautiful'
Marian Keyes

'Beautifully written, and wise and tender . . . an utter original'
Jojo Moyes

Tomorrow - if morning comes, if the storm stops raging - Cora will register the name of her son. Or perhaps, and this is her real concern, she'll formalise who he will become.

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.

'A tour de force of storytelling . . . truly mesmerizing'
Alison Espach

'Exquisite storytelling with unforgettable characters . . . Watch out for The Names. It's a big one'
Jennie Godfrey

'One of 2025's most talked-about novels'
Red

'I predict this will be a big hit'
Prima

'Publishing insiders have been raving about this one for over a year . . . it is set to be an enormous hit'
Evening Standard