The Names by Florence Knapp

How I Came Across It... *I first head of the novel when Jenna Bush announced it as a book club selection. I put it on my TBR list. I then saw it pop up on a variety of "must-read" lists from people I follow on social media. I downloaded the title via Audible and listened to the story for my final commuting days of the school year. What It's About - Five Things You Need to Know... *The story begins with mother Cora, along with her young daughter Maia, heading to register her newborn son's name.

*When it comes time to give the name of her son, Cora isn't quite sure what she should do.

*She knows her controlling husband wants to continue the tradition of naming the boys, Gordon.

*She asks her young daughter what she would name the baby. She responds with Bear.

*Cora, herself, has always loved the name Julian. The story continues in three parts telling the story of the family spanning years and telling what happened to each of them based on the name that was given to the baby boy. What I Thought of It - Five Observations/Reflections... *What an interesting premise. What would our life be like based on our names.

*I enjoyed the beginning of the novel when I got to know Cora, her daughter, and the "evil" husband Gordan.

*Once the novel spread out into three sections, I became a bit less interested in the story.

*There were times I was confused on the time frame and what was going on with the son, based on which name was being covered.

*There were some difficult scenes throughout the novel dealing with domestic abuse.

Who Should Read It... *I know lots of readers out there who are raving about the novel and storyline. It wasn't necessarily for me, but I know it was well-written and gives the reader lots to think about. Readers who enjoy a "sliding doors" type of story, will definitely be satisfied with the novel. Happy Reading! Rating... 3 out of 5 stars