The Names Audiobook By Florence Knapp cover art

The Names

A Novel

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The Names

By: Florence Knapp
Narrated by: Dervla Kirwan
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About this listen

READ WITH JENNA BOOK CLUB PICK AS FEATURED ON TODAY | AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

“Dazzling. . . The Names is startlingly joyful. . . Knapp tirelessly and beautifully replicates not just loss and grief but endless rebirth and delight.”—The Washington Post

“Elegant. . . this is a wholly original work.”—People Magazine "Book of the Week"

“A magnificent novel, thrumming with life in all its pain and precariousness, yet suffused with the glorious possibilities of love and redemption.”—Geraldine Brooks, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Horse

The extraordinary novel that asks: Can a name change the course of a life?

In the wake of a catastrophic storm, Cora sets off with her nine-year-old daughter, Maia, to register her son's birth. Her husband, Gordon, a local doctor, respected in the community but a terrifying and controlling presence at home, intends for her to name the infant after him. But when the registrar asks what she'd like to call the child, Cora hesitates...

Spanning thirty-five years, what follows are three alternate and alternating versions of Cora's and her young son's lives, shaped by her choice of name. In richly layered prose, The Names explores the painful ripple effects of domestic abuse, the messy ties of family, and the possibilities of autonomy and healing.

With exceptional sensitivity and depth, Knapp draws us into the story of one family, told through a prism of what-ifs, causing us to consider the "one . . . precious life" we are given. The book’s brilliantly imaginative structure, propulsive storytelling, and emotional, gut-wrenching power are certain to make The Names a modern classic.

©2025 Florence Knapp (P)2025 Penguin Audio
Family Life Genre Fiction Women's Fiction Heartfelt

Critic reviews

The Names is a truly gorgeous, heart-opening novel. I couldn’t put it down, and I’m grateful to have Cora and her children living inside my heart now. What a wonderful book!”—Ann Napolitano, New York Times bestselling author of Hello Beautiful

“Beautiful, heart-wrenching, utterly original.”—Miranda Cowley Heller, New York Times bestselling author of The Paper Palace

“Knapp’s plotting is skillful, her tapestry of stories cleverly woven…The Names stands out as a compelling and original debut, a book that asks at least as many questions as it answers.”—The Guardian

Dear Listener,

What is the significance of a name?
"A name is one of the very first things we’re given in life, and growing up to exist within its mold can seem a curious thing. In many ways, our name says less about who we are, and more about our parents’ tastes, our family traditions, or is perhaps a nod to a particular aspiration, era, class, or culture. And yet it becomes inextricably bound to our sense of self. In The Names, I wanted to explore what it might be like to inherit a name from someone less deserving of that tribute. Or if tradition were bucked, to consider whether fate and chance might set that child on a very different course."– Florence Knapp, writer of The Names
Unique Concept • Beautiful Writing • Exquisite Narration • Compelling Storyline • Creative Structure • Emotional Depth
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Highly recommend - outstanding narration! This is a compelling and unusual story and makes you think about the power of a name and the naming of the child.

Compelling unusual story!

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I loved everything about this book. Couldn’t stop listening. The reader is reminded that choices we make in life can alter the course we are on but that these choices each have positives and negatives instead of any being absolutely “right”.

Unique and thought provoking

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The Names completely blew me away. It’s been a long time since a book affected me this deeply. Gut-wrenching and painful at times, yes—but there’s something undeniably beautiful in the premise, the writing style, and the way the story unfolds. It lingers.

The narrator does a phenomenal job—so nuanced, so in tune with the emotional undercurrents of the story. I felt every pause, every shift in tone, like it was breathing life into the text. It made the experience all the more immersive.

This isn’t a book you just listen to—it’s one you feel in your bones. Highly recommend to anyone who appreciates literary fiction that challenges, moves, and stays with you long after it ends.

Absolutely Stunning – A Haunting, Beautiful Listen

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I’ve been waiting for this book. It is so touching on so many levels. My favorite so far this year (2025)

Truly Exceptional

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This book has so much depth to it, I will be re-listening to it again! What a powerful story.

A must read!

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I loved getting to know all the characters and the three narratives of the same man with different names. I also love how our choices, intentional or not, affect and effect ourselves and the people around us.
I could not put it down, wanting, needing, to know how each character unfolded.
The narration is calming, peaceful, and vivid imagery with the writing.
At its core, this story is about domestic abuse and the choices and one’s name influence and shape identity.

Heartbreakingly Beautiful

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The Names completely captivated me. Florence Knapp masterfully explores the concept of how a single choice can splinter into multiple realities, each leading to a completely different life. I was hooked on how the storyline followed three parallel paths—watching how one decision shaped not just the main character’s life, but the lives around them in completely unexpected ways.

The narration was spot-on, pulling me deep into each version of the story. It really made me reflect on the “what ifs” in my own life. Every thread felt equally compelling, emotional, and real. The writing was beautiful, the characters felt honest and raw, and the execution of the multi-reality concept was seamless.

If you love stories that make you think about fate, choice, and the ripple effects of even the smallest moments—this is absolutely worth the listen.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Mesmerizing and Thought-Provoking

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The abuse scenes were hard to read but stick with this story for the eventual outcomes

Heartbreaking but with redemption

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This book was recommended by my Book Club. I decided not to read anything about it before I started the book and I was so pleasantly surprised by the unique concept and the beautiful writing. It was heartbreakingly beautiful and inspired many conversations around our family dinner table and socializing with friends.

So original and thought-provoking!

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Narration excellent. Story imaginative, sorrowful and beautiful. I recommend it to anyone who loves good writing and a story well told.

Utter originality

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