Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House | Viking | Pamela Dorman Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this amazing debut novel by Florence Knapp, and a Read with Jenna May 2025 pick. All opinions expressed in this review are my own – 5 sparkling stars!
Can a name change the course of a life? Cora sets off with her 9-year-old daughter, Maia, to register her son’s birth. Her husband, Gordon, insists that the family tradition be continued by naming him Gordon. But when she gets to the registrar, she hesitates. Thus follows three alternate and alternating versions of their lives, shaped by her choice of a name.
Oh, my goodness, did this book touch me on so many levels. The way the stories unfold, told through the three versions of Cora’s son, moving forward every 7 years, is so unique. We also see how each different version of him affects all those around him. There are some characters that are in each version, such as Maia, his sister, and Lily, but they are also different shades. The domestic abuse storyline is also a character, showing how everyone is affected, not only in the moment, but forever. However, it’s still a very hopeful novel, one that shows the power and resilience of people, and the way love can change us. This is a must-read book and the fact that it’s a debut leaves me in awe. I literally was so engrossed in it that the rest of the world faded away. Characters and situations felt so real that it was immensely powerful. The illustrations are beautiful as well. I can’t wait to read more from this author, but this book is just spectacular no matter what may come down the road.
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