The Names

Have you ever wondered who you might be with a different name? Have you ever grappled with the decision of what to name your own child, knowing it's something they'll have to carry the rest of their life? Cora meant to name her infant son after her husband, Dr. Gordon Atkin, but she feels a pull to defy him as Gordon is also her abuser. The Names explores the ripple effects of familial trauma hinging on this singular decision. Three names (Bear, Julian, and Gordon) give way to three timelines that span the next thirty-five years asking, what if? and sighing, if only. This devastatingly well-executed debut (how is this a debut?!) is worth the buzz.