Stefanie’s review of The Names > Likes and Comments
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Totally agree.
Yes totally agree, I think I would've enjoyed it more if it was marketed differently
Actually you are right! Exactly what I thought it would be.
Totally agree. I felt the boy’s actual name was mostly irrelevant to how his life unfolded and the presence or absence of an abusive father was the more driving influence on how he turned out.
Agree as well! It’s a Dnf for me I think
I think where the what you’re looking for IS in fact included in the book, is the child’s name in and of itself impacts how Cora moves through the world and what decision key decisions she makes. Each name carries different meaning to Cora and I think the connection the author is drawing is that simply being around the child that you named a specific thing for a specific reason you will act differently, which will cause the child to act differently, and so on and forth.
I felt that the subject of the book was spousal abuse. It determined and altered the actions of each family member. Too much abuse for me.
You’re exactly right! Definitely marketed differently than what it actually is.
I agree with the mis-marketing; so very heavy. Well-written but not what I was expecting
The names represented Cora’s state of mind and were part and parcel of where she was “at” as she went to register the name. Totally legit in terms of the way the three storylines unfolded. But I totally agree that marketing misleading.?
Spot on! It kept my interest but was not what I was expecting.
Totally agree. Exactly what you stated. Very misleading.
I agree, I expected something different.
I totally agree, was disappointed and almost DNFd
Exactly what I thought! I was excited to get this book and am disappointed that it's not going to be at all what I was looking forward to.
Your review is spot on.The book was marketed erroneously. I just finished it and despite the authors beautiful prose I found the book very dark. I think the idea of the story may have been a good one but the descriptive spousal abuse made the book feel very dark.
Agreed! Also would have loved to known the heavy topics before reading this one, was pretty heavy and a sad read.
Disagree... the name she chose impacted events afterwards. The name she chose had a direct correlation to the abuse she did or did not receive as a result
you literally hit the nail on the head
Absolutely agree it completely changed my expectations of this book so much so that I was rereading chapters trying to connect to the description of the book. I was often confused throughout the story as a result
I see your point, and it’s valid, but I’m thinking that in each case, the name she chose for her son directly led to her decision to leave or stay.
Totally agree and was thinking the same thing! The premise of the book was good though and unlike any I’ve read before
Cora stays in two scenarios that have different consequences. Because of the child’s name.
I came looking for someone else talking about this. It has absolutely nothing, or at least very very little, to do with names. Kind of a disappointment and I probably wouldn’t have read it had I known it was so much about domestic violence.
Yes, I also was disappointed by the mistaken title and the focus on the abuse and how it wasn’t relevant to the name
Ah, that’s tough — the marketing definitely sets people up to expect a very literal “your name changes your fate” book. But for me, it was never about Bear vs Julian vs Gordon. That whole debate is honestly missing the point.
This is Cora’s story. The names are just the first breadcrumb of agency — the tiny moment she chooses something for herself. The real story is what happens inside a family when someone stays in an abusive situation, and how those choices echo through the kids’ lives. The timelines aren’t about the names; they’re about the consequences. And honestly, this isn’t some abstract literary device. Abuse is happening right now, everywhere, to women who don’t get to DNF their own lives when it gets uncomfortable. If a book feels “too heavy,” that’s exactly why we should be talking about it — so the next generation can spot the red flags early instead of being taught to look away. Silence never made a single woman safer.
I think the names are supposed to be more symbolic than about the actual name itself
I havent read it yet but agree with @kayla b . It seems clear to be that its the name and the decisions she makes based on that decision that changes the course. But others mentioned similar reviews so im curious to see what I think bc I am an avid name nerd and love the name Bear.
I agree - this is not what I expected! Definitely needs more of a trigger warning I think…
I read the first account of 1987 and had to stop. My sensitive nervous system can’t read chapter after chapter of details of domestic violence.
I completely agree! I thought it would be about how the person with that name is impacted and may experience being treated differently because of their name. This seemed much more about the domestic abuse. I was also let down by this book, unfortunately. I wanted to and tried to like it.
Respectfully disagree. The names are the catalyst for each life path, determined by how the Father reacts. I thought think its a very clever concept with very heavy topics covered.
Some of you are forgetting that it's not the difference between the names of Bear and Julian, but in how Gordon reacts to that and how who his wrath is ultimately turned upon affects who raises the child regardless of name.
So true. Totally agree! I only gave this book 2 stars.
Could not agree more. I am struggling through the book. Had I known it was a book centred on domestic violence, there is no way I would have selected it. Feeling duped.
I agree that the name itself did not determine how the character's life unfolded. In all three scenarios, the abuse continued. The results of the abuse may have been different, but that was not due to the name choice, in my opinion. This book was about domestic abuse, and I wish I had realized that before choosing it.
I’m about 60% through and this is exactly how I feel about it.
Couldn’t have said it better myself. Excellently articulated and I was disappointed as a reader.
Two points:
1) The synopsis clearly states this is a story about domestic abuse.
2) It is indeed the names that impact the trajectory of the story as it is the father’s reaction to each name specifically that impacts how the storyline plays out NOT the decisions of the mother.
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Linda
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May 09, 2025 11:22PM
Totally agree.
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Yes totally agree, I think I would've enjoyed it more if it was marketed differently
Actually you are right! Exactly what I thought it would be.
Totally agree. I felt the boy’s actual name was mostly irrelevant to how his life unfolded and the presence or absence of an abusive father was the more driving influence on how he turned out.
Agree as well! It’s a Dnf for me I think
I think where the what you’re looking for IS in fact included in the book, is the child’s name in and of itself impacts how Cora moves through the world and what decision key decisions she makes. Each name carries different meaning to Cora and I think the connection the author is drawing is that simply being around the child that you named a specific thing for a specific reason you will act differently, which will cause the child to act differently, and so on and forth.
I felt that the subject of the book was spousal abuse. It determined and altered the actions of each family member. Too much abuse for me.
You’re exactly right! Definitely marketed differently than what it actually is.
I agree with the mis-marketing; so very heavy. Well-written but not what I was expecting
The names represented Cora’s state of mind and were part and parcel of where she was “at” as she went to register the name. Totally legit in terms of the way the three storylines unfolded. But I totally agree that marketing misleading.?
Spot on! It kept my interest but was not what I was expecting.
Totally agree. Exactly what you stated. Very misleading.
I agree, I expected something different.
I totally agree, was disappointed and almost DNFd
Exactly what I thought! I was excited to get this book and am disappointed that it's not going to be at all what I was looking forward to.
Your review is spot on.The book was marketed erroneously. I just finished it and despite the authors beautiful prose I found the book very dark. I think the idea of the story may have been a good one but the descriptive spousal abuse made the book feel very dark.
Agreed! Also would have loved to known the heavy topics before reading this one, was pretty heavy and a sad read.
Disagree... the name she chose impacted events afterwards. The name she chose had a direct correlation to the abuse she did or did not receive as a result
you literally hit the nail on the head
Absolutely agree it completely changed my expectations of this book so much so that I was rereading chapters trying to connect to the description of the book. I was often confused throughout the story as a result
I see your point, and it’s valid, but I’m thinking that in each case, the name she chose for her son directly led to her decision to leave or stay.
Totally agree and was thinking the same thing! The premise of the book was good though and unlike any I’ve read before
Cora stays in two scenarios that have different consequences. Because of the child’s name.
I came looking for someone else talking about this. It has absolutely nothing, or at least very very little, to do with names. Kind of a disappointment and I probably wouldn’t have read it had I known it was so much about domestic violence.
Yes, I also was disappointed by the mistaken title and the focus on the abuse and how it wasn’t relevant to the name
Ah, that’s tough — the marketing definitely sets people up to expect a very literal “your name changes your fate” book. But for me, it was never about Bear vs Julian vs Gordon. That whole debate is honestly missing the point.This is Cora’s story. The names are just the first breadcrumb of agency — the tiny moment she chooses something for herself. The real story is what happens inside a family when someone stays in an abusive situation, and how those choices echo through the kids’ lives. The timelines aren’t about the names; they’re about the consequences. And honestly, this isn’t some abstract literary device. Abuse is happening right now, everywhere, to women who don’t get to DNF their own lives when it gets uncomfortable. If a book feels “too heavy,” that’s exactly why we should be talking about it — so the next generation can spot the red flags early instead of being taught to look away. Silence never made a single woman safer.
I think the names are supposed to be more symbolic than about the actual name itself
I havent read it yet but agree with @kayla b . It seems clear to be that its the name and the decisions she makes based on that decision that changes the course. But others mentioned similar reviews so im curious to see what I think bc I am an avid name nerd and love the name Bear.
I agree - this is not what I expected! Definitely needs more of a trigger warning I think…
I read the first account of 1987 and had to stop. My sensitive nervous system can’t read chapter after chapter of details of domestic violence.
I completely agree! I thought it would be about how the person with that name is impacted and may experience being treated differently because of their name. This seemed much more about the domestic abuse. I was also let down by this book, unfortunately. I wanted to and tried to like it.
Respectfully disagree. The names are the catalyst for each life path, determined by how the Father reacts. I thought think its a very clever concept with very heavy topics covered.
Some of you are forgetting that it's not the difference between the names of Bear and Julian, but in how Gordon reacts to that and how who his wrath is ultimately turned upon affects who raises the child regardless of name.
So true. Totally agree! I only gave this book 2 stars.
Could not agree more. I am struggling through the book. Had I known it was a book centred on domestic violence, there is no way I would have selected it. Feeling duped.
I agree that the name itself did not determine how the character's life unfolded. In all three scenarios, the abuse continued. The results of the abuse may have been different, but that was not due to the name choice, in my opinion. This book was about domestic abuse, and I wish I had realized that before choosing it.
I’m about 60% through and this is exactly how I feel about it.
Couldn’t have said it better myself. Excellently articulated and I was disappointed as a reader.
Two points:1) The synopsis clearly states this is a story about domestic abuse.
2) It is indeed the names that impact the trajectory of the story as it is the father’s reaction to each name specifically that impacts how the storyline plays out NOT the decisions of the mother.
