No doubt that Laurie Frankel is a gifted storyteller. She crafts unforgettable characters and pays special attention to their unique details. It seems nothing is too small, and every description lends itself well to the plot. While I think the twin/triplet trope is largely overdone, it worked pretty well for this story -- especially since secret/switched identities weren't involved. I enjoyed the originality of the story and I think this will be one to watch in June upon publication.

One town. Three sisters who are triplets. Something needs to be done. Do the sisters have the gumption to emolument the change? This book is an intriguing story of triplet sisters who have a unique form of communication. Their mother is an activist and there is a worthy cause. Although fiction, I think both the characters and the cause resonate with readers. At times, I thought the story lagged and it could have been curtailed in places. Overall, it’s a decent read.

This novel begins when three triplets born in a small town named Bourne. There’s Mab, Monday and Mirabel, each with their own set of quirks. Each chapter is broken down into three sections, one for each sister. Mab is obsessed with language, Monday is a dreamer and Mirabel, who suffers from “idioglossia” has been rendered speechless, but she’s able to communicate on a tablet. Bourne made headlines years earlier when a chemical leak tainted the water, effecting many of the city’s children and their development. While many residents have left the city, recently spotted construction trucks and moving vans signal change. It turns out River Templeton, whose grandfather built Bourne, has returned and he has a lot of answering to do about his father’s legacy in terms of the environmental disaster left in his grandfather’s wake though tainted water. This is literary eco-fiction about siblings and what it means to fuel change. Thank you to Henry Holt & Company and to NetGalley for the advanced review copy.

Another winner from Laurie Frankel. Delving into a topic others might avoid she puts you in the moment, you feel as if you, the reader are one — two— or three.

Although I liked This is How it Always is more, One Two Three is another engaging story from Laurie Frankel. The plot reminded me of Alice Hoffman.

I've been eagerly awaiting new work from Frankel since loving This Is How It Always Is. I'm sure I'm not alone in that respect.

And some of the things that I loved about TIHIAI are certainly present here: complex characters, a well-crafted plot, nuanced relationships between siblings, characters you don't want to leave behind, neighbors who feel like family. The web of relationships is richly depicted.

But I felt the book struggled to find its legs, and never found a real plot (an element I could forgive in a literary novel, but for the fact it felt like Frankel was trying so desperately to find the plot in *this* novel). And while the book (and the reader) struggled to find its way, I felt the pacing was inconsistent, and added to the sense of confusion.

In short, while the premise was solid, the execution was lacking.

What is lacking, however, is a very important element, the absence of which will kill any book: plot. It’s there of course, to varying degrees. It starts off with all the right elements. You’re hooked. I was all in. I suspect she had the great premise and faltered with the execution, right down to the ending, which didn't feel right for the story.

I look forward to reading more from Frankel in the future, but am having a hard time getting excited about this particular title.

Thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Company for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. I've read This is How It Always is and Goodbye for Now by the same author and really enjoyed both. This book was no different. It was well written and featured three triplet sisters who are each challenged in their own way, but have a beautiful relationship with one another. I will continue reading more books in the future by this author.

Laurie Frankel's writing is always thought-provoking and able to cultivate empathy. One Two Three is able to just that as it develops the characters and perspectives of three siblings/triplets. This book would make an amazing classroom-based assignment or essay, as some of the perspectives are provided in the school environment. Note: for swear words and implied teen sex.

I have to say Laurie Frankel is becoming one of my favorite authors. If I’m in need of a good book I know I can’t count on her to deliver. One, Two, Three is a rich, character-driven story that is told in the voices of three sisters. I liked all three sisters and bought into their unique and credible points of view. This is not an edge of your seat novel. Rather, it unfolds in much the same way as real life, some parts slow and quiet, and other parts rich and eventful. Such is Laurie Frankel and her storytelling. From my perspective, it’s another hit. I highly recommend it,

Many thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.

I have fallen in love with each of Laurie Frankel’s novels; she selects a unique plot to immerse her delightful characters into. It’s her characters that bring her stories to life and “One, Two, Three” is no exception.

The story focuses triplet teenagers: Mab (One), Monday (Two), Mirabel (Three). Mab seeks to get into a college far away and escape Bourne once and for all while Monday has become the town’s librarian (she has books stored everywhere!) because the town’s library has closed. Meanwhile, Mirabel does not let the fact that she is in a wheelchair and uses “the Voice” to speak limit her. The girls are raised by their mom, Nora. Life has not been easy, but they’re survivors.

The town they live in, Bourne, is not like most places. A chemical plant that gave jobs to many of Bourne’s citizens also manufactured chemicals that ended up poisoning and killing many. The triplets, their classmates, and many Bourne citizens struggle with the after effects of the poisoning. Despite the fact that litigation has been stalled due to lack of evidence, the Bourne citizens, including Nora, are still fighting for justice.

Then one day, Mab gets a new classmate named River Templeton who has moved into the building of that former library Monday had cherished. River’s grandfather owns the company that had employed many of Bourne’s citizens, but that same company had also produced the poison that ended up killing many and damaging the rest.

Written in the voices of the different sisters, “One, Two, Three” is an evocative novel that I could not put down. In the author’s hands, each of the triplets pops out of the page. But many of the other characters, including Pastor Jeff, are just as delightful. While this novel has a bit of a slow start because you do not know where the novel is headed, if you hold on and keep reading, you are going to certainly enjoy the journey to find out whether the triplets, and the rest of Bourne, will get what they’re most hoping for—or, perhaps, what they really need.

Thank you to Net Galley, Laurie Frankel and the publisher for providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

My thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of One Two Three in exchange for my honest review.

This book is unique and quirky in all the right ways, and I very much enjoyed the characters and their interactions. I did struggle with some of the narrative and had to push myself to keep reading at times. In the end, I’m glad I did. I think One Two Three would make a nice book club selection.

I opened the pages of this book with a lot of trepidation because I didn't believe Ms. Frankel could write another story as unique and wonderful as THIS IS THE WAY IT ALWAYS IS. Boy, was I wrong.. ONE TWO THREE is magnificent.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read Frankel's latest book. I had loved This Is How It Always Is, and I was excited to read her latest book. The beginning of the book was too slow for me; it didn't grab me, and it was hard to see where the book was going. I'm glad I stuck with the book as it vastly improved. The author did a great job differentiating the 3 narrators which could have been confusing.
The book has a unique premise and brings up a lot of ethical issues. I enjoyed the quirky characters and their backstories and relationships. I think it would make a great choice for book clubs.

Pros: Each narrator (triplets who have their own gifts and challenges) has a unique voice. I rooted for all of them and wanted to hear from all of them. I liked the quest for justice.

Cons: I don’t like the official book description of “it’s our daughters who will save us all.” That description does not match this book. Another con—that really isn’t fair to this book—is that it isn’t This Is How It Always Is, so readers might be coming in with unmeetable expectations for One Two Three.

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book!

While I have been a reader of Laurie Frankel's books before, this one didn't quite hit the same notes for me. For whatever reason, I found myself starting and stopping it several times.
While the base storyline is certainly believable, and even admirable, so many pieces didn't quite settle in well enough, not enough believability i suppose. But because it is indeed fiction, that's mostly OK. Some portions of the narrative I struggled with, more of my own misunderstandings than the author's writing.
While the book as a whole wasn't exactly what I anticipated, I'm still glad to have read it. Finally, I am thankful to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an ARC in exchange for my host review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Laurie Frankel, and Henry Holt & Company for the ARC of One Two Three. This is the first book I have read by Laurie Frankel. It was very obvious that this author has done her research. The character development was very well written. This book also has some heavy, profound themes that were handled well. Overall, I had a hard time getting into this book, but I think I will be in the minority on this book!

It’s a good book by a great author. It’s about a small town that put all its eggs into one basket, thrived for awhile and then lost it all. A chemical plant came in, hired lots of folks, got the economy booming and left illness and death and sorrow and poverty in its wake. The plant denied any wrong doing. The book opens 16 years later. It centers around Nora, who not only lost her husband to cancer caused by the chemical plant but also focuses on the lives of her triplet daughters. The corrupt plant tries to reestablish itself in town and Nora and her girls attempt to stop it. Others in the town welcome the plant back for it will bring jobs and regrowth. My favorite parts were the conversations between the triplets and the way they were named. I won’t say more. It’s a slow moving story but it’s worth the time to read. I took off one star because it was slow. Thank you to NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my goodness but Laurie Frankel writes the most amazing character studies, built into the most intricate, touching, heart-rending, brilliantly plotted stories... I fell in love with her writing with Goodbye for Now. That feeling was cemented with This is How It Always Is. And with One, Two, Three she has, once again, upped the ante...

This is a story about family and greed and consequences and love and learning Who You Are and what you're made of. It's a story about corruption and forgiveness, and perseverance in the face of unbelievable odds. And it's a story about sisters and growing up and finding your way in the world when the world doesn't seem to want you to... It's a Marvel of a story.

Frankel's writing is brilliant. She captures the voices of the three sisters and delivers alternating chapters that shift you from perspective to perspective in such a seamless way that you can't even imagine all three voices came out of one head... Yet the differences in those perspectives and voices never once leaves you feeling that you are reading a disjointed or disconnected novel. The story flows beautifully from Sister to Sister to Sister, each perspective building things up until they reach a crescendo of drama that had me literally on the edge of my seat. Watching the town build up, implode, and rebuild is a glorious study in human nature, faith, and fear - as well as an engaging narrative about life in the small towns that are scattered across America like sand on a beach...

I would read Laurie Frankel's grocery list at this point, and find it a life-changing experience no doubts. She writes absolutely unbelievable stories that you simply must experience for yourself... Try them, you won't be sorry!

As a fan of Laurie Frankel's "This is How it Always is," I couldn't wait to get my hands on "One Two Three." There were so many elements in this book I loved. Unfortunately, they were overshadowed by some significant problems in execution.

Mab, Mirabel, and Monday are three triplets in the town of Bourne, a small rural community still reeling from the presence of a chemical plant that leaked toxic chemicals into their water years ago. As a result, many individuals in the town experience developmental delays and various health problems. When the CEO's son moves to town to revive the chemical plant, the residents of Bourne are forced to choose between allying themselves with their enemy for the sake of economic regrowth, and holding them accountable for their crimes.

The story is told from the view point of the three sisters, alternating between chapters entitled 1, 2, and 3. While I loved these 3 girls, I found their voices homogenous and really struggled to keep them straight. The villains of the story seemed a bit caricatural - the heartless, evil corporate CEO poisoning residents while loading his pockets with cash seemed a little overdone. Additionally, the pace lagged throughout much of the book, accelerating dramatically at the end for a resolution that spanned...1 chapter.

The themes of this book are important: the pressure of small towns to cave to corporations for economic sustainability, rethinking the notion of disability, never underestimate the cleverness of teenage girls. The plot wavered too much though, in its direction and ultimately in its purpose.

This Is How It Always Is was going to be a tough act to follow for me because it’s one of my favorite books. But, Laurie Frankel does it again....and was very successful with One Two Three in writing another interesting story with memorable characters and the combination (as with her previous books) will make you laugh, cry, and keep reading!
Mab, Monday and Mirabel are 16 year old triplets living with their widowed mother in the fictional town on Bourne. Each of the triplets, along with the town, are facing their own challenges. The structure of the book enabled each of the triplets to develop individually as a character since they alternated chapters.
Frankel does such a wonderful job of capturing her teen age characters. You feel like you really know each of these kids and care about what happens to them as their lives progress.
Wrapped around the triplets and their mother are storylines about environmental contamination, corporate misconduct, illness, birth defects and death. It sounds gloomy, but it’s not and you’ll want to add One Two Three to your TBR list!
Thanks to Netgalley and Henry, Holt and Company for the opportunity to read One Two Three in exchange for an honest review.