One, Two, Three was a one of a kind read. Written from the perspective of three triplets (one, two, and three), all with different strengths and abilities, left affected by a knowingly tampered with water supply. I appreciated the differing perspectives and the writing style of Laurie Frankel. This did not quite live up to her previous novel and one of my all time favorites, This is How it Always is, but it still had lessons to be learned and many discussion points. It would be a good book club selection.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I will read whatever Laurie Frankel cares to write about — she has a way of gorgeously illustrating characters to the point where you feel like you’re living inside their brains. We alternate between three triplets, each with very different perspectives, and yet it’s never jarring to switch POVs. Frankel deftly explores the bonds between siblings, disability, the trickle-down effects of capitalism, justice and even first love, and I loved the way she wrapped things up.

Frankel’s newest book revolves around the Mitchell triplets: Mab, Monday, and Mirabel. This is a coming of age story, a mystery, and a family drama, all wrapped up in Frankel’s heart-string-grabbing prose. This is the story of a town, a community, their struggles and their achievements. “How it is here is how it is everywhere,” states one of the characters, but the sisters don’t buy it (Frankel, 2021). How can it be when their water was poisoned by a chemical company and the results were (and still are) devastating? Over the course of the book, the 16 year old triplets alternate narrating the story, describing the fallout of what happened 17 years ago when their water was poisoned, their mother’s long and painful fight for justice, their first loves, their dreams and desires.

This book was everything a book should be—heartfelt, real, and poignant. Bourne really could be anywhere. The trials and tribulations of the old and new are similar to most places in the United States. We have many of the same desires that are portrayed in Frankel’s novel—the desire to be whole again, to be loved, to provide for your family, to keep your family safe. These are truths that are the same anywhere you go.

The characters were incredible. I love triplets! Their narration of the story was flawless. Mab, Monday, and Mirabel felt so real, as if they were your next-door neighbors. And the girls’ mother, Nora! I want to be Nora’s friend. In my humble opinion, Frankel’s depiction of parents is spot on. The complexity and layers that Frankel weaves into her stories is much needed at this time. Life is complicated and tough, but it is also full of joy and wonder. She gives voices to those who are overlooked, under-voiced, and misconstrued.

“Giving something a label and putting it in a box makes you feel like you’ve understood it and accounted for it and can keep track of it, and that’s great for things like paperwork or books, but sometimes things get mislabeled or misfiled, and then they get misunderstood or misaccounted for” (Frankel, 2021).

I don’t want to give any more of the plot away, because the mystery in this story was great. It reminded me of the Flint water crisis or Erin Brockovich. Do yourself a favor and read this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co. for providing me with an ARC.

I liked this story. The idea of a small town still reeling from the after effects of a major chemical plant disaster gone horribly wrong, only for the people who put them in this mess to materialize years later to do it all over again. Couldn’t they have just gone somewhere else? Nope. I was mostly confused and frustrated that some of the townspeople were entertaining the idea of reopening the plant, thinking it’ll be a boost in their economy. I felt like the majority fo these people were ethically in the red. Did they not remember what happened? Were they not somehow touched by the tragedy? I would have happily seen the family run out of town.

Thank you to Henry Holt and Co. And NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I loved Laurie Frankel's This Is How it Always Is and was excited about her next book.
This book took me a few tries to get through. The story is well-developed and the characters are fantastic - but the story was a little slow (and long) for my liking. I loved the last ~25% but it took me a while to get there.
I recommend this book to readers who enjoy character-driven sagas!

Once again, Laurie Frankel has produced a wholly original novel with charm and wit! You will fall in love with the 16 year old Mitchell triplets, Mab, Monday, and Mirabel. Despite being born into a poisoned community with the effects felt at the core of their family, they live independent lives with purpose. Their mother has raised them on her own, and has been seeking justice for the damage that was done to their little town by the now-absent large chemical company that stood on their river 17 years prior. She is like Erin Brockovich but add on a 16 year old with Asberger's syndrome, another confined to a wheelchair without a voice, and a neurotypical one who is just trying to get out of town, and you would think it couldn't be more depressing, but this is a delightful comedy with heart. This trio will make you laugh, cry, and blush at times. I LOVED this story! It would make a great book club selection. Lots to unpack and discuss; everything from environmental issues to disabilities to poverty and parenthood. If you read and enjoyed Frankel's last book, This is How it Always Is, you will love this, too.

Frankel's book recounts the story of three sixteen year old triplets who live in a town where the water was poisoned by a chemical company. As such, many of residents have suffered either physically, emotionally, or both. The story centers around the triplets' mother who has been fighting, since their birth, for the chemical company to accept responsibility for what they did. Frankel does a masterful job of bringing to life all three sisters. I loved this book; It's a story of bravery and finding out who you are and what really matters in life.

Thank you to @netgalley and @henryholtbooks and @macmillan.audio for this free ALC and ebook. Laurie. Frankel has been on my radar since This is How It Always Is came out (it's still on my shelf, but bumping up significantly on my TBR). Think Erin Brockovich but with the Mitchell triplets leading the cause with their mother Nora. I loved how this audiobook also included an interview with Frankel at the end. She said she wanted to see the story after a generation of kids had lived with the fallout of being poisoned by the big rich chemical company. Each Mitchell sister (Mab, Monday, and Mirabel - rising syllable names so their mom wouldn't get tongue tied when calling to them) have unique personalities, and each lend to the story in unique ways. I loved the structure of the book, chapters titled One, Two, Three respectively over and over again as each triplet told her part of the story. All the characters were complex and wonderfully written. Frankel opens the door for normal a little wider in Mirabel who is nonverbal and bound to a wheelchair and smarter than most of the town of Borne. I loved the writing and the narrators were great.

First thing is narration by each of the three sisters, it takes a bit to adjust to that and I understand why it might seem tedious but each of the triplet had such uniqueness that eventually I felt clarity. I felt I would have preferred they were referred to by their actual names rather than as one, two and three as that would make me feel more connected to their stories. The whole book throws light on how the triplets manage to work to save their quaint town from lurking danger. How the entire town folks rally with each other and help in helping the town is very heartwarming and admirable. Such a unique and great plot but narration could have been better to keep the readers engaged.

DNF - Just couldn't get into it. I do plan on trying it again in the future. I didn't love the jumping around between the sisters in the first few chapters.

Laurie Frankel is the author of one of my all-time favourite books, This Is How It Always Is.
One, Two, Three is her newly released novel told by the 16 year old Mitchell triplets, each with their own distinct voice.
Set in the small town of Bourne, Nora (the triplets Mom) and her daughters set out to uncover the truth behind a devastating event that changed their family and town forever. The now closed Belsum chemical plant poisoned the town's water supply when it had promised to do the exact opposite. This caused illness, birth defects and death for many of the residents.
A well-written story about environmental problems, family dynamics, sisterhood and friendship.

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I really tried with this book. At 55% i had to skip to the end. I have never done that with a book in my life. I could not keep track of the 1, 2 and 3. I normally read a book in a day, maybe 2. I was 6 days in and just couldn't.

That said, it was well written, except the not being able to keep track of the few characters.

Witty and clever, poignant story that features 3 triplets and mishap in their community. Character driven and told from multiple POV, atmospheric slow build novel with an innovative twist on a well known premise.

In a nutshell: Erin Brockovich meets Stars Hollow, where Lorelai Gilmore is Erin and Rory Gilmore is triplets. Stay with me… ;)

I knew nothing about this book except that Laurie Frankel’s This is How it Always Is comes highly recommended by sooo many members of our women attorneys’ book group. While I haven’t read that one yet (it’s been amongst the stacks in my bedroom, just waiting to be read, for so long now!), I will definitely bump it up my list… I know it’ll be worth my time if it’s anywhere near as good as One, Two, Three.

One, Two, Three is told from the rotating perspectives of teenage girl triplets. Each voice is unique, distinct, and breathes such life into the story. The sisters felt so authentic, their struggles so heart wrenching, their family dynamics so entertaining, their love and care for each other so heartwarming. And pretty hilarious from time to time, too.

Not knowing much about the plot was a lovely way to discover this story, so I won’t reveal too much. It has some strong Stars Hollow/Empire Falls vibes… quirky small town with a zany cast of characters. Actually, really strong Empire Falls similarities in some other ways as well. Without giving too much away, suffice it to say that even small towns have their share of greed and corruption, and like in Empire Falls, you are rooting for the good guys (girls) in One, Two, Three to overcome those obstacles and how they keep the entire town under a dark cloud (or worse).

I read this compulsively, not only because the story itself was a bit of a page-turning legal thriller (and that’s painting it with too broad a brush- it’s not a legal thriller in the traditional sense, because it’s also a family drama and a mystery and a coming-of-age story)… I read it compulsively because anytime one sister’s chapter ended, I couldn’t wait to hear from the next one.

𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you @NetGalley for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review.

🔸One Two Three has several raving reviews. That is the main reason I wanted to read it. Sadly, I just couldn’t get into it. Why?

🔹The book moved along very slowly. The number of pages seemed excessive to tell this story.

🔹The characters didn’t click with me. I found them a bit dry. I almost imagined someone reading in monotone. The emotional parts didn’t feel emotional to me. I felt for them but didn’t get that “feeling” characters give readers.

🔹The triplets were referred to as One Two & Three, hence the title. The POV moved between these three characters and the chapters were labeled as one, Two, or Three. That makes sense because of the title, but I found it confusing. The girls had names, of course. It would’ve been helpful if the names would have been included in the chapter titles.

🔹The girls decide to solve a problem by operating heavy equipment & are able to use it perfectly in a tricky situation. Even with an impeccable memory from reading the instruction manual & experience with a joystick, it seemed quite unbelievable.

🔸There were good things in the book too.

🔹The story revolves around a pollution problem that affects an entire community. Pollution is a problem that continues to hurt the environment & the people & animals who live there. Even a fictional story such as this lets the reader learn about this issue.

🔹The townspeople are there for each other. Families love each other. Neighbors help each other. The townspeople have much in common.

🔹The town is handicapped accessible helping all those affected by the pollution.

🔹It shows how greediness & wealth can overtake common sense & doing what is right in some situations.

🔹One of the girls had mad love for the library & books. 📚 How could a book lover not like that in a character?

One Two Three follows three sisters in a small fictional town, the only home they've ever known, that has had an Erin Brockovich-esque disaster situation befall it. Oh, did I want justice for these girls and the entire town! I loved the camaraderie the community had. It almost makes me wish for small town living! Almost.

If you enjoyed This Is How It Always Is, you'll want to put this one on your TBR list! Laurie Frankel knows how to write loveable characters, people you want to know and can't help but cheer for! One Two Three is no exception!

In the town of Bourne Nora is raising her triplet daughters. One is Mab, the "normal" one. Two is Monday who can't lie, takes everything literally and keeps the town library in their home. Three is Mirabel who is confined to a wheelchair, needs help with her care but is brilliant and communicates via taps or by typing into a communicator. Almost 20 years ago the river turned green and the water was toxic from Belsum Chemical poisoning the water and now Nora's goal is to sue them for all the people in town that are sick with cancers and children with birth defects.

The story is told from the viewpoint of each of the girls. At times I had to check who I was reading but as the story progressed it was easy to tell who's voice was who. Each of them had a distinct personality and Mirabel broke my heart. She was such a strong character with so much feeling. The town felt like a character too full of despair and hope at the same time. At times the story seemed to drag and I'm not sure I cared much for the ending but I did love the characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and Henry Holt and Co for providing me a copy of this thought provoking story.

I loved This Is the Way It Always Is and this new book didn’t disappoint. I’d summarize the story and its appeal this way : triplets on a mission, three distinct characters, wordplay. The story unfolds in three rotating voices. For me, the joy was in these three characters.

Posted expanded comments on instagram June 6.

This Is How It Always Is was one of my favorite books of the year back in 2018 and I was thrilled to know Laurie Frankel had another one coming out. But I was also nervous it wouldn't live up to my expectations. Spoiler alert, it totally did. It had a distinctly different feel than TIHIAI, that I can't quite put my finger on, but she dealt with difficult subject matter and the love of families in much the same way as in her previous novel. I loved these sisters, the town of Bourne, and all of its residents. I loved the disability representation and the fierceness of the women in this story. It was truly a gem of a novel that I highly recommend.

Laurie Frankel has pulled off what I thought was impossible: she turned a book about a town and its inhabitants who were thrown into the pit of disaster seventeen years ago by a chemical company which created an ecological disaster and then left town into a heart-warming, funny, thoughtful, original, and unforgettable read. Add this novel to your Not-to-be-missed pile right now!

What really shines through in the book are the characters, particularly those of the Mitchell triplets. Their mother Nora chose names which all started with the same letter (it's easier to remember that way) and which had the number of syllables matching their birth order.

Mab - one syllable, the oldest, is "normal", or as normal as children born after the poisoning of the town's water, ground and air. Her goal is to get good grades and go to college, leaving Bourne, the town which died years ago, far behind.

Monday - two syllables, named for the day she was born, is somewhere on the autistic spectrum. She prefers not to look at people or have them look at her, and loves precision. She serves as the town's librarian now, with books stacked all through their home, she can immediately pick out the specific book requested along with others she thinks the person might like.

Mirabel - the youngest, may be the brightest of them all, but is also the one most physically affected by the poisoning. In a wheel chair, unable to walk, talk, or care for herself, she articulates her thoughts through The Voice, a machine given to her to help her communicate.

Nora has been pursuing a lawsuit against the company for 17 years, all of the girls' lives. She and the girls are very close, but the triplets are even closer with each other. They call themselves, One, Two, and Three and have their own way of communicating.

When a moving van is spotted driving through town, the Mitchell triplets are intrigued, and as they follow-up and learn more, they uncover secrets and plans that could affect all of the town.

Frankel makes this novel, with the darkest of topics, a joy to read because of the unforgettable characters she brings to life so vividly!! I highly recommend it.

My thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company publishers for allowing me to read a review copy of the book. All opinions (and any errors) expressed here are strictly my own.