• Thank you to Henry Holt & Company and NetGalley for providing this Advance Reading Copy. Expected publication date is June 8, 2021.

In the small, fictional town of Bourne life has been stagnant for 17 years. That’s when the chemical company that dumped poison into the land and water shut down and left town. Many of the residents died and those who didn’t bore children with severe birth defects and/or on the spectrum. Three of these children, triplets, although impaired are brilliant. When the company threatens to come back and resume operation, the triplets find a way to permanently closed them down.

Instantly one of my favorite reads of the year. I loved this Stranger Things meets Erin Brockovich story in Laurie Frankel's inimitable prose. One Two Three is told in three distinct and engaging points of view (teenage triplet sisters). The sisters were born after their town suffered massive poisoning from a chemical factory. The poisoning caused cancer, death, mental and physical damage, and effects on babies born after the factory closed down. The triplets' mother has been trying to sue the factory owner for years. When the chemical company plans to reopen the factory, the triplets take it on themselves to discover the truth about what originally happened and to block the factory from opening. What makes this story compelling and a "best of the year" read for me is the writing style and the sisters' voices. One sister is "typical" in mind and body (though she points out that for her town, she's "weird" as a result). The second sister has characteristics that would categorize her as on the autism spectrum (I don't think the term autism is used in the book, but I can't be certain about that). The third sister is non-verbal and has physical control only over her facial expressions and one arm. Each has strengths and weaknesses, and together they are a force to be reckoned with. The candor and the clarity of mind of each girl—there was never a page where I forgot whose head I was in—allowed me to immerse myself in their world. I didn't want to leave. I've already recommended this book to my best reader friends and will continue to do so.

I had no idea what to expect from this story but it was so well written, well researched and thought provoking. ⁣
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Frankel discusses water pollution and bioterrorism leading to the variations of developmental deficits in children born during this time. ⁣
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This story is told in 3 POVs by 3 triplet sisters who were each effected differently by this water pollution. There is also a sweet highschool romance. A mother who does everything to fight for her children to be treated equally and to absorb as much knowledge as possible. ⁣
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The family dynamics, environmental problems, the town coming together and falling apart, sisterhood, and friendships truly make this a great story. ⁣
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Thank you for an ARC for my honest review. The narration of this was outstanding as well!⁣ #netgalley #onetwothree
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When I saw that Laurie Frankel had a new book out, I knew that it would be one I would want to read. Then I read the synopsis and was even more convinced that this would be one I would love. And love it I did! I loved the setting, the plot, the characters, the struggles, the regrets and the ending.

This story centers around triplets born in a poor town, Bourne, that was devastated by a chemical company and their flippant and careless ways. The story is told through each of the sisters’ voices: One - Mab – the sister who feels the weight of the world on her shoulders simply because she is normal, Two - Monday – the sister on the spectrum who takes everything literally, and is emotionally challenged, but fine physically, and Three - Mirabel – the sister in a wheelchair who has extraordinary mental capacity and yet lacks physical capacity save for the use of her fingers and a voice box.

As the reader learns, this town is different than any other. Sickness and disease have ravaged and decimated most of its residents. It has had to morph into a town that caters to people with disabilities. Because that is what Belsum Chemical forced upon it. The runoff from the plant poisoning the water system and turning it sulphuric and green. Once it was aware of the catastrophic effects of their greed, the company picked up and left without taking any of the blame.

“I think about the ways cause and effect might break you. Bourne is a town of unexpected consequences, a place where what no one sees coming runs you over like a truck.”

Although the town tried to force Belsum to assume responsibility, it was a David and Goliath fight with no results. The champion of the cause, Nora, the triplet’s mother, continues throughout the story to search for evidence. The evidence that will finally point the finger at Belsum and prove its culpability. The story was slightly reminiscent of Erin Brokovich. But only in purpose as these characters are all their own.

Without saying too much about the story and ruining the suspense for the reader, know that there are developments which bring Nora’s fight back into the forefront. Belsum moves to re-enter Bourne and reopen the plant. In a town with no jobs and no prospects, it proves easy to get people to forget the past and hope for a brighter future. There is suspense, betrayal, shock, unbelief, understanding and finally growth.

The character development in this book is sublime. The ways in which all the characters are interwoven serve to strengthen the story and yet also blur the lines between duty and responsibility. An overarching theme emerges – parental expectations and children paying the price for the sins of a parent. Although this may sound like a book that is depressing and heavy, it amazingly is not. It is a story of acceptance, flexibility, fight and personal triumph. I highly recommend!

Thank you to Net Galley and Henry Holt for the advance copy of this book to read and review. Pub Date: June 8, 2021.

I haven’t read This Is How It Always Is yet, but it is on my list as a Reese’s book club pick which is how I recognized the author for this book. I requested an advanced copy and here we are!

One Two Three is about triplet sisters: “One” is Mab, “Two” is Monday, and “Three” is Mirabel. At first I was very confused about who was who but then realized the titles of the chapters were not going in chronological order, but instead telling us who we were reading from the perspective of based on their nickname. And it nicely rotates in order so it was very easy to keep track once I recognized that.

The sisters live in Bourne, a small town that was devastated by the chemical plant that was poisoning their water. Their mother has been in a sixteen year fight to try to prove that Belsum Chemicals knew what they were doing, but has been unable to bring the town to true justice yet.

I was getting extreme Erin Brockovich vibes but I just recently watched this movie for the first time so it was fresh on my mind. The story is still an interesting one, but it drug on a little long for me. It was too slow and drawn-out. The plot was very predictable so it felt like I was waiting chapters and chapters just for it to move forward.

However, I really liked the characters. Each sister was unique and entertaining in her own way and I truly enjoyed reading about each one. I just think it could have been much more condensed and still been successful.

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Company for an ARC of this book.

The Mitchell triplets of Bourne are well-known and well-loved, and not just because everyone knows everyone in Bourne. Mab, Monday and Mirabel live with their mother Nora in their small home, made smaller by the fact that Monday now runs the town library out of their home. Seventeen years ago, Belsum Chemical poisoned the town, and no one in the town was left untouched by the tragedy. Now Belsum is back and wants to reopen the plant, but the Mitchell girls and their mother aren't ready to forgive and forget quite yet.

Told alternately by each triplet - Mab, Monday and Mirabel - this story is engrossing and engaging. The girls are each distinct individuals with different goals and thoughts throughout. While they have been dealing with their mother's attempt to sue Belsum Chemical their entire lives, they are still also 16-year-old girls, with all the feelings and thoughts that come with that. Each girl has their strengths, along with their weaknesses, and put all together, they are an unstoppable force.

This is my second book by Laurie Frankel and she has quickly become one of my "must-read" authors.

Available June 8, 2021

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing me this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"It is extraordinarily appropriate that in Bourne voting literally feels like gambling." From One Two Three

4.5 stars

This book is a mix of Erin Brokovich meets Romeo and Juliet with sisters. The book is told through three triplets point of view, each chapter being just titled one, two, three based on who was telling the story. The characters were outstanding, and I loved the different abilities representation. Each sister was so distinctive, and I loved that it took all of their different abilities in order for the outcome to happen. I felt connected to so many of the townspeople and the setting. Monday's library where she would give you the books you really need (and that she had stored) was one of my favorite scenes I have read in awhile. Including the line, "Would you like a book on how to make a friend?".

I only wished there wasn't so much time devoted to the mothers sort of pointless battle at the beginning, it set the pace of slow and inconsistant as the novel wasn't about her story. We could have learned about the fruitless fight in a lot less pages and created stronger plot earlier. I also thought the ending was to "neat" and quite fast. Still, a delight to read.

Thank you to etgalley, the publisher, and author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Laurie Frankel blew me away with This Is How It Always Is so I was extremely excited to read One Two Three. Well, let me say she has produced another fabulous book that will stick with me for a long time. Mab, Monday and Mirabel were some of my favorite characters of all time and I loved that the narrative kept shifting perspectives between the three of them. I also really loved the cast of side characters in Nora, Omar, Frank, Pastor Jeff, Petra and Pooh. Even River, Nathan and Apple Templeton were incredibly interesting to me. I loved that Laurie was able to give such amazing character development without sacrificing anything from the plot. I was riveted the whole way through. I will be highly recommending this incredibly interesting and intricate story to everyone.

What I liked about One Two Three:
--The premise of the book. A mother of triplets seeks justice on behalf of her children and community for health problems/deaths due to a tainted water supply. (Think Erin Brokovich)
--The organization of the book. The book is broken into trilogies of chapters called simply One Two Three. Each is told by one of the triplets. One is Mab, Two is Monday, and Three is Mirabel.
--The distinct personalities of the three narrators. Each girl is unique and her perspective on the events stay true to her personality.

What I didn't like about One Two Three:
--Unneccessary length. I would have enjoyed the book more if it had been shorter. It drug on in several places, making me lose my interest.
--YA-ness. This book is categorized as women's fiction, but it feels very YA a lot of the time. I understand that with three teenage narrators, a certain amount of that is to be expected, but it felt more YA than adult.

Thanks go to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

4.5⭐️ for an incredibly original story about teenage triplets, their mom - an Erin Brokovich type — and others in a town decimated by a plant poisoning/chemical polluter and what happens when the plant tries to reopen. The characters in this book are beyond special. Was a slow start for me, but this was a wonderful read.

Laurie Frankel's This is How it Always Is has a place on my favorites shelf, and I eagerly anticipated what she would do with One Two Three. This story about family, community, ecology, and more is told through three of the town of Bourne's younger residents, triplets Mab, Monday, and Mirabel. Their mother Nora has been leading the charge- and is one of the last ones willing to continue the fight- against the corporation that years ago released a toxic chemical into the town that impacted nearly everyone living there and left the town floundering. Nothing much has happened in Bourne since then as the dwindling residents try to keep going, but things are about to change. It's heartbreaking, it's moving, it's thoughtful and provoking. This ought to be a big hit.

17-year-old triplets Mab, Monday, and Mirabel take turns narrating this novel of a small town fighting against a big chemical company who destroyed their water supply when they were in utero. The damaged supply caused birth defects in Monday and Mirabel, cancer that killed their father and many other community members, and other numerous health problems throughout the community.

In some ways, this reads like a coming-of-age story and I did enjoy the relationship between the sisters and their mom, Nora. But the overall plot fell flat for me. Not much actually happens until the very end, and even then it felt anti=climactic. Even the teen romance between Mab and River, the grandson of the CEO of this company, lacked excitement and didn't feel realistic to me. Overall, I was disappointed in this novel, especially because I loved This Is How It Always Is so much.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was wonderful and funny. How can a book about a big corporation polluting the drinking water, leading to multiple illnesses, be funny. Well, here are a couple examples of how our sixteen year old heroines managed just that:

"On television, sex makes people happy, but you are still annoyed and annoying."

"And I tried to remind myself that if I killed them both I would never be able to use the toilet again when my mother was not home."

I loved Mab (One), Monday (Two) and Mirabel (Three). They are three of the best characters I have read in a long time. I especially loved Monday. This shouldn't have surprised me as Laurie Frankel's This Is How It Always Is was one of my favourite books of 2018.

I was captivated with each chapter of the daily goings-on with the Mitchell triplets and I delighted at every turn of the page, with laughter, and yes, with an aching heart for the pain of broken souls. The reward is finding characters who unknowingly piece each other back together.

A fresh look at intergenerational friendship, love, adventure, and yes, death. What I loved most? The characters and the journey they took each other on while saving themselves, their town and each other.

one two three by Laurie Frankel is about the tiny town of Bourne (anywhere USA) that suffered an eco-disaster after a chemical plant diverted a river, then dumped a poisonous chemical into the water supply. The Belsum Chemical Company, owned by the Templeton family, denied any responsibility for the increase of cancer deaths, tumors, and children born with birth defects. Experts and government employees were bribed and the company was never held responsible. Many of the remaining few residents are either too poor or physically unable to leave. Now seventeen years later, Belsum has decided to return to Bourne and start manufacturing the same chemical again.

The story is uniquely told by the sixteen-year-old triplet daughters of Nora Mitchell. Nora’s husband died from cancer after the poisoning when the girls were only three months old. She has been trying to push forward a class action lawsuit against Belsum since the triplets were born. Unfortunately, there is no smoking gun to prove Belsum Chemical knew of the harm it would cause. Nora works as the town’s only counselor, has a second job as a bartender, and sells baked goods to make ends meet. She is completely devoted to her three unique girls.

The novel’s cover with a green, a yellow, and a red leaf sets the stage for the girls’ personalities. Mab (one) the firstborn and considered “normal”. She is in Track A classes for school. She is studying for her SAT and longs to leave Bourne to go to college. Monday (two), the second-born is on the spectrum. She is fixated on the color yellow unless it is raining and she prefers green. When the town’s library was shut down, Monday took in most of the books. She stores them throughout the house and operates a makeshift library from there. Monday is in Track B classes at school because her body works all the way, but her brain does not. Mirabel (three), the third born is a genius but confined to a wheelchair due to her birth defects. She can only speak through a voice box. Mirabel is in Track C classes because of her congenital anomalies. Because she is so smart, she basically teaches herself. She often goes to work with Nora and is an astute listener.

Their world is upended when Nathan Templeton moves back to Bourne to reopen the plant. He brings his wife, Apple, and sixteen-year-old son, River. Nathan is there to assure everyone that the plant is safe and their lives will be better. The Mitchell’s don’t believe it, but many of the other residents do. River befriends the triplets, which leads to many complications.

While each of the three girls is endearing, I was truly moved by Mirabel’s story. She knows there are people who can “expect to, strive to, feel entitled to be happy. And people who cannot.” Because of her physical limitations, it is expected that she will not be happy. But, Mirabel has all the normal emotions of a teenaged girl, including the desire for romantic love. The unfairness of her situation is heartbreaking at times.

This is a story about righting wrongs and letting go of past hurts. It is about sisterhood and how our next generation is our future. It is about corporations putting profit over people. On the downside for me, it is a coming-of-age story, that occasionally feels more like a YA novel than adult fiction. I didn’t like the ending. I don’t think the girls’ solution to the problem would be effective in the long run.

4-stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co for my advanced reader copy! The hardcover is 400 pages. The expected publication date is June 8, 2021.

Such a unique way of telling a story, my heart is still so warmed by the love these siblings had for each other!
I went into this book very unprepared, I had not even read the entire book blurb, and frankly I think that is how everyone should go into this book. The way the author chooses to tell this story is so impactful and insightful. My heart was impacted through each chapters, sometimes with warmth, sometimes breaking, sometimes chilled, and sometimes thumping. The amount of emotion and perspective you gain is hard to describe without giving anything away.

Extremely well done!

I went into this one somewhat blind. I had read the synopsis, but didn't really look at any of the early reviews. I also listened to it on audio and absolutely loved the narrators since it was told from the perspective of triplets. I don't think I could have gotten so much of each of their personalities without the audio performance.

The writing was also well done as well as the character development. It was one of those stories where you go, that could never happen here, but in reality, it very easily could. I do wish the ending went a little longer.

4/5⭐️ from me and if you get the chance, listen to the audio!

This story was truly remarkable. I absolutely adore Laurie Frankel’s writing style. The characters are so fleshed out and real. This was a beautiful story of family bonds and small-town heart. I felt bad for the characters in Bourne but was also conflicted with River and his family. Had things truly changed with Belsum? A lot of the conflict in the story was relatable and heartbreaking and raised some great questions. This would be a wonderful book for book clubs. Laurie Frankel may be one of my new favorites!

This book is absolutely brilliant--unlike any book I have ever read!! It tells the story of 16-year-old triplets, Mab, Monday, and MIrabel, and the town they live in--a small town with little to offer its residents except for hardship and no way out for even its smartest citizens. One Two Three is told from each of the triplet's point of view, three teenagers who are like one, but each with their own distinct, honest voice. There is humor, there is heartbreak, there is unparalleled intelligence, and there is always the quest for restitution for their family, for their friends, and for the entire town. For 16 years nothing in the town of Bourne has changed for its people--a town that suffered great loss after its water turned green--until the first family in 16 years moves into the town, unsettling the triplets and their mother, and leading the girls on a winding path to save everyone and everything they love. I cannot say enough about the characters in this book, especially Mab, Monday, and Mirabel; three unforgettable young women whose heart, determination, wit, devotion, and intellect drive every twist and turn of this remarkable story.

Laurie Frankel's One Two Three reminded me of the Nancy Drew books that I loved so much growing up. The book centers around triplets Mab, Monday, and Mirabel who live in the town of Bourne. Seventeen years ago the water turned green and made everyone in the town sick. The girls' mother has been fighting for justice ever since and the triplets join in that fight. Told in alternating voices, the Frankel does an incredible job of bringing the girls and their personalities to life. This would appeal to YA readers. I enjoyed the story, but thought it was too long.

Thank you to Henry Holt & Co and NetGalley for this ARC.

It’s hard to be unique, do a new thing, tell a story that hasn’t been told before.

ONE TWO THREE manages to do it, and do it well. The story centers around triplets Mav, Monday, and Mirabell (one, two, three respectively) in their small town of Bourne. Residents in this tight-knit community faced major health complications after a large company contaminated their water source.

The triplets mother believes her daughter’s conditions (neurodiverse, CP) are a direct result of the water contamination and she has been fighting for justice for decades. As the girls come of age they take up their mother’s cause, but do it in their own way.

The way in which @laurie.frankel highlights these unlikely heroines is remarkable. Frankel alters perceptions of what it means to be a “strong female protagonist”. Although each girl has her own distinct challenges, they are viewed as delightful differences rather than barriers.

As a speech therapist, I was incredibly drawn to Mirabell’s character. Although she was nonverbal and used an AAC device to communicate, she was portrayed as feisty, intelligent, and thoughtful. Each character was respectfully represented. The girls were flawed but endearing, and their bond with one another was indestructible.

Lately, I have read a handful of books that touch on climate change/environmental impacts. As a Michigan resident the flint water crisis has been an ongoing struggle for our state, and the parallels in this story hit close to home. I love the way that this story didn’t shy away from tough topics, but left me feeling hopeful and good about humanity as a whole.

I alternated between the digital and audio versions of the book which made for a rich reading experience. Emma Galvin, Jesse Vilinsky, and Rebecca Soler each narrated one of the sisters making each character sound as distinct as they truly were. Highly recommend!

A big thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for an electronic ARC and Libro.fm for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.