📚Book Review📚
I kept seeing glowing reviews for this book and now I know why!

Alice writes a book, Theo, that impacts the 9 other main characters in this book - each in different but profound ways. One is a homeless teen, another a mentally broken free diver, one is an actor questioning his career and yet another is an aging publisher of Alice’s novel.

Oh boy did I highlight a lot of sentences!
Here’s one that will probably resonate:

“He’d worked in a bookstore long enough to know that no matter how good a book is, someone will hate it, and they’re likely to tell you. But as long as that book is only in your head, it is still perfect.”

As this book is about, well, a book, there are a lot of amazing quotes like the above. The writing is beautiful and each character is carefully crafted. Even though each isn’t necessarily connected to the last I still felt such a sense of who each

4.5 stars

Erica Bauermeister’s new book No Two Persons is unlike anything I have ever read before. I was swept up in the story of this book within a book. Instead of a traditional protagonist, this contemporary tale follows a book from person to person as it influences lives, eventually coming back to where it started.

Each chapter is named for one of ten people who encounter the book Theo: The Writer, The Bookseller, The Actor, The Artist, The Caretaker, etc. Each of these people is influenced in some way by this book—whether they read it or not. Some of them are inspired. Some of them are comforted. All of them are affected.

I loved this book and the way it shows how literature affects people in different ways. It begs questions like, What does it mean for someone to pass on a book to someone else? What can a work of fiction really tell us about ourselves? How can a reader further inspire a writer?

The characters Bauermeister has created are varied and intricate. The stories of The Teenager and The Caretaker are the two that have stuck with me the most as I’ve considered this book. Not every story is resolved on the pages of the book. We don’t see every step of the book’s journey. We don’t see every connection between characters. But each character’s story adds something to the whole and shows us how our lives are all interconnected in many ways.

I found it interesting that Bauermeister even considered those people who have a book and choose not to read it. It can still affect them. It can still influence them.

“No Two Persons” by Erica Bauermeister is a beautifully written book reminding us of the impact a book can have on each reader based on their life’s experiences and what is currently going on in their life. This is one of the best books I've read in 2023.

Alice Wein is a novice author who takes five years to write her book, “Theo”, and then struggles to get it published. Her book is about the life of one boy. The reader comes to know pieces of Alice’s novel as you are immersed in each separate story of the 9 people into whose lives the book lands. The book reaches each reader in a different way and often serves as a catalyst for change.

The uniqueness of each story along with the in-depth character development grabbed my attention right away. There are such beautiful passages about loss, grief, love, and life’s many challenges that had me going back to re-read the well-crafted sentences. I found it hard to put down this book and will seek out other books by this author as this was my first. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves readying and thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for granting me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A book that demonstrates how one book affects every person who turns its pages. As a booknerd, I deeply appreciated how a story can land with those that find themselves immersed in its words. To witness how Theo touched each person made me think about how all the books on my shelves have affected other people.

The full cast of characters each had a moment in time when this novel found them. Their story through the story was touching, eventually the author weaves their storylines together for its conclusion.

No Two Persons is a heartfelt read.

Thank you St. Martin's Press for the complimentary copy.

How can one book change ten lives? Alice finally is able to write her first novel, and it turns out to be a very special work of fiction that touches the lives of various people. A wonderfully compelling read about the power of fiction to change our lives.

Stop what you’re doing and find a copy of this wonderful book; a collection of interconnected short stories about one book and how it affects the lives of many different people. I’m head over heels for it. It’s a love story to book lovers everywhere, in all aspects of the industry. I finished it and wanted to start again at the beginning.

I had a digital review copy (DRC) of the ebook but was lucky enough to nab an advanced listening copy (ALC) of the audiobook, and it's knocked my socks off!

Thanks, NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin’s Press, for the DRC and ALC!

A story about books, and about people reading books. Does it get any better than that? I don't think so. Erica Bauermeister has written some of my favorite books and I love it when she has a new one out. They are always so magical.

No Two Persons first takes us into the world of one author, just doing her thing and trying to pen some words that people might read. The story is then spun around nine readers who find the book at different points in their lives. The magical part of the story is that each reader gets something unique from the author's words and it affects each person differently. The same book for all but each reader gets what they need from those words.

The author has written a wonderful escape book as well as a story that made me think. You never know what someone is going through and how words can impact their lives at any given time. And that we each get something from every experience, and that experience is different for each of us. Oh, and also that reading is such an important part of everyone's lives.

I loved No Two Persons and if you are a reader, which you probably are since you are reading this, you are going to love it too. Power to the words!

This book wasn’t what I thought it would be, but was better than my expectation.
I have no idea about the author’s intentions, but the ironic (and maybe satirical?) undertone that a story about “writing a book” was narrated by breaking the so-called contemporary “writing rules” (looking at you, show-don’t-tell) was NOT lost on me. And that was one of my favorite things about this book. Debut authors everywhere can only dream, am I right?
Sure, there’s no space and time for the reader to connect with the characters in a more emotional level, but I still felt something. Sometimes I didn’t even understand what in the world was happening (Juliet’s story was a bit on the creepy side, and Miranda’s ripping the book apart made me cringe), but the metaphorical door is left open for readers to fill in the blanks: what really happened in Tyler’s past? Did William make back home? Did Nola get in trouble for not calling 911 when Madeline collapsed?
Not everything was perfect, obviously. For one, it was hard to suspend disbelief when it came to how the book Theo so deeply affected the cast of characters. Maybe I’ve grown cold and cynical toward the publishing companies. Maybe I haven’t read a book that changed me in the same way. Maybe it’s just me.

I also enjoyed learning about the author’s own process and the history behind the epigraph: “Not two persons ever read the same book.” And that’s the truth!
I recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 ⭐️ I was so excited to read this book when I read the synopsis. This was such a unique and beautifully written story. Each character describes how the book “Theo” impacted them and their life. Each chapter was so great and I loved getting to read the different perspectives. I will definitely read more from this author. I loved her writing style. This would be a perfect book club pick! Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Erica Bauermeister has written a very unique book that totally took me by surprise. Alice works on her first novel for many years and finally finishes it. It is rejected over and over until a young mother employed by a publishing company currently working from home reads the first line and knows immediately it is special. Each chapter introduces a new character whose lives are touched and affected by the book, Theo. There are 9 readers, each very different from the other. My personal favorite was Rowan, the actor, who transitioned to narrating audio books. His approach to narration was absolutely fascinating.
While I definitely enjoyed the unique concept and the writing, I had difficulty forming a “bond” with any of the characters. The books that speak to me most are those that seem to place me down in the middle of the action enabling me to feel part of the story.
This book will remain with me for a long time due to the power of its message. No two readers will ever have the same feelings after completing a book…each one speaks to each individual reader and each reader gleans their own pearls from their unique perspective given their personal experiences. Erica Bauermeister was truly a genius, finding a unique way to share that message with the world.
Many thanks to Erica Bauermeister, St Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for affording me the amazing opportunity to read an arc of this just published book. I highly recommend it for readers everywhere.

Any book lover will love this book! It's almost like 10 short stories, of different people who read the same book (or have the book affect them in some way.) How the characters are all subtly intertwined was brilliant as well! Loved it!! (I wanted to give it 5 stars but it didn't have that "Gasp!" moment for me.)

And, I absolutely love the cover!

No Two Persons,” by Erica Bauermeister ” is about the power of books and how their stories change and impact each of us in different ways. From the author Alice who after tragedy strikes opens up on the page bringing her debut novel to life. to a teenager hiding the fact that she’s homeless, an artist angry at the world, a bookseller searching for love, a grieving widower and a diver pushing himself to the brink; each voice in this novel connects to a readers soul.

What I Love
-Well developed characters
-Its a book about books which just tickles me
-unconventional structure paired with a simple and straight forward writing style makes for a unique reading experience.


What didn't work as well for me
Due to the number of stories being told pacing was uneven at times.


Who would I recommend this title to

No two persons is a delightful read for any reader who has ever wondered what another might connect to on the page in front of them.

"I guess I just like the idea of possibility. Like an invitation, not an answer, you know? It gives you something to think about later."

No Two Persons definitely invites the reader to think more on how a book delivers differently with each one of them. This book is a story of a book written by Alice, and the ending comes in a full circle.

This book is so beautiful. It will land with every reader in its own way, and I really loved it. It has a main story but also incorporates short stories within the main story. Every character has their own struggles and how a book can change their life deeply resonated within me. As a lifelong reader, I know books have supported me through hard times, so I know the power of these stories.

I loved this book, and it will be one of my favorite books of the year. Thank you, St. Martin's Press and Netgalley.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of No Two Persons , and Happy Release Day to author Erica Bauermeister (May 2, 2023)!

I absolutely loved this book. It is a series of short stories over a chronologically organized timeframe from early 2000's to 2019. The characters all have a connection to a book called Theo, and the characters in each story have some connections, although sometimes barely any. I literally whipped through it again last night after finishing it to clarify some of the connections I missed on the first read, they were so subtle.

The book flows beautifully for all 320 pages. I felt every story so much and even shed tears in the story about the teacher and student living in the shed. The characters were relatable, beautifully written and really quite amazing. Will definitely seek out this author again. 5-stars, no question.

An interesting, unique and beautifully written collection of short stories make up this book. Alice has always wanted to be an author. After life has gotten in the way she finally writes and finishes her first novel. Each story is about an individual who read her novel and its impact on them. They are sort of connected, but not directly. What the title shares is that whatever the experience, in this case a book, “No Two Persons” will have the exact same experience. This tells us how each person metabolizes the story and the impact it has on each of them. Very interesting and well executed concept.

No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister took my breath away! I admire the author’s vision of writing a novel about a writer who crafts her first book, Theo, out of pain and personal experience, and then following that book over nine years as it is read by, and impacts, a variety of people. Their ages and walks of life are diverse, but the book connects their stories in sometimes subtle, often profound ways. The intersection of their stories is sometimes unexpected but always meaningful.
This novel is very character-driven, and each reader of Theo has their own chapter—I loved that! It felt so immersive and I happily dove into the characters’ unique situations and life challenges. The writing is lyrical and beautifully descriptive—each word carefully chosen to enhance the depth of each character.
Ultimately, this is her homage to the magic of reading and of readers getting lost in a book, which no two persons will ever see in exactly the same way.
I enthusiastically recommend this novel to everyone who loves books and words, and insightful character development!
And while you are looking for this book, consider delving into the author’s previous works; House Lessons is one our book club enjoyed immensely.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.

No Two Persons is getting great reviews, so I know I am in the minority here. I just didn't care about this book. I didn't like that each story felt like its own separate story, like I was reading a book of short stories. Maybe I wasn't in the right mood to enjoy the book, but please read other, more favorable reviews, to make your decision on this!

I received an advance audio and e-copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

Interesting plot and execution. I found my feelings mixed regarding No Two Persons. As a book reader I do realize that everyone may not have the same thoughts and experience as me while reading a book, but to read a book that lays that out in black and white is fascinating to me. No Two Persons lays out how one book can impact multiple readers, depending on what that individual brings to the table as far as their own life and thoughts. What I found most intriguing was the perception of the author. As a reader, do we really ever know what the author was trying to convey to us through their story, or will we always be persuaded by our own interpretation. I thought No Two Persons was well written and the character development was top notch, but there is a flaw with the character development, at least in my opinion, which is the fact that we don't stay with one person's point of view long enough to thoroughly get emotionally invested into any particular character. This felt much more like a collection of short stories (I am not the biggest fan of) with the theme of sharing one plot, I would have liked to have the characters come together more fluidly in the end, some did but not all. By the end of the No Two Persons, I was wishing I could read the book within the book, Theo by Alice Wein, to me that seemed to be the better option since so many folks were impacted by it. No Two Persons is generating a lot of positive reviews and while I appreciate that, for me it was a miss. This is my first novel to read by Erica Bauermeister and I do think she did a fantastic job in the writing of No Two Persons and definitely have her on my list to read again.

4 stars for writing and character development, 2 stars for my enjoyment. Overall, a 3-star rating.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and honestly review an advanced digital copy.

Love this book. It captures everything I feel about reading. This book followers an author and nine other people that are connected to the book - whether through its publication or the person reading it. “No two persons ever read the same book.” “Books spoke to specific people for specific reasons, and it had everything to do with where they were in their lives.” We learn a little bit about the book’s storyline through each reader, which begins with “Wandering is a gift given only to the lost.” ⛰️

“A great book is on that you love.” ❤️

This book is definitely going into the “favorites” shelf.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5⭐️ - This was a rough one for me. I love the premise, but because we kept jumping characters and perspectives, there were parts that I loved, and there were parts that just didn't hold my attention. I was waiting for a little more *something* to draw all the disparate parts together.