What an interesting, creative way to structure a book - loved the concept! These are interconnected stories joined together by the reading of a book. Each of the individual stories are about self and relationships choices. I found something I loved in each one and thought the author’s technique of connecting them with reading a book and taking different things out of the book was so authentic and lovely. Thanks to St Martin Press for the advanced copy.

I loved this book and it's one that I will want to put into the hands of friends, wondering how they will embrace it, how many stars they might give it. From the author, Alice, her book Theo, makes its way into the hands of people who connected with it. If you are a long time avid reader you must have a group of books that spoke to you, ones that you carry in your mind to muse upon as the years pass. Books that gave you a safe escape from your real life, books that made you think, books to made you laugh when you wanted to cry. As the title says it all, No Two Persons.
My thanks to the publisher St. Martin's Press and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a beautiful and unique collection of stories. There are 9 stories about different people who read the same book and how that book impacts their life. I definitely liked some stories more than others but that's what makes this book so wonderful, everyone will have a different experience reading it. Some of the storylines and characters just resonated with me and who I am more than others. There are lots of beautiful passages about love, loss, grief, growth, challenges, and life in general. This is really a love story to readers and I think everyone will get something out of it.

No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister was written during the covid-19 pandemic. The author shares in her acknowledgments that she has always been kept company by the fictional characters she'd grown attached to but in this season of life she found that these fictional characters kept her sane.

No Two Persons is a love letter to books, the bibliophiles who read them, the authors who write them, the narrators who bring them to life, the creatives who make meaning out of each story, and the book community at large. What Bauermeister manages to do in this series of interconnected stories is to demonstrate the expansive life cycle of a book that is truly never-ending. Once a book is born into the world there is no way of knowing how many lives it will touch or who will connect to the story and why. No Two Persons manages to romantically express the ways that our lives are individually and collectively touched by literature.

As a bibliotherapist who uses books to help my clients heal in psychotherapy, I have yet to read anything like this book and I'm so glad that it exists in the world. Each of us enters the covers of a book from different view points, life perspectives and experiences, and the way that we are able to connect and/or struggle to connect with literature is unique to each person. I love how the author chose to begin No Two Persons with the author's journey towards getting her book published and then carried the narrative over to different places, people, and seasons of life. This was such a meaningful way to express the importance of literature, the life giving and life sustaining power of stories, in the journey of book lovers from all walks of life.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the e-arc copy!

One Liner: Intriguing and different (read with the right expectations)

Alice loved books for as long as she could remember. It wasn’t surprising when she wanted to become a writer. However, her initial stories seemed to be just like her- detached and uninvolved. Yet, she finally writes a novel that comes from within her mind and soul. Her debut novel is hers. But it also belongs to countless readers who connect with it.
Nine people come across Alice’s book in different ways. Each of them finds something unique yet familiar. They relate to the book in ways one wouldn’t seem possible. Does the book belong to the author or the readers who find themselves in it?
The book comes in the limited third-person POV of ten characters.

My Thoughts:
This book doesn’t have the standard story arc or plot. It is more like a series of short stories with a common theme and a couple of recurring characters. Going into the right information and expectations is important. It doesn’t tie everything with a little bow. It’s got open endings, which make sense.
The story starts with Alice and how she writes her debut novel Theo in 2010. Then it takes us to Lara, a manuscript reader working for lit agent Madeline. We get a glimpse into Lara’s life and how Theo’s manuscript affects her. And so on, the book takes us through the lives of eight more people.
While some characters hit the mark, a few stories fall flat. However, the overall impact sustains well. The book stays true to the title theme- no two persons ever read the same book. It’s hard to write more without spoilers, so let’s say that the characters are all going through different issues.
I enjoyed the insights I got about the preparation for audiobook narrations. It’s fascinating to see how much work the narrator has to do to bring the words alive through their voice.
I do wish that we get to know more about Theo, the book. Though bits and pieces of information are scattered in other characters’ stories, it doesn’t complete the picture. Though I connect to the concept, I’m not fully sure how and which part of the book influenced the character. Not sure if the vagueness is deliberate, but it didn’t work for me.
However, I love how certain things come together at the end and show that art influences art. We never know which piece of art or a phrase from a book will open a new dimension and provide options we didn’t know existed.

To summarize, No Two Persons is a unique and novel take on how a book can influence different people in different ways, and sometimes, fiction is what we need to handle reality. The author’s note is short, sweet, and icing on the cake.
Thank you, NetGalley and St Martin's Press, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

As a book lover myself, I fell completely in love with this book. No Two Persons delves into how a book impacts the lives of roughly ten different people. Obviously, it begins with the back story of the author. She was from a family ripe with strife and that impacted everything about how she grew up. Also, the tragedy that befell her family changed her life and eventually wove its way into her story as well. It was both equal parts heartbreaking and beautiful.

From there, the book bounces to many other people. Initially it appears that the only thing they may all have in common is the book. But as the story progresses, you often see various smaller connections between each of these people as well. It was so cleverly done.

There was no grand or huge plot line. It was a character driven story that basically spoke about life and how a book won't impact any two people the same because their life experiences will give them each a different interpretation. It's a beautiful and true thought. I was so engrossed in this book and its beautiful words that I couldn't put it down. It wasn't because I was rushing to see how something was resolved, I was just enjoying the easy flow of the storytelling. I realize this book may not be for everyone. If you're looking for some intricate and flashy plot, it's probably not going to be your thing. But it you're like me and you love the written word and how it can make you feel, then open your heart to the words inside this book and let yourself be transported.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The audio was simply sublime. The narration really fit this book and its style without a doubt. I also felt that my attention was kept on task much easier by the audio because hearing a voice keeps you more grounded. It was so much easier to submerse myself in the storyline. It was truly lovely. 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for the early copies. I chose to review them both and the opinions contained within are my own.

This is a unique and interesting book with nine different people who have unique stories but are all connected by the fact that they read the same book. They all seem to need it for different reasons and they all get something they need from it.

I have never finished a book and then felt the need to immediately sit down and post a review. Until now.

This book follows an author writing her first book and the path that book takes, changing people’s lives as they read it. At first I thought, I want to read that book. Then I realized, I was.

I couldn’t put this book down. The way everything intertwined was a delicate dance and it left me breathless.

I am leaving a review on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/p/Crwq_8YLUBs/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5132824020

And Amazon.

Happy Publication Day to this great book!

Sometimes I read out of my genre comfort zones (horror and thriller) and am so glad I did. This is one of those times! I have all the warm fuzzies you get after reading a well-written book with a compelling storyline and believable characters you want to pull out of the pages and hug. This book had it all.

The premise is the many people's lives a book touches once it leaves the author's hands. No two people will receive the story in the same way. Each person pulls from the story what they need at the time they are reading it. Several characters' lives were touched throughout the book, as was mine. I'm adding this to my list of books I'd love to read again at some point just to revisit with the characters.

No Two Persons earned five brilliant stars from me!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

No Two Persons is like no other book I have read

Alice has wanted to be a writer from a young age. She is in college working with her writing teacher when tragedy strikes her family. After months of hiding from the world and skipping classes Alice is ready to write the novel that is inside her.

I loved the way Alice "found" the novel while swimming. The path was not a quick one and I think most writers can relate to this part of the story. It doesn't happen overnight like many readers would think. After years of work the novel is ready. And then come the rejection letters. Will "Theo" ever see the light of day?

Yes, I loved how each individual reacted to the book, but I think my favorite part was seeing how each person who read came to be holding a copy of "Theo". Some were eager and some were reluctant. Some came to read it only when there was not much else to do. But all were entranced!

This book brilliantly shows how a book can affect each person differently based on where they are in life and their past experiences.

A great book to give as a gift.

Thanks to netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc.

I really enjoyed the authors novel, The Scent Keeper, and was happy to receive an ARC for No Two Persons. This is a unique book that felt like short stories and how they related to a particular book. I have always appreciated how a book makes me feel and see how books can affect people differently and the differences that books make in our lives. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

What an absolute gem of a book! One thing I wasn’t expecting going into this one is that, while it’s billed as a novel, it’s really a collection of interconnected short stories. I’m glad I didn’t know that though or I probably wouldn’t have picked it up. I’ve never really found short stories to be something I connected with. Until now. I’m so glad I read this one because it was absolutely stunning.

In each chapter, we meet a different person whose life was impacted when a certain book crossed their paths. Though each chapter gives just a snapshot of a life, I felt fully immersed in each character and they felt so well drawn that I could understand and connect with the characters even in such a short time with each of them. Within a page or two of each chapter, I felt like I knew and understood the character.

The writing was absolutely superb. It was beautiful, thoughtful and poignant without ever seeming pretentious or overwritten. Bauermeister truly has a gift for saying a lot with few words. I could bask in the words in these stories all day. 😍

I honestly don’t know what more to say about this book except that it’s an absolute must-read for lovers of books and beautiful writing. It will likely be on my list of contenders for best books of the year and is sure to be one that will stick with me.

No Two Person by Erica Bauermeister is a fantastic book that I absolutely loved. This wonderfully immersive story just captivated me from the very beginning. I really enjoyed reading the author’s previous work, so I was excited to have the opportunity to read an early copy of her newest book. A huge thank you to St. Martin’s Press, the author and NetGalley.

Everyone experiences life differently. Each person has their own unique perspective on the things in their lives. Several people can read the same book, look at the exact same painting or watch a particular movie together, and each of those people will walk away having a different opinion about it, because no one perceives everything in the same manner. No Two Persons captures this idea perfectly.

No Two Persons is an amazingly unique book within a book. With an entrancing premise that is told from the standpoint of each character in short vignettes. The storyline tells how each person comes to read one writer’s book, the impactful affect it has on all of them and how it also bonds them together.

Every reader no matter what genre they enjoy reading understands the power that books hold. Books are always there, they have always been our friends, they comfort us, are our escape from what ails us, books are shining examples of possibilities, and they are our endless hope for something better.

No Two Persons is that book. A luminously written, lyrical original piece about how the act of reading can foster connection that expand and reach beyond what is possible for us all. I highly recommend this book, it’s a must read! 5/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book is based on a quote whose main idea is that no two persons ever read the same book. Well, I definitely want someone else to read this book, because I am dying to discuss it.
This book centers around a novel called Theo. Each chapter features a different character and how the book affects them—and oh boy, each character is so vastly different that it almost felt like a collection of short stories.
I loved the experience of reading this beautifully written book. I can’t wait to own a copy so that I can highlight my favorite sentences. It just perfectly sums up the experience of why I read.

Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced copy.

This book is absolutely stunning. I loved every minute of it and will be recommending it to anyone and everyone. Such a good message and beautifully written!

This novel composed of stories will make for a wonderful book club selection, exploring how all of encounter books completely differently, while our own stories remain intwined in complicated ways. Each chapter is another character's perspective and they were very well-done, immersive and insightful and really enjoyable to read-- like the characters reading the book within the book, I didn't want to stop! This was a really thought-provoking and memorable reading experience, and the creative form makes it stand out and stick with you. My book club will love it!

I love Erica Bauermeister!
Her writing is so beautiful.
This story was heartwarming and lovely.
How the power of books can change peoples lives. Which we all know right?
Loved it. Will buy a copy for myself

This was different and I mean it in a good way. Alice grew up wanting to be a writer, she studies books and takes creative writing classes and finally after learning as much as she can she takes four years to write Theo. The rest of the book is short stories of people who are loosely connected and how the book plays a part in their lives. As with any collection of stories some are better than others but overall I found this enjoyable and would recommend it to others.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a digital copy.

This book I was expecting great things from and it was pretty good and I did like the concept of bouncing from the different lives and how they all intertwine and how we may not realize what we do and how it affects people down the line. It was hard to get through as some points and I was hoping for more of a draw into each story as the novel progressed. Still a great read and I think will reach widespread audiences and definitely makes you think about how we each see things differently.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the new book by Erica Bauermeister. I loved The Scent Keeper and was so excited to read her new book and this one exceeded all expectations and is a 5 plus star read! The audio cast narration was wonderful!

Alice always wanted to be a writer but it took a caring professor and a tragic life event before she could write the book she was meant to write, simply named Theo. As the book progresses, we see how this book touched the lives of others.

No two persons reads the same book is the theme of this book, and how true that is. Anyone in a book club or who has recommended a book to someone, only to find they have a vastly different opinion, is well aware of this statement. This beautifully-written book plays that truth out - it shows us in such a creative way how Theo affects the lives of ten other people, from a homeless teen to a widow to a publishing agent. It shows us the power of books and how interconnected we really are. It even speaks to the power of social media's book review world, and some of those varying opinions had me laughing and definitely relating. Some of these stories left me desperate for a deeper look into their lives but that was also part of the magic. I will be recommending this one for sure and I think they will all love it!