I wasn't really sure what to expect from the description, and I'm not sure that what I read would have come close anyway - but it's a lovely book that reads like a series of long and intertwined anecdotes. There is a common thread through them all, in the form of the novel that has been written by the original protagonist, and its impact on the lives of each of the subsequently introduced characters was interesting and thought-provoking. I did find it a little more disjointed than I normally like in my fiction, reading like a series of connected short stories rather than a novel whole unto itself, which made it an unusual read for me. But the writing is lovely and as a person who loves books I always love reading how they affect people's lives so differently. It was an interesting construct with a lovely use of characterization and language, and I did enjoy it.

Oh, My Goodness!! No Two People is by far my favorite book of 2022. It is about a girl who loves to write, but nothing in particular interesting comes from it until a tragic accident. Then her writing becomes an art form, so much that she is hesitant to share it with other people. It is her baby, and she wants to protect it, but she must let it go. And it does go on to ten different people, some of who are connected, but all have a different reaction to the words. No two people get the same message from the book.
This book is so different and it has touched me like no other book has done before. Kudos to Erica Bauermeister for this unique idea and masterful storytelling. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. Can’t wait to give this one to friends.

I received this book from netgalley and St. Martin’s Press. I like the author’s writing, but I didn’t enjoy the story. I feel like it never came together, but is rather more like separate stories that touch on a book or the author or editor, etc. I really wish it tied together somehow.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of “No Two Persons” in exchange for an honest review. I thought this book was beautiful. I loved how we got glimpses into different moments of people’s lives, and just like the ending of “Theo,” none of the stories are wrapped up with a bow. While there are satisfying connections between different characters, they aren’t too obvious or improbable. I appreciated the structure, setting and chronology of the book. I respect how quickly Bauermeister was able to get me to care about each of these characters at every turn.

A Marvel Of A Novel Novel. This tale reads a bit like The Decameron in that it is a collection of shorter stories all linked by some basic structure - in this case, *extremely* basic in that they all wind up interacting with a fictional book at some level. Be it the author, who opens and closes Baurmeister's tale, or the publishing assistant who first "finds" the book or a random sculptor who reads it after it was recommended or or or or or. The tales themselves show the breadth of how different types of readers interact with a book, though it is far from truly conclusive and I don't suspect that Bauermeister ever expected it to be "conclusive" or "definitive". Instead, this is simply a sampling of different ways different readers intersect with a given tale at the differing moments of both their lives and its life, and in showing these glimpses Bauermeister executes a particular narrative structure that I had never seen done before, certainly not in this exact context. And executes it quite well indeed. So read this book, because it truly is a marvel of a novel novel. ;) Very much recommended.

I’m afraid to recommend this book to anyone because if they don’t love it, I will be heartbroken.

There are many stories within this novel. All of the characters have a chapter written from their point of view. The thread that connects all of their stories is the novel Theo and, to a lesser sense, each character’s relationship with reading. I suppose I loved the novel so much because I can identify with the character that is ashamed of reading romance novels, the character that owns too many books, the character that discusses books with their mother, and so on. I think that many bibliophiles will recognize themselves in these stories and will reflect on their own relationship with reading.

Wow- this book had my full attention from page one. This story is an incredible example of what writers are best at…storytelling! The premise of this book had the potential to be complicated and hard to follow, but it was anything but.

I loved starting out learning about the main character, whom after a challenging young adulthood goes on to become a reclusive best-selling author. The subsequent chapters tell the story of one reader at a time, and each is done so well.

I found myself both sad to see each chapter end, as well as excited to learn how someone else was impacted by the book next. I’ve said if many times before, and I’ll say it again- fiction has as much potential to impact its readers as non-fiction/self-improvement does. This book did just that- I loved this unique and curious read and I highly recommend it!

Thank you St. Martin's Press for my gifted copy.

We’ve all heard stories of how books have changed people’s lives, whisking them away from horrible life situations, providing insight, and hope – in some cases, charting new paths or even saving lives.

Over the years, as I’ve considered my own relationship with books – which have sustained, entertained and educated me – I’ve often thought, a bit wistfully, that my book experiences haven’t been that grandiose.

But this wonderful novel made me think again. Books (even the audio variety) impact us in so many different ways, and I am a better person for having had them as companions for so many years. I know this. This is the power of story. They’ve stretched me, opened my eyes to new ways of thinking, moved me to tears, angered me – brought out emotion that leads to empathy. This book illustrates so many unexpected ways – subtle and not so subtle – that books can touch us (many that I’d not considered).

Readers and writers, alike (anyone who loves words and that special relationship that comes only with reading a good book)… you will adore this novel. It was the absolute best way for me to start the year: with a love story about reading and the glorious and lasting power of words.

The author does an incredible job of threading these characters together in the end, as well – and introduces readers to some fascinating job occupations. I thoroughly enjoyed the literary metaphors that applied to life in all of its messy glory. I’d love to hear if others had the same metaphorical take I did on the last scene!

A few wonderful tidbits:
His idea of a nap was a semicolon at best, never a full stop; a paragraph break.

Oh god, Nola thought. All those fictional lives she had opened herself to, taking on their experiences, their emotions, like the good octopus she was – and the one story she had refused was her mother’s.

“At some point, it’s written down, and that’s the book readers hold in their hands. But the story isn’t done, because it goes on to live in the readers’ heads, in a way that’s particular to each of them. We’re all caretakers of the stories, Alice. Writers are just the lucky ones that get to know them first.”

P.S. As I analyzed my relationship with books, it was fun to think back to those Scholastic take-home, newspapery order forms in elementary school (and my parents’ unending support to “buy WHATEVER you want.”) It was delightful to think about my reaction to Beverly Cleary’s books – and my JOY when she wrote back to me in the third grade. Perhaps those early influences with her books painted my career in the writing field? I know my reading experiences, now, continue to nurture understanding and hope.

Special thanks to St. Martin’s Press, First Reads and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted this book to go on and on and on...!!! It is an excellent read - filled with unexpected connections and viewpoints that made me smile. I highly recommend this book!

Loved the premise behind a single book's effect on different people...I just wish we knew more about the book "Theo." As a book lover myself, I know the impact that a book can have and that not all reactions are the same. I enjoyed the different chapters about the 9 different people and multiple points of view. Have loved all of Erica Bauermeister's book and this is no exception.

No Two Persons is a beautifully written and compelling book which shows us how books can touch lives and impact us in differing ways.

The novel starts with Alice's story. Her dream is to be an author. She creates her first novel, then this story follows different people, and we get to have a glimpse into their lives and witness the ways in which they are impacted by Alice's story.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an advance copy of this beautifully written special book. I cannot wait to recommend it to others!

No Two Persons is an amazing novel about the many different ways a book can touch all of our lives, including the writer, and change them in subtle and not-so-subtle ways. This book is brilliant, beautiful, poignant, and the kind of book that stay with you long after you read it. I absolutely loved it and highly recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

What an interesting story! I am not quite sure how to review it in all honesty. There is something beautiful and striking in all the interconnected characters and their stories. Alice wrote a seemingly great book that touched so many and it’s fascinating to see how it affects each differently. Yet by the end, I felt as if something was missing. Having the characters meet perhaps or their stories shared with Alice even; not sure.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this novel. At its core this is a book about books and how one book can touch many different lives in vastly different ways. I like how the book was almost like a series of short stories where every chapter was a new character and the only thing they had in common was the book. Some stories were stronger than others but over all I think this was a great book and I would recommend it!

No Two Persons ever read the same book. Erica Bauermeister is a go to read for me. I love her books and her writing. This book is exceptional in the way is shows how books can connect us. These characters will resonate and stay with you. Just like the story Theo that brings them all together, this book will leave you thinking.
I especially loved all the strong women characters.
So many wonderful things within these pages.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

"No two persons ever read the same book, or saw the same picture" - The Writings of Madame Swetchine, 1860

The book, No Two Persons, begins with this epigraph; what a fitting epigraph this is.

The book starts with Alice, the author of the novel entitled Theo, which appears in every subsequent character's story. Each of these characters reads Theo, and finds something different from the process of doing so. Rowan, the actor with a secret, finds purpose, Nola, the teenager struggling with homelessness, finds forgiveness, and William, the recent widower, finds connection. In each of the nine stories, we're dropped into the character's lives; we learn more about them, what their hopes and fears are, and most importantly, their thoughts before and after reading Theo. And while each of the characters find different meanings from reading Theo, the characters aren't as distinct as they seem at first glance. There's connection even amongst the differences.

Erica Bauermeister's writing is evocative, and I found myself laughing and crying along with the nine characters she brings to life in this book. The book is beautifully written, haunting and poignant; I found myself not only unable to put this book down, but also, thinking about this book long after it was done.

No two persons ever read the same book; Erica Bauermeister, in this book, shows us just how true that statement is.

I was provided with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I read. A lot. Books hit people differently. Some people love a book, some people like it, and then others absolutely hate it. It makes sense - we are all different. I see this often in my book club. This book beautifully crafts a novel about how people can have the same book but how it affects them varies.

I fall into the love group for this book! I enjoyed how it felt at times if I was reading short stories and loved the subtle connections.

This book was utterly delightful and insightful. Beautifully written and very thought provoking. It's the story of a book as perceived by several different readers, or, rather, the story of several readers who happen to have had contact with this book. It's like a collection of short stories with a general theme, and only somewhat tied together in small places.

It's amazing how much Bauermeister made me feel about each of the readers. The book was emotional, without being melodramatic. I'm very impressed with the author's scene building and ability to create a whole personality of a character in just a single chapter. This book is a great example for anyone interested in writing, as Bauermeister's skill in the craft of writing was inspiring.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I think I found an error in the book, in the chapter on the bookseller. Annalise had explained that a day, measured by an atomic clock, has 86,400.002. Later, Annalise is quoted as saying "The problem is that the rotation of the earth has an extra point zero two seconds per day, on average." Shouldn't that say "point zero zero two"? I'm no math whiz so maybe I am just misunderstanding numbers.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced reader copy.

Original, thought-provoking, beautiful, emotional, life-affirming--these are the adjectives that come to mind after just finishing Erica Bauermeister's latest novel. The theme is how one special book can mean so many different things to those who read it (hence the title).

Alice Fein spends years writing "Theo," inspired by her cherished brother, and more years getting it published and in the hands of readers. Along the way, we get to know the reclusive Alice as much as she will allow and are introduced to others who play a role in the book's success: the young mother who finds the book in the slush pile at the literary agency where she works for a low salary, the high-profile literary agent who accepts the book for publication, a bookshop clerk who promotes the book locally and makes a personal connection with the author, and the actor who narrates the audiobook. Beyond their career roles, they also find their personal lives forever changed by this book. And there are more characters who have nothing to do with the book's publication but find that it touches their lives.

Each of the ten wonderfully drawn characters is memorable, but my favorites are the homeless teenager secretly living in the garden shed on school property, the artist who finds a way to make her work soar after tiring of her two-dimensional sea glass jewelry, and the aforementioned movie action hero who desperately needs to change careers. Others influenced by the book include a daring free diver, a retiree taking on a job as caretaker of a ghost town, and a female fencing coach/intimacy coordinator for movies.

It's a book about sibling relationships, the effects parents have on their children--positive and negative--, how inspiring teachers can make all the difference, the difficulty of finding the right partner, discovering new ways to lead one's best life and, of course, finding inspiration from books. I love the way these individuals' stories can overlap--sometimes just a bit and sometimes much more. And I was moved by the author's luminous prose and the way she chose not to tie things up in a bow at the end, but left the future open to possibilities, opportunities, and hope.

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

As a long-time fan of Erica Bauermeister’s books, I was thrilled to receive this ARC.

I’ve given a four rating, though it’s really too low for a book that made me feel the way this one did. How can one book make you feel alert, curious, compassionate, and wrapped in a warm blanket? It took me a little too long to catch on to the structure, closely resembling a series of short stories, all based on a book and its impact on the reader.

So many characters to love, so many thoughts and opinions. I loved this book; it probably deserves a 5-star rating if only I hadn’t been so slow on the uptake.