No Two persons by Erica Bauermeister starts with the a girl and her idea for a book. Then each chapter is about another person and how the book affected their lives in different ways. It was a novel but felt more like intertwined short stories. I really enjoyed the authors writing style. Her previous book, The Scent Keeper, was wonderful and unique and I enjoyed this one just as much. Will definitely read her next one!

The heart of No Two Persons beats with Alice Wein, an aspiring writer who weaves her pain into a striking debut, Theo, inspired by her brother's tragic overdose.

The book, told through loosely intertwined short stories, explores how one novel can affect people from all walks of life. We follow characters like Alice, a lonely bookseller, a homeless teenager, a free diver pushing limits, an outraged artist, and a grieving widower. Each person connects with something unique in Alice's creation, changing their viewpoints unexpectedly.

As a fellow author, I connected with the dream of wanting to create a story that not only gets read but passionately shared. Yet, No Two Persons left me hanging. The brief chapters and abrupt endings made it tough to really get into the characters’ heads. I hungered for more depth; some plot points felt a bit too simple and underdeveloped.

I gave the eBook a boost with the audio version, and the full cast performance was exceptional. The voices gave life to the characters, enhancing the experience. Despite my gripes about the book’s length and pacing, I settled on a solid 4-star rating.

I received a digital copy of the book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Connected short stories—this is fast becoming one of my favorite micro-genres. No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister is a great example. In this book, author Alice Wein writes a book, Theo, that impacts many people in many ways. As you read each story, you get more of that story while also understanding where each character is in their lives, and how Theo impacts them.

This book is masterfully crafted. It is a book for book lovers, and for anyone who enjoys a beautifully woven story.

Thank you to my bestie @sparkingjoyinreading for buddy reading this one with me—I enjoyed discussing it with you!

And thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the advanced e-copy of #notwopersons .

No Two Persons is a very creative look at a book's impact that goes far beyond what an author could imagine or predict. Each chapter shows a different person who comes into contact with the book -- starting with of course the author and the editor, but then going on to the various people who acquire and read the book. It's amazing how different the impact can be based on each person's circumstances and expectations. It's why it's so great to discuss books with others to see what parts strike you as there will be lots of differences that can enlighten you.

No Two Persons is a tremendous book about what novels offer to readers. Most interesting are unusual characters author Erica Bauemeister created in the fictional work and their reaction to reading a novel called Theo. There is a new widower who gets snowed in at an abandoned city named Forture. There is Juliet, a woman who choreographs romantic scenes for plays and movies. Alice, the young writer. Lara, the new mother and five other distinct personalities who are moved by one novel. Highly recommended for discussion groups--and a delightful gift for gift giving.

Erica Bauermeister may just be my new favorite author. I didn't realize this title was a collection of intertwined stories for a while because I didn't pay that close attention to the description. I saw her name and was IN! What a beautiful representation of what happens when people read. Any book club knows everyone has a vastly different experience with the same title. Seeing these experiences in print was beautiful. If you have a reader or librarian in your life, gift them this title. They will get it....and never forget it.

Unfortunately this book didn’t work for me and was a DNF but I am sure other readers will feel differently! Thank you for the ARC!

All. The. Stars.

No Two Persons by @ericabauermeisterauthor is easily one of my top books of 2023. It’s the perfect book for book lovers and readers and would make a great gift.

No Two Persons is a beautiful collection of short stories that tie together beautifully. I don’t often read short stories but I loved this, particularly because the stories connected with each other. It’s heartwarming and heartbreaking and everything in between. Definitely a must read.

I've often thought how each reader takes their experiences with them into every book they read, and when we re-read a book, we are a new version of ourselves on those subsequent reads; Erica Bauermeister pursues these ideas in No Two Persons.

Instead of being a typical novel, this book is a collection of "Inter-connected short stories," as Bauermeister puts it. Each of these stories revolves around a fictional novel, and every character goes into reading this fictional book with their own backstory; in turn, this alters how the same story is perceived by each. There are subtle word connections between these short stories, reminding you they are all part of a bigger picture; each short story adding another layer to that of the larger story as a whole. This fictional novel took on so many different forms, often in various mixed media adaptations, again showing different sides of the same book.

Yes, I have my favourite stories, my favourite characters. Of course, I connected most to William (The Caretaker) and Juliet (The Coordinator), but I still loved each and every one of them for what they showcased.

Although at times it deals with heavier topics, overall, this is such a positive book! Each story provided hope, while being open ended, just as life is. This whole book was just really well done!

I truly love books about books, and this is yet another amazing one, which also happens to be ridiculously quotable!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the complimentary copy to read and review.

This book is surely one of my favorite for the year. I could not bear to stop reading and when I had to, I thought about the characters. Bauermeister has created unforgettable, relatable characters and a premise that is amazing. I LOVED THIS BOOK!

Lovely soft story that goes nowhere and everywhere. For a story where nothing really happened I never really wanted to stop reading. A character study of a book.

This novel explores how one book can mean so many different things to many different people. Alice’s book is read by nine different people and we as readers learn the stories of the nine people who read the book and how it affected them. From the homeless teenager to the widower, each person’s life is changed as a result of reading the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an ARC of this novel. #NetGalley #NoTwoPersons

Erica Bauermeister’s “No Two Persons” weaves a narrative around the book “Theo,” penned by Alice Wein. Simultaneously, it unravels the tale of Alice, a twenty-five-year-old author who has poured her passion and spirit into her debut novel. Moreover, it delves into the lives of nine individuals who have encountered “Theo,” sharing their stories, each highlighting the profound impact the book has had on them.

This exquisitely written book is an intimate and contemplative exploration. Its characters feel genuine and easy to connect with, adding depth and authenticity to the narrative.

I loved this book and want to read more books by the author.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is genius! Interlocking short stories - so well done! As an avid reader, I love how this book highlighted how differently books are taken in by different readers. The same book can be experienced so differently by various readers. I thought each individual story was so well crafted. I had the honor of hearing the author speak at my local indie and I was inspired to reread to find the hidden easter eggs throughout. The audio for this book is exceptional.

I loved this book. I thought it was so well written. The character’s stories were emotional and real, and I enjoyed the interconnectedness between them all. I particularly enjoyed how it all centered around one book. This will easily be one of my favorite books this year.

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.

"One book. Nine readers. Ten changed lives." I loved the clever premise of how each person brings their own experiences into reading a book and often comes away with different views. Yet, there is a common bond of the book itself. It is why I love discussing books at book clubs. And it is why I enjoyed this book.

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced e-copy of this book.

Erica Bauermeister's latest novel is a creative approach to the idea that no two people read the same book. The emotions and experiences brought forth from the same grouping of words can hit different people at varying times in their lives completely differently. Each chapter is told from a new character's perspective about how this one novel/story has touched their lives.

I found No Two Persons to be a completely engrossing novel and thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish.

This book was so unique and wonderful as someone who loves books and finds so much value in them. I loved reading about all the different characters and how the same book effected them but in such different ways. It was such a wonderful read!

This book grabbed me from the first page. I absolutely loved how the author brought so many feelings to life in each chapter.

No Two Persons begins with a young girl named Alice and her love for creating worlds and her dreams to be a writer. Coming from a broken home, Alice retreats into her worlds and writing and when given the chance to attend college on the other side of the country, she jumps at the opportunity to enroll in creative writing classes and finally write her novel. But after tragedy strikes in her family, finding the right words to say becomes a longer, emotional journey. At last, her deeply personal book is written and submitted to the world. What follows are stories of how differently that one book touched the lives of each reader.

This is a beautifully written book with each story full of emotions and connections. It perfectly captures how one book can be interpreted in so many ways. How we connect with a story varies from reader to reader and I loved how the author connected the characters and their emotions.

I feel certain this will be one of my most memorable reads this year.