6/10

I wanted to love this book. I love the concept of “no two people read the same book.” After all, when reading a book we don’t even ever really know what the author was thinking or feeling when they penned the words. Even more, we each bring our history and our beliefs to everything we read.

This book doesn’t follow a character as it evolves as much as it follows a book.

In the first chapter, Alice (a college student) writes a book that she calls Theo.

Each consecutive chapter is a short story in itself that dives into a different persons experience with the book, Theo, and how it has an influence on their lives.

Neat concept, right?
Unfortunately it didn’t play out well for me. There wasn’t really an arc to the story. After the first chapter I found the book very hard to pick up - mostly because there was nothing for me to care about.

You don’t get to know any of the characters long enough to be emotionally invested, and there isn’t anything about the novels book (Theo) that makes you want to keep reading.

Erica is clearly a good writer, it’s just that this book of hers left me with a whole lot of “meh” and more than a dollop of joy that I finally finished.

#netgalley #notwopersons

No Two Persons
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Erica Bauermeister

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

My Thoughts: This was a beautifully written, slightly poignant story about how ten lives are changed from just one story over the span of years. This was a book in a book story but unique as I have not read one like this before. An author finally gains the courage to write a book and then this book goes to the assistant for review for publication, then after its published goes to a variety of people, an actor, a diver, an artist, a teenager, someone who cares for others, a coordinator, back to the publishing agent, and the bookseller. Each of these lives are affected by reading this story. Just one of the most beautifully, poignant stories I have read in a few years.

The story is narrated by the writer and nine readers, from their respective POVs. The storyline is character driven, rather than plot driven. The characters were well developed, even if they only have a short vignette, with compassion, emotion, and relatable. The author’s writing style was complex, multifaceted, thought-provoking, and just absolutely brilliant! The story takes you on an emotional rollercoaster. While usually I do not like a short story type of novel, I really loved this one. I just felt like I could relate one way or another with each of the characters. I also loved how some of the characters showed up in other character’s stories, showing that this really is a small world. When I would have to stop the book, I could not wait to go back to the book. This book definitely had me thinking about it afterwards and I think it will for a long while.

This was a very unique story, one that has not been done before. While we as readers, read books differently, and our life experiences shape how we will interpret the book, this really brings that to light and I loved see this fresh perspective on it. This is one my top books for this year, without a doubt. I HIGHLY recommend picking up.

Alice's debut novel affects nine readers in nine different ways.

This was an intriguing premise but unfortunately it fell flat for me, possibly because I'm not a fan of short stories, and that's ultimately what this was. Perhaps if the nine stories had been tied together better at the end, I would have liked it more.

The Scent Keeper (4 stars) remains my favorite book by this author.

I received an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister takes the reader on a journey with other readers. If anyone has wondered how a book can impact different people, this is the book for them. Bauermeister did a good job capturing the reader’s attention. No Two Persons is beautifully crafted with wonderful imagery and interesting character personality. Bauermeister has a way of making the reader feel like he or she is in the story standing right next to the characters. Additionally, a great book is one that can make someone feel a full range of emotions from happiness and lighthearted joy to sadness and anger, and Bauermeister did not disappoint with No Two Persons. This book was a joy to read.

A special thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an Advanced Reader Copy of No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This review can be found on Goodreads at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5152674440

"Each story has its own life. In the beginning, it lives in the writer's mind, and it grows and changes while it's there. ... 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."In the beginning of Erica Bauermeister's No Two Persons, a character named Alice births a novel called Theo, and each subsequent chapter tells the story of someone who reads (or otherwise subsumes) Theo and how the novel affects each of them. It's a book about a book, but it's also about serendipity and how story can change us, connect us, incrementally heal us. The structure works, but   I would have liked to have spent more time and gone a little deeper with some characters. If you like novels built of short stories, if like me you're a fan of books like Winesburg, Ohio and Olive Kitteridge, then No Two Persons should be on your tbr list.
[Thanks to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for an opportunity to read an advanced reader copy and share my opinion of this book.]

I love, love, loved this book about books! No two persons ever read the same book - or have the same experience with the same book. This was a lovely exploration of so many people encountering one work of literature. I enjoyed every minute!

This book simply blew me away. This is a true book lovers book and it is so unique. My favorite thing about books is how one book can mean so many different things to so many different people. The story almost reads like ten short stories to hat all come back to this one book, yet they are connected.
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We get the author’s story in how the book came to life, the tired mother who championed the book, the publisher, the teen who had to read it in class and others but my favorite was audiobook narrator’s section. This is a brilliant book that weaves what one single book can mean to so many. I absolutely love this one and wish the book that touched all their lives was a book I could read myself!
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Huge thank you to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t think this was for me, unfortunately I just never vibe with the trope of “books about books”. I wish the first part about the authors history went deeper, it seemed like every character’s story barely scraped the surface.

This was so unique and creative and unlike anything I’ve read before. I wanted more of each character and think this would make an amazing tv series.

No Two Persons is a book lover’s dream. It’s centered around a writer, her novel and how the book impacts so many through the years that follow.

I flew through reading this as it almost read like a collection of short stories (in the best way possible). The depth and connection to each character that author Erica Bauermeister is able to craft is truly impressive. I absolutely loved the subtle ways the different characters intertwined throughout, I wanted more of that for sure.

Like the fictional story at the heart of No Two Persons, so much is left open-ended for the reader to ruminate on. This would also make a great book club selection as there’s so much to discuss!

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martins Press for the advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I don't even know where to start - I am still processing the beauty of this book! While this is a novel, it almost reads like several well-integrated short stories as each chapter is told from the perspective of a different character who find themselves deeply impacted by the same book, each in different ways. I loved the humanity that came out on every page - while we don't get long with the characters, they are real and believable. The writing is beautiful, and the story itself is refreshing and unique - especially as a book lover. I honestly didn't think anything could be better than The Scent Keeper, but No Two Persons was an inspiring read - I can't wait to read it again in a couple years.

This was a lovely book about the impact one book can have on many lives. I enjoyed the vignette style the author used. Highly recommended for lovers of books about books.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for the purpose of review.

A beautiful and thoughtful look into several disparate lives connected by the tiny thread of one author's story. Each chapter is its own emotional short story, focusing on the author, the agent, the actor, the teenager, the widower, and many more, as they encounter a novel entitled "Theo", and experience their own unique reactions to this work.

This novel is both heartbreaking and hopeful. It's beautifully written and easy to devour. Parts of this will stick with you long after reading. The characters are so varied, and all feel true to life. I felt a particular connection to the assistant and the bookseller chapters, and I think each reader will get something different out of this story. Also, what a lovely cover. Would recommend.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was such a unique book. We follow a book called "Theo" from the author's life as it's written through the publication process and on to a number of readers. We see the agent and the actor turned audiobook narrator, but we also see a number of other characters who are really simply readers. I loved learning how the book affected each character in turn. Each story was so different in how the person got the book and how it impacted their lives. We only get a tiny bit of time with each character, but they're all surprisingly well developed. We never really get to learn what happens in Theo, so part of the magic was in focusing only on its impact and not on the story itself. We get glimpses as we go along and can piece together parts of the Theo novel, but it's never fully told because it isn't really the point.

I've never read a book like this and I can't wait to read more from Erica Bauermeister.

A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

No Two Persons is a book about a book and how stories impact people in different ways much like the title suggests. The multiple characters become intertwined through reading “Theo” and it makes for a memorable, eye opening story.

What an interesting concept in this novel by Erica Bauermeister! Based on the idea that "no two persons ever read the same book," this story tracks one book through the lives of numerous people. Each chapter in this book is focused on a different person connected to the book. It begins with Alice the author and then moves on to the publisher and to multiple readers and beyond. Each person connects with the book in a different way.

This novel feels like a collection of connected short stories. And short stories are generally not my favorite. As soon as you get connected to one character/story, then it moves on to someone else and you have to start over again! But in No Two Persons, the concept worked for me. I was engaged with nearly every story and character quickly, and it really was fascinating to see how each person interacted with the book.

This is a must read for book lovers and the unique concept is one that I will remember for a long time!

(Actual: 4.25) I'm a little upset that it took me so long to get to this one, as it truly does have a fascinating premise in how one book can affect so many different people in various ways (including the author of the book within a book, hehe). I thought NTP was beautifully written and gave me, as a reader, lots of though-provoking material to work with. While I do feel that some of the short stories meandered a bit in some parts, overall I found the book to be an overall quick and compelling read.

@67% "Grief is not a stalker but a stowaway, always there and up for any journey." It took me a minute to get into this one but once I did I enjoyed the ride.

No Two Persons begins with an author names Alice and her journey towards writing a book. The 10 characters in this story become intertwined with each other, even though they never meet and each have their own story in the book. This is a clever, interesting concept that was completely different from anything Ive read before. Eventually the story becomes a defining moment in all of their lives and comes together beautifully. I think the audiobook of this book would be amazing, which each story read by a different actor. Loved this book.

This book is so powerful. I read this book rapidly and was so connected to these stores. This book captivated me in a ways that books rarely do.