How can a book change the lives of authors, readers, and associates of both? This theme carries through intimate glimpses into the lives of a diverse group of characters in a style that keeps the pages turning long into the night. Bauermeister is skilled at enlivening each character with concise, well-constructed writing, bringing connections to light as the plot comes full circle to a satisfying conclusion.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

The book is based on the quote attributed to Edmund Wilson that “no two persons ever read the same book.” The premise is there is one book, one author, nine readers and ten changed lives.

The book is titled Theo, and is written by Alice. In her childhood, Alice used books as a means to escape her unhappy childhood. Alice’s father invested in making his son the best he can be, and overlooked Alice completely. She makes her way to college, and is determined to be a writer. Once Theo is published, we then see how the book affects nine other seemingly random readers, i.e., an actor turned recluse, a homeless teenager, a bookstore clerk, an eccentric artist, a recent widower, a publishing agent.

Guess the quote above is true, as I really didn’t enjoy this book as much as Goodreads’ reviewers. It didn’t work for me because each story does touch on how the book touches each of the readers, but only to a small degree. Each character’s chapter is an insight into the person before they have read the book, and I really wanted to learn how they changed after they read the book (or not). The characters start out interesting, get bogged down in redundancy and their story ends when they discover the book. There is a full circle of some characters as they are interconnected, which I felt was exaggerated. As for Theo, I really didn’t see how it would move each character as the plot is pretty much a mystery through most of the book.

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No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister is a beautifully written celebration of the power of fiction to enrich and transform our lives. The novel follows nine diverse readers who are each impacted in unique ways by Alice’s debut novel, a work that shares her own struggles The characters include a teenager hiding a secret, a widower dealing with grief, and a free diver facing struggles of his own.

Bauermeister’s writing is evocative and heartwarming, as she explores the ways in which reading can offer solace, hope, and new perspectives to those who need it most. The novel is a testament to the enduring power of literature to connect us to one another and to the world around us, and it is sure to leave a lasting impression on any reader.

Overall, No Two Persons is a beautifully crafted and deeply moving tribute to the magic of literature. It is a must-read for book lovers of all ages and is sure to inspire readers to pick up their next great read. So, it is highly recommended.

No Two Persons is a story about a book named Theo that was written by Alice and the impact that it had on various readers going through their own personal situation. It shows that based on what a person is currently going through the book can be viewed in a variety of ways: a book that inspired you to take a chance on something, opened up your views, or brought you clarity in a time where you really needed it. It was an interesting book that was told in the view point of different people with each chapter named after their career/stage of life.

I liked that the book was told from multiple points of view and sometimes you would see names overlap in chapters and the reader would try to figure out how the two came together and how their lives intersected. You can then compare them and see how the book had a different impact on each person which I enjoyed doing.

I thought the idea was a creative one but I felt the book was slow moving and didn't have me hooked. Overall I rate this a 3/5 stars because I liked the original idea of it.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC!

Thank you to St Martin’s Press and the author for giving me the opportunity to read an early electronic copy of No Two Persons.

No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister is a story about a book and the impact it has on ten different people’s lives.

No Two Persons brings a book, titled Theo, to life and demonstrates how words can be interpreted in different ways for different people.

Words have the ability to make us feel a variety of emotions. I loved reading each chapter and learning about how the different characters were going to interpret the book, Theo, and how it might change their life. As all book lovers know, books can do that for people.

A few years ago, The Scent Keeper was the @reesesbookclub pick. I feel like I don’t see this book on IG as much as I would have expected. It is still one of my favorite Reese’s Book Club picks. I loved how the author had a way of making the sense of smell come to life. In No Two Persons, the author has tapped into the sense of sight and how words can be interpreted in different ways. I love how vivid her word choice is and how her books make the reader feel. This is going to be an excellent book club pick for readers everywhere!

Erica Bauermeister’s “School of Essential Ingredients” is a book that I count as one of my favorites of all time. It has stuck with me, 13 years after I first read it. I’ve devoured all of the books she’s written since, so when the advanced reader copy of this one became available I jumped at the chance to read and review it.

This is a book that will have you turning the pages back to verify that yes, this person is connected to the people who came before them. It shows that literature can mean different things to different people, and that we are all guardians of the story that is presented to us. Even when a book is not a new release it continues to touch people and bring meaning to their lives. I found it especially meaningful that the art that inspired Alice to write her next story was, in part, inspired by her last story. That the literary agent who championed her first story was helped by someone who had been helped by Alice’s story. This book will make me keep thinking, and will probably warrant a rereading just to cement more of the connections. And always I will think of Peter.

No Two Persons
A Novel
by Erica Bauermeister
No two persons ever read the same book. Wow, The truth is there.
This is a very great read. This book will stay with me. A new year and a home run for the reading. It is not an average book, it is magic. It grabs you in wonder and you are hooked. I have no spoilers, but sometimes a book comes along that is one you want to share, but will always have a copy to keep.

Really, really, really enjoyed this one! Unique premise - I’ve never read anything like it! I loved that many of the characters storylines intersected! Anyone who loves reading will enjoy this book!

This is a book about a book! Alice has always wanted to be a writer but can’t find her voice until she experiences a personal tragedy and writes a best seller. No Two Persons is the story of nine people who read the book and how it impacted their lives in ways big and small. The stories are separate but interrelated and tell how books can affect us. An outstanding book for anyone who loves books!

My thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book.

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!