No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister

Published: May 2, 2023
St. Martin’s Press
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Pages: 301
KKECReads Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Erica Bauermeister is the NYT bestselling author of the four novels including The Scent Keeper, The School of Essential Ingredients, Joy for Beginners, and The Lost Art of Mixing. Her newest novel, No Two Persons, will be out in May of 2023. She has also written a memoir, House Lessons: Renovating a Life. Before she began writing fiction and memoir, she earned a Ph.D. in literature and co-authored two guides to books: 500 Great Books by Women and Let’s Hear It For the Girls. She lives in Port Townsend, WA and loves to talk with book groups.

Alice has always wanted to be a writer. Her talent is innate, but her stories remain safe and detached, until a devastating event breaks her heart open, and she creates a stunning debut novel. Her words, in turn, find their way to readers, from a teenager hiding her homelessness, to a free diver pushing himself beyond endurance, an artist furious at the world around her, a bookseller in search of love, a widower rent by grief. Each one is drawn into Alice’s novel; each one discovers something different that alters their perspective, and presents new pathways forward for their lives.

Together, their stories reveal how books can affect us in the most beautiful and unexpected of ways―and how we are all more closely connected to one another than we might think.

“We can never truly know another person…”

Alice wants to find the words inside her and thrust them into the world. Madeline wants to find the next prominent author and publish them. Juliet wants to find romance and happiness. William is trying to process his grief and is on the verge of losing himself. Kit wants to find someone who can keep up without losing time. Nola has a secret that she must protect or risk losing everything. Tyler wants to get lost in the dark, vastness of the ocean, where he feels at home. Miranda is looking for inspiration and a way to avoid her mother. Rowan once had it all; his good looks opened doors for him until he noticed something small. Lara yearns for a connection that inspires her.

This was an unusual book, but the way the story was told was interesting. We walk through moments in several characters’ lives, getting glimpses into who they are and their journey.

I enjoyed how everything was full circle by the end; I found that clever. The characters were all interesting and well-developed. It was a unique concept how the book connected everyone in various ways.

This is more of a slow-burn type of literary fiction, but it is interesting and keeps me engaged. I enjoyed the way the story unfolded and how each character played a part in bringing everything to life.

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