Erica Bauermeister’s No Two Persons is a love letter to books and the power of connection they hold.

This novel is unlike any other I’ve ever read. Each chapter features a new character, with select crossovers. It almost feels more like a short story collection, yet they are clearly all connected.

When we put our art out into the world, the path it takes is no longer up to us. Different people will each have their own reaction to it, viewing it through their unique lens and life experiences. Yet the art’s ability to impact each person stays the same, though the impact varies person to person.

Erica Bauermeister apparently only writes books that stay with the reader long after the cover is closed. I still randomly think about The Scent Keeper, and I know No Two Persons is going to unexpectedly pop into my mind just as much. These stories have staying power. Why is that?

Is it the characters, who are so thoroughly and intimately developed they feel like dear friends, and yet in whom the reader can place themselves, prism-like, seeing the different paths that could be taken? Is it the lyrical writing, the heart-wrenching scenarios, the layers of connection visible? Is there a thin red string, connecting us all to our pasts and our potential futures? I think it’s the magical combination of all these factors, along with the author’s unique voice and style. No Two Persons is a beautiful novel that pulls you in and doesn’t let go.

Regardless, once again Bauermeister has crafted a gorgeous, thought-provoking novel that readers dive into head first, resisting coming up for air because the world down there is so inviting.

No Two Persons will be available Tuesday, May 2, 2023. You can pre-order and purchase from bookshop.org here. Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org. I will earn a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you click through and make a purchase.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and St. Martins Press for an advanced e-arc such that I could share my honest opinions.