One Two Three

by Laurie Frankel, Emma Galvin (Narrator), Jesse Vilinsky (Narrator)

From the New York Times bestselling author of This Is How It Always Is, a Reese's Book Club x Hello Sunshine Book Pick, comes a timely, topical novel about how, when days are darkest, it's our daughters who will save us all.

How do you let go of the past when the past won't let go of you?

Everyone knows everyone in the tiny town of Bourne, but the Mitchell triplets are especially beloved. Mirabel is the smartest person anyone knows, and no one doubts it just because she can’t speak. Monday is the town’s purveyor of books now that the library’s closed—tell her the book you think you want, and she’ll pull the one you actually do from the microwave or her underwear drawer. Mab’s job is hardest of all: get good grades, get into college, get out of Bourne.

For a few weeks seventeen years ago, Bourne was national news when its water turned green and was declared unfit for use, but it was too late for its residents, and the girls have come of age watching their mother’s endless fight for justice. But just when it seems life might go on the same forever, the first moving truck anyone’s seen in years pulls up and unloads new residents and old secrets. Soon, the Mitchell sisters are uncovering mysteries buried longer than they’ve been alive and taking on a system stacked against them. And in a town where nothing ever changes, suddenly everything does.

Three unforgettable narrators join together here to tell a spellbinding story with wit, wonder, and deep affection. As she did in This Is How It Always Is, Laurie Frankel has written a laugh-out-loud-on-one-page-grab-a-tissue-the-next novel, as only she can, about how expanding our notions of normal makes the world a better place for everyone and how when days are darkest, it’s our daughters who will save us all.

Genres: Fiction, Audiobook, Contemporary, Book Club, Literary Fiction, Adult, Coming Of Age

15 pages, Audiobook

First published June 8, 2021

About the author

Laurie Frankel is the bestselling author of five novels: FAMILY FAMILY, coming 1/23/24, as well as ONE TWO THREE, THIS IS HOW IT ALWAYS IS, GOODBYE FOR NOW, and THE ATLAS OF LOVE. She lives with her family on a very steep hill in Seattle, but she's an east coaster at heart. She is also a baseball fan, a soup maker, a theater lover, a yoga practicer, a comma expert, and a huge reader (just like you).

Reviews

[Regina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reasons to read One Two Three, Laurie Frankel’s much-anticipated new novel following the success of her beloved This Is How It Always Is:

1. Mab. The first triplet born to Nora, named with one syllable, who at the age of sixteen loves with all her heart while carrying the burden and guilt of being the “normal” one.

2. Monday. The second triplet, two syllables, lover of books, defender of truth, physically capable but mentally and emotionally unique.

3. Mirabel. Third triplet, three syllables, insightful, empathetic, and eloquent but confined to a body that doesn’t work, only able to communicate through the tap of a finger or a robotic-sounding AAC device, and my favorite literary character of the last several years.

These three young women are the bright shining lights of this story about a small town dealing with the aftermath of Big Factory chemical pollution. Frankel has set them up to be the super heroes of her tale, the purveyors of justice. While I frequently winced when the action veered too close to Scooby-Doo “meddling kids” territory, I never stopped rooting for them to topple their Goliath.

I received advance copies of the e-book and audiobook from Henry Holt & Company and Macmillan Audio, respectively, via NetGalley. Both formats are recommended, with the audiobook benefiting from three distinct narrators and the inclusion of Mirabel’s AAC device for her dialogue.

Blog: https://www.confettibookshelf.com/

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 4 out of 5]

A unique, well researched, thought provoking approach to eco- terrorism/ water pollution with original, creative , well- depicted, remarkable characterization!

Yes, we already know Laurie Frankel is one of the skilled storyteller who can create so extra ordinary, detailedly elaborated, memorable characters! And she did it again!

The story is centered around triplet teenagers: Mab, Monday, Mirabel : they are so different from each other, they have different dreams, expectations, perspectives. The relationship between them set on delicate balances: they can be so hurtful or forgiving. Their arguments can reach to the violent points. But they interestingly formed a tight, intimate bond, more dedicated bond than more siblings can have.

And the town they live suffers as like their people. For years lawsuit pending against the chemical plant which has never resolved. The same chemical plant brought financial security, lots of job opportunities, also poisoned and killed town’s folks.

The story’s progression is a slow burn. It takes your time and patience to get into and learn the dynamics between sisters and the ecological problems that town’s people have to endure. I have to admit it was a little complex for me at the beginning but as soon as characters start to grow on me, I start to enjoy each chapter.

It’s about environmental issues, betrayal, sisterhood, dysfunctional family dynamics! In my opinion those different subjects blended perfect with each other just like the triplets’ polar opposite characterizations.

I’m rounding up my 3.5 stars to 4 triple luck, ecological, provocative, original , brave, moving stars!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt&Company for sending me this digital reviewer copy in exchange my honest thoughts.

[Dorie - Cats&Books :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never read a novel by Ms. Frankel and was blown away by this audiobook!!!!! The narrators are great and with different voices it was easy to keep track of who was talking and the narrative flow was excellent.

The blurb for the book sounds a bit like something I might have read about or seen a film about before. But I’m here to tell you that this novel is COMPLETELY UNIQUE!!! It’s almost as if the characters are writing the novel themselves as I was listening. THAT IS GREAT CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT!!!

Triplets, Mab, Monday and Mirebel are young teens living in the small town of Bourne. Mab (one) is very ambitious, very intelligent and is always on the highest track at their school, prepping her for college and her SAT’s. Monday (two) is on the spectrum, she sometimes has trouble understanding issues but with the help of her sisters she is able to do well. She loves only one color, yellow, and all of her clothes, the foods that she eats and things in her room that she chooses are yellow. Mirebel (three) was the third born, she has multiple physical handicaps, is not able to walk or speak, but has a voice machine that she can type into with her one good arm. Because she lives in a small town, she is able to get around in her wheelchair and everyone looks out for her. She is brilliant and really well beyond what the classes in her school have to offer, she teaches herself through books

Nora, the triplets mother, has been fighting for compensation from The Belsum Chemical Company since before the triplets were born. The company was responsible for the town’s water turning green, making residents and animals sick. Nora’s husband died from cancer at a young age, weeks before the triplets are born.

There are many in the town who have been harmed by this company, some are either too poor or too unhealthy to move elsewhere. The Company has continued to deny any wrongdoing or knowledge that they were poisoning the water. Nora’s lawsuit doesn’t have enough physical evidence to prove exactly what the company did to their water supply. She has never stopped fighting for her girls and the town’s future.

They say nothing ever happens in Bourne so the day that large land moving equipment starts rolling into town, everyone knows that something is up!

Nora learns that the Templeton family, the owners of Belsum, are moving to town; she knows that they are planning on reopening the plant.

We watch as this town wrestles with the possibility of jobs with the plant’s reopening and their promises that this time everything has been tested and proven safe. But they certainly have evidence of their past failures, most notably the triplets.

This was such a wonderful surprise and I’m going to miss these characters, they will stay with me for a long time.

I can highly recommend this audiobook to everyone!!!

You may enjoy the interview with the author that I found on Facebook, the link is below!
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?...

[Susanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

“One Two Three” by Laurie Frankel is unlike any book I’ve ever read before. It is wholly originally, complex, compelling, profound, quirky and brilliant.

When I saw this book on Netgalley, I knew I had to read it, as I loved Laurie Frankel’s prior book, “This is How it Always Is.” This novel is completely different though it is also utterly compelling.

Triplets Mab, Monday and Mirabel are teenagers who live in the town of Bourne. Raised by their single mother Nora, the four of them are as close as can be, even though all they have ever known is struggle. The same goes for every other resident who lives in Bourne.

Bourne isn’t an ordinary town you see.

Years ago, Bourne was polluted, the water unsafe to drink, all because a chemical company screwed up and then closed up shop. Nora has been fighting for justice ever since.

What is amazing about this novel is that the story could have been depressing but somehow told through the eyes of Mab, Monday and Mirabel, (also referred to as “One Two Three”) who are kind, funny, and utterly captivating, it became something else entirely. Sweet, funny and charming, these three characters stole my heart for reasons you will have to find out for yourself. How this book about environmental contamination, birth defects, cancer, and a legal battle evaded being wholly depressing, I cannot begin to explain except to say that Laurie Frankel’s characters brought this story to an entirely new level. The characters are adorable, quirky and deftly written and they will stay with me for a while. This novel made me laugh a lot (yes, I know that sounds strange considering) and tear up a bit but all in all I enjoyed it immensely. While this novel was a tad bit long and drawn out in a few places, I truly enjoyed it and would recommend it to those who enjoy character driven fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley, Henry Holt & Company and Laurie Frankel for the arc.

Published on Goodreads on 11.24.20.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laurie Frankel’s strength is her characters. Here, we have three teenage sisters - triplets. Mabs, One, is the normal one and carries that guilt. Monday, Two, is on the asperger’s spectrum. And Mirabel, Three, is brilliant but confined to a wheelchair and unable to speak except with a robotic speech synthesizer. All three live in Bourne, a town decimated by a man made environmental disaster that led to most folks dying or falling ill (think the Pacific Gas & Electric contamination that Erin Brockovich litigated against). Nora, their mother, has spent the past 16 years trying to sue the company responsible. And then comes word that the plant that caused the contamination is re-opening.
At times I would think this was too black and white. But then I’d think of the real life cases where companies did everything in their power to hide the truth. Hell, you don’t have to go further than the cigarette companies. (And then, when I heard the author interview, I was shocked to find she had a specific town in mind that suffered a similar fate.) Frankel manages to take a story that could have been predictable and makes it fresh. I was surprised at the turns the story took.
This story is incredibly heartwarming. It’s the story of a lot of people in impossible situations. Even the secondary characters were well developed. I particularly cared for Omar, the mayor, who is constantly between a rock and a hard place trying to do the right thing.
Frankel totally gets the mental development of a sixteen year old. Even Mirabel is obviously just as much a sixteen year old as Mabs and Monday.
This would make a fabulous book club selection.
Kudos to the three amazing narrators. They definitely brought the story to life.
My thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advance copy of this book.

[jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

i had the strangest sense of déjà vu while reading this. i swear ive read another book about a towns water source being polluted, a dam being built, and a missing river. if anyone else has read something like this, let me know, because its driving me wild not remembering.

regardless of feeling like ive read this before, i did enjoy the story. i think the highlight is definitely the three mitchell sisters. they are all such unique, amazing narrators that you cant help but support them and want to see them succeed.

this story of small town communities, sisterly bonds, coming of age, and social justice is a great read for anyone looking to experience a little slice of life somewhere else.

thank you henry holt and co. for an ARC!

↠ 3.5 stars

[Melissa (Semi Hiatus Until After the Holidays) · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you had told me that I would absolutely love a book about environmental contamination and the search for justice I would have rolled my eyes and said "hard pass." Yet I decided to push against my instincts and give it a try and I am so very glad I did.

Listened to this one as an audio book and the narrators are superb. Each sister has her own narrator that personifies her personality beautifully. It's the story of triplets in the small town of Borne, a town that has deeply suffered from the contamination of their water supply. The girls' mother Nora has been on a fourteen year fight for justice and retribution against the chemical company that she feels is responsible for the death of her husband and the effects on her daughters.
One is Mab, the "normal" one of the three who shoulders the blessing and curse of this fact.
Two is Monday, town librarian, literalist, and on the autism spectrum
Three is Mirabel, most brilliant mentally but confined to a wheelchair and cannot speak except through a voice modulator. When a moving truck is spotted in town, little do they know that their lives are about to be turned upside down in many ways.

There is so much to adore about this book. The personalities of the sisters are so distinctive and unique that I didn't even have a favorite narrator. I loved going seamlessly from one to the next and learning about the joys, triumphs, and heartaches each of them experienced. I was moved to tears as the narrative moved toward its conclusion, sometimes feeling triumph and defeat myself.

The one drawback I have for this novel, and it is slight, is that it's a bit too long and drawn out. There are parts that could have been condensed and tightened to make it flow better. I did appreciate the slowness at times, because it made me think of Nora's fight and how the wheels of justice often turn so slowly that we can't see movement, yet there were other times I just wanted things to start happening.

Overall, I highly recommend this unique and well-written story. It will make you laugh, cry, and think. The audio book is stellar.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspired by a true event of a chemical spill in West Virginia, author Laurie Frankel presents this hard-to-put-down story of teen triplets of fictitious town Bourne. I love the beautiful and well-thought characters. I love the sisters' bond, strength, and resilience. A bittersweet tale.

The novel slowly introduced the triplets; Mab, Monday, and Mirabel or One, Two, and Three as they call themselves and the long-term effects of contaminated water that ruin the lives of small-town folk into poverty, illness, and disabilities. Monday is probably my favorite as her personality and infatuation with yellow made me smile in the midst of all the hardship they endure.

This is my first novel by Laurie Frankel and definitely won't be my last. I want to thank Goodreads Giveaway and Henry Holt and Co. for my copy.

[Elyse Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook ….read by Emma Galvin, Jesse Villnsky, Rebecca Soper
….14 hours and 59 minutes

What I especially admire about Laurie Frankel, as an author, is her passion to explore the ranges of ‘normal’…..give alternative-type-families an inspiring voice.

The three sisters in “One Two Three” are precious …lovable, and awkward in the best of ways……
But….personally, I liked the ‘plot’ in “This Is How It Always Is”, by Laurie a little more— but …..I enjoyed both books…..and both books are inspiring.

Both books, in my opinion ARE MOVING, ENJOYABLE, INSPIRING….
but….both books - had flaws too ….(some parts were like moving through quicksand…a little too wordy)….
Add to that > (in listening) > we are spending hours with ‘young- age- sounding voices ….well, I needed breaks in the same way I would when spending too many hours with children or teens in real life.

But there was plenty to enjoy.

A damaged town….(contaminated chemicals), is not the place a woman wants to get pregnant. ….
….but meeting the triplets: Mab, Monday, and Mirabel …..with their different physical disabilities ……expanding our thoughts about acceptability-and compassion for their struggles- their personalities- meeting their friends, their academic achievements, their resourcefulness, little OCD-type ‘cute’ obsessions, ( Green Day?/!)….Yellow foods only days….etc..
was still a heartwarming novel.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audio of “One Two Three” by Laurie Frankel and encourage any audio lovers to do the same. The audio production added to the enjoyment of listening to the novel’s three teenage narrators. An added bonus: at the end of the novel there is a discussion with Frankel about how she was inspired to write the story, plus a discussion with the sound editor of Macmillan Audio. I enjoyed listening to what goes into the production of an audio book….from hiring the perfect narrators to melding the three voices into the perfect production.

The Mitchell triplets are the sixteen-year-old narrators. As the story opens, Nora, their mother is giving birth to the girls. She wants the girls to have names that begin with “M” with the first daughter a one syllable name, the second will have two syllables, and the third will have three. It does make it easy to follow the girls, as I remembered who was who based upon their names. Sounds silly, but it works. The first daughter is Mab and she is a basic teen. Monday, the second girl is on the spectrum, and she was my favorite. Her insights are hilarious. Finally, Mirabel is the genius who can’t eat, walk, or talk. She is wheelchair bound and uses a voice activating machine for communicating. We get to hear her inner musings. Because she’s in a wheelchair, people treat her like she’s a piece of furniture, so she hears a lot.

The girls live in a fictious town named Bourne, where 17 years earlier there was a chemical spill in the water supply forcing the main employer to shut down, rendering the town a ghost town. The people who stayed either had cancer, birth defects or other health issues, which the townsfolk believe the chemical spill caused. Nora is on a mission to make the employer pay for the town’s devastation. The people who still live there are a quirky group and add enjoyment to the story.

The girl’s chapters are headed by their birth order. In other words, One’s chapters are Mab’s. Two is Monday, and three is Mirabel. The girls’ lives are upended when the previous owner of the business comes back to Bourne and wants the factory to be reinstated. The owners bring their very handsome sixteen-year-old son, River, with them. Well, there hasn’t been a new person in town EVER, and certainly not a cute boy. The girls are conflicted, as their mother is aghast that the family has returned and she wants nothing more than to expose them and bring them down. Meanwhile, River is a sweet boy who just wants to fit in.

This is a very funny, sweet, and touching story of three sisters who are coming-of-age and wanting to help their mother in righting a wrong. The girls are so much fun. Even Mab, who is normal, brings enjoyment to the reader because she is getting ready for her SAT test and she and her BFF, Petra, are working on vocabulary. The words used, LOL, you will chuckle. Monday will only eat yellow things and wear yellow clothing, unless it’s raining, and then it’s green. She’s the town librarian and has books everywhere, including the microwave (because no one uses the microwave). Mirabel uses her furniture status to gain inside information. Nora, who doesn’t narrate but nonetheless is a quirky character adds charm, as do the eccentric townsfolk.

I enjoyed this as a fun story that is well written. It’s nice to have a story that brings a smile to your face.

[Sheena · Rating 2 out of 5]

I LOVED This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel so I was excited about this one but it just was a miss for me, I found myself very bored and I couldn't really keep track of the triplets as they seemed to just have the same voice. I can tell she tried to make them distinct but I still had a hard time keeping track so maybe it was just me? Other than that, this was just an okay read that I thought about not finishing quite a few times but had to push through.

The narrators did do a great job bringing the story to life. Thank you to Net Galley and Macmillian Audio for the advanced audiobook.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Testing 1, 2, 3. It’s a go!

It’s pretty funny that I requested this book on NetGalley. When the author’s previous book, This Is How It Always Is, got rave reviews, I stayed away. The writer’s name is Frankel. How could a reality star/business woman write literary fiction, I wanted to know. Because she didn’t, dumb dumb Deb! Two people can have the same last name, it turns out. Geez, you would have thought I’d check out the first names, but no, I assumed the obnoxious and boisterous TV star, Bethenny Frankel, was doubling as a serious fiction writer. Ha, goes to show me what I can do with my assumptions! I mean, really, what was I doing? If the author’s name was Perry, would I have assumed Katy Perry gave up her “Roar” days and picked up a pen to start a literary career? I don’t think so! Anyway, all of this to say, despite my embarrassing concern about the author’s name, I decided to check out One Two Three. And man am I glad I did.

This is one creative novel! Right off the bat, I’m in. Play with words—like the author did with the main characters’ names—and I’m in heaven.

The story is about 16-year-old triplets. Their names are a kick. The oldest is Mab. Since she was born first, her name is just one syllable. Monday popped out second, and thus her name has two syllables. Then there’s the third to be born, so her name gets three syllables, Mirabel. The chapter titles vary between 1, 2, and 3, referring to each triplet by number. I could just hug their names and number scheme.

Mab is the “normal” one. Monday is on the autism spectrum (but highly functional), and Mirabel is wheelchair-bound and has to use an electronic voice to speak—she’s the super brainy one. It’s impossible not to love all three.

This is a mighty fine character study. We get to see inside their heads, always a draw for me. And their connection to each other made me feel good. Each voice is so unique and rich, and the girls are so likable, smart, determined, and quirky. Many authors struggle with creating unique voices, but Frankel is not one of them.

They live in a super small town that had a chemical plant years ago, and the toxic water from the plant wreaked havoc on the health of its citizens, including the triplets. The girls and their mom are obsessed with the damage caused by the big bad chemical company. I won’t say anything about the plot, other than it all begins when a moving van arrives in town.

The story has a lot to do with trust and betrayal, always two juicy components of a story. Should this certain person be trusted? I found myself going back and forth.

The book also deals with the aftermath of a town destroyed by a chemical company. It was interesting to watch the citizens’ changing reactions to the state of affairs that develops.

These days it takes a lot for me to like a book about high schoolers (I’ve just OD’d on them, and I crave adults), but these triplets got under my skin in the best way. I do think it would be a good YA book, but this adult liked it just fine.

My only complaint is that the book is too long (400 pages). At times it was belabored. We get it, no need to drill it into our heads.

Now I’m hot to read This Is How It Always Is, of course. And I’ll be waiting for LAURIE Frankel’s next gem.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.

[DeAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 sisterly stars

This unique book is narrated by a set of triplets – hence the title – one, two, three! Set in the small town of Bourne, which has seen better days. Nearly 17 years ago, tragedy struck Bourne when the nearby chemical plant turned the river (and the town’s drinking water) green. Plagued by cancer, birth defects, and unexplained illnesses, the town is limping along with a higher-than-average number of residents in wheelchairs.

The Mitchell triplets – Mab, Monday, and Mirabel– have very unique voices and I loved how each triplet took turns telling the story with alternating chapters. Their mother Nora has championed the class action lawsuit against the chemical plant for years, searching out evidence for the case. She has an unfortunate connection with the case as her husband died because of the chemicals and her children, especially Mirabel, were affected. Mirabel is in a wheelchair and only has the use of her right hand and can’t speak without an assisted device and she’s very smart!

Monday runs the town library out of their house since the original library is shut down. Mab is studying hard to get into college and out of Bourne. Everything is about to change though when the chemical plant’s founding family returns to town. What can happen if they reopen the plant?

I adored these characters are rooted for them as they dug deep to figure out a way to fight the plant. Deceptions and secrets can go hand in hand with deep pockets and it’s easy for some to turn the other way.

This was a terrific read with great characters and I look forward to reading others by this author!

Thank you to Henry Holt & Co. and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this one. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

[Darlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

The small town of Bourne bears the scars of a chemical company that poisoned their water 17 years ago and left them with no recourse. The Mitchell family was devastated more than most. Nora Mitchell's husband died unexpectedly of cancer just weeks before she gave birth to triplets, two of whom were born severely disabled.

Now that the triplets are 16 years old, it could be happening all over again. The chemical company is back promising much-needed jobs and promising they have fixed what was wrong with their process.

I liked that the author attempted to show different points of view and how the tragedy affected different townspeople differently. I think she could have dug a little deeper, but it is written for teens so I think it is age-appropriate. However, some subjects did seem overly simplistic. The book does a good job of writing from the points of view of the three 16-year-olds. The adult characters seem just as immature or charicaturized, though.

I might recommend this to a young reader, but it isn't all that interesting for an adult, even if they enjoy YA and middle-grade lit.

[Claude's Bookzone · Rating 4 out of 5]

CW:death and disability caused by factory pollution

4.5 Stars

Well that was a truly compelling read!

I could literally feel myself being drawn slowly into to this story as the three wonderful main characters sleuthed their way into my heart. It actually took until about the 30 percent mark until I felt that the triplets separated out enough into three distinct voices for me. The writing was absolutely brilliant and the relationships between the different characters in the town so vividly captured that I honestly felt like I really understood the dynamics in this suffering community. I thoroughly recommend this novel in which three teens and their mother take on 'big money' in the pursuit of justice.

[Marilyn (not getting notifications) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a sleepy little town called Bourne where nothing ever happened and everyone knew everyone else a set of baby girl triplets were born seventeen years ago to Nora Mitchell and her husband. Nora gave birth to her triplets naturally and as she got ready to push her babies out she decided to give them all names with the initial letter M. First came Mab, the oldest, whose name possessed one syllable, and who would later have the ambition to go to college and leave Bourne. Two was named Monday because that was the day she was born on and it had two syllables. Monday was most definitely on the spectrum. She was the honorary librarian of Bourne. After the town library closed, Monday made room for its books in the Mitchell home. Some of the books could even be found in the microwave oven. Monday was obsessed with anything yellow. She only ate yellow food and only wore yellow clothes. Three’s birth was the hardest. Her birth came too slowly so the doctor had to help deliver her. Three’s disabilities were the most pronounced and obvious of the triplets. Three was named Mirabel, mainly because it was a three syllable name and began with a M. Mirabel was the smartest sister even though she could not talk on her own. She spoke through a computerized voice box. Mirabel was confined to a wheelchair. It was Mirabel who initiated the names One, Two and Three for herself and her sisters. She used her fingers to call and indicate which sister she needed. Thus One became Mab, Two became Monday and Three was Mirabel.

Before the triplets were born, there had been a chemical plant in Bourne that had contaminated the water and their river and turned it green. As a result, many babies, like One, Two and Three had been born with birth defects, people started being diagnosed with various cancers and Bourne became a town that no one came to visit anymore. The property values in Bourne plummeted. None of the citizens of Bourne ever left because they couldn’t. Nora, with the help of her three daughters, had devoted the last seventeen years of her life trying to find proof of this injustice and bring down Duke Templeton and his chemical plant. Then one day a new family moved into Bourne’s former library. It was Duke Templeton’s son, Nathan Templeton, with his wife, Apple, and their son, River. Everything was about to change in the quiet little town of Bourne.

One Two Three by Laurie Frankel was an engrossing and thought provoking book. It was most definitely character driven with well developed characters. The plot was suspenseful and kept my attention on alert throughout. It was about hope, love, doing the right thing, picking profit over the well being of others, and the power and determination of young female daughters. I laughed at parts and cried at others. It was hard to stop listening to this audiobook which was brilliantly narrated by Emma Galvin, Jesse Vilinsky and Rebecca Soler. I particularly enjoyed Mirabel’s character and her voice. The audiobook ran 14 hours, 59 minutes and 11 seconds. At the conclusion of the audiobook there was a bonus conversation with the author, Laurie Frankel, that I found to be very interesting. This was the first book that I had the privilege to read by Laurie Frankel but I hope to read some of her prior books and look forward to seeing what she plans on writing next.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to this audiobook through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Val (pagespoursandpups) · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw that Laurie Frankel had a new book out, I knew that it would be one I would want to read. Then I read the synopsis and was even more convinced that this would be one I would love. And love it I did! I loved the setting, the plot, the characters, the struggles, the regrets and the ending.

This story centers around triplets born in a poor town, Bourne, that was devastated by a chemical company and their flippant and careless ways. The story is told through each of the sisters’ voices: One - Mab – the sister who feels the weight of the world on her shoulders simply because she is normal, Two - Monday – the sister on the spectrum who takes everything literally, and is emotionally challenged, but fine physically, and Three - Mirabel – the sister in a wheelchair who has extraordinary mental capacity and yet lacks physical capacity save for the use of her fingers and a voice box.

As the reader learns, this town is different than any other. Sickness and disease have ravaged and decimated most of its residents. It has had to morph into a town that caters to people with disabilities. Because that is what Belsum Chemical forced upon it. The runoff from the plant poisoning the water system and turning it sulphuric and green. Once it was aware of the catastrophic effects of their greed, the company picked up and left without taking any of the blame.

“I think about the ways cause and effect might break you. Bourne is a town of unexpected consequences, a place where what no one sees coming runs you over like a truck.”

Although the town tried to force Belsum to assume responsibility, it was a David and Goliath fight with no results. The champion of the cause, Nora, the triplet’s mother, continues throughout the story to search for evidence. The evidence that will finally point the finger at Belsum and prove its culpability. The story was slightly reminiscent of Erin Brokovich. But only in purpose as these characters are all their own.

Without saying too much about the story and ruining the suspense for the reader, know that there are developments which bring Nora’s fight back into the forefront. Belsum moves to re-enter Bourne and reopen the plant. In a town with no jobs and no prospects, it proves easy to get people to forget the past and hope for a brighter future. There is suspense, betrayal, shock, unbelief, understanding and finally growth.

The character development in this book is sublime. The ways in which all the characters are interwoven serve to strengthen the story and yet also blur the lines between duty and responsibility. An overarching theme emerges – parental expectations and children paying the price for the sins of a parent. Although this may sound like a book that is depressing and heavy, it amazingly is not. It is a story of acceptance, flexibility, fight and personal triumph. I highly recommend!

Thank you to Net Galley and Henry Holt for the advance copy of this book to read and review. Pub Date: June 8, 2021.

[Lisa (NY) · Rating 4 out of 5]

One, Two, Three is a fresh, well-plotted novel with three memorable characters - Mab, Monday and Mirabel. Each of the triplets, as well as other town residents, face challenges due to poison from a chemical company. Amazingly, Frankel has created 16-year-olds with rich interior lives who I actually wanted to spend time with. There is a simplicity to the David vs. Goliath plot but Frankel deftly avoids traps that would make the story reductive. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

(Thank you to Henry Holt and Company for sending me the ARC.)

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like Erin Brokovich times three mini Erins. Lol. Good book. Enjoyed all the characters and loved that it asked readers to introspect their beliefs and biases of the disabled community.

[Kelly (and the Book Boar) · Rating 4 out of 5]

If one thing is for sure it is the fact that Laurie Frankel can really spin a yarn. And if a second thing is for sure it is that I am, at the pit of my soul, a horrible person. You see, when I first saw people talking about this, my mind went to a severely underrated cartoon . . . .



Proving I could never qualify as any sort of emotional support animal. But then I noticed this was by the author of This Is How it Always Is so even though I wasn’t super interested in reading it, I still needed to have a copy immediately. Because I am the poster child for first world problems.

One, Two, Three is about a town that was decimated by a chemical company who had poisoned the water. If you get these vibes . . . .



You are pretty much spot-on, because the plucky mother and her decade plus long battle most certainly will give you Erin Brockovich vibes. The story, however, is told in three-part narration (hence the title) via Nora’s (the mother) triplet daughters. All three have distinctive voices, personalities and issues, but I will admit it took me a minute to settle in to the who was who. Mainly due to them calling each other both “One Two and Three” but also by their given names of Mab, Monday and Mirabel – which, let’s just be honest, don’t really roll off the tongue easily. It can also be blamed on the fact I’m . . . .



One of the things I love best about this book is that for so long there appeared to be a potential gray area regarding Big Oil the goings on at the chemical company. No documents had ever been discovered implicating any wrongdoings and, despite one of the triplets being born with disabilities and a father who had died of cancer, other people in town seemed to have been impacted more from fluke accidents such as losing limbs in the machinery or feeling trapped due to their property no longer being worth any money and the other so-called “different” twin was clearly just someone on the spectrum. But of course that all ended up being just some shit my brain was conjuring up. It still ended up being a story that gives the reader something to gnaw on regarding man’s inhumanity to man, the power of money, but also about family and friendship and loyalty (whether right or wrong). I will say this could have been quite a bit shorter as my attention waned in parts and things got a little repetitive, but as a whole this was a quality character driven type of read and I will absolutely be first in line for whatever Ms. Frankel comes up with next.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A touching read about family and resilience

Nothing new ever happens in the town of Bourne. Everyone knows everyone. So when the moving trucks arrive, it causes a stir. Bourne is a town known for one thing: seventeen years ago, their water turned green. Many of their citizens of died, others have cancer and other illnesses, and others gave birth to children with birth defects. You'll never find a town more accommodating to wheelchairs. But it has one doctor (also the priest) and one therapist (Nora Mitchell). Bourne houses Nora's triplets, beloved by all: Mab, the "normal" one, who is expected to go to college and escape this place; Monday, who runs the town library from their home and prefers yellow everything (food, clothes, and more); and Mirabel, the smartest of them all, confined to her wheelchair, dependent on her sisters and mom for so much and on a computer to act as her Voice. Nora has been fighting for justice since the water turned green. When the newcomers come to town, the past roars up, involving the Mitchell triplets and bringing to light decades old secrets. How hard will Mab, Monday, and Mirabel fight for their town?

This is such an original book from the author of THIS IS HOW IT ALWAYS IS. It sneaks up on you with its quiet and touching story. Frankel weaves an emotional tale that makes you think. It's utterly fascinating, this devastated town and its broken people. So many of its citizens are sick or have lost someone they love. Yet there is a lot of hope in Bourne, especially as the story is told through young Mab, Monday, and Mirabel's eyes. They've only known their mom's sadness and bitterness, never having met their father, yet each has their own (often quirky) way of looking at life.

Frankel alternates viewpoints from each triplet, naming her chapters One (Mab), Two (Monday), and Three (Mirabel) and repeating from there. It takes a moment to get into the groove of each triplets' voice, but once you do, it's easy to get attached to them. Mab feels the weight of the world on her shoulders, sweet Monday takes everything literally, and Mirabel must remain cheerful, despite all her medical issues. Their mom holds a variety of jobs, including town therapist and working at the local bar, and maintains a decades long lawsuit and grievance. It's hard to know what the triplets' life might be like without Nora's anger and bitterness.

Still, ONE TWO THREE highlights the power of sisterhood and family. You'd think a book about a broken town would be depressing and a slugfest, but it's anything but. In many ways, I found this to be almost a mystery, as the sisters work together to figure out about the newcomers in their town and how they relate to the years of devastation wrecked upon Bourne. The result is utterly compelling, with years of intertwined secrets making for a fascinating read.

Still, at the core, this is a story about teenage girls and how they relate to the world. It's sweet, heartbreaking, and extremely well-written. There are a few points where I wish the plot sped up a bit, but overall, this is a touching and lovely story about a family and their small town.

I received a copy of this book from Henry Holt & Company and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review. Look for ONE TWO THREE on 6/8/2021!

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[Elizabeth George]

Full disclosure: I know the author as a fellow member of Seattle7, a group of 67 writers in the Pacific Northwest. I used to sit next to her when we did our November book signing extravaganza in Phinney Ridge, and I came to know her books as a result of that. I bought her first book, Atlas of Love, at one of those signings and I wrote her a fan letter afterwards. She refers to me now as her "first" fan. I've loved every one of her books, and this one is no exception. The one, two, and three of the title are sisters, triplets whose lives have been impacted by the presence of a chemical plant that once polluted the water that supplies the small town where they live. They are the three narrators. One of them is severely disabled, one is an obsessive compulsive, and the third is as normal as one could be having been born into a family led by a mom who is out for vengeance against the chemical company that destroyed so many lives. After a bit of a slow start, the book gets rolling, and it's a wonderful story filled with the warmth of human connection. I loved it. The author has a big heart and a bigger soul, and they shine on every page. I highly recommend the book.

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

One Two Three is a story of triplet teenage girls (Mab, Monday and Mirabelle, aka One, Two, and Three) and a town called Bourne. The girls were born about a year after the local chemical plant polluted the air and river with an experimental chemical. It seems fairly obvious that the chemical caused the ensuing illness, death, and congenital anomalies/birth defects that raged through Bourne at a rate “higher than expected”. However, despite Nora’s (the triplets’ mother) unending quest to hold the company accountable, no one has been able to prove the link...yet.

I started off really enjoying the story of the girls, all of whom had a distinct voice, and the Erin Brockovich vibe of citizens taking on the Big Bad Chemical plant that had ruined so many lives. I also appreciated the respect the author gave to her characters with disabilities and diverse abilities. The best characters, by far, were the two sisters that didn’t fall into the so-called “normal” category, a label that was touched upon insightfully throughout the book.

However, the book started to become very repetitive for me and I grew tired of the over-explanation of every thought that every character had. When you’re listening to a 15-hour audio, you just need it to move along sometimes, right? And while I enjoy good voice acting, I found the audio overly dramatic to the point where I felt like telling the characters to just calm down. Not a good sign. I know many will disagree with me on that point, but it did feel like overacting at times. Lastly, at the risk of sounding less than compassionate, the bitterness that Mab spoke with, while justified, got on my nerves after a while. It just all felt overdone.

Three stars for tackling the subjects of inclusivity, accountability, and the importance of environmental protection. Unfortunately, this fell short for me overall, but I know a lot of readers will love it.

Thanks to MacMillan Audio for an advance audiobook via NetGalley

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laurie Frankel is the author of one of my all-time favourite books, This Is How It Always Is.
One, Two, Three is her newly released novel told by the 16 year old Mitchell triplets, each with their own distinct voice.
Set in the small town of Bourne, Nora (the triplets Mom) and her daughters set out to uncover the truth behind a devastating event that changed their family and town forever. The now closed Belsum chemical plant poisoned the town's water supply when it had promised to do the exact opposite. This caused illness, birth defects and death for many of the residents.
A well-written story about environmental problems, family dynamics, sisterhood and friendship.

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

One Two Three is a story of female triplets -- Mab "One," Monday "Two," and Mirabel "Three" and their crusade to fight an "industrial revolution." They reside in a small town that has been destroyed by industrial waste from a chemical plant that was deceitful and negligent. The citizens that remain in Bourne are unable to relocate because they do not have the means to move. The girls and their widowed mother fall into this category -- stuck in a town with poisoned water, polluted air and contaminated soil.

The triplets' mother and many other inhabitants of Bourne are engaged in a fruitless 20-year lawsuit against Belsum Chemicals seeking damage from their willful negligence. The triplets themselves have been affected: Mab is neurotypical, while Monday is on the autism spectrum and Mirabel appears to have something akin to cerebral palsy. In fact, differently abled individuals are not a minority in Bourne.

One Two Three follows the girls' efforts to shut down Belsum Chemicals, which is re-opening after a 20-year absence. It is told from the perspective of One, Two and Three (the triplets).

The plot is a good one -- the victimization of an entire town by industrial waste and big corporations. Countless lives and future generations are negatively affected, and three sisters embark on an epic journey to take down the Goliath. It also accurately, and poignantly, describes the symbiotic and beautiful relationship between a mother and her child with different abilities.

This had the potential to be a great book, but fell short due to excessive dialogue and a storyline that failed to move forward in a timely manner. In short, it dragged like a soap opera script. Much personal interaction and dialogue with little or no movement whatsoever in the storyline.

For example, after three hours of reading, I felt I had made little to no progress. The dialogue was monotonous and laden with details that bore no relevance to the plot. I understand the use of small details to create an atmosphere, but by the 75% completion point, it had become painful. I skimmed the remaining 25% just to finish. I had little or motivation to finish.

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co. for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mab, Monday, and Mirabelle are triplets who have been born into tough circumstances. Chemical runoff from a nearby plant has wrought havoc on their small town, causing disease, birth defects, and death. Each of the sisters deals with her own set of challenges, be it a physical disability, being neurodivergent, or the pressure and guilt of being "normal" in a town full of anything but. Something all three have in common however, is rallying behind the same cause their mother always has: trying to get justice against the chemical company that ravaged their town and has left it, and its citizens, to die. One day however, a very strange thing happens. Moving trucks appear. No one has moved to Bourne in nearly two decades. Who is coming... and why?

This has strong Erin Brockovich/The Rainmaker vibes, but with a coming-of-age bent to it. I loved it up until about the 80% mark, where I wish some other choices had been made. That said, I still think the author wrapped this one up well and while I didn't *love* climax and ending, I could certainly live with it. I could tell that the author had spent a lot of time with these characters and really came to love them. I did too. I almost dreaded finishing this because it felt like I was losing three friends.

I highly, highly recommend listening to this one on audio if you're able to. The voice actors do a wonderful job and really bring life to the characters, as well as a consistency to their voices across chapters (you'll see what I mean if you listen). There was also an interview at the end of the book with the author and Macmillan Audio discussing the challenges of casting and creating this particular audiobook, both due to the format of the book as well as trying to tape during the pandemic, and I found it quite interesting.

[Amy J · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 16-year old Mitchell triplets, Mab, Monday and Mirabelle were born to take on the fight of a lifetime. The triplets were born and raised in Bourne. The city has been fighting a chemical plant for nearly 20 years after their river turned green. Everyone in the town has been affected one way or another by the release of chemicals into the water system. When a stranger moves to town, the fight for justice is about to escalate.

I listened to the audiobook which was well-narrated by three women to portray the triplets, known as One, Two and Three. The story details a lifetime of trying to find justice when it seems impossible. The author weaves an interesting tale of healing and sisterhood. The characters, especially the three sisters are interesting and well-developed.

[Susan Z (webreakforbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mab, Monday and Mirabel, also referred to as One, Two, Three, are triplets growing up in the small town of Bourne. Unfortunately, it's not a happy quiet town, it is one riddled with the aftermath of a chemical plant gone bad 17 years ago. The residents are suffering severe consequences, including illness and even death.

Nora, the triplet's mom, had been fighting for damages for all 17 years and the girls are her cheerleader and sometimes ringleaders of their own.

Told in the alternating voices of each of the girls, you get to really know each of them. I love a character driven story so I appreciated getting to know their personalities.

This is a story of a fierce, tireless mom. Nora was a woman to admire and cheer for.

It is also a story about community and connection. I loved the small town feel.

Lastly it is a coming of age story which reminded me of those teen books I read oh so long ago.

I alternated between reading and listening and I strongly encourage everyone to get their hands on the audio because it makes a great story even better, with not one, not two but THREE fantastic narrators.

4.5 stars rounded up

Thank you Henry Holt, NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for both my physical and audio ARCs.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bourne sacrificed the health of its inhabitants when they agreed to welcome Belsum Chemical to their small town. Seventeen years ago, Belsum promised jobs and prosperity and then the town’s water turned green. What followed was a a rash of miscarriages, cancers and birth defects. Nora Mitchell lost her husband to cancer and one of her triplets, Mirabel, is so disabled that she can not walk or talk. She does have the use of one arm though and uses it to type out words that can be ‘spoken’. Her sister, Monday, is on the spectrum, thinks very literally, and has found her ‘calling’ as the town’s librarian. Mab is just a typical over-achieving 16-year-old.

Nora has been fighting Belsum Chemical by researching and documenting the 17-year lawsuit against Belsum. And then everything changes when Belsum decides to return to Bourne to reopen the plant. The family behind Belsum even choose to relocate to Belsum. Nathan and Apple Templeton brought their son, River, who is similar in age to the triplets. To no one’s surprise, River becomes friends with the girls. But, where does his loyalty lie—with his family or his new friends? Can Mab, Monday, and Mirabel find justice where others have failed?

Frankel’s story covers environmental contamination and the search for justice from several different angles. Enjoy!

[Kezia Duah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. I loved the Mitchell sisters. They are all so unique and I could feel their love for each other throughout the story. Not that anyone was asking, but my favorite is Monday. She is so literal which makes her so lovable. I also like how they are all smart yet in a different way. The town really went through a lot, and the fact that this was inspired by a similar situation in a town in West Virginia really hurts my heart. I can imagine that there are many companies that take advantage of small towns all over the world, and I’m glad that this book sheds light on that and makes me aware that this happens. Nora is the real MVP of this story. She didn’t stop fighting and went on to inspire her children. I was so proud of the sisters for being so determined even to the point of risking their lives. Overall, this story made me care, which is important when reading. One has to care about the characters or any part of the story to keep on going, and I was really invested. I’m glad it worked out at the end of this story.