The collection, as evidenced by the title, focuses on character; the authors were simply asked to "make somebody up".

[2] Though the editor, Smith, originally wanted each of the characters to have both first and last names, several of the authors did not include surnames, and that rule was eventually dropped.

The Book of Other People was generally well received by critics, who praised the authors' characterization; one wrote, "[they] create satisfying characters as memorable as any in their novels,"[4] and another that "[v]ariety ... is certainly on display.

[6] Several of the stories were specifically commended, among them Danticat's "Lélé" and Tóibín's "Donal Webster", which were said to "unfold, like elaborate origami flowers, into complex portraits.

"[7] However, not all were received well—one reviewer wrote that "[o]ther tales in this volume feel overly pat or mechanically perfunctory," and another that "a few of the contributions are bright but empty.