A Letter To Illuminae-A Book Review||❤

Illuminae
By Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
Publication Date: 20th October 2015
Rating: 10/5 stars
*Thank You so much to Rock The Boat News for providing me with an arc of this book. This in no way differs my opinion* 
Dear Illuminae,
It has been only 30 minutes since I have finished you and there a whole load of books sitting in my goodreads for review but you were so special all that I had to get my feelings down. It is currently 11:32 pm and after experiencing you, I feel as alive as ever. Your action kept me on edge and your characters had me wiping tears yet to fall away from my eyes. I just want to dedicate a post to you and your wonderful content.

I had never read any books by the people who created you and I dove in with wool over my eyes. I had obviously had faith in you and I had been watching you from the side lines. When I had seen that I had been accepted my world lit up and I anxiously waited for you in the post. I am glad that I didn't start you straight away but waited until the moment was right. I must admit, I was scared to open you, I don't know why I felt that way but I just was. Although it took me almost a month to finish you, I wanted to indulge every single part until it was embedded into my memory. Your cleverness in the way you were written makes this unforgettable.

I loved your range of characters. You had the sarcastic, the witty, the optimistic and the pessimistic characters and as a whole made you awesome. You are probably the first book where the characters were intended to not be liked but I just couldn't bring myself to hate all these contrasting personalities hidden in 599 pages. Kady Grant was one fierce and intelligent female character who I admired for not only her bravery but her brains and knowledge. Nowadays not many characters are brain smart but only physically smart. Kady could code her way to crashing down superior systems and saving lives. All that just from one brain. Of course there  was Ezra Mason, the jock, the good-looking guy and you just couldn't help but fall in love with him as you go along. His ability to adapt to situations and his drive to live makes me want to create a real version of Ezra and have him all for myself. Carrie Hope Fletcher wasn't wrong when she said that book boys were better!

I also loved how you were written. You were a series of images, dialogue and transcripts. Your words created images and were shaped in a poetic way. The curved with the page and made you even more interesting. You had faces and names and you were perfect. You were mind blowing and emotional and for me the best of 2015. You have deepened my love for sci fi, you have made me want to code again and you have made me want to read you over and over again until you are battered with love. Thank you Illuminae for being such a awesome book and I don't think I will find anything as good as you in a very long time. I hope you see this Illuminae team, stay amazingly awesome.

Yours Sincerely,

Naomi...xxx

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The Secret Fire By C.J. Daugherty&Carina Rozenfeld-A Book Review||❤

The Secret Fire
By C.J. Daugherty and Carina Rozenfeld
Rating: 5/5 stars

*received in exchange for an honest review*
French teen Sacha Winters can't die. He can throw himself off a roof, be stabbed, even shot, and he will always survive. Until the day when history and ancient enmities dictate that he must die. Worse still, his death will trigger something awful. Something deadly. And that day is closing in.

Taylor Montclair is a normal English girl, hanging out with her friends and studying for exams, until she starts shorting out the lights with her brain. She’s also the only person on earth who can save Sacha.

There’s only one problem: the two of them have never met. They live hundreds of miles apart and powerful forces will stop at nothing to keep them apart.

They have eight weeks to find each other.

Will they survive long enough to save the world? 

MY THOUGHTS

OH MY GOSH. That is the only way to describe how I felt after I read this book. I was mindblown at the start and then the end just resurrected me then blew me up again. I was wondering where the rest of the book was, clinging onto the last words then sitting in silence for  a couple of minutes drunk on the awesomeness. If you could jump into my kindle and read the notes I made you would realise the impact of this book such as when Taylor's boyfriend was saying:
"Im the most popular guy at this school"-lol get a life m8
I'm not kidding when I say that I actually wrote that down when I was reading the book. Don't worry though, this book is not a high school drama where everybody is self centred

As the synopsis does say this book follows the lives if two characters Taylor and Sacha two teenagers with incredible abilities and they don't know why they can do such amazing things. Sacha is a lazy French teenager who turns up to school once in a blue moon, wears all black and can't die. Taylor is your high achieving student who is set for Oxford, dates none other than golden athletic boy of the school and weird things have been happening to her lately. Little do these two people know is that they rely on each other and together they have to save the world. The only problem is that they have never met.

What I really liked about the story was the progression of it and how as the reader could slowly see how these characters are as people. I enjoyed how, as much as it aggravated me in a good way as I wanted more and more after I had actually finished the book! I can't even explain how much I love it because I was squealing whenever  one thing happened and I sat there with my mouth is an 'O' shape and things progressed.

I loved how each chapter was in two characters pointe of view and how the book was set in two different countries. We as the audience did learn about the characters but not too much was given away about them and loads of things remained a mystery. I was also able to learn more about the outskirts of Paris and how people in Taylor's school behaved and I felt like a fly on the wall l, tuning into each of there stories.

I'm a bit out of practice from writing reviews so sorry if this one is utter crap. I might have to start blogging only once a week or getting a co-blogger because I am extremely busy at the moment with hell (school) which is keeping me away from blogging as much as I would like to.

Keep Reading,
Naomi...xxx

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The Heartbreakers-A Book Review||❤

The Heartbreakers
By Ali Novak
Publication Date: 4th August 2015
Rating: 4/5 stars
* e-arc recieved in exchange for an honest review*
When I met Oliver Perry, I had no clue he was the lead singer for The Heartbreakers. Unbeknownst to him, I was the only girl in the world who hated his music."

Stella will do anything for her sister—even stand in line for an autographed Heartbreakers CD... for three hours. At least she met a cute boy at the Starbucks beforehand. A blue-eyed boy who looks an awful lot like...

Oliver Perry. Of course Starbucks guy is the lead singer for her least favorite band. Thanks, universe. But there may be more to Oliver than his world-famous charm, because even after she insults his music—to his face—he still gives her his number. Seriously, what is her life?

But how can Stella even think about being with Oliver—dating and laughing and pulling pranks with the band—when her sister could be dying of cancer? 

My Thoughts 

As a massive Wattpad and Ali Novak fan, I had previously read the unedited version of this story on Wattpad. When I found out that this was on Netgalley, I grabbed the opportunity and requested the book. I love seeing Wattpad authors having their books published and I really do support them. I adored the Heartbreakers series and all that really changed was some of the plot but it made the story more clean cut and easier to get through as in the undrafted online addition a whole lot of stuff went on.

I did prefer the original version in a way, this version was brilliant but there was something about the original which just stuck to me. I think I preferred it because it was a longer story. Wattpad is a website where you can make the book as long as you want it to be. The book online had so many chapters and there was room for so many things to happen and for people to be made up and it felt like you moved onwards as a family with the characters and the fellow commenters/readers of the book. The Heartbreakers was definitely a new and improved book with less plot holes and a more developed and concise story.

I loved each and every character for their ways. My favourite would definitely have to be Alec as he was quiet yet he gave good advice and was a mature character who understood what people are going through. I’m a bit biased here because I adore him in The Heartbreakers 2 which is currently being written on Wattpad and I just love him as a character. Stella was the definition of fierce, clever and caring. I loved her personality and music taste and her camera which was always around her neck. Although this book was basically the definition of cliche it just worked for some reason. There is always a time which is around the summer when I am more carefree when some of the cliches just fly over my head. If I read this in like October where I am usually in a crappy mood then I would be a very harsh person. Oliver was sweet but I didn’t really like him as a person to be honest. I found him a bit stuck up but I think that the readers were intended to think of him in that way.

This book did touch on the subject of cancer. You may roll your eyes and think “noooo not another TFIOS” but it was just beautifully put in. Someone in Stella’s family does have cancer so it does really control most of her decisions but it really is saying that illness can cause opportunities.

What was so good about the book was that it didn’t actually take me that long to finish it. On my goodreads it says I took around 6 days but really I started and probably only got around 10 pages in then I finished it in a day. If you are looking for a light contemporary read this is definitely for you. Overall, I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it for one of those really hot days where you can’t do anything but read.

Keep Reading,

Naomi...xxx

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Everything Everything-An Arc Review||❤

Everything Everything
By Nicola Yoon
Publication Date: September 1st 2015
Rating: 5/5 stars
*e-Arc was sent in exchange for an honest review*
My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.

My Thoughts...

This book was the definition of phenomenal. I was so into this book I found myself reading this when I was eating breakfast, when I was meant to be going to bed, on the bus! I wanted to finish this book so badly and I haven't read a book which has captivated me so much. It was beautiully written and put together and I couldn't ask for such a mind blowing (in a good way book). I have probably not been so excited to review a book but this one had me hooked in from the start. As soon as I read the synopsis on Netgalley I had to request it and when I was accepted I leapt across the room. Seeing that it was around. Me being me I told myself to wait until July to read the book but I actually ended up reading it in May and loving it!

If I even started to explain the synopsis to this book I will be here for hours and the amount of spoilers would be ridiculous. But I think that the actual synopsis is good enough and you will just have to read into the book to find out more!

Nicole Yoon's writing was exceptional. This is her debut and the way this book was written makes me want to read her books in the future. Nicole, you have just earnt yourself a fan. I can't really put it to words how good this book was. It was filled with love, laughter, tears and pain and it just hit me with the feels. The plot twist near the end of the book nearly killed me  (don't worry I'm fine now btw). It just hit me with a rock and I just wanted to cry and rejoice at the same time but then I just looked liked an emotionally unstable female who cries over a not so emotional part of the book.

My favourite character in the book had to be Madeline's nurse Carla. She was caring, made good food and was genuinely awesome. She let Madeline do things she wasn't allowed to do just to make her feel like a normal teenager and their relationship was wonderful.

Overall. I thought that Everything Everything was an fabulous read which I will definitely be recommending to all of my friends.

Keep Reading,

Naomi...xxx

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Did I Mention I Love You?- A Book Review||❤

 Did I Mention I Love You?
By Estelle Maskame
Publication Date: July 1st 2015
*Recieved in exchange for an honest review*
When sixteen-year-old Eden Munro agrees to spend the summer with her estranged father in the beachfront city of Santa Monica, California, she has no idea what she’s letting herself in for. Eden's parents are divorced and have gone their separate ways, and now her father has a brand new family. For Eden, this means she's about to meet three new step-brothers. The eldest of the three is Tyler Bruce, a troubled teenager with a short temper and a huge ego. Complete polar opposites, Eden quickly finds herself thrust into a world full of new experiences as Tyler's group of friends take her under their wing. But the one thing she just can't understand is Tyler, and the more she presses to figure out the truth about him, the more she finds herself falling for the one person she shouldn't – her step-brother.

Throw in Tyler's clingy girlfriend and a guy who has his eyes set on Eden, and there's secrets, lies and a whole lot of drama. But how can Eden keep her feelings under control? And can she ever work out the truth about Tyler? 

My Thoughts 

Did I Mention I Love you was written by a teengae author. I know, a TEENAGE AUTHOR. I never expected for it to be so well written and better than some books out there written by adults who have had years of experience. DIMILY was first posted on Wattpad which is a platform where you can write your story and publish it to the Wattpad community and you get loads of support from your audience and it is amazing. I am a wattpad freak so I am always looking around for new books to read and this one was just so funny yet cute and gave me so many feels.

What I liked about the books was that it had a strange concept which I thought wouldn't work very well but it merged into one and made sense all at one. Eden was a sassy and strong and I loved her for that. She didn't let anyone control her and she wasn't a stupid character who follows everything the lead male character does then follows him like a puppy. It was brilliant! Tyler was your typical bad boy who you would want to purchase in a shop and keep for yourself. He cared about animals and he was just sweet when you really got to know him. He cried quite a few times and shows how real bad boys do cry. 

The relationship in this story was so secretive and that was what intrigued me. Even though falling in love with your step-brother can be deemed as long, it is not like they are blood related. Also, they hadn't met eachother before to it didn't mean that they had treated eachother in a brotherly and sisterly way for nearly their whole lives and one falls in love with the other. It was like two random people meeting eachother who were not blood related and the other ends up falling for the other. The way that they had to hide things was so tense but real because Tyler had an extremely annoying girlfriend who only wanted him to get to be prom queen then ditch him.

Overall, I would definitley recommend DIMILY. Also check out and support other authors on Wattpad as there you can find some of the most original stories like DIMILY which I know is going to go big. Don't forget to grab your copy if you live in the UK.

Keep Reading,

Naomi...xxx 

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Finding Audrey-A Book Review||❤

Finding Audrey
By Sophie Kinsella
Rating: 5/5 stars
Publication Date: June 9th 2015
*recieved in exchange for an honest review*
An anxiety disorder disrupts fourteen-year-old Audrey’s daily life. She has been making slow but steady progress with Dr. Sarah, but when Audrey meets Linus, her brother’s gaming teammate, she is energized. She connects with him. Audrey can talk through her fears with Linus in a way she’s never been able to do with anyone before. As their friendship deepens and her recovery gains momentum, a sweet romantic connection develops, one that helps not just Audrey but also her entire family.

My Thoughts
Finding Audrey is probably one of the most beautiful books I have read this year. Not many books cover the topic of anxiety and this book just put it in just the right way. I think it is important for people who suffer from anxiety and even people who don't should really read this book. It really just shows the effects of mental illness and really could help to open peoples eyes and see how things such as depression are not a joke in teenagers and is a rising issue. Finding Audrey really is an astounding book which really should be shown to people of all ages.

Audrey suffers from severe anxiety where she hides underneath the black sunglasses, hasn't entered school since the incident and refuses to venture outdoors. Even people walking into her mini den without permission would cause her to have a panic attack. Audrey was a trouble character with an equally as crazy bunch she calls her family. Her mum is a religous Daily Mail reader, her brother is addicted to video games and literally can't live without them and her Dad is just confused most of the time and caught between her brother and mum feuding every single day.

What I loved about the book was it's positivity. Although it did show how anxiety is a quite an emotional subject I felt myself laughing so much at how quirky each character was in each way and how each situation was lightened by someone saying the wrong thing at the wrong time or her mum mumbling on about what a new article had just read on the Daily Mail. How her family never expected Audrey to speak up about a video game in defence of her brother, the first scene of the book was side splitting, the way that she talked with her brother and how she also found herself an utterly adorable boyfriend in the end of all of this. I loved had mental illness in it but it wasn't exactly about the darkness of mental illness and it maybe it will make people aware of mental illness in young people.

All I ask you to do it please read this book. You will learn so much and it just is my favourite of 2015. I didn't want the book to end at all and I felt quite different after reading it (in a good way). Well done Sophie Kinsella for writing such a great book!!

Keep Reading,

Naomi...xxx

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Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda-A Book Review||❤

Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda
By Beck Albertalli
Publication Date: April 7th 2015
Rating: 5/5 stars
Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be compromised.

With some messy dynamics emerging in his once tight-knit group of friends, and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon’s junior year has suddenly gotten all kinds of complicated. Now, change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he’s never met.

Summary
*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

This books follows the life of Simon, the caring, hilarious and vibrant boy who is also gay. The problem is that he is afraid to be openly gay in Georgia as he feels he will be judged. He hides it from all of his friends except for on, Blue (his alias, Simon's is Jacques). An anonymous boy who happens to go to the same school who is actually gay too. After meeting on tumblr, exchanging emails with each other and talking together every single day on how they share the same problems. These emails are sweet and is what makes them slowly fall for each other. But Simon was quite silly one day and leaves his emails up leading to another boy getting hold of them, and then screenshotting them. He is blackmailed and stuck in a trap of not revealing his secrets. With crazy things happening with friends, a dad who makes casual jokes about gay people, both parents who observe his whole life and are interested in everything plus he can't come out by himself because he is being threatened. Simon's life is getting trickier and trickier but he knows Blue will always be there. Will they finally meet?

My Thoughts

What I loved about this book was Simon's quirky personality and how he addressed himself. He was an out going character who got along with everyone who secretly hated people and he loved Harry Potter so thumbs up. I also liked how he and his family were as crazy as each other and he liked musicals. Does anyone know where the sign up sheet to be his bestfriend is? He has always been he supportive and the never-fails-to-make-you-smile type of  friend. I also like his group of best friends who spend their time is Nick' s (his friend for 6 years) basement instead of partying like the rest of his year. I liked their individuality and how they visited Waffle House every single day but never got sick of it.

This story covers how hard it is for some gay teenagers to come out as they face being judged and ridiculed. Although he does know he finds it hard to tell even his friends, it shows how the internet can find you friends who you can talk to for weeks but it feels like you have known each other since birth. It also shows how Simon doesn't know if he is sure yet but Blue helps him leap out of that confined space be whoever he wants to be. I found there secret relationship sweet and it was so beautiful how they accepted each other even though they had never met each other face to face.

Overall, I do think this is a book worthy of all your time to read. You will find yourself say 'awww' out loud at all of the sweet moments. It is almost like Simon is your own friend as he is so funny and relatable!

Keep Reading,

Naomi...xxx

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Seeker-A Book Review||❤

Seeker
By Arwen Elys Daytob
Publication Date: Febuary 10th 2015
Rating: 3 stars

Quin Kincaid has been put through years of brutal training for what she thinks is the noble purpose of becoming a revered ‘Seeker’.

Only when it’s too late does she discover she will be using her new-found knowledge and training to become an assassin. Quin's new role will take her around the globe, from a remote estate in Scotland to a bustling, futuristic Hong Kong where the past she thought she had escaped will finally catch up with her.

*I recieved this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

My Thoughts...

This book follows the life of Quinn who has all her life been waiting to become a seeker where she will guard her family and their house. On the way she finds hatred for those she didn't want to feel towards and love towards those who never thought she would think of in such a way. I did quite enjoy this gripping book which gave me a different taste of the fantasy genre. You are probably wondering why I even gave the book a 3 stars well you have to read on to find out.

This book shows different characters but in third person which means it makes it kind of better described. This is what I actually enjoyed about the book, it wasn't like the others I read which were in completely 1st person and reading it in a diffrent point of view was interesting. We get to experience from many characters points of view and get to see each part in different angles. That was a very massive plus side to the book! I also did enjoy the plot as it was different and interesting.

My issues with the book was that I didn't connect with any of the characters except for one who goes by the name of 'Young Dread' I really did respect her and her role as a character. Also, I just found that parts of the plot were messy. I mean, at first I thought that the thing was set in the Medieval times but next thing I know they have mobile phones and IV tubes. WHAT?? Also, there were air space things which were mentioned once but never again. If it is set in the medieval times I would really appreciate it if the book was at least historically accurate. I don't know if there was an element of time travel in it but it would have been nicer if it was made clearer. It was screaming Hunger Games to me!!!

 Romance, you know I thought it was a little sweet but gosh it annoyed me. Do you know what I hate more than love triangles? Love freaking triangles. I found it useless and didn't add anything to the story. I also found my eyebrows furrowing with confusion when a male character only started to take interest in Quinn when she developed 'curves'. no, no, no ,no and no! Cringe factor at the ready!! It was a sweet romance at the start and then I was disturbed and gagging at the end and it all had something to do with third cousins I won't even go there!

Overall, I thought this books was an alright book. I would love to read more of the series and see how the characters develop even more. The ending was quite satisfying in fact and I would recommend this book to all you fantasy lovers out there!!

Keep Reading,

Naomi...xxx

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The Last Leaves Falling-A Book Review||❤

The Last Leaves Falling
By Sarah Brenwell
Publication Date: January 29th 2015
Rating: 5/5 stars

And these are they. My final moments. They say a warrior must always be mindful of death, but I never imagined that it would find me like this . . .

Japanese teenager, Sora, is diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). Lonely and isolated, Sora turns to the ancient wisdom of the samurai for guidance and comfort. But he also finds hope in the present; through the internet he finds friends that see him, not just his illness. This is a story of friendship and acceptance, and testing strength in an uncertain future.
*I received this e-Arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

MY THOUGHTS

I can not even describe how many emotions this book hit me with. One moment I was smiling and laughing as though I was friends with all the characters and the next minute I was attempting to hold back my tears! I loved the message it brought across and how the main character,Sora, developed from a person with no hope to a guy who was surrounded by friends and almost felt as though be was a normal person.

I really liked the setting of the book as it was set in Japan and that is new to me. I loved how the setting was described and that we learned that the city life was a hard thing for him because wherever he stepped he felt like he was being frowned upon and pitted. We also learnt how we take so many things for granted like being able to go outside, being able to lift our arms, speak and knowing that we have so much to look forward to other than death. Seeing things from Sora's point of view really made me think because people might always pity the disabled when really they don't want to be treated differently.

I also love how the book incorporated the internet and the new age where our online friends are only a click away. It was heartwarming to see Sora make friends with people who weren't there to judge him and were friends with him for his quirky personality. This book made me want to make the most out of everything I have and do more of what I want to as you never know what is in store. Instead of the book having a typical story where he falls in love with someone, it is about making friends and not feeling as wanted because of a disability.

Overall. I really did enjoy this book. It was beautifully written, the characters were amazing and weren't piled onto the reader and this is definitely a book you should be looking out for this year! I reallly do think this book should be made into a massive film and I really do think this will be one of the best newcomers this year!

Keep Reading,
Naomi...xxx

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Love Hurts-A Book Review||❤

Love Hurts
By Malorie Blackman and Various Authors
Publication Date: January 29th 2015
Rating: 3/5 stars
Synopsis: Malorie Blackman brings together the best teen writers of today in a stunningly romantic collection about love against the odds. Featuring short stories and extracts about modern star-crossed lovers from stars such as Gayle Forman, Markus Zusak and Patrick Ness, and with a brand-new story from Malorie Blackman herself, Love Hurts looks at every kind of relationship, from first kiss to final heartbreak.

*I received this e-Arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

MY THOUGHTS......
When I saw this book I was excited. Some of my favourite authors were putting extracts from their books to talk about one subject, love. Not only does this book cover what we see as a 'normal relationship' like two people fall in love and live happily ever after but it talks about the forbidden, the ones where two boys can't fall in love and having to hide it.

In this book there are 28 different stories which are around 15-30 pages each. As much as I did enjoy the book, I found that I felt confused at times. Some of these extracts were taken from books I had never read before so it felt like I plunged into characters I didn't know and I didn't get to see develop. I am really used to growing with characters and seeing them form relationships with other people but I felt like I was uninvited in a way. What would've been better was that if they picked out parts of the book where we wouldn't be as confused. It wasn't that big of an issue but I was quite disappointed about that.

This book was filled with amazing stories which did touch my heart and made me feel fuzzy inside just by reading a couple of stories. Overall, I do think this is a brilliant book if you want to sit down, relax and feel like swooning. An enjoyable read and heartwarming read which I would recommend to anyone into the romance genre.

Happy New Year!

Keep Reading,

Naomi...xxx

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