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The Untimely Deaths of Alex Wayfare

(Alex Wayfare #2)

M.G. Buehrlen (Goodreads Author)

3.78 · Rating details · 204 ratings · 34 reviews

As Alex's sister loses the fight against cancer, a race for a cure sends Alex traveling back and forth through time, dodging enemy Descenders who seem to know Alex's every move before she does. Realizing her enemies have privileged information, Alex fears there is a traitor hiding within the small band of allies she's grown to trust.
A traitor who might bring Gesh ...more

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Kindle Edition, 228 pages

Published April 26th 2016 by Diversion Books

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· 204 ratings · 34 reviews

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Jun 22, 2016 mith rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: disappointed, 2016-publication, contemporary, fantasy, anticipated-and-disappointed, reviewed

If I'm honest with myself and the rest of you, I'm going to have to say that I didn't expect much from this book.
I read the first book around when it came out, give or take a few days. I was extremely excited and extremely let down so when news trickled in for this book, I was wary.
(Go, Cookie!)
The rating I'm giving this falls under GR's "It was okay" because there's not much to really say about it. I thought I could expect Alex to grow up in this novel, but she still seemed childish. She ...more

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Feb 21, 2016 Jen rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This is a hard one (for me) to review without spoilers, but here goes...

If you loved book one, you will love this one. Maybe even more.

It has all of the edge-of-your-seat time-travely action, and swoony romance book one had, and then some. M.G. Buehrlen leaves no question unanswered, loose end untied, or heart-string yanked. I thoroughly enjoyed the new characters and I really wish more books were in the works. It would be fun to read some of the other Descenders' life stories. :coughs: Levi ...more

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Mar 17, 2015 La Coccinelle rated it it was ok

Shelves: young-adult

I'm so disappointed. This book had the potential to be amazing, but it fell so flat. I've been waiting for this sequel for a couple of years now, wanting some resolution to the cliff-hanger ending of the first book. Not only was that cliff-hanger never really resolved, but the ending of this book reads like the end of the series. Not cool.

Please, dear author, I want some more...

The premise of this series is what I found so intriguing about the first book. A reincarnating time traveller in the ...more

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Jan 27, 2016 Teri rated it it was amazing

Well - I didn't think it was possible to like the second book in this series any more than the first - I was wrong.

Alex is now a little wiser, more mature, and very aware of what's expected of her. She also knows what she wants and refuses to be anyone's pawn. With her dying sister, time-travel missions, boy problems, and attempts at figuring out who's an ally and who isn't, Alex has enough on her plate to make your head spin.

With heaps of action, heartwarming family moments, new missions, and a ...more

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Apr 25, 2019 SpookySoto rated it liked it

Shelves: aty52books-challenge

Rating: I liked it 😊
2019s around the year in 52 books challenge: #34, A book with a person's name in the title

I liked it but in this one the lack of development of the concept and world building became more evident. The novel was filled with convenient plot devices, deux ex machina resolutions. The romance became annoying, not much happened and theres no real resolution to the overall arc, I guess it had (or has) more books planned, but to this date there are only two, so the ending is open. ...more

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Mar 25, 2016 Kristen rated it it was amazing

I was so happy I was able to get an early copy of this book at the SEYA Book Festival.

I absolutely loved the first one, it drew me in all the right ways. Not only is this book series interesting, it made me grow to be very attached to its cast of characters.

I love the character of Alex Wayfare. She is so determined and cares so much for the people in her life.

Once again, I loved how time travel is explored in this novel and how Alex has the skills of the people from her past life, that is just ...more

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Apr 25, 2017 Jess Crafts rated it liked it

So. This is a good book. I wanted to start by saying that before I explain my very biased rating. Because I am aware enough to know its kind of unfair but Im not changing it. There is a betrayal in this book. And I feel betrayed. Its as simple as that. The end of the first book promised me something and I never got it. I dont like when that happens. I was expecting a certain kind of sequel and this wasnt it. It was good but it wasnt the book I was expecting. ...more

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Sep 16, 2016 Rachel rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I love this series so much and I want more of it. Someone please tell me that there is going to be another book, not having another book is unacceptable.

The Untimely Deaths of Alex Wayfare is the second book in the Alex Wayfare series and Buehrlen has done it again. This book is just as wonderful as the first book in the series, if not more so. This time around we know a lot of the main characters and we are only introduced to a couple of new ones and we know the basics of this world so by now I love this series so much and I want more of it. Someone please tell me that there is going to be another book, not having another book is unacceptable.

The Untimely Deaths of Alex Wayfare is the second book in the Alex Wayfare series and Buehrlen has done it again. This book is just as wonderful as the first book in the series, if not more so. This time around we know a lot of the main characters and we are only introduced to a couple of new ones and we know the basics of this world so by now I am so invested in everything that I need to know what's going on in Alex's world. There was no bad in this book.

The idea behind this story is so unique and I love the writing, oh my god the writing, it is fabulous, wity, sharp and has a steady flow. I have to now say that M.G. Buehrlen is now in the top of my favorite authors. The way she writes, it makes everything so believable, even a plot about a teenage girl being a time traveler, seems like it's a natural occurrence. It's like I am Alex when she descends every time I read one of her books. During Untimely Deaths I laughed a lot, cried, scream don't trust him/her and was nervous all the way through. Will Blue be found, what is going on with Alex's past deaths, what's up with Jensen, is Audrey going to survive, and so many more questions were answered in this one. Even though this book was less than 300 pages I feel it didn't feel rushed, it was a rich and satisfying story. And even as I say this I have to say that I am not ready to say goodbye, I feel so connected to the story that I want another book.

Overall
I read The Fifty-Seven Lives of Alex Wayfare when it first came out and I was one of the many people who held by breath waiting for the sequel. Read the Untimely Deaths of Alex Wayfare was such a joy. If you read the first book then you have to read this one, it's not even a choice and if you have never read the series then I strongly suggest you do so. Untimely Deaths has an ass-kicking teenage fix-it type girl, time travel, past lives, fight scenes, romance, family, betrayal and so much more. I truly love this book series and I urge you to read it.
...more

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Jun 26, 2015 Alexa rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: disappointment, time-travel, 2016-publication

Was that.... it? 'Cause if so, it was a pretty dang weak ending for this duology. I have serious trouble remembering if and what even happened that was ultimately of importance at all. I thought we'd be finding Blue in Base Life in this novel, but nope. There was barely even any time travel at all, there were two missions and one of them was barely explained and dwelled on. ... What? The revelations at the end came very abruptly, like someone had flipped a switch and I had serious whiplash (view ...more

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May 24, 2016 Caroline rated it really liked it

Shelves: series-series-and-more-series, sci-fi-ish, fun-reads

3.5
Just as fun a read as the first, and a bit more mature and confident.

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Jan 02, 2020 Ria Bridges rated it really liked it

Sequel to The Fifty-Seven Lives of Alex Wayfare, The Untimely Deaths of Alex Wayfare continues Alexs story as she learns more about her ability to jump back into the bodies of her previous incarnations. Where the bulk of the first book involved Alex learning all this, discovering her part in experiments with people who can do the same thing, and trying to make contact with a boy she met in previous lives whom she calls Blue, The Untimely Deaths of Alex Wayfare focuses more on Alexs desire to Sequel to The Fifty-Seven Lives of Alex Wayfare, The Untimely Deaths of Alex Wayfare continues Alex’s story as she learns more about her ability to jump back into the bodies of her previous incarnations. Where the bulk of the first book involved Alex learning all this, discovering her part in experiments with people who can do the same thing, and trying to make contact with a boy she met in previous lives whom she calls Blue, The Untimely Deaths of Alex Wayfare focuses more on Alex’s desire to save her sister from the cancer that is killing her.

The experiments and Blue do come into the story, largely by Alex insisting that Blue isn’t the one betraying her location to Gesh, the man running the experiments and trying to get Alex back on his side. But they’re more of a sidebar, really, obstacles that get in Alex’s way rather than the villains of the tale. The true villain is time, for Alex is running out of it, and she needs to find the cure for her sister’s cancer before it’s too late.

Which is my biggest problem with the book. It has some amazing moments, like Alex coming to grips with her own mortality, and the awkwardness of dealing with people you only really know from previous lives. Those things make the story good. But what brings it down a huge notch is the whole “curing cancer” thing. She has two chances: one relating to an lost Chinese recipe that could supposedly cure it, which she tries to acquire in a past life and then bury so that people in the present can dig it up and synthesize it for a treatment; and the second was a promising cure from decades ago that was tragically lost in a lab fire. Alex manages to rescue the formula, it gets made, rushed as an experimental treatment, and wouldn’t you know it, it seems to work and her sister is saved!

It’s a wonderful fantasy, an amazing dream, but it was just done too neatly. How many times has history held the supposed cure for something and it’s turned out to be garbage? Sure, there’s evidence that some historical treatments for certain conditions may have worked, even if people then didn’t know why. But Alex gets ahold of a cure for a certain kind of cancer on her second attempt, it gets synthesized quickly, and then all early clinical trials and other procedures just get ignored because of plot convenience. And it works so quickly that improvement is almost immediate. It was trite, and it felt a lot like the author was trying to rush Alex’s happy ending because of the general expiration date that was on Alex herself. I’m not sure if there’ll be a third book in the series, but regardless, this one definitely had Second Book Syndrome, in where little happens that relevent to the overarching plot. I rather hope there is a third book, really, because as bittersweet a note as this was to end on, it just feels to saccharine to be a real ending, and it was lackluster compared to the book that came before it.

(Book received in exchange for an honest review.) ...more

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Feb 23, 2016 Allison rated it it was ok

Loved the first book and was very excited for this one, but it was such a disappointment. I wanted the same action, intrigue, puzzles, and spark of romance that the first gave. Instead, it was 90% angst and 10% Asian exoticism. I don't like posting negative reviews, so I'm only saying this for those of you who read the first and have not read this one yet: either leave the series with the first, or wait several more years for all four books to be out. Also, be okay with plotholes and in-world ...more

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Mar 20, 2018 Carla rated it really liked it

I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed the first installment of Alex's story but now that I've finally read the second and last part I just remembered, and I'm so glad I decided to buy it. I like how the story is a bit different from what I'm used to while at the same time being pretty similar. I enjoyed learning more about the characters and getting to know some new ones. It's also pretty awesome to be transported to another age and place with Alex when she time travels, I love it, especially China.

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Nov 11, 2019 Jenn Hill rated it liked it

Shelves: enjoyed-but-would-not-read-again

Books are powerful things. Our memories may fade, but the written word lasts across lifetimes.

The author definitely spells out that this is not a series designed to have a happy ending. It's a series designed to make you appreciate what you have while you have it and to make the most of life.

Life isn't meaningful unless you are living it.

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Mar 04, 2017 Allison rated it really liked it

A nice ending, though not as good as book one. A bit predictable and the ending seemed really rushed.

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Mar 11, 2016 Becky rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: teen

Alex only recently learned that she's a Descender, one of very few people able to travel via soulmarks through time. But traveling via soulmark has certain restrictions, restrictions that don't apply to Alex because she's been reincarnated fifty-seven times. While other Descenders can only use any given soulmark once, Alex can travel her own past lives an infinite number of times.

That's a whammy of a discovery!

But there's more, in her previous life Alex escaped the very people who used her Alex only recently learned that she's a Descender, one of very few people able to travel via soulmarks through time. But traveling via soulmark has certain restrictions, restrictions that don't apply to Alex because she's been reincarnated fifty-seven times. While other Descenders can only use any given soulmark once, Alex can travel her own past lives an infinite number of times.

That's a whammy of a discovery!

But there's more, in her previous life Alex escaped the very people who used her ability towards their own causes for years and has vowed now to use her ability to sabotage their plans. These people will do anything to get Alex back even if it means threatening those closest to her. If Alex is to remain safe and protect her family, she has to keep her Base Life hidden from them. It should be easy considering very few know who she is in her Base Life. Unfortunately, it's beginning to look as though someone on her side may be feeding information to the enemy: each time Alex travels they're there. And now Alex isn't sure who she can trust.

When I finished M.G. Buehrlen's The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare I had SO MANY questions! First and foremost - who is Blue in Base Life?! It's something Alex herself is determined to discover, but as the prologue to the book states:

Some stories are about a boy... Not this story... This story is about death.

What an ominous beginning, right?

Well it turns out Alex hasn't found out everything about her ability just yet and the newest revelation is one that changes pretty much everything. At least for Alex Wayfare. See Alex's sister is dying and their mother has been working tirelessly to find a cure or treatment that will save her. Not only does Alex want to help, but with her new knowledge she aims to make it her sole goal.

I quite enjoyed these books and the main reason for that (aside from the fact that the story is cool) is Alex. I love Alex as a character! She's grown so much since the beginning of 57 Lives but she's always been unquestionably devoted to her family. Which is great because it makes her that much more lovable. But it's also something that creates tension in the series thanks to the fact that - like most superhero sagas - she's painfully aware that her family are at risk because of her. But what I find really fabulous about these books is the fact that Alex is kind of atypical compared to other well known characters in her situation. In a lot of superhero stories, we find the characters pushing loved ones away in order to keep them safe. Not so in Alex's case!

Friends, on the other hand... Here is where we see Alex struggling the most. She has finally opened up and allowed Jensen to become something of a friend but still doesn't trust his motives. And now she finds she has to wonder if she can trust the few other people she's allowed in as well: Porter, Levi, Micki, and yes, Blue. These are the people who know her secret, the people she can be herself around.

But as I said, there's another whopper of a revelation for Alex to discover here and it's one that forces her to make some tough decisions.

There are still questions left after The Untimely Deaths of Alex Wayfare and I honestly don't know if we'll see them answered. On the one hand I'm ok with that. The story is the story and the pair of books together stand well on their own. But on the other hand I would definitely love to return to Alex's tale if that's in the author's plans! There's certainly more I'd love to see explored :) ...more

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Feb 26, 2017 Dave rated it it was amazing

great sequel

My kids loved both Alex Wayfare books. Highly recommend them. We hope there is another sequel. Both books would make great movies

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Apr 15, 2014 Christina (A Reader of Fictions) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, on-my-shelves, series-maybe-continuing

3.5 stars

Though its been a couple of years since I read The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare, I actually managed to get through the sequel without a reread of book one. Of course, Id read that book twice, so maybe its not the herculean feat I feel like it is. The Untimely Deaths of Alex Wayfare is a solid sequel and will definitely please fans of the first book.

The one thing that I was missing in my reread was my grasp on exactly how the time traveling works; that much specific, detailed recall is just ...more

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Feb 27, 2016 Penny rated it it was amazing

I have been eagerly waiting for this book for 2 years, and I'm happy to say I was not disappointed! Picking up right after The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare left off, Alex's search for Blue in base-life is an all-consuming need. She doesn't know who she can trust but she can't do it alone, so she takes risks. Some work, but not all. Each stumbling block in her path is more deadly, and Blue just seems farther away.
Then, Alex's sister takes a turn for the worse and this throws Alex into a tailspin. ...more

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Sep 21, 2016 Any Length rated it really liked it

Shelves: own-the-book-from-the-to-read-list

This is a great second installment of the series. It can stand alone, but is best read in order by reading "The fifty-seven lives of Alex Wayfare" first.
This book brought a few interesting developments with it and now I can't wait for the next one.
It is gripping and heart wrenching at times.
One little thing, a timing belt takes more than a few minutes to change - more like several hours actually. A mechanically minded editor would have picked that up. But the author needs to make sure that the ...more

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Apr 29, 2016 Jolene rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2016

This book! So many feels! I am always hesitant reading a sequel because they aren't always as good as the first but Ms. Buehrlen picks up right where the first book left off and it is action packed until the end. The main character, Alex, continues to travel back in time. This time to try and find a cure for her sister dying of cancer and she finds her soulmate, Blue, again. There are some problems that occur and Alex has to make some difficult decisions. I just love this series. The author told ...more

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Oct 22, 2016 Kristen rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I'm still weirdly smitten with this series. And when I get halfway through, I end up reading far into the night (like I am right now) until I finish it.

If you liked the first one, you'll like the sequel. It's a faster read--it's shorter and dives in quicker--but just as enjoyable. The historical rivets are exciting and well researched (but hey, I'm not a history buff!), and gave the series that extra hot pepper kick that it needed. Time travel books are hard, but I think Buehrlen did a great ...more

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Jul 17, 2014 MaykenAlanna rated it it was amazing

Recommended to MaykenAlanna by: Elisabeth Norton

This sequel picks up where THE 57 LIVES OF ALEX WAYFARE ended. Trying to find Blue in Base Life, Alex is hunted by Gesh as she tries to find a cure for the cancer that is killing her sister. But there is a traitor who knows into which life she descends. Blue? Levi? Alex's sub Micki? And is Jensen only playing nice, or does she really like Alex? And how much time does Alex have left to find the answers?

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Nov 28, 2016 Hollie rated it liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 22, 2016 Jennifer rated it liked it

Shelves: e-books

The sequel was a little whinier. And I was disappointed in the ending. While I appreciated the way things came together in a not too contrived way, I was hoping for more closure at the very end; if you read the book, you'll know what I mean. Still worth reading for the completion of the storyline.

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Sep 09, 2016 Karissa Goellner rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, contemporary-fiction, sci-fi

It had been awhile since I read the first one so it was a bit hard for me to remember what all had happened at the start. That being said, these books would make such great movies! They're action-packed, timely, and yet have the spattered historical elements as well. I really love these books and home Buehrlen continues to write them. I ate this up from start to finish.

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Dec 27, 2016 Keri rated it liked it

I give this one 3 1/2 stars. It is a pretty good continuation of the first book and while I like the way it ends for the most part, I think there was a lot left out of the ending. I don't know if the author has plans for another book or not but I definitely think there is still more to be told of this story.

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Jan 19, 2017 Kailey (Kathryn is looking for me) rated it really liked it

I think it had the best ending it could have. At the same time though, it was kinda unsatisfying. I wish it was longer and that there was another one, but leaving the ending how it now is fine, I think. I still want there to be more though.

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Dec 29, 2016 April rated it it was amazing

Great book!

Tons of action with a little history, a little romance, a little mystery and a little sci-fi. Great follow-up to the first book. Will definitely read more if there are more. :)

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May 05, 2016 Tony rated it liked it

I could have used a bit more. It felt rushed, but I really like this series. I hope all the publisher stuff is fixed and we can get the next few books in a timely fashion.

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About M.G. Buehrlen

M.G. Buehrlen

166 followers

MG Buehrlen is the author of the ALEX WAYFARE series. She is a retired programmer, social media director, and tech junkie who co-developed YABooksCentral.com, the largest social network for young adult book lovers. After too many years in the computer world, she now tries to live off-grid as much as possible, writing novels instead of PHP code and exploring the unbeaten paths with her husband and ...more

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Quotes from The Untimely Deat...

“Because life must go on. We have to keep up appearances. We can't risk doing anything suspicious. All the greatest superheroes had other identities. They had real, everyday lives to keep them grounded and their sects safe. They had people to lice and fight for in the real world. Superman had Lois Lane. Spider-Man had--"

"Mary Jane."

"I was going to say Gwen.” — 1 likes

“During homeroom, before first period, I start a bucket list in one of my notebooks.
First on the list?

1) Eat in the cafeteria. Sit with people. TALK TO THEM.

2)

And…that’s all I can come up with for now. But this is good. One task to work on.
No distractions. I can do this.

When my lunch period rolls around, I forgo the safety of my bag lunch and the computer
lab and slip into the pizza line, wielding my very own tray of semi-edible fare for
the first time in years.

“A truly remarkable sight.” Jensen cuts into line beside me, sliding his tray next
to mine on the ledge in front of us. He lifts his hands and frames me with his fingers,
like he’s shooting a movie. “In search of food, the elusive creature emerges from
her den and tries her luck at the watering hole."

I shake my head, smiling, moving down the line. “Wow, Peters. I never knew you were
such a huge Animal Planet fan.”

“I’m a fan of all things nature. Birds. Bees. The like.” He grabs two pudding cups
and drops one on my tray.

“Pandas?” I say.

“How did you know? The panda is my spirit animal.”

“Oh, good, because Gran has this great pattern for an embroidered panda cardigan.
It would look amazing on you.”

“Um, yeah, I know. It was on my Christmas list, but Santa totally stiffed me."

I laugh as I grab a carton of milk. So does he.

He leans in closer. “Come sit with me.”

“At the jock table? Are you kidding?” I hand the cashier my lunch card.

Jensen squints his eyes in the direction of his friends. “We’re skinny-ass basketball
players, Wayfare. We don’t really scream jock.”

“Meatheads, then?”

“I believe the correct term is Athletic Types.” We step out from the line and scan
the room. “So where were you planning on sitting?"

“I was thinking Grady and Marco were my safest bet.”

“The nerd table?”

I gesture to myself, especially my glasses. “I figure my natural camouflage will help
me blend, yo.”

He laughs, his honey-blond hair falling in front of his eyes.

“And hey,” I say, nudging him with my elbow, “last I heard, Peters was cool with nerdy.”

He claps me gently on the back. “Good luck, Wayfare. I’m pulling for ya.” — 1 likes

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