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I Dreamt That You Loved Me
The first time I met my best friend’s boyfriend, he was rude to me.
Sure, Gabriel Francis was all cheekbones and dishevelled hair with a voice that made women swoon and incited bidding wars with record labels. A pure drop of light in a sea of grunge. The soul of a romantic poet.
None of that swayed me though.
I didn’t trust rock stars.
Besides, he was off-limits.
But as Annika’s infatuation grew, and we were forced to spend more time together, I became enamored with Gabriel, too.
A friendship was forged, and we became each other’s muses.
My art. His music. An artistic collaboration, nothing more.
Until I heard the lyrics to his new song. So eerily familiar. And just like that, my dreams were shattered. Fate had done me dirty, and I tried my best to forget him.
Even so, I couldn’t help wondering, How much would you risk for a once in a lifetime love?
I DREAMT THAT YOU LOVED ME is an angsty, emotionally-charged, rockstar romantic standalone set in the 90s New York City.
Sure, Gabriel Francis was all cheekbones and dishevelled hair with a voice that made women swoon and incited bidding wars with record labels. A pure drop of light in a sea of grunge. The soul of a romantic poet.
None of that swayed me though.
I didn’t trust rock stars.
Besides, he was off-limits.
But as Annika’s infatuation grew, and we were forced to spend more time together, I became enamored with Gabriel, too.
A friendship was forged, and we became each other’s muses.
My art. His music. An artistic collaboration, nothing more.
Until I heard the lyrics to his new song. So eerily familiar. And just like that, my dreams were shattered. Fate had done me dirty, and I tried my best to forget him.
Even so, I couldn’t help wondering, How much would you risk for a once in a lifetime love?
I DREAMT THAT YOU LOVED ME is an angsty, emotionally-charged, rockstar romantic standalone set in the 90s New York City.
Kindle Edition
Published October 2, 2025
About the author
Emery Rose
20 books1,851 followersEmery Rose is a former New Yorker currently living in London, and loves creating angsty, emotionally-charged stories with all the swoons, spice, and a guaranteed happily ever after.
When she's not busy crafting love stories with swoon-worthy, flawed heroes and the strong heroines who bring them to their knees or immersed in a good book, you can find her experimenting with new recipes, listening to her vinyl collection, or traveling the globe in search of sunshine and the perfect wave.
When she's not busy crafting love stories with swoon-worthy, flawed heroes and the strong heroines who bring them to their knees or immersed in a good book, you can find her experimenting with new recipes, listening to her vinyl collection, or traveling the globe in search of sunshine and the perfect wave.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 398 reviews
October 7, 2025
I saw many good reviews and talk about this book and thought that I should give it a try but clearly this is not for me.
SPOILER WARNING!!!!
For the first 10-15 chapters or so, MMC is with OW (FMC’s BFF & Roommate). MMC is a struggling singer/songwriter trying to make it big in NYC and FMC is also a struggling artist. Two years prior to story starting, MMC saw FMC outside a Diner and it was love at first sight for him. He even wrote songs about her. However, he saw her walking with an OM and never pursues her. He left it up to fate to bring them together. 🙄
In the meantime (and at same time frame), FMC also finds a backpack & notebook one day on a park bench that contains MMC’s shirt and his thoughts. At the time, she didn’t know MMC existed but after reading his notes, she was half in love with him and dreamed about him.
In the present, MCs are 21/23 (I think) and MMC met OW (h’s BFF/Roomate) and started dating her. This is where the story tanked for me and I knew I was not going to finish it. When they are first introduced, MMC recognizes his dream girl (aka FMC) whom he still has strong feelings for and an attraction but he doesn’t drop the OW. Nope. We get chapter after chapter where he & OW are always being affectionate & lovey-dovey towards one another in front of FMC and where she is a 3rd wheel in their relationship. FMC also by then recognizes that MMC is her “Notebook” guy and is very attracted to him but fighting her feelings as she doesn’t want to betray her BFF. She has to constantly watch them together and there is even one passage in which MMC is watching OW perform and can’t take his eyes off from her and FMC realizes he is in love with OW.
Then he eventually breaks up with OW and OW says this to FMC about him:
“I think it was mostly a physical attraction. I mean, come on, the guy’s gorgeous. The sex was amazing too. Like, it wasn’t just wham bam and it’s over in two minutes. He really had some great moves,” she said wistfully.
Thankfully, they’d spent a lot of their nights at his apartment, so I’d been spared from having to hear them fucking all night long.
“In the end, we just looked at each other and said, this has run its course, hasn’t it? And then he walked me home, gave me one of those sweet forehead kisses, and said, Sweet dreams, Annika. It felt like a movie. Kind of sad and romantic and bittersweet.”
So at this point, and after he finally breaks up with OW, he has finally decided to pursue FMC (after 4 months of dating OW in front of FMC) because she is the love of his life/soulmate, etc.
And what does FMC do? She runs & rejects him over & over again because she can’t betray her BFF and break the girl code. And to forget him, she ends up dating/hooking up with a Bartender which we never see this but is casually inserted into a conversation that she did this because she wanted to forget MMC.
And this is why this is not a safe read for me and became a DNF. I don’t care if they are loyal to one another after this or not as some reviewers mentioned. Had anyone mentioned all this in their reviews, I would not have bothered with it because in my fictional romances I do not want to read about MCs hooking up and having feelings for OP. That typically ruins it immediately and there is no turning back from it.
I know some folks say they are loyal after separations and so on, but I don’t trust reviews for this book and I honestly don’t care if they are or not.
Other honorable mentions: When OW/BFF finally learns that her ex BF (MMC) had feelings for FMC all the time she was dating him, she is rightfully upset at both MCs but later on she pushes FMC to go after her ex and I just rolled my eyes in the ridiculousness of it as now FMC is getting OW’s leftovers. Lol.
And MMC says this about OW:
“You belonged to her first,” I pointed out.
“Nobody belongs to anyone,” he scoffed. “I’m not her sole property. You can’t own anyone.”
“I need to hear what happened with Annika.”
“She wanted to know why I strung her along for four months,” he said, smacking the side of the Heinz bottle and pouring ketchup on his plate. “Why didn’t I end things as soon as I realized who you were?”
“Valid point. Why didn’t you?”
He thought about it for a moment. “At first, you were just…I didn’t know you, Cleo. I knew the girl I’d conjured up in my head, but I didn’t know you. And I liked Annika. For want of a better word, being with her was easy. There were no preconceived notions. No castles in the sky. But you…”
“It felt like I saw you in a dream and then you materialized before my eyes, and I wasn’t sure what to do about that,” he said. “You’re nothing like what I expected and yet you’re everything and more. We don’t really know each other but I feel like I’ve known you forever.” He held out his hands.
“Make of that what you will, Jane.”
What I wanted to tell him is that there was a very good chance I’d fall short of being the dream girl he conjured up, but all I said was, “My name’s not Jane.”
“I know who you are,” he said. “You’re Cleo Babington. The artist. The muse. The girl who acts tough but spends her last dollar on a cup of coffee for a homeless man who she treats like a friend. The girl with a rebellious heart and a quick wit who chooses men that could never possibly appreciate the wonders of her mind. You’re the girl who made a shirt for me.”
I should also mention that there is also another OW (a groupie) who hangs out at the club MMC performs and while he stated he never slept with OW, he called her “Baby” in front of FMC and didn’t outright tell her to bug off.
In addition, when they were talking about past ex's, he mentioned to FMC that he had one serious relationship prior to her where he dated an OW for 2 years and believed he was in love with her. FMC thinks that he is not over this OW but all he says is that after they broke up, he felt "relief" that he was on his own and didn't have to care about anyone else. FMC of course had a one year relationship back in college with bad sex and whom her BFF said that the guy was gay.
We also have scenes with MCs constantly getting drunk & high. So yeah, not for me but may work for other folks who are not bothered by these tropes like me.
SPOILER WARNING!!!!
For the first 10-15 chapters or so, MMC is with OW (FMC’s BFF & Roommate). MMC is a struggling singer/songwriter trying to make it big in NYC and FMC is also a struggling artist. Two years prior to story starting, MMC saw FMC outside a Diner and it was love at first sight for him. He even wrote songs about her. However, he saw her walking with an OM and never pursues her. He left it up to fate to bring them together. 🙄
In the meantime (and at same time frame), FMC also finds a backpack & notebook one day on a park bench that contains MMC’s shirt and his thoughts. At the time, she didn’t know MMC existed but after reading his notes, she was half in love with him and dreamed about him.
In the present, MCs are 21/23 (I think) and MMC met OW (h’s BFF/Roomate) and started dating her. This is where the story tanked for me and I knew I was not going to finish it. When they are first introduced, MMC recognizes his dream girl (aka FMC) whom he still has strong feelings for and an attraction but he doesn’t drop the OW. Nope. We get chapter after chapter where he & OW are always being affectionate & lovey-dovey towards one another in front of FMC and where she is a 3rd wheel in their relationship. FMC also by then recognizes that MMC is her “Notebook” guy and is very attracted to him but fighting her feelings as she doesn’t want to betray her BFF. She has to constantly watch them together and there is even one passage in which MMC is watching OW perform and can’t take his eyes off from her and FMC realizes he is in love with OW.
Then he eventually breaks up with OW and OW says this to FMC about him:
“I think it was mostly a physical attraction. I mean, come on, the guy’s gorgeous. The sex was amazing too. Like, it wasn’t just wham bam and it’s over in two minutes. He really had some great moves,” she said wistfully.
Thankfully, they’d spent a lot of their nights at his apartment, so I’d been spared from having to hear them fucking all night long.
“In the end, we just looked at each other and said, this has run its course, hasn’t it? And then he walked me home, gave me one of those sweet forehead kisses, and said, Sweet dreams, Annika. It felt like a movie. Kind of sad and romantic and bittersweet.”
So at this point, and after he finally breaks up with OW, he has finally decided to pursue FMC (after 4 months of dating OW in front of FMC) because she is the love of his life/soulmate, etc.
And what does FMC do? She runs & rejects him over & over again because she can’t betray her BFF and break the girl code. And to forget him, she ends up dating/hooking up with a Bartender which we never see this but is casually inserted into a conversation that she did this because she wanted to forget MMC.
And this is why this is not a safe read for me and became a DNF. I don’t care if they are loyal to one another after this or not as some reviewers mentioned. Had anyone mentioned all this in their reviews, I would not have bothered with it because in my fictional romances I do not want to read about MCs hooking up and having feelings for OP. That typically ruins it immediately and there is no turning back from it.
I know some folks say they are loyal after separations and so on, but I don’t trust reviews for this book and I honestly don’t care if they are or not.
Other honorable mentions: When OW/BFF finally learns that her ex BF (MMC) had feelings for FMC all the time she was dating him, she is rightfully upset at both MCs but later on she pushes FMC to go after her ex and I just rolled my eyes in the ridiculousness of it as now FMC is getting OW’s leftovers. Lol.
And MMC says this about OW:
“You belonged to her first,” I pointed out.
“Nobody belongs to anyone,” he scoffed. “I’m not her sole property. You can’t own anyone.”
“I need to hear what happened with Annika.”
“She wanted to know why I strung her along for four months,” he said, smacking the side of the Heinz bottle and pouring ketchup on his plate. “Why didn’t I end things as soon as I realized who you were?”
“Valid point. Why didn’t you?”
He thought about it for a moment. “At first, you were just…I didn’t know you, Cleo. I knew the girl I’d conjured up in my head, but I didn’t know you. And I liked Annika. For want of a better word, being with her was easy. There were no preconceived notions. No castles in the sky. But you…”
“It felt like I saw you in a dream and then you materialized before my eyes, and I wasn’t sure what to do about that,” he said. “You’re nothing like what I expected and yet you’re everything and more. We don’t really know each other but I feel like I’ve known you forever.” He held out his hands.
“Make of that what you will, Jane.”
What I wanted to tell him is that there was a very good chance I’d fall short of being the dream girl he conjured up, but all I said was, “My name’s not Jane.”
“I know who you are,” he said. “You’re Cleo Babington. The artist. The muse. The girl who acts tough but spends her last dollar on a cup of coffee for a homeless man who she treats like a friend. The girl with a rebellious heart and a quick wit who chooses men that could never possibly appreciate the wonders of her mind. You’re the girl who made a shirt for me.”
I should also mention that there is also another OW (a groupie) who hangs out at the club MMC performs and while he stated he never slept with OW, he called her “Baby” in front of FMC and didn’t outright tell her to bug off.
In addition, when they were talking about past ex's, he mentioned to FMC that he had one serious relationship prior to her where he dated an OW for 2 years and believed he was in love with her. FMC thinks that he is not over this OW but all he says is that after they broke up, he felt "relief" that he was on his own and didn't have to care about anyone else. FMC of course had a one year relationship back in college with bad sex and whom her BFF said that the guy was gay.
We also have scenes with MCs constantly getting drunk & high. So yeah, not for me but may work for other folks who are not bothered by these tropes like me.
April 26, 2026
5⭐️
це саме те, що мені було потрібно. щоб моє серце спочатку так боляче і несправедливо розтрощили, а потім з такою чуйністю зібрали по шматочках ❤️🩹
зав'язка дуже знайома. він - хлопець її найкращої подруги, з яким у них явно більше спільного, ніж у нього з дівчиною, плюс невеликий спільний момент з минулого. але добре, що до 30% книги цей недотрикутник розв'язується - не без образ, але зрештою усі адекватно виходять із цієї ситуації і без зрад.
а далі сюжет зосереджується повністю на історії габріеля та клео. на їхньому коханні, стосунках, їхніх кар'єрах музиканта та модельєрки-мисткині, їхніх проблемах, драмі, переживаннях, в другій половині навіть завезли троп «проблеми в шлюбі» і він теж досить непогано обіграний. я повністю розчинилася в цих двох, ну так гарно вони трапили в настрій зі своєю меланхолійно-драматично-романтичною історією 🥹
і я дійсно до середини книги думала, що історія закінчиться без хе. не знала жодних спойлерів, тому така тривожність і хвилювання були протягом читання. неприємне передчуття, що жахливі події можуть стати кульмінацією цієї книги. і коли авторка робить цей болючий твіст 😖💔 о таак скла я добряче нажерлася. але мої страждання не затягували, я вже була подумала, що до фіналу собі підписку на скло продовжила 😁 але ніт, фінальна частина вийшла більш милою і зцілюючою 🥰❤️🩹
плюс авторка підкупила мене цією атмосферою нью-йорку 90-х і далі 00-х. усі ці богемні тусовки, концерти, виставки, згадки пісень, серед яких були мої улюблені. і на контрасті - затишний пляжний будиночок біля океану. я не нудьгувала жодної сторінки, от як захопила атмосфера і події, які відбувалися 🙂↔️
книга точно не зайде усім. і для частини людей це не буде таке захопливе читання, а радше тягуче й моментами з бісячими вчинками гг. тому добре, що в мене склалося зовсім інше враження 🤭
✍️ «тобі доведеться продовжувати розбивати своє серце, поки воно не відкриється».
це саме те, що мені було потрібно. щоб моє серце спочатку так боляче і несправедливо розтрощили, а потім з такою чуйністю зібрали по шматочках ❤️🩹
зав'язка дуже знайома. він - хлопець її найкращої подруги, з яким у них явно більше спільного, ніж у нього з дівчиною, плюс невеликий спільний момент з минулого. але добре, що до 30% книги цей недотрикутник розв'язується - не без образ, але зрештою усі адекватно виходять із цієї ситуації і без зрад.
а далі сюжет зосереджується повністю на історії габріеля та клео. на їхньому коханні, стосунках, їхніх кар'єрах музиканта та модельєрки-мисткині, їхніх проблемах, драмі, переживаннях, в другій половині навіть завезли троп «проблеми в шлюбі» і він теж досить непогано обіграний. я повністю розчинилася в цих двох, ну так гарно вони трапили в настрій зі своєю меланхолійно-драматично-романтичною історією 🥹
і я дійсно до середини книги думала, що історія закінчиться без хе. не знала жодних спойлерів, тому така тривожність і хвилювання були протягом читання. неприємне передчуття, що жахливі події можуть стати кульмінацією цієї книги. і коли авторка робить цей болючий твіст 😖💔 о таак скла я добряче нажерлася. але мої страждання не затягували, я вже була подумала, що до фіналу собі підписку на скло продовжила 😁 але ніт, фінальна частина вийшла більш милою і зцілюючою 🥰❤️🩹
плюс авторка підкупила мене цією атмосферою нью-йорку 90-х і далі 00-х. усі ці богемні тусовки, концерти, виставки, згадки пісень, серед яких були мої улюблені. і на контрасті - затишний пляжний будиночок біля океану. я не нудьгувала жодної сторінки, от як захопила атмосфера і події, які відбувалися 🙂↔️
книга точно не зайде усім. і для частини людей це не буде таке захопливе читання, а радше тягуче й моментами з бісячими вчинками гг. тому добре, що в мене склалося зовсім інше враження 🤭
✍️ «тобі доведеться продовжувати розбивати своє серце, поки воно не відкриється».
April 28, 2026
Я наче подивилася фільм 90-х ❤️🔥 Уявіть собі маленьку квартиру в Нью-Йорку з ванною на кухні, дві творчі душі, шалене чуттєве кохання, обійми на пожежній драбині, музика, картини, богемна атмосфера 🙌
Це така чуттєва й непроста історія про зв’язок душ. Історія, яка так боляче розбиває тебе, а потім так солодко збирає назад.
«Я пам’ятаю все, як фільм, що безперервно крутиться в моїй голові, під саундтрек його нот і текстів з привидом рефрену».
Починається все з пошарпаного блокнота, який знаходить Клео.
І все починається з дівчини за вікном.
Він - музикант і хлопець її найкращої подруги. Вона - художниця. У них є цілі й мрії про майбутнє, і вони наполегливо працюють у цьому напрямку. Через відданість подрузі вона не хоче визнавати свої почуття. Але між ними поступово будується дружба, а згодом хімія бере своє. І яка ж тут хімія ❤️🔥
Їм судилося бути разом, і те, як вони знаходять шлях одне до одного 💔
«Гей, Доле, зараз ідеальний час. Я дуже самотня. Дуже вільна. Готова і сповнена бажання зустріти кохання свого життя».
Приблизно в середині книги буде дуже боляче. І здаватиметься, що краще вже не буде.
«Батончик випав, і я його схопила. Ось що я робила, коли музика замовкла. Я купувала клятий батончик Snickers».
А потім починається зцілення: знову знайти себе, обрати себе й жити заради себе.
Ми проживемо ціле десятиліття разом із героями.
«Таке кохання трапляється тільки раз у житті. Якщо пощастить».
На фоні їхньої історії ми також дізнаємося історію батьків Клео 💔, її дитинство, страхи та дорослішання.
«- Це так красиво, трагічно і болісно… моє серце болить. Воно фізично болить.
Мама посміхнулась.
- Добре.
Я засміялася і витерла сльози.
- Ти зла».
У цій історії чудово прописані другорядні персонажі та сім’я, яка підтримує й допомагає зцілитися.
Мені дуже сподобалося. Я наче прожила життя разом із ними. Це було красиво.
Це така чуттєва й непроста історія про зв’язок душ. Історія, яка так боляче розбиває тебе, а потім так солодко збирає назад.
«Я пам’ятаю все, як фільм, що безперервно крутиться в моїй голові, під саундтрек його нот і текстів з привидом рефрену».
Починається все з пошарпаного блокнота, який знаходить Клео.
І все починається з дівчини за вікном.
Він - музикант і хлопець її найкращої подруги. Вона - художниця. У них є цілі й мрії про майбутнє, і вони наполегливо працюють у цьому напрямку. Через відданість подрузі вона не хоче визнавати свої почуття. Але між ними поступово будується дружба, а згодом хімія бере своє. І яка ж тут хімія ❤️🔥
Їм судилося бути разом, і те, як вони знаходять шлях одне до одного 💔
«Гей, Доле, зараз ідеальний час. Я дуже самотня. Дуже вільна. Готова і сповнена бажання зустріти кохання свого життя».
Приблизно в середині книги буде дуже боляче. І здаватиметься, що краще вже не буде.
«Батончик випав, і я його схопила. Ось що я робила, коли музика замовкла. Я купувала клятий батончик Snickers».
А потім починається зцілення: знову знайти себе, обрати себе й жити заради себе.
Ми проживемо ціле десятиліття разом із героями.
«Таке кохання трапляється тільки раз у житті. Якщо пощастить».
На фоні їхньої історії ми також дізнаємося історію батьків Клео 💔, її дитинство, страхи та дорослішання.
«- Це так красиво, трагічно і болісно… моє серце болить. Воно фізично болить.
Мама посміхнулась.
- Добре.
Я засміялася і витерла сльози.
- Ти зла».
У цій історії чудово прописані другорядні персонажі та сім’я, яка підтримує й допомагає зцілитися.
Мені дуже сподобалося. Я наче прожила життя разом із ними. Це було красиво.
Read
October 15, 2025DNF 76%
I’m so disappointed. 😒
The hype promised an epic read, but the result fell short.
I found the narration detached and cold. It was hard to connect with or relate to the characters.
The story has bones and even a beating heart, yet it’s missing a soul, that sense of intimacy that makes a story come alive and touch your heart.
I am throwing the towel at 76%. It's not working for me.
I’m so disappointed. 😒
The hype promised an epic read, but the result fell short.
I found the narration detached and cold. It was hard to connect with or relate to the characters.
The story has bones and even a beating heart, yet it’s missing a soul, that sense of intimacy that makes a story come alive and touch your heart.
I am throwing the towel at 76%. It's not working for me.
October 2, 2025
Cleo and Gabriel’s love isn’t just a story—it’s a soul-deep connection that transcends time. From the moment their paths cross, you feel the intensity, the ache, the undeniable pull of two people destined to collide.
Their journey, beginning in the gritty beauty of 90s New York, is woven with passion, heartbreak, and the kind of longing that leaves an imprint on your heart. Every glance, every touch, every silence between them carries weight.
They are each other’s twin flame 🔥—a love that burns bright, even when shadowed by pain. Emery Rose captures the kind of once-in-a-lifetime bond that makes you believe in fate, in destiny, and in love that survives against all odds.
Review of I Dreamt You Loved Me by Emery Rose 🌹ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Their journey, beginning in the gritty beauty of 90s New York, is woven with passion, heartbreak, and the kind of longing that leaves an imprint on your heart. Every glance, every touch, every silence between them carries weight.
They are each other’s twin flame 🔥—a love that burns bright, even when shadowed by pain. Emery Rose captures the kind of once-in-a-lifetime bond that makes you believe in fate, in destiny, and in love that survives against all odds.
Review of I Dreamt You Loved Me by Emery Rose 🌹ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
October 16, 2025
I try to stay away from best friend boyfriend tropes, it’s a type of angst I don’t always like, but I’ve loved all Emery Rose has written up to now so I said what the hell?!?! There is angst in regard to the bff aspect, but it wasn’t overwhelming to the story. It’s hard to say much about the plot without giving too much away, and though I usually seek out spoilers, I dove in blind. About 40% in, when things seemed to be rolling to their conclusion, I wasn’t sure where she’d go with the story and was worried it would be half a book of a whole lot of nothing. But it was a pretty big direction turn that the synopsis doesn’t allude to at all. Brought new life to the story and a new depth to both m/c’s and their love.
October 10, 2025
This book CONSUMED me from the very first word. The characters and the romance really spoke to my soul, and the twist is one of those that makes you stop and think about what you would do in that situation. New York in the 90s really comes alive in this book, and I loved the artistic and musical vibes. I'm feeling inspired about the art I create, and it has left me with a lot of food for thought. The romance is swoony, the spice is spicing, and the angst is delicious.
I love all Emery's books but this one is now top of the list. Masterful writing and a book that will stick with me for a long time.
Highly recommended.
I love all Emery's books but this one is now top of the list. Masterful writing and a book that will stick with me for a long time.
Highly recommended.
April 23, 2026
Det tog inte många sidor innan jag kände att det här kan bli RIKTIGT bra. Gillar man 90-tals setting och sexiga musiker (😮💨) är denna bok ett måste!! Jag blev helt besatt av huvudkaraktärernas kärlekshistoria och har annoterat så många fina citat. Vackert skriven, jag har skrattat och haft ont i hjärtat. LÄS!
May 1, 2026
Емоційна, чуттєва, болюча.
Такий другий шанс мені сподобався 🥰
Такий другий шанс мені сподобався 🥰
September 6, 2025
The best that Emery has ever written. It will rip your heart out and heal it in the most beautiful way.
October 1, 2025
A 5 star epic love story
You know those reads that captivate you, sweep you up, make you feel and don’t let go? This is one of those books. It’s a dramatic, intense, fun, yet heartwrenching love story full of chemistry and passion, and a true soulmate connection, and I loved Gabriel and Cleo’s story.
Set in 90s New York City, artist Cleo and singer/songwriter Gabriel are both struggling to get by while working hard to fulfill their dreams. They share an instant connection when they meet, but their circumstances mean they can’t act on it. Instead, they become friends, getting to know each other, inspiring and supporting each other until their feelings can’t be denied.
Oh my God, the chemistry between these two is electric. They are soulmates, they are meant to be together, and watching them find their way to each other had me swooning madly and completely swept up in their romance. It’s passionate and sweet, fun and playful, easy, natural, and lifechanging in the best of ways.
Though their love for each other is effortless, they do have challenges to face, and we follow them over the years as their stars rise, their dreams are realised, and they deal with the highest highs and devastating lows. It’s heartbreaking as the story twists in wildly unexpected ways, and I hurt so much for all they go through, but wow, what a story.
Gabriel and Cleo are such fantastic characters. She is strong and stubborn, he is a dreamer with a wildly romantic heart, and they just fit. They have a great bunch of side characters supporting them along the way, and the themes of love, family, music and art are beautifully tangled throughout the story.
My advice for this one is to go in blind. You need to experience this book – ride the highs and the lows without knowing anything and feel all of the feels.
This is such a beautiful read, and a fave for 2025.
5 stars.
An Advanced Reader Copy was generously provided by the author for an honest review.
You know those reads that captivate you, sweep you up, make you feel and don’t let go? This is one of those books. It’s a dramatic, intense, fun, yet heartwrenching love story full of chemistry and passion, and a true soulmate connection, and I loved Gabriel and Cleo’s story.
Set in 90s New York City, artist Cleo and singer/songwriter Gabriel are both struggling to get by while working hard to fulfill their dreams. They share an instant connection when they meet, but their circumstances mean they can’t act on it. Instead, they become friends, getting to know each other, inspiring and supporting each other until their feelings can’t be denied.
Howl if you need me. Anytime. Anywhere … I’ll drop everything to be by your side just for the privilege of holding your hand and never letting go.
In the meantime, I’ll see you in my dreams.
Oh my God, the chemistry between these two is electric. They are soulmates, they are meant to be together, and watching them find their way to each other had me swooning madly and completely swept up in their romance. It’s passionate and sweet, fun and playful, easy, natural, and lifechanging in the best of ways.
There was no real explanation for this. No way to describe the phenomenon of finding your person, the one who banished the clouds on a gray day and made you wonder how you’d gotten through life without them.
Though their love for each other is effortless, they do have challenges to face, and we follow them over the years as their stars rise, their dreams are realised, and they deal with the highest highs and devastating lows. It’s heartbreaking as the story twists in wildly unexpected ways, and I hurt so much for all they go through, but wow, what a story.
“Still pretending to be so tough,” he said, nuzzling his nose against the side of my neck. “Drop your guard … I’m your soft place to fall. Your safety net. I’ll always catch you.”
Gabriel and Cleo are such fantastic characters. She is strong and stubborn, he is a dreamer with a wildly romantic heart, and they just fit. They have a great bunch of side characters supporting them along the way, and the themes of love, family, music and art are beautifully tangled throughout the story.
My advice for this one is to go in blind. You need to experience this book – ride the highs and the lows without knowing anything and feel all of the feels.
“You are the love of my life and no matter what happens, you will always be my first love and my last … I want to spend the rest of my life with you because you are my home. My only home.”
This is such a beautiful read, and a fave for 2025.
5 stars.
An Advanced Reader Copy was generously provided by the author for an honest review.
October 13, 2025
4-4.5 Stars
First 1/2 5 Stars. Then a bit dragged out.
First 1/2 5 Stars. Then a bit dragged out.
October 12, 2025
This atmospheric, EPIC love story takes place in NYC in the early 1990’s where vibrant art culture and artists collide. An incredible atmosphere is set for this poetic, raw, love story. It a story that gripped my heart and mind and hasn’t let go.
I felt Cleo’s butterflies, angst, insecurities, happiness and fear. She was so relatable to me and I really liked her.
Gabriel is exactly who I would be attracted to if I was young again. He’s passionate, intelligent, kind, talented and he’s a rebel. He has the slightly “bad boy” thing going on yet he’s not. He is a very decent guy who has a thirst for knowledge and incredible talent as does Cleo.
Together they fit together like puzzle pieces. Although, things don’t start that way at all.
*CW* Cleo’s best friend and roommate is dating Gabriel in the beginning of the book. Cue the angst, shame and mixed signals. I LOVED it. I’m a big fan of forbidden and unconventional romance.
I love that they are all artists in different genres, they understand the dedication and the downsides as well. I was rooting for their success in everything. The secondary characters are fantastic as well. It’s such a shining gem of a story.
This is one of the rare books that played like a vivid movie in my head, I could picture everything so clearly and I think that’s because the writer is so talented, passionate and creative. This is a rare occurrence for me and I am so grateful.
The story covers many years and I had a gut feeling that I was in for some heartbreak…… I wasn’t wrong.
Let’s just say, though that this is my FAVORITE romance/love story I’ve read this year. It’s a book I know I’ll reread. It’s so beautifully written with intelligence and fun pop culture nods that made me giddy for the days gone by.
It’s a very emotional story, the characters are amazing and the journey it took me on was one of a kind.
If you read one book I recommend this year, I beg you to choose this one. It is utterly amazing!
I felt Cleo’s butterflies, angst, insecurities, happiness and fear. She was so relatable to me and I really liked her.
Gabriel is exactly who I would be attracted to if I was young again. He’s passionate, intelligent, kind, talented and he’s a rebel. He has the slightly “bad boy” thing going on yet he’s not. He is a very decent guy who has a thirst for knowledge and incredible talent as does Cleo.
Together they fit together like puzzle pieces. Although, things don’t start that way at all.
*CW* Cleo’s best friend and roommate is dating Gabriel in the beginning of the book. Cue the angst, shame and mixed signals. I LOVED it. I’m a big fan of forbidden and unconventional romance.
I love that they are all artists in different genres, they understand the dedication and the downsides as well. I was rooting for their success in everything. The secondary characters are fantastic as well. It’s such a shining gem of a story.
This is one of the rare books that played like a vivid movie in my head, I could picture everything so clearly and I think that’s because the writer is so talented, passionate and creative. This is a rare occurrence for me and I am so grateful.
The story covers many years and I had a gut feeling that I was in for some heartbreak…… I wasn’t wrong.
Let’s just say, though that this is my FAVORITE romance/love story I’ve read this year. It’s a book I know I’ll reread. It’s so beautifully written with intelligence and fun pop culture nods that made me giddy for the days gone by.
It’s a very emotional story, the characters are amazing and the journey it took me on was one of a kind.
If you read one book I recommend this year, I beg you to choose this one. It is utterly amazing!
October 9, 2025
With a title like this, you just know it’s going to pull at your heart, and honestly, it did exactly that. Gabriel’s rise from nothing to a successful musician and Cleo’s journey from hopeful artist to fashion designer felt so vivid and inspiring. The way this man yearns? Perfection. But then came the tragedy, and suddenly everything went downhill and even then it was poetic and pulled at my heartstrings. But after that point, parts of the story started to feel stretched out, like it was trying a little too hard to stay intense. The push and pull between them was fun at first, but after a while I was like “guys, please, just figure it out already.” Still, the story has heart, and I can see so much potential in it.
October 21, 2025
4 ⭐️'s
This is a very in-depth, long, complicated romance of two people who believe they are soulmates. It starts out when a friend of hers finds a notebook with ramblings in it and gives it to her because she’s a writer. She falls in love with all the writings and falls in love with notebook guy. Two years later she meets a guy her best friend, Annika, is dating and it’s him. He’s not very nice to her and in turn she’s not nice to him, but that’s when the drama starts.
Unfortunately, that’s not the worst of it. They go from the highs to the lows and back again. It’s quite the journey.
I did love all the angst, but it was a little too much at the end. However, I was happy with how things worked out, and that epilogue was really sweet.
This is a very in-depth, long, complicated romance of two people who believe they are soulmates. It starts out when a friend of hers finds a notebook with ramblings in it and gives it to her because she’s a writer. She falls in love with all the writings and falls in love with notebook guy. Two years later she meets a guy her best friend, Annika, is dating and it’s him. He’s not very nice to her and in turn she’s not nice to him, but that’s when the drama starts.
Unfortunately, that’s not the worst of it. They go from the highs to the lows and back again. It’s quite the journey.
I did love all the angst, but it was a little too much at the end. However, I was happy with how things worked out, and that epilogue was really sweet.
September 26, 2025
One of my top reads of the 2025! Trust me when I say that this book deserves ALL of the stars, because 5 just doesn't even come close to enough. This is top tier, twin flames, once in a lifetime, meant to be romance and I was so caught up in every moment of it!
The setting in 1990's NYC was spot on and I could picture every scene. I loved that! and the main characters? Cleo and Gabriel are IT. They are everything. Both to me, the reader, and of course to each other. From the very first second he saw her, he knew she was something special and just for him. Reading their journey, even before they belonged to each other, was such a beautiful experience and I wish I could do it all it over again for the first time. You can FEEL the intense connection with them and you just know their love isn't like the others. I also knew the heartache would hit at some point and it for sure did. It hit and it hurt, but even then I was all in. I needed the full circle and thankfully, in time, I got it.
I never wanted this one to end! I truly could have continued reading about these two for another couple hundred of pages. I'd be thrilled to see more of life after healing and what else the future held! It was so, so good and I will be recommending this one to everyone!
The setting in 1990's NYC was spot on and I could picture every scene. I loved that! and the main characters? Cleo and Gabriel are IT. They are everything. Both to me, the reader, and of course to each other. From the very first second he saw her, he knew she was something special and just for him. Reading their journey, even before they belonged to each other, was such a beautiful experience and I wish I could do it all it over again for the first time. You can FEEL the intense connection with them and you just know their love isn't like the others. I also knew the heartache would hit at some point and it for sure did. It hit and it hurt, but even then I was all in. I needed the full circle and thankfully, in time, I got it.
I never wanted this one to end! I truly could have continued reading about these two for another couple hundred of pages. I'd be thrilled to see more of life after healing and what else the future held! It was so, so good and I will be recommending this one to everyone!
March 18, 2026
Guys! My hard copy just came in the mail and it’s pure beauty!
December 17, 2025
I cried too many times while reading this
December 1, 2025
I LOVE U GABRIEL SM!! I LITERALLY FELT EVERYTHING HE SAID IN MY HEART!! Like when he was sad and depressed I was sad and depressed. He is just perfect! I love him sm🤧. I LOVED how he tried to get with Cleo once he knew she was the one 😩. And same goes for Cleo but she was scared bc of what would her bestie say?! But Cleo is such a strong woman bc she was there for Gabriel after the surgery. She went out of her way to put her life on hold to help Gabriel. Ughhh they will forever b twin flames😭💓. They will be with each other in every lifetime frfr bc they’re MEANT TO BE❤️🔥
THIS HAS THE SAY YOU SWEAR TROPE!! (If ykyk🫣)
SOME OF MY FAV QUOTES:
“You were the most beautiful dream, Jane.“
“I'll drop everything to be by your side just for the privilege of holding your hand and never letting go.
In the meantime, I'll see you in my dreams.”
“Listen, I've been thinking about this...there's no reason we can't be friends, right? The thing is that I really want you in my life. I NEED you to be in my life in some way, shape or form and if it has to be as friends, then so be it (which is not to say I don't want more-I FUCKING DO).”
“I'm just a man, Jane. Throw me a fucking crumb before I perish and die of hunger.”
“I have been loving you all my life. That's how it feels. Like you were made especially for me and have been a part of me forever. In my heart, my soul, my wildest dreams and my secret fantasies. You are the single best thing that has ever happened to me. You are my music and my every waking dream. I love you with everything in me, and when I said that no one can own another person, it was because I hadn't known a love like this existed yet. I am yours, and I'm praying like hell that you'll agree to be mine.”
“And one day in the distant future, one of us would wake up alone and we would remember all the love and all the joy, and we would feel an overwhelming gratitude simply because the other person had existed.” 😭😭😭💔 I LOVE THAT QUOTE SM
THIS HAS THE SAY YOU SWEAR TROPE!! (If ykyk🫣)
SOME OF MY FAV QUOTES:
“You were the most beautiful dream, Jane.“
“I'll drop everything to be by your side just for the privilege of holding your hand and never letting go.
In the meantime, I'll see you in my dreams.”
“Listen, I've been thinking about this...there's no reason we can't be friends, right? The thing is that I really want you in my life. I NEED you to be in my life in some way, shape or form and if it has to be as friends, then so be it (which is not to say I don't want more-I FUCKING DO).”
“I'm just a man, Jane. Throw me a fucking crumb before I perish and die of hunger.”
“I have been loving you all my life. That's how it feels. Like you were made especially for me and have been a part of me forever. In my heart, my soul, my wildest dreams and my secret fantasies. You are the single best thing that has ever happened to me. You are my music and my every waking dream. I love you with everything in me, and when I said that no one can own another person, it was because I hadn't known a love like this existed yet. I am yours, and I'm praying like hell that you'll agree to be mine.”
“And one day in the distant future, one of us would wake up alone and we would remember all the love and all the joy, and we would feel an overwhelming gratitude simply because the other person had existed.” 😭😭😭💔 I LOVE THAT QUOTE SM
October 26, 2025
Wow, this book swallowed me whole and spit me out! What an absolutely beautiful and emotional story. The nostalgia is so real—I felt like I was living in the 90s again! The music references made it even more special, and the love between these two was something truly unforgettable. This just might be the best book I’ve read all year, and it’s definitely going in my “Best of Emery Rose 2025” pile—and a guaranteed reread!
If you’re looking for something angsty, emotional, and passionate, packed with 90s nostalgia and all the feels, this is the one.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
If you’re looking for something angsty, emotional, and passionate, packed with 90s nostalgia and all the feels, this is the one.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
September 25, 2025
I really don’t know where to begin with my review, other than I’m so happy I chose to sign up for this ARC. I will admit, 70 chapters completely intimidated me with a small timeline; but I will say I FLEW through this book. The idea of twin flames and soulmates can easily be written (if I’m being honest) very cheesy and and unbelieveable—but author Emery Rose had me cheering for Cleo and Gabriel from start to finish. They were two characters that I truly couldn’t picture with anyone else in the book. Their story is also set in NYC with a 90’s time frame. The clothing, events, and even the music that was listed took me straight there in this timecapsule of a novel. Another detail(s) I loved about this book was how simple their life and relationship was even in the midst of their challenges.
If you love an angsty, passionate, loving second chance romance; I highly recommend diving into Cleo and Gabriels story
•
Quick Synopsis-
Cleo is a struggling fashionista/artist in NYC when she finds a notebook full of poems and instantly falls for the writer. She doesn’t know who it belongs to until she meets her best friend’s boyfriend, Gabriel. Gabriel is a struggling musician who has a unique sound and knows how to make the ladies swoon. Cleo realizes that maybe this notebook belongs to Gabriel and begs the question, “How much would you risk for your one true soulmate?”
If you love an angsty, passionate, loving second chance romance; I highly recommend diving into Cleo and Gabriels story
•
Quick Synopsis-
Cleo is a struggling fashionista/artist in NYC when she finds a notebook full of poems and instantly falls for the writer. She doesn’t know who it belongs to until she meets her best friend’s boyfriend, Gabriel. Gabriel is a struggling musician who has a unique sound and knows how to make the ladies swoon. Cleo realizes that maybe this notebook belongs to Gabriel and begs the question, “How much would you risk for your one true soulmate?”
September 26, 2025
When I started this book, I did it totally blind. All I needed to know was that Emery wrote it, and I was already in love with the book. She writes the stories that can stand the test of time. The characters always have so much depth, and you love them so hard through their story. The nostalgia I felt while reading this book had me loving this one even more.
Being set in the 90s was the perfect touch to this epic love story.
Gabriel and Cleo have this big love that could swallow you whole! The way these two loved and supported each other came so natural to them. The love they had was so epic that it transcended time. I felt every emotion these characters went through like I was there.
That's when you know it is an amazing book, when you can close your eyes and picture it all unfold. I really didn't want this book to end. I want more of these characters and their love.
It has been a long time since I read a book this fast, but I couldn't put it down. Emery is one of my favorites, and she reminds me of this with every new book. I just love her writing and the way she tells a story.
Being set in the 90s was the perfect touch to this epic love story.
Gabriel and Cleo have this big love that could swallow you whole! The way these two loved and supported each other came so natural to them. The love they had was so epic that it transcended time. I felt every emotion these characters went through like I was there.
That's when you know it is an amazing book, when you can close your eyes and picture it all unfold. I really didn't want this book to end. I want more of these characters and their love.
It has been a long time since I read a book this fast, but I couldn't put it down. Emery is one of my favorites, and she reminds me of this with every new book. I just love her writing and the way she tells a story.
September 23, 2025
I was so freaking excited to get this ARC! This book y’all, I’m not even sure I could describe how much I loved it. It was devastating, beautiful, soul wrenching, amazing, romantic, and so many other words that I can’t think of. It took me through so many different emotions and I loved every second of it, even when I was crying with the characters. Cleo and Gabriel’s story was just so amazing and devastating and just so consuming I could not put it down. I loved this book so much, I wish I could read it again for the first time and experience it all over again. This is a must read, you’ll be put together, broken apart, and then put back together again, and you’ll keep coming back for more.
October 9, 2025
This book is poetry. I don't know a better way to say how much I love it. The character, the story, the writing, everything makes you feel like you're part of the story. You cry, you laugh, you get your heart broken and then you pick up all the pieces and put them back together just like the characters. Even if you can sense the story unfolding, you can't help but experience it at maximum intensity.
It's about that kind of love, once in a lifetime, soulmates, twin flames..
It's about that kind of love, once in a lifetime, soulmates, twin flames..
September 29, 2025
Gabriel and Cleo
This book took me on an emotional journey that I won’t soon forget. I felt fully invested in Gabriel and Cleo’s story which was heartbreakingly beautiful. It was one of those books that sticks with you. So, so good.
This book took me on an emotional journey that I won’t soon forget. I felt fully invested in Gabriel and Cleo’s story which was heartbreakingly beautiful. It was one of those books that sticks with you. So, so good.
February 9, 2026
4.75 star rating, which I took off 1/4 star for one small issue I had,
It’s been awhile since I read a rockstar romance, and this one was epic and swoony…sighing
Gabriel Francis is just starting out with his music career. And, he meets Cleo Babington through her best friend. There’s some tumultuous ups and downs that threaten their love. But, will they find their way back to each other is the question. It’s a romance, so they will have an HEA, but how they get there will not be easy. With a MMC that is handsome, talented and dynamic and a FMC that is hard-working, beautiful and passionate, their love story was breathtaking!!
It’s been awhile since I read a rockstar romance, and this one was epic and swoony…sighing
Gabriel Francis is just starting out with his music career. And, he meets Cleo Babington through her best friend. There’s some tumultuous ups and downs that threaten their love. But, will they find their way back to each other is the question. It’s a romance, so they will have an HEA, but how they get there will not be easy. With a MMC that is handsome, talented and dynamic and a FMC that is hard-working, beautiful and passionate, their love story was breathtaking!!
April 6, 2026
A rock star romance that wasn’t cheesy but instead made me cry like a baby and fall in love with Gabriel not once but twice! Ugh I loved this SO MUCH!! this mmc was farrrrr from perfect, but redeemed himself sooo welllll. This story follows Gabriel and Cleo- up and coming rockstar + a new york struggling artist who fall for each other in some unideal circumstances. Fate takes over and once they finally find their happiness together, tragedy strikes. And let me tell you, I was GUTTED.
I felt like I read two different love stories ( you’ll understand once you read this) This was amazing, the love was EPIC and messy and it’s a love story I’ll forever recommend!
♥️
“ I’ll drop everything to be by your side just for the privilege of holding your hand and never letting go.”
I felt like I read two different love stories ( you’ll understand once you read this) This was amazing, the love was EPIC and messy and it’s a love story I’ll forever recommend!
♥️
“ I’ll drop everything to be by your side just for the privilege of holding your hand and never letting go.”
November 23, 2025
6,5 / 10 ⭐️
Drama / Rockstar / Amnesia / Ambientación Ochentera / Second Chance
Cleo se enamora de Gabriel, el nuevo novio de su mejor amiga y sabe que no puede hacer nada, así que decide evitarlo lo máximo posible. Pero su amiga insiste en unir a sus dos personas favoritas.
Empecemos con un 'no está mal pero se me ha hecho pesado en ciertos momentos'.
El libro está dividido en dos partes
1. En la primera:
2. En la segunda parte:
El caso es que este libro se podría haber reducido casi a la mitad.
Casi no tiene escenas spicy, tampoco las necesita. Pero si se habla de ello se hace por encima diciendo que es genial, pues también podrían haber hecho eso con muchos de los capítulos que tiene el libro.
Mira que me gustan este tipo de libros, pero es que se me ha atascado pero mucho.
Igualmente tengo que decir que hay un par de capítulos desgarradores que me han hecho llorar.
Así que si queréis un drama de los ochenta con dos artistas bohemios de protagonistas que luchan por un amor verdadero, este es vuestro libro.
Drama / Rockstar / Amnesia / Ambientación Ochentera / Second Chance
Cleo se enamora de Gabriel, el nuevo novio de su mejor amiga y sabe que no puede hacer nada, así que decide evitarlo lo máximo posible. Pero su amiga insiste en unir a sus dos personas favoritas.
Empecemos con un 'no está mal pero se me ha hecho pesado en ciertos momentos'.
El libro está dividido en dos partes
1. En la primera:
2. En la segunda parte:
El caso es que este libro se podría haber reducido casi a la mitad.
Casi no tiene escenas spicy, tampoco las necesita. Pero si se habla de ello se hace por encima diciendo que es genial, pues también podrían haber hecho eso con muchos de los capítulos que tiene el libro.
Mira que me gustan este tipo de libros, pero es que se me ha atascado pero mucho.
Igualmente tengo que decir que hay un par de capítulos desgarradores que me han hecho llorar.
Así que si queréis un drama de los ochenta con dos artistas bohemios de protagonistas que luchan por un amor verdadero, este es vuestro libro.
October 5, 2025
Going into this book I was so excited because it was giving all those feels of being one of those AMAZING reads, and up until about half way it was, then it fell so flat for me I was kinda mad 🫠 while this story was beautiful, and pulled at your heartstrings there was just something missing with that second half and the characters.
I did love Gabriel though, that man has a way with his words.
“𝙄’𝙢 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙣, 𝙅𝙖𝙣𝙚. 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙬 𝙢𝙚 𝙖 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙧𝙪𝙢𝙗 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙄 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙞𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧.”
I did love Gabriel though, that man has a way with his words.
“𝙄’𝙢 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙣, 𝙅𝙖𝙣𝙚. 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙬 𝙢𝙚 𝙖 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙧𝙪𝙢𝙗 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙄 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙞𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧.”
April 29, 2026
Det här är min tredje bok av Emery Rose och hon levererar verkligen! Den här gången med en kärlekshistoria som har allt man vill ha av en romance. Kemin stämmer, feelingen är rätt och det är den sortens bok man inte riktigt vill lägga ifrån sig.
Hade den kunnat gå djupare i vissa delar? Ja, absolut. Stundtals ville jag ha mer; mer tyngd, mer av karaktärerna, mer av allt. Men det är en mild kritik mot en bok som i grunden är riktigt bra.
En vacker kärlekshistoria.
Hade den kunnat gå djupare i vissa delar? Ja, absolut. Stundtals ville jag ha mer; mer tyngd, mer av karaktärerna, mer av allt. Men det är en mild kritik mot en bok som i grunden är riktigt bra.
En vacker kärlekshistoria.
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