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Beloved and bestselling author of Amish romance Kathleen Fuller reminds us that sometimes opposites really do attract. 

"A heartwarming story of unexpected romance woven with fun and engaging characters who come to life on every page."--Amy Clipston, bestselling author of A Seat by the Hearth 

If there is one thing Christian Ropp will not allow in his classroom—or his life—it is chaos. So why is he drawn to Ruby Glick, a woman who seems to bring mayhem wherever she goes?

Christian Ropp moves to Birch Creek to accept a teaching position in the rapidly growing Amish community. He’s determined to put the rambunctious school in order as well as check another task off his list: finding a wife. Of course, that would be much easier if women were like textbooks, straightforward and logical.

When an accident puts Christian out of commission, a new community member named Ruby Glick takes over his classroom. But Ruby’s exuberant teaching style clashes with Christian's careful methods and he worries his students will never be the same.

With a track record of catastrophe, Ruby always feels too clumsy, too distracted, too . . . much. Desperate for a chance to prove that she can do more than make mistakes in her life, she throws herself into her new teaching position. But when Christian can’t seem to stay out of her way, she finds herself slipping into old, chaotic tendencies.

What she doesn’t anticipate is that Christian's heart is slowly catching up with his mind—and she, too, must decide whether to follow logic or love. 

"Kathleen Fuller has written a sweet, oftentimes humorous, romance that reminds readers that the perfect match might be right in front of their noses."--Kelly Irvin, bestselling author of the Every Amish Season series

"Kathleen Fuller is a master storyteller and fans will absolutely fall in love with Ruby and Christian in The Teacher's Bride." --Ruth Reid, bestselling author of the Amish Mercies series

"Kathy Fuller's characters leap off the page with subtle power as she uses both wit and wisdom to entertain!"--Kelly Long, national bestselling author

"The story will captivate you from the first page to the last with Ruby, Christian, and engaging characters. You’ll laugh, gasp, and wonder what will happen next." --Molly Jebber, Speaker and Award Winning Author of Grace’s Forgiveness and the Amish Keepsake Pocket Quilt Series 

304 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2018

205 people are currently reading
1455 people want to read

About the author

Kathleen Fuller

118 books1,107 followers
Best-selling author of Amish fiction. Also a wife, mother, crafter, coffee addict, football fan, and chocolate aficionado.

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5 stars
427 (48%)
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314 (35%)
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112 (12%)
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20 (2%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
Profile Image for Sheri.
1,354 reviews133 followers
June 26, 2024
Right from chapter 1, the excellent character development of Christian and Ruby sets the scene for challenge and doubt while also proving the adage that opposites attract. Christian is aloof and stoic, analytical, and seen as different, maybe even slightly odd. Ruby is gregarious, impulsive, prone to accidents, inattentive, energetic, and anxious about her clumsiness. Both want to get married and the story that follows shows their logical and unconscious journey from acquaintances to married couple.

I really enjoyed this read! The story felt natural and true, and the characters' personalities and traits carried through the whole book. So many times you're shown a character's personality, but then it sort of fades out or they become a changed person somehow. Kathleen Fuller gives us characters who grow as individuals but still retain their initial quirks and charm. You know going in how the story will end, and it's entertaining to see how they get there, but it also made me think about the positive benefits we gain from partners who seem to be our contrary and how our differences make us a richer couple all around.
Profile Image for Dale Harcombe.
Author 14 books426 followers
May 16, 2025
Three and a half stars
Christian Ropp moves to Birch Creek to teach at the one teacher school in the Amish community. He has two plans to put in place. One is bring order and discipline to the school. The other is to find a wife and he thinks Martha might be a good candidate. No, he doesn’t love her, her has barely even talked to her.
Ruby Glick has come to the home of her brother Timothy and his wife Patience. There she hopes to stay indefinitely, and put her accident prone past behind her, and show her parents in Lancaster how she has matured and changed. She also has a plan to find a husband and there are more men than women in Birch Creek so she is optimistic that she will find one there.
Both Christian and Ruby are socially awkward. But strangely they are comfortable with each other. They come to an agreement. She will teach him to be more tactful and how to converse with Martha. When Christian, or Chris as he is know by most people, is unable to teach for a time, Ruby finds herself doing things she never expected. But since this is Ruby, mayhem follows. And what is the story with Selah, Christopher’s younger sister who came to Birch Creek with him. She seems to dislike Ruby and is hard for Chris to know how to help her as she has closed herself off from him and is always moody and irritable.
This is a sweet story, although somewhat predictable. A light quick read. I liked Ruby and Christian as they struggled with family, friendship, romance and personal relationships.
Profile Image for Heidi Robbins (Heidi Reads...).
1,673 reviews582 followers
August 23, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this story- the author did an amazing job of bringing the characters and setting to life and keeping my interest on each page. I love how she writes somewhat quirky characters and shows the different ways they relate to life. Christian is kind of socially awkward because of his pragmatic personality, I thought it was hilarious how he set out to make new friends in the community. He and Ruby are so different, yet they grew to understand each other and their contrasting attributes bring balance to their relationship and helped them develop new strengths.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
Profile Image for Cathy Cermele.
782 reviews14 followers
January 21, 2019
This book was such a heartwarming, sweet and maddening read!

I adored Ruby and could easily imagine myself spending time with her because she has an easy-going nature that I appreciate. She’s also prone to making some not so wise decisions. Christian is the complete opposite as he carefully plans every single aspect of his life and having fun isn’t a top priority for him. It doesn’t take long for these two to cross paths and when they do, this is where I laughed and wanted to reach into the pages and give them both a little shake!
Will they be friends or won’t they be friends? They could be two of the most indecisive characters but it kept me interested throughout.

I was pleased with the storyline of having a male teacher which was a nice change from the typical female teacher that seems to be the norm in Amish fiction. As a fan of Ms. Fuller and this series I admit that I loved the lighthearted addition to the Amish of Birch Creek. I recommend this to fans of Amish and Christian fiction.

I received a copy from the publisher. I was not required to write a review and all opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Paula.
436 reviews5 followers
July 13, 2021
Such a sweet and clean story! Christian is the Amish teacher, and he is a very orderly person. Then he meets Ruby. Ruby seems like a sweet girl, but she is also very accident prone, causing disorder and mischief everywhere she goes. They become easy friends, feeling comfortable in each other's company, perhaps because they are both interested in other people. She has to fill in teaching for him when he gets injured, and she finds out how much she loves teaching. Even though there is a chaotic day while she is teaching. Soon though, they both begin to notice each other. It is a fun and exciting story I really enjoyed!
1,160 reviews1 follower
September 22, 2018
The Teacher's Bride is not your typical Amish romance. Kathleen Fuller's quirky main characters surprised me and kept this book interesting. Christian and Ruby are both rather odd ducks - very socially awkward, except around each other - and they both made me smile...many times.

I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.
Profile Image for Tamara.
899 reviews11 followers
March 6, 2019
I really enjoyed this book which is why I gave it four stars I did, but it did something that rarely happens to me. It made me laugh. I read lots of books that cause me to cry, smile, or nod my head in agreement, but laughing doesn't happen too often. I don't read a lot of Amish fiction but I really like how Kathleen Fuller writes about the Amish.
Profile Image for Martinez Ava.
7 reviews
November 20, 2018
This was so sweet and just fun to read!! I laughed out loud so many times at Ruby’s antics!! Such a good book about how opposites really do attract!!
Profile Image for Elaine Nickolan.
651 reviews6 followers
October 18, 2021
This was one of those "cleanse the reading palate" reading selections. Sometimes, after reading stories with heavy subject matter I just need to sit back and read something lighter. This was one of those books. I enjoyed the "lightness" of it and my fascination with the Amish way of life made this an enjoyable read.
Profile Image for Brittany .
2,877 reviews208 followers
January 30, 2019
The Teacher’s Bride was an interesting story, in that the two main characters were ones who really struggled with how to interact with other people, especially those of the opposite sex.

Well, Christian Ropp actually struggled with his interactions with everyone. Although very book smart, he lacked understanding and compassion toward those who didn’t do things as he felt that they should be done. He was a bit hard for me to like for a large portion of the book.

I liked Ruby Glick a lot and felt sorry for her when clumsiness or hiccups occurred during intense bouts of nervousness. She was a fun character and I was very happy for her when she finally found something that she could be passionate about and good at.

The storyline with Christian’s sister, Selah, was compelling. I was happy to see how the author added it into the book in a way that allowed us to get a more personal view of Christian’s feelings, while also addressing what was going on with Selah.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...
3,917 reviews1,763 followers
March 20, 2019
A funny and tender and awkward romance guaranteed to make you squirm and blush and giggle. Christian's linear thinking tendencies lend to some hearty guffaw moments as he bumbles his way through various social situations. But then he's kindhearted and can be unexpectedly empathetic at times. Ruby is all wild impulses and outgoing enthusiasm that often leaves her in hot water. He's pragmatic. She's idealistic. And yet they become unlikely allies and then friends and then....well, it's complicated!

Fuller brings her readers back to Birch Creek, Ohio in this brand new series -- Amish Brides of Birch Creek. I've enjoyed books from the previous series -- Amish Letters of Birch Creek and Amish of Birch Creek -- so it's going to be fun spotting familiar characters as well as getting to know new ones in these books.
Profile Image for Mayda.
3,829 reviews65 followers
April 6, 2021
Christian has always felt the call to be a school teacher, even though his father looks on teaching as a woman’s job. But Christian is quite good at teaching, and his students are fond of him. When a freak accident forces him to stay off his feet for a while, his friend Ruby subs for him. Ruby was at loose ends, not knowing what to do with her life, but she soon discovers she loves teaching. And the scholars love her. They have a great time, until the second day when she tells the children they could bring their pets to school the next day. And then, it’s chaos. This is a delightful and well written tale, with a little bit of humor, some romance, a few problems to solve, and an unforeseen accident. The characters come alive on the page, and readers certainly will be eager to see how the story unfolds.
Profile Image for Cheri.
2,131 reviews70 followers
November 1, 2018
The Teachers Bride is the fourth book in the Amish of Birch Creek seriea, it can be read as a stand alone novel. Ruby comes to Birch Creek, to stay with her brother and his family, she is looking for a husband. Ruby is known to be accident prone and is constantly getting into one fix or another. Ruby is trying to change, how she is viewed by others. Christian is a teacher and is confident around the children in his class, but is awkward around adults and in carrying on a conversation. Ruby offers to teach, Christian how to act around Martha, a young lady he is interested in dating. To Ruby and Christian's surprise, they find it easy to talk to each other. Christian is still awkward and has a hard time expressing his feelings. A quick read that was enjoyable.
Profile Image for Marilyn.
1,268 reviews
February 16, 2019
The Teacher’s Bride was filled with dysfunctional characters. Christian was a conceited and unsocial able only thinking of his own needs, while Ruby was clumsy and seemed to be a misfit even in her own mind. Christian’s strict teaching style was tested when Ruby filled in for him. These two characters had a lot of clashes despite what they were discussing.

This story did not reel me in like other books by Fuller. I was able to easily set it aside and pick up another one to read, but did finish The Teacher’s Bride after several days. The future for Christian and Ruby will have challenges until they overcome their own quandary for life.

I was gifted this book by a friend, thus a review was not required. I have expressed my own opinion in this review.
Profile Image for Ash Luna .
700 reviews10 followers
September 10, 2018
Kathleen Fuller being one of my favorites drove me a little crazy with The Teacher's Bride. The back and forth and indecisiveness of the male character Christian was a little too much for me, I felt that thru the book he was not the one for Ruby and all Ruby wanted was for him to see her and have Faith guide him to her. He took his sweet ol time while poor Ruby was waiting and waiting like a love sick puppy. I was done for when she decided to move back home. It could have been a 5 star read if it wasn't dragged on for so long.
6,155 reviews
November 1, 2018
The Teacher’s Bride is the fourth installment from Amish of Birch Creek series by Kathleen Fuller. I believe this is my favorite of the series to date. I enjoyed this heartwarming, inspiring and delightful story. Christian and Ruby was so sweet. There are some laugh out loud moments, as well as, some tender ones.
I am giving The Teacher’s Bride five plus stars. I highly recommend it for readers who love clean and sweet Amish fiction.

Profile Image for Leah.
1,976 reviews
July 4, 2019
This was a clean romance that took place in Ohio. It is about family and love and secrets. The story focuses on two people that are different but similar. They have trouble in with social interactions but in different ways. It was nice to see them and their relationship change. There are two other characters involved in this story. One has an interesting secret but is hardly in the story. The other has more page time but has a sad story that is kept hidden for most of the story.
1,156 reviews13 followers
February 12, 2019
This Amish story was about Ruby and Christian who are both socially awkward, but have teaching in common. I felt the book was very predictable and the cover of the book outlined the entire story so there were no surprises.
763 reviews14 followers
February 18, 2019
Such a good cute book about how friendship can become so much more than you expect. Loved the twists and turns...
Profile Image for Amy Clipston.
Author 116 books2,197 followers
October 2, 2020
A heartwarming story of unexpected romance woven with fun and engaging characters who come to life on every page.
Profile Image for Monica Willyard Moen.
1,381 reviews30 followers
May 21, 2022
I really enjoyed this book! It captured my heart and my attention as few books have lately. I could relate to the plight of Ruby, one of the main characters in this gentle and wise Amish romance. I was much like her when I was young, and there still an element of that to this day. This book helped me find something to smile about, and I value it highly for that.
Profile Image for Kristi.
629 reviews9 followers
December 4, 2018
I don't think I've ever read a story about two more awkward people before. Ruby is a bit accident-prone. Christian, or Chris, as he's known, is so uptight that at times I wanted to reach in the book and give him a shaking. Add in his standoffish sister, Selah, and at times I thought I was going to lose my mind. But the talented Kathleen Fuller made me end up enjoying these characters more than I ever thought I would as I journeyed with them through acquaintanceship, friendship, and perhaps more.

So if you're thinking I didn't like these characters you're wrong. I really liked them. I found Ruby endearing and easy to relate to as she navigated her world. Ruby is an awkward gal and things don't always go the way she intends for them too. But this all just made her so realistic. Christian, while I wanted to shake him at times, entertained me endlessly with his vocabulary. What I liked best about these characters was the way they weren't awkward at all around each other but so at ease even though they didn't realize it. I really liked the way the author brought these characters together and slowly let their relationship form.

The story itself is well-written and as she always does, the author pulled me right into the story and kept my interest until the very last word. (And boy does this book have an ending! A nice setup to the next story in series perhaps, Mrs. Fuller?) I found the pace of this book to be excellent as it kept my attention and there was a perfect buildup to the climax of the story.

Fans of the genre and the author are sure to love this book. This would be a great introductory book to the author's work for anyone who hasn't yet read any of her books. I can't wait until the next book in the series to see what's in store for the folks of Birch Creek. Grab a copy of this book today. You won't be disappointed!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through BookLook Bloggers and was not required to write a review. All opinions are mine.



Profile Image for Wendy.
525 reviews23 followers
January 6, 2019
BACK OF THE BOOK BLURB

If there is one thing Christian Ropp will not allow in his classroom---or his life---it is chaos. So why is he drawn to Ruby Glick, a woman who seems to bring mayhem wherever she goes?

Christian Ropp moves to Birch Creek to accept a teaching position in the rapidly growing Amish community. He's determined to put the rambunctious school in order as well as check another task off his list: find a wife. Of course, that would be much easier if women were like textbooks, straightforward and logical.

When an accident puts Christian out of commission, a new community member named Ruby Glick takes over his classroom. But Ruby's exuberant teaching style clashes with Christian's careful methods, and he worries his students will never be the same.

With a track record of catastrophe, Ruby always feels too clumsy, too distracted, too . . .much. Desperate for a chance to prove that she can do more than make mistakes in her life, she throws herself into her new teaching position. But when Christian can't seem to stay out of her way, she finds herself slipping into old, chaotic tendencies.

What she doesn't anticipate is that Christian's heart is slowly catching up with his mind---and she, too, must decide whether to follow logic or love.

MY REVIEW

I have read many of Kathleen's books and enjoyed every one of them. When I finish one I'm always anxious to move on to the next in the series, as I am with this one and I see it won't be out until JUNE!!! This was another great story and so many more I can see coming from Birch Creek. Grab a copy and enjoy!

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers; book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Lori.
1,892 reviews136 followers
October 6, 2018
I enjoyed this one so much!!
I can tell that the author enjoyed writing this book too!! It's her best yet!! I first fell in love with this author when I read Treasuring Emma: A Middlefield family series.
These characters will want to make you laugh and cry at the same time. And yet, knock their heads together as well because they are both so hardheaded!!!!
Ruby is a fun loving person. I think she's like me in so many ways. With just the right people you can have fun and laugh with. I think that Ruby did grow up a lot and she learned from her many mistakes.
Christian is a first too stuffy for me. But he came along just nicely. I ended up liking him after all.
The main thing I really liked about Christian was he meant what he said and made his students mind!
He also is a very caring person because there's just some things that are meant for family alone. Like his sister for one.
When you put Christian and Ruby together things might just happen and happen they did!!
I laughed so much that tears came from my eyes. Some of the things reminded me of my own husband as he is a klutzy person. He can walk right into a sign because he didn't "see" it in time.
I rooted for Ruby as she learned her way through life. Some things are just worth fighting for!! She knew what she wanted and went after it.
Amish fans will definitely want to read this book!! It's a laugh out loud and will lighten whatever mood you are in and make you feel better about yourself. These kinds of books I loooooooove!!!
Thanks Kathleen Fuller for such a delightful read!!
I received this book from Netgalley. No compensations were received!!
Profile Image for Kelly Tyree.
515 reviews11 followers
January 30, 2019
I really enjoyed The Teacher's Bride. The best part of this book was the endearing characters. I loved watching these odd characters develop and finally fall in love.

Ruby Glick leave Lancaster and come to live with her brother and his family in an attempt to make something of herself. She typically makes mistakes and just has not found her niche in life yet. When she arrives in Birch Creek she decides the best thing for her to do it to find a husband. As she goes about trying to do that, she meets Christian Ropp, the teacher in their Amish community.

Christian "Chris" is an intellectual person who enjoys reading and takes things quite seriously. He makes the decision he should find a wife so he goes to a singing to do just that. He ends up talking to Ruby and find they talk quite easily. When Ruby and Chris bump into each other again, they both decide to help the other one get a spouse. The exchange between the two is so endearing. I love the visual picture Fuller paints of Chris writing in his notebook tips he gets from Ruby.

When Chris gets hurt, Ruby gets to substitute in his classroom. In doing this, she finds the one thing that for the most part she is good at. This gives her much needed direction. Things get foggy between Chris and Ruby when marriage is proposed, strictly from a logical point of view. But what happens when feelings get involved?

The Teacher's Bride is book one in the Amish Brides of Birch Creek series and it is a winner. I can't wait to read book two.
Profile Image for Molly Jaber (Audiobooks And Sweet Tea).
948 reviews68 followers
February 4, 2019

It was so good to get back to a Kathleen Fuller novel. I haven't read one in a bit, and this was a refreshing jump back to her work. This is the first in a what's sure to be a wonderful series, and every minute of this book had me hooked.

From the start, I loved Ruby's character. I saw a lot of myself in her, and I really felt connected with her. Watching her, following her story, seeing how hard she tries to do good, but something always fails, it all really had me turning the pages long into the night.

When Christian enters the picture, the story just gets that much better! The quirks of the story really shine through him, making this a story that had me laughing out loud, cheering for him and Ruby and praying that they get what they want.

This book is definitely a 4 star book. If you want a quick, fast paced read and one that will instantly hook you, look no further. Ms. Fuller's books are filled with hope, laughter, beautifully chiseled characters and a tender message that will leave you wanting more. I can't wait to see the next book in the series! Well done, Ms. Fuller! Well done!



I received a complimentary copy of this book from The Fiction Guild and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.
Profile Image for Lorraine.
158 reviews3 followers
October 28, 2018
While uncommon, it’s not unheard of for an Amish man to be a school teacher. Christian Ropp is one of these men. He’s the teacher in Birch Creek. While comfortable in this roll, and very good with his scholars, “Chris” has a difficult time interacting with women his age. That is a big problem when you’re looking for a wife.

Ruby Glick hasn’t found her calling yet. Or a husband which is the reason she leaves her home in Lancaster to move in with her brother and his family in Birch Creek. Prospects are slim in Lancaster. Like Chris, Ruby has a problem interacting with the opposite sex. She gets so nervous she actually gets the hiccups which, of course, embarrasses her.

Chris has his eyes on Martha Detweiler. How is he ever going to get to know her if he can’t even talk to her? Ruby has chosen Seth Yoder. She can’t talk to him without erupting in hiccups. The only one Chris and Ruby seem to be comfortable talking to, beside their families, is each other. They decide to meet every Saturday to help each other out.

How does that work out for them? The title of the book is The Teacher’s Bride…. does that mean Chris, with Ruby’s help, is finally able to court Martha? I enjoyed spending time with Christian and Ruby and hope to "see" them again.
Profile Image for Laura.
Author 39 books655 followers
January 2, 2019
THE TEACHER'S BRIDE is Ms. Fuller's newest release. I have to admit that at first I didn't like Christian at all, he is a pompous, know it all, nerdy jerk. I couldn't get a feel on Ruby and I was very tempted to give up and not bother with this book.



I kept with it (with frequent reading breaks) and then something happened (I won't tell) and my interest was piqued. Ruby had my heart from that moment on, but Christian still had his work cut out for him.



I'm not going to lie and say I closed the book with a happy, dreamy sigh, but it did end well, even if Ruby does have her work cut out for her. I don't know if Christian will ever stop being a know it all, pompous jerk, but he did soften up some. And his nerdiness eased.



If you love Amish fiction, you will love THE TEACHER'S BRIDE. There is no faith message (some mentions of prayers and that someone quotes Bible verses) and the only kissing is a peck (for those who don't like it hot). This is definitely a clean read that should appeal to the general market.



I was given a copy free. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Katherine Bartlett.
Author 7 books80 followers
February 4, 2019
"Sometimes opposites really do attract..."



The Teacher's Bride was unlike any Amish romance I have read before! The story starts out with Ruby Glick, a person who makes a mess everywhere she goes, leaving Lancaster to start a new life in Birch Creek. She stays with her brother's family, in hopes to find a husband in town.



Then you have Christian Ropp, who is the teacher in town. He is smart, punctual and always thinking. And he's been thinking that he needs a wife. But he has no idea how to talk to women.



Ruby and Christian both have trouble talking to the opposite sex but not with each other. So Ruby decides to tutor Christian on how to talk to women. But while they do, they realize that it was each other they both needed from the start.



This book was so funny I couldn't put it down! With the mishaps of Ruby and then trying to see if Christian would finally tell Ruby his feelings, I finished it in two days. It was a great read and I can't wait for the second installment in the Birch Creek series comes out!
Profile Image for Cecilia.
265 reviews
February 11, 2019
Another non-stop page turner by Kathleen Fuller! She has not disappointed with The Teacher’s Bride, book one in her new series Amish Brides of Birch Creek. I loved that she has incorporated this new series into the lives we already learned to love in Birch Creek and was delighted to see them appear in the story.
I loved the contrast between Christian and Ruby’s personalities. Where he was professional and rigid, she was a free spirit. I also liked that Christian followed his dreams and became a teacher in a predominately female role in the Amish lifestyle, all the while, not following in his fore-father’s footsteps. I loved watching Christian and Ruby try to help each other find themselves and love, while all the while not realizing what was right in front of them until it might be too late.
I cannot wait for book two to release to see whose story is next.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, netgalley, and the publisher in return for my honest review. All thoughts are my own.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews

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