Book Reviews by Genre: Contemporary

“And They Were Roomates” is a LGBTQIA+ romance novel following Charlie and Jasper. Charlie decides to follow in his mother’s footsteps and attend Valentine Academy. However, the academy separates boys and girls. Charlie, who recently transitioned, hopes to lie low and not get found out. A wrench is thrown in his plans when his roommate ends up being Jasper, his crush from the previous summer. Somehow, Jasper doesn’t recognize Charlie, who now has to navigate his new school and peers, while keeping his secret from his most recent crush.

“And They Were Roomates” is a really good book. The characters are so fleshed out and realistic. Everyone has a multi-sided personality, making it easier to get invested into the plot of the book and the characters themselves. There were some plot holes and confusion about Charlie’s transition, but I personally found it easy to look past it. The romance between the two main characters is so sweet. Jasper and Charlie make such a great duo, their conversations are really fun to read. They’re opposites without being too different from each other. It was really easy to get invested in how they would turn out. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book.

“I Do?” is a LGBTQIA+ romance featuring the main characters Chad and Raudel. Chad considers himself as a lowlife. He works at a yogurt shop and didn’t go to college. While staying at his sister’s house for her wedding, he realizes that she invited her friend from high school, his long-term crush. Chad tries to avoid Raudel, but it proves hard when they’re staying in the same room with only one bed for a full week.

I didn’t really enjoy this book. The pacing was too fast, the romance between the characters didn’t feel fleshed out, and it was overall too short. I definitely enjoyed the premise, I just think the book should’ve been longer, so the character relationships could’ve actually developed properly. If you like fast paced romances, then I would recommend it. However, I don’t recommend it to fans of slower developed romance.

Sinter is in his mid-twenties, living in London for an acting job. He misses his friend since high school, Andy, who is in Seattle living his own life. While in London, Sinter starts to have different feelings towards his friend. He ends up moving back to Seattle to rekindle his friendship with Andy. But somehow, more than friendship rekindles, despite Sinter’s confusion on his sexuality.

This book is okay. The relationship felt somewhat forced, not enough for me to get invested. I didn’t really feel a form of connection to the main characters. My favorite character was one of the side characters, who I was hoping to get more lines almost throughout the whole book. It didn’t really feel like they had depth. The plotline is decent in the beginning, but then a wrench gets thrown into it. One of the classic but annoying tropes that I don’t like was used. It kind of made me want to drop the book, but I stuck to it. The book didn’t really improve much after that. It was decent enough; it just doesn’t really stick out to me.

Poppy and Alex have been best friends for years. Despite being polar opposites, they’ve always bonded over one thing: traveling. After ten summer vacations, something disastrous happens to potentially split them up forever. But Poppy has one last vacation planned, and one last chance to prove that they may be more perfect for each other than originally thought. This book was an unfortunate disappointment for me. I was very excited to read it due to the movie releasing and my previous enjoyment of Henry’s other novels, but her story just fell flat in this one. Neither of the main characters were very likable to me, and the conflicts felt very predictable and boring. It wasn’t all terrible, and there were some parts that made me smile, but compared to her other works where I was laughing out loud and giggling about it to my friends, I couldn’t help but be a little let down by the execution of the storyline. If you’re an avid romance or Emily Henry reader there may be more enjoyment to find within this book, but unfortunately it wasn’t it for me.

"Under the Surface" follows Ruby, who can't wait to see the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and the catacombs on her school trip to Paris - and film every moment of it to put on her YouTube channel, Ruby's Hidden Gems. So, when a mysterious French stranger offers to take Ruby, her best friend, and two other classmates to a party in the part of the catacombs that aren't available to the public, she can't refuse. But the group takes a wrong turn and never makes it to the party. Now, they are lost in the catacombs, and soon it becomes apparent that there are sinister forces under the surface of Paris with them...

I was sorely disappointed with not only the execution of "Under the Surface", but also the plot itself. Not only were there extreme typos (e.g., saying "grizzly" instead of "grisly"), but there were also plot errors that were simply impossible to ignore (e.g., hearing a fact about the Paris catacombs from one of the characters, then later in the book claiming that she read it online). None of the characters were likable and every one of them were YA cliches that had absolutely no development or emotional depth. The voice of the book was off as well, with some moments being (unrealistic) teenage bickering, jokes, and drama, others being a fact-dump about the catacombs, and still others being randomly-inserted flashbacks that occurred at awkward moments. None of these components were well-done, and none of them meshed together into a cohesive and interesting story - they merely took away from the main plot. This book also is split perspective, with some chapters following Ruby and others following her love-interest Sean, but Sean's chapters were absolutely useless, and their relationship was so undeveloped, unrealistic, and awkward that it added nothing to the story. Overall, even though the plot was supposed to be thrilling, I found myself bored from the poorly executed story-telling, which relied on telling rather than showing and did not focus on the interesting elements of the book (being trapped in the catacombs), concentrating more on the unrelated drama and backstories of the characters, which seemed to carry more emotional weight than the situation itself.

Five Feet Apart is an emotional and engaging novel that balances romance with the realities of battling cystic fibrosis. What makes this book stand out is how it explores the themes of control, risk, and what it means to truly live when your time and health is limited. The dual perspectives help readers understand both character's motivations and fears. This book is a captivating read which I finished in one sitting because of how enthralling it was. I picked this book because I had seen the movie before and enjoyed it and reading the book really just added to the emotional depth of the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and how it wasn’t just a happy go lucky book but brings you into this world which not many people experience and makes you connect to these characters whom you might not usually have related to. Overall, it’s a touching, thought provoking novel that delivers both romance and reflection.

Dr. Anna Fox hasn't left her house in almost a year; unable to face the outside world after a tragic incident. With so much time on her hands she spends her days drinking, counseling strangers online, and watching old movies. Anna also has one other habit... she watches her neighbors, trying to pick at and understand their lives. So, when the Russell's move in she watches carefully, surprised when the enigmatic Jane Russell comes knocking on her door. After an intriguing few hours with Jane, Anna feels better than she has in a long time. However, when she watches the Russell's house again, she sees something no one was supposed to witness. All of a sudden Anna is up against multiple strangers who will do anything to keep a secret...
"The Woman in the Window" had an interesting plot twist one wouldn't see coming. However, it took quite a long time to cover some important themes and ideas in the book, making the first half slightly harder to read. The ending did make it worth reading, though this would likely stay as a onetime read.

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt is about Ally Nickerson, a sixth-grade girl who struggles in school, especially reading, and is frequently sent to the principal’s office. When her teacher goes on maternity leave, the new long-term sub Mr. Daniels is kind and patient with Ally, along with the rest of the class. Ally is able to make friends with the smart Albert and the bold Keisha, while also learning to stand up to bullies like Shay.
In my opinion, this book was amazing. Lynda Mullaly Hunt’s writing was fun, entertaining, and overall heartwarming for its relatable characters and humorous moments.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes heartwarming stories, realistic school experiences, and characters who overcome challenges.

Always and Forever, Lara Jean is the final book in the To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before trilogy by Jenny Han, and it cannot be read as a standalone.
In this book, Lara Jean continues to navigate the complications of her relationship with Peter Kavinsky while college nears closer. Lara Jean must decide whether to follow her mother’s advice to not go to college with a boyfriend, like her older sister Margot did, or to follow her own heart.
In my opinion, this book was fun to read, but at times the drama felt stretched out. Jenny Han’s writing is still entertaining with relatable characters and humorous moments.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes teen romance, family-centered stories, and coming-of-age journeys.

P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han is the second book in the To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before series and cannot be read as a standalone.
In this sequel, Lara Jean navigates the complexities of her new relationship with Peter while dealing with the unexpected return of an old crush. As feelings become more complicated, she must figure out what love and loyalty really mean.
In my opinion, the book was entertaining and fun, but at times the story felt a bit predictable and some of the drama dragged. Jenny Han’s writing is still engaging, with humorous moments and relatable characters.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes teen romance, love triangles, and coming-of-age stories.

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han is about Lara Jean Covey who has a collection of love letters she keeps in a hat box gifted to her by her late mother. These five love letters are letters she has written for the five boys that she has ever loved. When the letters are unexpectedly delivered to the intended recipients, Lara Jean’s love life spirals out of control, and she ends up pretending to date one boy to keep up appearances in front of another.
In my opinion, the book was engaging and funny. Jenny Han’s writing is entertaining, and the story is easy to get lost in.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes feel-good romance, coming-of-age stories, or lighthearted teen drama.

A book about a secret school of deadly assassins? Yes please! I had not read a book by Mather before but because of this book I will definitely read again in the future. November is an intriguing character, and she was a great kick butt girl boss. The plot and book flowed nicely and the mystery was well thought out. I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes spies and assassin type books.

I'm always down for a cute little romcom and Emma Lord does not disappoint. Academic enemies to lovers is my favorite trope and this one was done perfectly. Sadie and Seb were the perfect couple, and I loved their constant bickering and hilarious moments throughout the book. It was a cute, light read and I would recommend this to anyone who loves a cute romcom.

I really loved the spunky main character Sawyer! Her development throughout the book and trying to be a debutante was entertaining and funny. All of the characters were well developed and at times I found myself laughing out loud at the dialogue. The story was very entertaining, and the mystery woven throughout it was amazingly well thought out! I'd recommend this to anyone who loves a Cinderella story with a mystery twist!

I initially picked this book because of the cover, and it seemed like it would be a cute read. I also hadn't previously read anything by this author, so I thought why not give her a try. Picking Daisies on Sundays delivers a cozy friends to lovers story with lots of charm but it doesn’t fully rise above the typical tropes of contemporary romance. The writing style wasn’t my favorite but definitely not something that deterred me. I thought that the miscommunication trope frustrates more than built the tension. This was an easy and quick read something that is definitely good for someone in the mood for a light, clean contemporary romance. For me the end of the book was the best part where it finally picked up along with the epilogue. Overall, this book is a pleasant read if you enjoy soft romantic comedies and aren’t looking for anything groundbreaking.
Reviewer Grade: 11

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon follows eighteen-year-old Madeline “Maddy” Whittier, who has a rare illness that keeps her inside her home, unable to leave. Her life changes when Olly, a boy who moves in next door, enters her world. They form a friendship through emails and messages that later develops into romance. This leads Maddy to take more risks of leaving the bubble she’s been trapped in her whole life. After discovering a shocking secret, she is forced to make difficult choices about freedom, trust, and love.

In my opinion, this book was engaging and emotional. It was a unique idea, and the author did a good job at writing the story. Although the book was quite long and slow-paced at certain points, I was never bored. I finished this book in one sitting.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes contemporary romance, coming-of-age stories, or books about love and self-discovery.

More to the Story by Hena Khan follows Jameela “Jam” Mirza, a thirteen-year-old Pakistani girl living with her family in Atlanta. The story is loosely inspired by the classic Little Women, but it is set in a modern, multicultural context.

Jam is thrilled when she is chosen as features editor of her middle school newspaper, because she dreams of becoming a journalist like her late grandfather and wants to write a story that will make her father proud.

However, the editor-in-chief keeps rejecting her article ideas. When she is assigned to write about a new boy - Ali, a British Pakistani visiting from England - Jam struggles to find an angle and accidentally hurts their budding friendship by publishing something personal without permission.

At the same time, her father has to take a job overseas, leaving the family unsettled. But things take a more serious turn when Jam’s younger sister, Bisma, becomes ill, forcing Jam to reconsider what truly matters in life - family, friendship, and integrity - and what it really means to tell someone’s story.
In my opinion, this book was entertaining and a lighthearted middle-grade realistic fiction read. I read it in one sitting and I really enjoyed it. The author covers themes of family bonds and sisterhood, ambition and ethics, illness and resilience, and Pakistani culture.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys heartwarming stories about family and friendship.

Have you ever judged someone without really knowing them?

Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen follows Juli Baker and Bryce Loski, who have been neighbors since the start of second grade, when Bryce moved into the neighborhood. Juli was certain that she was in love with him and that they were meant to be, but Bryce outwardly disliked her and was annoyed she couldn’t take the hint. Told in alternating first person point of view chapters, events from both perspectives as the two grew up are revealed.

After something happens in the present-day eighth grade that causes Juli to deeply hate Bryce, the two of them “flip” perspectives of each other. Now, Juli doesn’t want anything to do with him, but Bryce is in love with her.

Flipped covers themes of perspectives, change, and growing up. Juli is a passionate, confident character who is unafraid to advocate for what she believes in, whether protecting a sycamore tree or standing up for her family. Bryce, however, starts off as shallow and caring too much about what others think, but by the end learns that his first impressions of people, especially Juli, were wrong. As the story unfolds, both characters are forced to reflect on who they are, and what truly matters.

I found the book entertaining, and it wasn’t very long in comparison to other novels I have read covering similar themes. Although it is a little slower paced at points, it makes up for it by speeding up later on. The different perspectives on the same events would have been redundant, but the author wrote it well. It was interesting to see how Juli and Bryce saw the same thing in nearly opposite ways.

If you enjoy books about growing up, perspectives, and a sweet, thoughtful look at first love, then Flipped is a book you should definitely consider reading.

Brielle Petitfour, a Haitian zonbi, is tired of watching her mother struggle with debilitating chronic pain while the rich elites around her continue to exploit people to make themselves richer. So, when the wealthy patriarch of the Banks corporation dies and her mother loses her job, it is Brielle's last straw. Using her internship at the Banks Incorporation, her extensive cooking skills, and zonbi powers, she gains access to these rich elites and exacts her revenge. Within each delicious dish she serves them, she adds human flesh, slowly gaining control of them...

I was really excited to read this book, because the idea Haitian zonbis in a modern lens is something that really interests me, along with learning more about Haitian-American culture. Additionally, after reading the synopsis of this book, I wanted to know more about how Brielle would add human flesh into her dishes - and wanted to understand her motivations for doing so. However, I was sorely disappointed after reading "The Summer I Ate The Rich." Not only is Brielle's character - along with all others in the story - flat and unrealistic, but the plot and motivations were just confusing. Instead of leaning into the interesting and original idea of Brielle serving rich people human flesh, or even eating the rich herself, the authors skirted around this detail, avoiding and barely mentioning this major plot point. Instead, they leaned into a YA love story instead, which was confusing and frustrating. Overall, the execution of this book was just terrible, the social commentary unfortunately fell flat, and I think the authors tried to incorporate too many clashing ideas into one story. Despite its intriguing title and synopsis, I would not recommend this book to anyone.

Brooke does everything to maintain a perfect presentation of herself. This includes making sure her looks, behavior, grades, and essentially everything about her is deemed perfect by everyone, especially her parents. Especially after the incident over the summer, that Brooke wishes she would just forget. Brooke plans on creating a brand new life for herself through going to a prestigious college. To celebrate, Brooke and her friends go to a party, where Brooke can finally relax, and maybe everything is all in the past now? Except something Brooke's friend's don't know is that someone is out to get her. Someone who knows what happened the night of the incident. And Brooke will do anything to make sure the truth doesn't come out...
This book was definitely hard top put down and the plot twist was really unexpected. I found Brooke's perspective interesting and part of what made the book so suspenseful. I do wish the ending went into more detail about the events that happened.

Rebecca Sommers has the perfect life; a perfect husband, children, and farm to live on. Well, she has a perfect life according to her Instagram, which Lizzie can't seem to stop scrolling through. This new Rebecca, a stay at home influencer mom who is constantly posting perfect videos, is nothing like the one Lizzie new in college; nothing like the Bex that was once her best friend. Still bitter over their last interaction a decade ago, Lizzie is shocked when Rebecca reaches out and invites her to and influencer event. Agreeing to go, Lizzie has high hopes of reconnecting with her once closest friend. Except shortly after she arrives things go downhill. She soon learns that not everything is as perfect as it seems...
This was a decent book, with the slight plot twist being pretty interesting. The book is told from different perspectives, offering a better understanding of everything that had and does happen.

Stella is sick. No, not with the typical cold or flu, as Stella would rather have, but with a rare disease: Cystic Fibrosis. Her lungs have been faulty all her life and she hopes to obtain a lung transplant soon. In order to fulfill this goal, Stella attempts to maintain constant control of her life, risking nothing that would prevent her from getting the transplant. That is until she meets Will, who's only thing in common with Stella is his Cystic Fibrosis. With no care about control (or his medication) Will is fascinated with Stella and her orderly life. However, their illness prevents them from coming closer than six feet apart, and any close contact could jeopardize everything. Stella wants nothing to do with Will, how could she risk everything she's ever wanted? Yet as the two become closer, being six feet apart seems unbearable.
This was a good teen romance that captured what it's like to be controlled by something completely out of control or reach.

Margret "Jet" Mason's motto has always been "there's always later." But everything changes when, on Halloween night, someone breaks into her house and fatally hits her on the back of the head three times. The doctors tell her that, due to the resulting brain aneurism, Jet only has seven more days left to live. Determined to solve her own murder, Jet and her childhood friend, Billy, set out to expose the secrets surrounding that night. With Jet's time running out, they must find the killer before it is too late.

"Not Quite Dead Yet" is one of the best books I have read all year. Holly Jackson blended her signature captivating murder mystery with an almost "The Fault in Our Stars"-style doomed romance, causing me to completely fall in love with this book! Not only were the characters both relatable and loveable, but I was moved to tears by how real all the situations felt. This book is a perfect mix of a thrilling and twisty mystery and heartbreaking love story, perfectly executed with Jackson's amazing writing style. I would recommend "Not Quite Dead Yet" to anyone, regardless of whether or not YA murder mysteries are your go-to genre, as the unique plot makes this book truly one of a kind.

Eric Ly's life is falling apart. His best friend is dead, his sister is moving away for college, and Eric can't seem to deal with his loneliness and grief. So, in order to cope, he creates fake scenarios in his head to hold on to what he had, until one of them seemingly comes to life. During a summer trip to Japan, Eric had met - and shortly lost contact with- a boy named Haru. And now, in a random cafe in Chicago, Haru has miraculously found his way back to him. But the problem is no one can see Haru except for Eric.

Nonetheless, Eric now has a new person to connect with during these hard times - even if Haru may not be real at all. But his twisted imagination and lingering grief lead him to question the circumstances around him and lose control of his life. And slowly, Eric realizes he must come to terms with reality, even if it means he must lose Haru and the fake scenarios he's created.

When I first picked up this book, I had pretty high expectations for it. The book's concept intrigued me, and I also did enjoy reading You've Reached Sam, the author's debut work. That being said, this book somewhat disappointed me. The plot saw so many changes in direction to the point where it felt rather aimless, and Eric's self-destructive decisions did irritate me at times (which may have been the intention given Eric's mental state, I won't discredit that). Haru's character, despite his proclaimed importance in the book's blurb, was honestly not very important to the story, and I genuinely feel like the book could have sufficed without him. The story was like a collection of Eric's memories and experiences; this introspectiveness doesn't inherently make a book "bad," but these books also aren't for everyone. The climax of the book did have some emotional substance, and it was pleasant to see Eric find his way and grow from his grief, but overall, I found this book to be a bit directionless. However, I do know that the novel was also very hard for the author to write, having to match his newfound success for You've Reached Sam (which also touches on grief and loss), so I do wonder what he might have done had he not been creatively restricted.

"The Wedding People" is a book about a divorced woman named Phoebe who goes to a fancy hotel in Rhode Island. Little does she know, there's a big wedding happening while she's there. She meets the bride, who confides in her whenever something happens. The two become friends quickly, as they bring out different sides in each other. One night, Phoebe goes to relax in the hotel hot tub, and she meets a man there. The two talk, and Phoebe realizes that this stranger brings something out in her that she hasn’t experienced before.

“The Wedding People” is definitely one of my favorite books that I have read. The characters feel so human with all their flaws, feelings, and experiences. Every single character is likable in their own way. Multiple characters have character development that benefits the storyline. Their realizations and discoveries are so poetic that I felt the emotions behind the writing. The author phrases things so well, it feels like you are experiencing what is happening. The book is able to cover heavy topics without being smothering or ridiculous. The plot twists were unpredictable and surprising, but they were realistic and believable. Overall, this book is truly a work of art that I really enjoyed.

I originally only picked this book out because I had read another book by this author, but now I read these books more than the other book! It follows an 11 year old Friday, though in the last book I believe she is 15, who has four siblings and two parents who are theoretical physicists. She has been raising herself almost her whole life, and read all the books in her house, which is a lot. She is a genius, but she is horrible at interactions with other people. She wears an ugly brown cardigan so people notice her less! So, after solving an attempted bank robbery, she decides to spend her cash prize on boarding school. However the boarding school is full of rich and stuck up students who keep getting in trouble. They learn to call on Friday, who solves their problems, like the school's very own Sherlock Holmes. However, there is also a problem with a swamp yeti that she is yet to solve... With the help of her sleepy roommate Melly Pelly, Friday is on her way to becoming the most annoying girl in the school!

"Baby City" was a great slice of life book that offers a unique perspective into the lives of OB/GYN doctors. If you're a fan of Frieda McFadden like I am, this is definitely different than her usual work, but worth the read.
"Baby City" follow Dr. Emily McCoy, who can never seem to catch a break at work. Trying to come to terms with her feelings for her ex-husband, having to teach the new medical student (who can never seem to give Emily a break), work friends, and the new handsome intern, Emily is in a constant state of activity. We watch Emily battle feelings and wonder if doing the right thing is worth risking her status and job…

"Shut Up, This Is Serious" follows Belen as she struggles to come to terms with her father's abandonment and her current mental health struggles. Attempting to help her best friend, Leti, as she as she manages her teen pregnancy, Belen struggles to find herself at the same time. "Shut Up, This Is Serious" is a realistic fiction story detailing the challenges young Latina girls face through a fictional plot with dynamic and diverse characters.

Before reading "Shut Up, This Is Serious", I was looking forward to an interesting YA novel that was full of high school drama and heartwarming moments as Belen grows and changes throughout the plot. However, I ended up not enjoying this book, and having to finish it felt like a chore. Even though I liked the idea and some aspects of the plot, the execution and Ixta's writing style made this book less engaging and was oftentimes confusing. The characters were not relatable and seemed distant, while the plot was chaotic and seemed to skip around a lot. Overall, I would not recommend this book, because the execution of the story line was uninteresting and pretty disappointing.

"Listen for the Lie" by Amy Tintera follows Lucy Chase as she returns to Texas five years after she was found in the woods, covered in her best friend, Savvy's, blood. Claiming to have no memory of the murder, Lucy is suspect number one - and now a podcast is being made by Ben Owens, following the case. With Lucy back at the scene of the crime, she has no choice but to face her past, even if it means suspecting everyone around her. As secret after secret is revealed, Lucy realizes that she can trust no one, as her memory of that night is the only thing that can clear her name and reveal the killer.

"Listen for the Lie" is an absolutely captivating book. Each chapter reveals another secret, and each plot twist makes the book impossible to put down. With alternating perspectives between Lucy's perspective and the episodes of the podcast, this tale weaves an intriguing story that leaves you guessing from beginning to end. Tintera does a great job with making Lucy's amnesia believable (even though her delusions about killing those around her and hallucinations can feel awkward at times), while also shifting the reader's perception of her as more clues are revealed. "Listen for the Lie" is a great mystery full of hilarious moments, captivating romance, and a gut-wrenching ending.

"Reputation" follows the students and faculty members of Aldrich University, who will do anything to protect their reputations - even if it means committing murder. After the most prestigious universities in the United States suffer a serious hack, exposing juicy secrets and scandalous cover-ups, everyone is panicking with the sudden influx of exposed lies and deception. Soon after, Kit Manning-Strauser's husband is mysteriously murdered, suddenly, everyone is a suspect. Willa, her sister, begins to investigate, and as lie after lie is uncovered, no one in Aldrich is safe. How far will the murderer go to protect their reputation?

I read a lot of Sara Shepard's books, and I really love the plot lines she comes up with and her writing style. However, I was honestly a little disappointed with this book. Compared to her other books, which largely center around high school girls, it was evident that Shepard was trying for a more "mature" theme and that really fell flat and didn't add to the story. The plot twists just weren't as exciting as in her other works, and it was hard to follow each character, because there were so many different, unrelated, viewpoints. Although some aspects of the conclusion were interesting, "Reputation" was altogether not that exciting. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this Sara Shepard book to anyone looking for her style of murder mystery, and I would stick to series like "Pretty Little Liars" and "The Perfectionists."