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The Madwoman Upstairs
The Madwoman Upstairs: A Novel | Catherine Lowell
In Catherine Lowells smart and original debut novel, the only remaining descendant of the Bront family embarks on a modern-day literary scavenger hunt to find the familys long-rumored secret estate, using only the clues her eccentric father left behind, and the Bronts own novels.Samantha Whipple is used to stirring up speculation wherever she goes. Since her fathers untimely death, she is the presumed heir to a long-rumored trove of diaries, paintings, letters, and early novel drafts passed down from the Bront familya hidden fortune never revealed to anyone outside of the family, but endlessly speculated about by Bront scholars and fanatics. Samantha, however, has never seen this alleged estate and for all she knows, its just as fictional as Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights. Yet everything changes when Samantha enrolls at Oxford University and long lost objects from the past begin rematerializing in her life. Her fathers distinctive copy of Jane Eyre, which should have perished in the fire that claimed his life, mysteriously appears on Samanthas bed. Annotated in her fathers handwriting, the book is the first of many clues in an elaborate scavenger hunt derived from the worlds greatest literature. With the help of a handsome but inscrutable professor, Samantha must plunge into a vast literary mystery and an untold family legacy, one that can only be solved by decoding the clues hidden within the Bronts own writing. For readers who devoured The Weird Sisters and Special Topics in Calamity Physics, The Madwoman Upstairs is a suspenseful, exhilarating debut by an exciting new talent who offers a moving exploration of what it means when the greatest truth is, in fact, fiction.
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BarkingMadRead
Madwoman Upstairs | Catherine Lowell
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This is been on my TBR pile for awhile, I didn‘t even realize how perfect it was until I really looked at it. Bring on more Brontë!

Bklover This sounds good! 2y
BarkingMadRead @Bklover I really loved it! It has so much Brontë history in it, plus the storyline, it was so much fun to read 2y
47 likes4 stack adds2 comments
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Maria514626
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Mehso-so

This is between a pick and so-so. Other than the Jane Eyre films, I‘m ignorant about the Brönte sisters and their work.

This started strong but I got lost in the Brönte minutiae in the middle of the book.

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Maria514626
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This is turning into a good mystery! #20in4

17 likes1 stack add
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Maria514626
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The MC‘s view of the College‘s Book of Disciplinary Procedures.

The MC, Sam—an American—has just the right amount of snark. ❤️ So far it‘s fallen on deaf ears at her new home: Oxford.
#20in4

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Maria514626
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If these quotes are any indication, I will like this book. (I am on page 3.)

#20in4

12 likes1 stack add
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La_Cori
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Pickpick

⭐⭐⭐ 1/2
I'm a big Brontë fan (Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights are two of my all time favorites) and I was so curious about this book.. I liked it, but I didn't love it!

62 likes1 stack add
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La_Cori
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"..I wanted to be lost somewhere, and a book seemed like a good place."

Gissy 📚📚📚 📖 🙌so pretty that print 2y
68 likes1 comment
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La_Cori
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I've been running around all day and now it's all done.. I've just come home from the Covid booster shot, so now I can relax&rest!
I got some hot tea (not in the picture, but on my nightstand), a book and my new favourite blanket 💚 that's my new kind of party!!

IuliaC One of my favorite types of party as well 👍 2y
Jess861 That's the only way to party 😉 2y
La_Cori @Jess861 given the time (8 pm) I switched to a glass of wine! 🍷😄 2y
45 likes4 comments
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ShyBookOwl
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The night I arrived at Oxford, I learned that my dorm room was built in 1631and had originally been used to quarantine victims of the plague. #firstlinefridays

I've been on an everything Jane Eyre kick lately. Can't wait to see how this one ends!

47 likes1 stack add
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nichollinlove
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Mehso-so

I have got to stop being a sucker for covers 😆 This story had so much potential and it just didn't follow through on any front. With the madwoman in the title, I was disappointed that she didn't carry over from the focus on the Bronte novels to the focus on the Bronte heiress. Especially with the foreshadowing of her father fulfilling a separate Bronte history. I feel burned by the lack of connectivity in this book. So much wasted potential!

⭐⭐⭐

kspenmoll Got this from the library. Your review makes me want to just not bother!!! 2y
nichollinlove There's a big review on Goodreads by a user named Ammiryam for this book and they articulate the feeling I'm left with very well. There were parts that I really enjoyed, they just never came together. Maybe you'll have a better experience, I know many others have. 2y
53 likes2 comments
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kspenmoll
Madwoman Upstairs | Catherine Lowell
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#bookhaul #librarystack #locallibrary

Spending much of the morning exploring the library‘s stacks, drinking coffee in the library‘s cafe, & reading. We are having sewer work done on our street so cannot use the water today. Perfect place to hide out until we go to lunch. #thinkpositivebepositive

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🙌🏻📚💗 3y
56 likes1 comment
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SheilaChew
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Pickpick

I loved this slightly crazy fictionalized story featuring the works of the Bronte family. And now, of course, I need to read the ones I haven‘t read yet. Thank you, used book store! These are my summer goals.

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SheilaChew
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My dog is guarding my book for me! My friends gave me this to read and it‘s perfect so far - a young woman starting her studies at Oxford and waiting to find out what she has inherited as she is the only descendant of the Brontes.

TaciturnWhenReading I have this book too but haven‘t started it yet! Sounds so promising! 3y
SheilaChew @TaciturnWhenReading It is quite delightful and I am avoiding all of my responsibilities and lying in the backyard reading. I am one happy bookworm! 3y
23 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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BookNAround
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Mehso-so

The last living Brontë descendant goes to Oxford and searches for her inheritance from her late father in this novel filled with echoes of the Brontës‘ books. This had a ton of promise but will probably only work for avid fans of Charlotte, Emily, and Anne. Full review at https://booknaround.blogspot.com/2021/02/review-madwoman-upstairs-by-catherine.h...

samantharoberts Completely agree with you! 3y
56 likes1 comment
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samantharoberts
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Finally sat down to read today and finished the last #ECBC pick!! On its way back to you @aroc 😊

rubyslippersreads I‘ve had this on my TBR list for ages. 3y
41 likes1 comment
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La_Cori
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It's arrived!!! 🥳🎉🥳
Thanks again Kristen @BookNAround for these gifts!!! 💕💕💕 coming home to see the package has made my day 🤩 I really needed something 'good' this week..

BookNAround I‘m so glad it finally arrived! I was starting to wonder. 😜 3y
55 likes1 comment
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EH2018
Madwoman Upstairs | Catherine Lowell
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@samanthagutt I sent out the #eastcoastreaders book yester should get there by Thursday

samantharoberts @EH2018 @Lovesbooks87 @aroc I got this book 2 weeks ago and just havent had time with all the craziness of wedding planning! I plan to read it tomorrow 😅 3y
29 likes1 comment
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BookNAround
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I‘ve had this one for ages and thought I should get to it. (This is the problem with any basement tidying/reorganizing. I find things that have fallen off my radar and find I must add hem back into my read imminently pile no matter what my actual plan for the month is.)

Leniverse Ooh, that looks fun though! I vote you get to it. 😁 3y
candority I just sent you an email! 3y
BookNAround @candority I just replied. 3y
93 likes3 comments
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EH2018
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Lovesbooks87 Yay! So glad it finally arrived! 3y
BookNAround I just pulled this one from the chaos that is my basement and am cracking it open now. 3y
40 likes2 comments
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Blueberry
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6th day of Christmas.
#12booksof2020 @Andrew65

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OriginalCyn620
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Lovesbooks87
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Pickpick

I had so many laugh out loud moments while reading this. Thanks for sharing it @aroc #eastcoastbookclub. @EH2018 I will probably wait and mail it until next week when hopefully the holiday rush is over! 🤞🏻

#bookspinbingo

aroc Haha! So glad you laughed out loud too! 3y
BookNAround I have had this on my tbr stacks for years. Sounds like I should actually get to it if it‘s going to make me laugh. 3y
EH2018 Looking forward to it! No rush @Lovesbooks87 still trying to make it through my #bookspin #bookspinbingo stack! 3y
Lovesbooks87 @eh2018 Erika I sent the book out today via priority mail. The last couple times I have sent things out media mail it has taken over two weeks to make it to people. Hopefully the rush is over and it makes it to you quickly! They said it should be there by Wednesday. 3y
EH2018 Thank you @Lovesbooks87 I will post when its here! 3y
62 likes3 stack adds5 comments
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Lovesbooks87
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I‘m going in! #eastcoastbookclub

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Blueberry
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1. Cocoa, or kahlua and cream are some
2. Not often but sometimes nature sounds
3. The Madwoman Upstairs
@NataliePatalie

@Fantasy_bookworm #supersunday

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Blueberry
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Pickpick

I loved the very very ending.

57 likes1 stack add
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Lovesbooks87
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Anna your book arrived today. Can‘t wait to read it! #eastcoastbookclub

47 likes1 stack add
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aroc
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I can't wait to hear what you all think of this one. 🤔

#EastCoastBookClub #ECBC

@Lovesbooks87 @whatsthEStorey @EH2018 @samanthagutt

Lovesbooks87 Can‘t wait to read it! 3y
Moonprismpower I remember reading this when it first came out. Are you reading as a part of a group? 3y
samantharoberts Yay! Can‘t wait! 3y
23 likes3 comments
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Kelly326
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September‘s list is a mix of BOTM club books, library books, and audio books I have to finish. Hoping to make at least 2 bingos this month!! #bookspinbingo #bookspin #doublebookspin

sharread Nice, awesome set of books. 4y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 4y
4 likes2 comments
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PaigeTurner
Madwoman Upstairs | Catherine Lowell
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Haven‘t finished, but enjoying this read so far! I love the spunky main character and dialogue. And it speaks to my English lit major soul. #beachread

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Maria514626
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I love her audacity!

Fingers crossed that the MC keeps the right level of mouthiness. I love a smart mouth but some authors push it too far.

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Gulfskye
Madwoman Upstairs | Catherine Lowell
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Favorite line from my current read.

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saresmoore
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Mehso-so

I read this to continue my wanderings with the Brontës. It was good, not great. The writing felt a bit amateurish and it was almost too self-aware/meta on the subject of critical reading and authorial intent. The handful of unreliable characters seemed to exist in a vacuum, which was convenient for propelling the story, but left the whole thing a bit flat. In all, the tone was a bit too cynical for my taste ?

saresmoore ...and the author came off as even more pretentious than her obnoxious characters. It was a fun story and premise, overall, just missed the mark for me. Also, I understand the on-the-nose reference in this case, but please spare me the tidy epilogues, Literary World. 5y
tpixie I agree, I feel more greatness could‘ve come from the premise. Before I read it however I prepped and read all of the Brontës main books which was fun and I‘m glad it did because it made this book more meaningful. I really like Anne Brontë 5y
saresmoore @tpixie I did the same prep! Anne is my favorite, as well, although I still harbor an enduring affection for Emily‘s gothic wonder. I almost felt overprepared for this book, though, and some of the MC‘s misguided musings frustrated the heck out of me! 5y
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LeahBergen I have this on my shelf and worry that (like you) I‘ll be “over prepared” and unable to just read it for fun. 😬 5y
saresmoore @LeahBergen It‘s set in Oxford and the MC is a student with lots of personal history to unearth, so I think you‘ll still be able to enjoy it. Or maybe I‘m just being selfish, because I‘d love to discuss it with you. 😬 I read it cover to cover, yesterday, so it certainly held my attention. 5y
Suet624 Over preparing for a book. Hmmm. I don‘t think I‘ve ever done that! 5y
saresmoore @Suet624 It was sort of accidental. I learned about this book when I was already mostly through reading the Brontë sisters‘ oeuvre. Which maybe just makes me a big nerd. ? 5y
Suet624 Well you are definitely a smiley face with glasses. 😀 5y
tpixie @saresmoore @saresmoore I had not either I guess I created my own college CrashCourse! But it did help me understand or relate to the madwomen book a little more by having read the others first! I think reading Anne Brontës 2 books Agnes Grey & The Tenant of Wildfell Hall was really important , as well as 5y
78 likes1 stack add9 comments
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MaureenMc
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Mehso-so

I love a good literary mystery, and I had high expectations for this novel about a Brontë descendant‘s quest to find the inheritance her father has left her at Oxford. Unfortunately, it didn‘t quite live up to its billing for me. I found the protagonist to be annoyingly immature, and the writing was stilted at times. The premise was fun, though, and YMMV.

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KimberlyFish

“an imagination left alone in the dark can be a terrible thing.” Samantha Whipple

I‘m eating up this novel!! What fun. Thank you, Ms. Lowell.

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Verity
Madwoman Upstairs | Catherine Lowell
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Spotted this in the discount book store yesterday - I think I like the hardback cover more - this feels much fluffier and more romancy than mystery with gothic throw backs!

28 likes2 stack adds
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jlmanner
Pickpick

Fucking fantastic.

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FUPaladin95
This post contains spoilers
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Pickpick

At first, I thought the metaphors, similes, and hyperboles were out of control. When the narrator‘s father is angry with her use of these techniques and she often refers to herself as a horrible writer, I understood. Lingering question: everything at Oxford was carefully orchestrated for the narrator; I wondered if her father hand-selected her professor to provide a Brontëan romance. Had her father met her professor and arranged the relationship?

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AllieMint
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This may look like a chick lit .. but don't ever judge a book by its cover. It's a smart contemporary mystery perfect for Brontë fans. Actually, you'll love it if you enjoy English literature or books in general.. which you should if you like to read at all! 🤣😋

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AllieMint
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Reading in the shade.. loving my current read!

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OriginalCyn620
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@Jess7 look what came today! Max had to sniff it out first though. 🐶
Thanks so much for your generous #giveaway! Very awesome of you! #bookmail

tpixie Cute puppy 🐶 #DogsOfLitsy 🐶♥️🐶 5y
58 likes1 stack add1 comment
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DarcysMom
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Pickpick

🌟🌟🌟🌟
#audiobook
#overdrive

tpixie Great review! 5y
77 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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DarcysMom
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Today's audiowalk capped off the highest mileage I have ever clocked in a single month. The support of all you awesome Littens made it much easier to get up and moving on days I wanted to sink into the couch. I am pumped for a great February chasing my resolutions. 💕💕💕
#audiowalk
#800in2018
#overdrive

JacqMac 👏🎉👏 6y
Lacythebookworm 🎉🎉🎉🙌 6y
mrp27 🎉👏🏼🎉👏🏼 6y
78 likes3 comments
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DarcysMom
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tpixie Great job. I‘ve got to turn my life around. 5y
DarcysMom @tpixie 💖💖💖 5y
87 likes2 comments
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DarcysMom
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tpixie Lol. I know you read this book and did this walk a year ago but I‘m enjoying the horse and cat that you get to see on your walk! 5y
DarcysMom @tpixie I love the animals I get to see! 5y
tpixie @DarcysMom I bet! Animals make hearts swell! ♥️🥰♥️ 5y
77 likes3 comments
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DarcysMom
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75 likes2 stack adds
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heatherkaz
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Pickpick

This book has been in my TBR since it came out, and thanks to my last litsy book exchange I received a copy and *finally* got around to it!
I loved all of the Jane Eyre and Bronte talk, but (guilty pleasure alert!) also enjoyed the romance parts of it. It was like a Hallmark movie went to college😜 overall, an entertaining binge read!
@EmilyChristine #summersolsticeexchange

tpixie @heatherkaz Great review, great book! @EmilyChristine 5y
EmilyChristine Yay! 😊 5y
29 likes2 comments
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Litsi
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Mehso-so

This book didn‘t live up to its promise. It‘s a story about ?? that involves the Bronte family, its estate, and literary theory. But it‘s also a scavenger hunt, a romance and a campus novel. It just doesn‘t in the end have its own reason for being and fails to accomplish any of the forms very well. Still the author has talent. Hoping her next novel will be better focused, but probably won‘t read it.

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Litsi
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Reading this one now. Can‘t put it down!

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sofiaga
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Pickpick

I found this book so charming. It is a great spin on Jane Eyre. I loved the main characters.