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Murder Your Employer
Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide | Rupert Holmes
From the diabolical imagination of Edgar Awardwinning novelist, playwright, and story-songwriter Rupert Holmes comes a devilish thriller with a killer concept: The McMasters Conservatory for the Applied Arts, a luxurious, clandestine college dedicated to the fine art of murder where earnest students study how best to delete their most deserving victim. Who hasnt wondered for a split second what the world would be like if a person who is the object of your affliction ceased to exist? But then youve probably never heard of The McMasters Conservatory, dedicated to the consummate execution of the homicidal arts. To gain admission, a student must have an ethical reason for erasing someone who deeply deserves a fate no worse (nor better) than death. The campus of this Poison Ivy League collegeits location unknown to even those who study thereis where you might find yourself the practice target of a classmateand where ones mandatory graduation thesis is getting away with the perfect murder of someone whose death will make the world a much better place to live. Prepare for an education youll never forget. A delightful mix of witty wordplay, breathtaking twists and genuine intrigue, Murder Your Employer will gain you admission into a wholly original world, cocooned within the most entertaining book about well-intentioned would-be murderers youll ever read. Rupert Holmess much celebrated career ranges from chart-topping story songs with surprising twistsEscape (The Pina Colada Song)to Tony Awardwinning whodunit musicalsThe Mystery of Edwin DroodEdgar Awardwinning comedy-thrillersAccompliceand the Nero Wolfe Best American Mystery Novel nominated Where the Truth Lies, made into an Atom Egoyan motion picture starring Colin Firth and Kevin Bacon. Called an American treasure (Los Angeles Times), a true Renaissance man by Newsweek, a comic genius (Kirkus Reviews) and simply a genius (The Times, London), Rupert Holmes brings his wickedly clever storytelling talents to this outrageous and darkly comic mystery set in a secret, idyllic campus where students learn how to do in others as you would have others do you in.
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K.Wielechowski
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Mehso-so

Three people attend the McMasters school to learn how to delete (murder) their employers.

I don‘t know if I would‘ve liked it just reading it but the audiobook is very good.

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iread2much
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Pickpick

I enjoyed the way the author brought the painful realities of employment in a satirical way highlighting that most people don‘t want to kill their employer but due to the unequal power structures they find they must.
When he fails at murdering his employer Cliff is brought to a school that will give him, and his classmates, the skills to delete the awful man.
3.5/5 read for more satire than murder, with light social commentary.

AnnCrystal 💕🐕💝. 3mo
dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 3mo
iread2much @AnnCrystal 😊💜🐕 3mo
iread2much @dabbe 💜🐕☺️ 3mo
30 likes4 comments
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CaitlinR
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Mehso-so

Rupert Holmes has presented us with an interesting premise, and at times the story is engaging. Unfortunately there are also clunky bits that drag, and also sections that are just overwrought and border on the farcical.

Cliff Iverson, after an unsuccessful attempt to murder his truly awful boss, is enrolled at a College formed to instruct in the fine art of murder. His story, and that of other students, make up the plot. Bit of a slog.

CaitlinR Photo of the author by Susan Woog Wagner 4mo
26 likes1 comment
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Captivatedbybooks
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I opened my package and ran out the house and forgot who sent me my #CreepyChristmas swap. I loved the wrapping and the dish towels!!!!! I cannot wait for next year so I can decorate my bathroom with them. I love the choices of books and those bookmarks are soooo stinking cute ❣️❣️❣️

teebe This would be from @ImperfectCJ 4mo
ImperfectCJ I'm so glad you like it! It's a minor miracle that everything made it to you as I was sorely tempted to keep a couple of the items...I might have to buy duplicates for myself! 4mo
Gissy Great package!🖤🖤🖤🖤 4mo
Gissy @ImperfectCJ So funny! That happens to me in every single swap 😂 4mo
28 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Bluebird
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#12booksof2023. However, I could not pick just one!

Rupert Holmes: Great storyteller. Absolutely wonderful premise: a school to teach one how to ‘delete‘ a hated boss. Unique, creative and fun! I must read more by him!

The other fav is quite different. A beautiful memoir about a guard at the Met. Lovely insights into the art, the visitors and his personal journey dealing with the grief of losing a loved one. This went straight to my heart!

Andrew65 Look wonderful books. 4mo
20 likes1 comment
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KathyWheeler
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Pickpick

I did end up liking this book in the end. I think it‘s just a tad too long, but that doesn‘t really hurt it. I am particularly fond of the ending. Up next is An Assassin in Utopia — non-fiction about how the Oneida utopian community may have had a role in the assassination of the US‘s President Garfield. #audiowalk. Upper left is one of the botanical garden‘s cats. He kind of blends into the sidewalk.

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KathyWheeler
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I have a bit over an hour and a half left, so I should finish it tomorrow. I hate when it gets dark so early! A benefit to being retired though is that early dark doesn‘t have to interfere with my walking outside as I can just go earlier. 😊 #audiowalk

Suet624 How long was your walk? 6mo
KathyWheeler @Suet624 3 miles. 6mo
Suet624 @KathyWheeler wonderful. I‘m trying to push myself to walk more. 6mo
KathyWheeler @Suet624 I get a lot of listening done, plus I‘ve found that I can work through issues and my mindset is more positive when I walk. 6mo
25 likes1 stack add4 comments
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KathyWheeler
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Back to warmish weather today for my #audiowalk. Our heroes are now working on their Murder University theses. We‘ll see how that goes.

Megabooks I enjoyed walking today too. Much better weather! 6mo
KathyWheeler @Megabooks Yes! Much better! 6mo
31 likes2 comments
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KathyWheeler
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More weirdness at the McMaster murder school. I‘m most interested in Gemma‘s story, and she‘s a side character. #audiowalk

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KathyWheeler
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I had to go home to change in order to walk; I‘d have been too cold in what I had on! So I had a nice #audiowalk in long sleeves and sweatpants. I‘m reserving judgement about this book because it‘s just so odd, but I think I like it.

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Hooked_on_books
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Mehso-so

This one starts so strong—funny, interesting. But it quickly focuses more on one of the main characters to the detriment of the other two, who feel tacked on. Then, the whole book starts to sag when they leave the school and each storyline is followed individually. I wanted to love this, but it just has too many issues.

rubyslippersreads I was really looking forward to this one, since the author created one of my favorite TV shows, Remember WENN. 6mo
Hooked_on_books @rubyslippersreads A lot of people are loving this, so hopefully you‘ll be among them rather than reacting the way I did! 6mo
39 likes2 comments
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Nessavamusic
Bailedbailed

This started strong, but half way through it became tedious and I am totally bored so DNFing at 60%

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Read-y_Picker
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When you thought you waited late in enough to poste your #scarathlon TBR but the library holds you weren‘t expecting for weeks suddenly come in… 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️
#BlackCatCrew

Larkken Haha, relatable 7mo
BookwormAHN I also know that feeling. Great bag 🐈‍⬛ 7mo
38 likes2 comments
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ICantImReading
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

“Do in others how you would have others do you in.”

An unexpected, clever, quirky, and darkly funny back-to-school read! The McMaster‘s Conservatory trains “deletists” in the homicidal arts. The narration was top notch! I think fans of “Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone” and “Killers of a Certain Age” would also appreciate this. 🎧

5feet.of.fury Love NPH 7mo
ICantImReading @5feet.of.fury I was excited to see that he was one of the narrators! Perfect casting! 🙂 7mo
49 likes2 comments
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deirdrebeecher
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Pickpick

Funny isn't it how a very good book which ends a little flat feels so much worse than an okay book which ends on a high. I thought this would be an automatic 5* and yet somehow it isn't. McMasters is a school for murderers. Cliff, Dulcie and Gemma all have very good reasons for signing up. Plots, characters, writing all great. Feel they got too caught up in making it cozy and tying up all the loose ends. Still recommend as a 4*

julesG I like the cover on this edition. Very fitting. 7mo
13 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Bookzombie
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Pickpick

I can‘t put my finger on why, but this pick is on the lower end. The narration by Neil Patrick Harris and Simon Vance was great. I enjoyed when the characters were at Hogwa…er, I mean McMasters the most. Maybe it was just too long or maybe it was just me. 🤷🏼‍♀️

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lisakoby
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The best kind of impulse buy!

10 likes1 stack add
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ImperfectCJ
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Pickpick

Cute concept fairly skillfully executed (pun intended). The multiple storylines are sometimes tricky to follow, but the settings are immersive, and the novel is enjoyable overall, especially reading it in the first month of a new job.

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Laughterhp
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Pickpick

I randomly found this book when I was walking through the bookstore and picked it up. But then I saw who the narrators were and decided it would be a better listen! NPH and Simon Vance are both amazing! It was my first book read by NPH but I love Simon Vance!

This book was great. It‘s not really a mystery except for who his benefactor is. I really enjoyed this book. Sun fun!

#jubilantjuly

thegirlwiththelibrarybag I‘ve added this to my audible wishlist - for when I‘ve finished my current reads. 9mo
Andrew65 Excellent 👏👏👏 I love listening to Simon Vance reading books. 9mo
65 likes2 comments
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Jen2
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Pickpick

So fun!

51 likes2 stack adds
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limada
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Pickpick

I loved this book. What a great twist on a mystery. I've no intention to "delete" my employer, but there's some really fun information in these pages. Looking forward to the next volume, though i expect it may be a different narrator... #32-2023

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DGRachel
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Pickpick

Unique, clever, and highly entertaining. Neil Patrick Harris narrates the POV of one of the students and Simon Vance takes on the roll of narrator for all of the third-person sections. Both are brilliant.

CSeydel Is this Rupert Holmes of the “piña colada song”? 10mo
DGRachel @CSeydel I‘m not familiar with the pina colada song, so I‘ve no idea. 10mo
CSeydel Oof. I was trying to make a joke, but now I just feel old 💀 10mo
See All 12 Comments
DGRachel @CSeydel Oops. Sorry! Don‘t feel old. I‘m just clueless about a lot of things, so blame my ignorance! 10mo
CSeydel Lol! Well, my kids are teenagers/young adults, so my immediate response to anything is “god, I‘m old” 😂 10mo
AlaMich @CSeydel That‘s the first thing I thought of too! 10mo
DGRachel @CSeydel @AlaMich I had to go Google the song. I‘m older than the song, so it‘s definitely not you, it‘s me. 🤦🏻‍♀️ 10mo
DGRachel And YES! Apparently it‘s the same person. 😱 10mo
AlaMich It‘s a fun song, and it really tells a story. 10mo
CSeydel @AlaMich It‘s definitely one that sticks with you 😆 @DGRachel it‘s really the same person? I thought I was kidding! I didn‘t know he wrote a book. 10mo
DGRachel @CSeydel It is! I found his website and he has done a lot of different things. https://www.rupertholmes.com/ 10mo
CSeydel 👍🏻 10mo
56 likes1 stack add12 comments
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bthegood
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Pickpick

Follows 3 students (McMasters School) who are learning how to delete someone. A Hogwarts for adults (without the magic)- the campus is beautiful, teachers are quirky, students form tight bonds, goal is ethical/well rounded deletists. Humorous and engaging. Really enjoyed each students back story - thesis (how they would delete someone) - and final exam (carrying out the deletion).

#BookSpinBingo #AlphabeticalBingo

Make agreat day everyone 🙂

39 likes1 stack add
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bthegood
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2 of 3 books finished for #MagnificentMay - still reading tagged book (probably done by end of tomorrow) -
Thanks for hosting @Andrew65 -
And Happy Mothers Day to all the moms out there in Litsyland - 🌹
Make a great day everyone 🙂

Andrew65 Well done, that‘s excellent 👏👏👏🙌🍾🥂🥳 Have a great Mother‘s Day. 11mo
bthegood @Andrew65 thank you - 11mo
35 likes1 stack add2 comments
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bthegood
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One more book (the tagged) to reach my #MagnificentMay readathon goal.
Working toward some bingos on my #BookSpinBingo and #AlphabeticalBingo .
Thanks for hosting @Andrew65 @TheAromaofBooks and @Clwojick -

Make a great day everyone 🙂

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 11mo
Andrew65 Excellent 👏👏👏 11mo
27 likes2 comments
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vlwelser
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Pickpick

Simon Vance + NPH = magic

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I Probably shouldn‘t read this at work!! 😂😂 12mo
dabbe @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Or ... you could put a copy on your boss's desk for Boss's Day! 🤣🤣🤣 12mo
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 12mo
Laughterhp Oo I bought the hardcover of this, but I might need to switch to audio! 12mo
38 likes1 stack add4 comments
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bthegood
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My goals for #MagnificentMay readathon is to finish tagged book, and “Life Expectancy“ and “The House of Dark Shadows“ -
thanks for hosting @Andrew65

Make a great day everyone 😎

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Sharpeipup
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Probably not the book to read the first week of a new job.

Pageturner1 lol, probably not 12mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Or any day at work lol!!! 🤣🤣🤣 12mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks It‘s a beautiful cover though ❤️🖤 12mo
See All 6 Comments
vlwelser But it's so fun. Simon Vance and NPH do the audio. 12mo
Sharpeipup @vlwelser bet I could listen to it in the office…especially with those narrators. 12mo
vlwelser Definitely worth the attempt. 12mo
40 likes3 stack adds6 comments
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Follow.my.read
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Oooo it has a MAP!!!! #MurderYourEmplyer#volume1#The McMastersGuideTo Homicide#RupertHolmes#InsideArt

Soubhiville I thought this was a fun book. Enjoy! 12mo
Ruthiella Is he the guy who sang the pina colada song? 12mo
57 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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paisleyjess
Bailedbailed

Very "cheeky" narration with breaks in the third wall as another narrator interjects. Just not my cup of tea right now even though the idea is cute.

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ncsufoxes
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Pickpick

I listened to this one on audio. Neil Patrick Harris was one of the narrators, so that sold me. Both Harris & Vance bring the story to life with their different voices for the various characters throughout the story. It was a fun, quirky story about a school that teaches you the fine arts of deleting someone. I‘m hoping there are more books in the future. The down side is it‘s a long listen. 14 hours but worth it. #bookspin book

AmyG Sounds good! 12mo
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 12mo
27 likes1 stack add2 comments
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TheBookbabeblog84
Mehso-so

I don‘t know if it was the audiobook or the over all story line but I didn‘t love it. I am going to have to real sit with this one for a moment to figure out what didn‘t thrill me.

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YouReadMyEyes
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I have to admit, the checkout clerk at the bookstore gave me a weird look when ringing me up for this title 🧐 😂

#murderyouremployer #mystery #thriller #crime

tpixie 😀😂🤣 13mo
48 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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BookBelle84
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Mehso-so

This was funny and clever. The audio is definitely the way to go. I do have to say that I loved the first part in the school. The author lost me a little in the second part with the students back in the real world because the murders were rather complicated and convoluted. I would be interested to read more in the school setting.

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Soubhiville
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Pickpick

I reserved this as soon as I found out Neil Patrick Harris and Simon Vance narrated it.

Cliff tried to push his boss in front of a subway train. (He deserved it!) Things didn‘t quite go as planned and Cliff finds himself enrolled at McMasters, a school that trains would be killers.

Definitely recommend! I laughed a ton.

BiblioLitten I should keep this at my workplace… just for laughs 😏😏🤭 13mo
Aims42 I read the book, will definitely listen to the audio for NPH‘s narration 😁 It‘s gotta be legendary! 13mo
dabbe The best Boss's Day gift I've ever seen! 😂 13mo
bthegood Thanks for the review - put in my library request (on hold) always looking for good audiobook!! Make a great day 🙂 13mo
77 likes9 stack adds4 comments
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Branwen
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Pickpick

This book is wonderful! I just finished it earlier today, and it was an absolute delight! Very witty, and lots of mysterious plot points to navigate! Plus, there's a gorgeous map in the beginning of the book! 💕📚

Ruthiella What a title! 😂 13mo
Branwen @Ruthiella RIGHT?! My favorite thing was keeping it with me at work and delighting in everyone's double takes when they asked me what I was reading! 😂📚💕 13mo
51 likes4 stack adds2 comments
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julesG
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Pickpick

So much fun.

Set in the 1950s, in the US and UK and at the secret estate of the McMasters school.

Students at McM's are of all ages and trades of life, they come to the school for one reason: they need to kill someone without it tracing back to them.

Three students need to kill their respective employer.

I'm hoping there's going to be another part coming out soon.

#SeriesLove2023 @TheSpineView @Andrew65
#20in4 #readathon

TheSpineView Fantastic! 14mo
LeahBergen This sounds so fun! Stacked. 👍 14mo
Andrew65 Sounds great, well done 👏👏👏 14mo
74 likes5 stack adds3 comments
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Aims42
Pickpick

This was a fun, enjoyable read! I heard it was “Harry Potter meets The Kingsmen” and I have to say that‘s pretty accurate lol I‘d give it a solid 4 stars and I hope there‘s a series 🤞

24 likes1 stack add
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kelli7990
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Today, I‘m sharing this book I preordered in 2022. It‘s an exclusive edition. It‘s signed and has a map in the front and back of the book. I like when books have maps and I like the book cover. It‘s pretty. I‘m looking forward to reading this book.

julesG OMG!!! I wish I had preordered this edition 14mo
8 likes1 comment
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julesG
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Total #CoverLove #CoverBuy

Was published 21st February. So brand new.

#SeriesLove2023 @TheSpineView @Andrew65

#20in4 #readathon

TheSpineView Pretty ❤🖤 14mo
Read-y_Picker Definitely showing up to work with this one! Lol 14mo
dabbe I stacked it based on the cover alone! Stunning! 14mo
Andrew65 What a stunning cover. 14mo
Cathythoughts Gorgeous cover ♥️ 14mo
72 likes7 stack adds5 comments
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Preciouz29
Pickpick

This was a fun and entertaining read. I will say it took me a while to get used to the style of writing, but the story was captivating and once I got used to the narrative style, enjoyable. The plot was unique and the scenarios were fun.