Young Adult New Releases December 2025
As the year comes to a close, most are focused on holidays and not many books will be released this month, so we will be sharing all of December’s releases today.
Now go create some end of year lists and even maybe cramming to finish your reading goals…and if you are like me you will want to read some holiday books and we have a whole bookshop full of suggestions!
I also want to highlight that you can give a gift membership to your audiobook lovers from Libro.fm (affiliate link) or make that switch from the billionaires to a company that gives back to indie bookstores of your choice! There are major sales right now on audiobooks and credit bundles!
December 2nd
There's Always Next Year
by Leah Johnson, George M. Johnsonon December 2, 2025
Genres: Contemporary, LGBTQIA+, Young Adult
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From New York Times-bestselling author George M. Johnson and USA Today-bestselling author Leah Johnson comes a revolutionary new holiday romcom for fans of Lynn Painter, Alice Oseman, and Nicola Yoon.
Andy was supposed to shed her too-serious student journalist persona and reinvent herself on New Year's Eve. Instead, she puked on her crush, dropped her phone in a fish tank, and managed to get her car stolen. Now, she only has the first day of the year to stop the gentrification that’s threatening her family’s business right her wrongs from the night before, and figure out why she feels so drawn to the electric new-girl-next-door. . How can Andy find her voice when everything’s being turned upside down?
Dominique is an influencer on the verge of securing a major brand deal that will ensure his future and family legacy. But when he runs into his former best friend, unresolved feelings emerge -- and in a small town, there's nowhere to hide. Not from his cousin, Andy, who has always seen him for his true self, not from his busybody manager, Kim, whose favorite color is money green, and certainly not from himself. When all the world’s a stage, can Dominique rise to superstardom without leaving the ones he loves behind?
There’s Always Next Year is a dual POV, double love story about what it means to nearly blow your life up, and race to put it back together before your time runs out. And if they fail? Well, there’s always next year.
Better in Black
by Cassandra ClarePublished by: Knopf Books for Young Readers
on December 2, 2025
Genres: Anthology, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult
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Ten original love stories by the reigning queen of romantasy, featuring fan-favorite couples from her #1 New York Times bestselling Shadowhunter Chronicles—one of the most popular series of all time, with more than 50 million copies in print worldwide!
Ten couples. United by love. Divided by danger.
Jace and Clary, seeking out an exiled Shadowhunter and learning that love can save the world—or destroy it. Will and Tessa, honeymooning in Paris when a séance sends them down an unexpected path. Simon and Izzy, observing increased demonic activity around New York, on a hilarious urban romp.
These are just a few of the beloved couples whose romantic escapades will have you on the edge of your seat across time and storylines from Cassandra Clare’s expansive Shadowhunters series. Don’t miss a chance to reunite with:
• Anna and Ari
• Emma and Julian
• Kieran, Mark, and Cristina
• James and Cordelia
• Thomas and Alastair
• Sebastian and the Seelie Queen
• Jocelyn and LukeA love letter to every fan of the Shadowhunter Chronicles, this riveting story collection also includes a sneak peek at The Wicked Powers, the majestic trilogy that will be the grand finale of the entire series!
Crowntide (Lightlark, #4)
by Alex AsterPublished by: Amulet Books
on December 2, 2025
Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, Thriller, Young Adult
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The highly anticipated fourth novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling Lightlark Saga, by acclaimed author and #BookTok sensation Alex Aster
Some worlds deserve to be destroyed . . .
Isla Crown has charted a new destiny and leapt into the unknown, determined to defeat her insidious ancestor, Lark, no matter the cost. But Skyshade is nothing like she anticipated, and she’ll have to use all of her skills just to survive, let alone end Lark for good.
Meanwhile, Grim and Oro would sooner set fire to their own kingdoms than leave Isla stranded on a path toward certain death. But getting her back will involve forging an alliance—if they can find a way to forgive their long history of betrayals.
The key to Isla’s return—and the fate of the realms—lies close to her heart. But in the face of her most powerful enemy yet, will Isla be able to reconcile her past in order to carve a future of her own making?
Finding Her Edge
by Jennifer IacopelliPublished by: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
on December 2, 2025
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Young Adult
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SOON TO BE A NETFLIX SERIES
A swoony YA sports romance filled with fake dating drama, reality show rumours and a love triangle that's heating up on and off the ice. Perfect for fans of Lynn Painter and Jenny Han.
"Sure to ignite dreams and warm hearts." - Laura Taylor Namey, New York Times bestselling author of A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow
Adriana Russo is figure skating royalty, born to gold-medalist parents and an equally talented sister. Adriana's dream? To conquer the Junior World Championships and uphold the family legacy. But when the family's legendary skating rink faces financial ruin, everything she's worked for is at risk.
Training with her new partner, Brayden, sparks an let the world believe their on-ice chemistry isn't only for show. The fake-dating gains traction, and Adriana realizes maybe she actually is falling for Brayden. But then her past crashes into her present and changes everything, when Freddie, her former partner-and first crush-reenters the scene.
As the biggest competition of her life draws closer and her family's legacy hangs in the balance, Adriana is torn between the future she's worked so hard for with Brayden, and the one she gave up long ago with Freddie. Will she find her edge and claim her place at the top, or will her heart lead her in a different direction?
Persephone's Curse
by Katrina LenoPublished by: Wednesday Books
on December 2, 2025
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Young Adult
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The Hazel Wood meets Laini Taylor in this gorgeous speculative tale of sisterhood, ghosts and old family curses.
Are the four Farthing sisters really descended from Persephone? This is what their aunt has always told that the women in their family can trace their lineage right back to the Goddess of the Dead. And maybe she's right, because the Farthing girls do have a ghost in the attic of their Manhattan brownstone —a kind and gentle ghost named Henry, who only they can see.
When one of the sisters falls in love with the ghost, and another banishes him to the Underworld, the sisters are faced with even bigger questions about who they are. If they really are related to Persephone, and they really are a bit magic, then perhaps it’s up to them to save Henry, to save the world, and to save each other.
The Last Vampire
by Romina GarberPublished by: Wednesday Books
on December 2, 2025
Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Young Adult
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Pride & Prejudice meets Crave when Austen-loving Lorena Navarro attends a new boarding school expecting to find her own Mr. Darcy, but accidentally finds the world’s last vampire instead!
Pride comes before the fall.
When a boarding school opens in a once-condemned Victorian manor buried in the woods of New Hampshire, Austen-loving Lorena Navarro enrolls in hopes of finding her own Mr. Darcy. Instead, she stumbles across a coffin and accidentally awakens the world’s last vampire.
After hibernating for nearly three centuries, William Pride is desperate to find his family—and clueless about the modern world. Relying on Lorena for more than just blood, he enrolls at the school to catch up on all he’s missed.
Soon, William uncovers a chilling truth: He is the last hope for his kind’s return to power. Torn between protecting the humans around him and fulfilling his fate, William must make a choice that could change everything. Will he sacrifice his species for love . . . or will he embrace his dark destiny at last?
Seven All Alone
by Kirsty McKayPublished by: Sourcebooks Fire
on December 2, 2025
Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Young Adult
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From the author of The Assassin Game and Have You Seen My Sister? comes another gripping thriller that follows seven teens stranded together on a trip in the mountains, cut off from civilization, and hunted by an unknown killer who wants them dead.
Maggie Atkins will never forget what happened in that cave ten years ago when she and six other elementary school kids were kidnapped by their bus driver and kept captive. She will never forget that her friends left her alone to escape, or the image of her kidnapper falling to his death, but she has done her best to put the ordeal behind her and move on.
Her past catches up with her when she's forced to go on a school trip to the mountains with the very same people who abandoned her, and only a stone's throw away from the scene of her kidnapping. She's determined to suck it up and get through it though since it's only one night of her life. But then a brutal storm changes everything and separates her group from their chaperone. With no phones and a limited food supply, the group strategizes how they can survive the elements and make it back to safety.
Then they realize there is someone else on the mountain. Someone who knows what really happened all those years ago. Someone who wants them dead and is willing to take them out one by one. Maggie thought she'd already survived the worst thing she would ever go through--she was wrong.
The Obsession
by Natasha PrestonPublished by: Delacorte Press
on December 2, 2025
Genres: Contemporary, Mystery, Thriller, Young Adult
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ARE YOU REALLY HOME ALONE?
Sixteen-year-old Connie has been dragged into the world of vlogging - her mum Lou's vlog is hugely popular, enough to bring in money for a new house, expensive lifestyle . . . and a lot of criticism.
While Lou and Connie's older sister Isla are touring colleges, Connie stays home alone, where she becomes increasingly paranoid about comments on the vlog. Plus someone is turning up at her school and following her on her way home.
Then Connie's best friend is attacked - the third teenage girl attacked in five weeks - and suspicion turns to Connie. Connie doesn't know who she can trust any more and goes on the run. But will the killer - whoever they are - catch up with her?
Ghost Boys: The Graphic Novel
by Jewell Parker Rhodes, Setor Fiadzigbeyon December 2, 2025
Genres: Graphic Novel, Young Adult
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Experience Jewell Parker Rhodes's award-winning storytelling in this tender yet visceral graphic novel adaptation of her New York Times bestselling novel, with poignant illustrations by Setor Fiadzigbey.
Twelve-year-old Jerome is shot by a police officer who mistakes his toy gun for a real threat. As a ghost, he observes the devastation that is unleashed on his family and community in the wake of this unjust and brutal killing.
Soon Jerome meets another ghost: Emmett Till, a boy from a very different time but similar circumstances. Emmett helps Jerome process what has happened, on a journey toward recognizing how historical racism may have led to the events that ended his life. Jerome also meets Sarah, the daughter of the police officer who shot him, as she grapples with her father's actions.
Now gorgeously a graphic novel with gripping artwork from Black Panther illustrator Setor Fiadzigbey, Ghost Boys once again deftly explores the historical and sociopolitical layers involved in how children and families face the complexities of today's world--and how one boy, in particular, comes to understand American Blackness in the aftermath of his own death.
The Rebel and the Rose (The City of Fantome, #2)
by Catherine DoylePublished by: Margaret K. McElderry Books
on December 2, 2025
Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult
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The path of destiny burns with love, magic, and betrayal in this second book in the City of Fantome enemies-to-lovers romantasy series perfect for fans of Margaret Rogerson and Caraval.
From a remote hilltop haven, far from the city of Fantome, Seraphine Marchant and her Order of Flames plot to eradicate shade magic with lightfire. But as Sera struggles to control her blooming powers, destiny calls her back to Fantome—and to the assassin who haunts her dreams.
Ransom Hale can’t get Sera out of his head. As their rivalry grows and he grapples with the responsibility of leading the Order of Daggers, he feels himself slipping further from who he wants to be. Is he doomed to a life in the shadows? Or can he forge another path?
Meanwhile, rebellion is stirring in the kingdom, and a dangerous prince grows in power. Forced to work together by order of the king, Sera and Ransom’s conflicted hearts are tested to their limits. And all the while, an ancient prophecy is unfolding that will change the fate of Valterre forever…
The Glass Scientists: Volume Three: A Graphic Novel
by S.H. CotugnoPublished by: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
on December 2, 2025
Genres: Fantasy, Graphic Novel, Young Adult
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"A wickedly sharp adventure!" —ND Stevenson, New York Times bestselling creator of Nimona
Witness the epic conclusion to the webcomic phenomenon about star-crossed lovers and misunderstood monsters in this third and final graphic novel!
Last we saw Dr. Jekyll he was on stage about to welcome everyone to his grand exhibition—the event meant to save his Society for Arcane Sciences and his way of life—when he collapsed, pulled under by his devilish alter ego Mr. Hyde. When he wakes, Jekyll assumes everything is doomed, but in a surprise to just about everyone, he couldn’t be more wrong. The event was a success, his band of rogue scientists now all have patrons, and business is booming. What’s more, he even plucks up the courage to do the scariest, craziest thing of all: confess his feelings for Lanyon. Everything is finally coming up Jekyll!
Oh, if only the good scientist remembered his physics, because what goes up must inevitably come crashing down. Just when everything Jekyll has worked and hoped for is finally within his grasp, the barrier between his dueling personalities is shattered. Both Jekyll and Hyde are thrown into a constant wrestling for control of both their minds and bodies, which seem to switch without rhyme or reason. In the chaos, Jekyll’s secret has never been more at risk of being exposed, and he won’t get any help concealing it from his other half. Hyde has finally gotten a taste of life as a free man, and if Jekyll (or anyone else) dares to take it away, well, we should all brace for impact.
Stranger Things: One Way or Another: A Nancy Wheeler Mystery
by Caitlin SchneiderhanPublished by: Random House Worlds
on December 2, 2025
Genres: Adult, Media Tie-In, Mystery, New Adult, Paranormal, Thriller
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Following the events of Stranger Things: Season 4, Nancy Wheeler and Robin Buckley are hot on the heels of a new mystery—and they won’t stop until they solve it.
Hawkins, Indiana, is in recovery. It’s been two months since Vecna’s earthquake tore through the town, and its residents are still reeling from the devastation. Nancy Wheeler has spent every waking minute on the hunt for Vecna, but he’s continued to elude her. How can she head to Emerson for college in the fall if Hawkins is still under the influence of the Upside Down?
When fellow classmate Joey Taft starts acting shifty at graduation, Nancy is convinced Vecna’s found his newest victim. Joined by fellow amateur sleuth Robin Buckley, Nancy doesn’t waste any time questioning Joey. What the girls discover leads them down the path of a bigger story than The Hawkins Post could ever have assigned Nancy. Why are people around town suddenly getting sick? Why is there a strange man tailing Nancy as she investigates? And, most important, does this even have anything to do with the Upside Down?
Together with Robin, Nancy embarks on a dangerous quest for the truth. The deeper the two dig, the further Nancy finds herself drawn into a web of intrigue that threatens to trap her in Hawkins . . . forever.
December 9th
Twin Tides
by Hien NguyenPublished by: Delacorte Press
on December 9, 2025
Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Young Adult
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Long-lost twin sisters unravel the mystery behind their mother's disappearance and face the family betrayal that ultimately separated them in this breathtaking speculative young adult thriller.
Aria Nguyen and Caliste Ha are identical twins. A fact that they just learned when a police officer told them that their mother is no longer a missing person. She’s been found dead in Minnesota, a place neither knew they had a connection to.
Aria is from DC, where she’s been struggling to pay their sick aunt’s medical bills and only does so by writing her classmates’ papers for extra cash.
Meanwhile, Caliste is a successful influencer in LA, not that their food mogul father cares. Both have dreamt of the moment they’d see their mother again, of being happy again, but they could’ve never imagined this nightmare. Their mom’s body apparently hasn’t aged, and there’s a bruise on her neck.
Now beckoned to the quaint yet eerie city of Les Eaux, where a ghoul supposedly haunts the waters, Caliste and Aria must delve into their family’s past to find their mother’s murderer. Secrets don’t unravel easily though. And some people in this small town don’t want to give theirs up without a fight.
An Archive of Romance (A Study in Drowning)
by Ava ReidPublished by: HarperCollins
on December 9, 2025
Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult
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The enchanting world of A Study in Drowning comes to life through letters, poems, art, and more in this beautifully illustrated full-color novella from #1 New York Times bestselling author Ava Reid, featuring over forty illustrations, expanded and new text, stunning endpapers, and romantic rose gold foil for a jaw-dropping addition to the beloved dark academia series.
“I will love you to ruination,” the Fairy King said, brushing a strand of golden hair from my cheek.
“Yours or mine?” I asked.
The Fairy King did not answer.Effy and Preston have been torn apart by the wars of men, the power of words, and the specter of magic—but it was through stories that they found each other. Relive Effy and Preston’s love story through their own pens in this immersive collection of mementos, illustrations, maps, blueprints, diary entries, and more. Read Angharad with Effy's annotations; sneak excerpts of Preston's diary; see the architectural sketches that brought Effy to Hiraeth; get your own ticket to Saltney; and experience the never-before-seen epilogue to Effy and Preston’s romance.
A perfect gift for fans of A Study in Drowning and A Theory of Dreaming and anyone who wants to embark on their own dark academia journey, this gorgeously illustrated novella collects ephemera from Effy and Preston as they remember the romance and prepare for a new chapter in their lives—together.
Secrets, Spells, and Chocolate
by Marisa ChurchillPublished by: Page Street YA
on December 9, 2025
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
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At the world’s greatest magical cooking school, risks matter just as much as whisks.
Sylvie Jones has been dreaming of attending her mom’s alma mater, Brindille School of Culinary Arts and Magic, since she was old enough to reach the stove. Unfortunately, her last name has a horrible stain on it, something that could destroy her dream. So when Sylvie is given the chance to prove her skills and put an end to the rumors that her mother cheated her way to victory at the most prestigious magical cooking competition, The Golden Whisk, she takes it.
But the opportunity may not be all that it’s cracked up to be. If Sylvie truly wants to make her own mark and earn a place at Brindille, she needs to uncover the truth about what happened all those years ago. But some will go to great lengths to ensure Sylvie fails, and she soon finds herself tangled in a web of deceit.
With the unlikely help of frenemy Georgia Shaw and rising-star student Flora Jackson, Sylvie must find a way to get to The Golden Whisk All-Stars competition and uncover the past before time runs out. Will she be able to redeem her family’s name and save her future, or will it all end in burned butter and broken dreams?
Trail Rides & Starry Eyes
by Katrina EmmelPublished by: Delacorte
on December 9, 2025
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Young Adult
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A swoony, sweet YA rural romance between a rancher and the Hollywood hotshot she's tasked with turning into a cowboy—perfect for fans of Kasie West, Erin Hahn, and Kristy Boyce!
Sixteen-year-old Cassidy Sterling can't imagine life beyond her family's Wyoming ranch. Her days are filled with colt breaking, cattle rustling, and an online Intro to Astronomy class. Seventeen-year-old Wilder Nash also has his sights set on the stars—the ones on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. A teen heartthrob, he's now he's ready for the big time. To land a lead role as a cowboy in a prime-time mini-series, he must convince the casting director he's an experienced horseman. The problem? He’s all hat and no cowboy.
With less than a month to learn to ride, Wilder heads to Silver Stallion Ranch.
Cassidy's quiet life is disrupted when Wilder arrives. As he mucks out stalls and grooms horses, Wilder begins to see there's more to life than his looks. And Cassidy starts imagining a future beyond the ranch. The growing spark between them threatens to ignite into something more, but Cassidy must decide if she's brave enough to take the reins of her own life. Meanwhile, Wilder faces a choice: the glamorous life of a star or a simpler life under the stars.
December 16th
The Uninvited
by Nancy BanksPublished by: Delacorte Press
on December 16, 2025
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult
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A YA paranormal fantasy about vampires in the Paris underground, where a young woman's bohemian dream turns into a chilling nightmare. Now her survival hinges on bringing to light the city's darkest and deepest secrets.
When 17-year-old Tosh Reeves moves from Portland, Oregon to Paris, it’s a dream come to life. The city embraces her with its street-life, iconic architecture, and infinite gustatory delights. There’s even a charming expat boy, Nick, who introduces her to sights tourists never see.
From medieval catacombs to the viciously competitive street art scene, Tosh’s immersion in Paris makes her feel wholly alive in a way she’s never before experienced. She belongs.
But when a series of brutal vampiric attacks creeps closer to her new circle of bohemian friends, Tosh will confront the darker side of her beloved Paris, and learn how deeply monsters can strike at a young woman’s power and heart.
Meet Cute: Count Down to Valentine's Day
by Jennifer L. Armentrout, Katie Cotugno, Jocelyn Davies, Huntley Fitzpatrick, Nina LaCour, Emery Lord, Katharine McGee, Kass Morgan, Julie Murphy, Meredith Russo, Sara Shepard, Nicola Yoon, Ibi ZoboiPublished by: Clarion
on December 16, 2025
Genres: Anthology, Contemporary Romance, Young Adult
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Count down to Valentine’s Day with 14 sealed short stories. Open one each day between February 1st and 14th!
Whether or not you believe in fate, or luck, or love at first sight, every romance has to start somewhere. MEET CUTE is an anthology of original short stories featuring tales of "how they first met" from some of today’s most popular YA authors.
Readers will experience Nina LaCour's beautifully written piece about two Bay Area girls meeting via a cranky customer service Tweet, Sara Shepard's glossy tale about a magazine intern and a young rock star, Nicola Yoon's imaginative take on break-ups and make-ups, Katie Cotugno's story of two teens hiding out from the police at a house party, and Huntley Fitzpatrick's charming love story that begins over iced teas at a diner. There’s futuristic flirting from Kass Morgan and Katharine McGee, a riveting transgender heroine from Meredith Russo, a subway missed connection moment from Jocelyn Davies, and a girl determined to get out of her small town from Ibi Zoboi. Jennifer Armentrout writes a sweet story about finding love from a missing library book, Emery Lord has a heartwarming and funny tale of two girls stuck in an airport, Dhonielle Clayton takes a thoughtful, speculate approach to pre-destined love, and Julie Murphy dreams up a fun twist on reality dating show contestants.
This incredibly talented group of authors brings us a collection of stories that are at turns romantic and witty, epic and everyday, heartbreaking and real.
December 23rd
Red Queen 10th Anniversary Deluxe 5-book Box Set with stenciled edges: Great for Holiday and Christmas Reading or Gifting
by Victoria AveyardPublished by: HarperCollins
on December 23, 2025
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
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For the first time ever, the entire #1 New York Times bestselling Red Queen series is captured together in one box set. This stunning package features all four blockbuster Red Queen novels—Red Queen, Glass Sword, King’s Cage, and War Storm—as well as the short story collection Broken Throne.
This limited edition, 10th anniversary collection is finished with floral edges dripping in red and silver blood, creating a seamless, striking design across all five volumes that will look stunning on fans’ bookshelves.
Power is a dangerous game.
Mare Barrow, a lowly Red in a world of red-blooded laborers and silver-blooded elites, thought she knew what her future held. Until she learns that her red blood has been disguising a secret ability—one usually reserved only for Silvers.
The Silver ruling class is determined to keep her secret hidden from the increasingly restless Red population and their Scarlet Guard revolutionaries. But will they succeed?
Or will Mare use her forbidden power to change the caste system, the kingdom, and the world—forever?
In the dark and dangerous world of Red Queen, no one is as they appear, and the only certainty is betrayal. Follow the series from the spark that began everything—all the way to the electrifying conclusion, and beyond.
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