Most bookworms have that list of authors that are their go-to “must buy.” It took me a while to have such a dedicated list since I was burned by book hype and reads that disappointed me. Also, I tend to read a lot of classics, so contemporary authors never met my interests or radar.
That is until I encountered the following authors.
I fell in love with their books, and I haven’t looked back. The authors have introduced me to new ideas and fantastic storytelling, and I consider them the best of the best. I have a rule where I have to read at most three books by the same author for me to think of them to be part of my must-buy crew. So, if you are looking for a new author to add to your TBR pile, the following ones will lead you in the right direction.
Don’t worry. This is always an ever-growing list. The next time around, you will see a new group of authors that make the list. So keep on the lookout!
Catherine Ryan Howard
After reading 56 Days, I was captivated by how twisty and engrossing the books was. I knew that had to look to see what other books she has written and since then, I always on the look for new titles by Ryan.
Sara Barnard
I credit Barnard for getting me interested in rereading YA. After reading Goodbye Perfect, I discovered that YA can be written beautifully and realistically. Barnard doesn’t try to sound like a teenager; she writes from the heart. And it made me I believe that there could be believable YA out there.
Laura Bates
The first book I read by Bates was Everyday Sexism, and from then on, I had to get my hands on everything she had written. The way she writes, whether it is an essay or fiction book, the way she writes is so insightful and enlightening that you can’t help but Feel empowered by her words. If am you haven’t read anything by Laura Bates, now is the perfect time to begin.
Holly Jackson
Sara Barnard got me rereading YA fiction, and Holly Jackson got me rereading YA mysteries. A Good Girls Guide To Murder series was exciting and completely different from what I’ve previously read before and from then on. Every book in the series didn’t disappoint, so I am always anticipating what latest thriller she comes up with, and so far, like with A Good Girls Guide…, Jackson hasn’t disappointed.
Nadine Matheson
It’s so rare to read a BIPOC main character in a mystery, let alone by a BIPOC author. So, discovering Nadine Matheson was a godsend for me. Not only reading the Inspector Anjelica Henley series was exciting and new , it was also compelling and suspenseful to read and its been awhile for me to be excited for a mystery series. Matheson has created a series that is both realistic and thrilling that makes you want more after you hit the last page.
Manjeet Mann
Run Rebel left an emotional punch, The Crossing had me enthralled. Every book that I buy from her has always been a winner and has left me with a different outlook on life. The innovative way she wrote The Crossing cemented Mann for me as one of my favorite authors.
John Allison
Giant Days was one of the books, in this case, series, that saved me during the COVID lockdown. When there wasn’t anything on TV, reading this series in one sitting was like having a TV show in my head! After reading the last issue, Giant Days, I couldn’t get enough of John Allison’s wit, humor, and creative storytelling. I had to read everything that he had created. If I am ever in a funk or need a break from reading dark and mysterious stories, Allison’s comics are always a good pick-me-up.
Laura Purcell
Agatha Christie is the Queen of Mystery, and Laura Purcell is the Queen of Gothic Fiction. Purcell has the gift of creating dark and atmospheric gothic stories that are not only profoundly researched but also enriched with captivating storytelling and mysterious writing with stories that leave you with a satisfying chill down your spine.
Sarah Crossan
I consider Crossan to be the Queen of Novels in Verse. The reason that I now read novels in verse. Crossan’s work is always so captivating and emotional that towards the end of her novels, eyes are always left with tears. If you are not a fan of novels in verse, then you should definitely pick up one of Crossan’s award -winning novels to change your perspective.
Matt Haig
Another award-winning author that leaves such an emotional impact through their writing. Haig creates inspirational writing through both fiction and nonfiction works. You always find yourself rereading it over and over because you need to read something moving and uplifting to get you through the rest of the day. That is what Matt Haig’s works does for me.
Nikita Gill
I was never a big poetry person. That is until I read Nikita Gill’s works. She took poetry (and combine it with a beautiful artwork) to a whole different level. Here is another author who provides inspirational and motivational words that are helpful when dealing with mental health issues and matters. If you are having trouble reading poetry, I highly recommend reading Gill’s beautiful work.
Jojo Moyes
I credit Jojo Moyes for getting me out my reading funk years ago. After reading Me Before You, I not only wanted to read everything else by Moyes, but this was also a time where I fell in love reading British and Irish contemporary books. Moyes doesn’t just write romantic stories. She writes stories that are seeped with emotional and realistic storytelling that just stay with you always. I always feel enriched when I read another Moyes novel and in awe of the different stories that she can tell. That’s why she is one of my favorite authors of all time.
- Quote of the Day – April 4, 2026
- Quote of the Day – April 3, 2026
- Quote of the Day – April 2, 2026
- In Conversation with Q.M. Gatlin
Next up in the 2nd season of the Tea & Books Chat podcast, we are joined by author, creator and mental health advocate, Q.M. Gatin, as we talk about her writings and other creative work, including her most recent book, Beautiful Chaos: A Free Verse Reflection.
Start listening below!
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Acast:
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Listen also at the following places:
Get a copy of Beautiful Chaos at the links below!
About The Author
Fueled by an eclectic love of books, art, and the kind of theater that leaves you breathless, Q.M. writes with a flair for drama and a heartbeat of authenticity. Their work lives at the crossroads of lyricism and electricity, where every sentence pulls you forward and every image lands with cinematic impact. Their creativity has no box, it ranges from workbooks, poetry, adventure to steamy mystery and much more.
But beneath the artistry lies purpose: as a passionate mental-health advocate, Q.M. creates worlds where readers can escape, exhale, feel held & sometimes just escape in pure nonsense. These are stories that don’t just entertain; they offer refuge outside noise. - Quote of the Day – April 1, 2026
- Upcoming 2026 Releases Perfect For Spring Reading
The weather is starting to warm up from the winter thaw, which can mean only one thing…spring is right around the corner! This is particularly my favorite time of the year. I can walk more, enjoy the fresh spring air and just enjoy being outside more. And having the perfect read to go along with our freedom into Spring air is also what the doctor ordered! There are many great upcoming releases heading our way this spring season that you should have on your radar. Get a pen and paper ready! To make the most out of your spring reading, you will want to head to your favorite indie bookstore or local library to pre-order or place a hold with your library card on these spotlighted titles right away:
Late March Releases
The Sleepover Sabotage by Marcus Rashford with Abiola Bello and illustrated by Marta Kissi
Join Marcus and friends as they solve a nighttime mystery in The Breakfast Club Adventures: The Sleepover Sabotage. This is the eighth exciting adventure by England International footballer, child food-poverty campaigner and bestselling author Marcus Rashford MBE. Inspired by Marcus’s own experiences growing up!
A sleepover challenge is being held at Rutherford School! Teams of four have to build a tent from sustainable materials and stay overnight in the school grounds. Everyone is excited but Marcus is feeling worried because he’s never spent the night away from his mum.
As the night of the sleepover draws closer, a strange creature is spotted roaming the school and challenge participants start to drop out putting the sleepover at risk of being cancelled! Can Marcus face his fears with his the help of his friends and save the sleepover? (Credit: Pan Macmillan)
Brielle and Bear: Project Fairytale by Salomey Doku
Fairytale Rule No.2:
Ordinary people fall into adventures all the time – especially when they least expect it.
Brielle is living out her fairytale dream at Once Upon a Time University, but it’s exam season and with all the late-night studying and extra classes, she still hasn’t found a moment to tell Bear how she really feels about him. As Bear starts to get closer to cheerleader Sasha, and Brielle reconciles with ex Pavão, divisions begin to form between the pair.
After the summer holidays, Brielle determines to rewrite her fairytale rules and tries to reconnect with Bear. But with the Masquerade Ball fast approaching, will she be too late to spark romance?
Hope, dreams and magical secrets collide in this stunningly illustrated and irresistibly romantic coming-of-age fairytale, where the path to happily ever after is never easy … (Credit: HarperCollins)
Aicha by Soraya Bouazzaoui
The Portuguese empire has planted its flag across Morocco, ruling with an iron fist. But eventually, all empires must fall.
Aicha, the daughter of a Moroccan freedom-fighter, was born for battle. She has witnessed the death of her people, their starvation and torture at the hands of the occupiers, and it has awakened an anger within her. An anger that burns hot and bright and that speaks to Aicha’s soul.
Only Aicha’s secret lover, Rachid, a rebellion leader, knows how to soothe her. But as the fight for Morocco’s freedom reaches its violent climax, the creature that simmers beneath Aicha’s skin begs to be unleashed. It hungers for the screams of those who have caused her pain, and it will not be ignored. (Credit: Orbit)
Feral Volume 4 by Tony Fleecs and illustrated by Trish Forstner
Expected Publication Date: March 31
THE BATTLE FOR PET CITY!
Elsie and her indoor cats face off against Pet City’s strange shut-ins. Winner takes control of the store. Lines are drawn with food, shelter and security hanging in the balance. Elsie is prepared to fight to the death while others are about to switch sides. And none of them are paying any attention to the growing army of rabid beasts outside their front door.
Collects issues #16-20. (Credit: Image Comics)
News from the Fallout by Chris Condon and illustrated by Jeffrey Alan Love
Expected Publication Date: March 31
Interrupting your regularly scheduled broadcast to deliver a terrifying sci-fi story that takes place in Nevada in 1962 after a nuclear bomb test goes horribly awry.
In 1962 Nevada’s “Atomic Alley,” a nuclear bomb test goes horribly awry at the secretive Gaines Army Base and unleashes a contaminate into the atmosphere that turns people rotten. Otis Fallows, a private in the U.S. Army who is present for the test and is the only known survivor, flees the secret army base in search of a safe haven—but does such a place exist?
Written by Chris Condon, (THAT TEXAS BLOOD, Ultimate Wolverine), and drawn by the visionary artist Jeffrey Alan Love (The Last Battle at the End of the World, The Thousand Demon Tree), fans of 60s sci-fi films and TV shows like The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits and the works of authors Stephen King and Richard Matheson will love this eery graphic novel.
Collects all 6 issues. (Credit: Image Comics)
April Releases
Unapologetic Love Story by Elle McNicoll
Expected UK Publication Date: April 2
Enter Raina Lewis, London’s hottest It Girl – effortlessly cool, endlessly intriguing, and beloved for her smash-hit podcast spotlighting autistic women. But not everyone’s convinced by the hype. Investigative journalist and ‘King of Cancel Culture’, Tom Branimir is sure there’s more to Raina than meets the eye. He’s determined to uncover her secret. . . if he can just manage not to fall for her first.
Unapologetic Love Story is an unapologetic celebration of love, relationships and the women who have historically been shut out of such stories, until now . . . Elle McNicoll is about to become everyone’s favourite new name in adult romance. (Credit: Pan Macmillan)
Olive Oakes and the Haunted Carousel by Kalynn Bayron
Expected Publication Date: April 7
Olive Oakes loves a good mystery. She keeps a notebook with her at all times, ready to jot down observations about anything that seems out of the ordinary. Along with her cousin Eli, Olive is always looking to follow the clues.
When Olive and her family visit a town called Whispering Woods, she uncovers a strange backstory to the traveling carnival that comes through the area once a year. With rumors of missing kids and ghost sightings, it’s the perfect opportunity for Olive to investigate! The people of Whispering Woods are very secretive, but Olive is ready to solve the mystery of the haunted carousel. (Credit: Bloomsbury Children’s Books)
- A Killer In The Family by Amin Ahmad (Expected Publication Date: April 7)
- London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family’s Search for Truth by Patrick Radden Keefe (Expected Publication Date: April 7)
- The Counting Game by Sinéad Nolan (Expected Publication Date: April 7)
Whatever Happened to Madeline Stone? by Louise O’Neill
Expected Publication Date: April 9
2002.
Twin sisters Madeline and Chelsea Stone are joint stars of the AtomicKids sitcom Double Trouble, but everyone knows it’s Maddie who shines most brightly. Until Chelsea beats her sister out for the role of a lifetime and is catapulted into the spotlight. And just as Chelsea’s star reaches impossible new heights, Maddie disappears.
2025.
Chelsea Stone retired from acting after her sister’s disappearance – but living life under the radar is easier said than done when you’re the most famous woman of your generation.
When a storage locker is found containing heart-breaking truths about the year Maddie went missing, Chelsea feels a flicker of hope for the first time in twenty years. This is her chance to discover what really happened to her twin, but to follow the trail she’ll have to face the past and step back into the spotlight . . . (Credit: Transworld Publishers Ltd)
The Drop by S.R. Masters
Expected Publication Date: April 21
Some might say that thirtysomething Cady Ellison landed herself a strange creative career, but Cady finally feels like she’s found her footing. Now an online theme park influencer, she is invited to the opening of a brand-new park by her old friend, Danny, who wants to use her online profile to help build buzz for its flagship ride, Hysteria, a record-breaking 650 foot-tall roller coaster.
When she arrives at the half-complete theme park site in the middle of the desert, Cady is unexpectedly met with her old college friend group: Femi, an award-winning actor, Naseem, a decorated novelist, and Winston, a member of a popular rock group. Wanting them all to sing the praises of Hysteria online, Danny has arranged an exclusive private ride for them, capped off with the stunning desert sunset. But when their coaster cars get to the top of the first hill, the ride stalls 650 feet above ground. With no one due on site for days and over 100-degree heat awaiting them once the sun rises, the four friends soon realize that they must unravel the secrets from their complicated past if they are to find their way to safety. (Credit: Sourcebooks Landmark)
May Releases
She Knows All the Names by Michelle Jabès Corpora
Expected Publication Date: May 5
Fresh to the throne, the cunning new pharaoh schemes to bring unprecedented power to the Kingdom of Khetara. He commands absolute allegiance, leaving bloodshed in his wake as he searches for the missing Princess Sitamun, and at his side, the young priestess Nefermaat serves as divine counsel. Having witnessed the king’s merciless acts, Neff furtively plots to free the kingdom from his grip, though she knows the heavy price of treason.
Meanwhile, the rebellion in Low Khetara grows, and Raetawy, a courageous farm girl, leads the resistance. Her quest is clear: infiltrate the capital and free the imprisoned rebels–including her beloved father. Yet in her desperation, Rae agrees to a plan that could destroy all she is fighting for….
In the Red Lands, the thief Karim grapples with the new life he’s been given. Is it a blessing or a curse? He fears what lurks within him, yet he and his unlikely companion, Princess Sita, grow ever closer as they search for a lost city believed to harbor the secret to saving Khetara from destruction.
The ancient oracle that once whispered to these four strangers now speaks with an urgency as powerful as the mighty Iteru. The current of destiny is strengthening, but will it bring redemption…or annihilation? (Credit: Sourcebooks Fire)
Your Murder Next by Ravena Guron
Expected Publication Date: May 7
When the most popular girl at Myra’s new school is found frozen to death in a walk-in chiller, wannabe journalist Myra is sure of two things:
1. Scarlett was murdered.
2. One of Scarlett’s friends is to blame.
So she infiltrates the popular clique’s world of envy and backstabbing to prove it. But then a strange boy holds her up at gunpoint in the woods, claiming he’s killed the killer. Who is he, who did he kill…and who will die next? (Credit: Usborne Publishing)
Score by Kennedy Ryan
Expected Publication Date: May 19
You never forget your first love. Isn’t that what they say? Verity Hill knows this truth intimately. She didn’t simply miss Wright “Monk” Bellamy when they parted ways in college. She’s haunted by his touch. Every kiss, any lover since–it’s a shadow of what they had.
Time heals all wounds. Isn’t that what they say? Monk doesn’t believe that for a second. He wasn’t simply betrayed when he and Verity split. He was devastated, with parts of him left behind in the ruins of all that was destroyed.
More than a decade after their disastrous breakup, Verity and Monk must work together on the set of an epic Harlem Renaissance biopic. With Monk, now a world-class musician, creating the score, and Verity, an award-winning screenwriter, penning the script, there’s Oscar buzz before shooting even begins. This once-in-a-lifetime project could catapult them both to new heights, but can they can put the past behind them for the sake of the film … for the sake of something more? (Credit: Forever)
- Five by Ilona Bannister (Expected Publication Date: May 5)
- Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray (Expected Publication Date: May 5)
- She Waits Where Shadows Gather by Michelle Tang (Expected Publication Date: May 5)
- Person Unlimited: An Ode to My Black Queer Body by Dean Atta (Expected Publication Date: May 12)
- Beneath A Broken Sky by Joshua Moehling (Expected Publication Date: May 26)
- Behind Five Willows by June Hur (Expected Publication Date: May 26)
Good Morning, Salwa (Buuza!! Volume 1) by Shazleen Khan
On New Year’s Eve 1997, in the bustling city of Salwa, Zach, a down-on-his-luck phone operator, receives a misdialed call from a distressed man named Zhen which sparks an undeniable connection. Zach is thrown into a search for his mystery man that stretches across multiple cities and a tangled web of exes, missed connections, and frenemies.
Set in the vibrant, low-fantasy realm of Dawlat Al-Harir–an eclectic melting pot inspired by Silk Road history and rich Asian and African Islamic cultures–BUUZA!! is a queer YA romance that features a uniquely dynamic blend of magical realism and political drama, with a richly diverse cast and an intricate plot that explores themes of identity, family, and transformation.
This story takes readers on a captivating journey through a world where the divine and mundane collide in the most unexpected ways. (Credit: Abrams Fanfare)
The Midnight Train by Matt Haig
Expected Publication Date: May 26
When your life flashes before your eyes, where would you stop?
No one can change the past, but the Midnight Train can take you there.
The chance to re-live the moments that meant most.
To see what kind of person you really were.For Wilbur his best days were with Maggie, the love of his life. On his honeymoon in Venice.
Before he gave it all away.
He wishes he could go back and live differently. But to do so risks everything . . .
A magical, time-travelling love story, from the world of The Midnight Library. (Credit: Viking)
Every Exquisite Thing by Laura Steven
Expected Publication Date: May 26
Penny Paxton is the daughter of an icon. Her supermodel mother has legions of adoring fans around the world, and Penny is ready to begin her journey to international adoration, starting with joining the elite Dorian Drama School. When Penny’s new mentor offers her an opportunity she cannot refuse, to have a portrait painted by a mysterious artist who can grant immortal beauty to all his subjects, Penny happily follows in the footsteps of Dorian’s most glittering alumni, knowing that stardom is sure to soon be hers. But when her trusted mentor is found murdered, Penny realises she’s made a terrible mistake – a sinister someone is using the uncanny portraits to kill off the subjects one by one. As more perfectly beautiful students start to fall, Penny knows her time is running out . . . A seductive and searing exploration of beauty, identity, and what the pursuit of perfection can truly cost. (Credit: Wednesday Books)
Bone of My Bone by Johanna Van Veen
Expected Publication Date: May 26
The year is 1635.
Sister Ursula, a young nun fleeing the ruins of her convent, and Elsebeth, a sharp-witted peasant, escape a band of marauding soldiers and disappear into the Bavarian forest. War scorches the land, and no one survives it alone. Amid the devastation, they find something in the arms of a dying man: the gilded skull of a saint.
It is said that if you reunite the saint’s skull with her body, a wish will be granted. Desperate for salvation, and each with secret desires of their own, Ursula and Elsebeth follow a ragged map across the blighted countryside. But darkness follows them. A necromancer, drawn to the relic’s power. The saint herself, whispering at night. And as the lines between blessing and curse blur, the women must face a harrowing truth: the magic they seek comes at a cost.
At the journey’s end, they’ll face an impossible choice–one that could tear apart everything they know… or bind them to each other forever. (Credit: Poisoned Pen Press)
June Releases
The Heirs by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
Expected Publication Date: June 2
Five prodigies, one dead father, a mansion full of suspects…
Octavius the Maestro.
Fola the Brain.
Bilal the Olympian.
Perdita the Artist.
Romeo the Failure.These are the five heirs of the illustrious billionaire Leontes Button. Adopted and viciously trained with their father’s infamous “Button Method” to prove his hypothesis for creating prodigies—child geniuses—the Button siblings have had no choice but to be brilliant according to their father’s impossibly high standards.
Until he is murdered at his annual Prodigy Ball.
Now, all who attended the ball are required to stay in the Button Manor while the police investigate. But the officers have their work cut out for them—each of the Button siblings has something to hide, but The Heirs aren’t the only ones with secrets. After all, Leontes Button was especially good at making enemies. . . (Credit: Feiwel & Friends)
Bad Queer by Gayathiri Kamalakanthan
Expected Publication Date: June 2
I feel invincible.
Like I could run and run
and never stop for breath.
I feel a power in me
I didn’t know I had.
The power to speak,
to say what I need.
Surya knows exactly who they are. Coming out as non-binary to their queer parents and best friend? A total non-event. Catching feelings for Blessing – the boy in drama club whose smile makes their heart race? That’s trickier.As their final year of school unfolds and the two of them grow closer, Surya starts to question: Does Blessing really see them? Or just a version of them that doesn’t exist? They’d ask their best friend for advice, but she’s busy falling in love too. . .
With gorgeous illustrations throughout, Bad Queer draws us deeply into queer friendship, family secrets, and the necessary act of loving yourself. Perfect for fans of Alice Oseman, Dean Atta, and Sarah Crossan.
This is a love letter to queer futures – tender, curious, and fiercely alive. (Credit: Faber & Faber Children’s)
Sol Goes For Goal! by Julio Anta and illustrated by Gabi Mendez
Expected Publication Date: June 9
Welcome back to Hillside Valley-this time it’s Game On for Sol!
Twelve-year-old Sol is a great friend, a model student, a beloved daughter and a star soccer player. At least that’s what everyone always expects of her. But when the soccer team captain Lily walks by, Sol starts to lose focus. What’s with this heart fluttering feeling she has around Lily?! And how can she stay the star player–the star everything–that people see her as if she can barely remember her name (much less how to play soccer) around Lily? Is Sol destined to let everyone down, including herself? Or can she figure out how to be the Sol she wants to be…on and off the field. Settle back into the cozy community of Hillside Valley in this second irresistible graphic novel! And don’t miss the first Hillside Valley Graphic Novel, Speak Up, Santiago! (Credit: Random House Graphic)
- Goldenborn by Ama Ofosua Lieb (Expected Publication Date: June 2)
- Tell Your Friends by Lauren Wilson (Expected Publication Date: June 2)
- Breakout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon (Expected Publication Date: June 2)
- Death at the Museum by Janice Hallett (Expected Publication Date: June 4)
- French Kisses by Jenny Ireland (Expected Publication Date: June 4)
- The House of Otley Road by Rosa Silverman (Expected Publication Date: June 18)
What Happens in the Dark by Kia Abdullah
Expected Publication Date: June 16
Lily and Safa were best friends growing up. Now, Lily is the nation’s favourite breakfast TV presenter and Safa, once a renowned journalist, is reeling from a recent fall from grace.
When news breaks about suspicious bruises on Lily’s body, Safa attempts to rekindle their old friendship. But Lily claims the bruises are nothing to worry about.
And then one night the police are called to Lily’s home. Lily is strangely calm – and a body lies dead at her feet.
Lily pleads not guilty, and then says nothing more. Driven by her desire to give a voice to all victims, Safa begins her own investigation into what happened that night.
But Safa is not prepared for what her quest for justice will uncover … (Credit: HQ)
The Fatal Unpleasantness At Netherfield by Claudia Gray
Expected Publication Date: June 16
Jonathan Darcy has recovered from the wound he received in a duel three months prior, during a disastrous London Season. But his parents aren’t over the shock, and they remain convinced that, no matter how many murderers have been caught via their investigations, Jonathan must end his association with Miss Juliet Tilney—particularly now that she is a young lady of ruined reputation. He prays for some opportunity to be with her again, but unfortunately, the answer to those prayers comes in the form of murder: his uncle Charles Bingley’s brother-in-law, Mr. Hurst, is found dead from poisoning at Netherfield Park. Aunt Jane is desperate for answers, which means Miss Tilney must be invited to Netherfield to investigate!
Juliet, still reeling from her newfound ruination, is happy to be back in the thick of an investigation. The reunion with Mr. Darcy is difficult—Juliet has missed Jonathan terribly, but she is tormented by the knowledge that his parents will never approve their match. Adding to her troubles are the scheming Caroline Bingley Allerdyce and her daughter Priscilla, whose machinations threaten any hope Juliet might have of societal rehabilitation, much less an engagement. Then, Mr. Hurst proves to be only the first victim at Netherfield, casting a pall of danger—and worse, scandal—over the Bingleys’ household. Jonathan and Juliet must find the culprit, and will ultimately be called to make a final choice between respectability…and love. (Credit: Vintage)
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