When I first started blogging… Oh, here I go again with this sentence. I’m sorry. I won’t do it again, but. Okay, I will just one time for this. When I first started blogging, I had NO idea what buddy reading meant, or was. Slowly, as I discovered the blogging community, the kindness of everyone, the endless fangirlings and everything, I also discovered this crazy thing that is buddy reading.
Today, I’m all about sharing wisdom again and talking about that glorious, very fun thing.
Wait…what IS buddy-reading, exactly?
Words speak for themselves here, but I’ll break it down for you anyway, because why not. You need a buddy and you need a book. It works better when this book is the same book as your buddy. Start reading it together: that’s buddy-reading, guys. AND IT’S FABULOUS.
How do I buddy-read?
- Step one: find a buddy.
Someone in the book blogging community that you enjoy talking with – obviously, since you’re going to have TONS of conversations while you read the book together.
- Step two: find a book.
Preferably one book you REALLY want to read, both of you. You know, this way, you’re going to talk a LOT, fangirl a LOT and have way more fun than if you’re just picking up a book you’re feeling “meh” about. You don’t have to specifically HAVE or BUY a book for that. You’ll be surprised at how many of my buddy-reading started with me talking about a book, someone else saying “oh, I’m going to read that book soon” and me answering “let’s buddy-read!”. IT IS DESTINY, SOMETIMES.
- Step three: START READING!
FANGIRL! SHARE THE BOOKISH LOVE!
When you look at it this way, this whole thing sounds really easy. A book, a friend, and everything is well. Wow. This sentence sounds good?! Yet, there are TONS of obstacles and complications to buddy-reading, because life is just that way. No worries though. I’m here to help with some fun tips and tricks for all of this to work out.
Tips and tricks to buddy-reading
More than often in the book blogging community, there is a slight problem with the world. The world is big and when it’s morning somewhere, it’s midnight in another place. YES GEOGRAPHY SUCKS. (Sometimes. I’m liking my French pastries). How exactly do we intend to buddy-read if we can’t just READ at the same TIME?! That, my friend, is one of the complications. But don’t let that keep you from doing it and having all the fun. All you need to do is just follow these little tips and tricks and DEVOUR THE BOOKS.
Find the right place to talk
No matter what time it is, if you’re ahead or behind, you need to keep up with your buddy in order to…well, to actually buddy-read. In order to do that, no matter what geography says, technology is here to save us all (or destroy us. Sorry. I’ll keep that for my next WIP). Find the right place to talk with your buddy: on Twitter, Facebook, SnapChat, Instagram, on any other social media you might have in common. Via emails, Google Hangouts or something else. Via letters or the Owl Postal Service or something – if you’re super patient.
Keep track of ALL THE THINGS
When you’re buddy-reading, whether it’s with someone you’re on the same timezone with, or someone you’re across the world from: it’s so important to find a DAY to start the book together. SHARE where you are at in the book. What page or chapter you’re on BEFORE actually starting the talk and risking SPOILING everything for your poor buddy-reader.
Share your thoughts about ALL THE THINGS
It’s up to you to decide how you want to buddy-read this. Whether you want to ask each other questions, think about themes in the books or just chat about all the things and fangirl everytime there is something to fangirl about. All the fun of buddy-reading is right here: with all the TALKING, sharing, astonishing joined screams whenever a crazy plot twist happens, joined-tears whenever something terrible happens, and so on. With the blogging community, you’re never alone in fangirling with books. With the buddy-reading, you’re experiencing the terribly awesome book TOGETHER.
Don’t forget your buddy!
Guilty as charged. I think it has happened that I kind of forgot to share my thoughts. I just kept on reading, because I was so engrossed in the book, the buddy-reader wasn’t in the same timezone as me, and so on. THING IS: where is the fun in that?! Try not to forget your buddy-reader. Even if you’re a bit ahead and there is something you are BURNING to share with your buddy, keep it in the back of your mind and scream about it later on. SHARE THE LOVE. Or tears, depending on what you’re reading.
What do I do when I’m done with the book?
Whether you’re ahead or behind: once you’re done, ALL of the chatting starts up again, even more than before. Obviously you have tons of things to say about the book once you and your buddy reader have read it entirely. How are you going to rate it? What was your favorite moment? What did you like, what did you hate? Which character did you want to slap and which one did you want to marry?
There’s something you could also do, called a joint review. Meaning, you try and write a review together, you post a review on both of your blogs with both of your point of views.
There’s another thing you could do, since book adaptations are such a thing lately: watch the movie together! You know, like, on the same day, even if it’s not the same EXACT time.
Another thing you could do is just LOVE THE OTHER BLOGGER MORE, because your buddy reading was a lot of fun and all you want to do is start again.
Looking for some books to buddy read? Check out 10 underrated YA books to read or 10 friends to lovers books!
Do you buddy-read? What do you, or don’t you, like about it?
Do you have any other tips and tricks to add to this list? How do YOU buddy read? Do you chat over on Twitter? Do you ask tons of questions? Are you guilty of reading too fast?
Let me know all of your tips and buddy-loves in comments!
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I buddy read with a friend I met on Goodreads. She lives in Oregon and I live in Iowa. We have read a lot of books together. We take turns suggesting titles to read. If it is my turn, I usually look in Goodreads to find books that we both have on our TBR list although sometimes we throw books in our choices that we think the other person would like. Then we look to see if we both can find copies at our library, have out own copy or can get one. We usually pick a day to start that is convenient for both of us. We then update as we read, usually something terrific or something that we liked, making sure our posts say what page we are on so we don’t spoil the read for the other person. When we finish, we both comment our thoughts and discuss the book a bit and then we choose our next read. I enjoy this as I met a new close friend, I’ve read books I probably would have read later but should read now and it helps me see others perspective on the novel or topic.
Ohhh that’s so great! It seems like you both master the art of buddy reading, ahah, and that you are having tons of fun! 😀 It is so great when you can recommend books, discover them together and chat about it all. It’s one of the best things to do, I think 🙂
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! <3 <3
I never had a buddy read in my entire life.I am kind of hesitant to find someone to read with or approach someone with the thought so I never had the opportunity.Though maybe I will try it soon since I just started blogging.Who knows?
The time difference thing is a major issue.It’s night time here when it’s daytime in the US.I do miss a lot of my friends that way.We have to schedule a time slot just to chat with each other.Great post, Marie <3
Yes, who knows – maybe you’ll find someone to buddy-read! My first buddy-read just came naturally, as one of my blogging friends and I had the same book on our TBR, we just ended up reading it together and it was a lot of fun 🙂 I’m sure, if you ever do want to try, you’ll find an opportunity to, and you’ll have fun as well 🙂
Oh, I get it on the time difference. It is night when it’s daytime in the U.S as well, which makes buddy-reading a bit…well, strange, at times. I’m always trying to catch up and talk with friends from there one moment or another – some time during the day, we can always manage to talk to each other in a way 🙂
Thank you so, so much for sharing your thoughts on this, Rose, that’s so sweet of you <3 <3 <3
Yay! My boyfriend and I are gonna do a buddy-read for the Murder on the Orient Express this coming October. I’m so excited!!! 😀 😀 😀
Ohhhhh that’s so great – and SO cute?! I hope you’ll both love reading it together!! ?
I would be a horrible buddy-reading partner. Once I get into a book, I just read and read without taking a break. I would completely forget to share my thoughts and probably only say something about what I loved when my buddy-reading partner said something about it as well. A friend and I were going to watch Marvel shows together, we watched the Daredevil pilot together and then she went to bed and I couldn’t sleep. What did I do? Watch three more episodes. And then before I knew it, I had watched the entire show already. My friend would’ve been rewatching the show, btw.
But I do really love the idea of buddy-reading a book with someone else because you get to immediately share your feelings with someone and fangirl or cry together!
Hahahaha, well… I get that feeling, sometimes we just can’t help ourselves, we HAVE to read more and more and more ? Who knows, maybe sometime you’ll find THE book to buddy-read and you’ll manage to share all of your feelings while reading and it will be GLORIOUS. Also, you might not share all of your feels and, if you’re a bit like me, forget at times hahahaha, but it’s okay. What’s really great is being able to talk, immediately after reading / while reading, about a book in details with someone. Sort of like a mini-book-club of two ?
Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment <3 <3 <3
I would like to try buddy reading but I am an introvert and I am terrified of any human interaction hahahaha but this sounds like a good idea! ?
Oh, Mika, ahah, I get the nervousness and everything. I think it’s important that you find THE person you’ll feel comfortable buddy-reading with. Maybe a blogger friend you have been talking to for a little while, someone you’re feeling happy to talk to – also someone that understands your introversion and won’t push you or anything 🙂 <3 I hope you'll buddy read someday, it is a lot of fun 🙂
thank you so much for your sweet comment <3 <3
Hi! Great post 🙂 I love to buddy read, but usually I do them on GoodReads and I think it’s a great way to know more people, make new friends and discover new wonderful books. I really love them!
Hi, and thank you SO much for your sweet comment! <3 <3 Oh, how does that work on Goodreads? Do you have a group, or do you chat on your status? ?
Buddy-reads are a lot of fun for sure! 🙂
I am quite satisfied with Goodreads, and it’s both, I have a couple of group (YA buddy reader’s corner and Challenge Corner) for the buddy reading and sometimes use the status updates and the comments. It’s fun! Even if the groups have pros and cons that are consistent: the pro is that you can mantain the thing spoiler free easily because you can hide spoiler and it’s more easier to follow, but in the groups that I use sometimes you do not know the person whit whom you buddy read, and sometimes it’s great and you have a wonderful buddyread, but sometimes there isn’t the right feeling. But I like it anyway 🙂
Sorry for the looong comment!
Ohhh please, don’t apologize for the long comment! <3 Thank you so much for taking the time to answer – I see how it works a bit better now! I never tried Goodreads to buddy-read, but it could be a lot of fun, and very useful with this whole spoilers-hiding thing for sure 🙂
Great post Marie. I’ve never actually tried buddy reading with anyone through my blog before. I did try with one of my friends once but even though we both started the book at the same time we finished at different times. I’m a fast reader and I can never really resist those mini cliffhangers at the end of chapters, plus sometimes I just get so into the story that I started reading the next chapter without even thinking about it. Long story short I did what you said not to do, forgot my buddy reader, and ended up finishing the book about five days before my friend did. Kind of defeated the purpose of us reading it together. 🙂
Still we were able to talk about it at the end, which is the next best thing I guess.
I really love your tips. I can definitely see the fun in buddy reading, I guess I just like being able to read my own pace, and not feel too guilty when I read too much because I have no self control when it comes to books, it’s been well established by now. 🙂
Again great post. 😀 <3
Ahahah, oh, I get the feeling – buddy-reading IS tricky sometimes, and it really depends on the book you’re picking as well. I couldn’t have buddy-read really fast-paced books or, like, books I couldn’t stop reading, because…I probably wouldn’t have remembered to TALK with my buddy, ahah. I think it’s good to find a book that’s great and that you love, but also that makes you remember you have a buddy, too 😛
Thank you so, so much, Beth! <3 Also, buddy-reading isn't for everyone, I'm not doing it too often either, but when I do, it can be fun 🙂
I think one of my issues is I largely read fast-paced books. I just finished Warcross now and I don’t think I could have put that down for anything, especially during the last few chapters. There are a few books that would probably have worked better than the ones I tried buddy reading with, and I’ll be sure to remember them as well! 🙂
That’s all right! ❤️
Ohh yes, I get it. Also: WHAT DID YOU THINK of Warcross??! Wasn’t it GREAT? I couldn’t stop reading during these last few chapters either! 😀
Oh I thought it was incredible! 🙂 And yes those last few chapters were insane! I guessed who Zero actually was but everything else that was revealed completely shocked me!
I kind of ended up guessing, too… well, I had my suspects ? but I’m so glad you liked it!
I had to laugh when I read your response. I am a quick reader also and the person I normally buddy with, is a slower reader. Like you, I get so caught up in the novel I can’t stop. When I send my buddy a note on Goodreads, I always put the page number in the memo line so she doesn’t read that comment till she is past that page. She always tells me that she will start the book before I do, in the hopes we meet up somewhere in the novel,
That’s actually a good idea, both the page number in the comments and the buddy starting earlier! That way even if you don’t start the book at the same time chances are you’ll finish it at the same time and be able to talk about it! 😀
Yeah that’s the trick 😀
I’m pretty bad at buddy reading because I once I start a book and get immersed in it, I can’t stop myself and I completely forget about my book buddy but we do share our thoughts after finishing the book.
Ahaha oh, I get the feeling – this happened to me more than once haha. It’s still quite awesome to be able to share your thoughts immediately after reading to someone having read the same book as you hours before 🙂
Thank you so much!! <3
Ahahah I love this post!! I don’t buddy-read a lot because I always have checked-out books from the library that I need to read instead of a BR book and I also can’t find a lot of the books I want to BR!! I’m SO glad I got to buddy-rea THUG with you! I feel like it was a great book to discuss things about and just read together! And yes, timezone differences SUCK but it’s pretty easy to manage in the end. 😉
Thank you so much, May!! <3 Buddy-reading with you was SO MUCH FUN, I really loved to <3 <3 The time difference does seem weird at times, but you're right, it is easily manageable for sur 🙂
Buddy reading is so fun! Great post.
It really is! I’m so glad you lik to buddy read as well 🙂 thank you so much <3 <3
Aww I loved this post!! I very rarely have time, or the “coincidentally I’m planning to read the same book” moments, but this post reminded why I loved doing it when I did it!! It’s such fun!! 😀
Finding time is one of the hardest thing to do here,…both when you want to buddy read or blog or…just do anything hahaha. But it is a LOT of fun when we are finally able to 🙂 Thank you so much!! <3
haha so true!! Yes!!! 😀 You’re welcome! <3
I’ve never buddy read with a person I’ve met online. I have a writing partner and sometimes she’s like YOU’VE GOT TO READ THIS and I do so we can talk about it. It’s a little different because we live in the same city and can sit and chat whenever in person! It would be cool to book blogger buddy read though…. someday! This is a great post Marie, VERY informative!! <3
Ohhh that’s so cool – I would LOVE to have a writing partner and buddy reader to have meet-ups like that with. Has to be tons of fun 😀
Oh thank you so much, Dani, that means so much to me. I’m glad you appreciated it <3
Hi Marie! Sooooo glad that you made a post about this! I had no clue how buddy reading works but bloggers are talking about it all the time, and I thought it was something that I should just… know? Lol :’) thanks for explaining everything!
I kind of had a buddy reading experience which did not work out, because I didn’t know that I was supposed to wait for my buddy (I totally sped thru the book haha) and I had no idea where we would discuss the book! Now that I read your post I will know exactly what to do 🙂
Oh, Sophie, thank you so much, I am so happy this post could be useful to someone. You’re the sweetest! <3 <3
I get the feeling – it's weird, not knowing what to do or what you're supposed to chat about. Personally, since I have moments during the day where I know I will read – on the commute, for instance -, when my commute is over, I close the book, think things over then drop a fangirling / mad message to my buddy reader discussing what happens, and the day goes on like this, basically 😛
Ah I see! This sounds like it could be fun 🙂 I think I will be giving buddy reading another try!
I hope you’ll have fun if you do. Also, I think we read tons of the same books – maybe we have the same on our TBRs as well, so we could buddy read someday 😀
Yes! I do feel like we’ve read some of the same books so far. We should buddy read one day 🙂
That would be great 😀
I’ve always wanted to buddy read, but it looked so scary and I had no idea how to do it!
But it looks fun! ?
Ohh, it is a lot of fun, I hope you’ll want to try it out sometime 😀 Thank you so much <3
Haha this is why buddy reading is such a challenge for me! The lack of freedom is really hard because I feel bad if I get ahead, and I don’t want to accidentally spoil when we are talking. I am also TERRIBLE at taking notes while I’m reading because I’m usually VERY engrossed in what I’m reading so…yeah. I’ve done two buddy reads and only one of them went well. We did make a schedule and split the book into four parts, one for each day but I think that only works if you have someone with a veeeery similar reading pace/schedule!
Oh yes, I get it. It’s quite the same feeling we get when we do a reading challenge, there is a little bit of freedom missing here, which can be so frustrating.
Usually, whenever I buddy read, I always take “notes”…well, right in the conversation I have with my buddy read, expressing my thoughts and feelings about everything hahaha. I think making a schedule can work well, if you have kind of the same reading pace 😀
Thank you so much for your sweet comment <3 <3
Great discussion post, Marie ?
I have never tried buddy reading before, I think I would be the worst buddy reader because like most readers once I’m immersed I’m not going to stop! I love fangirling and talking about books after I’ve read them though.
Your tips and tricks are really great even if I haven’t done a buddy read yet. I can think it’s really crucial to communicate the whole time, especially to avoid spoilers like you’ve mentioned. Maybe one day I’ll give it a go ❤
Oh thank you so, so much, Michelle <3 <3 I get the feeling – it's hard to stop reading sometimes, especially when you're into such a great book and it's hard to stop <3 I hope you'll want to try someday though – maybe we could together? It is a lot of fun 🙂
I’ll never say never! We just have to pick a book and then maybe give it a go ?
Yay, that’d be great! <3
Gonna be honest, I love the IDEA of buddy reading, but it has never worked out for me! I always either a) get left behind because I just didn’t have time to read the book b) leave my buddy behind because I was, like you said, too engrossed in my reading or c) didn’t even start the book at all. Because whoops.
I first found out about buddy reading through Goodreads groups I joined back in…like 2012 I guess? Not that I participated in any of them, but I always found it cool that people buddy read!
I think it’s fairly easy to buddy read with your friends! Especially when everyone is looking forward to the same new releases. Or if everyone has the same book to review as you do! There are times my friends and I buddy read the book without knowing. And then we find out we both read the book recently, and then we talk about it. It’s fun 😀
Ohhh yes, it is so much fun when you find out you’ve been reading the same book at the same time. Love when that happens! 🙂
I get your feelings here – it’s so hard sometimes to make buddy reading work well. In between work, other things keeping us busy and/or getting completely caught up in the book and forgetting ALL about our buddy… it’s SO hard sometimes haha. I guess we just need to find the right, balance, system, or the right people to buddy read with, people with the same rhythm or something 🙂
Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment, Valerie <3 <3
I actually am planning to buddy read Labyrinth with one of my friends so your post COULD NOT be more perfectly timed. ? I LOOOOOVED how you include almost EVERYTHING there is about this and that “owl” part- killed it. ???
Amazing post, Marie. ACTUALLY HELPED ME A LOT. (tomorrow’s the day I start buddy read. ?)
Oh wow, I’m so, so happy this could be helpful! Hahaha, right, wouldn’t it be fun if we could send owls ?
Thank you SO much for your sweet comment <3 <3
Yeah!! IT REALLY WOULD BE FUN! ? I would DEFINITELY send YOU one!! No doubt about that. 🙂
Awww you’re too sweet!! <3
I LOVE THIS POOOOST
I do buddy-read! Well, actually… I’ve planned a couple but I HAVEN’T ACTUALLY GOTTEN TO THEM YET OOPS.
Once, when trying to schedule a buddy read, I basically just made a list of all the books that I owned and the books that I was going to borrow, and then the other person could just choose from the list!
I usually chat on Hangouts, but sometimes Twitter because.. I GO ON TWITTER A LOT OKAY.
Also, yes, I am what is considered a Fast Reader™ and people are always complaining about it whoops.
(ALSO WE SHOULD BUDDY READ SOMETHING YAH?)
Aw thank you SO much, you are always WAY too sweet <3 <3
It's such a cool idea, actually, I never thought of this haha. All of my buddy readings have happened quite randomly so far haha, but THE LIST, I love this idea.
Ohhhh YES WE SHOULD sometimes, that would be SO GREAT <3 <3 Let's make a LIST of books soon 😛
Thank you so much!! <3
Yes! We should totally buddy read something! I can make a list if you’d like XD I actually kind of like making lists for some weird reason!
OH well…. that would be fun! I will probably buy new books soon anyway, so… that would be GREAT 😀
LISTS are great – I tend to make lists of things to do a lot 😛
Ahaha so if we’re doing the buddy read, how do you want to talk? Twitter/Hangouts/Etc?
Hmmm…Twitter would work best for me – as we already chat there a little bit 😛
YAH GREAT I’ll send lists of books that I own/etc? Also whoops I replied to this comment way too late
Ahahah, no worries, PLEASE DO, that’d be great 😀
GOSH I suck at buddy reads. I either DON’T read or I read too far ahead. I’ve finished a book in 2 days before when the buddy hadn’t even hit chapter 2. or I haven’t started while the buddy with 5 chapters in and I feel bad if they have to wait for me hahahah
Hahaha, buddy-reading is SO hard sometimes – you have to find the right person, one who has the same crazy rhythm as you do ?
Thank you so much for your sweet comment Molly <3 <3
I occasionally buddy read with my boyfriend, which is always fun. It’s usually when a new book in a series comes out and we both want to read it first… so we just end up buying to copies and reading it at the same time! Haha.
I would love to have someone else to buddy read with though. I feel like it would be a fun way to make new friends!
Ohhhh that’s so great – and so cute! It has to be lots of fun 🙂
It is a really great way to make new friends and find out new people to chat books with <3 Hope you'll try it out someday, with a fellow blogger or something 😀
Thank you so much for your sweet words <3
I’ve buddy read twice with the fabulous Mango Queen, May and…WELL EXPERIENCES! The first one was really great. We chose Strange The Dreamer and had a document with what dates we read up to and questions for each point and it was really great. We wrote reviews, shared our thoughts and communicated via Google Hangouts. IT WAS GREAT.
Then, we decided to buddy read the book thief. i was a horrible buddy because I was feeling sick so ended up basically reading the whole thing in one sitting. I WAS FEELING REALLY ILL, and I DID SAY SORRY TO MAY but she didn’t end up finishing The Book Thief and it was all my fault. Wow, I’m so horrible. I did do a group kind-of buddy read on GR with THUG but not really?
I definitely need to buddy read more! would you be up to doing a BR WITH ME??? no. okay no nevermind. THIS NEVER HAPPENED
Oh WOW, you are SO organized with your buddy-reads, that’s insane! Also, quite great, that way you had questions and things pinpointed and everything else, it must have been really cool to do it that way! 🙂
Oh no! Well it happens ahah, sometimes you just can’t align with your buddy’s reading rhythm, or circumstances prevent you from doing so. You are NOT horrible, though, you’re a FABULOUS BUDDY-READER, I’m sure of it! AND YES??? I WOULD LOVE to buddy-read with you sometime!! 😀
This is a fantastic post.
I love buddy reads, even though I usually read ahead or fall behind, I never manage to stay quite on schedule.
Cora ❤ http://www.teapartyprincess.co.uk/
Ohh thank you, that’s so sweet of you to say <3 <3
It's SO hard to stay on schedule ahah, I almost never manage to do so…but well, we can still share the feels once we're done reading, so it's still fun 🙂
I’ve never done a buddy read before. Mainly because I tend to get excited with the story, and then can’t put the book down, and then I get way too far ahead. . . Heh, I’m sure this sounds familiar to some out there in the galaxy. . . Perhaps at some point I may try this with one of my friends. I would have never thought of doing this; thank you so much for this post!
Ahahah, yes it sounds familiar, I think many other readers will relate to you. I sometimes get too into a book to stop and wait for my buddy, haha 😛
I hope you’ll have fun if you try it out 😀 Thank you so much <3 <3
So, today I was like, “I’ve seen lots of people doing buddy reads…what is that and how do I do it?” And then I was like, “I bet Marie has written something about that.” And lo and behold, you have! And what a great article it is, too! Thank you for always writing such informative and helpful articles!
My question, however, is this: is there a specific way to ask people to buddy read? Or do you just go for it? I’m still pretty new to this whole book blogger thing so like, I don’t know if there is etiquette for certain things or what.
Awwww thank you so, very much, this means so much to me ? I am so happy that this could be useful and please, if there’s anything more you’d like to know or I can help you with, I’d be happy to, if I can! 😀
Honestly, I just… go for it?? Usually, I buddy-read with bloggers I have chatted with for a while (because I would be too shy to ask someone I don’t know just yet a lot, but… that’s just me, even if I’d love to buddy-read, I just… wait a bit ?) and, if I notice that one book I have is on in their TBR just as well, I’ll just ask them, in a comment, or over on twitter or social media if I see them there 🙂 I don’t think there is a real sort of etiquette for these things, just ask nicely to people you feel like you’d have fun buddy reading with and see what happens 😀 <3
Ahh this is so helpful! I (somehow?) managed to trick someone into doing a buddy read with me and now I need to workout how it actually works! ? this post is super herlpful so thank you for writing it! ?
YAY for buddy reading! I’m so happy this could be helpful, I hope you’ll have a ton of fun 😀