Early readers are always such a necessary part of the writing process and with so many pages it was a big ask. I appreciate everyone’s time and effort on my behalf. Thank you Hannah Kloepfer, my amazing little sister-in-law; thanks to my bestie, Stephanie Staal; thank you Erika Kelley, for reading on a plane; thank you Diana Snyder, for all things Greenwich; and to Dustin Morris, you’re so special you get a major character named in your honor.

And I’m nothing without my friends: much love to Laura Clement, Tasha Blaine, Jenner Sullivan, Christine Zander, David Holden, and Nadine Morrow—you all accepted my neurotic phone calls graciously and your continual unwavering support and tough-love you-can-do-it attitudes were appreciated. Big warm hugs and thanks to my family: Haekyong Lee, John Lee, Susan Stonehouse Lee, Benjamin, Addison, and Olivia. My lovely in-laws: Deborah and George Kloepfer, Sarah and Bob McLynn, Brayton and Livingston. I should also mention my late father and older sister, my father for grounding me for sneaking out and Helen for sending me my first copy of Anna Karenina to help me pass the time. And if we’re going there, hell, thank you Leo Tolstoy, because you’re the true OG of the literary world.

Sally Wofford-Girand, my literary agent and my friend. You were instrumental from the very beginning, predating everyone else since I first came up with the idea of a teen version of Anna Karenina in 2012 after seeing the movie in New York. Thank you for your brilliant mind of knowing this was a great idea and your emails through the years reminding me to get cracking on writing the book. You have been such a rock during this whole process, and I am so grateful for not only your publishing business savvy, but also all your insightfulness when it comes to story and characters. I’m so lucky to have you as an agent and I’m thrilled we’re on this ride together. And a big shout-out to Taylor Curtin at Union Literary … I have appreciated all our many phone chats during this process and thanks for being so generous with your enthusiasm and support.