Dorka, thank you for telling me I couldn’t do it. I’m so thrilled to get to tell you that I did! Cody, thank you for encouraging me even when I sent you sci-fi. Leah, thank you for your quiet and steady support, through everything. Kirk, if I write anything funny, ever, it will be because your friendship has given me more laughter than my own heart knows what to do with — thank you. Zoey, I don’t know how your voice isn’t hoarse from how hard you cheer me on, but boy am I glad you never tire of doing it. Grace, watching you believe in yourself made me believe in myself. There are no words to adequately express my gratitude for that. The world needs more women like you. Tams, you are my second set of eyes so often sometimes I wonder if you’re just my first. Thank you for never leaving my side. I will never leave yours.

To my very large family, my cousins, my aunts and uncles, my in-laws and my bonus siblings and parent, every single one of you has made me who I am. To my grandparents, thank you for loving me so deeply with no reservations. Finishing a book takes a level of determination and persistence my grandmothers have in spades. They are the women who showed me how to keep going with deep compassion and soundness of spirit.

To my sisters, you are the best parts of every sibling dynamic I will ever write. You are my sounding boards, endless wells of laughter, the devil’s advocates that I don’t want but really need, and you have been supporting me since quite literally the day I was born. I am so grateful for that. Dad, knowing a parent is proud of you is the best feeling a child could have. Thank you for giving that to me in spades, regardless of whether or not this book sells a single copy. Mom, thank you for making us bring books in the Honda Odessey instead of watching movies. You are the beginning of my love of the library, of reading, of the written word, of holding a book in my hand and thinking finally, I get to sit down and read. I love you all endlessly.

Whit — when people ask me how I knew I wanted to be a writer, my answer is always that I didn’t know until after I had fallen in love with you. Until we met, all I dreamed about was finding someone to share life with. You are miles better than anything I ever dreamed up, and when loving you became my reality it made room for my other dreams, like this one. Thank you for sticking by my side through it all. You make my life feel like the best, most swoon-worthy romcom. I love you.

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