A massive thank-you to my dear friend Tanya Araiza Ramirez for being my first reader once the book was nearly complete. I am forever grateful to you for taking time out of your busy life to read it. Your notes and feedback were instrumental to the final product. Gabriela’s story would not be the same without your generosity and direction. Even though we met in college, thank you for all the times you were the Gabs to my Parisa. And that’s not just a reference to your perfect skin and hair. We truly do pick up right where we left off whenever we see each other, and that is the truest sign of an enduring friendship.

Thank you to Lynn Fimberg and David Rubin at Gersh and Michael Pelmont and Matt Ochacher at the Nacelle Company. You have all been the best support system for me throughout my career, and you never even complain when I say I’m going to write another book. I’m so grateful I have such wonderful partners in navigating my writing career.

Thank you to my Schafer Family. To Georgi Schafer (Grammy), Jennifer Krisiewicz (Aunt Jennifer), and Chris Krisiewicz (Uncle Chris) for braving airplanes and cross-country flights to spend time with us and for entertaining the boys when I was up against a deadline. Thank you to Eddie Schafer (Grampy) for being there for us from a distance when travel wasn’t possible.

It’s hard to put into words the depth of my gratitude to Carola Celiverti and the entire Celiverti family (Claudio, Martina, and Lucila). We found ourselves the best surrogate family in Los Angeles. Carola, we would have absolutely not survived lockdown and this pandemic without your love and support. I would have never been able to write this book without knowing that my boys were loved and happy in your presence. And they are so loved and happy in your presence. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

When you have parents like Ali and Shohreh Saedi, you grow up thinking and feeling that love and encouragement are a constant. Thank you for never batting an eye when I said I wanted to be a writer. Thank you for all the advice and support when I wasn’t sure I had it in me to keep trying. And thank you for raising me to be proud of our culture. Most of all, thank you for being the best Babi and Shoo-Shoo around. Ashegetoonam.