Thank you to Maya Marlette, my phenomenal editor. You bring so much joy to the process of shaping an idea into a book, and I mean it wholeheartedly when I say it’s an absolute delight to work with someone as warm, passionate, and brilliant as you. Thank you to the fantastic Maeve Norton and Taylor Yingshi for the absolute dream of a cover. Thank you to the incredible team at Scholastic for all your support: Elizabeth Whiting, Caroline Noll, Melanie Wann, Dan Moser, Jarad Waxman, Jody Stigliano, Jackie Rubin, Nikki Mutch, Savannah D’Amico, Kelsey Albertson, Lori Benton, John Pels, Rachel Feld, Erin Berger, Greyson Corley, Amanda Book, Seale Ballenger, Duaa Ali, Janell Harris, Michael Strouse, Emily Heddleson, Lizette Serrano, Maisha Johnson, Meredith Wardell, and Sabrina Montenigro. My endless thanks to David Levithan, Ellie Berger, and Leslie Garych.

Thank you to Taryn Fagerness at Taryn Fagerness Agency for your insight, enthusiasm, and hard work. It’s so surreal to see my stories translated, and I’m deeply grateful for the opportunities that have come my way because of you.

Thank you to everyone in the United States and abroad who has helped me bring this book to readers. Thank you to the librarians, booksellers, teachers, and book bloggers for all that you do.

Thank you to my friends, both the ones I’ve known since my awkward teen years and the ones I’ve been lucky enough to meet along the way. I am amazed every day to be surrounded by such smart, generous, witty, kind, and extraordinary people.

To my parents—thank you for giving me everything I have. Thank you for your patience and your unwavering faith in me. Thank you for always posting about my new releases on WeChat and sorry for all the giant boxes of books lying around the house.

Thank you to my sister, Alyssa, for keeping me humble and keeping me sane. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without you.

Thank you, a thousand times over, from the bottom of my heart, to my readers. You’ve made all my childhood dreams come true. What a rare privilege it is to say, There’s a story I want to tell, and have someone willing to listen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR