Helen Atsma, my editor extraordinaire, who helped me understand how to tell this story, and everyone at Ecco, especially Sonya Cheuse, Meghan Deans, Miriam Parker, and Allison Saltzman. I have been so lucky to be with Ecco from the beginning, and I cannot imagine where I would be without the support of this amazing publisher and these amazing people.

Jason Richman at United Talent Agency, for his kindness and support.

The University of the South and the English and Creative Writing departments, with gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of this community.

My family: Kelly and Debbie Wilson; Kristen, Wes, and Kellan Huffman; Mary Couch; Meredith, Warren, Laura, Morgan, and Philip James; and the Wilson, Fuselier, and Baltz families.

My friends: Brian Baltz, Aaron Burch, Sonya Cheuse, Lucy Corin, Lee Conell, Lily Davenport, Marcy Dermansky, Sam Esquith, Isabel Galbraith, Elizabeth and John Grammer, Jason Griffey, Brandon Iracks-Edeline, Kate Jayroe, Gwen Kirby, Shelley MacLauren, Kelly Malone, Katie McGhee, Matt O’Keefe, Cecily Parks, Ann Patchett, Betsy Sandlin, Matt Schrader, Leah Stewart, David and Heidi Syler, Jeff Thompson, Rufi Thorpe, Lauryl Tucker, Zack Wagman, and Caki Wilkinson.

And, as always, with all my love: Leigh Anne, Griff, and Patch.

About the Author

KEVIN WILSON is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels Nothing to See Here, which was a Read with Jenna book club selection; The Family Fang, which was adapted into an acclaimed film starring Nicole Kidman and Jason Bateman; and Perfect Little World; as well as the story collections Tunneling to the Center of the Earth, a winner of the Shirley Jackson Award; and Baby, You’re Gonna Be Mine. His fiction has appeared in Ploughshares, Southern Review, One Story, A Public Space, and Best American Short Stories. He lives in Sewanee, Tennessee, with his wife and two sons.

Discover great authors, exclusive offers, and more at hc.com.

Also by Kevin Wilson

Tunneling to the Center of the Earth

The Family Fang

Perfect Little World

Baby, You’re Gonna Be Mine

Nothing to See Here

About the Publisher

Australia

HarperCollins Publishers Australia Pty. Ltd.

Level 13, 201 Elizabeth Street

Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia

Canada

HarperCollins Publishers Ltd

Bay Adelaide Centre, East Tower

22 Adelaide Street West, 41st Floor

Toronto, Ontario, M5H 4E3

India

HarperCollins India

A 75, Sector 57

Noida

Uttar Pradesh 201 301

New Zealand

HarperCollins Publishers New Zealand

Unit D1, 63 Apollo Drive

Rosedale 0632

Auckland, New Zealand

United Kingdom

HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.

1 London Bridge Street

London SE1 9GF, UK

United States

HarperCollins Publishers Inc.

195 Broadway

New York, NY 10007