To the entire YA Lunch Break group, and particularly Beth Fama, who first invited me. I will miss you guys on the East Coast! Special thanks to Evelyn Skye, who gave me so much encouragement during my debut, and who even apologized for not making it to my launch party, even though her conflict was her own wedding!

To my Electric 18s, thank you for joining me on this roller coaster of a year and for making me feel so welcome, both online and in new cities.

Thank you to booksellers. Particular thanks to Anderson’s in the Chicago area and Kepler’s in Northern California (my two local bookstores) for making my dreams come true when I got to sign my books in your stores.

Of course, none of this would have been possible without the amazing teachers I was so fortunate to have, particularly those who helped me when I struggled to learn to read and fell behind my peers. Thank you to my teachers, from St. Francis Xavier and Nazareth Academy to Stanford. Including but not limited to: Jessica Radogno, Amelia Garcia, Lori Wasielewski, Mary Kate O’Mara, Janine Zacharia, Adam Tobin and Phil Taubman.

Thank you also to those who have mentored me and helped to sharpen my writing outside the classroom, from The Mash and Huffington Post Teen to the San Francisco Chronicle, including: Taylor Trudon, Liz Perle, Morgan Olsen, Michelle Lopez, Phil Thompson and Jessica Mullins.

Thank you to my family. To my parents, for all you have done for me. Thank you especially for taking my dream seriously and treating chasing what I love as a viable career path. Thanks as well to my siblings, who encourage me, take pictures of my book in every store they find it and keep me humble.

Thank you also to my Stanford “second family.” To my women in CS and SymSys who inspire this “fuzzy” every day, including Katelyn Jones, Aditi Poduval and the original “code-blooded bitch” Ana Caro Mexia, who has been one of the biggest supporters of my writing and who kindly edited all the Spanish in this manuscript.

To my dear friends of all majors and passions, who inspire me with their drive, including: Nicolas Lozano, Maddie Bradshaw, Alex Barakat, Becca Rose, Carrie Monahan, Maddie Bouton, Marothodi Ntseane and Kristin McIntire.

And of course, to Graeme Hewett, who didn’t just put up with but celebrated my eccentricities. Who comforted and encouraged me when deadlines had me declaring I was turning into “a little ball of stress.” And whose belief in my talent and career potential is unwavering, even when I doubt myself.

And last but not least, thank you to my readers. The time since Frat Girl has been out in the world has been surreal, and I cherish every Tweet, email and Instagram DM I receive. I am so glad my words have connected with you and started a conversation, and I hope we can keep chatting for years to come.