When we published my previous book, Our Stop, it reached more readers than I could have ever imagined. Katie Loughnane is a commissioning editor who inherited me from her co-worker, and when that happens it can be a disaster for the author. Not with Katie. Right from the second we began working together she championed my work louder and harder than anyone ever has, and what Our Stop did is testament to the way she ran the gamut. Developing my first full novel with her, The Love Square, has been an honour, and I’m excited to work alongside her forever and ever. She writes notes that make me think harder, pushes me to be a better storyteller, and still, somehow, has the vim to get her colleagues excited about what we are making, too. She’s badass, and also very nice. I like that in a person: extreme competency and total thoughtfulness. Give the woman a raise!

Sabah Khan, head of publicity, is unrivalled in what she does. Thoughtful, committed and innovative, she magically sees opportunity everywhere. Every time her name appears in my emails I genuinely let out a little cheer, because I just love knowing her. Her author care is second to none – rare in the world of promotion! Combined with my straight-talking, deal-wielding, brass-balled agent, Ella Kahn, these three women make up the core of my publishing posse, making this wild a ride one in safe hands. Thank you, gang.

To everyone at Team Avon: do you mind if I swear? Because fuck me are you good at what you do.

Beth Wickington – Editorial Assistant

Caroline Bovey – Key Account Manager

Charlotte Cross – Key Account Manager, International Sales

Ellie Pilcher – Marketing Manager

Hannah O’Brien – Marketing Director

Hannah Todd – Digital Commissioning Editor

Helen Huthwaite – Publishing Director

Molly Walker-Sharp – Assistant Editor

Oli Malcolm – Executive Publisher

Phoebe Morgan – Editorial Director

Sanjana Cunniah – Marketing and Publicity Assistant

Tilda McDonald – Senior Commissioning Editor

Katie doesn’t so much speak highly of you as much as she does single out every single person’s contributions so that I know exactly the ways you’ve helped make my books what they are. The same goes for the folks working within the wider business:

Ammara Isa – Marketing Manager

Anna Derkacz – Group Sales Director

Ben Hurd – Trade Marketing Director

Catriona Beamish – Production Controller

Ellie Game – Senior Designer

Holly MacDonald – Deputy Design Director

Kelly Webster – Key Account Director, Digital Sales

Laura Daley – Digital Sales Manager

Melissa Okusanya – Publishing Operations Director

Mia Jupp – Film & TV Team

Rebecca Fortuin – Audio Editor

Robyn Watts – Production Assistant