TO THE BEST literary agents a girl could hope for, Holly Root and Taylor Haggerty: thank you for your belief in me, as well as your patience, kindness, intuition, and wisdom. I can’t speak highly enough about you, and I’m grateful to have such amazing agents in my corner. To Mary Pender at UTA, thank you for your fierce championing of my project in the film world. To everyone at Paramount and Appian Way—especially Nathaniel Posey, Jennifer Davisson, and Leonardo DiCaprio—thank you for all you’ve done in support of this project. To Heather Baror-Shapiro, thank you so much for the amazing work you’ve done to bring this book to so many other countries. And to my wonderful publishers in those countries, I’m grateful for each of you.
To Emilia Rhodes and my excellent team at Harper: thank you for saying yes to this book, and for all you’ve poured into it. Huge thanks, too, to you who worked behind the scenes, especially Alice Jerman, Jon Howard, Sarah Kaufman, Alison Klapthor, Gina Rizzo, and Bess Braswell.
To my incredible critique partners: Jasmine Warga, thank you for always being willing and eager to read, even on short notice. Amanda Olivieri, thank you for enthusiastically reading every single draft, and for all the brainstorming sessions. Alison Cherry, thank you for your spot-on input and for the incredible amount of support you’ve given me throughout the years.
To the early cheerleaders whose enthusiasm fueled my fire—Salima Alikhan, Corey Wright, Jade Timms, Lola Sharp, Liza Kane, China DeSpain, Lodge of Death retreat friends—thank you. I’m also grateful for my debut-year friends who are walking this road beside me, especially: Kristen Orlando, Stephanie Garber, Lana Popovi?, Emily Bain Murphy, Anna Priemaza, Jilly Gagnon, Chelsea Sedoti, Heather Kaczynski, Carlie Sorosiak, and Kristen Ciccarelli. To Brent Bowen, who may not remember his words that changed my life: You should think about writing a book. Scarlett and Douglas at Austin Java, thank you for celebrating with me when I finished this book; Kelly Liggio, thank you for working ten thousand knots out of my neck over the years.
To my parents and grandparents, for always believing I could do whatever I set my mind toward, and for encouraging my dreams; and to my sister, the reader whose opinion matters most to me.
To Andrew—thank you for being endlessly patient and supportive, flexible, wonderful. I’m grateful for your support, and that you believed my time spent at the desk was worthwhile, whether my words were published or not. You are the best husband a girl could dream of. And James, I am grateful every day that God chose me to be your mom. I have more love for you both than my heart can hold. Finally, to Jesus Christ, my hope and my peace: in flood or famine or solitude, I trust I will never be without, forever without. All I need is You. | Romans 8:38–39