If you’re reading this, you’ve either finished this story and are feeling all the feels, or you’re skimming these words in a bookstore, because the acknowledgments are a window into a writer’s inner world, and you’re curious. Either way, hello!
This novel was truly a team effort. It felt akin to planning my own wedding, which I was actually doing over a fair portion of the writing of this book. Both required orchestrating an ambitious, exciting event that was a meaningful celebration of true love, and a lot of drinking.
There are very few people for whom I would throw out a year’s work and start again, but my agent, Allison Hunter, is one of those people. On her advice, I deleted the twenty-five-thousand-word sample we sold this novel off, and started from scratch. I’m so glad I did. Allison, thank you for pushing me to do what it takes and for your belief in me: it truly means the world.
Sarah Cypher of the Threepenny Editor, you’re so much more than my freelance editor, you’re my writing teacher. I’ve worked with Sarah on four novels now: her insights are transformational and, honestly, astounding. Sarah, I’m getting my MFA by working with you, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
Emily Bestler, my editor at Simon & Schuster and an all-around publishing legend, thank you for your unwavering support of my work. I’m so thrilled to have had three novels published by the fabulous Emily Bestler Books. Thanks to Lara Jones, Megan Rudloff, Isabel DaSilva, Sonja Singleton, and everyone at Simon & Schuster.
Cheers to my enthusiastic screen agents at UTA, Addison Duffy and Jason Richman. I am positively visualizing a kickass film or show based on this book: let’s make it happen!
I engaged the hearts and minds of a lot more early readers than I usually work with in an effort to create a collective vision of modern love and romance. It was nerve-racking to share the raw, first draft with so many readers (some I didn’t even know, who responded to a callout in my newsletter), but their honest feedback was invaluable. Thank you to Danielle Brennan, Lisa Daniels, Natalie Edwards, Melissa Epifano, Emily Klein, Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Jen McManus, Kari Schouveller, and my old Showtime pal, Adam Waring. Extra-special thanks to the vivacious Megan Reid.
I love learning things from my friends and people I cold-email. This novel was brought to you by:
Amy Shack Egan, and her team at New York wedding planners, Modern Rebel: Amy answered all my questions about wedding planning and even let me moonlight as an assistant for one of their events, to get a behind-the-scenes peek. Wedding planners Meredith Falk, Emily Love, and Madison Sanders also provided crucial insight in the manuscript’s early stages, all of whom I was connected to by wedding photographer Alea Lovely, who I met in an Uber Pool and let me take her out for lunch.
Keisha Zollar, Clare Mao, and Hala Maroc helped me illuminate the stories of young women of color. I truly could not have brought Darlene and Zia to life without you three; thank you for being such generous guides.
Jill Lamoureux, my wife’s college roommate and lead singer of the band Scavenger Hunt: thank you for helping me make Darlene and Zach real musicians. You are very cool.
The fantastic Mr. Dan Fox, one of my best friends in the whole world: cheers for giving this book the Jew Thumbs-Up. And for always being one of my biggest fans (the feeling is mutual).
My lawyer, Sam Mazzeo, gave counsel on legal aspects. Jocelyn Brewer advised on mental health. Richard Cooke helped with Awful Charles. Neil Collier, my good friend Ally’s dad, does all the medical stuff. I’ve sent this man some pretty weird emails, and he never flinches.
I worked on this novel at the peaceful Spruceton Inn Artist Residency in 2018 and the outrageously enjoyable Rowland Writers Retreat in 2019. Drafting happened, in part, at The Writers Room in New York, where I finished in early 2020. Thanks to those who give writers places to dream.
Shout-out to my friends, near and far: my Brooklyn gang, Sydney crew, and LA pals.
Hello to the New York Author Salon fam (especially cohost Amy Poeppel). Thanks for the chats, cheer, and cheese plates.
The Generation Women and Funny Over Fifty communities are so special to me (join us! Generationwomen.us and funnyoverfifty.com). Thanks Jessica Lore for being the ultimate collaborator.
Big love to my family, the Clarks and the Ratowskys, especially my wonderful Mum and Dad, and Will. It means a lot to make you proud and to be a part of a loving and vibrant family.
Finally, my wife, Lindsay Ratowsky, to whom this novel is dedicated. I am writing these acknowledgments in May 2020, and we are (still) quarantining at home in Brooklyn. There’s no one I’d rather self-isolate with than you, baby. Our wedding was part of the inspiration for this novel, and so this story is shared with you, as is everything I do. I love you endlessly.
It was a joy to create this story with everyone who read it before it got into the hands of you, dear reader (and if you are still in a bookstore reading this, that’s your cue to go buy this book).