My readers. I’m a slow writer, but I want you to know it’s not because I don’t work hard. Thank you for waiting for me. Thank you for sending me messages, photos, gifts, kindness, and love. I hope I never let you down.
Charlie. George. Isabella. I’m finally okay with all the times I messed up, but only because they were part of a very specific path that led me to you. All the words are written for you. And Victoria, for being a wonderful mother. Life hasn’t been easy for us, but I know that we’ve finally come out clean on the other side.
Amy Einhorn. It’s hard to know what to say here. We’ve come a long way since Duchess, and you’ve kept betting on me ever since. There are very few people in my life that have shown such faith, and I’ll forever be grateful to you and your amazing ability to guide me toward the story I felt certain was beyond me. I’m not particularly clever or talented, but you make me feel both.
Emad Akhtar. I’d long heard rumors of your talent, and then I got to experience it for myself. Some people are put on this earth to do amazing things, you are one of those people. Thank you for helping to make the last four years the most creative of my life. I absolutely could not have written this book without you. I am lucky to know you.
Jennifer Joel. For taking a chance. For being fearless. For making me a better storyteller and knowing exactly how to handle every situation. I breathe easier just for having you in my life. And am much fatter after our NYC meals. But we didn’t even order corn crème brûlée?
Jason Richman. I fell deeply in love with you from that first lunch. Thanks for being so kind, talented, clever, and patient. For laughing with me. For seeing this story in ways I never could. And for being a phenomenal drinking partner. So much wine. So many chasers.
Cathryn Summerhayes and team CB.
Sindhu Vegesena and team CAA.
Annabelle Janssens and team UTA.
Felicitas von Lovenberg, Anne Scharf, and all at team Piper.
Richard Herold and all at team Natur & Kultur.
My wonderful foreign publishers. For showing the world what we can do.
Jordy Moblo. No one has waited longer and more (im)patiently for this book than you. Thank you for listening to my very meandering Ivy pitch all those years ago. For sticking by me and guiding me with such vision and heart. And mostly, for being my friend. I love you, buddy.
Lori Kusatzky. For always having an answer to every question I think of. For tireless work on this story. You’re the best.
Julie Cepler, Dyana Messina, Bree Martinez, Rachel Rodriguez. Thank you for helping readers find this story, for being so passionate and creative, and for not laughing (much) at the very British pedestal I put Penguin on. I’m very lucky to be on your team.
Chris Brand and Anna Kochman for the stunning jacket.
Production superstars Heather Williamson, Natalie Blachere, and Christine Tanigawa.
Ashley Alberico and Natalie Muglia for getting this book out there. I’m so grateful for your hard work.
David Drake, Annsley Rosner, and everyone at Crown, for making that penguin tattoo less of a drunken regret. I’m proud to be with you.
Helen Carr. For, attempting, to, teach, me, grammar, Americanisms, geography, and basic spelling. I know I am your worst student. Thank you for never giving up.
Robin Slutzky, for pointing out that I can’t have four characters called Mitch.
Conor Mintzer. I miss you. Vegas.
For all the booksellers, book clubs, bloggers, and reviewers who gave their precious time to me. You’ve changed my life. I will always be grateful.
My author friends. For letting me sit at your table.
Patricia Cornwell. For advice, kindness, laughter, and for making your secret service dudes pretend to care about my wellbeing, too.
Jenna Bush Hager. For being so cool, kind, and into this story from the very beginning.
Sue Naegle. The safest, most skillful guide for putting words on screen. Also for relationship counseling, life coaching, and making me laugh.
Gubbins. There’s no one in the world I trust more with this. I am lucky to know you.
Nick Matthew. Nickelback. Nicaragua. For producer meetings/Soho House merriment/offering me your spare room. You are Manny levels of cool.
Tommy Kail. The Angelica/Eliza to my Peggy. For teaching me how TV is made and never laughing at my questions. “Yeah, but how do you get the little actors into the screen?”
Sinead Daly, for caring as much as I do.
Jennifer Todd and all at Twentieth TV.
Disney, although that mouse is a real shit to negotiate with.
Nicci Cloke. My Pixar hangover cure. My ham. For blue chair movies. Monday night roasts. Quicksand. Butter that pretends to be cheese. For never letting me play Wordle. For turbulence, trying to put me to bed early, triple letter yum, and general sensationalness. For always seeing in me the things I worried weren’t there. For being the most spectacular person I have ever met (and for not realizing it). I know you’ll be rolling your eyes at this, and telling me “you want to get a life, Stace,” but it’s important you know just how lucky I am to have found you. I love you.
Let’s do it all again in another four years. (Sooner, Amy and Jenn, I promise.)