First of all, I need to thank Kristine Swartz for helping me turn a collection of scenes and characters into an actual book. I also need to thank my agent, Courtney Miller-Callihan, for fielding all of my frantic e-mails and calls. I am so grateful to work with the entire Berkley team on this book—Jessica Brock, Jessica Mangicaro, Erin Galloway, and the sales team. Thank you to Colleen Reinhart for creating the work of art that is this cover. And thank you to Alyssa Furukawa for their nuanced read of the characterization.
Writing books isn’t easy, but it’s made much more pleasant when you have romance-writing Valkyries in your corner, cheering you on. Sarah MacLean, Kate Clayborn, Adriana Anders, Katee Robert, Sierra Simone, Kennedy Ryan, Nisha Sharma, Charlotte Stein, Talia Hibbert, Jen DeLuca, Kerry Winfrey, Alexa Martin, and Kristen Callihan are all A-plus friends. Thank you to Kristan Higgans for dispensing advice and making me cry every time you talk about my work. I would be remiss if I didn’t thank Jenny Nordbak, Sarah Hawley, and the entire Wicked Wallflowers Club. I am happy to be the podcast’s Joan Rivers. Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings—thank you for being you. Jasmine Guillory—I hope we get to share many stages and many tapas together.
Thank you to Nicole Cliffe; your friendship has become invaluable to me. The only thing I regret about not going to Harvard is that we could have been friends for almost twenty years by now. Laurel Simmons, you are a supermom, a super friend, and every time I hear your voice, I feel as though I’ve been to church. Michael Angelo, Nick Christianson, and Kim Miller, thank you for all the wine and Real Housewives.
Thank you to my number one fan, my mom, who would run over anyone who hurt me with a car. (But probably wouldn’t try to bribe anyone out of marrying me?) Thank you for sharing your best friend, Kyoko, with me. I like to think that Jane contains a little of both of you.
And, finally, thank you to my readers. To everyone who connected with my complicated, salty heroines and everyone who is waiting for a Jack or Matt of their own. <3