This book would not exist without PJ Mark. I am forever grateful to him for his passion, humor, insight, and unwavering belief in both me and my work. I feel so unbelievably lucky to have found such an incredible agent. Thanks to Ian Bonaparte, who provided crucial support throughout the publishing process, Allison Hunter, and everyone at Janklow and Nesbit.
Pilar Garcia-Brown understood this novel from the very beginning. I am truly blessed to have such a brilliant, passionate, funny, and kind editor. Her perspective and input made this book better than I ever could’ve imagined. To everyone at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt—I am so, so thrilled to have found such a wonderful home for my work. I’m lucky to have Emma Gordon on the publicity front and Lisa McAuliffe leading the charge on marketing. Kelly Winton designed such a stunning cover. And I’m incredibly thankful for Tracy Roe and her copyediting superpowers.
For their generosity and support of this book, I am forever grateful to Kristen Arnett, Alexander Chee, Garrard Conley, Samantha Hunt, Alex Marzano-Lesnevich, De’Shawn Charles Winslow, Taymour Soomro, Jennifer Tseng, Maud Casey, Noah Bogdonoff, Benjamin Schaefer, Jonathan Freeman-Coppadge, Jordan Rossen, and Diana Wagman. Sam Lansky was among the first to lay eyes on this manuscript, and I cannot thank him enough for his early support.
I workshopped chapters of this book at the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference. My experience during my two summers there profoundly shaped the writer I am today. Thank you to everyone I encountered there—the artists who inspired me, challenged me, and made me laugh.
I’m grateful to Marla Mindelle, Matthew Risch, Connor Gallagher, Philip Drennan, Danny Visconti, Da Sul Kim, Adam Roberts, Craig Johnson, and Kyle Buchanan for the years of laughter and support.
I’m blessed to have such a talented team working on the television adaptation of this book—Stephen Dunn, Patrick Moran, Ari Lubet, and everyone at PKM productions and Amazon Studios.
New Abbey in Pasadena, California, has been the source of so much spiritual healing for me. I’m fortunate to be part of a community that provides a safe space for so many queer and trans people to reclaim their faith.
Kelsey Miller has always supported me over the course of our friendship, but her new role as my anxious-debut-author therapist is one I am particularly grateful for. Chrissy Angliker and Deborah Siegel have also been there since high school, and I’m so thankful for their friendship.
Thanks to my family for a lifetime of love.
Henry Slavens—you inspire me with your incredible intellect, depth of compassion, and sparkling wit.
Finally, to Ryan—your love is the greatest gift.