Bottomless thanks to my agent, Kirby Kim, who has helped me to navigate the worlds of publishing and celebrity for more than a decade with style, wit, and steadiness. Not only did you give me the idea for this book but you made it so much better with your advice and edits. Thank you to Eloy Bleifuss for excellent notes on this novel and infinite help on all fronts over the years. Thanks, also, to everyone at Janklow & Nesbit for taking care of business for me. And thank you to Jasmine Lake for excellent insights and help in bringing the Ramblers to the screen.
Zack Wagman, for being that rare, perfect blend of extremely smart and very funny and kind (sorry about all those adverbs). I may have already published a lot of books, but you were the editor who made me a debut novelist, and who helped to make that novel so much better with your wisdom and trust. Also, thank you to Maxine Charles, Bob Miller, Megan Lynch, Malati Chavali, Marlena Bittner, Nancy Trypuc, Claire McLaughlin, Katherine Turro, Elishia Merricks, Maria Snelling, Amber Cortes, Helen Laser, Samantha Edelson, Audrey Iorio, and everyone at Flatiron and Macmillan Audio for taking a chance on my first novel and supporting me to make it as undeniable as it could be. I can’t wait to do it again!
Dave Litman, for designing the rock ’n’ roll book cover of my dreams.
Crystal Patriarche and the entire BookSparks team for their expertise and support in the launching of this book.
Writers who read early and multiple drafts, talked me down off ledges, and inspired me with your own brilliance: Meg Howrey, Sarah Langan, J. Ryan Stradal, Chris Terry, Mel Toltz, Erin Almond, Steph Cha, Alex Segura, Rob Hart, Katie Gutierrez, Katrina Woznicki, David Sedaris, and a very special mention to Cathy Elcik, who has read more drafts of everything I’ve written and given me more pep talks than anyone could reasonably expect—I’m both lucky and grateful. And writers who supported me with advice, laughs, and the inspiration of your own work: Steffie Nelson, Caroline Ryder, Valerie Palmer, Laura Feinstein, Giuliana Mayo, Janet Fitch, David Francis, Brad Listi, Jodi Wille, Elizabeth Barker, Edan Lepucki, Julia Ingalls, Ivy Pochoda, Jim Ruland, Matthew Witten, Sara Sligar, Kate White, Regina Robertson, Laura Warrell, Christine Sneed, Holly West, Curtis Ippolito.
Jen Bergstrom, Carrie Thornton, Lisa Sharkey, Matt Harper, Farrin Jacobs, Kate Dresser, Leah Trouwborst, Jeremie Ruby Strauss, Brant Rumble, Jan Miller, Lacy Lynch, Shannon Marven, Dabney Rice, Nena Madonia Oshman, Nicole Tourtelot, Marc Gerald, Belle Zwerdling, Katey Sagal, and all my many amazing clients, for making my years as a ghostwriter so interesting, inspiring, and fun.
Russ, Bonnie, and Amber Tamblyn (as well as David Dunton and everyone on our team at Blackstone Publishing) for being an adoptive creative family and letting me sneak away from our collaboration on Russ’s book to meet my deadlines for this novel.
Friends who were early readers and helped me with my foreign accents (all missteps are mine): Meredith Drake Reitan, Tiemo Mehner. Friends who gave me advice, about the legal ins and outs of the music business and legacy rock estates: David Lessoff; and Dante’s gear: Imaad Wasif.
Friends who supported and inspired me during the many, many, many years it took me to become a debut novelist, including: Beth Cleary, Rebecca Berman, Brett Frenzel, Deanna DeVries, Malin Akerman, Kate Micucci, Jess Schmidt, Sam Barbera, Jodi Jackson, Iwalani Kaluhiokalani, Arrica Rose, Heather Crist, Brooke Delaney, Kathleen Whitaker, JoJo Sweiven, Fil Ruting, Amy Hoffecker, Patrick Brennan, Apryl Lundsten, Andrea Bowers, Sabra Embury, Chris Wallenberg, Amy Wallenberg, Marissa Nadler, Freyja Bardell, Cynthia Carlson, Sarah McCabe, Elissa Scrafano, Joshua Grange, Laurel Stearns, and Piper Ferguson.
Richard Stein, with love and gratitude, for supporting me and this book with love, advice, inspiration, and many delicious meals.
James Reed, for buoying me with treats, laughs, pep talks, playlists, strong coffee, and Dolly memes.
My family, for believing in me when I declared I was going to be a writer at age sixteen and for giving me so much love and support along the way, and especially my mom, for giving me my love of books, and whom I love to talk novels with more than anyone else in the world.