Acknowledgments

I have a feeling this might get slightly out of hand, so let’s start at the very beginning with Jean Feiwel. Without her brilliant idea to mix young adult books and The X Factor, this wouldn’t be happening. I appreciate everything that she’s done for me.

A bucket of gratitude to my editor, Holly West, whose help and patience through the editing process has been nothing short of amazing. This novel would only be half as good without her insights. Also thanks to Molly Brouillette, Allison Verost, and Kathryn Little for a variety of things along the way. And to the Swoon Reads community for all of their reading, rating, and reviewing.

Boatloads of appreciation to my friends and coworkers at the Morristown and Morris Township Library for their flexibility and support: Maria Norton, Chad Leinaweaver, Arlene Sprague, Kelly Simms, Virginia Lee, and Anne Ryan Dello Russo, in particular. Also Jim Collins, for listening to every outrageous book idea I’ve had during the past four years. Someday, I’m going to write that zombie-mermaid saga.

Endless thanks to the online contingent: Kandra Rivers for her draft reading and encouragement to keep going, Hanna Nowinski for not blocking my e-mail address after the 5,000th message I sent about trying to find the perfect “aw” moment, and Adi Lubotzki for having a thoroughly intriguing answer to the question “What kind of romance novel do you want to read?” And to all my Tumblr friends and followers, you gave me the courage to post my writing in the first place.

Eternally indebted to Lauren Velella, because every time I say, “Hey, I wrote some junk, you wanna read it?” she answers, “Always!” To Michelle Petrasek for being a dynamite reader, editor, gambling buddy, and IHOP enthusiast. To Chrissy George for being my first beta and favorite person to shop with. And a quick shout-out to the FRLK girls—Kate Vasilik, Katie Nellen, Chelsea Reichert, and Melanie Moffitt—for listening and for making me cry using only a call number and an ISBN.

Major props and nothing but love to my sister and brothers: Karen, Scott, and Sean, because a little bit of you leaks into everything I write. You have far more influence on me than you could imagine. Also thanks to Bill, Billy, Zak, Sandra, Brianna, and Kathleen for being a part of this big old family.

Forever grateful to my mom, Pat, for a million reasons, far too many to enumerate here. I would also like to apologize for the foul language. Finally, to my dad, Wayne, whom I miss every day. I like to imagine when he found out this news, he would have said something along the lines of “Way to be, Sandra Jean!” and then bought me a cake.