Readers, the first thank-you goes to you. Thank you for all the letters and notes you’ve sent me over the years, for sharing your thoughts and personal stories about this series. You’ve reminded me that books have a magical power to bring people together. You’ve also been the most generous caretakers (as good as Gran!)—protecting Molly, rooting for her, and generally proving that you are, as Molly would say, very good eggs. Thank you for loving Molly.
Thanks also to the following people, all of whom have helped me find my way through the maze of story:
Madeleine Milburn. There are more things to thank you for than I can possibly enumerate here, but most of all, thank you for having such faith in my ability to find a new voice in this book and for always guiding me with such grace and intuitive wisdom.
The amazing team at Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency—Rachel Yeoh, Valentina Paulmichl, Hannah Kettles, Giles Milburn, Saskia Arthur, Megan Capper, and Hannah Ladds. How is it that you’re an ocean away, and yet I know you’re cheering me on from afar? Your good spirit, your positive energy, your talent, and your endless hard work is such an inspiration. You are my people.
Massive thanks to the superb team at Ballantine, especially my editor, Hilary Teeman, who has been there from the very beginning and who has helped shaped Molly and the entire world of this series into what it has become. And to Kara Welsh, Kim Hovey, Taylor Noel, Megan Whalen, Karen Fink, Angie Campusano, Elsa Richardson-Bach, Diane McKiernan, Elena Giavaldi, Virginia Norey, Pamela Alders, Cindy Berman, Angela McNally, Sandra Sjursen—thank you for the big and small things you do every day to bring my books to life.
Also across an ocean are the endlessly creative folks at HarperFiction UK. My unfailingly poised editor Charlotte Brabbin always inspires me to give just that extra bit more, and her team—including Maddy Marshall, Frankie Gray, Holly Martin, Harriet Williams, Emily Scorer, Lynne Drew, Libby Haddock, Ellie Game, and Ruth Burrow—have made publishing such a pleasure.
To my beloved home team of Penguins, including Kristin Cochrane, Adria Iwasutiak, Bonnie Maitland, Meredith Pal, Beth Cockeram, Sara James, Catherine Knowles, Marion Garner, and Kelly Hill. Thank you for stepping up and leaning in when I needed it the most. I am so lucky to count you as colleagues and friends. You continue to teach me every day and to remind me what’s so wonderful about this madcap business we’re in.
To Josie Freedman, for helping me navigate the TV and film world.
To Arlyn Miller-Lachmann, for essential early reads.
To Nicole Winstanley, for her wisdom and brilliance.
To my dear friends, who know exactly when to make me laugh and how. Thanks to Sarah Fulton, Aileen Umali and Eric Rist, Martin Ortuzar and Ingrid Nasager, Roberto Verdecchia, Sue Trenholm, Clodine Sponagle, Sarah St. Pierre, Janie Yoon, Adria Iwasutiak, Sarah Gibson, Felicia Quon, Jess Scott, and Zoe Maslow.
To my family, always—Tony and Theo, Dan and Patty, Devin and Joane, Freddie and Pat. And to Jackie and Paul, forever in the margins and in the wide, blank spaces between the lines.