Wow, I’ve wanted to write this book for more than a decade, right before we bought the house in Palm Springs, where I was supposed to have my fortieth birthday party. We never had the party, so I wrote the book instead, even though we’ve already sold the house. My husband, Mike Johnston, has heard about this book in so many permutations, mostly as this fantasy that I would be able to write it one day. “One day I will write my Palm Springs murder novel!” I vowed. Thanks, honey, for listening to every plot point and for cackling at every joke.
Thank you to my awesome editor, Jill Schwartzman, who believed and loved and encouraged this book. JILL!!! THANK YOU!!!
Thank you to Marya Pasciuto, Jamie Knapp, Elina Vaysbeyn, and everyone at Dutton!!!
Thank you to Richard Abate and Rachel Kim at 3 Arts Entertainment, who keep the lights on in all my houses. Thank you to Ellen Goldsmith-Vein and Eddie Gamara, who turn them into movies and TV shows. YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!!!!
Thank you to my friends. There are so many! I am so incredibly blessed. Thank you to my NYC Gang, Spin Peeps, #beloveds text thread, Soho House lunch bunch, Il Pastaio squad, X-rated Xmas crew, Columbia pals, Tween Hangout parents, West Brooklyn Writers, PettyCashOGs, Kooorooon, and CoreQuadMoms. I love you guys. THANK YOU!!!! Book party!!!
Thank you to my family, who keeps me grounded and sane. DLCs Rule!!!!!!
Thank you to my kid, my favorite child, my one and only, my joy. As she would say (text): ILYSM!!!!!!!
Thanks for reading, and to all my readers, I believe this is my fiftieth book, so I am still younger than my book count. Thank you for reading my books for so long!!!!! Thank you for letting me write stories for a living.
—Melissa de la Cruz,
Los Angeles, March 2019