When I first moved to New York, one of my roommates worked at the coolest bar, which had been converted from an old lightship. It threw some great parties, and was a wonderful way to spend an evening. We were fresh out of college, trying to find our place in the world and this wild, wonderful city. It wasn’t always easy — there were plenty of long hours, lofted beds, side gigs, overdraft fees, and crushed feelings. Those years could be simultaneously lonesome and overcrowded. But, it was also a beautiful time, because that was when I fell madly in love…with New York City, and with the friends who defined those early years.
This book is dedicated to those friends and to the tenacity with which we navigated the complexities of our ‘20s. Even when everything hurt, I was okay, because I had you.
There are many other people who have helped me while I have lived here, in all of my various adventures. I want to thank them too, for believing in me, and for being the absolute most fun a girl can have while staying on the right side of the law.
In my writing life, I am grateful everyday for Alexis Anne, Mary Chris Escobar, Lindsay Emory, Alexandra Haughton and Julia Kelly. Now that you’ve seen me cry over brunch, we’re basically married.
Thank you to my editor, Mayumi Shimose Poe, who is there for me on the page and off. Thank you also to Erin Clark, Sweet Baby Frannie, Eve Wolff, Maureen Donohue, Laura Kawano, Liz Wexler, Alex Gershuny, Talia Greenwald and Luke Stoffel for their support.
Thank you to The Wing for being so pink, so welcoming, and so populated by my Instagram crushes. I’ve officially used the same bathroom as Jennifer Lopez, and that is everything.
Amour, amour, always amour,
Laura Lovely