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Thanks, too, to the rest of the team at Celadon for embracing Heather and bringing it into the world with such attention and care.

Thank you to Kristina Moore at UTA, for having a nearly supernatural ability to see to the heart of a book and imagine a life for it beyond the page and to Orly Greenberg for joining the team this time around and gamely jumping in with both feet.

Susan Scarf Merrell provided a crucial, confidence-giving early read of this book and offered support and advice through the long process of writing and publishing a second novel. Susie, your generosity and grace continue to astound me.

Thank you to my friends, especially Sheena Cook, Daisy Florin, Melanie Pierce, Stephanie Wrobel, Caitlin Waher, and the mighty women, writers, and mothers that make up the Creative Coven for the dinners, happy hours, Zoom chats, and check-in texts and calls that make this writing life so much richer and more fun.

Thank you to the day care teachers who have so lovingly watched over my children these past two years, giving me essential time to write: Meghean, Maya, Barb, Lakshmi, Abby, Luisa, Miranda, Renee, Caitlin, Lalitha, Jazmin, Vidya, Marguerite, Justin, Gabe, and Claire.

I wouldn’t be able to do this work without the support of my family, especially my mom, to whom this book is dedicated; my sisters, Lauren and Meghan; and my brothers-in-law, Sean and Jon. I may write dark books but my life is filled with so much light and humor thanks to all of you.

Thank you to my in-laws, especially Karen Lucian and Carol Piraino—the best West Coast publicity team I could hope for.

Thank you to my children. I am proud and delighted to be your mother. You have made my life richer in so many ways. Raising you is humbling, hilarious, and more joyful than I ever could have imagined.

Thank you to Spencer, who has weathered so many highs and lows at my side with patience and love. Our life together continues to get bigger and messier and you are the steadiest presence through it all.

Finally, a tremendous thank-you to my readers. The gift of your attention and time is what allows me to do this work and I am so grateful to every one of you.





Founded in 2017, Celadon Books, a division of

Macmillan Publishers, publishes a highly curated list

of twenty to twenty-five new titles a year. The list of

both fiction and nonfiction is eclectic and focuses

on publishing commercial and literary books and

discovering and nurturing talent.