My editor, Karen Wojtyla, is not only a joy to work with, but understands my writing on a level that constantly surprises and delights me. Karen, it’s a privilege to work with you, even if you did have me take all the pockets out of Isobel’s Firth & Maester’s dresses （you were absolutely right, as usual）。 Thank you for believing in this book.
I’d also like to thank everyone at Simon & Schuster, including Annie Nybo, Bridget Madsen, Sonia Chaghatzbanian, Elizabeth Blake-Linn, and Barbara Perris, for all your help and hard work.
Thank you to my brother, Jon Rogerson, and also Kate Frasca, for making sure I have a place to stay, feeding me, and buying me the comfiest sweatpants.
I wouldn’t be who I am without my friends Rachel Boughton and Jessica Stoops. You have my eternal gratitude for never being more than a message away, for knowing me like no one else does, and for putting up with some truly questionable writing over the years. I don’t deserve you. Write your books.
Kristi Rudie, thank you for dragging me out of the house for TV marathons. It helped more than you can ever know.
Thank you to the Swanky Seventeens, a community who provided invaluable support during the journey to publication, and connected me with my friends Katherine Arden and Heather Fawcett. You two are an endless source of inspiration and encouragement. Here’s to many more really, really long e-mail chains.
Nicole Stamper, Liz Fiacco, Jessica Kernan, Jamie Brinkman, Katy Kania, Desiree Wilson—thank you for being my partners in crime.
Jessica Cluess, for your advice, even as I fangirled deliriously.
Allison, for calling this book “moist.” You understand.
Finally, a huge thank-you to Charlie Bowater, who did an absolutely incredible job bringing the cover to life.