It’s knowing that this isn’t a fantasy. It’s real life.
For John
All my stories are love stories because of you
Acknowledgments
Writing is intimate and nerve-racking and a little embarrassing. Thank you, dear reader, for the opportunity to be vulnerable with you.
Endless thanks to Elizabeth Bewley, who in addition to being a wonderful human being is also a damn good agent （dare I say, the best agent?） and who saw something in this book before it was even finished. Elizabeth, I’m so lucky that you’re on my team.
I’m beyond grateful for my editor, Shauna Summers. It’s incredibly rare to find someone you immediately click with on a creative level. Shauna, what a gift it is to work with you. There’s nothing better than collaborating with someone so sharp and insightful. I can’t wait to do it again.
Thank you to the entire team at Penguin Random House. Thank you to Lexi Batsides and Mae Martinez. Thank you to Kara Welsh, Kim Hovey, Jennifer Hershey, Cara DuBois, Belina Huey, Ella Laytham, Barbara Bachman, and Colleen Nuccio. Thank you to marketing and publicity goddesses Morgan Hoit, Melissa Folds, and Courtney Mocklow, all of whom share my love of a good spreadsheet. And to everyone else who touched this book with their talents.
This book had several early champions—friends and colleagues whose support I cherish. Thank you, Tal Bar Zemer, Katie Cotugno, Zan Romanoff, Maurene Goo, Robin Benway, Sarah Enni, Brandy Colbert, Margot Wood, Jessica Morgan, Alisha Rai, Rachel Lynn Solomon, and Kate Spencer. You’re all as talented as you are beautiful （and you’re all very beautiful）。
Thank you to my parents for taking me to the library whenever I needed to refresh my stacks of paperback romances. Mom and Dad, you never put restrictions on what I was allowed to read, therefore the sex scenes are totally your fault. Thank you.
Adam and Abra, I wouldn’t trade you for any other siblings on the planet. I definitely haven’t tried to.
John. You’re better than any romance hero I’ve ever read （or written）。 Because you’re real. And you’re spectacular. I love you.