DP—You might be wondering what the hell is happening as you read this acknowledgment in the middle of a bookstore. Surprise! I write romance books. Don’t feel obligated to buy this copy though.
Erica—Solely thanking you for editing this book would be an extreme understatement. Your friendship, pep talks, and support during one of the hardest years of my life means the world to me. Thank you for making my days brighter.
Becca—Thank you for believing in me and my story even when I forget to do the same. You push me to be the best author version of myself, and I can’t wait to continue growing with you.
Mary—To one of my very first book friends and the person I text most in the world （Sorry Mr. Smith）， thank you. Your talent speaks for itself, and I can gush about your kickass graphic design skills for hours, but I’ll save it for a voice note.
Kendra—Thank you for helping me bring this book to the next level. You truly are a gem in this book community and I’m grateful to have your support. From sending me song choices to spreading the word about my books, I can’t express enough gratitude for everything you’ve done for me.
Elizabeth T—Thank you for being a part of this project as my sensitivity reader. Your feedback and brainstorming with me really helped bring Iris and her family to life.
My beta readers （Amy, Mary, Nura, Mia, Elizabeth, Kendra）—I appreciate each of you helping me make this story come to life. Thank you for putting up with my tight deadlines, imposter syndrome, and constant questions and revisions.
Jos—Your text messages and voice notes always make me smile, and I’m so grateful to have you in my life. Thanks for putting up with my terrible texting habits.
My Bandini Babes—Thanks for making my group feel like a second home. I enjoy getting to know each of you by name, favorite F1 driver, and book boyfriend you want to claim.
To the whole team at Valentine PR—Thank you for helping me make this release possible.
To those two lines from Taylor Swift’s Illicit Affairs about a secret language—Thanks for existing. You helped inspire Declan and Iris’s non-translatable word game.