My publisher aka HarperCollins! Shoutout to Rosemary Brosnan, Suzanne Murphy, Michael D’Angelo （especially for the brilliant title that improved the course of this story!）， Audrey Diestelkamp, Cindy Hamilton, Jennifer Corcoran, Allison Weintraub, Laura Harshberger, Mark Rifkin, Josh Weiss, Allison Brown, Caitlin Garing, Andrea Pappenheimer and the sales team, and Patty Rosati and her team for being the absolute best. And cover designer Erin Fitzsimmons and artist Simon Prades for teaming up again to create this romantic, haunting cover of my dreams.
My agency aka Writers House! Shoutout to Cecilia de la Campa, Alessandra Birch, and Rey Lalaoui for all they do to get my books across the world. I’m blown away by their reach.
My friends! Luis and Jordin Rivera kept me sane, and Luis let me spoil this book over and over while I was drafting to keep me hyped about the story, and he hooked me up with great ideas like the secret subway station. Elliot Knight was the first person to hear me read from this book, which was especially meaningful in ways that are obvious to us and don’t have to be laid out on this page. Becky Albertalli put up with me as I cycled through a million different potential narrators for this book. David Arnold for staying my bro/fake husband and Jasmine Warga for being the only person I want to eat （vegan） candy with in a bathtub. Arvin Ahmadi for hyping up my third-person writing like it’s the best which means a lot since Arvin is the best so there’s a lot of best-ing happening here. Sabaa Tahir for always letting me know when I get something right and helping me figure it out when I got it wrong. Robbie Couch for all the pastries I come home to after he’s been housesitting for me （and other sweet friend stuff too but mainly the vegan snacks!）。 Victoria Aveyard, whom I’m starting to suspect doesn’t live in Los Angeles because we never see each other here, but I love that we text a lot. Alex Aster, a new friend who became a great friend as quickly as it takes for her to record a TikTok aka super fast. Angie Thomas for writing a prequel before me so I could bother her on what goes into it. Marie Lu, Tahereh Mafi, and Ransom Riggs—I’ve always admired these incredible humans, and I’ve been lucky enough to get closer to them during my time out in Los Angeles. Rebecca Serle, I’m so proud of our journeys, both personally and professionally. And Nicola and David Yoon, I love their big hearts—especially because it means they won’t unfriend me even though I curse too fucking much.
This book wouldn’t have been completed without my group chat switching over to a Zoom room so we could all hit our deadlines. Dhonielle Clayton, our Zoom host who banished me to naps when I yawned too much. Mark Oshiro, our time-tracker who ended our sessions with the voice of a heavenly masseuse. （Unlike that time where I called everyone back with scary demonic growls I found on YouTube.） Patrice Caldwell for not quitting the group chat when we were all freaking out about our deadlines. （And shoutout to Ashley Woodfolk and Zoraida Cordova for their special appearances!）
My mom, Persi Rosa, who has always deserved better than the way I saw her treated growing up. Even though she carries many regrets, she still manages to show grace to those who aren’t worthy. I’m in absolute awe of her remarkable strength and gigantic heart. And I’m pleased to report that despite the many echoes between my mom and Gloria from this novel, my mom has found a love that’s both safe and true.
As always, huge thanks to booksellers and librarians and educators! Now more than ever your determination to keep books like mine available for customers, patrons, and students like yours is so appreciated. Thank you for fighting that fight.
A new first—thanks to everyone on BookTok/TikTok that helped They Both Die at the End find a second, unbelievable life. Special shoutout to Selene from @_moongirlreads who was the first person who made the book go viral, reopening the doors for me to write in this Death-Cast universe. I’m forever grateful.
My readers, for keeping me going creatively.
My therapist, for keeping me going mentally.
My dog, Tazzito, for keeping me going physically. On walks. Many walks.
And, last but not least, Andrew Eliopulos, who was the first person to love this Death-Cast universe. Even though he’s moved on—professionally! Not in the death way! He’s alive, YAY!—his brilliance will forever live on in all things Death-Cast. And beyond.