Thank you to my parents, Jordan and Carole Goodman, who cultivated my love of both reading and writing practically from birth. Mom, you have always been my first reader, and I appreciate your insight and endless support. This book would not exist without you. （And no, Lily’s mom isn’t based on you!） Dad, thank you for the socially distanced, pandemic headshot and for always keeping my technology working （and recovering missing pages when that technology goes awry）。 Who would have thought that mini laptop you gave me to type my stories on when I was a kid would lead to this?
Thank you to my brother, Adam, and sister-in-law, Nicole Goodman. Seeing my early works on your shelf, three thousand miles away, made me feel loved and supported every time I’ve come to visit. I love you, Cam and Luke, so very much.
Thank you to my grandmother, Charlotte Chansky—you may have behaved better than Lily’s grandmother in Mexico, but you were her inspiration. Your love of storytelling shaped so much of my childhood and my voice as a writer. And how Bert would have kvelled.
Thank you, Aunt Dolly and Uncle Marvin Band, for always loving and believing in me—so much, in fact, that you accidentally spilled the beans about my book deal before I did. But, at your age—I’ll stop there.
Thank you to Uncle Mike, Aunt Stephanie Abbuhl, and Andrew, Peter, and Ben Chansky, for providing my very favorite writing spot. Mike, you may be a pain, but every time I see my books on the shelves in Avalon, I know it’s （mostly） for show.
Thank you to my cousins, Allison Band, Andy Levine, Ian and Kim Band, and Mindy and Alan Nagler, for being some of my loudest cheerleaders. Your genuine excitement when good things happen means the world to me.
Thank you to Mark Kamins, for your unconditional love and support. I wish your parents were here to see this.
Thank you to Kevin Keegan, the best of teachers, mentors, and friends. I could write a whole book about the difference you have made in my life （actually, I kind of did） and it would not be enough. I hope you laugh as you read this, without anyone needing to hit a concierge bell.
Thank you, Jennifer Lucina, for being my friend, my sounding board, my life coach, and my friend—I said friend twice because it’s amazing that you’re still here after everything we’ve been through. I couldn’t have told this story without you （and your wedding—sorry!）， and I love you so, so much.
Thank you, Rachel Friedman, for keeping me sane during the writing of this book, both by being a free therapist and by making me laugh when I felt like I was drowning. I’m so lucky to have you in my life.
Thank you, Sonya Shpilyuk, for keeping me grounded, whether at work, at home, or both during a pandemic. You’re my absolute favorite weirdo and I adore you.
Thank you to Jan Guttman, Georgia Zucker, Christen Dimmick, Joye Young Saxon, Chris Smith, Katie Crockett, Sarah Elbeshbishi, and Jade Pinkowitz for the many years of support, friendship, and, of course, coffee.
Thank you to the Confino family.
Thank you to everyone who supported my self-published works and blogs throughout the years. You made me believe that I could actually do this.
And finally, thank you to Uncle Jules, for giving me a typewriter when I was eight years old and telling me I should be a writer. I hope I’ve made you proud.