always knew who Luke and Vada were meant to be, but I didn’t know how or where they would be until Kate said YES! That one! That feels right! And of course, as usual, she was spot-on. Thanks, Boss! I love our dive bar kids.
Vicki Lame, Supreme Editor and Lover of Lyrics. This book would’ve gone nowhere without someone who just got it. And me. And that’s Vicki. Not every editor would have taken the time to actually listen to all the songs Luke and Vada sent each other over the course of the book, but Vicki did and that’s hard-core. When I worried about too many songs, she replied with, “Actually, what if we added a playlist to the end?” See what I mean? She. Gets. It. Thank you, Vicki, for giving my adorkable music nerds a chance to shine.
My Wednesday Books team. I have the best publisher in the world and I don’t care who knows it. Thank you to Jennie Conway for always being the first to respond to my panicked emails with a calm and collected response, keeping me sane. I am positive the inside of DJ DeSmyter’s brain must be a beautiful place because he creates the loveliest things I’ve ever seen. Natalie Tsay’s enthusiasm has literally made my day so many times over the past few years and when I’m scrambling to figure out how publicity works, she will respond to my email on a Saturday morning like it’s not even a thing. Who does that? The sweetest publicist in the world, Natalie, does, that’s who. I’m very lucky.
To Karen McManus, who has stuck by me every step of this journey and was the first to fall in love with the British cupcake who is Luke Greenly. She even made a (photoshopped) T-shirt in his honor, which was exactly what I needed to press on through the early stages of drafting this book. I really hope I’ve done right by our boy, Karen.
To Jenn Dugan, the Derek to my Stiles. Thanks for being broody and gorgeous while I get to play the role of the ridiculous one. That sounded sarcastic, but I swear I’m completely sincere. Your feedback made Vada stronger and your friendship makes me stronger. This is a tough career we’ve chosen and I’m glad to have you by my side. Or in my texts. Whichever.
Kelly Coon. You offered to beta and ended up “just throwing together some light feedback.” Girl, you are a frigging miracle-Hermione and I am so grateful for you. Your future is so damn bright, and I am extra grateful that I get to tag along and watch you soar. Let’s change some hearts, friend.
I have two (super talented) author friends who have Lifetime Passes to my first drafts: Steph Messa and Samantha Eaton. I’ve known and loved them both since before You’d Be Mine and treasure their responses even while I cannot for the life of me understand why they would want to read my early messes. But whatever. I’m beyond grateful for them and their feedback and their encouragement. Thanks, ladies!
To all the book bloggers who have encouraged me and loved on my characters: I fucking love you guys.
To my sister, Cassie. She is always my very first reader, which means, she, too, read every one of those seven thousand iterations of Luke and Vada. Even when she was busy graduating and falling in love and raising her little girl, she read. I don’t know that anyone on the planet will understand Vada the way my sister does. Cass, remember that night I sang to you under the covers while we shook and cried at the noise? Me too. This book is for the girls we were. I’m so proud of who we grew up to be.
To the Hahn, Jenkins, and Vrtis families. I am who I am because you were all who you were. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
To Cate Unruh and Meg Turton, my Themed Sleepover besties: Looks like Tom Selleck with a side of toe-mah-toe, sea birds, and I want to buy a boat! Nicely, nicely thanks. (I realize that doesn’t mean anything to anyone else. That’s the thing about best friends who’ve been around since you were fourteen and fifteen years old, you have a secret language of movie quotes and nonsense.)
To Ryan Kearley, in the immortal words of Kurt Cobain, SEND ME WORDS, MAN. But also, thanks for being such an awesome friend. I can’t believe I still