“Maybe the open air is comforting for balls? And that . . . somehow lends itself to productivity?”
“Oh, note to self: pitch Dolores my teen open mic night idea. I’ve been gauging interest around school, and I feel like Deb from Mathletes would kill.”
“Well, whatever. Clearly, we as a society are just really into balls—oh hi, Nacho! Awww. Look at you all ready for your party. Do you look stunning in your flapper dress? Yes you do! Yes you do! Annnnd I did the Mom voice. This one stays between us, little dog bro.”
Acknowledgments
A lot of people told me the second book would be hard, and those people were right. Luckily, I had the extremely brilliant (and patient) Donna Bray in my corner, helping tease out this flicker of an idea until it came bursting to life. I’m so grateful, and I had so much fun. Thank you.
I’m also hugely grateful to my agent, Jennifer Mattson (who is also extremely brilliant and patient). I couldn’t ask for a better sounding board, coconspirator or champion.
I’m so appreciative of the many great publishing minds who helped make this book happen: Tiara Kittrell, Alison Donalty, Corina Lupp, Alice Wang, Aubrey Churchward, Ebony LaDelle, Sabrina Abballe, Patty Rosati, Mark Rifkin, Laura Harshberger, Jessica Gould, Kristin Eckhardt, and the rest of the Harper team. And thanks to Taryn Fagerness, my foreign rights agent, and Ana Hard, for this beautiful jacket art.
Thank you to my real-life handsome architect husband, Bobby, who brings out my silliest self, and who can both read my mind and raise one eyebrow. (And who put up with all the times I made him riff with me until I found the punchline.)
And to my parents, who have always encouraged me to believe in myself and go after things, even when they’re not particularly practical. (And who each read a silly number of drafts for this book. We’re a very collaborative family.)
Big shoutout to Nicole Panteleakos, my CP and friend, whose notes this time around were mostly of the “ahahahahaha” variety. (Thank you for that. Those were the exact notes I needed to keep going.)
A big squeeze to the rest of my friends and family. I appreciate all the support and joy you bring to my life. There’s a reason I like writing big, lovable casts.
And finally, thank you, dear reader, for picking up this book. For what it’s worth, I think you’re most likely to be whoever the hell you want to be.
About the Author
Photo by Celeste Sloman
KATY LOUTZENHISER is a graduate of Bowdoin College who trained in comedy with the iO and Second City theaters in Chicago. Katy made her YA debut with If You’re Out There and lives with her husband in Brooklyn, New York. Visit her online at www.katyloutzenhiser.com.
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Books by Katy Loutzenhiser
If You’re Out There
The Girl Least Likely
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Copyright
Balzer + Bray is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
THE GIRL LEAST LIKELY. Copyright © 2021 by Katy Loutzenhiser. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
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COVER ART © 2021 BY ANA HARD
COVER DESIGN BY ALICE WANG & CORINA LUPP
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Digital Edition JUNE 2021 ISBN: 978-0-06-286572-4
Print ISBN: 978-0-06-286570-0
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2122232425PC/LSCH10987654321
FIRST EDITION
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The Girl Least Likely Page 26