by Maurene Goo
In this huge city, there were three people in this truck who mattered a lot to me. I’d protect that little part of the universe for as long as possible.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
My first thank-you always goes to my agent, Judith Hansen, fiercest champion for any creator lucky enough to have her in their corner. I’m so grateful for your guidance and wisdom.
Endless gratitude to my editor, Janine O’Malley, and to Melissa Warten for their expertise and good humor while forming an actual book from this pile of swear words. Thank you to Margaret Ferguson for helping me shape this story in the very beginning and for everything before that. Thanks to the FSG/Macmillan team, including Elizabeth Clark, Brittany Pearlman, Joy Peskin, Jodie Chester Lowe, and Karen Ninnis.
For the research and eyeballs needed on this book, I’d like to thank Lisa McCune of Scratch, Louis Quezada of Border Grill, Suzy Yu, Alice Fanchiang, Cat Fanchiang, Chengzhe Zhou, Sophie Xiao, Charmaine Ou, Ben Zhu, Adi Alsaid, Lilliam Rivera, Nemuel DePaula, Nina Khatibi, Fernando Encarnacao, and Jennifer Li.
Thank you to Derick Tsai for being the Josh Lyman of my book life. Thanks to Willard Ford and everyone at SSG for turning me into someone who can fight with more than just her words. Thanks to #RetreatYoSelf. Bless our frosé and In-N-Out. Thank you to Rilo Kiley for letting me use your perfect words.
Thanks to all the librarians, booksellers, festival organizers, and lovely readers whom I’ve met over the years. Your support and kind words have meant the world to me.
So much gratitude to early readers Brandy Colbert, Sarah Enni, Morgan Matson, and Amy Spalding. You weren’t just readers but my lifeline during the wildest year ever. Keeping with this metaphor—thank you to Robin Benway, Anna Carey, Kirsten Hubbard, Alex Kahler, Elissa Sussman, and Zan Romanoff for keeping me afloat in our fair city.
Infinite to the Bog: Leila Austin, Alexis Bass, Lindsey Roth Culli, Debra Driza, Kristin Halbrook, Kate Hart, Michelle Krys, Amy Lukavics, Samantha Mabry, Phoebe North, Veronica Roth, Steph Sinkhorn, Courtney Summers, Kara Thomas, and Kaitlin Ward. Special shout-outs to Somaiya Daud, Laurie Devore, Kody Keplinger, and Stephanie Kuehn for the #accountability on this book. Thank you, hags.
It’s no surprise that families matter a whole lot in my books. Because mine is always there, filling the pages, even when you can’t see them.
For all the love and support, thank you to Kristi Appelhans, Tony Appelhans, Kira Appelhans, Tom Watson, Oliver Appelhans-Watson, Leah Appelhans, and Nate Petersen.
Thanks to my sister, Christine, for being the most reliable person in my life. I couldn’t have done anything this year without your help. Even if I had to hear Frasier at midnight. Thanks to my parents for doing so many things right that I’ve only noticed and appreciated with time. For supporting everything I’ve ever wanted to do, minus going to sleepovers.
And thank you to my husband, Christopher Appelhans. I wrote about falling in love in LA because of you. I write everything because of you.
Also by MAURENE GOO
Since You Asked
I Believe in a Thing Called Love
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Maurene Goo grew up in a Los Angeles suburb surrounded by floral wallpaper, one thousand cousins, and piles of books. She studied communication at UC San Diego and then later received a Masters in publishing, writing, and literature at Emerson College. Before publishing her first book, Since You Asked, she worked in both textbook and art book publishing. She has very strong feelings about tacos and houseplants. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two cats. You can sign up for email updates here.
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CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Epigraph
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Acknowledgments
Also by Maurene Goo
About the Author
Copyright
Lyrics from “Let Me Back In” by Rilo Kiley included with permission from the band.
Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers
An imprint of Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
Text copyright © 2018 by Maurene Goo
All rights reserved
First hardcover edition, 2018
eBook edition, May 2018
fiercereads.com
Library of Congress Control Number: 2017956980
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eISBN 9780374304096