I wanted to say something profound here, but every time I sit down to write these acknowledgments, I get overwhelmed with a sharp sense of gratitude and wonder that I have so many incredible people in my life who’ve helped make this book happen. 

My brilliant agent Hillary Jacobson: you believed in this book and in me even when I didn’t, and your unwavering faith gave me the courage to see this through. I could not ask for a better guide to help me navigate publishing. I’m also very grateful to have Felicity Blunt, Rosie Pierce, Roxane Edouard, Savanna Wicks, Liz Dennis, Will Watkins, Tamara Kawar, and the rest of the ICM team in my corner.

I’m so thankful to have not one but two incredible editors tirelessly champion this book. Nicole Sclama: from the first time we talked, I knew you got this book, and every conversation since convinced me that I couldn’t be in better hands. Emilia Rhodes: I appreciate your wisdom and thoughtfulness so much, and I feel so fortunate to have the chance to work with you. A million thanks to the entire HMH team for supporting this book from day one, especially Elizabeth Agyemang, Mary Magrisso, Kaitlin Yang, Samantha Bertschmann, Erika West, Maxine Bartow, Tracy Roe, Anna Ravenelle, Julie Yeater, Lauren Wengrovitz, Margaret Rosewitz, and everyone else who has worked on this book in any way. Huge thanks to Emma Matthewson, Carla Hutchinson and the entire Hot Key Books team for being the best champions I could ask for in the UK. I’m so lucky to have the most beautiful cover, and I cannot thank Doaly and Dana Li enough for the incredible illustration and design. 

To the entire writer cult: thank you for inspiring me with your immense talent and for all the pep talks, brainstorming calls, and cultreats both virtual and IRL. Janella Angeles and Maddy Colis: thank you for being on every step of this journey with me from haunted hotels to bat signal wine nights. Axie Oh: I literally cannot imagine not talking to you every day. Thank you for being my voice of reason in your chaotically calming way! Ashley Burdin: you’re the other half of my brain and this book literally wouldn’t exist without your brilliance. Katy Rose Pool: my favorite travel, writing date, deadline, and tree buddy! Thank you for being my secret to productivity (and also that one phone call that helped). Mara Fitzgerald: I don’t know what I’d do if I couldn’t text you about the most important things in life… I’m obviously talking about Zumbo, Shrek, and D&D podcasts. Thanks to Amanda Foody for talking through my magic system every year, Tara Sim for the wine & whine nights, Ella Dyson for being the first one to read this book, Christine Lynn Herman, Kat Cho, Claribel Ortega, Alex Castellanos, Amanda Haas, Melody Simpson (my first CP!!), Meg Kohlmann, and Erin Bay. I’m so fortunate to know you all!!

Patrice Caldwell: every step of this journey was only possible because of your generosity, kindness, and wisdom. Thank you for the recycled pep talks, spontaneous macarons, “I told you so”s, and letting me be the more melodramatic friend. Susan Dennard: my publishing big sister and personality twin—I truly mean it when I say that meeting you changed my life. The rest of my writing community: Traci Chee, Julie Dao, Sara Raasch, Sara Holland, Roshani Chokshi, Swati Teerdhala, Hannah Reynolds, Cassie Malmo, Shveta Thakrar, Aneeqah Naeem, Adrienne Young, Kristin Dwyer, June Tan, Sabina Khan, Sarena and Sasha Nanua, Karuna Riazi, Dhonielle Clayton, Sona Charaipotra, Samira Ahmed, Rebecca Mix, Tasha Suri, Lyndall Clipstone, and Alex Brown. Many of you took the time to give me thoughtful advice and encouragement long before I ever had a book deal, and your friendship has meant the world to me. 

I wrote a book about a complicated family, but I’m so glad to have the most supportive one. I know I didn’t go to med school, but I still hope I’ve made you proud! 

I dedicated this book to my grandparents who told me my first stories and set me down this path. They taught me the importance of hard work, pursuing my passions, and trying new things. To my parents: thank you for instilling in me a love of the arts and the courage to pursue my dreams. None of this would be possible without your generosity, love, and the example you’ve set. And I obviously could not have written this book without my little demon cat who is my best brainstorming buddy and always the first to hear any publishing news. 

Thank you to my aunts and uncles (Rajmohan, Baskar, Srividya, Vinod, Radhika, Krithikka, and Sridhar) for letting me steal your books every summer. Special shoutout to my little brother Arjhun for driving me to see temple ruins and the thevangu, and my baby cousins Atul, Ajith, and Riti who are all budding storytellers in their own right. Thank you Gayathri for always putting things into perspective, and Uthra Aunty and Sundar Uncle for your unwavering support. To the rest of my family and extended families—I’m so grateful for all of your encouragement over the years and for patiently answering my million questions about Indian history and mythology. Huge thanks to the entire Chamathu group for being my Bay Area family, especially my gurus Asha Aunty and Indu Aunty for teaching me so much about art, dedication, and our traditions. 

Prithvi Guruprasad: you believed in me long before I ever believed in myself and your bravery always inspires me to take my own leap of faith. Monika Alem: the first writer I ever met—I don’t know if I’d have ever written a single thing without knowing you. Mai Nguyen: this book was written over the course of a hundred Thursdates. Thank you for being my forever accountability buddy and creative friend (also I’m sorry I gave you a C that one time in 7th grade science class). Megana Roopreddy: thank you for being my person, my emotional rock, my favorite person to wander cities with, and always being there for every meltdown and every celebration. There’s no one else I’d rather return a half-eaten pie with. 

Anna Misra, Priya Muley, Sowmya Murali, Kristina Hanley, and Shreya Pramanick—you’ve listened to me ramble about writing since our Davis days, and I’m so glad to have you all by my side. Ms. Wong, I’m so grateful our paths crossed after all those years, and your generosity and graciousness is such an inspiration to me. Kamini, Tiffany, and Kyla: I feel so lucky to be a part of the MCA family with you all. Thank you to Matt, Dustin, Christian, and the rest of the Select staff, and to Stuti and Leelind for your valuable guidance.

Lastly, thank you to every reader, blogger, bookseller, and librarian who has picked up this book and joined me on this journey. I’m honored to share it with you.