Acknowledgements

For my fave twins, Annie and Lizzie Malone. Having you reappear in my life has been an absolute joy.

With huge thanks to Nicola Larder, and by proxy Victoria Larder. You have been the best twin consultant a girl could wish for! I owe you a large vegetarian steak somewhere very glamorous.

With loads of love to Ray and Kate and Kay, who are all brilliant and irreplaceable for different reasons.

With enormous love and affection for my mum, Stephanie, who is so very dear. And Mutt. And my uncle Brendan, the most unlikely fan of chick lit one could ask for! And my cousin Caitlin, who has been my most ardent reader thus far.

With thanks to Matthew Read for another set of amazing suggestions. Also thanking JD at La Fromagerie in Highbury for allowing me to tap away on a keyboard for hours while he provided the best weak lattes known to man. Ditto the staff at Melrose and Morgan in Primrose Hill.

With special appreciation to Kitty for being so damn wise.

With thanks to Camilla Hornby, an agent who couldn’t be bettered, and to Kate Burke and Becke Parker at Penguin. And also to Karen for patient and brilliant proofing.

And remembering Tim Guest (1975–2009), who was both an amazing writer and an amazing person. I wish you were still here with us.