The Beautiful (ARC) Read online

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  the gaps in her memory. Then she threaded her fingers through his. “Will you read one to me?”

  Michael grasped her fingers tightly, then began to speak in a

  steady voice. “Let me not to the marriage of true minds / Admit

  impediments. Love is not love / Which alters when it alteration

  finds, / Or bends with the remover to remove. . . .”

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  Epilogue

  i

  First there was nothing.

  Then . . . there was everything.

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  Acknowledgments

  i

  This story has lived in my head since I was a surly teenager, with my head buried in Anne Rice novels until the wee hours of the

  morning. From the moment it became an actual reality, not a

  day has gone by that I haven’t been thrilled beyond measure to

  have a team of people believe in me—and my work—without

  hesitation.

  Barbara, I still remember your delighted cackle when I said I

  wanted to write a vampire book set in New Orleans. Nothing

  I’ve achieved in this career would have been possible without

  you. And that gorgeous cackle. Good luck, stupid . . . forever

  and always.

  Stacey, there is no better champion than you. Your voice in

  my head pushes me every day to be better than I was the day

  before, and for that there are not enough words of gratitude.

  Also I’ve found us the perfect restaurant in the Quarter. I even

  picked our table already. New Orleans better watch out.

  To the team of magic-makers at Penguin: your support and

  enthusiasm and work ethic have made the world and charac-

  ters I created in my mind a beautiful reality. To Marisa Russell: thank you so much for your passion and enthusiasm. The day

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  you told me you loved Penny Dreadful, I knew we were a match made in heaven. Endless gratitude to Caitlin Tutterow for

  answering every single one of my inane questions. A heart-

  felt thank-you to Carmela Iaria, Venessa Carson, Doni Kay,

  Theresa Evangelista for the stunning cover and design, Elyse

  Marshall, Felicia Frasier (I insist on another Brooklyn pasta

  night!), Lindsay Boggs, Shanta Newlin, Erin Berger (pasta

  night part deux, right?), Christina Colangelo, Colleen Conway,

  Caitlin Whalen, and Bri Lockhart. Immense gratitude to

  Laurel Robinson, Cindy Howle, and the inimitable Anne

  Heausler for their notes and edits. And a special note of

  thanks to Kara Brammer and Felicity Vallence for being the

  mad geniuses you both are.

  A huge thank-you to all the amazing book bloggers, readers,

  and book lovers from all over the world. I cannot do what I do

  without you.

  To Jessica Khoury for the stunning map and the gorgeous

  emblem. It’s my desktop, and I am in awe of your talent and

  consummate professionalism.

  To Daniel José Older for the New Orleans expertise, the

  notes, and endless support. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

  To Alwyn for your precious emails and your enthusiasm and

  all the help perfecting my sad attempts at French. You are a

  delight and one of the most genuinely kind people I know. I

  adore you.

  To Rosh, JJ, and Lemon: when I think of all the memories

  we’ve already made, I smile at everything destined to come.

  Thank you for gracing me with your love and endless talent.

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  To Sabaa for cheering with me, crying with me, reading with me, and inspiring me every day. And for watching The Two

  Towers Extended Edition and knowing every line by heart,

  just like me. Your friendship is a gift beyond measure.

  To Gio Mannucci for all the help with the Italian. I love how

  this career has reconnected us in such a wonderful way.

  To Carrie Ryan and Brendan Reichs for all the Cantina

  lunches, advice, and laughter. QC represent!

  To my assistant Emily Williams: thank you for being the

  most organized person I know and keeping me—and my hare-

  brained ideas!—on track.

  To Maggie Kane, Heather Baror-Shapiro, and the wonder-

  ful team at IGLA: thank you for all your endless work and un-

  ceasing professionalism.

  To Elaine: I am so lucky to have a chosen sister like you. Thank

  you for fixing all the Spanish in the book and sending me curse-

  laden text messages at 3:00 a.m. and for loving New Orleans

  like I do. There is no one I’d rather gallivant down Dumaine

  with, searching for a tarot card reader or our next foodie fix.

  To Erica, Ian, Chris, and Izzy: I love you all so much, and

  am so grateful to call you family. To my parents—Umma, Dad,

  Mama Joon, and Baba Joon—thank you for all your love and for

  always putting my books where everyone can see them, front-

  facing in bookstores.

  To Omid, Julie, Navid, Jinda, Evelyn, Isabelle, Andrew, Ella,

  and Lily: thank you for our family and for all the times you

  never fail to show up and cheer for me. I’m so proud to share in

  this life with you.

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  And to Vic: for the way you look at me when you think I’m not paying attention, and for the way you make me smile even

  when you’re not there, thank you, to the stars and back. There

  is no better man than you.

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  Document Outline

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