I never bought it, I’m sure of that. But here it is in the effects box. The little boy stands with wings spread out behind him, his eyes closed. He appears just as he was that day ten years ago—to be soaring.
I take out a pen. I flip the photo over. I think about what comes after—how much there is to say. Twenty-four years. Birthdays. Cross-country moves. Jobs and life. Begin, I think. Begin begin begin.
Dear Alex, I write. And for the first time in a long time I know exactly what it is I want to say.
Acknowledgments
To James Melia, my brilliant editor, who gave me a soft place to land when I really needed it and made the process of this book so wonderfully delightful. Thank you for loving these characters as I do.
To Erin Malone, my incredible literary agent, for being the toughest editor and greatest champion. I didn’t think I’d ever find you. Thank god I did. Also: You’re never getting rid of me.
To Dan Farah, my miraculous manager. You make everything I do bigger, better. This road is brutal and beautiful. Thank you for hanging in with me. I love you.
To everyone at Flatiron Books, especially Bob Miller, Amy Einhorn, and Marlena Bittner for being the most loving, warm, dynamic, and exciting place for Sabrina. You guys rock.
To David Stone, my television agent, for his steadfast belief and Jedi skills. Thanks for being our grown-up.
To Laura Bonner, Caitlin Mahoney, and Matilda Forbes Watson for ensuring this book travels far and wide.
To Leila Sales, Lexa Hillyer, Jessica Rothenberg, and Lauren Oliver for their endless encouragement, love, and life talks. What would I be without this community we’ve created?
To Jen Smith, for being the best adult sherpa in town. I adore you.
To Melissa Seligmann, for letting me play with our past and for pushing me to honor our present.
To Hannah Gordon, BFF and first reader. I continue to be so screwed without you.
To Raquel Johnson, for fielding every phone call and loving me with such incredible blindness. Baby, we are so lucky.
To Chris Fife and Bill Brown, who saw me through one of the toughest years of my life with extraordinary compassion. You are my angels.
To the cast of Famous in Love, who made me a mama for the very first time—never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d get so lucky.
To my parents, who remain my true north. It’s a good thing I’ve been single for so long—otherwise I’d have nothing to write about. You have done your job so remarkably well.
And finally, to any woman who has ever felt betrayed by fate or love. Hang in there. This isn’t the end of your story.
Recommend
THE DINNER LIST
for your next book club!
Reading Group Guide available at
www.readinggroupgold.com
ALSO BY REBECCA SERLE
When You Were Mine
The Edge of Falling
Famous in Love
Truly Madly Famously
About the Author
Rebecca Serle is an author and television writer who splits her time between New York and Los Angeles. She most recently co-developed the hit TV adaptation of her young-adult series Famous in Love, now on Freeform. She can be found on Twitter at @RebeccaASerle.
Visit her online at www.rebeccaserle.com, or sign up for email updates here.
Thank you for buying this
Flatiron Books ebook.
To receive special offers, bonus content,
and info on new releases and other great reads,
sign up for our newsletters.
Or visit us online at
us.macmillan.com/newslettersignup
For email updates on the author, click here.
Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Epigraphs
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Acknowledgments
Also by Rebecca Serle
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
THE DINNER LIST. Copyright © 2018 by Rebecca Serle. All rights reserved. For information, address Flatiron Books, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
www.flatironbooks.com
Cover design by Rouemy Design
Illustrations by Laura Washington
The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:
Names: Serle, Rebecca, author.
Title: The dinner list / Rebecca Serle.
Description: First edition. | New York: Flatiron Books, 2018.
Identifiers: LCCN 2018019807 | ISBN 9781250295187 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781250315830 (international, sold outside the U.S., subject to rights availability) | ISBN 9781250295200 (ebook)
Subjects: | GSAFD: Love stories.
Classification: LCC PS3619.E748 D56 2018 | DDC 813/.6—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018019807
eISBN 9781250295200
Our ebooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension 5442, or by email at [email protected].
First U.S. Edition: September 2018 First International Edition: September 2018
The Dinner List Page 21
