The Plus One

by Sophia Money-Coutts

  Secondly, to editor extraordinaire Charlotte Mursell, Lisa Milton and the team at HQ for publishing The Plus One. For loving it and for looking after it and being such immensely supportive champions. I’m still thrilled that you didn’t just cackle with laughter at the sex scenes when you first read the manuscript and immediately turn it down. GENUINELY, THANK YOU FOR NOT DOING THAT. I can’t wait to work with you on the next book and really try to shock you.

  I also owe huge thanks to, well, anyone I’ve ever worked with on a newspaper or a magazine for putting up with me, but especially to Kate Reardon, Gavanndra Hodge, Annabel Rivkin and Clare Bennett for their friendship and encouragement while I worked at Tatler. I want to mention everyone I worked with at Tatler here because I love them all, but the list would go on for pages because of the double-barrelled names so I can’t, sorry.

  To my Telegraph supporters – notably Paul Davies, Jane Bruton and Hattie Brett. You have given me the opportunity to write columns about important issues like marmalade and the trouble with having large feet and I am very thankful.

  Friends. So many of you to thank for chivvying me along with the book. For encouraging me. For asking if I’d named any of the characters after you. While I was doing the final edits on this book, it struck me that there’s a good deal of wine drinking in it. This is inspired by you all and I look forward to many more bottles together.

  Mostly, thank you to my family. I can’t single anyone out because, again, there are millions of you and we’ll be here for days. But you are my world and I owe you everything. And a special thank you to Lloyd for making me laugh every day.

  Finally, a nod to Pret A Manger because this book was mostly written in Prets across London while drinking strong white Americanos. I couldn’t have done this without your coffee and your egg and sundriedtomato baguettes. Thanks, guys.

  About the Publisher

  Australia

  HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty. Ltd.

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  Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia

  http://www.harpercollins.com.au

  Canada

  HarperCollins Canada

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  India

  HarperCollins India

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  http://www.harpercollins.co.in

  New Zealand

  HarperCollins Publishers (New Zealand) Limited

  P.O. Box 1

  Auckland, New Zealand

  http://www.harpercollins.co.nz

  United Kingdom

  HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.

  1 London Bridge Street

  London SE1 9GF

  http://www.harpercollins.co.uk

  United States

  HarperCollins Publishers Inc.

  195 Broadway

  New York, NY 10007

  http://www.harpercollins.com