Author Spotlight: Hannah E. Jones

Dear Izzy is a story told by Sarah—Izzy’s mother. Sarah is in an emotionally abusive marriage. Her husband Cullen—Izzy’s father— acted solely with charm and valor during their courtship, but, after she married him, he conditioned her to accept bad behavior as normal. Sarah writes letters to Izzy throughout her young life. First, the letters tell love stories about their small family of three, which she considers worthy of a storybook. Sarah slowly discovers, however, that she has lost her sense of self. The novel details a woman’s unconditional love for her family, even as she surfaces from her oblivion to the absurdity of her husband’s behavior. The story uncovers her slow but powerful discovery and understanding of Cullen’s abuse and its impact on her and her children. She loves Cullen deeply, but ultimately, Sarah champions her unfortunate circumstances with dignity.