Jeff’s a bit rough and more than a little uncouth, but Daisy overlooks his flaws. He’s interested in her, after all. Life with him might be a roller-coaster ride, but once they’re married, things will smooth out and they’ll build a life together.

Unfortunately, Daisy soon discovers otherwise. Her marriage holds awful secrets that she can’t imagine revealing or escaping, especially once her two precious daughters are born.

Offering insight into how place and culture contribute to domestic violence, how some women are set up to accept physical and emotional abuse without recognizing it for what it is, and why those who are abused often find it so hard to leave their relationships, the novel highlights red flags that foreshadow the potential for abuse.

Matthews comments, “Many people assume that victims of domestic violence and abuse are identified by their black eyes or broken arms. The Skinny Girl allows readers to walk a mile in Daisy’s shoes. The question is, can she step out of the shadows, value herself, and shine?”