Because, Honestly: The Book

Because, Honestly: The Book is a collection of illustrations and poetry drawn and written by artist Melody Hansen. The collection began on Instagram in 2014, and later became known as the #BecauseHonestlyseries. With illustrations expressing vulnerable emotions like "don't apologize for feeling something or a lot" or "I want change, but I don't want to change my mind", the series grew popular over the course of two years. The illustrations are simple and yet express deep vulnerability and emotions. Melody Hansen uses the work to process her personal experiences and questions, finding comfort in act of sharing. First released in 2016 as limited copies, Because Honestly was re-released in 2020 as a second edition for more accessibility.