Dear Zoe (2022) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Zoe was Tess's sister who died tragically nearly a year before the story takes place. Her untimely death profoundly affected the entire family, leaving deep emotional scars that manifest throughout the narrative as they struggle to cope with the loss and rebuild their broken family ties.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show the family attending therapy sessions, trying to mend their broken ties, hinting at the devastating loss they experienced.

• zoe death
• tess sister
• family tragedy
• loss

Tess discovered that her mother may have been involved in an extramarital affair with Justin Bartha, a young man from the neighborhood store. This shocking revelation, combined with her mother's deep depression following Zoe's death, pushed Tess to seek stability elsewhere and make the life-changing decision to leave her family and search for her biological father.

Foreshadowing: The discovery of the potential affair follows the family's ongoing struggle with grief and depression, adding another layer of betrayal to Tess's already fractured family life.

• tess leaves family
• biological father
• affair discovery
• justin bartha

Tess's father was arrested for drug-related activities. This arrest, which also involved Jimmy Freeze, the boy next door, triggers a crisis that forces Tess to confront painful memories connected to her sister Zoe's death.

Foreshadowing: The mysterious arrival of Travis, who makes dubious financial propositions and seems to know about the father's activities, foreshadows the illegal dealings that lead to the arrest.

• father arrest
• drug charges
• tess father
• jimmy freeze

Travis arrives as a cryptic individual who claims to have knowledge about Tess's biological father. His odd behavior and questionable financial propositions raise alarms for Tess, making her question her father's integrity and suggesting possible illicit dealings within the family.

• travis
• mysterious character
• father secrets
• financial offers

Tess's father expressed concern about her growing friendship with Jimmy, advising her to maintain distance. This protective instinct reveals his own anxieties and fears, which become clearer when both he and Jimmy are later arrested together for drug-related activities, suggesting he knew about Jimmy's involvement in illegal activities.

Foreshadowing: The father's warning hints at his awareness of Jimmy's criminal activities, which are later confirmed by their simultaneous arrest.

• father warning
• jimmy freeze
• protective instinct
• drug connection

The arrest of Tess's father and Jimmy for drug-related activities triggers painful memories for Tess, forcing her to confront the circumstances surrounding Zoe's death. While the exact details are left for the narrative to unfold, the crisis serves as a catalyst for Tess to understand the events that permanently altered her family's dynamic.

Foreshadowing: The family's therapy sessions and struggle to rebuild after the tragedy hint at deeper connections between Zoe's death and family secrets that are eventually revealed.

• zoe death connection
• family secrets
• drug arrest
• past trauma

Jimmy Freeze is the boy next door who develops a friendship with Tess that evolves into a deeper relationship during a transformative summer. He is later arrested alongside Tess's father for drug-related activities, revealing his involvement in illegal dealings that were initially hidden from Tess.

Foreshadowing: Their summer of exploration and self-discovery takes on new meaning when the arrest reveals the darker aspects of Jimmy's life that he kept hidden.

• jimmy freeze
• neighbor
• drug arrest
• relationship

Through her continued connection with Jimmy, Tess discovers a profound source of strength and comfort. Despite the upheaval of his arrest and the painful revelations about her family, their relationship becomes a crucial element in helping her navigate the uncertainties of adolescence and find hope amidst the darkness.

Foreshadowing: Their bonding moments throughout the summer, filled with joy and shared struggles, foreshadow the lasting support Jimmy provides to Tess.

• tess solace
• jimmy relationship
• hope
• healing
• final scene

Tess's mother sinks into deep depression following the family's tragic loss of Zoe. Her mental health struggle exacerbates the family's difficulties as they attempt to communicate and heal together, creating an environment of emotional turmoil that contributes to Tess's decision to leave.

Foreshadowing: The mother's depression is evident early in the narrative, showing her inability to cope with the void left by Zoe's death.

• mother depression
• grief
• mental health
• family struggle

Tess uncovers several devastating family secrets: her mother's potential affair with Justin Bartha from the neighborhood store, her father's involvement in drug-related activities, and the circumstances surrounding Zoe's death that are revealed through the crisis of the arrests. Each discovery forces Tess to reassess her understanding of her family.

Foreshadowing: The shadowy figure of the biological father and the mysterious Travis both hint at hidden secrets waiting to be uncovered.

• family secrets
• affair
• father crimes
• hidden truth