“Heartbreaking yet hopeful, this astute exploration of the bonds and limitations of family is a perfect book club pick.” – New York Times bestselling author Joshilyn Jackson A Most Anticipated by Goodreads * SheReads * E! News * Frolic Jessica Strawser’s A Million Reasons Why is “a fascinating foray into the questions we are most afraid to ask” (Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling … Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author)–the story of two women who discover a bond between them that will change both their lives forever.
When two strangers are linked by a mail-in DNA test, it’s an answered prayer–that is, for one half sister. For the other, it will dismantle everything she knows to be true.
But as they step into the unfamiliar realm of sisterhood, the roles will reverse in ways no one could have foreseen.
Caroline lives a full, happy life–thriving career, three feisty children, enviable marriage, and a close-knit extended family. She couldn’t have scripted it better. Except for one thing:
She’s about to discover her fundamental beliefs about them all are wrong.
Sela lives a life in shades of gray, suffering from irreversible kidney failure. Her marriage crumbled in the wake of her illness. Her beloved mother, always her closest friend, unexpectedly passed away. She refuses to be defined by her grief, but still, she worries what will happen to her two-year-old son if she doesn’t find a donor match in time.
She’s the only one who knows Caroline is her half sister and may also be her best hope for a future. But Sela’s world isn’t as clear-cut as it appears–and one misstep could destroy it all.
“A thrilling story of what happens when a long-held family secret comes to light…[Strawser] shows that no one is ever truly a villain or a hero, but instead, we are all a beautiful and messy mix of both.” – Associated Press review
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In A Million Reasons Why, Jessica Strawser writes a domestic drama which deals with medical issues, morality, personal and professional ethics, secrets, betrayals, what makes family family, how much you’re willing to do for another person, and forgiveness. WHEW!!! Yes, fellow readers, this one is LOADED with twists and moral dilemmas. The characters are wonderfully and fully drawn, complex and realistic. This is an emotional read and one that is quite thought-provoking. It is an excellent selection for buddy-reads or book clubs as it will easily generate discussion.
The only thing I didn’t like about it is the unethical portrayal of the transplant team, which is a disservice to all of those who work so hard to match organs with those who so desperately need them.
My sincere thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an e-copy of this book, published on 3/23/21. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
4.25 STARS
Caroline believed she was an only child—up until the day she discovered that she wasn’t. That was the day Caroline’s life slowly began to unravel; the day that secrets were exposed and lies uncovered. For Caroline’s half-sister, Sela, the genetic discovery held a deeper truth; a deeper purpose. Fate brought these two strangers together, but navigating their unthinkable circumstances could tear these sisters apart for good.
Right from the get-go, I was drawn into Caroline and Sela’s saga, and I remained captivated right up until the very end. Boasting a unique and compelling premise, “A Million Reasons Why” poses questions that’s impossible for the reader not to ponder while navigating the story’s shockingly twisty road. But at the end of that arduous journey, I was met with a rapid conclusion that felt flat and utterly unsatisfying. For that reason, an otherwise 5-star book, fell off its precarious pedestal for being a little less than perfect.
This book is a family drama, involving grown two half-sisters (who just met), the father of both, and their respective families.
The two sisters met under strange and stressful circumstances.
The plot is multi-layered and intense. It involves secrets that everyone carries. The discovery of these secrets is proving to be devastating.
The characters are all well developed and realistic. They suit the story well. The 2 sisters take turns narrating the story. Their perspectives of the situation are not the same. It gets intense. Then comes the question to the reader: What would you do? There are decisions to be made, the reader is kept wondering what the outcome will be.
There is a huge double twist to the story as it nears the end. It surprised me and made the story even better.
Fans of Diane Chamberlain and early Jodi Picoult will enjoy this book. The complex plotline is very similar to the type of stories they produce.
Now, my negative comment about this book…….it was a hard book to read. This was not about the storyline but the writing style. It is very wordy, sometimes I had to reread whole sentences or paragraphs to understand what was being said. The one thing that bothered me several times throughout the book: one character would say or ask something. Then there were a lot of lines of narrative before the other character replied or reacted. By that time I had to backtrack to refresh my mind about what they were answering. I did finally get somewhat used to the writing style but I found that it detracted from the story. From my perspective, it is not necessary to have a fancy writing style to convey a good story. Sometimes, simple is good.
This book would have been a 5 star rating for me if I hadn’t felt that I was slogging through parts of it. I enjoyed the story and the characters a lot but could only rate it 4 stars. Perhaps if I had read it at a different time, the writing style would not have been an issue for me. But, I am glad that I read this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The blurb is what made me want to read this book! As someone, who deals with a rare autoimmune disease that impacted my kidneys, I felt that I could relate to one of the protagonists and in many ways I could relate. There was so much more to this book that all started with a Christmas gift of DNA kit, that kept me turning the pages.
The story is told from alternating views of Caroline and Sela.
Caroline, an only child, married to an only child, Walt, who have three children. They wanted to make sure that their children grew up with something they didn’t–siblings.
Not expecting much from the DNA test, Caroline receives an email from someone claiming to be her half sister and chalked it up to it being an error. Out of curiosity, Caroline pulls up her parents results and notices a box that had been unchecked for her father, figuring it was an oversight when she set up the accounts, checked it. A New Match was found!
Sela, an only child, raised by a single mother, who, while pregnant was diagnosed with kidney disease which pregnancy only exacerbated the disease. Sela’s husband, Doug, remained her husband in name only for the benefit of her having insurance. Sela was pushed to take the DNA test by her ex-husband and best friend, as she was running out of time.
Sela connected with a nurse, who was a kidney recipient herself, and at her urging Sela attended a seminar The Big Ask, although listening to the lectures didn’t quite have the same impact on Sela. Sela decided that she couldn’t ask her half sister, whom she didn’t know for such a favor.
Caroline pays a visit to her parents, and realizes there truth to the DNA test, and despite her mother’s obvious distress, Caroline opens communication with Sela. The two start off exchanging emails. After Caroline discovers some unsettling news, followed by a family health crisis, she answers a phone call from Sela and agrees to meeting face to face.
Sela keeping her condition secret, drives to Cincinnati to stay with Caroline and her family. The two sisters find themselves enjoying each others company, until over indulging on Sela’s behalf provides a scare and she is forced to tell Caroline and Walt about her health.
While Caroline is stunned and trying to absorb the news, Walt is incensed leveling charges that Sela was just trying to get close for her own benefit. Sela’s pleas that she wasn’t going to ask fell on deaf ears.
Time is really running out for Sela!
Oh my gosh, I loved that this book brought organ donating to the theme, by way of a story that made me cry, hope, hurt for both Caroline and Sela because of those they loved, who made decisions based on what was best for them. I wanted to dislike Doug, until I was able to hear his side, then I hurt for him too. Among all the secrets, there was one, that really shocked me, which carried the story into a different direction and made the story more heart wrenching. The ending was a surprise too.
One of the quotes from the book that I loved, was when Caroline’s best friend, Maureen, doles out when Caroline is feeling defeated:”I am doing the best I can with the information I have available at the time.” Isn’t that all each of us can do?
I requested and received an ARC from NetGalley via St. Martin’s Press and I have voluntarily reviewed this book.
A million stars for A Million Reasons Why!!!! It is in the top five of 2021 for me! A story of resilience and love. The heartbreaking reality of illness and what it can do to those who love you and to marriages is well portrayed in this beautiful story. Tragedy, hope and love fill the pages of the beautifully written must read!
Last minute gifts to the family of mail in DNA tests bring unforeseen results within the family. Very thought provoking story. Really made you think about how you would react if you found out you had a half sister.Well written story that has stuck with me and gave me things to ponder.
I would recommend it. Thank you to the author. Publisher and Net Galley for this Advance Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review.
I really enjoyed the character of Caroline. She is faced with so many revealed secrets in the story. The issues she faces with meeting her sister are unimaginable. It made me ask What If so many times during the book? The book moves quickly and was well plotted. The change of viewpoint between Caroline and Sela was well done. It helped fill in some of the missing pieces. The twist near the end truly surprised me. I liked the characters and proved that there are so many sides to a person and that we rarely know more than a small portion of them. The story was done well and is definitely one that I will remember. I received a copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Oh, this was a great book! It was one of those books that you think you know what is going to happen but then are thrown in a complete different direction, not just once or twice, but MULTIPLE times! It hints at a Jodi Picoult novel and even has the emotional drama effects that Picoult’s novels do, causing you to question your own thoughts and beliefs and ask yourself what you would do. I hadn’t read any books by Strawser before but immediately went to Goodreads and added her other books to my TBR list!
With the advances in DNA all the skeletons are coming out of the closet! Families are brought together, destroyed and lots of questions remain. This story explores what makes a family, what they believe to be true and how they navigate the fallout. It is human, touching and oh so real. Jessica Strawser touches every nerve in this one and it’s a fantastic ride!
What would you do if you found out you had a sibling you knew nothing about? If you found out that someone you loved had been lying to you, about quite a few things? What if your new sibling needed something that only you could give?
Ms Strawser weaves a family drama, leading you where you are sure the story is going, then throwing something subtly and unexpected into the mix. Story is heartbreaking in so many ways. What starts as a fun family gift of a DNA test, opens up a whole new world. I loved the characters and their surrounding drama as this story unfolded. They are so relatable. Their emotions, and reasonings about the situations, are raw and honest. This story hit home for me as my sister had kidney issues. If you are looking for a good story to curl up with, I recommend this one! Pub Date is 3/23/21!
Thanks to Ms. Strawser, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.
A page-turning look at what happens when you meet a sister you never knew you had and the impact that it has on your life and hers. An innocent DNA test turns into a test of family, truth and the bonds that tie people together.
I have read every book Jessica Strawser has written and loved them all. This book was very different from her other books but was excellent. So if you read the blurb you know from the start the two half sisters connect as adults and all the skeletons on both sides eventually emerge. Caroline’s story is filled with anger at her mother for things she did to prevent her daughter from finding out about so many things. Sela is going into renal failure and needs a kidney transplant. She is divorced and has a son Brody. Caroline has a loving husband and three children and both her parents while Sela’s mother has passed away. Without giving away any spoilers they have the same father, but Caroline’s father stayed married to Hannah, while Rebecca raised Sela on her own. This was a very emotional book throughout and as you near the end there is a major twist that comes which I never saw coming. I enjoyed this book and the epilogue was awesome. I highly recommend this book.I received this book from Net galley as an ARC for an honest review. Thank you net galley for this ARC.
This book kept me in its grip till the end.
It might have you think twice about doing a DNA test. What secrets might surface that you rather not know about. Caroline did not know the can of worms she was opening when sending in the DNA test that was given to her as Christmas present by her husband. Family secrets from before she was born slowly came to the surface. Finding out the existence of a half-sister can bring up a lot of mixed feelings. Will she be loyal to her parents, follow her husband’s request or her own feelings. This is a very emotional story that will stick with you after closing the book. It also shows how hard it is to accept an illness and the loss of an unborn child. I can’t tell you more without given away the story but I highly recommend this book.
When Caroline, an efficient event planner and mother of three, receives an email from a woman she doesn’t know claiming to be her half sister, she dismisses it as nonsense. A second email from Sela triggers doubts. Last Christmas, her husband gave the extended family mail-in DNA tests. Told in alternating points of view, I was hooked from the start. This beautiful, well-told story is packed with surprises and takes a look at family secrets, lost loves and living with a life-threatening illness. Thanks to NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
A MILLION REASONS WHY by Jessica Strawser is a heart-wrenching and compelling family drama with a unique take on the theme of family found by a DNA test. Caroline’s life is near-perfect. She has a strong and happy marriage, three great kids, a fulfilling career and a close relationship with her parents. Little does she know that her world will be upended by results from a mail-in DNA test kit that her husband gifted her and her parents for Christmas. She is stunned to receive a notification from the ancestry site that a woman claims they are half-sisters. The email sets off a chain of events that threaten to undo the bonds of this close family. For half-sister Sela, knowing she has a family member related by blood is even more critical. Sela has chronic kidney failure and will likely die without a transplant. Except for her two-year-old son, Brody, Sela is all alone after the death of her beloved mother and the breakdown of her marriage. Caroline could be the only suitable match that could save her life, but could she really ask a perfect stranger to donate a kidney? Against the wishes of her family, Caroline initiates contact with Sela and what follows is an extraordinary story of what it means to be family and how far someone would go to protect the ones they love. Filled with moral dilemmas and tough decisions, I could feel the intense emotions of the characters. As secrets are revealed, each character must make difficult choices with far-reaching consequences. I was totally engrossed in this story with its many provocative themes and unexpected twists. A MILLION REASONS WHY would make a great book club selection. I highly recommend this book.
Don’t miss this searching, tense family drama by a master of her craft. Jessica Stawser gives us a twisty plot, combined with deeply emotional content, in a novel that examines the most profound questions of our hearts. This is a story that will stay in your heart long after the last page is turned.
Outstanding novel with a magnetic plot that draws you in and keeps you spellbound until the end. It is an unforgettable story with complex characters and just the perfect amount of tension.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review. This book took me on a journey, which highlighted DNA testing. I have never been tested but I know lots of people have. So reading this book about 2 people being tested and finding out they have a half-sister gave a different viewpoint. I cried some while reading because it can be a very emotional time when finding something like this out, but I also cried because decisions made so many years ago now have such different consequences than when the decisions were made. As I was reading and after I finished reading this book, it has made me think about not only DNA testing but when you send the kit away, you don’t know what you have set in motion. I hope that people will read this book because I learned a lot of things I didn’t know and there was a sentence in the book that said, “A newly open door, even if you couldn’t quite bring yourself to close the one behind you” that I liked.
The people in the story bring you into their inner circle and I learned things from each and every one of them. As I said this took me on a journey and like any journey, you see things, things change, but you travel through to see where you will end up, and for that, you have got to read the book. It is definitely worth reading.
This book was so good!!
It’s about Sela who has failing kidneys and decides to do an DNA test searching for any possible half siblings.
Caroline finds out she has a half sister and that’s just the first surprise. You can’t help but feel sadness for both characters and what they go through.
The book was engrossing and I found myself wanting to stay up late lastnight to finish it but I didn’t.
I really enjoyed the story and was kinda surprised at the ending.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy
I truly loved this story!
ONE test result will change many people!
Secrets that have been hidden for years, now will be hunted out and the truth will be revealed!
Caroline has always wished she had a sibling to share clothes, secrets and fight with/for.
When her whole family take a DNA test, it is truly only just for curiosity and to use the gift they all received.
Sela, takes a DNA test to appease her family.She will eventually need a kidney transplant.
Not sure what she will learn,. but– who knows? Miracles happen!
AND… the roller-coaster ride begins!
This is a great, well written novel of family, secrets, mental illness, love, and hurt!
You will want to put this book on YOUR book list! ***** stars!