(Ironically enough, I was given a DNA kit for Christmas this year. I haven't taken it yet because I’m too scared to do it.....I have my own personal reasons. With that said, I do often wonder about the popularity of DNA testing and what the outcome can be for some people. A Million Reason Why hit me pretty hard)
Lots of twists and turns, emotional moments and so many lies.
Mail-in DNA test + Two strangers = Consequences
I don’t want to spoil the book for you. Just know it’s a very emotional, thought provoking charged read. It made me think of books I’ve read by Jodi Picoult.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publish Date: 23 March 2021

Jessica Strawser's latest novel will have you asking yourself "what would I do if this happened to me?" It starts with an innocent family Christmas gift and turns into a family rift when an ancestry tracing kit comes back with a shocking result. Never in their wildest dreams would they have expected a bombshell secret to be exposed and threaten to ruin their family. I have to admit I had no idea what the book was about when I started it. I thought her previous novel, Not That I Could Tell, was really good so I felt like there was a good chance I'd like this one, too. This one wasn't as juicy but it had a lot of things going on to keep me engaged. She used alternating narrators to show how each sister was handling the results of the ancestry test. This helped move the plot forward and make it more believable and also made me relate to the characters feelings. If you like Jodi Picoult, you'll probably enjoy this too. If I had any critical feedback it would be to make me care more next time. I thought it was pretty well written but just seemed to be missing that edge that would make me feel compelled to talk about it more with my book friends.

Thank you NetGalley for an advance of this book. I like a good family drama, and this one fit that bill. However, I felt like there were too many stories going on, and even though they all fit together, I found myself wanting to following the sister relationship more than the past discretion of the father. I definitely have friends I'd recommend this too. It was a fun weekend read.

Book Info
Hardcover, 352 pages
Expected publication: March 23rd 2021 by St. Martin's Press
ISBN 1250241626 (ISBN13: 9781250241627)
Edition Language English
Other Editions (5)
Source:Netgalley EARC
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BOOK BLURB


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 and lifelong best friend passed away. She refuses to be defined by her grief, but still, she worries about 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. That Caroline may 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.

After all, would you risk everything to save the life of the person who turned yours upside down?

From the moment Caroline meets Sela, both must reexamine what it really means to be family, the depths of a mother’s love, and the limits and the power of forgiveness.

My Thoughts


An innocent Christmas gift causes an entire family to implode when long held secrets are revealed and yet the same results also create joy as well.

Caroline finds herself at a crossroads she never imagined, especially once she and her unknown half-sister find themselves facing some facts that Sela had had no intention of sharing.

This story is aptly named as Caroline, and every adult she considers a loved one, wrestle with a million reasons why she should not only accept a relationship with Sela but also whether she should become a donor for the sister she never knew she had.

Family relationships, secrets, physical and mental health issues intertwine to create a story to make you think about some things most of us never have to go through.

Easy to follow and yet not quite as easy to stay emotionally distant from.
[EArc from Netgalley]

On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.

The premise of this book being characters connected by a mail in dna test caught my attention. It is crazy to think about and made for a good story. It alternates between Caroline and Sela's POV and has some deep themes.

I really liked that this book brought to light the importance of organ donation. I don't expect people to line up to be live donors for strangers, but at the very least say yes when the DMV asks and put it on your driver's license!

Reading a story about a character with a terminal illness is hard. I struggled to relate to her, but at the same time learned a lot.

My favorite part of the book was Walt and Caroline's marriage! I won't say more to avoid spoilers, but any part that focused on their relationship was the best.

The family drama throughout the book was well done, but slowed the hood down in my opinion. But the plot twist was such a shock.

Overall this was a good book just slow for me.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This is my honest review.

Started out interesting but quickly descended into maudlin fluff. I couldn't connect at all to character of Sela at all. Caroline i connected to a bit more. Both parents were highly unlikable.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Imagine getting an email saying you have a sibling out there in the world, one you had no idea about? Would you question things, your life as you know it? Would you believe it?

That is the situation that Caroline finds herself in, in this novel. A woman by the name of Sela says she is Caroline's half sister. This raises many questions for Caroline. She confronts her parents on this and then her whole world and life as she knew it is flipped upside down.

I enjoyed reading alternate POV's from both Caroline and Sela. It gave some depth into their characteristics and personalities, and made for great character building. I also enjoyed the plot twists and turns that keep you engaged and hooked on the story.

This book may make you wonder if the current craze for DNA testing is really such a good idea. Caroline and Sela share a father, and when that knowledge comes to light, lives are turned upside down. A great read; see if everyone involved can come to terms with the past, and live with their altered reality.

WOW!!!!!!!!!  Jessica Strawser's upcoming novel is amazing and beautiful!!!!!!!  I sped through this book in one day.  This novel really makes you think about siblings and what you will do for yours. I recommend this book to everyone.  Whether you've ever read one of her books or not you will not regret picking this one up

Enjoyed the book and would give it 3.5 stars. The story was full of twists and so many secrets. Secrets are what everyone seems to be good at in this book. I liked the story and writing style, but never really loved any of the characters. Hannah the least of all. It was ridiculous the way she acted when Sela first contacts the family. All this happened thirty years ago. The way she interfered in Caroline's life was crazy. She did it for herself and no one else. She wasn't looking out for her daughter's best interest. Hannah also didn't want her husband to even have a relationship with his daughter he never knew about. Walt and Caroline's relationship was something else. It didn't seem believable. His reaction to Sela was over the top. His wonderful Christmas gift was the catalyst that started all the secrets to be revealed. Then there was Sela. I definitely didn't see that coming. It was a complete surprise. I kept questioning what I read previously and wondered if I missed something.

Definitely recommend the book. It was an interesting story, full of many secrets. I look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

What would you do if you took a DNA test and found out that you have a half sister that you never knew about? The parents that you thought you knew... and your identity, your life story was different than what you had always believed?

The author's descriptions of family drama, shock, and heartbreak really drew me into the story. I loved it and hated it. But mostly enjoyed it... until the last 20% of the book. The ending was not believable at all- there was so much unbelievable piled on top of unbelievable, along with convenient plot development. I really wanted to like it towards the end, but the unbelievable events threw me out of the story a few too many times.

I liked reading about the two sisters, but the characterization of the husband/ex-husband of the main characters was strange to me. It was hard to get a handle on how to feel about them, and while their behavior was explained at the end of the book, it felt disjointed as I read it. Since this book centers around family relationships, having those relationships be so strange made parts of the book difficult to read.

This was an interesting read for the most part, and I recommend it to people who enjoy family dramas. DNA testing and surprise results is a relevant topic, which also makes that aspect of this book a fun read. What would you do if something similar happened to you?

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ah the ancestral style DNA tests. How much havoc they can cause, when family secrets suddenly get burst wide open! Caroline suddenly goes from being an only to child, to having a sibling. oh the joy! But is it? What if you are suddenly faced with realizing that he person you've met isn't showing you the whole truth about themselves, and there is a possible evil reason for them wanting to meet you, not an altruistic one. And what if you realize that the sibling you didn't know, has led the life you had wanted and walked away from? Does sibling jealously even cover it? This novel look at family dynamics has a twist of an ending and isn't to be missed!

A Million Reasons Why is the story of Caroline and Sela, half sisters that find each other through a home DNA kit. Both were raised as only children and neither knew the other existed so finding out they were not alone was a real shock. I didn't expect to like this book so much! Very emotional and heart wrenching and heart warming all at once. A great example of how keeping family secrets can tear it apart. I loved the characters, Jessica Strawser did an amazing job making them all sympathetic and likable, but she excelled at creating this story of two sisters trying to figure out their place in each other's lives. It was beautiful written. A story of love, regrets, anger, forgiveness and redemption. BRAVO!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jessica Strawser and St. Martin's Press for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this novel more than I had thought I would, as a nurse who works mostly with patients going through different stages of kidney failure, this one really hit home for me. The author did an amazing job at letting people see into the lives of people with this disease and how hard it is to live and enjoy a normal life. I loved the DNA testings aspect and finding an unsuspecting sister that changes both of their lives. There were a few twists that completely broke my heart and I really fell in love with the characters. Definitely one I would recommend.

A Million Reasons Why is the story of half-sisters who discover one another through a DNA test. Two sisters who noticeably couldn’t be more different, but are drawn together by the ties of blood and necessity over personal history. This story is remarkably thought-provoking and will tug on your heart strings. It’s well-written, clear and an impactful piece of fiction.

A Million Reasons Why the story of life,, the strength of love, familialv ties, and the prospect of selflessness. Though we might not ever experience such dramatic surprises in life as the two sisters,, and really all of the characters in this story did, we do experience the unexpected and have to deal with life’s shocking events. It makes us question everything we’ve known to be true in life and often rocks our foundation. In that vein, this story is relatable, insightful and moving, and will leave the reader turning the pages wanting to see how it all turns out.

Something you must consider before you take a DNA test is you may find something you never could have imagined in your life - or your ancestry. Awhile ago I sent in my DNA looking for maybe some mystery without any real fall out, I did, in fact, find someone who is related who I didn't know but very connected in the family. This story is much more deep than mine was and the either of the persons involved will change their worlds. This is a good story, certainly kept my interest and even as it is fiction it does bring in some mystery thriller with it. These two sisters, Caroline and Sela, who realize thy are half-sisters and their lives change forever. The story is deep and you feel their pain, excellently written by Jessica Strawser. Thank you #netgalley#stmartinspress#amillionreasonswhy

An emotional roller coaster of a ride

SUMMARY
When two strangers are linked by a DNA test, it’s an answer to a prayer for one woman. For the other, it changes everything she knows about her family.

Caroline is happily married, a creative problem solver as an event director and the mother of three kids in the single digit range. Her extended family is extremely close and celebrates everything together. Caroline’s life is good, but now, somehow...she has a half-sister.

Sela is fragile and suffering from irreversible kidney failure. Her marriage has crumbled in the wake of her illness and her mother, who she was close to, had recently passed away. She refuses to be defined by her grief, but still, she worries what will happen to Brody, her two-year-old son if she doesn’t find a donor match in time.

Caroline might be Sela’s only hope for a future. But can Caroline afford the risk?

REVIEW
A Million Reasons Why is a heartbreaking story that will draw you in like a moth to a flame. It’s a labyrinth of secrets and lies making you rethink what it means to be family. Caroline and Sela’s characters are both well-developed and creatively intertwined.

Jessica Strawser’s wiring is poignant. She effortlessly makes you feel the drama and pain that envelopes both Caroline and Selena’s characters. It’s an emotional roller coaster of a ride, leaving you with an exhilarating feeling at the end.

The dilemmas in the story would be a treasure for book clubs. There is much to think about here. Jessica Strawser is the author of several novels including Almost Missed You (2017), Not That I Could Tell (2018) and Forget You Know Me (2019).

Thanks to Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Publisher St. Martin’s Press
Published March 23, 2021
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

With an average rating of over 4 stars on Goodreads, I realize I am in the minority with my opinion here. This book had so much potential for me: I love family dramas, secrets and plot twists. However, it was just too chaotic and unbelievable in my opinion. An unexpected match on a DNA website begins the unraveling of a family, bringing up past deceptions from almost every member.

I was skimming pages at a time because of the odd use of internal dialogue that I found so off putting - in the middle of a conversation a character would begin thinking to themselves, often traveling back to conversations from the past and then abruptly returning to the present conversation. It disrupted the flow of the story and felt really awkward. In addition to several unbelievable events, it was the final plot twist that kept me from giving this a higher rating.

If the premise of the story sounds intriguing to you, I would highly recommend checking other reviews on sites like Goodreads. Plenty of people absolutely loved this book. Maybe I’m having an “It’s not you, it’s me” kind of moment.

I loved the secrets that are in this book. They just kept coming and made the story more and more interesting. I love the setting Brevard seems like a beautiful place, I'm going to add it to add Brevard to my traveling places. My favorite character was Walt because he keeps his head in reality and not in the clouds, he didn't go easy on Sela (Half-Sister) when the truth came out. I recommend this book and the author. And the father was more sincere to his daughter Caroline and his wife, he was more like 'What I did was wrong. But I still stayed and have been loyal to my wife and daughter ever since.

⭐️ Book Review ⭐️
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Would you take a DNA test for a site that searches for relatives?
Me? I’m uncomfortable and curious at the same time. Don’t know!
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A Million Reasons Why by Jessica Strawser is a contemporary family drama following what happens when two strangers are linked by mail-in DNA test. One family struggles with the secret is unravels. The other family has a secret to which they hope the new found relative will be the answer.
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What I liked:
* Wow! This book knocked me sideways.
* The character development was superb. All perspectives of the uprooting were explored carefully and beautifully
* So many dilemmas and ethical questions to ponder
* Strong writing skills
* I cheered, I laughed, I cried - sobbed to be honest

What I didn’t like:
* I’m struggling to think of something! The mail-in DNA test required suspension of belief but no biggie for me.

OVERALL: This book raises ethical questions fit for this modern age. It has a good steady pace and has all the feels! I highly recommend. 🤩
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Thank you @stmartinspress and @netgalley for my advanced review copy.



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