This was actually a very emotional book and I thought it was just going to be another predictable family drama. It was far from that and an unforseen half sibling that desperately needs help, yes please! I love how the storyline is between Caroline, who receives a surprise DNA kit for a gift and Sela, the unforeseen half sister. This story is told very sensitively and emotionally. There are plenty of struggles along the way and the other supporting characters add some depth to the story instead of just being there.

Highly recommended and glad this is not characterized as a suspense but as a women's fiction book. I could see this a coveted selection for many book clubs. This is my first Jessica Strawser book and it will not be my last. Very impressed with her ability to write a complicated story that is not a thriller.

Thanks to Netgalley, Jessica Strawser and St Martins Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available: 3/23/21

I just finished reading A Million Reasons Why by Jessica Strawser and the funny thing is, the whole time reading it I thought the title was Too Much To Ask. I’m not sure why my Kindle says that the arc is titled that or why someone decided to change it. I really believe that Too Much To Ask is the more appropriate title and fits the storyline better. At any rate, I thoroughly enjoyed it and found it to be a real tear-jerker. Honestly, I love when books make me cry. I find it amazing when an author can write a story so well that it can get my emotions going like that. And Jessica Strawser has done that with this one. I got deeply and emotionally into this storyline. It’s about a woman who needs a kidney transplant and through DNA testing finds out she has a half-sister that she never knew about. But there’s so much more to this story than just that. It covers many areas and topics but the overall lesson I believe is about Forgiveness. I think everyone who cares about love, loyalty and family would enjoy and learn from reading this. I’d like to thank the author, Jessica Strawser, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the arc to read, review and enjoy. This book easily deserves a 5 star rating!

In our world where technology has made is possible to learn about our DNA and trace our relatives it has opened doors of happiness for some and dismantled lives of others. This book is all about this very idea. Two half sisters live very different lives, one having a seemingly perfect life while the other has everything going wrong. When Sela has end stage kidney disease she suddenly is faced with a problem that can have lasting repercussions for her half sister. This was a great book and I thank Netgalley for the opportunity to review book.

This book is amazing!! It is an emotional read that is full of family drama. It's a beautifully written story that tugs at your heartstrings and keeps you turning the pages. This is a new to me author and I can't wait to read more of her books. Thank you St. Martin's Press via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

“Did I like this book?” This is actually a very good story, it’s just the writing that began to drive me crazy beginning about halfway through.

Granted, I read more books than the average person so maybe I’m more sensitive to writing styles, so take that for whatever it’s worth.

The premise of this book is that, via an online gene testing company, two people discover that they are half sisters. They are in their 30s and never knew. What unravels is a variety of twists and reveals (one involving a kidney transplant).

There are a couple of good surprises at the end that I definitely didn’t see coming.

It’s worth reading for that and I can definitely see this becoming a movie or a limited series.

The thing that really bugged me is how the author splits up dialogue. Specifically, she will have a character ask a question and then the author proceeds with some random description of something else for a few paragraphs. Then when your mind is sufficiently on something else, the other character responds and at that point you have no idea what they are talking about so you have to flip back a page to remind yourself what the conversation was about in the first place.

“Kinda”

#netgalley #amillionreasonswhy

The premise of this book really caught my eye, and that carried throughout the entire read! I love the dynamics of the storylines and the characters. Really well written and well thought out. Excited to read more by Strawser.

A Million Reasons Why by Jessica Strawser had all the perfect elements to keep the reader absolutely enthralled —- family drama, long held secrets revealed, health tragedies, mental health issues, and relatable characters. Seriously, this is a book that you will start and finish all in the same day. Carve out some time so you are ready!

A gifted DNA test reveals to Caroline she has a half-sister Sela. You soon find out Sela has health issues that could be resolved if Caroline chooses to help her. But, underneath that seemingly simple plot, so much more comes to light. This book is told in alternating voices of both Caroline and Sela.

I was absolutely shocked when I had read 80% of the book, and then completely flabbergasted by the ending. But, even though the ending was shocking to me it was a satisfying conclusion to much of the family turmoil. Strawser tells this story with grace and true empathy. There is a richness and a joy that leaps off of the pages despite this heavy topic.

Those in the reading world love The Tall Poppy writers, Jessica Stawser, is in that group. Therefore, that is another reason to pick this book up! I have never read a mediocre book from the Tall Poppies, they are all extraordinary.

I was provided a free advance reader copy from St. Martin’s Press in exchange for my honest review on Net Galley. The opinions shared in this review are my own.

A thought provoking perpetual page turner. This story has so much going on
I found myself asking "What would I do?"

I love a story that can feed you so much but not lose you in the balance while including characters you try to devour.

This book really makes you think about how you would react if you were in similar situations. A random Christmas gift of family DNA testing ends up linking strangers together. Sela is hoping to find family members that may be a match for the kidney transplant she needs to save her life. Caroline discovers a whole host of family secrets that change everything she thought she knew about her life. You can feel the emotions of each character through the words the author chose. The chapters alternate between Caroline and Sela giving you an inside look into how they are handling their new found family. The story is an equally heartwarming and heartbreaking look at family and the choices we would make for them.

What would you do and how much would your world change if you inadvertently found out through a mail-in ancestry DNA kit that you had a half-sister? This book is built on that intriguing and timely premise.

While this is definitely women’s fiction and not a thriller, things continue to be revealed that are not as they seem. This one was a bit dark for me and the ending seemed far fetched. I also thought the story dragged a bit for my liking. However, many readers will enjoy this book. I think it had some realistic depiction of patients and families who must navigate renal disease and kidney transplants. ARC provided by the publisher through Netgalley for an honest review.

This book as a deep, emotional journey. Both Sela and Caroline felt so vulnerable, real, and raw. I’m still processing that twist and everything that happened, but this was a fantastic book.

I was, at times, confused by Walt and his actions. He seemed, at first, to be consistent and steady but then became emotional unhinged.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I really enjoyed this book and was intrigued in the whole premise. How often do we hear about people getting a kit from Ancestry.com or 23 ‘n Me, submitting their sample and then get contacted by someone saying they have a DNA connection? This book is not just about that, it is about how well you think you know your family members and how their actions have affected your life, or your life as you know it.

This book feels very similar to something by Jodi Piccoult and I wish there had been some discussion questions at the end. I feel like it could definitely spark some conversation on ethics and values.

While the book didn’t grab me in terms of “couldn’t put it down,” it did keep me interested enough to read it through to the end. It was a solid and steady read. I give it a solid 3.5 out 5.

I have reviewed this novel for New York Journal of Books where it will be posted on their site the evening prior to the release date.



"A Million Reasons Why "by Jessica Strawser
St. Martin's Press
March 23, 2021
10-1250241626
Women's Contemporary Fiction
368 pages

As an only child, Caroline Porter always wanted a sibling—specifically a sister, but that didn’t happen. Now, Caroline at age 35 is happily married to Walt, has three children and lives in Ohio. Her world is shattered when she receives an email from an unknown North Carolina woman named Sela Bell, stating she believes she and Caroline are half-sisters. Shocked at the thought her father could have been unfaithful while married to her mom, Caroline shows Walt Sela's post. They decide to check her parent's email for which Caroline is happy she remembers their passwords. Though she feels guilty doubting her folks would hide something like this from her, she needs to learn the truth. Logging on her mom's site offers no answers, but when she goes to her dad's address, she is met with the words: Sela Bell. Daughter.

Not only did her father cheat on her mother, but it was when they were newly married for Sela is about the same age as Caroline. What is worse . . . her parents know about Sela, yet they don’t acknowledge her, or have they told Caroline she has a sister. How can this be? Her folks have always been open and truthful.

Caroline is furious about this information and heads to her parent's home to discuss this. Upon arriving, she finds the newspaper on the front walk, which is an oddity for her father usually waits on the porch for its delivery. She rings the bell again and again until her mom flings open the door with puffy eyes and an angered expression on her face. Caroline's rage turns to fear—has something happen to her dad? Refusing to talk, Caroline makes coffee while her mother gets dressed. Then her father appears, and a confrontation ensues between them both. When Carolina mentions an email she has received, her mother bursts into tears. This confirms her fears. She DOES have a half-sister.

Confronting her dad, she asks how and why he was unfaithful to her mom:

"'How did you meet? Through Mom, I take it?'

"He grimaces. 'This is going to keep sounding worse.'

"'If you expect this to be the only time we ever discuss this, I'm not letting it go until I hear the whole story.'

"He looked away. 'I met her at our wedding.'

"Worse indeed. 'Please tell me you didn't—'

"'Of course not. Bet it was an at-first sight kind of thing.'

"'Dad. I distinctly remember you calling that whole concept bunk. Multiple times.'

"'I wanted it to be. Still do. Rebecca was the friend who Hannah always talked about, but I'd never met. She was an artist, talented enough to be accepted to competitive programs before she was even out of high school. They'd been close since they were little, but she'd been studying abroad for as long as I’d known Hannah. A semester in London, a summer in Paris, a year in Italy . . .' The emotion in his eyes turned to something she'd never have expected. Pride. 'Their home lives were equally bad, which is how they bonded in the first place. But for Rebecca, not only did her parents not get along, they wouldn't get divorced. They were older—had already raised Rebecca's brother, who was long gone—and the way she put it was that they were over being parents. Her father stopped bothering to hide what a violent drink he was. Once she realized her talent was her ticket out, she used it. But she and Hannah wrote to each other—your mom wallpapered her dorm room with the postcards.'

"Caroline already knew how soon after graduation her parents had gotten married. The following weekend, in fact.

"'Hannah was so excited Rebecca was coming back in time for the wedding. At the rehearsal dinner, she forced the two of us together and commanded us to not stop talking until we'd won each other over. . .'

. . . "'But when I got to talking to Rebecca, I never wanted to stop. I began to worry I was starting to understand new things about love. The way it can knock you off your feet, blind you to reason.'

From this discourse, Caroline sees how easily her father had been taken in by Rebecca, but still, he continues to cheat on her mom. He states he reevaluated his choices but stayed with Caroline's mother when he learned she was pregnant. Surprisingly, Rebecca also was too, but she ended the affair and moved away.

Caroline emails Sela, stating her shock and apologizing for not knowing of her existence. She informs her of the current turmoil between her parents, but she would like to correspond with her new-found sister with no expectations or ties. Sela cries with relief for she not only hopes to connect with an unknown sibling, but she also has a hidden agenda. She is suffering from kidney failure and to survive, she is in desperate need of a transplant. After she is diagnosed, she separates from her husband Doug, and then her mom suddenly dies. Refusing to give in to her grief, her main concern is for her young son, Brody, and her need for a donor.

It's clear Sela never contacted with her father per her mother's wishes, and she believes her only hope for a match is from Caroline. They meet and Walt is bothered by her sudden appearance thinking Sela has an ulterior motive, which in fact, she does. He is distrustful toward Sela and becomes argumentative with his wife about her sudden appearance after all these years. Against his wishes and without informing him, when Caroline learns of Sela’s health problems, she gets tested to see if she is a compatible match to offer Sela her kidney.

By this time, the two women have become friends and Caroline desperately wants to help her, but when she and Walt arrive at her home, they learn some disturbing news about Sela. Can Caroline risk her health for a sister she recently met and who holds other problems in addition to a diseased kidney?

Both Caroline and Sela tell their stories in separate chapters, offering their insecurities, hurts, and distrusts, which makes this a complex and riveting read.

I always find Jessica Strawser's books a pleasure to read; her writing is beautiful and eloquent. This book had a multi-layered and intriguing plot (well described in other reviews) and certainly provided a lot of food for thought--what would you do in a similar situation? It was clearly impeccably researched and the facts were incorporated seamlessly, so that you learn a lot about kidney transplants in an interesting way. I found the characters to be likable and sympathetic for the most part, with mostly understandable flaws. On the downside, however, I did find that it dragged a bit in the middle and that the (surprise) resolution at the end, though a feel-good one from a human standpoint, was a bit far-fetched from a scientific standpoint and too simple a solution. Without wanting to give anything away, I think the same result could have been achieved, both in terms of the relationships and medical outcome, by using a different path mentioned in the book, and that would have avoided the unlikely coincidence, which to me detracted from the narrative and sent me back several times to reread that section and make sure I didn't miss something. All in all, though, I think this is a book that will stay with me. Definitely would make a great book club selection! Many thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan/St. Martin's Press for an e-ARC of this book.

Caroline is a self-acclaimed problem solver, until she discovers, though a DNA testing gift, that she has a half-sister, Sela. Sela is actively seeking blood relatives as she’s in desperate need of a kidney transplant and finding a matching donor has proven impossible. The new sororal connection is about to change the trajectory of both women’s lives forever, as well as the relationships they have with their own family members. This is an engrossing and moving read which will leave readers a lot to think about in terms of what makes a family. A moving and memorable read. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and to Netgalley for the advanced review copy of this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the Kindle ARC of A Million Reasons Why. When I saw a new book by Jessica Strawser for request, I acted right away. I've read all of Ms. Strawser's books and became a big fan. Her books are realistic, without being over dramatic. This story is about Caroline, who has a wife and mom life. Her parents are local and she enjoys her work. She receives an email from Sela, who through DNA testing, indicates that they share the same father. As you can imagine, Caroline and her family's worlds get turned upside down. Add to it that Sela suffers from kidney disease and needs a donor and that really shakes things up. As a reader, it brings up so many questions to ask ourselves: Would you want to find out that your father had an affair? Would you want to meet your half-sister? Would you question what Sela's intentions are? This book is thickly layered with family and they ways they work and sometimes don't. I'd recommend any book by Jessica Strawser if you've not read her work.

This was a bit of a miss for me. I didn't feel connected to any of the characters. I didn't really like either sister, nor their cast of characters. I had a feeling that Sela's baby wasn't alive, but as a pregnant person reading it, it was a bit depressing and tough to read. I liked the premise of the book but found it mostly depressing to read during the dark winter of a pandemic. Sorry, but thank you for the early copy to read with my book club.

Jessica Stawser takes the riveting subject of DNA testing head-on in A Million Reasons Why. Be ready for a read that goes into the minds and lives of these characters as a highly emotional drama plays out. I don't think I was ready for this type of story so I will say that my disappointment with the story is more mine than the author's.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

I connected with both Caroline and Sela. I do not know what I would do in this situation. I found it difficult tp put this book down and stop thinking about it.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Caroline is in for a shock when she receives an email showing a DNA link to another wo!an. Does she have a half sister? This story is intriguing and heartbreaking. Great characters and writing. It is a heavy read, but well worth it.