Very enjoyable read! Intriguing, interesting and recommended y one of my favorite authors!! Thank you to NetGalley for an advance reader's copy of in exchange for an honest review!

I enjoyed the depth of the subjects explored in A Million Reasons Why. We see how family members can change the course of one another's lives as they presume to know what is best for others. The story is told from two different points of view. Caroline who is married to Walt is one POV. They have three young children. Caroline's parents, Fred and Hannah, have secrets that play an important part in the course of Caroline's adult life. Sela is the other voice. Her story is revealed more slowly. One Christmas all the adults in Caroline's family are gifted a DNA test. When results show Caroline has a match for a sister her life changes drastically. Emotions run high and secrets are revealed.
I received an Advanced Reader's Copy from St Martin's Press through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
#AMillionReasonsWhy #NetGalley

I really liked “Almost Missed You” by author, Jessica Strawser and was looking forward to another great story. I worked with a wonderful boss who was on dialysis for many years waiting for a kidney transplant. His story is a successful one. I did go into this story a bit nervous ~ although stories involving DNA are always interesting. ~ I was also worried that it was going to be a very emotional read and perhaps I needed to be in the right frame of mind.

Although it was interested ~ I did like it but didn’t love it. I am not a big fan of character based family drama stories; I do know that this story will find the right match with a great group of readers.
Also ~ there is no doubt I WILL read another Jessica Strawser novel!

I always enjoy reading the ‘Acknowledgements’. I find the research super interesting and also where the author gets or got their idea for the story. ~ It is inside story to the story which is something I appreciate..

Want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for professional review purposes only.
Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for March 23, 2021

This is the first book I read by Jessica Strawser so I wasn't sure what to expect but the plot sounded interesting. OMG!! I LOVED this book, so heartfelt. Yes, there's one main story but every subplot is just as captivating. I could imagine being in both their shoes and having no idea how I would react. I wanted it to end in a way but I kept thinking the "wrong" way to end would be better...and then, that Epilogue!!! I believe that's when I finally shed a tear.

So thankful to Jessica Strawser for writing it, to St Martin's Press for publishing it and to Netgalley for this ARC.

What a heart-wrenching book about split-second decisions and the price we pay for them. This story is told from two POV from half-sisters Caroline and Sela, unfolding layers of their past and how different their lives could have been if not for decisions made for them.
Not only does it touch on how we all have to deal with past mistakes and our decisions of what we do about them, but it digs into organ donors and the view from both sides.
It's a great story about second chances, forgiveness, and how we move on when we think we no longer can. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of this book.

This book wasn't for me,. The writing was not up to my expectations. The dual narration is not the best way to tell this story, DNA/found family stories are usually intriguing (see Dani Shapiro's real life story in Inheritance), but this one didn't work for me. That said, I took a look at Goodreads to see what others thought and there were many readers who greatly enjoyed. As a librarian, I always keep in my that there are books that are great for others that are not a good fit for me and that's fine.
Thanks for the ARC.

a beautiful story that brought me to tears multiple times. a story of sisters who found each other through a dna test that brought many layers of family secrets to the surface bit by bit. how much of our life is affected by other people's decisions and fears and pains, what would have happened if different paths were taken. It is also a story of kidney disease and the impacts it has on one's life and mental health. this has a happy ending an ending of love and lots of growth

A Million Reasons Why is a complicated book. While you learn a lot about the anxiety behind taking a DNA test (joking!) and someone living with kidney failure, there's not a lot of meat in this book.

Or there is just you just choke on it the whole time.

The book focuses on really ONE plot line - Caroline discovers she has a unknown half-sister resulting from an affair who needs a kidney transplant. You find that out early on and it feels like an endless deliberation, conversation and drama about the who/what/when/where/why of if they are going to communicate, meet, what they'll say, analyzing what they said, etc. It's exhausting.

Only one little twist which seems a little contrived at the end. Good writing overall, sometimes I couldn't tell who was meant to be speaking. A good book for someone dealing with someone they know with a chronic condition.

A heartwarming story of two half sisters who discover each other through a mail in DNA test. The relationship is complicated by Sela’s failing kidneys and need of a transplant, one that a biological sibling could provide.

Caroline’s conflicting emotions were well written and relatable. My only faults with her character were her obsession over a long lost love, one that had lasted a year and she continued to pine for. Her marriage to Walt also seemed to be a bit of a cop out and not really believable as it was intended.

This book was thoughtful and well told. Sisters who meet after a DNA test reveals their biology. Their journey is a bumpy one, fraught with missteps and uncertainty. A web of secrets and hidden truths slowly unravel. Both sisters are questioning everything in their lives that lead them to this moment. The story examines family. marriage and sisterhood in a unique way. Make sure you have some tissues handy, this one brought me to tears at a few places.

A Christmas present DNA test leads to family secrets being exposed and questions about what would you do for family you don't know? Caroline never expected the DNA test she received for Christmas to lead to contact from an unknown relative so when Sela contacts her she doesn't know what to do or think. Should she meet her and risk upsetting her family? A story of family and choices and what family will do to and for each other, both good and bad.

A Million Reasons Why was so much more than I expected! The twists at the end were fantastic. This book kept me completely engrossed. Definitely recommend adding this to your TBR.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved A Million Reasons Why. It will rank of one of my best reads of 2020. It starts with a bang and beautifully unfolds with mystery, drama, love and fear. This story touched on every single emotion possible. I loved all of the characters and feel very invested in their lives. This one drew me in and didn’t let go until the last paragraph. I will think about this book for a long time.
Way to knock it out of the park Jessica Strawser!
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Huge 5 stars for me!!

It’s been a while since I’ve read a book in one day, but I was so engrossed in A Million Reasons Why that I completely devoured it yesterday. This is an emotional, thought provoking novel centered around the question of how far would you be willing to go to save a sister you didn’t know you had. If you enjoy family dramas with secrets and twists, this book should be on your radar.

Solid read - timely story with DNA matching so commonplace today. Yet, it took me awhile to finish this one for some reason. More of a slow burn than a page turner.

The beginning of this book started out with a bang! I little fast paced, wanted to know what would happen. It had a great premise. Gave me lots to think about. However, I got 75% through it and just couldn't finish. I found that I didn't care about any of the characters at all. I can't quite put my finger on why, it just wasn't for me.
As a side note, the mother's name was Rebecca and she was called Ecca... so ridiculous! I rolled my eyes every single time she was mentioned.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Secrets, lies, suspense, mystery, what's not to like?

This story is told in alternating points of view, which is my favorite type of book. I love seeing the story unfold from different points.

This book was one of those that makes you think "what if that happened to me?"

All that great stuff being said, I did find it to be a bit of a slow read. So if you are looking for page turning action, this might not be the book for you. If you want a slow read that makes you think and enjoy the journey, give this a try.

I did receive an ARC and want to thank the publisher, the author and #netgalley. This did not impact my review

The DNA debacle topic is hot right now! I’ve recently read The One, Little Pieces of Me, and The Half Sister, all of which center around DNA tests that brought back results that the customer was not expecting.

A Million Reason Why certainly was the most brilliantly thought-provoking of them all. It makes the reader ponder what they would do in any of the character’s situations--Sela, as she struggles with how to make such a big ask of someone she hardly knows; Caroline as she decides whether to give Sela her kidney and Caroline’s family as they grapple with who to support.

Both main characters were brilliantly developed. It is so easy to empathize with both sides, and I found myself eager to see what Caroline would decide, or if another solution would turn up at the eleventh hour. I was, however, a little annoyed by Walt trying to make Caroline’s decisions for her instead of supporting her and being there to help her decide for herself.

I do think the book jacket description requires some clarification. It says “She’s the only one who knows Caroline is her half-sister”, referring to Sela as the “she”. By my understanding, there was never a point that Sela knew but Caroline and the rest of her family didn’t--all of them simultaneously found out when they received the result of the DNA test, didn’t they? It was never a secret from any of the main characters.

An absorbing story with some unexpected twists. Legitimately grew to care about the characters and the outcome as I read. A pretty quick read that manages to still be thought-provoking.

I requested to read and review this book from St. Martin Publishing Company. This was a powerful story about forgiveness, mystery, betrayal and love. Sometimes things are not wait they seem and how one secret can change a family and the friends around them. Can you actually forgive someone that betrays you or do you get revenge or keep secrets of your own? What makes a bond? This book is for any type of reader and can be read anytime.