I enjoyed this story as it made you question what you would do in this situation. I enjoyed reading about half sisters trying to develop a relationship.

What an insightful story. I really loved all the characters. Some of the twists were a tad far fetched for me,but I still really enjoyed the storyline. With DNA on everyone's mind,it's completely possible people could connect with siblings they don't even know exist. #netgalley #amillionreasonswhy

This book was good. It dragged for me in the middle but I enjoyed the story line. My sister had a kidney transplant 18 years ago and still doing great. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

A Million Reasons Why by Jessica Strawser is thought provoking and entertaining. I love the DNA ancestry element as well as the frank and honest kidney disease subplot. I loved the book all the way until the end. I thought it was a little unrealistic at the conclusion. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the 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 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 and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: March 23, 2021
Jessica Strawser is back with “A Million Reasons Why”. Hot on the heels of “Forget You Know Me”, Strawser again tackles relationships and the huge life-changing events that can alter their course.
As a Christmas gift, Caroline’s husband, Walt, gives her an ancestry tracking kit, along with Caroline’s parents, partly as a joke. The results come back with a shocking result- Caroline has a half-sister that she never knew about. When she confronts her parents, old secrets come out and she is both hurt and shocked that a sister she could have had has been kept from her. Sela is a young mother, diagnosed with kidney disease, her only shot of complete remission is a kidney transplant. Sela’s ex-husband hoped that the ancestry kit would reveal a connection to family Sela did not know she had, family that could be Sela’s last hope at a kidney. However, when Sela finds out about Caroline, and the two agree to meet, Sela realizes she cannot ask this favour from her new sister. As Sela’s health worsens, Caroline continues to find out more and more secrets, about her mother, her father and even her new sister. Will Sela get over her pride and make the “big ask” of the sister she just met? Will Caroline be able to make such a sacrifice, knowing the secrets of her family’s past?
“Million Reasons” is full of family drama and has a lot of “what if?” thought-provoking moments. The novel left me thinking about mortality, sickness, and family, and questioning my own decisions if faced with a similar choice.
Both Caroline and Sela are savvy and strong, and the struggles they face are real and tragic. The novel has an interesting twist (that I won’t give away), which I can honestly say took me by surprise. Each chapter is alternately narrated, by Caroline and Sela, so the reader can understand both protagonists’ roles.
I found this novel spent a lot of time building up to the action, with a huge focus on character development and history. Although it helped in the end, I would’ve liked to have a bit more drama scattered throughout. I was invested enough in both characters, however, to want to find out how it ends.
“A Million Reasons Why” is creative and heart-tugging, and will definitely leave a mark. Strawser tackles family issues from an honest and upfront perspective, which adds a nice level of realism and believability in her plots, and this book is no different. A well-planned and researched novel, “Million Reasons” is definitely worth checking out!

Caroline and Sela both took a DNA test and were shocked to learn that they were half-sisters. Sela grew up with just her mother, but Caroline had no idea that her parent's marriage may have had a bump in the road that resulted in a half-sister.

This book walks through the hard decisions that are made, and the various revelations that are uncovered. As things become even more clear towards the end of the story, I actually said, "What?!" out loud as I was reading -so there are definitely some unexpected events.

Incredibly close to my heart, the topic of half-sisters and DNA tests is explored beautifully in this book. I loved the writing style and deeply cared about Caroline and Sela and their plights and woes. I was genuinely invested in their relationship from the beginning. It is the first time I have read anything from Jessica Strawler and will definitely seek out more from her.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I love Strawser's work, but unfortunately this one did not do it for me. It seems there are a lot of stories out/coming out right now about these half-sisters coming out of the wood works and forcing the family to make difficult choices. I still enjoyed her writing however.

I was so excited to read another Strawser novel that this skipped the line in front of books that are coming out earlier. And she delivered. Though this is women’s fiction, there are also tantalizing mysteries within.

Caroline gets an email from a woman claiming to be her half-sister. Caroline had done genetic testing for her family on a lark—she will learn that Sela’s motivations were very different.

The email sets off a reaction in which Caroline learns painful truths about her past at the same time Sela is battling kidney disease. Caroline has a husband and three kids and parents that until recently she got along with. None of them is excited for Caroline, who grew up as an only child, to meet her sister. But meeting turns out to be a good thing for both women.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES MARCH 23, 2021.

Strawser’s best yet. One chapter gives readers whiplash. Another has them flipping backwards to reread scenes. No predictable characters or outcomes here after a family’s DNA results turn up more than (some of them) bargain for.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Strawser is the Queen of the Domestic Drama, who like Picoult highlights current issues ripped from today’s headlines.

In A MILLION REASONS WHY, the contemporary topic is DNA testing. Who knew it could be so fraught with problems, as character Caroline finds when she’s contacted by an unknown kidney-needing half-sister.

Would you give an organ to someone you didn’t know, who claims you’re kin due to shared DNA? That’s the mesmerizing million-dollar question.

Read this in a day, so riveted by Strawser’s fresh story, assured writing and fully-fleshed characters.

5 of 5 Stars

Pub Date 23 Mar 2021

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

#AMillionReasonsWhy #NetGalley

I was given advanced access to A Million Reasons Why by Jessica Strawser from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

The timeless story of love, family, and secrets drives the emotional story of Caroline and Sela, sisters found through a mail-DNA test. As the story progresses, Caroline and Sela develop a close relationship, but then the unexpected yet plausible plot twist propels the story. There were no moments where I skimmed pages because I actually cared about the characters and did not want to miss any important details.

The unpredictability continues to the very end of the novel. I was pleasantly surprised, but not disappointed.

Well-developed characters, a compelling plot, and plenty of food for thought made this an absorbing read. "Women's fiction" at its best.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

This is absolutely going to be one of my book clubs read, because the discussions it is going to bring is going to be amazing. Imagine finding out you have a half sister through a DNA and having to come together to learn the history of each other as well as make some of the most difficult decisions you could imagine.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martins Press. I loved this book

One of the best books I have read in a long time. I had lots of tears at the unexpected ending and the heartbreaking twist with Brody. Amazing novel. Thank you for the opportunity to read!

What will you do if you’re in those characters’ shoes? I probably got the shoe off and started to run away as soon as reading the dilemmas they have to deal with! This is massive, powerful, soul shaking, thought provoking story!
Lately I start to read so many stories about finding your siblings via ancestry websites. Most of them were thrillers and one of the sisters turns out to mad person to avenge the other one kind of premise mostly irritated me.

But thankfully this book’s genre is not a thriller.
The formulation to bring two sisters together may remind us of the other stories but we sense Jodi Picoult’s My sister’s keeper kind of dramatic, emotional vibes which also presents us a mind blowing, realistic story with well-crafted, easily relatable characters.

We have two protagonists who are also narrators of the story.

One of them is Caroline who seems like having it all: a marriage that makes everyone jealous around here, three feisty kids, a successful career. When you google happiness, her photo appears on your screen. But nothing as it seems and our other POV belongs to Sela who tries to gather crumbling pieces of her own life. She already lost her mother and best friend. Her marriage fails and she’s suffering from kidney disease now she’s at the risk to lose her two years old son. She needs a donor to save her life which creates the biggest predicament between sisters.

Sela needs Caroline’s help because she can be a probable donor match but will Caroline accept to help her stepsister?

Before passing the spoiler territory, I stuffed my mouth with spicy Doritos and I’m screaming in pain because it’s way too much spicy than I expected and but thankfully I prevented a possible blurting out. ( only thing I blurted out from my nose is huge piece of extra spicy chip!)

I have to admit not only two protagonists but also the supporting characters’ dilemmas regarding to the situations they’re dealing with making you think a lot because each one of them are right when you listen to their side of the story. You cannot get angry any of them because each of the characters look at the matters from different perspectives and you learn to respect their decisions.

The author did a marvelous job by picking up a sensitive: life and death situation and her skilled, impeccable writing style hooks you up. You start to question your own realities and think what you would do if you were in the same situation.

It’s truly moving, heart wrenching and provocative story. And the stunning part about this book, the characters still stay in your head. I’m so sure at least one more week I’ll keep thinking about them.

Of course this means I’m rounding up my 4.5 stars to 5!

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this remarkable ARC copy in exchange my honest thoughts.

When Caroline receives a DNA test for Christmas, she never expects it to lead to anything. Months later she receives an email that rocks her world. She has a half sister!! The two decide to chat and then later meet, but there are many secrets and lies that are revealed. The ending truly made me gasp in two different places! I highly recommend this book!

Wow! What an amazing book!
What I love about A Million Reasons Why:
- the way the story is told from 2 characters perspectives
-the storyline that held my attention from page one
-the themes and issues at hand. I love the complexity of family relationships.
-the ending- so good!

I will be recommending this book to everyone!!

Most reviewers loved this book, but I did not. Sorry. It feet like a redone Jodi Picoult book. A surprise (DNA test) half sister needs a kidney. What has Dad been up to? ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.