Jessica Strawser is a new author for me, however, this is her fourth novel and I'll have to circle back on read her back list. A Million Reasons Why centers around the results from a mail-in DNA kit. Two strangers find out they are related and the knowledge creates unsettling news for both of their families. Strawser artfully crafts this story with multiple plot lines: infidelity, life decisions, fate, grief, family dynamics, trust, and caring for others. I learned a lot about kidney disease and it was obvious Strawser had done research into its devastating progression. It reminded me of Jodi Picoult books in which she creates awareness of important issues while engaging you in a suspenseful journey. I read from Strawser's Goodreads page, she likes to 'build a story around a chain of events that would both challenge and celebrate the role of fate in our relationships.' She definitely succeeds here! A Million Reasons Why comes out March 2021. Thanks to #NetGalley for the advanced copy to review.

Oh my goodness, this books rips your heart in two. Caroline and Sela are so easy to connect with and to love. I felt so much for all that Caroline dealt with for getting information regarding a half-sister.. I have to say at that start of the book, I was prepared to hate Hannah (Caroline's mother). Fred....oh Fred. He just wanted to love his wife and daughter the best way he knew how. My heart just hurts so much for Sela and her health. I loved Walt and Caroline. This book gave me so many feelings. I have to say I have very happy with the resolution and how everything ended.


Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of the book. All the opinions expressed are my own.

I throughly enjoyed this book. It is not my typical genre, but maybe it should be. Realistic, emotional, makes you think about what you would do if you found yourself in the characters positions. I definitely recommend!

Thank you again NetGalley for allowing me the privilege of reading this advance copy for my honest opinion!
My opinion is this is a 5 STAR read~ 2 thought strangers...2 completely different life styles eventually come together after one is diagnosed with kidney disease. One looking to find her family through DNA testing!! It brings together all the many variables that go to show how much we all need one another . Well developed characters and beautiful writing!
I highly recommend this book!
5 full stars

In Jessica Strawser's A MILLION REASONS WHY, two half-sisters are thrown together in adulthood by the surprising results of a DNA test, sending seismic ripples through their own lives and the lives of their loved ones. Book clubs and fans of Jodi Picoult will devour this beautiful and complex novel about the shifting bonds of family and the impossible questions life poses to all of us, at one time or another. Through richly drawn characters and a few satisfying plot twists, Strawser handles difficult questions with thoughtful, page-turning prose. A must-read!

A good, heartfelt novel. A DNA test as an unwanted Christmas present leads a woman to realizing she has a half-sister. One’s life looks perfect as the other one’s life is in need, literally. Characters were well-written and likable through this plot with twists. This book definitely pulled at my heartstrings and made me wonder “what would I do?”.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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.