A Million Reasons Why

A Million Reasons Why A Novel

A SheReads Most Anticipated Novel of 2021 Jessica Strawser's A Million Reasons Why is "a fascinating foray into the questions we are most afraid to ask" (Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author)--the story of two women who discover a bond between them that will change both their lives forever. 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, always her closest friend, unexpectedly passed away. She refuses to be defined by her grief, but still, she worries 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 and may also 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.
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Reviews

Photo of Hannah
Hannah@hdupont415
3 stars
Feb 1, 2022

After Caroline’s husband buys the family DNA test for Christmas, they move on and forget their results. That is, until Caroline receives an email from a newly matched, long lost half-sister, Sela. Caroline learns her parents are keeping a lot of secrets and needs to figure out how to navigate life after this complete bomb was dropped on her. But it only gets crazier. Sela is in need of a donor for a kidney transplant. There were a lot of details to keep up with in this book. The author kept me on my toes, sliding hints and clues at whats to come along the way. The only complaint I have is that some of the sub-plots seemed unnecessary. I’ve missed the point of including Keaton entirely. I also didn’t fully understand the agreement that Walt and Caroline had to... not fall in love? This wasn’t my favorite book but the twists and turns throughout kept my attention well enough.