Publisher: Macmillan Audio / St. Martin’s Press
Published: March 23, 2021
Source: Audio: ALC via Macmillan Audio / Print: Hardcover via St. Martin’s Press
Summary:
Jessica Strawser’s A Million Reasons Why is “a fascinating foray into the questions we are most afraid to ask” (Jodi Picoult, number-one New York Times best-selling 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.
My thoughts:
This is the second book I’ve read by Jessica Strawser and I really enjoyed it. It seems that DNA test stories are all the rage lately and I’m totally for it…though I’m not sure I would ever want to take one!
I love books that make me wonder what I would do if I were ever to find myself in the same situation and this is definitely that kind of book. It’s a family drama that is filled with secrets and it kept me guessing as to how things would play out. I love books like this, especially coming from a large family myself, where there is ALWAYS drama!!!
While I feel this book started off a bit on the slower side, it eventually takes off, and I get that building that background is sometimes necessary and it was needed here. Plus, the ending was totally worth it, so my advice is that if you are feeling this one dragging in the beginning – stick with it!!!
This book would make a great book club pick because there are so many layers to it. There are questions about ethics and how well we really know our families. It also delves a little into organ donation and how altruistic donations work. This is something I knew nothing about and I found it quite fascinating.
I really enjoyed this book. It went in directions I never expected and that is always such a good thing – I love when I cannot guess where a book is headed! While I wouldn’t classify this as a thriller, it certainly is a page-turner. If you haven’t picked this one up yet, I highly recommend doing so!
Audio thoughts:
This book translated really well onto audio and was narrated by one familiar narrator – Cassandra Campbell – and one new-to-me narrator – Natalie Naudus. I thought both narrators did a great job bringing this book to life. I liked the way both narrators voiced their characters and will definitely be checking out what else Natalie Naudus has narrated.
