A Million Reasons Why — family secrets, DNA tests, and a medical emergency drive a Southern domestic drama

# What this novel is about

A Million Reasons Why opens with a medical emergency and a personal search. Sela is confronting severe kidney failure and, worried about her future, mails a consumer DNA kit to find any potential genetic matches who could donate a kidney. Caroline, a married mother of three, also completes a DNA kit she received for Christmas. The results change everything for both women and for their parents.

# Central characters and conflict

Caroline's initial joy at finding a half sister is complicated by what she learns about her parents' secret-keeping. The situation becomes more fraught when she suspects Sela may have had ulterior motives in completing the DNA test, a concern amplified by Caroline's husband. Those suspicions and the parents' reactions create the bulk of the domestic tension in the novel.

# Themes and tone

The book examines betrayal, regret, secrecy, and biological connection against the backdrop of organ donation. Grief and the logistics and ethics of seeking a living donor are woven into the plot. The reviewer notes that the sisterly bond is well-rendered and emotionally engaging, while the overall execution of family drama leans toward the melodramatic and soapy side of women's fiction.

# Research and setting

The reviewer praises the novel's research into organ donation procedures and matching. The Kentucky setting is described convincingly, providing a specific sense of place rather than a generic backdrop.

# Plot structure and surprises

The author builds toward a major plot twist the reviewer refuses to reveal. That twist is presented as significant to the story's outcome and reader experience. The emotional payoff relies heavily on the ways characters process betrayed trust, medical urgency, and long-buried family decisions.

# Where the book succeeds

• Emotional connection between the two women: the review highlights their believable and affecting interaction.
• Practical detail: organ donation and the mechanics of DNA testing are portrayed with credible research.
• Sense of place: Kentucky is used effectively to ground the story.

# Where the book may not work for every reader

The reviewer found the family drama excessively melodramatic at times. If you prefer restrained domestic realism, the novel's heightened emotional stakes and soapy scenes may reduce its appeal.

# Publication and author notes

A Million Reasons Why was published by St. Martin's Press on March 23, 2021 (ISBN 9781250241627). Jessica Strawser is an established author and editor: she has served as Editor-at-Large at Writer's Digest and is a USA Today bestselling novelist with multiple titles in the book-club and women's fiction space.

# How the reviewer rated it

# Bottom line

The novel is likely to appeal to readers who enjoy emotionally driven family dramas centered on secrets and moral dilemmas, especially those interested in medically anchored plots about organ donation. Readers seeking subtler domestic fiction may find the tone too melodramatic.