i thought that this was a great exploration of family and the ways in which we connect to each other (and why) and how those connections work in real life. (how what works for one person/couple is entirely different than what might work for others.) it had a twist toward the end that i wasn't at all on the lookout for and that i never saw coming. i'm not entirely sure (looking back on it) that it's necessary, because this quiet idea of relationship is interesting enough for me, but i can see why it was added, and it certainly adds more for thought. i do like how by the end the author makes us think, at least a little, about the american health care system and how screwed up it is. ( )

What a heart-wrenching book about split-second decisions and the price we pay for them. This story is told from two POV from half-sisters Caroline and Sela, unfolding layers of their past and how different their lives could have been if not for decisions made for them.
Not only does it touch on how we all have to deal with past mistakes and our decisions of what we do about them, but it digs into organ donors and the view from both sides.
It's a great story about second chances, forgiveness, and how we move on when we think we no longer can. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of this book. ( )

I received the digital copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

Caroline is a busy mother of 3, an event director who finds her life turned upside down the day she receives an email from her “half sister”. She initially disregards this claim as a mistake since her father, a market research analyst, has always served as a role model. Caroline and Walt are married with 3 young children: Riley, Lucy and Owen.

Like a lot of curious families they decided to send in DNA ancestry kits. No one expected it to uncover many lies from the past. Ironically, it’s Caroline’s own father who states, “data, while itself trustworthy, could always be skewed-and often was.”

Meanwhile, Sela lives in N. Carolina grieving the loss of her mother Rebecca (Ecca). Her mother raised her as a single mother while working as an artist in Brevard. She has always kept the paternity of Sela’s father a secret. Unfortunately, Sela’s health is slowly failing as she also separates from Doug her husband who she feels doesn’t understand her grief. She fears she will never see her son Brody grow up or play with their dog Oscar.

Certainly, there is much more to both these stories which eventually entwine and unravel the truths and lies which have been buried but not forgotten. Betrayals which changed the course of people’s lives.

This is an interesting story about the pros and cons of learning the “truth” of our ancestry. In these present days, finding out about unknown relatives is possible. Can knowing the truth of the past help the future? How does someone hide his past to protect his reputation? Sometimes, stories aren’t so black and white and seldom do they involve just the person himself. Secrets always have a way of rising to the surface over time.
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Being into genealogy, I like stories with DNA twists. Caroline's family does the tests that they got as Christmas presents while Sela does hers because she has kidney disease and needs a donor, though she's reluctant to ask any possible matches. Caroline has the perfect nuclear family, a loving husband and three kids, while Sela is struggling with a husband who left her when he couldn't deal with her disease and a preemie son. It all explodes when the two women find out their half-sisters.
Stuff like this happens now with the genealogical DNA tests; I have several instances of cousins who were adopted and are now found-family. And the idea that a match to donate a kidney from one sister to the other is enough to create plenty of drama. But the author chose to add a lot of extra dramatics to the story that seemed ultimately unnecessary. The more interesting drama occurred with Caroline's parents and Sela's mother, but it wasn't covered much except for small details.
I didn't care for the two twists at the end; one just added more unnecessary drama and the other just seemed too convenient. Ultimately, this was an okay read but not for me. ( )

Excellent. Well written. Interesting, and differing, characters. Moving. Heart-wrenching. Uplifting. ( )