What lengths do you go for love and forgiveness?
Shortest Summary Ever: Caroline and her hubby live a cozy family life that’s suddenly upended when they learn through mail-in DNA testing that she has a half sister. That’s right – dad was messing around… with her mom’s bestie.
Sela, half-sister, suffers from chronic kidney disease, her husband left her during the worst moments of her life, and to top it off her beloved mother passed away. Life has been dark, but Caroline could offer a light if she’s a viable donor match. How do you ask for something from someone who is a stranger? Or DO you ask? There’s no simple answer to difficult questions. So many complications… so many turns in this tale.
Thoughts: This book is so much about themes of love (in many forms) and forgiveness (in equally as many forms). I feel like a better person having read this. I never suspected love and forgiveness could be so layered, so many shades of gray, but this book reveals those shades like the dawning of a new day. The colors change depending on your view. The colors transformed so many times for me from hope to sadness to light and love and family to devastating shock and loneliness.
On a personal note, this book touched a huge chord for me as I have lived with chronic illnesses for 8 years – 5 physical ones to be exact. While Sela’s journey and disease is not my own, the commonalities are endless. I am handling mine alone and have handled it (with help from loved ones), but ultimately as many chronic illness warriors know, we all travel our journey solo. There truly isn’t an alternative. I have thought dark thoughts. I have had some moments of pure light… but yep – shades of gray consume my every day. The only people who “get it” are those who have walked the road and know.
Bravo to the author for NAILING it.
All my reviews available at scrappymags.com around time of publication.
Genre: Contemporary Literature/Women’s fiction (though honestly I don’t see it as “chic-lit!!)
Recommend to: Its a best-seller type, reminded me a bit of Jodi Picoult, and I highly, highly recommend this to all my chronic illness warrior peeps! 💜💚💜💚💜
Not recommended to: If the topic of being a donor is too raw.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced copy in exchange for my always-honest review and for making me feel heard. Simply heard.
