I received this book for free from [author] in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The First to Know by Abigail Johnson Published by Harlequin Teen on November 7th, 2017
Genres: Contemporary, YA
Source: [author]
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Dana Fields's father never knew his parents. When Dana secretly does a DNA test for her dad, hoping to find him some distant relatives for his birthday, her entire world implodes. Instead of a few third cousins, Dana discovers a half brother her age whose very existence means her parents' happy marriage is a lie.
Dana's desire to know her half brother, Brandon, and the extent of her dad's deception, clashes with her wish not to destroy her family. When she sees the opportunity to get to know Brandon through his cousin, the intense yet kind Chase, she takes it. But the more she finds out about Brandon, her father's past and the irresistible guy who'll never forgive her if he discovers the truth, the more she sees the inevitable fallout from her own lies. With her family crumbling around her, Dana must own up to her actions and find a way to heal the breach—for everyone—before they're torn apart for good.
Abigail Johnson is a new-to-me author so I had no idea what to expect but The First to Know blew me away. It’s a heartfelt family drama and totally worth it.
Dana Fields just wants to do something nice for her dad for his birthday. What starts off as a heartwarming gesture soon turns into Dana’s worst nightmare. In her search for her father’s family, Dana discovers that she has a half-brother her age that no one knew about.
When she confronts her half-brother, he wants nothing to do with her. With no one she can really turn to, she does what she really shouldn’t, she turns to her half-brother’s cousin (she and the cousin aren’t related by blood.)
I know, I know. This all sounds like a soap opera and it kind of is but in the best way possible. Johnson clearly knows how to write her dramas. The book is just dramatic enough, the angst just right enough that it doesn’t become overbearing. Instead, you feel sympathetic to Dana’s dilemma who really doesn’t know what to do with this new found information that has the possibility to tear apart her nearly perfect family.
Watching the tension build up and Dana struggle to figure out what to do is truly satisfying in some ways because nothing about the situation is easy. There is no simple answer and there is no right or wrong. Johnson forces readers to step outside of our occasional black and white binaries to truly examine the complexity of the situation at hand. I loved every single minute of it.
Of course, like all books, this one isn’t perfect either but it IS good and one I’d recommend to anyone who loves some substantial angst and good drama. The First to Know is absolutely worth the read and I do hope you’ll choose to give it a shot!
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About the Author
Abigail was born in Pennsylvania. When she was twelve, her family traded in snow storms for year round summers, and moved to Arizona. Abigail chronicled the entire cross-country road trip (in a purple spiral bound notebook that she still has) and has been writing ever since. She became a tetraplegic after breaking her neck in a car accident when she was seventeen, but hasn’t let that stop her from bodysurfing in Mexico, writing and directing a high school production of Cinderella, and becoming a published author.
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Jane Willis
If the half sibling was anything like my full sibling, I’d probably emigrate and not leave a forwarding address 🙁
Rashika
HA! I am sorry your full sibling sucks :/
Danielle Hammelef
If I found out I had a half sibling, I’d try my best to get to know this person and hopefully become family.
Rashika
Yeah, I’d be weirded out for a while but then I’d also try to get to know the person??
Gwendolyn Jordan
Meet him or her
Mary Preston
I’d try to find out all about them.
Rashika
do some casual background checks on social media, etc etc
bn100
not usre
Rashika
That’s fair!
Katie
I actually did find out I had a half-sister. She is 3 months younger than I am. I’ve only met her one time and have talked to her twice in the past 10 years. I thought when I met her I would be closer with her, but it was totally opposite.
Sabrina
I would be shocked but pretty excited for another sibling.
Penny Mooney
I had two half siblings. My brother was married and had a child before I was born. I was born on my sisters 12th birthday. We we always close despite the age difference. I hate to think about learning about them later in life. I don’t think I could turn them away though. They have some of my blood after all.