The First to Know

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.

©2017 Abigail Johnson (P)2017 Tantor

Narration sounds like AI but isn’t

4.5 STARS

When Dana wants to surprise her father, who grew up in foster care, by finding his biological relatives through DNA testing, she never expected to find Brandon, her same age half-brother. Brandon wants nothing to do with Dana or her sister or their father. And Dana’s mother has no idea. She doesn’t want to break up their family by revealing the truth.

Abigail Johnson’s sophomore effort is filled with drama and heart. Dana’s a beautifully flawed character. Crushed under her softball coach dad’s tough expectations, feeling second best to her sister Dana truly wants to get he father an epic birthday person, biological family. Her methods aren’t always wise or honest, but she genuinely wants to make everything right for everyone.

THE FIRST TO KNOW, at its core, tells the story of family working through disappointments in themselves and in each other. At times heartbreaking, at times hopeful Johnson proves she’s even better the second time. I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

Frustrating, Maddening & Beautiful

All about family, all about connection, all about truth and honesty and communication - Be prepared for an emotional ride that tackles family relationships, complicated loss, the consequence of mistakes and first love.

Amy's narration was lovely.