who who is in her early twenties and has recently left home and is trying to come to grips with the challenges of adult life.
From the beginning it is clear she is not in good shape emotionally at all. We are given plenty of clues why that might be: her adoptive father has died and her relationship with her adoptive mother and twin sister is far from ideal. She asks a good friend of her father's, a lawyer, to help her fnd her biological mother - and perhaps herself.

The friend of the Father has challenges too - that of dealing with the disillusionment that can accommodate middle age. What he has actually achieved in life seems so shabby compared to his earlier dreams of greatness. But he is willing to reach out and help Jess.

This novel reminded me of a certain kind of gritty and naturalistic 70's TV drama, in which life starts out messy and can end in messy ways too, amidst the occasional moment of new insight and understanding. At the tale, Jess seems to be finding her feet on the one hand and encountering new troubles at the same time.

What works most for me in this novel is that there is the recognition of just how tough early and untried adulthood can be. More individuals may well find themselves incredibly lost and can fall down incredibly hard at this time more than any other. Neither may middle age prove to be a time of massive complacency.

Because I had To is certainly recommended for those who enjoy this kind of realist 'find Yourself' novel.
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I really enjoyed this book and would give it 4 1/2 stars! It was hard to put down.

If you are going to write a narrative that centres on an adoptee you had better do your research thoroughly. The story of twin Jess who suffers from a number of psychological problems is readable but misses the opportunity to explore some of the most profound issues surrounding adoption from all points of view in the adoption triangle . Instead we have a superficial view for one particular young adult whose experience of finding her birth mother is not representative and does not shed any light on the issues surrounding adoption.