I stayed up WAY too late the last two nights finishing this one 😬😴☕️☕️☕️ @caitlinrweaver you know how to write a FANTASTIC story….as a mom this one tugged at every single heart string. Wow! Just pure wow! Such a gripping story.

Add this to your TBR lists for June 11 📖📚⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Two moms, absolute BEST friends, live directly across the street from one another and two of their kids are the same age. They did play dates 24.7 and the kids were like family. Then fast forward to high school. They start to date. Adorable couple, and what a perfect inlaw situation- everyone’s dream, right? Not when one night everything goes completely wrong. The daughter comes home, and is found by the neighbor she babysits for, and is taken to the hospital with the need to check for sexual abuse…..from the boyfriend. What happened? Best friends, but now two moms fighting for the rights of their kids. Did it really happen? Was alcohol involved? Police keep showing up and questioning the families, the kids, the neighbors, the school. But the daughters mom has a secret past….she too was raped, but got a rape test, and it ruined her life trying to fight for her rights against the teacher who did it. She wants different for her daughter and doesn’t have her get tested. Well now it’s his word vs hers. A school article is secretly to come out to allow the girl a voice to say what happened. The boys family uses a great lawyer and he’s going to walk away with nothing to happen. Not if the neighbor can have a way with it. A boy, a drone, a fight for the right thing to happen, and a graduation ceremony gone completely wrong. But the boy has a secret problem…and doesn’t know how to find his voice either. The moms are lost without each other, but watching both their families crumble and change in a matter of one night. This book as a mom was my worst nightmare as a mom of a daughter and three sons. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. Such an emotionally gripping, and suspenseful story. Thank you @netgalley @caitlinrweaver for the advance copy.

As an ARC reader, I had the privilege of diving into Caitlin Weaver's "Such a Good Family" before its release, and let me tell you, it's a rollercoaster of emotions from start to finish.

The premise of the book, described as "an unforgettable and emotionally charged story of two mothers whose lives are changed forever by a devastating accusation," immediately drew me in. Weaver masterfully crafts a narrative that explores the depths of maternal love and the lengths mothers will go to protect their children.

The story centers around two families whose lives intertwine in unexpected ways. When a shocking accusation rocks their tight-knit community, secrets begin to unravel, and trust is put to the test. As a mother myself, I found myself deeply invested in the characters of both mothers, grappling with their fears, doubts, and the overwhelming desire to shield their loved ones from harm.

The character development in "Such a Good Family" is superb. From the moment the accusation is made, the reader is drawn into the inner turmoil of each character, particularly the protagonist, who struggles to reconcile her image of her perfect family with the harsh realities that come to light. The emotional depth of the story is palpable, and I found myself turning pages late into the night, desperate to uncover the truth alongside the characters.

Weaver's writing style is engaging and immersive, effortlessly transporting readers into the world of the Richardson and Knox families. The pacing is spot-on, with twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end. The exploration of themes such as betrayal, forgiveness, and the complexities of family dynamics adds layers of depth to the story, making it more than just a gripping thriller.

Overall, "Such a Good Family" is a compelling and thought-provoking read that will stay with you long after you've finished the last page. Caitlin Weaver has crafted an unforgettable story that will appeal to fans of domestic dramas and psychological thrillers alike. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an addictive and unputdownable tale of family secrets and the power of maternal love.

This had me in a chokehold. I can see this being one of the next big things on thriller booktok. Check your TWs if that’s a thing for you. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

4.2 ⭐️ Ok so this one really gets you thinking. It’s rough, it’s sad, you find yourself empathizing with everyone. It was done quite well. I find myself struggling with it in some aspects but that is just my own thoughts on certain things. It really makes you look at how something like this affects everyone involved. The only person I absolutely hated was Ed. Lmao. I loved Archie and felt like he was mature way behind his years. Knox had a lot of issues that he needed professional help with, I don’t think I ever got a clear answer for whether he for sure heard her say no. But again, she said it so that’s it. Being inside his head and watching him struggle to come to grips with what he did was rough. The book did such a good job of showing how women can feel pressured into doing things they wouldn’t normally do nor do they want to do but they do it to please whomever they’re with, which happens everyday in the real world. I think that’s what makes this such a compelling and hard to read book. This exact situation has happened thousands of times and will likely continue to happen thousands more. I wasn’t a huge fan of Eden honestly. I understand that she had some unhealed trauma but it’s her responsibility to take the necessary steps to heal it for her daughter’s sake. I absolutely feel like she completely took on Summers situation and made it her own. I felt like Summer could barely have her own feelings because Eden was there to make it about herself. She absolutely ruined any court justice Summer could’ve had and I know she thought she was helping but that part angered me so much. I did love how fierce she was for her daughter though. I get that she was just trying to protect her and keep her from having to go through what she went through. I liked Lorrie, I know some felt she had her head in the sand but I honestly feel like she had the most realistic portrayal. Ofcourse she wasn’t going to just jump out there and immediately name her teenage, high school, son a rapist and disown him without taking the time to process and look into it. This wasn’t a situation with lots of evidence and hard proof you couldn’t look away from. This is the child she birthed and raised who is telling her both parties were drunk and that to his knowledge she didn’t say no and the only thing different from every other time is they fought after. I feel like most mothers would need more than a week to process and as we see she eventually did. I felt for her plight. Witt was amazing and I loved him and Jules was a throw in for me. I honestly didn’t care that she was there and wouldn’t care if she wasn’t. Lol. I really was crushed by Eden and Lorries beautiful relationship being destroyed. There was so much love there and it was just ripped away and you can feel their struggle with it. All in all I really did throughly enjoy this book and I think it does what the author wanted it to do. It evokes feelings. Thank you for this ARC from Netgalley and the publishers

This was not an easy read as a mom of a young teen girl as it deals with a very sensitive subject but the book was about so much more.Unlike other books that I have read involving this subject type, this book dealt more with the effects it had on everyone involved. Well written and I flew through it

Written from the perspective of several characters, the author has done a great job of taking the reader into the minds and lives of the families of those involved in a date rape incident and all the events that followed. The writing really drew me in and I had to keep reading to find out how everyone reacted and interacted with each other. Everything felt very realistic and I like that the final pages didn't try to turn something messy into a perfect ending. There were some lovely, heartwarming moments but also some heartbreaking ones.

I received this arc from netgalley and Storm Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

What can I say about a story that has love, hate deception lies. Such a Good Family has it all and then some. Two women Lorrie and Eden have been friends since their kids Knox and Summer were little. These two women were more sisters than friends and they were over the moon when their kids started dating. Everything seemed picture perfect until it wasn't.

What really happened the night in the park? Knox said Summer was fine with what they did. Once Summer told her friend what happened a specific word was used and Summer said no way. Allegations start flying and the perfect couple with the perfect families are at odds. Of course Lorrie wants to protect her son, Eden wants to protect her daughter. Things really come to a head when Lorrie finds out a hidden secret concerning her husband that really throws the family into a tailspin. Then there is Jules the outsider who had who really added fuel to the fire and blew it all up. On top of it all this was Knox and Summer's last hurrah as high school students. It's college for them or will they make it?

This book was so well written. With such a heavy subject matter the author approached it head on but with care. She showed how each mother wanted to protect their child. Eden wanted people to realize this really happened to her daughter and yet she wanted to hide Summer away so she could protect her. What I liked was how Summer with the help of friends took control of her situation and wanted to be able to get on with her life. She really grew and knew what she had to do to help herself. I also think she and her mother found each other in a totally different way which was nice to see. Lorrie tried to help her son. She didn't always agree with Knox in what he should do,. Especially when he really took a look at himself and reexamined the kind of man he really is. I felt he also grew and did what he had to do to move on. He re bonded with his brother Archie who always seemed to be left in the dust. They became real brothers again. Can Lorrie and Eden survive this horrible ordeal? Now how does Jules fit in to all of this?

This book was excellent. I liked everything about it. Nothing disappointed me at all. I would give it five stars because the subject matter was written with care and the characters were very real. So thank you NetGalley, and Storm Publishing for the ARC. Thank you Caitlin Weaver for such a heart wrenching book.

I was so happy when my son, Knox, began dating my best friend’s daughter. Our kids grew up together and we used to joke, as we sipped wine and watched them play, that they’d get married one day. But when Knox came home late after a party, zipping his hoodie up to hide the scratches I caught a glimpse of on his collarbone, a chill went down my spine.

That night, our whole world shattered. Now, I hardly recognize my husband as he sweeps into action, calling in a hot-shot lawyer to defend our boy.

I love my son, but what if I don’t know him at all? It turns out, everything I thought I knew about my perfect family is a lie. And I’m about to discover just what I’ll do to stop it from falling apart.

I love how this story navigates through a shocking event by using multiple POV’s of characters. Everyone shows the picture perfect family and life, no one ever shows the dark or difficult times. Lorrie try’s to keep her family’s picture perfect life together while trying to deal with allegations made about her son. I love how we get to see how different characters react, how they feel and how the process this event. It shows you how no one deals with something like this the same way. It also shows the perspective of two mothers who would do anything to protect their children.

Caitlin Weaver does a fantastic job of writing about a difficult topic. Especially showing it through all of the different characters.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC read.

3.5⭐️

This one was a hard one.

The characters were well-developed and complex. The subject matter was difficult. It did really highlight how everyone is affected, especially in small communities and especially with how families are impacted.

I did really feel like Lorrie was just keeping her head in the sand and refusing to acknowledge what happened.

I really understood where Summer was coming from having been in her shoes. The guilt, the shame, the still wanting to contact and missing him; I felt all that.

I really felt that the author approached the subject with empathy and was able to write all sides subjectively. It was a hard topic, and I think the author handled it well.

Thank you to Caitlin Weaver, Storm Publishjng and NetGalley for an eARC of this book!

This was incredible. I was hooked from the start and read most of it in a day. All of the characters and events had significance. It was a heavy storyline but flowed throughout. So impressive for a debut. The cover is also beautiful. It has been “done” before but the way everything was pieced together was great, in my opinion, and I was interested, feeling a range of emotions, the entire time.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, & Storm Publishing for the DRC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a fascinating read! The storyline was gripping and engaging! I found myself reading so fast to find out what would happen next. The only slight drawback was the multiple narrators:points of view switching so much—it was a little harder to follow at times. However, getting to hear from multiple characters internally was very interesting!

Thank you for this ARC. This book touched on a difficult topic, and handled it beautifully. It kept me interested all the way through.

Summer and Knox grew up together. When they began dating as teenagers, their families were thrilled and hoped that one day they would marry. Their lives and hopes for the couple soon came crashing down after Knox came home from a party one evening with scratches on his neck and chest. He had been involved in some kind of altercation. After Knox was accused of assault and pulled in by the police for questioning, his father immediately called in a hot-shot lawyer to defend him.
Suddenly their perfect family life was torn apart. His mother loved her son and the promising life he had ahead of him. He was about to graduate from high school and had been accepted into a fine college. Her perfect family was perfect no more. Had it all been a lie?
She desperately came up with a plan to protect her family from falling apart but would she succeed?

Thank you Storm Publishing and NetGalley for an early copy of Such a Good Family. This is the BEST BOOK I read so far in 2024! I’ve never heard of this author, I read in 1 day, I literally could NOT put it down! The cover and then the synopsis caught my eye and I’m sooooo GLAD it did. What a tough subject and the author wrote about it in a way that we the reader could feel each characters emotions. FANTASTIC writing, I cried soooo hard at the end. The marriage between Witt and Eden was one I envied. Archie was such an awesome character. The friendship between Eden and Lorrie were one we all wish we had in life and I’m glad I do have friends like that. Seriously the Best Book of 2024 as of now.

4.5 ⭐️

Wow. I absolutely loved this book.

** Please search trigger warnings **

This story follows two best friends whose children have grown up together but when a horrible incident occurs, the friends are pulled apart and the true test of motherhood starts.

Archie was a standout character for me, as a fellow middle child.

Couldn’t put this one down. Loved it.

A novel of mystery and intrigue…an afternoon of suspense. Realistic characters and a quick read. Thanks Net,galley.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing this book, with my honest review below.

At first I forgot that Such a Good Family wasn’t a mystery or thriller due to its cover evoking memories of some very good ones, but I was glad to see it as general and women’s fiction because this book, which is excellent, definitely isn’t of the mystery and thriller genre. This was a great exploration for women and girls of when sexual assault occurs and they aren’t believed by all as well as how it can occur close to home and how that plays out in even the closest friendships.

Lorrie and Eden are best friends but when Summer, Eden’s daughter, accuses Knox, Lorrie’s son, of rape their friendship and the lives of others in their neighborhood and town change overnight. Lorrie doesn’t know her son as well as she thinks and no one really knows Eden and what she’s been through. There are other characters that get a spot light in this story, Knox and Summer, of course, but also Archie, Lorrie’s son, and Jules, who is new to the neighborhood following a marriage to a long time neighbor who left his wife for her. All perspectives are extremely well done and the story culminated in a very satisfying climax. As a woman this spoke to me, but I think it’s a great book for all.

4.5 stars

This book was phenomenal. It hit on some important and tense topics and dealt with them very humanly. There was a lot of emotions to be had.
I appreciate the arc.

"Such A Good Family" delves deep into the complexities of relationships and the aftermath of a harrowing accusation. In this gripping narrative, author Caitlin Weaver masterfully navigates the turbulent waters of friendship, trust, and betrayal.

At the heart of the story are Lorrie and Eden, inseparable friends whose bond is put to the ultimate test when Eden's daughter, Summer, accuses Lorrie's son, Knox, of a heinous act. Instead of dwelling on the details of the event itself, the narrative skilfully shifts focus to the aftermath, exploring the profound impact on not only the individuals directly involved but also on their families.

Lorrie and Eden are portrayed with depth and nuance, their friendship strained as they grapple with conflicting loyalties and moral dilemmas. As tensions escalate, the narrative expertly illustrates how alliances are formed and fractures deepen, both among the teenagers at school and the adults in their lives.

For me, one of the book's most poignant themes is the absence of clear winners or tidy resolutions. Instead, it presents a raw and unflinching portrayal of human nature, where the lines between right and wrong blur in the face of personal biases and societal pressures. There are no easy answers here, only the messy, painful reality of navigating a world where justice is elusive and forgiveness is hard-won.
However I can't help but wonder about the missed opportunity to explore the story from a different perspective. Swapping the roles of the parents—making Eden Knox's mother and Ed Summer's father—could have provided an intriguing juxtaposition, offering fresh insights into the characters' motivations and actions.

In conclusion, "Such A Good Family" is a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant read that tackles a difficult topic with sensitivity and grace. With its richly drawn characters and compelling exploration of moral ambiguity, it is sure to leave a lasting impression on readers long after they turn the final page.

This was an excellent character driven story about a difficult topic. I was thoroughly engrossed in this book, and I enjoyed how the author didn't focus as much on the details of the event, but instead, we saw how the impact not only on the two people involved, but on their respective families.

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.