Yep. This book confirms it’s always the quiet ones! I am a thriller seeker and this book definitely gave me my fix! The story line *chef kiss* ; and then that twist! Never saw it coming and if you say you did your lying! Well done; and beautifully written!

Three women form an unlikely friendship while they plan a gala at their elite private high school. Rhea is a queen bee super mom who runs the PTA and has a big secret in her past; Maggie is a relationship therapist struggling with her own marriage; Anna is the headmaster's wife -- and for a not-really-a-spoiler-spoiler: he is a terrible person. They accidentally uncover a scandal that could have devastating effects on their lives.

Readers should know going in that this is definitely NOT a thriller (despite the very thriller-y cover font). I didn't have the synopsis handy when I started reading on my kindle, so I kept waiting for something crazy to happen. I enjoyed all three of the main characters (especially Maggie) and thought their developing friendship was well-depicted, but the scandal is pretty spelled out from the start so it was pretty clear where everything was going. I would have loved a few more surprises!

I really enjoyed this book; it was a solid 4 star read! I love thrillers that have to do with multiple people/families because there is so much tension in how everything is interconnected. They always keep me so engaged and on the edge of my seat and this was no difference. It gave me all the suspense and drama I wanted - very much along the lines of Big Little Lies and Little Fires Everywhere!

The friendship that formed between the 3 moms made me very happy - they were all struggling behind closed doors so much and felt that they didn't have anyone in their corner, and then they found each other. It didn't feel cheesy to me whatsoever, just very heartfelt and a nice respite from the craziness that enveloped all of their lives/marriages etc.

I would definitely recommend this to a friend - perfect for lovers of Liane Moriarty! A fantastic quick read that I could not put down. I would absolutely love to read more by this author. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this eARC!

Three moms of kids in the same school are thrown together reluctantly to work on a project. Each brings their own baggage and set of problems as they discover troubling facts about the administration of the school. Not quite a mystery, but more an unraveling of facts, and the emotions that each one of these mothers must deal with. Not only they, but their children and their spouses, are affected by the unscrupulous ways and deceit of the powers that be. What would I do in their situation? Would I have the courage and will to try to set things right? Especially if my husband was involved, and my actions would affect my children and others in the school? This book will grab your attention and keep it. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read copy.

What a good "good for her read"!
It lagged a bit in the beginning, but once getting to know these women it's more heartbreaking every chapter until the end!

This is the second book I’ve read by Caitlin Weaver. Just like her first book, this is a solid book, though nothing super memorable. I found most of the plot to be fairly predictable, but I did enjoy watching it all unfold. I liked seeing the issues plaguing not only the parents but the younger generation, as well, since I’m a sucker for an inter-generational story.

If you like domestic thrillers, you’ll love this book.

This book has interesting characters, topics, and issues. But, you can see most things coming, and it doesn't have big twists. Either way, I enjoyed the three POVS and they way it all turns out. Thank you, Netgalley and Storm Publishing for sending me this ARC.

This is my second book by Caitlin Weaver. An emotional and thrilling story involving three women who become friends while each carries a life-changing secret. It’s well-written with a cast of varied characters and some great surprises. I loved Anna, Maggie & Rhea and felt connected to them throughout.
A thought-provoking novel that is a combination of women’s fiction and domestic thriller making it an engaging read.
I enjoy character-driven stories with emotional depth and this book nails it.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A fast-paced thriller that has it all - dark academia, female friendship and empowerment, and secrets galore. TWNS shows just how far women can go when they band together and show one another unconditional care and acceptance. Though we wanted to hate Rhea for seeming to have it all, TWNS peeled back the layers of this complex character, revealing her to be a strong, compassionate woman who took her moral compass very seriously. We saw radical acceptance again through the eyes of Maggie as she learned her husband's secrets, and above all, with all 3 characters, we saw that a mother's love rises above everything else. This was both powerful and thrilling - a must-read!

I really enjoyed this domestic non-fiction, mystery. This gave me Big Little Lies vibes! I flew through this book around the 40% mark and didn't want to put it down. I couldn't wait to find out the ending of this book and what would happen within each women's lives.
Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for a copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.

Okay, Caitlin Weaver is quickly becoming one of my very favorite authors. She is one of the best in exploring the stories of motherhood in the contemporary era. Things We Never Say focuses on three women who are all mothers at an elite private school and who come together to plan a charity gala. Quickly, the secrets that they are all hiding began to exposed. I absolutely tore through this book, and I was a bit sad when I finished it because it was such an enjoyable read for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this book early!

I really enjoyed this book. Normally I go for something with murder in it, but the secrets and lies in this held me captive. The author does a great job at helping you picture the three main characters. I think Rhea stood out to me most. There were plenty of unexpected twists and turns! I am giving this book 4.5 stars, it was a doozy!

This was a wonderful book about three women who get paired up together to organize their childrens elite private schools gala. They seem to not have much in common at first glance but each has something to hide that could ruin their lives. I loved the friendship that developed between the three main characters. This book was full of twists and turns and I could not put it down! Will be on the lookout for more from this author in the future.

Caitlin Weaver’s Things We Never Say is a gripping and emotionally charged thriller that peels back the layers of seemingly perfect suburban lives to reveal a web of secrets, lies, and simmering tensions. At its heart, this novel explores how far people are willing to go to protect their reputations and the facades they've carefully built, making it an enthralling read for fans of psychological suspense and domestic intrigue.

The story centers around Anna, Maggie, and Rhea—three women who, on the surface, appear to lead picture-perfect lives. Anna, the quiet and reserved mother, stands out as the most enigmatic. While she plays the role of a supportive wife to her husband, the headmaster of a prestigious school, her silence hides a much darker reality. Anna’s character is carefully constructed, and her arc throughout the book is one of gradual unraveling as she grapples with the secrets she’s held for so long. What makes Anna compelling is the tension between her desire to protect her family and the growing pressure to expose the truth, especially as the school scandal comes to light.

Maggie and Rhea serve as excellent foils to Anna’s character, each with their own burdens. Maggie, a relationship therapist who ironically struggles with her own crumbling marriage, embodies the theme of outward appearances versus inner turmoil. Her journey is one of confronting the disconnect between her professional life and personal reality, and her vulnerability makes her both relatable and sympathetic. Rhea, on the other hand, exudes wealth and confidence, but her troubled past lingers just beneath the surface, threatening to destroy her well-crafted image. The dynamics between these three women are one of the novel’s greatest strengths, as Weaver skillfully portrays the complexities of female friendship, loyalty, and betrayal.

The plot takes a thrilling turn when the women stumble upon a deeply buried scandal at the school. This discovery sets off a chain reaction that threatens to topple not just their own lives, but the entire community’s sense of normalcy. Weaver builds tension masterfully, with each chapter adding new layers of suspense as the women delve deeper into the school’s secrets. The pacing is relentless, and the stakes are raised with every new revelation, pulling readers into a high-stakes mystery that keeps them guessing until the very end.

What sets Things We Never Say apart from other thrillers is the emotional depth of its characters. Anna’s internal conflict, in particular, adds a layer of psychological complexity to the narrative. She is not just navigating the external crisis of the scandal but also confronting the moral dilemma of whether to reveal the truth and risk everything or continue living a lie. This moral ambiguity is at the heart of the novel, making readers question what they would do in her position.

Weaver also touches on themes of power, privilege, and societal pressure. The school’s centennial gala serves as a symbolic backdrop to the story, representing the elite world the women inhabit and the expectations that come with it. As the gala approaches, the tension mounts, and Anna’s decision becomes even more urgent. Will she expose the truth and risk destroying her family’s reputation, or will she continue to protect her husband at the expense of her own integrity?

Things We Never Say is a thought-provoking and intense thriller that will appeal to readers who enjoy intricate character studies set against a backdrop of suspense. Caitlin Weaver deftly weaves together themes of deception, loyalty, and the lengths people will go to protect their secrets. With strong, multi-dimensional female protagonists and a plot filled with twists and turns, this novel keeps readers on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating what will happen next. Fans of psychological thrillers and domestic dramas won’t be able to put this one down.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a super fast paced and quick read for me.

I thought the character development was excellent and I found myself cheering for certain characters and very invested in the story.

I did find some of the plot twists a bit predictable, but it did wrap up nicely with a satisfactory ending.

I would highly recommend this one !

I love stories about strong women who stand up for themselves. At the start the 3 women in this book, Anna, Maggie and Rhea don't really stand up for themselves, but by the end they most certainly do! Thrown together on a committee not really knowing each other, they form a bond that cannot be broken. My heart went out to Anna, I won't say why since it would give away part of the story. I could not put the book down, I needed to find out what happened next. Great weekend read just make sure you have free time to read it - you won't want to put it down!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is based on an ARC from NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher.

Three different women, three different issues, Anna, Rhea, and Maggie come together over a Pta project for their kids expensive private school.

There's scandal, swindling, family drama, and abuse, but through it all, the three women develop a friendship, offering support and courage to do what's right.

Well written, fast-paced, and sometimes sad, this was a good read.

#netgalley #ThingsWeNeverSay

Another amazing novel by Caitlin Weaver! An incredible story with excellent characters and a great plot!! Loved the ending!!
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Things We Never Say
By: Caitlin Weaver

4 Stars

3 moms from 3 different walks of life Rhea, Anna, and Maggie find themselves on a school committee together when a secret scandal pops up at their private school. Anna, the headmasters wife, has her own secrets she is trying to hide from her husband and the others. Maggie and Rhea battle work and personal life things when the school scandal adds to their busy schedules. These moms find themselves drawn together by the scandal and equally hectic lives. Soon, forming friendships and changing their lives.

This story was filled with drama and secrets around every turn. Each mom has their own set of secrets, and so it was almost like getting different stories that converge with a major scandal. The scandal ties them together in a way they never would have been brought together before and turns out to be the saving grace for them all. This was a fast-paced story with a very eclectic and captivating cast of charaters. It was exciting to see the drama unfold and secrets come to light in the ways they did, and I loved the ending.

*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*

Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Review

This easy to read novel explores how personal secrets impact the lives of three women. Rhea, Maggie, and Anna as they hope to protect themselves and their families. I found my interest flagging the first half of the book as it was a slow set up, but the second half went much faster as secrets were shared, the scandal uncovered, and fallout began. I was expecting this to be more of a mystery/thriller based on the publisher tag, but it was really a book about women finding their freedom through facing their truths. A good story for what it was, but lacking the depth and twists I was looking for.

Thank you to Storm Publishing, Netgalley, and the author for early access to this novel.