Sometimes a story just comes together and works well. It blends the characters’ lives in a way that you feel connected and invested in them, and care when things go wrong. In Caitlin Weaver’s most recent book “Things we never say” Maggie, Rhea and Anna grow quickly from strangers to friends, overcoming their initial dislike and uncertainty of each other when they need to work on a shared project. I felt this same quickness in how I related to them. Although covering a relatively short period of time, the story is rich in detail and complexity and the secrets and lies that have been told, and start to unfold, shadow everything. The ending felt a little rushed, however this might be because I wasn’t ready to let go of the story. There is a lot of unexpected humour in the book which helps balance the tension and also just the pure yuck that is Jerry (Anna’s husband). Covering multiple issues with finesse, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by Caitlin (having already enjoyed her book “Such a good family”). Thanks to NetGalley and Storm publishing for letting me read an advance copy in exchange for my review. This is due for release in Australia on 27th September 2024.

This was a 6 star read! I was in absolute shock with this read! Fast, turns, shocking twist! I never saw the twist and could not put this down. Great read!

This book seemed like the perfect fit, however it fell a little flat of expectations. I wanted more of a thriller vibe, and less of a circle of secrets.

The writing was great and I enjoyed how it switched to each perspective of the women, however the storyline felt too out of taste for me.

Thanks for a chance to read this book!!

Things We Never Say is the next great read you should read! Pick this book up!! It won’t disappoint!

I think i just found one of my new favorite authors??
This 4 star read was jam packed with thrills and suspense. I devoured this book in 2.5 hours. This book should definitely be on your TBR if you love thrillers.

Wow is the first thing I have to say. I inhaled this book in less than 24 hours.
Anna, Maggie, and Rhea were instantly captivating. The three main leads were independent, different, and structurally- very easy to distinguish.
There were honestly so many twists and turns, I felt my heart pounding as I was switching between each woman's story...and then......
MORE SHOCKING TWISTS AND TURNS.
I truly cannot recommend this book enough- it was gripping, easy to fly through, and left me complete when I finished.

three women get together to host a gala for a private school. they find out a secret that involves one of their husbands. good story

This is my second book by Caitlin Weaver. I really enjoy her novels. I feel she writes about her topics in such a way that draws the reader into the story and makes them not want to stop reading... or at least for me. This was a story about mothers, friendship and secrets. There was a lot of drama with a bit of thrill in this book. I give it 4.5 stars!

Thank you to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for this arc.
Three women brought together to produce a gala event for a private school soon unearth a secret that could bring down one of their husbands. Each carries her own family secret as they soon find themselves becoming firm friends.
This book was a page Turner with very likeable characters in Maggie, Rhea and Anna. I loved how their friendship blossomed and the way they looked out for each other. This isn't a sinister thriller, nonetheless the story is captivating and definitely keeps you reading to uncover their secrets
The author writes a compelling plot and deals with true to life issues.
Trigger warning: domestic violence runs through the book and some scenes may be upsetting, yet are imperative for Anna's story and her strength.
Highly recommend this book

I'm in love with this author now. This book was so compelling. My heart was racing, deeply invested, couldn't put it down, obsessed to say the least. Immediately, went looking for other work of hers.

I kept screaming at my phone for the characters in this book.
Must read!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!

What a great book!! Such a good thriller/mystery! Perfect writing style and that plot twist!! PERFECT!!

This is the 2nd Caitlin Weaver book I’ve read & I enjoyed this one, as I did the first. It’s marketed as a mystery/ thriller & I wouldn’t really agree but it was a suspenseful read & well written. I’ll be looking for her next book!😁

Things We Never Say focuses on three very different women who find common ground when forced to work together on a school gala committee.

While this is touted as general fiction/mystery, it is much more on the general side. At its core, it is a story about the unseen (and sometimes heartbreaking) aspects of marriage and what we are willing to risk for those we love.

Rhea, Maggie, and Anna are each sympathetic characters in their own way, although they sometimes come across as caricatures: Rhea is the Type A Perfect Mom, Maggie is the Successful but Scattered Mom, and Anna is the Reserved Mom. As the story unfolds, so do the boxes they’ve been packed in.

The story itself is predictable; it is clear the husbands are also hiding something, and the book will be about the women helping one another overcome the problems in their marriages. Additionally, the pacing is off in sections where it almost feels like the author is rushing through sections.

While this will be an enjoyable read for fans of fiction books centering around domestic life, fans of true mysteries will be less engaged.

Everyone has secrets, but not all secrets carry equal weight. And as three very different women find out in this story, the consequences of some secrets can be utterly devastating.

Anna, Maggie and Rhea are three mothers whose children attend a prestigious private school in Atlanta. Anna's ties to the school are the strongest, given that she is married to the headmaster, Jerry.

So perhaps she has the most to lose when the three of them stumble across some unexpected and explosive information whilst they are organising the school's annual gala. Or does she? Because Anna's marriage is not quite as it seems...

This story delivers an engaging and insightful portrait of women's lives, their experiences of marriage and motherhood, and the value of female friendships. The pacing is at times a little irregular. But overall, this is well worth a read. It gets 3.5 stars.

Wow! I loved this! I couldn’t put it down and read during every free second I could spare. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

I enjoyed Things We Never Say. I loved the characters and storyline. There were points where I couldn’t put it down and had to find out what happened next. However, I do feel like the story is a little too long and drawn out. I feel like this is a solid 4/5.

I read Caitlin Weaver’s first book a few months ago and loved it. This book was even better. I was so glad the kids went back to school this week because I HAD to find out what was going to happen. If you’re looking for a book with a crazy twist, this probably isn’t what you’re looking for. But, if you’re looking for a realistic story of women being there for each other, of motherhood, of marriage at its worst, of life when it isn’t perfect… this is the book. I was sad when it ended because I just wanted to hang out with Anna, Maggie, and Rhea for longer. I can’t wait to see what Caitlin Weaver writes next!

Three women Anna,Maggie and Rhea whose children all go to the prestigious private school Civitas in Atlanta. Where Anna’s husband Jerry is head master. Working on the schools annual gala the three women stumble upon a scandal involving the school that would hurt the school and many families. While this is going on we also find out that the three women are hiding their own personal secrets. What could they be?
Rhea is PTA head and comes from a rich household with two wonderful sons and a husband she adores. Maggie is a Relationship Therapist with a daughter and a husband who she considers her best friend. Then there is Anna the one you would never see would fit in with the other two women. She also has a daughter but her marriage isn’t what it seems like.

I did enjoy this thriller. I liked that each chapter was told by each woman so you were able to hear their full stories. The three women were up against so much to be able to bring the truth to everyone. To me I felt Anna had the most to lose because of her husband Jerry. Yet I felt she grew the most because she had more to lose. Friendships were made and a very thrilling story was told. Even when secrets are revealed people grow stronger and survive.

Thank you Net galley and Storm for the ARC. I would recommend to my fellow readers.

Wow! What a great read!

Read if you like:

👧 Unexpected female friendships
🏫 School Scandals
😱 Domestic Psychological Thriller

Anna, Maggie, and Rhea all join a team to host a gala for the prestigious school that their children attend. What follows after this is a scandal that none of them were expecting to uncover. Will their friendship last and how many secrets will be revealed along the way?

The chapters switched between our three MC. The POVs are so well written and give so much information without becoming overwhelming. The book was so hard to put down because it kept you wondering what other secrets will come out. I also was so invested in each of the characters' lives and was wishing for good outcomes throughout the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this gripping and wonderful arc in return for an honest review. ❤️

Anna is the wife of English Jerry who is the head of Civitas Upper School in Atlanta, the parents of the students reads like a list of Who’s Who. Anna is very quiet, troubled and harbouring the darkest of secrets. Meet Rhea Connelly, President of the Parents Association, who despite her glossy and expensive appearance also has troubles that are buried deep in her past. Finally, there’s Maggie Reed, a relationship specialist with a marriage that’s floundering. The most unlikely threesome are thrown together to organise the Civitas Centennial Gala. Ill suited to friendship? May be not, only time will tell. Whilst working on the build up to the gala, they stumble upon information that may well detonate the seeming perfection of their world. How will it all play out? The three main characters tell their stories in turn.

This is an engaging, compelling and engrossing domestic psychological thriller which is well written. There is plenty of suspense as the plot navigates the despair, the highs and lows of the lives of Anna, Rhea and Maggie. I find myself becoming involved in their stories and hoping for good outcomes even when the tide seems to have turned against them. It’s well paced with authentic characters who I feel very unsure of at the start but who I end up liking and even admiring, especially their growing friendship.

It shines a spotlight on marriage and relationships, it has scandal and how, there’s corruption, lies and cover ups that keep on coming. At times it makes me gasp in shock, at others it’s moving and emotional and in addition, there are moments where it’s heartwarming. The storyline builds well and progresses to a good ending.

This novel is about facades, how often we judge books by their cover. People are not always what they seem, sometimes they put on a show but underneath who knows what is going on. None of us know what goes on behind closed doors either.

This is two for two from Caitlin Weaver for me and she will be an auto read from now on.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Storm
Publishing for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.