This is one of those books that hooks you from the jump and keeps you fully entertained throughout. The plot had all the perfect mixings making it a fascinating, yet thrilling read. Unputdownable is an understatement. The characters were dynamic and somewhat relatable / depending which ones.

The writing is engaging which also only adds to the addictiveness that is this book. Each chapter left you wanting more and more and you didn’t want it to ever end. The pacing was just my cup of tea.

The message behind the story was something that resonated with me. I’d recommend this book to everyone.

When Fabiola offers to help her best friend Liz as a surrogate mother, her decision seems at first to be a selfless gesture. But is she really doing it for Liz – or for Peter, her friend's husband, who is also Fabiola's unrequited love? The situation quickly becomes complicated and it becomes clear that the "perfect plan" is far from perfect.

Although the plot had a few surprising twists and turns that kept my interest throughout, the novel was really memorable for its approach to everyday yet taboo social issues such as surrogacy, cheating and unconditional love. Fabiola's character is far from flawless: she makes bad decisions, she is sometimes selfish, and her feelings for Peter, which border on obsession, are downright unhealthy. Yet it is her mistakes that make her human. She is a strong yet vulnerable woman trying to cope as a mother, a friend, a wife – while surrounded by relationships where love is not always unconditional.

"The Perfect Plan" is an exciting, emotional novel that is hard to put down. Although sometimes frustrated by Fabiola's decisions, I was interested throughout to see where her journey would lead her. Not only did I get a story rich in twists and turns, but also a thought-provoking read with deep layers.

This is a heart-wrenching exploration of love, loyalty, and the devastating consequences of one impulsive decision. Fabiola, a woman who has spent her life putting others first, offers her best friend Liz the ultimate gift — carrying a child for her. But when a single reckless moment threatens to unravel the lives of everyone she holds dear, Fabiola is forced to confront impossible choices that test the bonds of friendship, family, and self-sacrifice. With richly drawn characters and emotionally charged twists, this poignant novel delves into the complexities of motherhood and the moral gray areas we navigate in the name of love. Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult and Liane Moriarty, This is an unputdownable rollercoaster of heartbreak and hope that will linger with readers long after the final page.

Unfortunately, I guessed the ending very early on. There is a lot of info here and I found it very difficult to get into. Everything isn't for everyone though, I'm sure some will love it!

This was such a hard book to get into. I was not a big fan of the plot and I called basically what happened towards the end which was a little disappointing.

A good read even though I guessed the ending before I was half way through the book. Alot going on in the book but still a good read.

This book is SO good!!! What starts off as a generous, heartfelt offer to make someones dreams come true, soon turns into an absolute nightmare for everyone involved. So many secrets and resentments start to surface and threatened to ruin friendships and relationshipa. It is really clever, ultimately gripping. I was hooked right to the end. Loved it.

I was completely surprised with how much I enjoyed this audiobook. I went into it thinking it would be a thriller- but that was my mistake! Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC!

This book starts with a group of friends looking at potential surrogate moms for one of them- as she lost her ability to have children after a medical mistake decades prior. Half-heartedly, MC Fabiola offers to surrogate and the wheels of fate start turning.

Not only is this Fabiola’s friend, but the husband is someone very close to Fabiola and has been her whole life. With three children of her own, the bread winner of her family, a thriving organizing business, what could go wrong?

This book caught me off guard for what it wasn’t- a psychological thriller. In all honesty, I was 75% of the way through it before I even noticed! And I was craving more every time I had to stop reading. Overall, a GREAT read, well paced, believable, enjoyable.

This book takes you on a journey of friendship, giving oneself’s gift of life for another and dealing with heartbreak of loss and moving forward and realising what is in front of you may not be what you thought.

A fantastically written story that takes you through many emotions that you never thought you could have.

When it began I was excited because it was clear what the plot was going to be and what each role was within the characters. As it went on, there was some suspense building as to what was going to happen between them, but then I felt like it got choppy and there was too much going on. I don’t know if it was a “me” problem but the part with her daughter + her mother was a good addition because at least she had someone with her for labor and taught her something about forgiveness, but at the same time.. like why was it there. Her whole part kind of could have been taken out and it would have given the book a bit more flow because she was a little distracting and “off pace” with what was going on. Peter and Aron were both whack characters. Overall it was a good read, just not my favorite of hers thus far, but I will 100% read anything this author puts out.

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

I thought this was a good book. It showed the moral complexity of people and the emotional side of offering yourself up as a surrogate.

I really enjoyed the ending, but the reason why I am only rating this as 3 stars is because it took a really long time for me to get into this book. I had to put it down and oick it up a few days later quite a few times.

I loved this book . Although the ending was predictable, I still really enjoyed it . I love drama and this is what it was all about. Its all about friendships and relationships.

The Perfect Plan by Caitlin Weaver

5 ⭐️

The Perfect Plan becomes a good deed gone wrong. I really enjoyed the drama and complicated relationships in this story. Caitlin Weaver crafts the perfect story of friendship and second chances.

This book was only ok for me. I had a hard time connecting with the main characters. Not because of their mistakes (we're all human) but they just were hard to like overall.

I also found it odd how Aron found "the email" on Fabi's computer when it was sent months prior. He must've done major snooping to find it. I don't know, that has stayed with me for some reason.

I'm not sure if I'd recommend this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Perfect Plan is a well-paced domestic drama with an interesting moral dilemma at it’s centre and lots of twists and turns to keep you hooked. I’m really not sure how you could call it a thriller or a mystery, it’s definitely falling right into the middle of domestic drama for me.

It’s a good book, but it really didn’t hook me. It’s well written and easy to read but I just didn’t feel particularly invested. I think this may in part be due to us only ever getting one POV, I do wonder what would have happened if we had seen things from other’s POVs and how that might have deepened the story. Fabiola is an interesting and flawed MC, and while I do think she made several utterly stupid decisions, she was generally likeable. I do really wish we had seen a couple of chapters from Liz or Peter though.

Which I suppose brings me onto the characters; We have a few that feel fully fleshed out and well developed, but there’s several that are just lacking depth and feel vague at best.

The pacing was good I felt and I did enjoy how all the side plots eventually intertwined in a satisfying way.

The biggest issue has to be the ending though. It just isn’t believable and felt like everything was far too neatly tidied up. While I know it’s not real but I needed far more explanation for how we got to that ending for it to feel satisfying for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an E-ARC

The perfect plan was a very interesting story!
Fabiola has a perfect life, perfect family and great friends. When one of her friends is desperate for a surrogate Fabiola offers to carry the child for her. What unravels is a captivating story about friendship, love and betrayal.
I really enjoyed this story and how hooked it had me. I really felt for Fabiola and had no idea where the story was going but was pleasantly surprised by the ending. A really great and compelling story!
Thanks to netgalley and Storm publishing for the arc!

Another page-turner from Caitlin Weaver. This is the 2nd book I've read by this author, and I'll be looking out for more.
I found the characters and situations very 'real' and relatable, and I enjoyed the relationships between the characters. Even though I consider this a quick, light read, there are some important messages in the story and some valuable life lessons.
Grab your favourite snacks and settle in for an enjoyable read with this one!

Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and the author for an ARC for review. My review is voluntary, and all opinions are my own.

Beautiful! Great writing! What a wonderful story! I loved this amazing book. Wow, An amazing tale, so beautifully told. Loved it so much. Very highly recommend to everyone.

[ARC review]
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

PUBLISHED DATE: DECEMBER 2024

It may be because of the eerie cover or the fact that the Synopsis notes that this is a 'perfect read for fans of Lucinda Berry', but I went into this book thinking its a thriller. So, for the first half of this read, I was waiting for the thrilling aspects - you know, creepy child and such. But, alas, at around 50%, I decided to check the book description again and realized I was FAR off.

Synopsis: Fabiola, a mother of three and wife to an aspiring entrepreneur, offers to become a surrogate to her best friend, Liz. However, Liz's husband, Peter, is Fabiola's long-time best friend (and the one that got a way, if you know what I mean). One thing leads to another and one reckless moment changes everything. Fabiola's life begins to unravel - but it causes her to consider what things are worth fighting for and what she should just let go of.

I wish I went into this book in the right mindset - but it is what it is. Ultimately, I did enjoy this book but I just felt like there were so many aspects that were just toooo farfetched - for example, offering to be a surrogate for your friend just from the goodness of your heart (no financial return or anything).

I did feel like this book explored a very important theme - when you are struggling with something in life, it's also a chance for you to step back and consider - what do YOU want? Is this something worth fighting for? Is this worth the struggle?

Although I enjoyed this book, I think it read more like a literally fiction, than it did a thriller. That being said, it still was a page turner, and I wanted to know how it ended.