Fabiola has spent her life being good. The perfect daughter to her single father. A supportive wife to her entrepreneurial husband, who’s throwing everything they have at launching his start-up. A devoted mother to her three beautiful children. And a loyal best friend to Liz, who's been by Fabiola's side since Liz married her oldest childhood friend, Peter.

When Liz needs help starting her own family, Fabiola comes up with the perfect plan. She’s good at being pregnant, and she so badly wants to help her friend. It seems like the greatest gift one woman can give another. And Peter? For Peter – she doesn’t even have to think – she would do anything.

But then one reckless moment changes everything. Now Fabiola must decide who to protect: her best friend, the man she's never stopped loving, or the child growing inside her. With her marriage unraveling and her teenage daughter hiding secrets of her own, she's discovering that the hardest promises to keep are the ones we make to ourselves.

This book was fantastic. The twists and turns were relatively predictable (which is almost always the case when you read a lot!), but that didn't distract from this well-written story. I like that this book brings up some potentially thorny subjects. Super read! 4.5⭐

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

Solid 3.5 stars. Read it in one sitting. The characters were in a word, MESSY. But, relatably messy. Family drama, the bonds of female friendships, realistic depiction of marriage, loss and betrayal were all central themes.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy.

Thank you so much for the ARC. I am now officially a fan of Caitlin Weaver's books! I love how the book is based on the lives of real people. Fabi's one-night stand with Peter that led to a pregnancy and the reality of how grown, successful men can still today avoid the responsibility of fatherhood. Also the abandonment that Fabi experienced by her mom is a real issue affecting children and adults today. I loved Vivi. Children are sometimes the eyes and ears in a household and Vivi's behavior is a reflection of the chaos that was happening at home, in her parents marriage. I loved how Liz unexpectedly forgave Fabi and opened her heart and home to Fabi's family. Things could have turned out so differently. Such a beautiful book which tugged at my heart.

This was a very complex read which had me feeling many emotions, it definitely had me swaying between the right and wrong reactions to the situation.

I found myself completely engrossed in the text. It was an exceptional experience! The narrative was filled with drama, authenticity, emotional depth, and a captivating quality that drew me in.

Fabiola loves being a mom. She has three children, and loves giving them all of her attention and feels anxious that they are growing up and might not need her anymore.

With an innovative husband who is trying to get his start-up company and her own career is taking off. At Fabiola’s wedding, she introduced Peter, her old friend and childhood crush, to her best friend, Liz. Peter and Liz fell in love, got married and seemed to have everything. Everything, but children. As Liz’s best friend, Fabiola impulsively agrees to be a surrogate for her friends. Their arrangement takes a disastrous turn as Fabiola and Peter’s connection grows. Fabiola’s reckless actions reveal a pattern of impulsive, thoughtless behavior. Now, Fabiola must navigate the tangled mess she created and seek a way to make amends.

I enjoyed the book, but my opinion of the main character Fabiola changed drastically. Initially, I respected her as a smart and loyal person, and I loved the women’s friendship portrayed at the beginning. However, it all turned out to be fake! Fabiola's actions became increasingly annoying and childish. Her messiness ruined everything, and she showed no consideration for other people's feelings. She definitely didn't deserve her friends. Instead of handling her situation maturely, she acted like a teenager, which was really off-putting. The author, Caitlin Weaver, did a great job creating her characters, but Fabiola’s transformation was a major disappointment.

Wow! This was so not what I was expecting when I started reading it. I will not give anything away, because there are so many things that are thrown at you that are a surprise, but I absolutely hated Aron, Fabiola's husband. Self-centered man that can't see anything but his own wishes in life. Liz and Alice, Fabiola's best friends are friends I wish I had. Ones that stand by you no matter what. It did take me a little bit to get into the story at the start (plus I got sick and didn't read for quite a few days), but once I got into it I couldn't stop and put it down. I loved the ending, everything ended exactly as it needed to end.

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.

First off, I want to clarify that this book is not the mystery thriller I initially hoped for, as I usually gravitate towards that genre. However, I found it to be a surprisingly comforting and dramatic read.

The story delves deeply into the complexities of daily life, touching on themes of motherhood, the struggles of being a boss mom, and the challenge of balancing multiple roles. It also explores the often-overlooked topic of men who resist household responsibilities while pursuing dreams that sometimes lead to failure.

Through its portrayal of bad decisions, the ups and downs of parenting, the enduring love of parents, and the journey of moving on, the book offers a realistic glimpse into the struggles and triumphs of life. Friendship, resilience, and the constant fight to keep going despite the odds are woven throughout the narrative.

While it may not be heartwarming or tear-jerking in the traditional sense, the book provides a thoughtful reflection on the everyday battles we face. It's a comforting read for anyone looking to connect with the shared experiences of family, love, and the enduring human spirit.

Lastly, I want to give my thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and Caitlin Weaver for allowing me to read this ARC!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5/5

This had NOT the perfect plan written all over it. Was everyone in this book wrong? Or doing wrong for the right? Or doing right for the wrong!? Sooo ma y moral dilemma touched on here too.
It was written from our main characters point of view. And actually, though I like a good different pov book. The sticking with just her character pov was what lent to such an emotionally involved book for.me as a reader.
She was so needing to get it right, to be ALL right thst she let herself down and let others let her down all too often. And everyone seemed to let her do everything and be everything for them.
There were so many y read flags in her relationships.
I found it hard to dislike her for the choices she made which weren't always the best. I felt sorry for her more often than not.
I was on edge all the way through. Every page.

Caitlin Weaver doesn't disappoint! This book is an emotional whirlwind, exploring love, loyalty, and the sacrifices women make for those they cherish. I found the characters deeply human, and there were many moments that tugged at my heart. The journey was powerful and unforgettable. This was a beautifully written, thought-provoking read!

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review was posted at the links below (Instagram, Goodreads, bookishlytara blog, Storygraph on January 9, 2025. An additional post (with a reposted review) will be posted on Instagram on the publication day as well as submitting an Amazon Canada review. (links to be added below once completed

I have mixed feelings about this book. The story unfolds with an odd yet captivating premise and is filled with engaging twists that draw you in and hold your attention. The characters are a mixed bag; some are well-developed and genuinely intriguing, while others feel underexplored, lack depth, and are honestly unlikeable.

Although the plot tends to be predictable, it maintains a nice pace that kept me turning the pages. I particularly appreciate how the narrative intertwines multiple side plots, which enhances the book as a whole. Overall, it was an entertaining read.

Thank you, Storm Publishing, for providing me with this ARC.

Publication Date: January 15, 2025. If you're into twisty domestic dramas, be sure to add this one to your TBR!

As always, all thoughts are my own. ✨🖤

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
I absolutely devoured this book!! What a great read! It stirred every emotion and kept me guessing and feeling.
Fabiola married with three children. When her friend Liz wants a baby and searching for a surrogate she offers- but how does her husband and children feel about this. Liz is married to Peter who was Fabiola’s greatest friend, always there for her. So—- they draw up a plan- but best laid plans are sometimes forgotten - and when a mistake is made what will happen? This was an amazing book!

Caitlin Weaver’s The Perfect Plan explores friendship, family, and the fallout of well-meaning decisions. Fabiola, a devoted mother, becomes a surrogate for her best friend Liz, despite her own troubled marriage and past connections with Liz’s husband, Peter.

The surrogacy unravels as emotional tensions, rebellious children, and marital issues surface, testing relationships and exposing hidden truths. Fabiola’s flawed yet relatable character anchors the story, and Weaver deftly captures the messy intricacies of motherhood, loyalty, and self-discovery.

With realistic dialogue, compelling twists, and an unexpected conclusion, this thought-provoking tale highlights the fragility of human connections and the unpredictability of life.

Thank you Storm Publishing and NetGalley for letting me review this book.

This book reminds me of a tele-novella. I saw the plot coming from the beginning, so there was no shock factor for me. However this book was so well written with Fabiola from her POV. I was completely invested, even though I knew what was going to happen.

I couldn’t put it down, and I was so happy about the ending. I could read more books by this author, because the flow and her writing is so easy to follow. I highly recommend this book, if you are looking for some drama in your life, and also women's fiction in a contemporary manner.

Sometimes the perfect plan is not so perfect, which is definitely the case in this book.

Liz wants a baby, but she is unable to have one. As she is going through applicants for the surrogacy, her best friend, Fabiola, comes up with a brilliant idea. She will be the surrogate. After all, she has had two successful pregnancies, and this is her best friend. This was an immediate red flag for me. This is not a good idea. This is before I knew about Fabiola's past, and the red flags were waving and standing at attention. I knew this was not going to end well for everyone.

Talking Fabiola's husband, Aron, into accepting this surrogacy was not an easy task either. They already have their own set of problems with a rebellious teenage daughter and money issues which has caused some marital strife.

Everything goes through with the implantation, but the real nightmare is about to begin. This one will test the threads of friendships and relationships to the point of breaking. None of these characters were very likable simply because they were so self-entitled. However, Fabiola was a good mother, good businesswoman and tried to be a good wife. I think Fabiola's intentions were good, but she was living in the past. I think she was a very unhappy woman, and she was looking for something more in her life.

This messy situation will get even more convoluted before all is said and done and you will see the real folks beneath their showy exterior. It was a little different, but story was also interesting as I anxiously waited to see where it would end.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Okay this could have been a lifetime movie!! Fabiola wants to help out her best friend by carrying a child for them. I was hooked right from the beginning! So much drama and twists! There was always so much going on that it kept my attention. Fabiola’s like was starting to unravel! I was shocked by the ending! This is the first book I’ve read by Caitlin but I enjoyed it! Looking forward to reading more of her books.

Thank you NetGalley, Caitlin and Storm Publishing for E-ARC!!

I devoured this book in less than 24 hours. It is brilliantly written and plotted with totally believable characters, especially Fabi with whom I became so invested that I shed a few tears along the way. It’s a story of what friendship means and what family means, warts and all. Fabi has two female friends from school/college, Liz and Alice and Peter a friend from school who met and married Liz after Fabi’s wedding to Aron. Fast forward 16 years and Fabi is a mother of a 14 year old girl and twin boys aged 9. Liz announces that despite having had a hysterectomy in her youth, she and Peter are looking for a surrogate to give birth to Liz’s frozen eggs. I’m not going to give plot details but suffice to say that things don’t unfold as anyone would expect.

This surrogacy was not The Perfect Plan!

And this was not a spoiler, it was abundantly clear in the first few pages. So, we have Fabiola, who is married with three children, and her best friend Liz who is unable to conceive due to medical issues. Liz is married to Peter, Fabiola’s oldest friend since middle school. Fabiola’s more-than-twenty-year infatuation and codependency over Peter is all kinds of icky and wrong, made even worse by the fact that Fabiola’s married to someone else, and her friendship with Liz. It was the ultimate betrayal! No one involved was doing this for the right reasons. Anyway, because Fabiola thinks motherhood is the ultimate, since she enjoyed being pregnant with her own kids, and because she would do anything for Peter, and way down the list of reasons, because she wants to give the gift of a child to her friend Liz, Fabiola offers to be their surrogate. As you can imagine, it’s a train wreck. Red flags all over the place.

This one was fairly predictable, especially if you happened to read the book blurb, which fortunately I didn’t until after I’d finished reading, so please avoid it if you can as it gave so much away. Having said this, there were still some surprising twists that I didn’t foresee. Predictable or not I excitedly anticipated where this was going, was never bored, and was always eager to pick up where I left off. This author is known for writing novels that deal with real-life, relatable social issues, and The Perfect Plan was no exception, there were some heavy and emotional moments. However, I did find this one tended towards family and friendship drama/soap opera, more so than her previous books, and I was 100% here for the deception. Fabiola’s life unraveled fast.

I was in two minds regarding Fabiola. At times she came across as naïve, selfish and self-centred, and her obsession with Peter was very unhealthy. But she was a good mother, she was juggling a lot, she was surrounded by people whose love and supportiveness was inconsistent or withheld, and she was just trying to do the best she could. This one was narrated solely by Fabiola, which again was different to Caitlin Weaver’s other two books which utilised multiple POV’s. I was completely invested in Fabiola’s storyline and predicament, so much so that when Part Two flashed across my screen I was momentarily worried that we were going to shift to another character’s perspective and I didn’t want that, so was relieved when it didn’t. I loved that this one was set in New York, rather than the suburbs – as it offered up a different take on lifestyle, work/home balance, and parenting in the city.

The Perfect Plan was my third read by Caitlin Weaver in the past six months, and I’ve rated them all 4.5 ⭐️. I admire how fast she writes and releases these books – no complaints from me. Caitlin Weaver is now an auto- read/acquire/buy author for me.

I’d like to thank Netgalley, Storm Publishing, and Caitlin Weaver for the e-ARC.

Release Date: 15 January 2025.

I devoured about 75% of this book. The writing was done so well between the characters. I enjoyed the angst between friends Fabiola, Liz and Alice. It felt like I immediately dived into their lives, problems and feelings so easily and things played out before me like a movie screen. Then, something just happened and things fell flat for me. The angst between Peter and Fabiola, and their history together really came off of the pages. Due to me not liking the last part of the book, my rating drops by 2 stars. 3 stars from me for this. I wish I could give it more.

This was a great read about surrogacy. Friends Fabiola and Liz are talking about surrogacy when Fabiola decides to do it for Liz. Will their relationship survive the strain of pregnancy? It’s a quick read that got me hooked really quickly. The main characters are a perfect match to the plot and shows the trials of raising older children while pregnant. A perfect afternoon read. 4 stars
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.