Such A Good Family is heavy domestic drama, one that incorporates many real and current issues we face today. Eden Van Doren and Lorrie Keller are two best friends who seem to have the perfect life. They are two stay-at-home moms, living very extravagant lives in Mountaindale. Their children have been close ever since they were babies, so when they start dating Eden and Lorrie are over the moon! That seems to come to a sudden halt when something happens one night and their worlds are instantly turned upside down. Both women try to protect and support their children and families, all while keeping their own secrets and uncovering some new secrets that may destroy their families forever.
This book is a very compelling and entertaining read. I love a book where there are several POVs and this book gave us exactly that- from the mothers, to the children, even the neighbor Jules. Each person tells part of their story and what it is like to live their life. Some of the characters have suffered abuse, some suffer mentally, some suffer with depression, some struggle with fitting in, a few know what it's like to be bullied.. overall, they all have their secrets. It's a great book, one that shows the power of support and also how one's life isn't always what it appears to be on the exterior. I really enjoyed seeing the character development in most of the characters as well!
Thank you NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Caitlin Weaver for a wonderful ARC!

I truly don’t know how I feel about this book. I just finished it and have all sorts of mixed emotions— but that’s because the author made me feel the sadness, the anxiety, the tension, the shame of the characters. This book has a total of six points of view, and I expected it to be very confusing to keep track of, but I was pleasantly surprised how seamlessly the POVs flowed together. The subject matter is tough, but it’s a book that’ll leave you thinking. Congrats on a stellar debut, Caitlin!

As an avid reader I found tis book to be an easy read. The writing style was enjoyable and easy to follow the characters and plot. I would recommend this read for anyone who does not have any sexual assault triggers and is looking to get into women's crime, domestic thrillers. I did find myself looking forward to the ending, wondering how is this going to tie up all together, and I felt let down that there were so many good story ideas all related and intertwined, but not fully explored to their greatest potential and addressed by the end of the read. Based on the description of the novel I was expecting more action from the main character to stop everything from falling apart, but it read more as other characters were taking action than what she was.

⭐️⭐️⭐️3.5 Compelling Stars

What if your perfect little family wasn’t even close to the family you thought it was, and is just a home running on nothing but lies ? Would you keep the secrets or do something about them ?

Such a Good Family is a heavy read full of multiple POV’s that centers around family saga and friends .

Lorrie’ and Eden are best friends and their children Knox and Summer grew up together and have now started dating each other .

Until one night when an accusation from Summer accuses Knox rapping her.

It’s crazy how one accusation is basically a ticking time bomb and opens the flood gates to more turmoil for the families ..

This book was an emotional rollercoaster and I felt compassion for a couple of the characters and was shocked with one of the twists near the end .

This is a well written novel , great character development and think this would make a fantastic Book club discussion book .

Trigger warnings : Rape , Sexual Assault

Thank you NetGalley , Storm Publishing and Caitlin Weaver for this Digital ARC !

Respectfully Another Read by Angie

A heartbreaking and emotional book! It really makes you think about what you'd do in these mom's situations.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Such a Good Family was such a sad story, but also incredible.

TW: Rape

When two best friends find their kids dating, they get excited. But the most heartbreaking thing happens!

It was hard for me to get into the book at first, but when I got to 50% of the book, it all changed. I loved the character development of Summer and Jules, but also Knox. Knox did something terrible but is trying to change how he acts. I gave a 4-star rating to this book considering that the first half was hard to get into for me. But I loved the multiple point of view. Summer gets through something that is very traumatic but is able to get through it and learn from her experience. I also really enjoyed that the characters get to go see a psychologist.

“… when you love someone, no still means no.”

“We’re all complicated, Summer,” I said. “Don’t sell yourself short trying not to be.”

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an ARC of this book. The book centers around a sexual assault involving two teens who have grown up together, whose moms are best friends, and families are intertwined. The book does a good job of not providing details of the assault but instead focuses on the way everyone reacts to what has happened, who believes who. Camps develop. It’s absolutely normal behavior but I think my opinion is skewed a bit regarding their reactions as I have worked with adult sex offenders, and in a sense, their victims, for many years and as a result I struggle with the stereotypical responses and want people to do better. I found some of the uneducated responses by seemingly bright people to be maddening, that said, their responses were normal as humans respond relative to their own traumas. People will go to great lengths to protect those they love.

The story was solid, but due to my own employment history I could not believe it didn’t happen or find excuses for Knox so I found myself in a camp quickly, I’d be curious to hear what others think. The story does pull on your heart strings a bit as it provided a tangible view of the ripple effect surrounding trauma, it happens to one person but it ripples through families and communities. It was painful to see how Knox’s mom was treated, it was unexpected for her and she was good mom by all appearances, but again, camps form. I don’t often see fiction as a public service announcement but I felt this one provides a realistic cautionary tale, told in a way that created empathy and also frustration.

This is my first Book by this Author and it reminded me so much of old school Jodi Picoult! After the recent "me too" movement this book was timely subject matter but could be triggering for victims of sexual assault. The author did a good job of highlighting the thoughts and feelings of each character and the book was told from a multitude of perspectives which made for a more in depth story. I would recommend this author and this book and I am grateful for the advanced readers copy! Will be looking for more from this author!

Such A Good Family is a riveting story of how two families deal with an accusation that could destroy friendships.

Lorrie and Eden have been best friends for 15 years. Their kids have grown up together. When Lorrie’s son Knox and Eden’s daughter Summer start dating during their senior year both are cautiously optimistic.

When Eden received a call that Summer has been taken to the ER after being found passed out on her bathroom floor she learns Knox may have raped her daughter.

Told from multiple POV’s, including other family and community members the author was able to articulate how this accusation affects everyone involved and how each character responds during the aftermath of a horrific event.

You see a friendship of 15 years begin to fracture, the cost of what it means to pick a side and stand up for what you believe in. You will feel what it’s like to speak your truth when the world wants you to stay silent.

This book will make you feel things you never thought you would feel about a situation like this.

Thank you to Storm Publishing, author Caitlin Weaver and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of Such A Good Family. Set to publish June 12, 2024.

Set in an affluent American neighbourhood, this book centers around two families and the aftermath of an incident between the eldest son of one family and the only daughter of the other family.
This is an enjoyable read that deals with alot of issues facing parents of teenage children in the modern world.
Recommended for anyone who enjoys a fast paced book.

This book is a domestic drama rather than a thriller, and it's a rollercoaster ride of emotions as a lot happens in just one week. The story shows how everyone is complex, and even good people can end up doing bad things.

It's sad to see the friendship between the two moms fall apart due to the decisions made by their children. The story is told from multiple points of view, making it easy to follow. It deals with relevant and current topics, such as the complexities of best friends and their families. Lorrie and Eden, who live across the street from each other in a seemingly perfect neighborhood filled with stay-at-home moms, dream of their families becoming one when their kids start dating. However, things take a drastic turn in the final days of Knox and Summer's senior year.

Overall, I believe this is a book that's worth reading, especially in today's day and age.

trigger warning:sexual assault/rape

This is the story of two families ripped apart after one’s teenaged daughter accuses the other’s son of sexual assult/rape. Two former best friends are suddenly at odds when their teenage children who were dating are now at opposite ends of rape accusations splitting the neighborhood and their own families.

I found this a good, timely novel especially when raising two teenagers myself. The culture of “boys being boys” and hookup culture muddies the water for consent in some peoples eyes. It shouldn’t but it does. And sadly the author is correct that the legal system doesn’t help the victims. There are multiple POV’s and if you aren’t a fan of that style of writing it will be confusing and annoying but I enjoyed it. I thought there could have been a little more character development/nuance when dealing with this subject matter but I overall enjoyed it and related to it.

Thank you to Caitlin Weaver and Storm publishing for the opportunity to read this book.

Wow! THIS is the kind of book I crave! One of the best I’ve read this year. It sucked me in from the first page, and I didn’t put it down until I was finished. It’s a heartbreaking, thought provoking read that fans of Jodi Picoult will love.

Such a Good Family focuses on two families: Eden and Lorrie have been neighbors and best friends for years, their kids the same age. When Eden’s daughter and Lorrie’s son start dating, the two are thrilled… until a tragic incident disrupts their entire world.

Caitlin Weaver did an excellent job with character development as I felt I could relate to all the major players. The main themes in this story are so relevant, especially in today’s society, and she handled it very nicely.

I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a more domestic drama/mystery as opposed to a thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley, Caitlin Weaver, and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.
To be published June 12, 2024

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.

Ya'll, please read the trigger warnings. This book deals with sexual assault and rape. Please read responsibly and take care of yourself! ❤️

This was brilliantly written, especially for dealing with such a difficult topic. Very emotional. The plot was very engaging and I couldn't put this one down. I read this in one sitting. Excellent pacing, great dive into how one accusation can tear apart people's lives. Highly recommended if you can deal with the main subject matter!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

What a rollercoaster! This is a book that really makes you stop and think. I found myself taking sides, much like the kids at the school in the book. But I also changed my mind a few times, based on what we found out about each of them. This is one of those situations that is often in the public eye at present. This book does a good job of presenting both sides and helping us understand how important it is that boundaries are clear. It also shows us how the fallout radiates.
This was a good read. I thoroughly enjoyed it, despite the subject matter, and would recommend it.

This book is a domestic drama rather than a thriller, and it's a rollercoaster ride of emotions as a lot happens in just one week. The story shows how everyone is complex, and even good people can end up doing bad things.

It's sad to see the friendship between the two moms fall apart due to the decisions made by their children. The story is told from multiple points of view, making it easy to follow. It deals with relevant and current topics, such as the complexities of best friends and their families. Lorrie and Eden, who live across the street from each other in a seemingly perfect neighborhood filled with stay-at-home moms, dream of their families becoming one when their kids start dating. However, things take a drastic turn in the final days of Knox and Summer's senior year.

Overall, I believe this is a book that's worth reading, especially in today's day and age.

Thank you, NetGalley and Publisher for the eARC.

Wow, this story is gut-wrenching but thoughtful and well-done. It deals with a sensitive topic (SA), so please read with care if that's a trigger.
Genre-wise, this felt more general fiction than thriller, but I think thriller-readers will still find it appealing. The writing style reminded me of Shari Lapena, lots of points of view with punchy endings to each chapter.

I'd love to read more from this author. This book treated a messy topic with lots of nuance.

Now off to read a palate-cleanser! Thanks for the advance review copy.

"Such a Good Family" is a story about 2 bestfriends, Lorrie and Eden, and how one incident between their kids can blow up their entire lives in ways they couldn't imagine. The story itself is compelling, gripping and very emotional. The chapters interchange between the characters and before and after the incident which keeps you turning pages for longer. I did find that the story did drag on a bit and got a abit boring in the middle but the second half and the ending made up for it!

What a thought provoking book. Excellent character development and “seeing” the situation from multiple POV really added layers to the story.

The author addresses a very serious and sensitive subject with a gentle approach.

Such a Good Family
by Caitlin Weaver
Pub Date: June 12, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
This addictive novel will draw you deep into the heart of seemingly happy families and expose the dark secrets that lie within them. Fans of Liane Moriarty, Jodi Picoult and Celeste Ng will be utterly gripped by Such a Good Family.
TWs: sexual assault, rape
Eden and Lorrie are two best friends who are seemingly thrilled when their children start dating, just like they had always hoped. But an allegation of rape from Eden's daughter, Summer, against Lorrie's son, Knox, blows their families and friendships apart into chaos.
This was a great novel from the author that was able to navigate a heavy topic very well. Her writing was phenomenal and it was so easy to get engrossed in the book and keep reading until the end. The suspense was perfectly built. The standout character of this book was Archie, the middle child: he was a good kid and was very introspective that makes me just want the best for him and to see him thrive.