4.5 ⭐️

Wow. I absolutely loved this book.

** Please search trigger warnings **

This story follows two best friends whose children have grown up together but when a horrible incident occurs, the friends are pulled apart and the true test of motherhood starts.

Archie was a standout character for me, as a fellow middle child.

Couldn’t put this one down. Loved it.

A novel of mystery and intrigue…an afternoon of suspense. Realistic characters and a quick read. Thanks Net,galley.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing this book, with my honest review below.

At first I forgot that Such a Good Family wasn’t a mystery or thriller due to its cover evoking memories of some very good ones, but I was glad to see it as general and women’s fiction because this book, which is excellent, definitely isn’t of the mystery and thriller genre. This was a great exploration for women and girls of when sexual assault occurs and they aren’t believed by all as well as how it can occur close to home and how that plays out in even the closest friendships.

Lorrie and Eden are best friends but when Summer, Eden’s daughter, accuses Knox, Lorrie’s son, of rape their friendship and the lives of others in their neighborhood and town change overnight. Lorrie doesn’t know her son as well as she thinks and no one really knows Eden and what she’s been through. There are other characters that get a spot light in this story, Knox and Summer, of course, but also Archie, Lorrie’s son, and Jules, who is new to the neighborhood following a marriage to a long time neighbor who left his wife for her. All perspectives are extremely well done and the story culminated in a very satisfying climax. As a woman this spoke to me, but I think it’s a great book for all.

4.5 stars

This book was phenomenal. It hit on some important and tense topics and dealt with them very humanly. There was a lot of emotions to be had.
I appreciate the arc.

"Such A Good Family" delves deep into the complexities of relationships and the aftermath of a harrowing accusation. In this gripping narrative, author Caitlin Weaver masterfully navigates the turbulent waters of friendship, trust, and betrayal.

At the heart of the story are Lorrie and Eden, inseparable friends whose bond is put to the ultimate test when Eden's daughter, Summer, accuses Lorrie's son, Knox, of a heinous act. Instead of dwelling on the details of the event itself, the narrative skilfully shifts focus to the aftermath, exploring the profound impact on not only the individuals directly involved but also on their families.

Lorrie and Eden are portrayed with depth and nuance, their friendship strained as they grapple with conflicting loyalties and moral dilemmas. As tensions escalate, the narrative expertly illustrates how alliances are formed and fractures deepen, both among the teenagers at school and the adults in their lives.

For me, one of the book's most poignant themes is the absence of clear winners or tidy resolutions. Instead, it presents a raw and unflinching portrayal of human nature, where the lines between right and wrong blur in the face of personal biases and societal pressures. There are no easy answers here, only the messy, painful reality of navigating a world where justice is elusive and forgiveness is hard-won.
However I can't help but wonder about the missed opportunity to explore the story from a different perspective. Swapping the roles of the parents—making Eden Knox's mother and Ed Summer's father—could have provided an intriguing juxtaposition, offering fresh insights into the characters' motivations and actions.

In conclusion, "Such A Good Family" is a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant read that tackles a difficult topic with sensitivity and grace. With its richly drawn characters and compelling exploration of moral ambiguity, it is sure to leave a lasting impression on readers long after they turn the final page.

This was an excellent character driven story about a difficult topic. I was thoroughly engrossed in this book, and I enjoyed how the author didn't focus as much on the details of the event, but instead, we saw how the impact not only on the two people involved, but on their respective families.

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

What I thought would be a book about suburban housewives and their petty neighborhood drama, turned out to be a captivating story about complex relationships, love, and loss. Like the two main characters of the story, I have been in a close relationships with a dear friend, within a circle of friends, and when something devastating occurs, everyone immediately picks sides within the friend group. Throw in your offspring and things get really messy and your momma bear protective senses dominate. Surprisingly this story is relevant and peppered with current day issues that will have you turning pages nonstop. https://www.instagram.com/gator_book_gobbler/

I received this ARC, from NetGalley.

This book was good in the way that it explored rape from everyone’s point of view. The victim, the perpetrator, the family and even the neighbourhood.
It kept me wanting to know what would happen next. I got made at a few of the characters throughout it.

It showed you what happens when a single pebble is thrown into the water and how much of affects everyone.

She kept me wanting more throughout the whole book.

How do we keep our children safe? How do we keep them from becoming the things we fear? Best friends Eden and Lorrie will wrestle with these questions and more when the relationship between their children takes a dark turn.

Well- written and thought-provoking, Such a Good Family will have you asking yourself how far would you go to protect your child. Four stars!

“It’s about every goddamn woman who’s felt how I feel right now.”

Lorrie and Eden have been best friends for years and live in the same neighbourhood, their kids Know and Summer are seniors in high school and about to go to college. When they start dating, Lorrie couldn’t be happier when Eden is a little more worried, she likes Knox sure but maybe not as a boyfriend for her daughter. One night Knox gets home late with scratches and Eden gets a call from the hospital, Summer says Knox raped her.

An incredibly sensitive topic but Caitlin Weaver deals with it with incredible care and allows her characters to exist in a very complicated and nuanced reality.
Most rapes actually happen between people who know each other, Knox isn’t an evil guy, he’s just a teenager who never got proper sexual education and who learned how to behave with his girlfriend by watching porn and not the corny kind. He can’t actually “perform” without degrading his partners and respecting boundaries and hearing their needs is something that he’s gonna take a long time to learn. He was so frustrating (like you’re a guy in 2024) but also so incredibly realistic. I also loved how real Summer was, while her friend Violet was ready to get into activist mode (with good reasons), she just feels like moving on at some point because she’s just tired of fighting. She also has complicated feelings for Knox, she loved him while hating what he did to her.
Summer’s parents are sweet people, trying their best to protect their daughter. There’s a parallel between Eden and her daughter that shows how different the world is in a post MeToo era, sure it’s still not perfect, but victims are heard and believed more. That’s what was heartwarming to see, the support that Summer got, including from Juliet a woman who is seen as a home wrecker by the whole town cause she married her (university) teacher. Summer is her babysitter and she really likes her, she’s one of the adults that’s a great source of support for her.
Knox’s family is a little bit more frustrating, but that’s to be expected. His dad is an ass, plain and simple. He’s also an abuser (and probably a rapist), which might explain how Knox ended up. Lorrie wants to protect her kid and I get that, but at some point she should realise that there’s no protecting him from that kind of thing. He needs to face consequences, which he actually kind of does by the end. There’s hope for growth and redemption.
Archie, the middle child was such a great character though. He loves his brother but he also loves Summer and believes her. He has a totally different kind of relationship with women than his father and his brother. Same with Ari (Juliet’s stepson), so yes this book does have two “not all men” characters in a way :D But that’s what makes it interesting too, in our current young generation, both kind of young boys do coexist.

Thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and Caitlin Weaver for the eARC.

Such a good family will be out on June 14

Summer and Knox, childhood friends, have started dating. Their mother's are best friends.
But something unspeakable happens, and their lives and the lives of their parents are thrown into turmoil.

This is a very well written book, about a difficult subject.
I liked that it was written from the points of view of Knox and Summer, as well as their mothers and other family, as well as neighbours.

I just want to say that porn addiction, and the unrealistic themes in porn have a very real impact on those who are inexperienced in real life.

I awarded this 4/5.
Many trigger warnings.

Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.

Firstly thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers for the ARC of this book.

Rating bumped up 3.5⭐️ really enjoyed the book . Great story characters very complex and the plot was really engaging . Tough subject matter and you were never really sure whose story to believe . It showed how something this traumatic does not just affect those two characters but the whole of the families too .

Very easy to read and also thought provoking.

I was so glad I could get this book. Two best friends and their children are dating but then something happens between them. What will then families do? I thought this was done very well and I could not stop reading. I do not want to give anything away. I look forward to more books by Caitlin Weaver.

Eden and Lottie are the best of friends and have always thought it would be great for their son and daughter to be together so when they start to date they are both happy.
Then one night something happens which tears both families apart . This story is about teenagers and explores the notion of consent and blurred lines.
Very well and sensitively written I found the book engaging and will look to read more from the author.

Thank you to NetGalley and storm publishing for this ARC! I really enjoyed this book and this was a new author for me. The main characters Lorrie and Eden are best friends and their dream of having their children get together finally happens. Their kids begin dating, but then tragedy strikes. I loved all the characters, especially Archie I could feel them and could really relate to them. Many issues were dealt with that were heavy and sensitive such as assault and bullying, but they were handled with care and compassion. I love the aspect of not only viewing how the victim felt, but the person who was accused as well. definitely a five star for me. I would recommend this book and I’ll be reading more from this author..

Lorrie and Eden are best friends and close neighbours, and have been part of each others' lives for a long time. So when Lorrie's son Knox begins dating Eden's daughter, the maternal duo seem one step closer to their long-ago dream of having their children grow up and fall in love.

Until, that is, Summer accuses Knox of assaulting her and all hell breaks lose. Because when it comes to the crunch, both mothers are about to find out what lengths they will go to in order to protect their children...

This is an absorbing novel which deals with a number of uncomfortable topics including teenage sexuality, assault, bullying, chauvinism, sexism etc. But it does so with care and empathy. Worth a read, it gets 3.5 stars.

Lorrie and Eden are best friends. Living in a very desirable area, both women enjoy a good lifestyle and know they are privileged. Best friends, confidants, close neighbours, each other’s rock, it seems nothing will come between them, BFF. When Lorrie’s son Knox starts dating Eden’s daughter Summer, it’s as though the mothers predictions from when the young couple were tiny children are coming true. That is until Summer accuses Knox of assaulting her, paying no heed to her “No”.

Discovering which family is the good one is a matter of opinion!

When I started reading this I did think it would be a struggle, but I really got into it and was glad I persevered, it was very enjoyable.

Dealing with some difficult subjects, the book is not without its triggers and challenges, but it is all handled sensitively and with compassion. The allegation was dealt with from various POV, and all were a recognisable reaction. I liked the characters (apart from Ed, yuk!), discovering their issues and the others attitudes towards them was an interesting stance.

Although afflicted with the curse of being the middle child, Archie was the star of this book, and I liked his character very much.

A good read.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing.

I honestly didn't expect to like this book as much as I did. It uses a shifting 1st person perspective, which a lot of contemporary novels do and can often feel gimmicky, but in Such a Good Family it felt like that structure actually served a purpose as it gives the reader a unique insight into each character's view of the events. I especially liked that we got the perspective of both the victim and the perpetrator of the sexual assault. The characters are all complex, which makes the story really engaging. I found it a little slow to get into and I had a little trouble keeping track of all the characters at first, but once I got into the book I really enjoyed it.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. I had not picked up a thriller book in a while and it was great to have this one be my first after reading a ton of romance novels. The story is suspenseful and addictive. The complex characters and relationships between them are very well executed. Overall this is a quick read.

After finishing the book, I kept thinking about each of the stories told, the sensitive topics it touched, and how possible it’s to be or to know a victim of the same events. It’s frightening how we judge so many people by the mistakes they make without considering their baggage or layers within them.

Lorrie and Eden are best friends, and neighbors, their bond is as strong as sisters. They have been through difficult moments over the years and they have survived them because of the emotional and physical support they gave each other, even their kids grew up together as a family. So, when Lorrie’s son started going out with Eden’s daughter, everything felt like their wishes were coming true until they became a nightmare.

Expect to read about:
- Lack of sexual guidance among teenagers
- Lack of emotional support in schools and families.
- Misconceptions for the need of seeking emotional guidance.
- Peers pressure
- Bullying
- Chauvinism
- Bigotry
- Family roles

The story was well narrated and full of emotional, and insightful moments. I enjoyed their journey and made me reflect about mine.

I just reviewed Such a Good Family by Caitlin Weaver. #SuchaGoodFamily #NetGalley