Lorrie and Eden are best friends that live in the same neighborhood, where their children have grown up and now are Seniors in High School.  Knox, Lorrie’s son and Summer, Eden’s daughter have been dating for several years. 
Knox comes home late one night from a party, when Lorrie notices scratches all over his neck and chest.  Knox zips up his sweatshirt and walks upstairs. Lorrie tries to put it out of mind, she trusts her son and feels that there must be a reasonable explanation for the marks.
 
When Eden's daughter, Summer, makes an allegation of being assaulted, everyone’s world is about to come crashing down.  How far and to what lengths would a parent go to protect their child? What happens when your child is accused of doing the unthinkable to their partner?
 
I enjoyed the multiple POV, so you hear each characters side of the story, and the character development was superb. The way that Weaver kept the story intriguing, I never felt like there was a dull moment.

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When @caitlinweaver asked if she could send me a copy of her book to read and review, I was hesitant. Contemporary fiction and I have not been meshing well this year. I am happy to say I really enjoyed this book.. a “I don’t want to stop reading kind of book.”
There is so much to think about in this story. Two mothers who are friends, two teenagers who have known each other their whole lives, a night at a party that changes everything for both families and their community. Emotionally you are pulled in a variety of different directions. Each character wrestles with how to feel, how to react and how best to support someone after the nights events. It’s relatable, relevant and thought provoking. Told through multiple characters perspectives, Weaver makes it impossible not to have empathy for each one of these characters. This situation is complex and Weaver’s endnotes are insightful. Inspired to write this novel after discussing with friends “are we doing this parenting thing right?”, she feels at times it is sometimes like swimming against the tide. I too agree with Steinem Caitlin!

“I’m glad we’ve begun to raise our daughters like our sons, but it will never work until we raise our sons more like our daughters.”

An insightful debut novel!


Thank you Caitlin and @stormbooks_co for sending me an eARC of Such A Good Family. Get your copy today!

This book made me feel almost every emotion. It’s very thought provoking. The author’s writing style is very captivating, I was hooked from the first chapter. The story became somewhat repetitive for a while, it felt like it was going in circles, so I did become a little bored. The last 80 pages picked back up. I would have liked more from the ending, but it kind of felt right for this book anyway.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an advanced copy of this book!

Eden and Lorrie have been mothers, wives, closest friends, and neighbors. They made jokes about how their kids would grow up and get married, but they had no idea how one accusation would alter their life. Knox, Lorrie's son, has been accused by Summer, Eden's daughter. The two women desire to help their child. They are both stunned, heartbroken, and in shock. I was compelled to feel sorry for every woman. Every parent adores their child, desires to shield them from harm, must make decisions, and experiences suffering.

Oh my! I really went through a lot with this book. It is both painful and thought-provoking in equal measure. The multiple character points of view used in this novel made for an engrossing read. Penetrating the thoughts of knowing the motivations, feelings, and opinions of the many people was a wonderful addition. Even though their choices startled me, I still had empathy for the characters. I felt every emotion that the characters experienced along with them. Caitlin Weaver did a fantastic job at evoking strong emotions in the reader.


This book is not upbeat or optimistic. It is profound, arouses strong feelings, and tackles challenging material. I thought the author handled this delicately and elegantly. Robust, well-written, and captivating. This was my first book by this author, the cover is what drew me in at the beginning.

Two best friends and their families' lives are about to be forever changed after one dreary night. Lorrie and Eden live in complete bliss. They are best friends who live in the same neighborhood. Their children are dating each other. Everything seems perfect until a trip to the hospital causes accusations to start flying around. Someone is lying, but you do not really know who to believe.

As the drama builds up, you get a deep look into the households of these two women. They look perfect on the outside, but there are secrets that are not on public display. They live in their perfect little bubble all while snubbing new neighbors. Now their personal lives are on full display for everyone to see and comment on.

This book is so emotional that I am completely wrung out after reading it. I could feel the emotions and understand the reasoning behind each mother and father's actions after this event. The mama bear protective instinct is on full display with these two. I also felt deep regret for the kids, Knox and Storm. They are just teenagers who have mocked what they have seen in their homes. It has molded them to be the people they are today. As the author starts revealing more and more secrets, I felt such empathy for almost all of the parties involved. Whew! I need a break after reading this one. I need to watch some comedy. The material discussed in this book is deep and heart-wrenching. As heart-wrenching as it was for me, I could not put it down. One night can ruin lives, but there is always more to the story. Find a comfy seat before you start reading it.

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

Although I do not typically go for books involving sexual assault, I thought the way that Caitlin Weaver told this story was great from all character perspectives.

I would recommend to anyone that is not sensitive to the topic of rape, but this story kept me wanting to read more.

What a page turner!… Absolutely breathtaking … I can’t believe I read this book in one sitting , it was so gripping

Absolutely loved this.
Thought provoking. Powerful message. Great read.
I could NOT put this down. One of the most realistic stories I've read in a very long time.
I hope to read more of Caitlin Weaver!!


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

This extraordinary book is a must-read, capable of evoking laughter, tears, and a profound sense of reflection. It really had me questioning how I would react if this was my child.
It delves into the complexities of motherhood and explores how a mother might react in various situations.
Despite its fast pace, the book is thought-provoking and leaves a lasting impact.
I devoured this book in a day and I can't wait to see what Caitlin Weaver writes next!

This book was so heartbreaking but at the same time unputdownable. I could not hate any of the characters because all of them were so human. Well, except for one (Ed, you absolute POS!).

The author has crafted the story beautifully and with a lot of sensitivity, and that is exactly what this story needed. One of the best books in recent times that perfectly shows how humans are complicated creatures. Definitely recommend!

Picture perfect families are the ones harboring the deepest secrets...

I flew through this book, my intent was to read it over the course of the weekend and I ended up consuming it over 24 hours. It gave me flashbacks to when I was on summer break as a kid, staying up as late as possible to read. But, I digress.

Eden and Lorrie have been best friends forever. As they grew up, they found themselves being wives, mothers, and neighbors. Their lives were fully intertwined, they were family. When their children were born (Summer and Knox) the friends joked about their children eventually marrying each other. However, in an instant, the dreams and jokes are gone. An accusation is made, tearing apart these families and their relationships. Each mother wants to protect her child while trying to navigate the feelings of anger, heartbreak, and loss.

As a mom, this book forced me to stop and think several times throughout. I felt sadness, confusion, and anger. I saw things differently. This book was well written, thought out, and immensely thought provoking.

Many thanks Storm Publishing, NetGalley, and the author for the ARC.

Wow wow wow! Received an ARC of this book and devoured it! In a typical suburban subdivision, family friendships with kids similar ages. Eden and Lorrie become best friends and their kids who have known each other since they were babies start dating. Then whole hell breaks loose. So many different topics covered in this book from infidelity, consent to mental issues. I loved it.

One thing we love is a thriller with some drama involved!! Two mom friends having to fight against each other to get to the bottom of what actually happened! Sign me up for all the drama thrillers going forward. It was captivating and really got my emotions going. I wasn’t sure who’s shoes I could put myself into.

I loved this!!! The characters were so real and I was so invested in each one of them. I loved all the different perspectives we got from so many of the characters. Each one was perfection. I stayed up all night to finish this book! If you are a parent of a teenager, this one makes you feel so much. I will definitely be reading more from this author.

I finished this book 2 days ago and haven’t stopped thinking about it since. I’ve been really thinking about how I can describe the emotions and feelings that I had while reading this book and put it into words, but I just can’t. This was definitely an emotional roller coaster of a ride. The story follows two best friends and neighbors Eden and Lorrie and their families. Lorrie’s son, Knox, and Eden‘s daughter Summer end up dating their senior year in high school. But one night rips these two families apart and changes everything. Eden and Lorrie will do anything to protect their children. It is devastating to read how one night, one moment, can affect so many different people and just tear families and friends apart. I don’t really want to give much more away than that but this is definitely a book that I’m glad I picked up. I’ve never read anything by Caitlin Weaver before this, but I will definitely look for more of her books in the future. Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an advanced reader copy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Such A Good Family
By Caitlin Weaver

This is an emotional and thought-provoking, amazing debut.
First of all, thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC for my review. The book will be released in the UK on 12th June (and only £1.99 on Kindle)

The story follows two mothers, Lorrie and Eden, and their families. Lorries and Eden are best friends and neighbours who both have children. They have often joked that whilst growing up, their children should get married when they grow up. However, when Eden's daughter Summer accuses Lorrie's son of sexual abuse, all of their lives are impacted.

This book is, first of all, very well written and a very easy read. The subject of sexual abuse is handled sensitively, and due to the characters in the book being so realistic and relatable, the emotions really shine from this story.

There were many thoughts and questions that the author provoked during her storytelling that were interesting and compelling throughout, making the pages turn easy. This kind of work made me compare the author to the likes of Jodi Picoult, but written by a multiple of character viewpoints.

As the story progresses in this domestic drama, Weaver shows that awful things and bad decisions can be made by good people and how this can have a big impact on others and their relationships.

I really loved this book and would highly recommend it if you like a thought-provoking, emotionally charged family drama with good character work that tackles a sensitive topic.

I was reeeeeeally liking this up until 65% or so.


The fact is that both families failed their children so much. Lorrie and Ed failed Knox by not seeing that he literally had a porn addiction.

He even tried to talk with his dad, but he was being an asshole and a machoman, and he wasn't able to see the problem.

Witt and Eden also failed Summer, BUT DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON EDEN. When something like that happens, you have to put your daughter first. I get it. You have a trauma, and you think the same thing is going to happen to your daughter, BUT YOU HAVE TO LET HER TAKE THE KIT.

YOU HAVE TO LET HER MAKE THE DECISIONS.

YOU DONT GET TO CHOSE HOW SHE ACTS AFTER THIS, IT'S HER TRAUMA, NOT YOURS.

F you, Eden.

Overall, I didn't like the characters (none of them except Archie), and it kind of felt like there wasn't any plot. If I wanted to read a story that ended that way, I just have to open a newspaper, it's sadly an everyday thing.


Thanks NetGalley and author for the eARC!

This is probably one of the best domestic dramas I’ve read this year it was such a hard read but in all the right ways, it’s emotional, impactful and thought-provoking.
I really enjoyed the multiple POVs and the character development throughout the book even if I didn’t agree with the decisions of some characters you can understand their feelings.

★ ★ ★ ★
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Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to review this book.

It's an old story. Two families grow up side by side. The mothers are the best of friends. Then a son begins to date a daughter. And an unthinkable four letter word comes between those two families: rape.

This is not an easy read. It is domestic fiction with scenarios you only want to see in fiction. Yet you know that sexual abuse is real to far too many. One might say a simple, "No" should solve all problematic interactions. In a simpler world this would be true. Unfortunately there are factors that influence young minds including social media body image messages, pornographic content, a sense of entitlement, high school cliques, and much much more. It's complicated!

Knox's mom Lorrie and Summer's mom Elena wake up to a whole new world after one fateful night at the end of their children's senior year. That one night will have a ripple effect throughout the community. Caitlin Weaver gives us a variety of perspectives in addition to the moms and the teens at the center of the storm.

As a mom of three boys who are well past their teens, I found this to be a compelling read. Caitlin Weaver, a mom of two boys herself, got the idea for this story after many "What if" conversations about raising children. If you are in the mood for a thought-provoking domestic thriller, give this one a try. Publication date is June 11, 2024.

Thank you to Storm and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

Such a Good Family by Caitlin Weaver had me glued to my kindle all weekend. Lorrie and Eden are best friends and their children Summer and Knox grew up together and are both seniors in high school. They recently realized they had feelings for each other and started a relationship. One night at the park things didn’t go as planned and Knox broke up with Summer. But that isn’t the only thing that happened that night. Summer is accusing her boyfriend Knox of sexual assault. This puts Lorrie and Eden in a horrible position since they both stand by their children. I could feel the tension oozing from the pages. The story shows how something like this can affect everyone and how the views differ from the vantage point of males vs females. There were other story lines woven throughout that kept the story even more interesting. I could feel what Lorrie and Eden were going through. Me and my best friend had our kids 2 months apart. I have a daughter and she has a son. I couldn’t imagine how devastating that would be. This book was so good and thought provoking. Don’t miss it! Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the eArc.