This book was very emotional, I felt captivated and immersed right away. Seeing the secrets build and the characters dynamics was very intense.

My thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Things We Never Say’ written by Caitlin Weaver in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Three women, Rhea, Maggie and Anna, are thrown together when they offer to help raise funds for the centennial gala at the prestigious Cavitas private school. As they form a bond over a glass of wine their friendship develops and they unexpectedly discover a scandal that’s been hidden for years and if revealed has the ability to destroy lives and reputations.

‘Things We Never Say’ is an emotional story of scandal, deception and friendship, concentrating on three women who are determined to right the wrongs that the rich in their society think they can get away with. From the beginning I’ve been deeply involved with these three strong-minded women, and especially feel empathy with Anna who is too scared to reveal that behind closed doors her husband gets away with physically abusive behaviour. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this gripping novel that starts slowly and gradually builds up to a crescendo as the truth comes to light and the three women emerge triumphant.

This felt just like Big Little Lies to me. Almost the exact same story, just missing some of the extra drama with some of the parents and the main issue is something different but everything else felt very similar. So if you enjoyed that book you’ll probably really enjoy this one as well.

This had a bit of a slower pace than I would have liked. I also didn’t get drawn in by the story and didn’t really care much for any of the characters. The ending also felt a bit overboard and dramatized for the situation but at least it had an ending and not a cliffhanger or left it up in the air of what the resolution was.

Overall, it was a good story just nothing overly great, unique or surprising! I also wish the chapters told you who’s POV you’d be reading from, that got a little confusing a few times throughout the book and there were so many characters, but that is just something I would have liked.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Storm Publishing via NetGalley.

This book takes readers into the seemingly perfect lives of three very different women, bound by their involvement in a school PTA project. On the surface, Anna, Maggie, and Rhea live enviable lives—Anna, the quiet and dutiful wife of the school headmaster; Maggie, a successful relationship therapist; and Rhea, the glamorous mother with a life of wealth. But beneath the surface, each woman is concealing a secret that could unravel everything they hold dear.

As they bond over wine and shared frustrations, the cracks in their facades start to show. Maggie is barely holding together her floundering marriage, Rhea’s troubled past threatens to upend her perfect image, and Anna is hiding the most shocking secret of all—one that could bring down her husband and the school. When the women uncover a scandal the school has been trying to hide, they are thrust into a dilemma with potentially devastating consequences.

This domestic psychological thriller is as much about the power of friendship as it is about the secrets we hide. Initially, Anna, Maggie, and Rhea seem like women with little in common, bound by societal expectations and their roles as mothers. Yet, as they come to confide in one another, their bond deepens, and they begin to rely on their new friendship to face the mounting tension in their lives. The development of this friendship is one of the most heartwarming aspects of the story, offering moments of emotional depth and solidarity amid the suspense.

The pacing is well-done, gradually building tension as the women's secrets begin to surface. The twists and turns are enough to keep readers engaged, while the character development adds emotional weight to the story. Each woman’s marriage is explored in detail, revealing the cracks behind their supposedly perfect relationships. Through multiple points of view, the novel does a brilliant job of highlighting how much of life is hidden beneath the surface.

The themes of facade and deception run throughout the book. It shows how easy it is to judge others based on outward appearances, but the truth is far more complicated than it seems. The novel explores how far people will go to protect their reputations and loved ones—and how the truth, once revealed, can change everything.

Despite their initial unlikability, the characters grow on you, and by the end, you’re rooting for each of them. Their friendship becomes a source of strength as they confront their personal challenges and the larger scandal that threatens to destroy their lives.

Readers will find an engaging blend of suspense, emotional depth, and social commentary on relationships and appearances. It's a compelling story about the power of secrets and the importance of friendship, making it a great choice for fans of domestic thrillers.

This is a very good book. Anna, Maggie and Rhea spend time together on a committee for the schools fundraiser. They are not happy about it, but do what needs to be done. Slowly they become friends and that’s when things really get going! I enjoyed this story and will definitely read more by this author!

Thank you NetGalley! I was drawn into the book quickly. But as I continued to read, I found myself not paying attention anymore. I wanted to finish it though ti find out what happened

This book was a bit out of my normal book comfort zone. The writing from each women’s point of view was appreciated, the short chapters also made this a super easy and fast read.

I loved the overall plot and how each woman had their own, unique hardship. My only disappointment was that I thought there would be this huge big scandal. There was a scandal but on top of all of the other scandalous plot lines it didn’t seem that big or major.

Overall a great into to the mystery/thriller genre!

*ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest and truthful review.

This is my second Caitlin Weaver's book and my favorite one! It covers everything from marriage, school dynamics, relationships, toxicity, drama, family, friendships, enemies, secrets, and more. The story follows three moms who bonded after a PTA meeting and got almost volun-told to work together. The heart of this book is a shocking secret that could impact their lives and the whole school. The book is narrated from several points of view, and the characters are relatable and flawed (like we all are). This book established me as a Caitlin fan!

I strongly recommend Things We Never Say! Get it today. You will not regret it. It's an addicting, enjoyable read you can finish in one weekend. Promise!

If I had to rank this book, it would be a 4.5-star book.

Fun fact: some funny and awkward moments in this book make it extra enchanting.

Absolutely brilliant! I devoured this book in less than a day. It gripped me from the first few pages and kept me intrigued and interested throughout. The characters are so well formed that you feel you know them and their families. Each of the three woman have a secret and no friends but forced to work together on the school gala fund raising, they coalesce as a team and support each other. The husbands and families are all three dimensional and the tension ratchets up throughout the story. A thoroughly enjoyable well written book.

This story revolves around three women who get stuck together planning the big Civitas Gala for their childrens’ elite school. They are not friends. They are dreading it, but as they begin meeting to plan their school’s big centennial celebration, they start to discover many things. Not only about each other, but underhanded dealings in this school of big wigs and big money.

I loved how the chapters jumped from one woman’s perspective to the others. And hated it. The author was great at leaving you hanging with that character’s story for a few chapters while you moved on to the next woman’s life. It reminded me of getting a massage. I hate when the masseuse stops with one area, but love when they get to the next. That’s how I felt with these characters and their lives that look perfect from the outside, but are the polar opposite when you look beneath the surface. This was a fantastic story that I could hardly put down. I want more!

4.5* I really enjoyed this! The plot highlights the strength of female friendships, showing how the women supported each other through scandal and deception. It was a fast paced read about the price of perfection and the unbreakable bonds between women.

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

this book was so much more than a basic thriller. encompassing the lives of three mothers dealing with three scandals, they all find friendship, sisterhood and answers amongst each other. if you enjoyed big little lies, which I surely did, then you’ll definitely enjoy things we never say! there’s something comforting about having great friends to walk through those life hardships with and bring to light the negative things while piecing together happiness.

Yep. This book confirms it’s always the quiet ones! I am a thriller seeker and this book definitely gave me my fix! The story line *chef kiss* ; and then that twist! Never saw it coming and if you say you did your lying! Well done; and beautifully written!

Three women form an unlikely friendship while they plan a gala at their elite private high school. Rhea is a queen bee super mom who runs the PTA and has a big secret in her past; Maggie is a relationship therapist struggling with her own marriage; Anna is the headmaster's wife -- and for a not-really-a-spoiler-spoiler: he is a terrible person. They accidentally uncover a scandal that could have devastating effects on their lives.

Readers should know going in that this is definitely NOT a thriller (despite the very thriller-y cover font). I didn't have the synopsis handy when I started reading on my kindle, so I kept waiting for something crazy to happen. I enjoyed all three of the main characters (especially Maggie) and thought their developing friendship was well-depicted, but the scandal is pretty spelled out from the start so it was pretty clear where everything was going. I would have loved a few more surprises!

I really enjoyed this book; it was a solid 4 star read! I love thrillers that have to do with multiple people/families because there is so much tension in how everything is interconnected. They always keep me so engaged and on the edge of my seat and this was no difference. It gave me all the suspense and drama I wanted - very much along the lines of Big Little Lies and Little Fires Everywhere!

The friendship that formed between the 3 moms made me very happy - they were all struggling behind closed doors so much and felt that they didn't have anyone in their corner, and then they found each other. It didn't feel cheesy to me whatsoever, just very heartfelt and a nice respite from the craziness that enveloped all of their lives/marriages etc.

I would definitely recommend this to a friend - perfect for lovers of Liane Moriarty! A fantastic quick read that I could not put down. I would absolutely love to read more by this author. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this eARC!

Three moms of kids in the same school are thrown together reluctantly to work on a project. Each brings their own baggage and set of problems as they discover troubling facts about the administration of the school. Not quite a mystery, but more an unraveling of facts, and the emotions that each one of these mothers must deal with. Not only they, but their children and their spouses, are affected by the unscrupulous ways and deceit of the powers that be. What would I do in their situation? Would I have the courage and will to try to set things right? Especially if my husband was involved, and my actions would affect my children and others in the school? This book will grab your attention and keep it. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read copy.

What a good "good for her read"!
It lagged a bit in the beginning, but once getting to know these women it's more heartbreaking every chapter until the end!

This is the second book I’ve read by Caitlin Weaver. Just like her first book, this is a solid book, though nothing super memorable. I found most of the plot to be fairly predictable, but I did enjoy watching it all unfold. I liked seeing the issues plaguing not only the parents but the younger generation, as well, since I’m a sucker for an inter-generational story.

If you like domestic thrillers, you’ll love this book.

This book has interesting characters, topics, and issues. But, you can see most things coming, and it doesn't have big twists. Either way, I enjoyed the three POVS and they way it all turns out. Thank you, Netgalley and Storm Publishing for sending me this ARC.

This is my second book by Caitlin Weaver. An emotional and thrilling story involving three women who become friends while each carries a life-changing secret. It’s well-written with a cast of varied characters and some great surprises. I loved Anna, Maggie & Rhea and felt connected to them throughout.
A thought-provoking novel that is a combination of women’s fiction and domestic thriller making it an engaging read.
I enjoy character-driven stories with emotional depth and this book nails it.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.