Caitlin Weaver is another new author to me and one that I will look out for in the future.
This is a very complex story that pulls at the heartstrings, it is a story of deep friendship, deep love and absolute betrayal.
Fabiola, Liz and Alice were very different people from very different backgrounds but became lifelong friends after being room mates at university.
Fabiola was now married to Aron, an entrepreneur who had given up his regular job to chase his dream. Fabiola loved being a mother to nine year old twins, Liam and Ben and fourteen year old Vivi but was running on fumes as she juggled working full time and looking after the family single handed while Aron continued to do his own thing.
Alice was a well to do mother but wasn't very maternal, she had her own strict regime with food, fashion and family, Liz was a busy partner in a successful private equity company, she was married to neurosurgeon, Peter, Fabiola's lifelong friend.
Understandably, Alice and Fabiola were astounded when Liz revealed that she wanted to start a family, Liz had never hinted at wanting a baby, she had never seemed maternal, after previous surgery meant that she couldn't conceive a child the three of them started the search for a surrogate, when non of the applicants came up to their exacting standards, Fabiola had a lightbulb moment.........she would do it, she enjoyed being pregnant, Liz was her best friend, it would be a gift for Peter, the man she had had a liaison with when they were younger, a liaison that she had never forgotten.
This story becomes very complicated when the twisted lives of Peter, Aron and Vivi become involved, secrets, lies, betrayal, devastation and heartbreak. I found this book very difficult to put down, the characters are well written, the plot is intriguing and the end perfect.
Thank you to Storm Publishing and Net Gallery for this ARC, my review is voluntary.

The Perfect Plan
By: Caitlin Weaver

4 Stars

Wow. This book was a wild ride. Fabiola agrees to be her best friends, Liz and Peter's surrogate. Soon, the plan turns from perfect to perfectly messy. Affairs, secrets, family drama; this book really has it all.

By the end of this book, I was shocked! Throughout, I found myself very emotionally wrapped in Fabiolas' story. Wow. It is crazy. I loved the characters some more than others. I love the storyline. It had so many ups and downs that kept me engaged and intrigued. I was a bit shocked by the ending, not at ALL like I thought it would end. It ended so much better.

Awesome story start to finish.

*I want to thank Netgalley and the author as well as Storm Publishing for this book in return for my honest review*

Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Reviews

Caitlin Weaver’s The Perfect Plan is a riveting tale of friendship, family, and the chaos that ensues when good intentions go awry. Weaver masterfully explores the complexities of relationships, motherhood, and loyalty, crafting a story that is as heartfelt as it is suspenseful.

The story follows Fabiola, a devoted mother of three and a supportive wife navigating her husband’s entrepreneurial dreams. When her best friend Liz, married to Fabiola’s childhood confidant Peter, struggles with infertility, Fabiola offers to be their surrogate. At first, this act of generosity seems like the ultimate gift of friendship. However, the lingering history between Fabiola and Peter complicates matters, creating emotional tensions that threaten to unravel all their lives.

What makes this book stand out is Weaver’s deft characterization. Fabiola is a strong, relatable protagonist whose flaws make her feel deeply human. Her struggles with her rebellious teenage daughter, Vivi, and her strained marriage to Aron add layers of authenticity to the narrative. The dynamic between Fabiola, Liz, and Peter is filled with tension and vulnerability, pulling readers into a web of love, betrayal, and self-discovery.

Weaver’s writing shines in her ability to depict the messy, nuanced realities of life. The dialogue feels genuine, and the interactions between Fabiola and her children are refreshingly realistic, capturing the chaos and charm of parenthood. The twists in the plot are compelling, and while some might see them coming, they are executed in a way that keeps the story engaging.

The novel also touches on broader themes, such as the sacrifices women make for family, the societal pressures of being "perfect," and the fragile balance of friendships tested by life-altering decisions. These elements elevate The Perfect Plan beyond a simple family drama, making it a thought-provoking read.

With a satisfying and unexpected conclusion, The Perfect Plan cements Caitlin Weaver as a storyteller who understands the intricacies of human connections. Fans of Jodi Picoult and Liane Moriarty will find much to admire in this book. It’s a must-read for anyone who enjoys stories about strong women navigating life’s toughest challenges.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Perfect Plan is set to release on January 15, 2025—mark your calendars!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Absolutely love Caitlin Weaver’s books! Alice, Liz & Fabi have been friends since college. When Liz & her husband Peter are looking for a surrogate to have a baby, Fabi jumps at the chance to help out her friends. However Fabi and Peter have a past together….which makes things a little tricky. Lots of friend/family drama in this one - I couldn’t put it down! Releases mid January. Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for this ARC. #booksbyashleynicole

I wasn’t the right reader for this. It gave me the ick the whole time reading.

The authors last book was a 4 star for me, so I’m disappointed but it just wasn’t the right book for me, I couldn’t get past the infertility, lusting over her best friends husband and secret pregnancy of the baby planted for surrogacy.
The ending was also not realistic. I really struggled with this

Again, not an author thing, it was a book thing for me.

Fabiola lived a good life as a child, always the perfect daughter. Her single father raised her to be the person she became. She supported her husband as he devoted all his time to launching a start-up company so his family would have the best. Her number one priority was the care of her three beautiful children.
When her childhood friend Peter married Liz, Fabiola became her closest friend. Liz and Peter wanted to start a family but could not become pregnant. After having three children, Fabiola felt she would be the perfect person to help Liz and her long-time best friend, Peter, whom she still had strong feelings for.
Soon after the plan was set, things began to fall apart. Fabiola fell victim to an irresponsible move. She not only destroyed the perfect plan, but her close friendship with Liz was threatened, and her marriage was falling apart. She must now decide how to protect her best friend, her marriage, and Peter, a man she had never stopped loving.

I am definitely a huge fan of Caitlin Weaver and this book did not disappoint!! It was twisty, thrilling and absolutely enjoyable!!

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced reader’s copy!

While the book was awfully predictable I did enjoy it. Sort of like. Low stakes, don’t have to think but go along for the ride type book. While from the start you could tell how things would ultimately unfold, I was interested in easing the small details. So there had to be something that drew me in.

I do enjoy reading books that are entertaining but have an undercurrent of something deeper which this book did with the characters individual self discovery.

I am thankful to have gotten an eARC for free from Storm Publishing through NetGalley to enjoy which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review. The book comes out January 15, 2025.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

My first read by Caitlin Weaver, definitely not my last. While listed as a thriller, it felt closer to women's lit and had an unraveling of mysteries similar to Jodi Picolt and Lianne Moriarty- two of my favs.

When Fabiola's best friend Liz needs help with the surrogacy of a child, Fab feels she's the perfect candidate. She's has several of her own already and adores her friend- whats the worst that can happen?

Well, things get interesting as the history between Fab and Liz unfolds- specifically that of Peter- Liz's husband, and the unrequited love of Fab's life.
It begs the question: who is Fab really doing this for?

There's a lot going on in this, but the arc of the story lies in the friendship between these two women. It held my attention and even while reading intermittently around the holiday I felt my mind returning to this book, a great sign! This one comes out on January 15th and will be a recommendation to mystery lovers.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and the author for the chance to read and review prior to publication.

This was my first book by this author but I have heard many good things about her other books so I really went into this book with excitement and I am happy to say that I truly enjoyed this book ! It had me hooked from the beginning of the story up until the end. I shared the emotions with all the characters and I really enjoyed my time with them. This really shows the depth of motherhood and friendship and I will honestly recommend this book to anyone who wants to lose themselves in a good book!

I really enjoyed this novel. It was a quick read that caught my attention right away. It kept me in suspense not knowing what could happen next.

As a big fan of thriller books, especially ones with female protagonists, I was very excited to get my hands on this. Something about this concept well I've heard similar things written before this one really stood out. When our main character is asked to be a surrogate mother for her best friend she jumps at the chance. What could possibly go wrong? Fabiola has given birth multiple times to healthy children and this would also give her friend the gift that she's been desperately wanting. Not only that but would also give Liz's husband something that he's always been dreaming of. And being able to fulfill his wishes is something that Fabolia can't help do. However what should be a simple transaction between the couple and a friend quickly turns upside down, and when friendships are put to the limits we really see everyone's true colors. And Fabiola must decide which relationship is truly worth saving. I love this book because there weren't too many side characters and the plot was fantastic. It was an easy read that really pulled you in and there wasn't too much unnecessary information. Another thing I loved about this book was seeing everyone's reactions to the girls decision both before and after the blow out. Each character had such different opinion on the situation and what I liked was that I found each one to be completely valid and understandable however maybe not in that situation. Each character was so realistic that I had to remind myself that this was a fiction novel. It was almost like I was hearing things from my friends and people I knew in real time not made up characters in a book. What made the story perfect however was all of the twists so many of them I couldn't see coming.The characters were written with so much depth and passion I loved hearing about all of them. This was a great read and I'm so glad I got the chance to check it out even if the beginning was a little bit on the slow side. If you love thrillers then this is a book for you and an author that I will definitely be keeping my eyes on in the future.

Wow! This book was amazing and fantastic it was like fireworks going off so many twists and surprises, my head was spinning! I loved it!

I could NOT put this down! I finished it all in one sitting... I lost count of how many times I said "OMG!" and "WHAT!?"

I’d highly recommend this book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars

This was a fast paced read! A couple is ready to begin the journey of choosing a surrogate to create the family they always dreamed of. Their best friend decides she would want nothing more than to offer to carry their baby. However, things change fast.This book is incredibly layered with different plots that all intertwine. I could not put it down!

Great book stayed up way too late because I could not put it down! Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a quick page turning read! Already looking at more books by this author can’t wait to read another one.

My first book by Caitlin Weaver but I will certainly look out her others. I thoroughly enjoyed The Perfect Plan from the first page. Three friends whose friendship is stretched over the years, will it survive the ultimate betrayal and the greatest sacrifice they make for each other. The characters are very believable and the narrative tense enough to hold the readers attention. A great finish as well! Happy to recommend as a 5* read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

The Perfect Plan
by Caitlin Weaver
Pub Date: Jan. 15, 2025
Thanks to the author, Storm Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
A deeply moving and unforgettable exploration of motherhood, friendship, and the complex choices women make in the name of love, perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Lucinda Berry and Liane Moriarty.
When I saw Weaver had written another novel I immediately reequested an ARC. I loved her first two books.
I was NOT immediately drawn in by this story, which took awhile to become interesting, although eventually, I became engaged and wanted to find out how it would all end. While it is still a good book-I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first two.

I just read the best thriller. The Perfect Plan by Caitlyn Weaver was such a good book. It kept me turning the pages until the very end.

This is my first time of experiencing this author’s work and i was pleasantly surprised. It was all about family, friendship, marriage and parenting. It was thoroughly engrossing, i loved all the characters and they gelled together really well. The writing was great how it proved friendship could be so strong, it was beautiful. I really didn’t know where this journey was going to end up and i was completely satisfied as i love a good ending. I devoured the book within 24 hours and I will certainly read more by Caitlin Weaver.

Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me an advanced copy to read in exchange for my open and honest review. As always, my reviews will also be posted on Amazon, Goodreads and Waterstones and interaction on Facebook and instagram where possible.

My first book by this author but I will definitely be looking for more by them, I really enjoyed it, it utterly absorbed me