A fun and unique thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire ride. This was one where I really didn’t know what was going to happen next!

This is a powerful and emotionally layered story that pushes you to consider perspectives you might otherwise dismiss.

Dana and Padma’s friendship is the emotional heart of the book, and watching it fracture after a tragedy gives the story a deep sense of loss and complexity. Dana, whose life has often been steered by others, is suddenly forced into the driver’s seat as her marriage, career and family teeter on the edge. Padma, dedicated and relentless in her work as an ER doctor, faces the kind of professional and personal reckoning that shakes her to the core.

What I loved most is how this book examines the grey areas – where love, loyalty, grief and blame overlap and clash. There are no easy

answers here, just the messy, human truth of two women trying to navigate a heartbreaking situation from opposite sides.

A compelling and thought-provoking read.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

This was a great book. It was the first of this author I have ever read. I'd definitely read more of her and recommend her in the future.
This book was such a crazy and fast mixture of feelings, especially when it came to the characters'. I was SO surprised when reading this, like what!? I thought I knew what was going on but I was wrong! Such a good read.

WHO WE USED TO BE by Caitlin Weaver pulls at the many ties that bind us and questions how a strong friendship can be shattered.

Dana Blair, owner and operator of Haven & Hearth, which she took over from her mother, has an enviable life, with twin 17 year olds and a husband, Eric, who may be more present in body than in heart. But there are secrets within this family that will test what Dana believes to be true. But, through everything, she has the loving support of best friend, Padma Paulsen, an ER doctor who has poured her life into her work at an Atlanta hospital. But things may not be quite as rosy as Dana believes. Her son, Ian is using prescription pills. Her daughter, Izzy, an athlete, is using birth control while Dana didn’t even realise she was seeing anyone and Eric has checked out and wants a separation.

When Izzy injures herself at practice, Padma diagnoses a sprain/strain and sends her home. Shortly thereafter, Izzy falls into a coma. When it is discovered that Padma may have been responsible, Dana is torn between loyalty to her best friend and a mother’s fierce instincts to protect her daughter’s future. And as the family copes with Izzy’s coma, cracks become fissures in their carefully constructed lives. And to whom can Dana and Padma turn?

This one had me totally engrossed. Start to finish. I was thinking all the way through about the power of female friendship and felt my anxiety building as each day in the hospital became the next with no change in Izzy's condition. As shocking secrets were revealed about Dana, Eric, Ian, Izzy and Padma, I was drawn deeper into their lives. This is a good beach read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.

This book takes you on a journey of two very close friends that have been neighbors for years. Their children have grown up together and were also best friends. Now Dana has always left it up to other people to do things their way as she just isn't that control freak. You might ask but at what cost? Dana is about to find out.
Then you have Padma who is the opposite of Dana. She is an ER doctor and strives to be THE ER doctor in charger. She is brilliant after all, but again you might ask at what cost?
These two women are going to find out at what cost to them and their families through thick and through thin what friendship and love and the strength it takes to heal from a tragedy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for allowing me to read this book in advance to the general public.

The author really made me want to keep turning the pages with this one. The characters could be anyone you know and the storyline shows just how things aren’t always as they seem. Definitely a quick read because I couldn’t put it down!

This was my first book I've read by this author, I got an ARC after she reached out to me online.

I loved this book. It did start a little bit slow for me, but by the end I really enjoyed the entire book.

This follows the story of two families who are torn apart by a terrible mistake, It takes you on a journey of life. love. self discovery. and so much more.

Thank you for this Arc!

Padma and Dana have been best friends and neighbors for years. Their children are also best friends.
Dana's son lan is struggling living in his twin sister Izzy's shadow. Dana has lost control of her business and marriage.
Padma has dedicated her life to being the best ER doctor she can be. Her dream is to be the chief ER doctor at her hospital.
One day tragedy hits while Padma is in charge.
This tragedy tests the loyalty and friendship of both families.
Dana must face some ugly truths about herself and her family.
Padma is forced to reconsider her priorities. Which matters more-her marriage and family or her medical career?
Who We Used to Be profiles two families growing in ways that no one could have anticipated.
This story shows the importance of thinking carefully before acting. Every decision, even small ones, can dramatically impact lives.
Who We Used to Be is a beautiful story about growth, healing, and thinking things through. It is also a cautionary tale about how avoiding the truth can complicate things quickly!

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the eARC.

This multi-pov book had me examining my own feelings and friendships. What do you do during times of what feels like ultimate betrayal? Oh man this one had me so emotional.

My first book by the author and i was blown away by how good and engaged it had me. The author has such an amazing way of story telling and describing the pain and feelings of the characters, i was tearing up throughout this book and didn't want it to end.

Told in multiple POVS, it follows Dana and Padma who have been best friends for so long that they are glue binded to each other until one day an event that causes Izzy to go into a coma. Both families are heartbroken and filled with so many emotions and don't know how to feel. Friendship is now tested and who do they turn too when they don't have each other anymore.

Full of secrets, heartbreak and just so many emotions between close friendships, this book is one of the best i've read this year and i flew through it.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher Storm Publishing for the copy of this arc in exchange of my full honest review.

I would definitely recommend you pick this book up, one of the best!

The best book I read so far in 2025! I literally could not put it down! Fantastic… I cried soooo hard at the end. This book is a masterclass in storytelling, seamlessly blending emotion, suspense, and heartwarming character development. Caitlin Weaver's writing truly captivated me from the first page, and the plot twists kept me on the edge of my seat. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a truly unforgettable reading experience.

I flew through this book quite quickly but unfortunately that’s about where the positives end for me. The story felt dull & uneventful, I kept waiting for something to happen but it never did by the end it felt like I’d read the whole book & nothing significant had taken place. The characters didn’t help matters, they came across as extremely unlikeable & constant moaning which made it hard to connect or care about what was happening to them.
That said I can see how some readers might enjoy this. For me though it just felt flat and very mediocre overall. Disappointing.
★★☆☆☆

This deeply compelling domestic drama by Caitlin Weaver offered an emotionally resonant and thought-provoking reading experience. I was immediately drawn into its central premise, which explores how a single tragedy can shatter the bonds of a lifelong friendship.

The narrative focuses on two women with very different lives: Dana Blair, who has always deferred to others, and Padma Paulsen, a fiercely independent ER doctor. Their close friendship, which has been the one constant in their lives, is irrevocably damaged when a tragedy on Padma's watch leaves Dana's daughter fighting for her life. As I read, I felt the intense emotional turmoil of both characters as grief turns to blame, and the ties that once held them together begin to fray.

The book maintains a steady, character-driven pace, with the tension coming from the difficult choices and moral dilemmas the women face. I appreciated how the author explores the complex nature of friendship, trust, and forgiveness in the wake of an unthinkable event. The suspense is expertly managed through the emotional stakes, making me constantly question whether their bond can be repaired or if justice will win out over friendship.

I found the story to be a powerful and honest exploration of what it means to take control of your own life and the courage it takes to confront painful truths. It's a solid choice for those who enjoy nuanced character studies and dramatic narratives about the search for personal strength and reconciliation.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC.

Who We Used To Be
by Caitlin Weaver
Pub Date: Jul 29 2025

Who We Used to Be is a powerful story about the ties that hold us together, the pain that can pull us apart, and the courage it takes to find your way back—to yourself and the people who matter most. The story was emotionally charged from beginning to end. I wasn't able to put it down!

Synopsis: Dana Blair has spent her life letting others take the wheel, from her relationship with her husband to her business. Now, with her marriage unraveling, her son in crisis and her career on the verge of collapse, Dana is left wondering whether she ever really had control of anything at all.

Padma Paulsen a brilliant, fiercely driven ER doctor who’s given her all to her career. Her friendship with Dana has been the one constant in her high-pressure life. But then a tragedy on Padma’s watch leaves Dana’s daughter in critical condition and their bond in tatters.

As Dana fights for justice for her daughter, grief turns to blame. Soon she’s forced to make a decision that could either save her family or destroy the most important friendship of her life.

Thanks to #WhoWeUsedToBe #NetGalley and #StormPublishing for providing me with an E-ARC of this amazing 5 star book!

This was the first book I read from Caitlin Weaver and I absolutely inhaled it. She truly has a gift for writing an emotionally layered story that shows the true struggles of motherhood. She has a unique way of making you see every persons perspective throughout the story. I can’t wait to read more books by her and highly recommend reading this one!

Dana and Padma’s friendship was once the kind you build a life on: steady, unwavering, full of quiet devotion. But when tragedy shatters that foundation, grief and blame find their way into the cracks.

4.5*
This is a novel exploring grief, friendship, and learning to take back control of your life. Dana’s journey, from letting others lead to finding her own strength, is honest and compelling. Her friendship with Padma is the heart of the story: deep, messy, and deeply human. Watching it crack under pressure was heartbreaking but so believable and real.

Ian and Meave’s paths to self-discovery added another interesting layer to the story. The pacing is just right, and the writing style drew me in from the very first page. A thoughtful, emotional read that stays with you.

Thank you to Storm Publishing via netgalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review was posted (Instagram, Goodreads, bookishlytara blog, Storygraph) on August 1, 2025. An additional post (with a reposted review) will was posted on Instagram on the publication day as well as an Amazon Canada review. (links below)

Who We Used To Be
By: Caitlin Weaver

5 Stars

Dana and Padma have been best friends for years. Danas children, Izzy and Ian, grew up alongside Maeve, Padmas daughter. On top of being parents, they each have a career. Dana runs her mothers old shop while Padma is a doctor. Soon, these best friends find themselves amongst a heartbreaking situation when Izzy falls into a coma.

This story was such a good story and one that is so very realistic to imagine happening. The story presents from a few different points of view, and this makes this story such an emotional ride. It starts off at a gripping rate and continues through to the ending. I was completely enthralled by these characters and this story. It was sad. It was heartbreaking at times, I'd say. It produced laughs, tears, anger, and, by the end, even a feeling of peace. This was such a good, emotional, and gripping read.


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

Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Reviews

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Neighbors and best friends have their relationship fall apart when one of their daughters, also best friends, falls into a coma. Padma, a physician, treated the daughter and was unaware that she was on a certain medication; her mother, Dana, was also unaware. Complications arose and a lawsuit was filed.

Meanwhile, a young teenager lies in a coma and her best friend and her brother struggle with her medical situation and the conflicts between their parents.

I love the ending. I hope good things for Padma and Dana.

With thanks to Storm Publishing for the digital ARC.

"What if the person you trust the most did something you can’t forgive?

Dana Blair has spent her life letting others take the wheel, from her relationship with her husband to her business. Now, with her marriage unraveling, her son in crisis, and her career on the verge of collapse, Dana is left wondering whether she ever really had control of anything at all.

Padma Paulsen is the opposite: a brilliant, fiercely driven ER doctor who’s given her all to her career. Her friendship with Dana has been the one constant in her high-pressure life.

But then a tragedy on Padma’s watch leaves Dana’s daughter in critical condition and their bond in tatters. As Dana fights for justice for her daughter, grief turns to blame. Soon she’s forced to make a decision that could either save her family or destroy the most important friendship of her life. "

I think this is my favourite Caitlin Weaver book yet!

Multiple POV (but easy to follow)? Check.
Friendships tested? Check.
Families torn apart? Check.
Suspense? Check.
Compelling story? Check.
Page turner? Check.
An ending you won't believe? Check.

Loved it!