Dana and Padma have been neighbours and best friends for years, their daughters just as close. On the surface, they seem to have it all together, Dana is running a successful small business and raising healthy, happy teenage twins, Izzy and Ian. Padma, meanwhile, has built a distinguished career as an ER doctor, has a supportive husband, and a well-adjusted teenage daughter.

When a medical tragedy strikes and entangles both families, their once-solid bond begins to unravel. Anger, blame, and guilt threaten to drive them apart, while each member struggles with painful personal challenges including marital and financial troubles and substance abuse.

I always look forward to a good family drama, and "Who We Used to Be" delivers, layering in friendship drama and complex emotional themes. I was eager to dive in, and the book did not disappoint.

This was a true page-turner that hooked me from the very first chapter. The story alternates between multiple viewpoints, allowing the reader to experience each character’s perspective while still providing enough character development to make you root for them—or, at times, want to shake some sense into them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing me with a digital ARC for review.

Why do I love Caitlin Weaver's work so much? Because it is gut wrenching, eloquent, and so real and raw. Who We Used to Be could easily be about any of us. Best friends Padma and Dana, ripped apart by heartbreaking circumstances. You can feel the tension; the push and pull between heart and brain; the uncertainty of actions, the questioning of intent. Weaver's characters are so real. They are flawed with normal struggles and insecurities. Padma and Dana are both such well thought out characters that are utterly human. The same is true for their children: Maeve, Ian, and Izzy. Also a big shout out to Padma's husband, Lars, for being such a green flag of a man. As a mom, my heart breaks for both Padma and Dana. Watching Maeve and Ian navigate grief and uncertainty had my heart screaming with so much empathy. GREAT BOOK, highly recommend! Weaver is officially one of my favourite authors. Thank you to #NetGalley and #StormPublishing for this ARC.

Thank you Caitlin and your publisher the ARC.

I throughly enjoyed this book! The story was written so well. It is definitely a parent’s nightmare. I am happy with how it ended and there were no loose ends. Would recommend!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC for my honest review. This book was not really for me. I was hoping for more character development but everyone was pretty bland in spite of the stakes.

This book really surprised me in the best way. From the first chapter I was hooked. The way Caitlin Weaver writes is so easy to get into, and the emotions just feel real. It’s not a thriller in the traditional sense, but still very intense and I couldn’t stop reading. What I loved most is how real the characters felt. Dana and Padma are very different women, but both so relatable. Their friendship was strong, and tested in a way that made you think a lot. Also, the way their families are written, especially the teenagers, was very natural and believable. I really loved Izzy and Ian. Ian’s emotional journey hit me hard. His part was maybe my favorite. And Maeve was great too. The drama is emotional, but it never feels too much or fake. The chapters switch between characters, which helped a lot to understand all of them better. Also, even the side characters like Dana’s husband Eric or Padma’s husband Lars are done with care. You can love or hate them, but they don’t feel like just background people. Everyone has a role. Honestly, I didn’t expect to love this book so much. Thank you so much to the author, Storm Publishing and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read the book in advance, I received this for free and I'm leaving a honest review

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

Who We Used To Be is a reflective novel that considers what being true to yourself and your friendships mean in the face of mistrust and perceived betrayal, from the perspective of two very different families. Dana has a marriage that is faltering and a life that’s not going to great in addition, further exacerbated by her floating through it all, not owning what she wants and can impact. Padma, her longtime friend and neighbor, knows what she wants from life and is a strong woman pursuing her goals, but at the cost of her job becoming her identity with disregard to her broader self. When Dana’s daughter goes into a coma and she blames Padma, both these women’s lives will start to change in unexpected ways and both will grapple with questions and events they never thought would be brought about by their best friend.

With respect to the wider family dynamics, Dana’s son is a surprising voice in the story and his struggles were heartbreaking, in fact each character was fully fleshed and I loved reading about their experiences (granted I could have lived without Dana’s husband). Heartbreaking but fully worth the read.

not my normal type of book but I enjoyed Such a good family on audio, so I requested this from Net Galley . it was similar to the her other novel, where friendships between adults and also between thier children are strained due to tragedy. this was better than I anticipated !
thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Padma is an ER doctor and, when her best friend’s daughter is brought into the hospital, she treats her but events spiral out of her control. Her friendship with Dana, her career, her relationship with her husband and her family, all suffer in the aftermath and we wonder if Padma can ever come back from these catastrophic events. A great story about friendship, family and heartache with relatable characters. Loved it!

Caitlin Weaver does it again, book friends! WHO WE USED TO BE is the fourth book that I’ve read from the author, and I’m truly impressed every single time. It’s hard to stop reading her novels once I start, and I usually end up bingeing them in just a few days. They’re a women’s fiction lover’s dream—motherhood, marriage, female friendship—she’s got it all. Her forthcoming release follows two best friends, Padma and Dana, their careers, husbands, teenage children, and a surprising health crisis that derails both of their family’s lives.

Complex female friendship is explored greatly in this novel. It’s the strongest theme, with motherhood and marriage being the supporting ones. At times, I felt like I needed to take a side—and my stance flip-flopped like crazy. Weaver does a great job showcasing each woman’s perspective and how the crisis affects their lives individually.

READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:

- Reflections on motherhood
- Marriage issues
- Insight on parenting teens
- Multiple POVs
- Female friendship
- Family drama and dynamics
- Secrets, lies, and betrayal
- Addiction storylines

Prepare to be shocked, entertained, and consumed by this addictive read. You won’t be able to put it down. WHO WE USED TO BE releases on July 29th! 4/5 juicy stars!

A truth that none of us think about much (or we’d go crazy) is how precarious our lives are and they could be upended without warning. A tragedy and its blowback on everyone involved is the through line of this beautifully wrought book.

Dana is married with two teenage children and is owner of a shop that is going under. Her children are twins. The girl, Izzy, is the high achieving, dominant child. The boy, Ian, is overshadowed by his sister and his flailing is ignored. Dana has a close friend living next door, Padma, who is a devoted ER doctor, up for a promotion. She has a nurturing husband and a daughter, Maeve, who is Izzy’s best friend.Dana’s marriage, on the other hand is on thin ice. She has scheduled an appointment with a couples’ therapist. At their first meeting, her husband Eric, informs her he wants to separate.

So much bad news. But the constant light in her life is her loving friendship with her confidante, Padma and her brilliant, high achieving daughter.

The unthinkable then happens. Izzy collapses during cross country training with extreme leg pain. Padma is on duty and diagnoses the pain as over working her leg. She is discharged but that night she collapses at home and falls into a coma.

How has this happened? Will Izzy ever wake up? Was Padma at fault? Should they sue to cover what will be enormous medical bills? With constant attention diverted to Izzy, what will happen to the son who is in crisis? How do you manage when suddenly you are on the verge of losing everything you counted on?

Not easy questions to contemplate but Weaver has woven the complicated and emotional story with finely nuanced characters. It never becomes maudlin. The wants and needs of each of the characters are layered and there are no easy answers. The resolution was satisfying.

Dana and Padma are about as different as can be yet, I identified with both of them. Dana, a woman who glided through life trying to please and never figuring out, much less demanding, what she wanted. Padma, flawed in unexpected ways but at the same time, she pursued her goals and fought hard against her demons.

Eric, Dana’s husband, was consistently annoying— self centered, spouting new age pap, unaware of anyone’s needs but his. Lars, on the other hand, was the. maternal figure in Padma’s household. The counterbalance helped see the choices you may have and what you’re missing. The young characters read as real. Good insight into the multilayered sensibilities of a teenager.

This is an emotional story but it never loses its way into melodrama. The situation is horrifyingly real with substantial dimensional characters. I think this would make a great book club book. A lot to think and talk about.

Many thanks to both Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read this advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

The previous book I read by this author was a gem, so I was really looking forward to reading this one as well.

What if a seemingly innocent incident turns into a nightmare? And what if someone very dear to you might actually be responsible? What does that do to the relationship — and to the friendship the children have built up over the years?

Dana struggles to say no or to assert herself. She always tries to do right by everyone, yet no one seems to truly appreciate it. Unfortunately, it takes a series of shocking events for her to finally open her eyes.

Padma is a successful woman who, in many ways, is Dana's opposite — and yet the two women share a strong bond. But even the strongest ties can be stretched so far that they begin to tear. Can these be repaired before they’re completely torn apart?

Of course, everyone makes mistakes, but not every mistake has such far-reaching consequences. These two women now find themselves on opposite sides. One is fighting for her child’s future. The other is at risk of losing her own…

I found this to be a beautiful but heartbreaking story. The emotions are raw and brought tears to my eyes. The characters could easily be your neighbors — that’s how real they feel.

For the longest time, you don’t know which way the scales will tip, which keeps you hoping for a good ending. Will that come? I’ll keep that a secret here. :)

Beautiful, intense, and lifelike are the first three words that come to mind to describe this book. It’s an absolutely stunning story, and I enjoyed every single word. Brilliant! 5 stars.

Thank you.

This book was amazing it is the first time I've read a Caitlin Weaver book, and it certainly won't be the last. Her writing is just addictive, reminding me of Jodi Piccoult. A real gripping read.

This was my first by this author and I am in awe of her talent. This is one of the better thrillers I've read in awhile. The character development was perfectly executed. My moms middle name is Maeve & its a name i don't see very often so that made me love it a little more! The short chapters from different POVs made me wanna keep reading because each character told their story and their perspective.

This one had some sensitive subjects and some tough topics and I think that makes this stand out from a normal thriller. It made the characters more real for me. This author is now on my list and I'll look for more by her going forward.

This book was so good. Who We Used To Be is the story of two best friends, Padma and Dana, whose lives are so intertwined that you can’t separate them. Until, a tragedy occurs and severs their bond. An accident? An oversight? Just bad luck? It doesn’t matter when your child’s life is at stake. Caitlin Weaver takes you on a journey that will leave you questioning how much you love your best friend and what you would do for your children.

I loved this book so much. The first chapter captured me, and like all Caitlin Weaver books, I found myself thinking about the characters and what they were going through even when I wasn’t reading.

Very well written I really liked this story it came together and I love a good twist thank you for this read I will recommend

A fairly satisfying read, though don't expect any suspense as it is purely family drama and relationship anxiety. The characters were believable and I could understand their reactions to the situations they were put in. I didn't like it as much as Such A Good Family, which was more intense.

Giving this book 4 stars although I’d more lean towards 3 and a half. Great pace I read it in one sitting, bit too wholesome at times and no nitty gritty but overall enjoyable! Could read it in an afternoon. Interesting premise.

I received this book early as an ARC and I am posting this review of my own free will

Gripping throught.
I was invested in where the story was going the whole time. Trying to put pieces together.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC. This was a very well-written and engaging book.

When tragedy strikes, there is no telling how you'll react. Not really. Even your closest relationships can be caught in the collateral damage. And they almost always bring to light the things that have gone unnoticed for too long. Who We Used to Be by Caitlin Weaver is an exploration of family and friendship while navigating difficult transitions, and tragedy.

Everything is unraveling at the Blair house. Dana's business, Dana's marriage, Dana's relationship with her son. Her daughter is the only one she doesn't have to worry about, an overachiever in everything she does. That is, until she collapses at school. Luckily, her best friend and next door neighbor, Padma, is an ER doctor and is there for her daughter's intake. Everything checks out fine, until she slips into a coma hours later. It is one crisis after another for Dana, who now has to cope with the fact her dearest friend likely missed something that led to her daughter's condition. Padma, too, is already dealing with a lot. She's a workaholic who is up for a prestigious promotion, but this situation could jeopardize everything, even her longstanding sobriety. Their daughter's are best friends in the same way they are themselves, but one day can change everything.

Wow. This book blew me away. Every character has something going on that adds to the drama and intrigue of this novel, and everyone is just trying to cope with their new reality. Dana's son's story line was especially touching. More of a risk taker to start with, he doesn't handle his twin sister's absence from his life well. He was written with such nuance and compassion, my heart goes out to him. Strange, perhaps to say that about a fictional character, but this book feels absolutely real.

I am beyond impressed with this novel. It's a family saga condensed into a handful of months during their most difficult time. It's compelling as hell, the tension is high, but it isn't some mystery thriller psycho-on-the-loose situation. There is no blatant crime or bad intentions. It's real family drama. It's fascinating, and I think it will appeal to all kinds of readers. I can't wait to dig into Caitlin Weaver's backlist! If this novel is any indication, she's a force to be reckoned with!

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.