The Good Mothers, Caitlin Weaver [A Book Review]

March 1, 2026 3 Min Read 0

The Good Mothers is a perfect example of a book where I deeply disliked the characters but still enjoyed their story.

This domestic thriller will keep you guessing and unsettled until the very end.

The Book Cover of The Good Mothers by Caitlin Weaver, featuring a suburban home with porch

This book is what I imagine the Desperate Housewives TV show would be like, having never seen it. Confident women who have been burned, but keep up the smiles because they won’t be made small. Little lies told that shouldn’t hurt, but snowball out of control before you know it. Tiny manipulations that don’t seem like a big deal and turn out to change everything.

It’s excellent.

I found Lacey judgmental and a little delusional right off the bat. The kind of woman telling herself the story of her own life and not liking that it’s not turning out exactly how she envisioned it. Actual main character energy, except she couldn’t hang. Instead of working on her problems, she cuts and runs, and then falls into a far worse trap. I couldn’t tell if this was a situation where the author was pushing her own world view onto the character, but I really don’t think it was, because I’ve also read Who We Used to Be by Caitlin Weaver, and I know she’s an excellent storyteller. I think that’s actually why I’m impressed.

Lacey ends up with her ADHD son at a ‘mommune’ (like commune, several single mothers under one roof), and as the story progresses, the situation with the ladies there becomes more and more suspicious.

This was a delicious story as it uncovered with impeccable and incredibly subtle pacing. I feel like Weaver excels at those moments where almost nothing is happening, which urges you pay attention to the smallest things. It’s actually one of those rare books where the more thought you put into it, the more impressive it becomes. I upped my original 4 star rating for that reason.

It’s pretty safe to say I will read anything this woman puts out. Skillful craft, immaculate domestic vibes, interpersonal drama to remember. Yeah, just really, really good.

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.

Details

Title:: The Good Mothers
Author:: Caitlin Weaver
Genre:: Domestic Thriller
Publisher:: Storm Publishing
Length:: 410 pages
Published:: January 15th, 2026
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars