“She’d once heard them described as the whispers—the moments that are trying to tell you something isn’t right here.”

Have you ever had that feeling? You know the one. The one that tells you that something just isn’t right. Déjà Vu? Sixth Sense? The little hairs on the back of your neck standing up? Author Ashley Audrain calls them The Whispers. And, like Audrain, I wholeheartedly believe that we should listen and heed those warnings. Always.

“The problem is that some women aren’t listening to what their lives are trying to tell them. They don’t hear the whispers until they’re looking back with hindsight. Feeling blindsided. Desperate to see the truth for what it is.”

This was my first read from Audrain but it won’t be my last. Full of scandal, mystery, and truly unlikeable characters, ‘The Whispers’ was a fun, quick read that kept me invested throughout. The writing was fantastic and frantic, perfectly accentuating the heightened anxiety that continued to build until the very last, brilliant line.

“All the whispers she so masterfully ignores, they are screaming at her now…”

2 "voyeuristic, gratuitous, clunky" stars !!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and Viking books for providing me with an ecopy. This was released June 2023. I am providing an honest review.

What this might and could have been: An insightful look at privileged womens' dark psychologies with a dive into their experience of sexuality, marriage, work and motherhood. A dark drama with psychological and sociological meaning.

What this is Instead: A rather maudlin and sensationalistic and schlocky and rather disgusting soap opera of some horrid women and their paper doll husbands. Fuckin Disappointing !

What a fantastic narrative that centres around themes of motherhood. It was fast-paced and kept me reading right until the mind-bending end.

Confusing at times, but i understand why everyone seems to love this author and her stories. Despite being confusing sometimes. I enjoyed the book!

A fabulous follow up to The Push. This was equally rivetting, a little bit graphic in places but overall I was hooked! I would certainly recommend to others for a fast paced, thought provoking read.

this remarkable book delves deep into the intricacies of motherhood, the complexities of personal choices, and the resilience of women in the face of adversity. It captivates readers with its realistic characterization, compelling narrative, and unexpected twists. Truly a masterpiece, it deserves its rightful place among the best works of fiction

I read Ashley Audrains first novel the push and was a little apprehensive because of the array of trigger warnings but I loved it, couldn’t put it down. That set a tall order for the next read from her which is The Whispers and wow it was better than my high expectations. I loved all of the twists and turns watching how everything pieced together and how these neighbours were so intricately intertwined, like it or not. Absolutely loved. Highly recommend.

3.75 stars!

Ashley Audrain writes so well, I like the way that her words flow and the story flows. The multiple POVs add to her stories and don't get messy. I just find it so easy to read her books but you're also on the edge of your seat.

I found myself to be a bit confused about who everyone was at the beginning- but I also am just like that as a reader. It became very clear who everyone was once the story was moving. This book follows 4 main women and their husbands/families. This book focuses on a lot of hard issues such as miscarriages, cheating/adultery, marital problems, child abandonment, the death of a child, the death of a family member, etc. These are common areas that Audrain writes about, and she does it so well. I found myself more invested in the story in her book "The Push", but this one is a great read as well. It might have been the time between when I was able to pick this book back up and read it, I feel I may need to read it again to get a better feel for it.

The ending left me wanting so much more, even just another chapter or two to tie everything into a nice bow, but it also ended perfectly. a huge cliffhanger that makes you guess what happens to these families.

The book title is also perfect to this book. The whispers that happen from neighbours, friends, family, etc. It's a perfect representation of the connections between this neighbourhood of families.

I really enjoyed ‘The Push’, so looked forward to reading ‘The Whispers’. I’m not sure what I think of this book. It certainly makes you think. Some parts were a little too graphic for me. It took a while to get into the story as she was developing the characters. All of them initially seem so upright, but we soon learn their flaws. Who was responsible for what happened to Xavier? Who knows what goes on in neighbours’ houses? The author certainly kept you questioning what really transpired until the very last page.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #PenguinRandomHouseCanada,Viking for an e-ARC for my honest opinion.

2.5 stars [meh] This was my first read of the year and it was… not great. I’m thinking it might be my personal experience that didn’t make this book a hit - struggling with infertility / IUIs / IVF for 4+ years will do that to you. I’m trying to be kind to myself and give myself grace & space. Protecting myself from triggers is one of my goal right now. This book was not it.

I did love The Push from this author and looking forward to this author’s next book.

Thank you to the publisher and @netgalley for providing a free advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Ashley Audrain writes the kinds of psychological thrillers I cannot put down. Her writing is sharp and incisive, and she manages to craft complex characters and storylines that are relevant and timely with a fresh, unique approach. There is also a lot of depth to her stories which adds a literary fiction-esque dimension to them, which is refreshing for this genre. Will continue to follow her work closely.

The Whispers is ultimately the story of mothers, in particular a group of mothers all living on the same street. The stay at home mom, the working mom, the mom who never really wanted kids, the mom whose children are no longer with them, and someone who is desperate to become a mom, whatever it takes.

It’s a hard look at the different ways we mother and the way we view other mothers, the good and the bad. It’s a tough read in the sense that you find yourself identifying with aspects of all of the characters, even the most unlikable ones.

I was expecting a thriller but to be honest I found it to be more of a domestic drama. I enjoyed it and probably more so as I’d recently heard the author speaking at an event and found her so interesting to listen to in terms of her inspiration for these stories.

Would recommend but with the caveat that there are major trigger warnings for this one, especially infertility and miscarriage but also for infidelity and injury to a child.

I was expecting more thriller but it was just suburban sadness and a depressing read. I did enjoy the final line and thought that was well deserved, so at least it had an ending.

This was a good book! Honestly, this book kept me guessing throughout; this author really knows how to build intrigue. I did find that it was slower paced than the other book I’ve read from this author, and there were a lot of space given to character development that didn’t quite advance the plot, but the overall feeling was still positive. The last few lines of the book were incredible however - the whole book built up to a fantastic end.

The Loverlys maintain a somber vigil by their son's hospital bed, the aftermath of his fall from his bedroom window rendering him comatose. Whitney, the mother, withdraws into silence, refusing to engage with others. Meanwhile, their friends and neighbors grapple with shock and introspection, each grappling with their role in the events leading to that fateful night.

The Parks, the Loverlys' closest friends, exude warmth and altruism. The Goldsmiths, a young and ambitious couple, face their own struggles in starting a family. Across the street, a quiet Portuguese couple cares for their adult son with a developmental disability, observing their neighbors' busy lives from their front porch.

The narrative unfolds over a week, presented through the alternating voices of the women in each family. As they confront the secrets within their homes and the uncomfortable truths connecting them, the author intentionally excludes the perspectives of the husbands. These male characters become supporting figures, each characterized by flaws such as obliviousness, selfishness, and manipulation.

The novel delves into the depths of motherhood, exploring the intricacies of personal choices and showcasing the resilience of women in the face of adversity. By focusing on the female characters and their perspectives, the story provides a nuanced exploration of the complexities within families and the bonds that tie them together.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

hate books like these.
Why?
Because they are so DAMN GOOD that when I finish reading them - which for #thewhispers took less than 36 hours to race through- I know that I will be beyond pining away for a read as good as this one - which I have to tell you - will be hard to beat. (Although I am confident that the talent of @sbaileybooks, @rhardingwriter #lisajewell @amystuartwriter and others will be back with new delicious reads to once again satiate my addiction for excellently executed domestic thrillers).
It is often said that the first line of a novel is key - that if an author lays down those first few lines and thoughts with captivating talent, the reader is all in.
And rounding that off - the last sentence of a novel demands the pure genius that readers want and expect after investing their time and money in a book; they want to experience their favourite author at their storytelling best.
And boy....does @ashleyaudrain EVER nail it in #TheWhispers. Just thinking about it makes me smile in pure satisfaction. An epic right-off-the-cliff juicy ending that says so much in so few words; an ending that reminds us that our kids know much more about us than we know!
#thewhispers @audrain #domesticthrillers #psychological #thrillers #thrillerbooks
@penguinrandomca

I absolutely loved The Push so when I heard of the new book coming out by Ashley Audrain I immediately added it to my to read list.

This book was twisty but fell a little short for me. The back and forth and multiple key characters left me flipping pages to figure out who was who and how they were involved.

We follow the story of a few families living on the same street that are all facing a tragedy. The neighbors little boy has fallen out of a window and is now in a coma. We found out how each member of the community are woven into each others business. I didn’t really see the connection between Xavier and Mara, I thought she wasn’t given the background information needed to make her a character in the book, her storyline fell short for me.

I also felt like Rebecca and Ben’s story line was chaotic and wasn’t given enough time in the novel, I really wanted more from them.

Whitney is clearly the villain in the book but even her storyline and why she did the things she did were just thrown at the reader and then the story moved on.

This book was just okay. Fell short for me.

On the surface, this book is about a child that has been hurt. However, as the plot unfolds, we are pulled into the lives and secrets of four women who have a personal interest in the details of this accident.

Ashley Audrain taps into the emotions of each woman as if their stories were her own. She flawlessly weaves ambition, guilt, expectation, and boredom into a page-turning domestic drama. Unflinching and raw, this is a story about motherhood and the extremes one will go to, to have what they want.

This book is not for the faint-hearted. There are triggers for several situations. I enjoyed the frankness and pace of this book.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for an ARC of this book for an honest review. Though I listened to the audiobook initially, I bought the book to finish the story.

SO GOOD!!
The twists kept in coming and the very last page-!!!!!
If you like a good page turner, this one’s for you!
If you are a parent, this will remind you of how easy it can be to lose your mind, even though you’re trying to do your very best all the time!

I am grateful to have received an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) from Penguin Random House Canada of this book in exchange for a review. I had previously read the author's earlier book and enjoyed it.

The plot of this book centers on three families living on the same street, each told from a distinct narrative.

**Whitney**:
We explore into the life of Whitney and her husband. Their son is discovered in the backyard, having fallen out of a window. It's uncertain whether he will survive, as he sustained a severe brain injury.

**Rebecca**:
Rebecca is a physician who has suffered multiple miscarriages. Her husband, Ben, is hesitant to keep trying for children, but Rebecca wishes to continue.

**Mara**:
Mara is an older neighbor on the street. She has a son who is notably withdrawn.

Throughout the story, each of these characters experiences traumatic events. The book's direction was quite unexpected. I purposefully avoided many reviews and plot summaries, wanting to enter the story with few preconceived notions. I'm glad I did. However, potential readers should note that there are several triggering moments in the narrative. If you're sensitive to certain topics, I'd advise checking for trigger warnings before delving in.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, even more so than the author's previous work. I found myself engrossed, and often, the revelations in the story presented more intriguing questions. I would rate it 4.5 stars and highly recommend it. If it isn’t already on your reading list, I suggest adding it.