3.75 stars, rounded up
——————

A spooky read that truly kept me on my toes.

The Whispering is a single POV story following Joana, whose family is constantly on the run from the voices her father hears. Settling in Burlington, Vermont, Joana feels like she can finally settle down, until a fall gives her the ability to see the ghosts her father hears.

This book was really interesting and claustrophobic. I couldn’t stop turning the pages and wanting to know what would happen next. But it also read a little juvenile. Despite the horror of it, the wording is pretty simple and the plot is pretty basic. At times it just felt unrealistic, despite the supernatural elements. Joana does a lot of talk without actions, telling the reader she had conversations without showing them. I wish we had seen those conversations play out because it definitely would have helped the story be more well rounded.

The characters are, again, fairly basic. I didn’t love or hate them. I liked the family dynamic between Joana and her brother and father. You can see the bonds that pull them together. It was really well done in that respect. But Joana opening up to Willam so quickly wasn’t my favorite.

Overall, this is a quick and spooky read perfect for YA horror fans.

After the violent murder of their mother, Joana and her younger brother Peter are used to being uprooted at a moments notice and moved around by their father who suffers from hauntings of the past. He calls them “The Whisperings” and will do whatever he can to keeps his kids safe from them.

While checking the newspaper ads, a rental too good to be true catches his attention, and they soon find themselves in a basement suite of a large creepy downtown mansion in Burlington, Vermont.

When things finally seem to be falling into place, a near death experience awakens “the whisperings” in Joana, and she soon meets the previous owners of the house who are still there, reliving their own gruesome murders over and over again.

—-

Ghost stories/ haunted houses are a favorite of mine, so I definitely jumped at the chance to read this one early! Overall the plot was pretty cool, however I did have some problems with the execution. Some of it seemed a bit far fetched or not cohesive. It was hard to make it a believable story with these issues at times.

For a YA horror there were some pretty descriptive scenes of violence and gore, but for me, that was right up my alley 🙌. Grief horror is also a favorite of mine so really dug that part. Mrs. Cracknell was not only a great name, but a great character as well 😄.

Overall I give this one a 3.5/5

Thanks to NetGalley and Tundra Book Group | Tundra Books for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.


I couldn't resist this one just based on that cover. Isn't it gorgeous? Oh, and certainly terrifying! Joana, her younger brother, Peter, and their father have spent many years moving from place to place all over Vermont. Since the violent death of their mother, when Joana was just four years old, setting down roots has been difficult. Joana has long been worried about her father, who she knows battles voices in his head that he refers to as "whisperings." But here they are in Burlington, Vermont, and things start to feel like change is on the horizon. Joana meets a cute boy, gets a job, and school looks like it might go well...except for the pretty boy's ex, who acts like she wants to get rid of Joana permanently. Then there is the old house they're living in. Strange happenings begin to occur at night, and Joana soon realizes that her family might not be the only ones living there. When Joana also begins to hear the whisperings, the big question becomes- can her family get out alive?

This book certainly has all the ingredients that make it appeal to a teen audience- an old house, bullies, romance, and ghosts. It certainly kept me turning the pages. The plot does tend to accelerate towards the big finish, BUT that just gave it a very claustrophobic feeling. Personally, the way the basement residence Joana and her family live in.. I could never. 😂


Expected Publication 05/08/25
Goodreads Review 03/05/25

Joanna and Peter have had their world turned upside down after the violent death of her mother. To top it off their father moves them to Burlington Vermont into the lower half of a creepy mansion downtown. Sadly they are used to being moved around because of the ghosts that haunt their father. He suffers from what he calls #TheWhisperings. Ghosts of the past that try to communicate with him.

Thrilled that she is finally beginning to fit in thanks to a cute and single boy she can't believe her luck. However after a near death experience her luck runs dry. She finds herself also hearing The Whisperings. Turns out where they live isn't as mundane as she thought. Haunted by the ghosts of the house Joanna quickly learns of Keills. Ghosts that are forced to relive their death over and over and are angry. Suddenly she finds herself needing to find a way to protect the ones that she loves.

Truly loved #TheWhisperings by #JoelA.Sutherland. I am a huge haunted house fan. I hardly need to read those words before I say "Yes Please!".

Thank you so much #Netgalley for the chance to read this!

Constantly on the run after her mother's death, a teen returns to her father's hometown and begins to hear voices in her head... and see ghosts haunting her home... and the hauntings only get worse the longer they stay there. Joana has lived her life moving from one place to the next with her brother and father. Ever since the violent murder of their mother, their father has had them constantly moving in order for him to escape the ghosts haunting him that he refers to as "The Whisperings" that urge him to harm everyone. When the family moves back to Burlington,Vermon, Joana thinks they're finally going to settle down only for her to discover her father is closer to the town than she could have ever imagined and that she has begun to hear whispers... and see ghosts.... and the hauntings only further increase... can she figure it out and stop them before she loses everyone she loves? This was a very YA halloween kind of read. It just felt kind of boring, like it would translate so much better as a movie than an actual book. I do think younger teen readers should add this to their spooky season tbr. It's got a bit of romance, teen drama, girl drama, spooky house and family secrets, so it's got a little bit of everything.

Release Date: August 5, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Tundra Book Group | Tundra Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

3.5 ⭐️

Ohhh boy!

This has been an adventure and a mind numbing. The pacing was all over the place. The characters in the first part felt like a Disney channel movie, especially since Joana felt like a Mary Sue. She got the job over a phone call just like that, it’s her first day and she made the team. The enemies to friendenemies, happens will quick.

Now throughout the book , the horror was peak. Graphic, gory and scary as hell. The description of bodies being sawed apart. Baby tooth in the furnace. Blood instead of tears. Almost to the point where if felt too much for a young adult novel.

Overall this book felt like a prequel to the Ghost Whisper tv show. Sadly it only felt like a 3.5⭐️ I felt like this had potential to be great and at least be a 4⭐️.
I still want to try more from this author in the future. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc of this story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher and author for allowing me an EARC in exchange for an honest review!

I was originally pulled to this title from the cover art, but this book was spooky! It honestly gave big Coraline vibes, but more gore & more disturbing. Minus one star because some of the scenes written between the teens were more childish than YA.

The Whisperings by Joel A. Sutherland well written horror story.
I was immediately drawn in by the characters in the setting.
The plot had some twists and turns that made the book exciting to read.

Thank you NetGalley and Tundra Books for this ARC.

Really enjoyed this book!
Good story and characters
Thanks Netgalley for letting me read this book for an honest review

Unfortunately, in its current state, it's nearly unreadable with no clear chapter markers, several errors, and difficult spacing. Mine also had a mix of fonts from regular to italics. The premise overall is very interesting, as someone who has family members and a family history of schizophrenia, I was curious. I would be willing to give this another shot in the future.

unfortunately i don't care about this book. i think it has a very good premise, & as someone who was extremely ecstatic to have DELICIOUS MONSTERS as one of the comp titles, THE WHISPERINGS fell very short for me.

i don't know if it's the writing style or the characters, but the story was bland & uninteresting. i was curious about this calling, this 'whispering' that joana is linked to. but there were juvenile moments i couldn't overlook, that pulled me out of the immersive experience i deeply wanted.

in terms of a 'haunted house for teens' story, it's akin to AHS: MURDER HOUSE. uneventful & forgettable for me.

Ok, here’s the thing. I enjoyed this book a lot. But some parts were so unrealistic I couldn’t overlook it (I explain more on this later in the review). I started out enjoying this but after it got bogged down with unrealistic details, that did sap a lot of my future enjoyment of this book. If you can overlook all those details though, this is still a really fun read 🤷🏻‍♀️

Joanna is used to living on the run basically, because every 6 months or so, her father has them pack and they flee into the night. Apparently he is running from something called “the whisperings” which is something only he can hear, and when the voices in his head start to threaten his family, their family runs off into the night without fail. It’s a pattern that has been going on since she was four and one she’s well used to by now.

This latest place they flee to is Vermont, where they stay in the basement of a creepy old Victorian mansion, rented from an even creepier old lady, also where a homicide took place. It’s clear before their first night there that the house is very obviously haunted, but for some reason, they all still decide to stay lol.

This book may be YA, but some of the scenes are genuinely shocking. The flashback sequence where you find out what happened to Joanna’s mom, GEEZ. I was actually speechless. Word of warning though, this may be YA but the horror imagery is intense and far more graphic than I was expecting. Some parts of this are genuinely horrific. This book pushes its boundaries more than I was expecting it to.

Ok, now I gotta be a little critical. Yes this is fiction, but my pet peeve in books is when something is TOO unrealistic. Joanna has an accident in one scene and has to stay in a hospital, and is discharged 2 days after her accident. Because of their financial situation and them not having insurance, the hospital OFFERED FREE CARE. I’m sorry but suspension of disbelief can only go so far. A 2 day stay at the hospital without insurance can easily be around 45k on average depending, and you’re telling me the hospital waived that out of the kindness of their hearts? In America? 😭

It wasn’t even acknowledged how rare this would be. It’s just brushed off like a side note in two quick sentences like it’s no big deal, like “oh I left the hospital 2 days later, good thing the hospital offered us free care!” then moves on like, problem solved! Things just fell into place way too easily.

Another thing. And this ties back to the, huge things being described in one quick sentence then brushed off like no big deal, thing. The writing would frequently gloss over huge things and make them feel like an afterthought, like for example, it would take 1 sentence to explain her telling whole graphic red room scene to her family as if it’s no big deal and no one is even shocked that she saw something so supernatural and traumatizing. They’re just like, ok.

Or when her dad telling her brother that he sees ghosts that tell him to kill his family and that’s why they flee into the night so much, and the brother just goes, ok, like it’s nothing 😭

Or when she tells her friend that the house is haunted. He legit just goes ok, I believe you no questions asked. Then changes the subject. And later when she tells him a dead girl is behind him that he can’t see, he acts accordingly shocked and completely believes her, no question.

The best way I can describe this book is that it’s written in the same writing style as fanfiction. Where it’s very plot driven and YES THE PLOT IS EXCELLENT but the style of writing is unrealistic and too convenient. Things don’t just happen to work out that easily in real life.

But, if you think you can overlook these things (which it was hard for me cuz that’s just the kind of reader I am), then this stuff prob wouldn’t bug you as much as it did me. So I would still give this a try. The parts of the book I enjoyed were not blind to me either and I can appreciate that too. I just sort of lost motivation after things started to be overly unrealistic because I’m just not the kind of reader who can overlook that kind of stuff. But, some of the horror imagery was great. This book was genuinely grotesque and horrifying. Great imagery. The ending was so gripping and intense that I decided to round this up to 3 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tundra for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.

First off, I would like to thank NetGalley and Tundra Books Group for the opportunity to read and review this book. I was so intrigued by this story based just alone on the title and the chilling cover art. Joel A. Sutherland’s novel definitely lived up to my expectations, and I cannot wait to read more of his work!

Joana Guest’s family is haunted. Her father suffers from the Whisperings, which is the ability to hear the dead. After the death of their mother and the subsequent development of this ability, Joana and her family have moved from town to town trying to escape the voices that plague their father. They finally settle down in an old house in Burlington, but they soon find out it is home to not just ghosts, but the ghosts of history, murder, and grief.

The plot in this novel, despite following some formulaic “haunted house” tropes, was engaging and kept me curious about what was unfolding in the story. The characters are solid, believable and have depth. One thing that stood out to me about this novel was that the author never shied away from heavy themes and gory, frightening imagery that gave the story a mature impact. The Whisperings is a very creative name for hearing ghosts/having the sixth sense, and I appreciate the way that Sutherland gave the reader some explanation as to how/why people get this ability and what they can do with this gift.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to horror fans! It’s a quick read that is the perfect story of terrifying horror and emotional healing.

I loved this book! The horror scenes are well written and visceral. Sutherland plays with ideas and tropes about ghosts, families, and those who deal with ghosts as a family. I enjoyed the depth behind the ghosts themselves, and also loved the setting. Who doesn't love a spooky house and a spunky narrator?

The Whisperings turned into a darker journey than I expected. I really enjoyed the scares! The character development was spot on, and I found myself becoming more and more invested in them and their outcomes. This book had it all: love, loss, courage and lots of dread and fear.

This was my very first time reading Joel A. Sutherland, and I have to thank my son for the recommendation because The Whisperings was such a thrilling surprise! Horror isn’t a genre I usually gravitate toward, but this book completely pulled me in. It felt less like reading and more like watching a movie unfold in real life. I would literally grab my popcorn, settle in with my Kobo, and get swept away by the suspense.

The writing is vivid, the pacing tight, and the atmosphere perfectly eerie. I could picture every scene clearly, and the tension kept me flipping pages. I also really enjoyed the characters as they felt real and grounded, which made the stakes feel even higher.

There were a few moments where the plot became a bit predictable, but overall, that didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed the experience. As a first introduction to this author, The Whisperings definitely left an impression. I’ll be checking out more of Joel A. Sutherland’s work for sure!

Highly recommend if you’re new to horror or just looking for a chilling, immersive read.

After years of trying to run away from their past Joana, Peter and their dad find themselves back in their old home town and quickly moving into a basement suite that was advertised in the paper. When Joana finally begins to accept that this may be her permanent home an accident happens and she awakes in the hospital only to discover now she can see the dead. Once Joana returns home the horrible history of the house is on full display can she help the tortured family or will she let the darkness of the past consume her?

The descriptive eerie scenes had me tucking my knees and pulling up my blankets while the family dynamic parts of the story had me laughing, tearing up and rooting for them along the way . The side characters and other points were all well thought out, the whole new to town making enemies, awkward flirting, trying out for sports meshed well and didn't take away from the scary aspect.

Overall I'm glad I got to read something written by this author, words so creepy, yet so wonderful.

The Whisperings was an absolute phenomenal horror read. It's dark, it's graphic and gory and it's downright creepy. I loved that the ability to see and hear ghosts was called the Whisperings. I loved Jo as our main character and her badass nature of dealing with things. I loved that she got coined Pumpkin Spice as a nickname. There were so many creepy points in this book and so much horrific history that added to the story. This book was downright unsettling and I think horror lovers are going to love this one!

Thank you Netgalley and Tundra Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Joel A. Sutherland’s “The Whisperings” is a chilling, blood-soaked YA horror book that combines supernatural terror with real emotional depth. Centered around Joana Guest, a teen girl scarred by the trauma of witnessing her mother’s violent death, the story explores grief, family, and the haunting power of the past—both literal and figurative.

After years of moving from town to town, Joana, her younger brother Peter, and their secretive father land in Burlington, Vermont, hoping for a fresh start. But their new rental—an eerie old mansion—has other plans. When a near-death experience triggers Joana’s ability to see ghosts, she begins to unravel the secrets of the house and its horrifying past. The ghosts she encounters are not passive spirits—they are trapped in a nightmarish loop of their own gruesome deaths, reliving the violence that ended their lives in grotesque detail. The horror only escalates from there, with dismemberments, swarms of bugs, and scenes that get progressively more graphic and terrifying.

Sutherland doesn’t shy away from gore, and this book earns its place firmly in the upper range of YA horror—definitely not for the squeamish or younger readers. Yet beneath the fear and blood lies a thoughtful narrative about healing. The "Whisperings", which are phantom voices that have plagued Joana’s father for years, tie into the theme of inherited trauma and the lingering echoes of grief. Joana’s journey isn’t just about surviving ghosts, but about learning to face the pain she’s buried for so long.

Character-wise, the book offers a familiar high school dynamic, including the cliché mean girl trope. Thankfully, this character is given a bit more dimension as the story unfolds. A refreshing twist is Joana’s involvement with the rugby team—a detail that adds nuance to her character and helps avoid typical YA stereotypes. There’s a touch of romance with Willem, a classmate who adds warmth without stealing the spotlight from the main plot.

The pacing is strong, with mysteries revealed gradually, allowing you to piece together the puzzle alongside Joana. The relationship between Joana and Peter is especially touching, offering a grounded sibling bond amidst the supernatural chaos.

By the end, “The Whisperings” leaves you with the promise of more to come. With Joana now fully awakened to the spirit world, the door is wide open for sequels. And if they’re anything like this one—dark, emotional, and bone-chilling—they’ll be well worth the wait.

Overall, this is a gripping and gruesome ghost story that’s as emotionally resonant as it is terrifying. Horror-loving teens (and adults) looking for a scare that lingers long after the final page will find plenty to love—and fear—in “The Whisperings.”

Thank you to Tundra Books and NetGalley for an eARC!

The Whisperings focuses on Joana Guest, her brother, and her father as they settle into the latest city they've moved to. Living a life of constantly moving, Joana hopes this latest spot can be their forever home. However, there are things... off, about their new place - things that don't want to stay dead.

This was a refreshing YA horror - I really enjoyed the down-to-earth sensibility of the main character despite the unique ability she develops. The juxtaposition between a normal, everyday teenage life in a new town and the mystery of the haunting of their rented place provides a nice balance to keep me engaged.

The revealed truths of the several mysteries introduced within the story toward the end were handled nicely, and I felt like they were slowly shown in pieces to aid the reader in solving the mysteries themselves before all the pieces are revealed.

What I Enjoyed:
- a well-written point of view from a teenage girl
- spooky happenings with a slight twist towards the macabre
- all plot points resolved by the end of the story without feeling rushed