Another enjoyable read from Ashley Audrain. I enjoyed the character focussed plot once I'd got a handle on who everyone was and their part in the story. Would be highly suited to a TV adaptation.

In a Nutshell: A contemporary domestic suspense about four families and an event that reveals their truth. Think ‘Desperate Housewives’ meets ‘Big Little Lies’. Contains all the staples of this genre: unlikeable characters, unreliable narrators, OTT proceedings, a multitude of secrets, and an abundance of questionable behaviour. An entertaining ride as long as you know what to expect.

Keeping my review somewhat vague as it is best to go in blind.

Plot Preview:
Four families lives close to each other in the suburbs. The only thing common to them is the street they stay on. Their financial capability, the size of their houses, their professional situations, and their personal/marital state of affairs varies.
Now, the ten-year-old son of one of the couples is in coma after a fall from his bedroom window late at night. This event is the trigger for many discoveries and revelations.
The story comes to us from the third-person point of view of the four women of the above families (each a different kind of mother with a distinct mothering problem) over the course of a week, though there are plenty of flashbacks as well.

If you have watched shows like ‘Desperate Housewives’ and ‘Big Little Lies’, then you can expect the same kind of content from this book. It is a total page-turner, not in a ‘Wow! This prose is marvellous!’ kind of way but in a ‘Wow! These people are nuts!’ kind of way. So if you are ready to toss the requirement for likeable characters and relatable human behaviour out the window, this novel is for you.
If you are the kind of reader who needs likeable characters in your fictional picks, steer clear of Ashley Audrain’s works. All the adult characters are toxic to varying levels. Some appear to have redeeming qualities, until we learn that the truth is something else altogether. The only characters towards whom you might feel some sympathy are the children of these families.
Given that our narrators are women and that the key suspense revolves around a little boy and the circumstances behind his fall, much of the drama centres around marriage and parenting. Whether working mothers or stay-at-home-mothers, wannabe mothers or frustrated mothers, the book explores all dramatic angles of mothers and mothering from the perspective of these slightly-bitchy, highly-judgemental women.
The four female leads might have varied professional and personal backgrounds, but they have one aspect in common: they all believe their decisions and choices to be right even when the world around them crumbles. As you can guess, this adds the ‘masala’ to this domestic suspense plot. (At times, too much masala in the form of hyper drama, spicy scenes, and crude words.) We probably know milder versions of such ladies in real life. But as these are fictional, every flaw is focussed upon and magnified. After a point, reading the story feels almost voyeuristic. I wish the language had been a bit toned down. The domestic drama was popcorn-thrilling enough, but the vulgarities brought down my enjoyment. Inserting crass words to highlight the thinking of one particular character might have still been understandable as it went with their brash personality, but seeing it for another character was off-putting.
As is usual in the domestic genre, the male characters hardly get anything to do for the most part. They are there mainly for physical appeal and marital tension.
Remembering the characters and their families might seem a bit overwhelming at the start, but the author keeps the writing crisp and the character backgrounds detailed and distinct. As such, it is easy to follow the storyline without muddling up the cast. However, the story does go back and forth several times, with the time references coming in somewhat vague points such as “September” or “Nine hours before”. Easy to understand, but might be tricky to keep track, especially on audio.
The character-focussed nature of the plot means that the pacing is on the slower side, though I didn’t find it slackening at any point. However, my engagement level wasn’t the same throughout. The first 60-70% of the book was OTT, but to the level expected in this genre. The final 30-odd% went OTT of OTT, if you get what I mean. With the abundance of sudden new revelations, ad hoc behavioural changes in characters, and exaggerated reactions in these chapters, my interest and investment in the outcome dipped somewhat. The final scene is a good one, though.
I had thoroughly enjoyed this author’s debut work, the mind-blowing psychological drama named ‘The Push’.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3808755509
https://roshreviews.blogspot.com/2021/03/the-push-ashley-audrain.html
Rereading my review made me realise that both books contain several aspects in common even beyond being books about problematic mothers. Both have a stark, filter-free depiction of the travails of motherhood. Both contain no wasted lines justifying the abhorrent behaviour of the characters. (They just are the way they are!) Both offer an excellent study on human psychology. And both are best read going in blind. (Oh, and both aren’t thrillers but tagged as such on Goodreads – no idea why!)
However, while I was quite blown away by ‘The Push’, ‘The Whispers’ left me merely entertained. I think the main reason for the diluted response this time is that there is nothing innovative in this book. ‘The Push’ actually pushed the boundaries of intergenerational trauma with its complex narrative structure and the clever use of the second-person writing. ’The Whispers’, with its OTT suburban families and situations, feels like standard domestic fare in comparison, though it handles the content decently enough.
Overall, this is a popcorn-entertainer book in the domestic suspense-drama category. It might not offer you thought-provoking quotes or lyrical prose or realistic scenarios, but if you enjoy mindless soap-opera-style entertainment that makes you feel better about yourself (and your spouse and your kids and your neighbours and your life in general), you might enjoy this one. Pick it up after tossing aside your logical cap and your need for normalcy and believability. Do note that the plot has several triggers related to pregnancy, parenting and matrimony.

3.75 stars. (4 stars for most of the book, but the final quarter was more like a 3.5.)

My thanks to Penguin Random House - Michael Joseph for providing the DRC of “The Whispers” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

I read The Push by this author quite some time ago and I absolutely loved it. The Whispers felt to me like it could have been in a similar series or a companion novel or something. The vibes in terms of subject matter were very very similar. The main difference was that there was a heavier thriller presence in The Push whereas The Whispers was heavier on the characters than the plot.

There were some heartbreaking moments exploring the lives of women. Womanhood, motherhood, having kids, not having kids, wanting kids and not able to have them, having kids and not wanting them. Some of it got pretty dark but I will say it all felt so real and I'm sure that nearly every woman could read this and find something to relate to.

This was necessarily an easy read but it was a good read. It took me some time to get through it as it wasn't something I could sit down and binge, I had to take it slowly. If you've read The Push and you're expecting a similar book, you'll get it, just don't expect as much of a thriller plot.

Like the rest of the book loving world, I was hooked on The Push when it came out so I am only sorry it’s taken me so long to read Ashley Audrain’s second book. ‘The Whispers’ also confronts some challenging questions about motherhood and expectations on women in society. In a well heeled neighbourhood, Whitney and Jason are hosting a party for her neighbours. Whitney is Queen Bee, she is glamorous, has the biggest house, a thriving business and wonderful family. But her status is about to come crashing down when her guests hear her shouting at her 10-year-old son Xavier.
In other chapters, we soon find out that Xavier is in hospital after a tragic accident, his mother by his side at all times.

The story is told through the voices of four women who live in the neighbourhood, Whitney and her best friend Blair, Doctor Rebecca who would love her own children and lastly, elderly neighbour Mara who is the last of the previous set of residents.

The men in the book are more sidelined, seen through that affairs and wandering eyes but they don’t have their own voices.

None of the women are happy or satisfied; they are all striving for something else but they don’t always know what. In the meantime, their abundant lives are letting them down and causing them upset.

I LOVED Ashley's previous book The Push and so was excited for this follow up but it didn't hit nearly the heights as the former one. It was an interesting premise and I can definitely say she's got a great ability to write tension. But there were too many characters that I couldn't really keep on top of who was whom and how they were related, which meant there were too many storylines to keep on top of and by the end I realied I just didn't care.

Told from multiple POV, this book took me a while to settle into the characters, although once I had got it, it was easy to read.
The story revolves around four women and their families: Blair, a mother of one struggling with her self worth; Mara, an older Portuguese lady living amidst a gentrified neighbourhood; Whitney an outwardly successful CEO, wife and mother and finally
Rebecca, a paediatric doctor.

The book is quite dark and sad, reflecting on families, community, womanhood & relationships, as well as expectations of each other.

There are some intrinsic moments in the book, where the reader becomes aware that all is not as it seems, probably a realistic reflection on life itself. The whispers in their own minds, resonate powerfully with each woman.

I did enjoy reading this, following the trail of events and sometimes destruction within, although, I felt, not all the loose ends were tied up. A great reflective read.

That last line!!

Well I thoroughly enjoyed this one, it kept me engaged throughout, I did guess one of the key plots but as I say I still enjoyed it.

This was my first time reading anything by Ashley but I do have The Push on my shelves waiting to be read so I’ll be moving that up my tbr. I really enjoyed her writing style, how she intertwined all of the characters lives and the pacing was good.

I’ll definitely be reading her next book!

Ashely Audrain writes in a way that is both haunting and beautiful. She takes the taboo topics and explores the darkest depths of them. I'm excited to see what she writes next.

I enjoyed this book so much - it kept me guessing right until the end. The character development was very clever and I felt invested in each relationship. Whitney is hard to like, or to feel sympathy for, but that is clearly her role in the story.

This is a book which questions parenthood and what it means to have children in my opinion. Each story line follows a family who have very different situations: Rebecca’s desperate need for a baby to be fulfilled; Whitney’s reluctant parenting style which contrasts with Blair’s somewhat obsessive style of parenting; Mara is a mother who has lost it all. The story felt real and intricately planned, later upon later revealing deep hidden secrets.

The ending is abrupt and some what unexpected, though the long reading journey through this novel should have prepared me for the outcome.

Clever plot with totally believeable characterisation!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and whilst my first by this author I’m hoping not my last. Very much in the Moriarty ilk and holds itself up well in comparison.
Quite a dark tale but one that you can imagine being very possible.

A suburban neighbourhood. Four households; neighbours, friends, strangers, mothers all with their own secrets and struggles. One night, a tragic event changes this street and these lives forever. Soon, the whispers will start and nothing will be the same.

There really is something about Audrain's writing; it's raw, gut-punching and just completely captivating. The Push is a favourite of mine, it was an instant 5 star read, so when I was approved for her follow up, The Whispers, I was delighted. Once again, Audrain mainly focuses on motherhood but also looks at family, marriage, friendship and community. Throughout the novel, we are immersed in a dark, psychological narrative that's both captivating and chilling, I really couldn't put it down. I enjoyed the ensemble of characters this time around, as in her previous novel there was our main character and a few supports. It gave different layers to the story which added to the book overall!

I really enjoyed being back reading Audrain's writing, big thank you to NetGalley and Michael Joseph Penguin for this copy!

*Make sure to check trigger warnings as some difficult themes are dealt with

This story surrounds a neighborhood, easy to read but explores the dark side of humanity which leaves you feeling quite ill at ease. I didn’t warm to the characters and so wasn’t sure at the end what I thought! Many thanks to Netgalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for the ARC

An ok read. Some narrative a little confusing to interpret as it eluded to meaning but wasn't clear. Interesting themes around infidelity and motherhood.

This kept me engaged from start to finish and I was on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. I loved the character development and I became invested to how it would all end. Brilliant.

Well I’m a little bit speechless. What an absolutely brilliant book from the beginning, right up to the end!

After reading, and whole heartedly adoring, The Push, Ashley Audrain will be an auto-read author for me. While I enjoyed The Whispers, I preferred The Push, which more than 3 years since reading stands out vividly in my mind. The Whispers is a little more forgetful; or, if being completely accurate, mistakable, as it does blend into other reads I’ve found to be similar (I’m thinking Little Fires Everywhere and The Herd - not at all a bad thing given I enjoyed both). The Whispers centres around one family but as this type of novel does, features the neighbours in this close knit community leading up to and following the tragedy. It’s veeeeeery readable and easy to follow whilst, as I’m gathering is Audrain’s style, fantastic at exploring the decisions, desperations and dreams of woman and centres considerably on motherhood. A great 4 stars from me with a promise that I’ll carry on looking for Audrain’s next novel!

I love being given the opportunity to update our school library which is a unique space for both senior students and staff to access high quality literature. This is definitely a must-buy. It kept me absolutely gripped from cover to cover and is exactly the kind of read that just flies off the shelves. It has exactly the right combination of credible characters and a compelling plot thatI just could not put down. This is a great read that I couldn't stop thinking about and it made for a hugely satisfying read. I'm definitely going to order a copy and think it will immediately become a popular addition to our fiction shelves. 10/10 would absolutely recommend.

Oh what a tangled web we weave, when at first we try to deceive. There are so many people in this book who could be to blame for the main accident, it’s a challenge to keep up with all of their lies. As the story unfolds it’s clear this group of people have very low morals and are incredibly selfish. Even the younger ones. It’s quite a tale… and it’s hard to tell the really story.
I did enjoy reading this book, it just makes me sad to think the world can be like this.

When I read this authors debut The Push, I was overwhelmed with the fact that she was “new” to the “book world of authors”. I say this because she’s not new to writing but this format is totally different I would think to her life experiences.

I always get apprehensive when I’ve read such a fabulous debut, Will the next one be on par or surpass it?

I wouldn’t say it surpassed it, but, it’s definitely (for me) on the same level as this one took me a minute to get into it and ‘get’ what I was reading (I went in blind).

I ended up totally immersed within its pages lapping it all up like a dog lapping at water when it’s totally thirsty! Every opportunity I got I picked this up.

It’s been hospital appointments, doctors appointments and I can’t sit in waiting rooms and read, people chat to me, how dare they!

The ending was abrupt. I sat stunned, then sat some more. I got it though (in the end) where else could this have went.

Tangled webs.
That’s all I’m saying, tangled Webb’s.

Guilt.
Hidden desires and secrets.

Full stars from me.

Can’t wait to see what else she comes up with, definitely on my auto read.

Ashley Audrain is one of those authors whose books you pick up and you just know you are going to be blown away.
The Whispers is no different. Thought provoking, provocative, it makes you think, it makes you gasp out loud and it makes you keep reading as it it's impossible to put down.