This book was okay, but I found most of the characters unlikeable. If I hadn’t been on a plane, I probably wouldn’t have finished it.

Whisper Network was an unputdownable thriller. I loved the way the story unfolded. I think a lot of women will be able to relate on some level, after all, we're all living in a male dominated world. I also listened to the audiobook and that was done so well. The narrator had the perfect accents for these women.

I just couldn't get into this one. I couldn't find a connection to the characters and I felt like there were too many characters with too many different stories. It was hard to keep up. I tried to keep reading but I just couldn't finish this one. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book.

I think this book is definitely a must-read and I highly recommend it. It keeps you guessing and the pages just fly by. It's a fast-paced thriller that is both fascinating and a major whodunit based in the #METOO movement. The author does a wonderful job tackling women's issues in the workplace (and outside) during this era of the #METOO movement. Great read!

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

I understand the subject matter is relevant; however, I did not care for the execution of this book. I definitely would not categorize this as a thriller.

This was a really cute book and hit home for me. I loved the murder aspect of the book. I can see why Reese Witherspoon picked it as a book pick as it really encapsulates women's relationships within the workplace and what women go through. Overall, I will highly recommend this book!

A quick read involving women trying to successfully navigate corporate law that is headed by a sexual misogynist. Lots of twists and turns with drama and back stabbing. The ending was a bit rushed but this was a solid read.

I needed a few days to think about this review. I did not love this novel at first- the breaks into this random “we” of women everywhere felt disingenuous, especially with a bunch of blonde middle-aged lawyers as the stars. But by the end I was charmed, and willing to accept the very real Whisper Network. If The Hate U Give was #blacklivesmatter then this is the #metoo novel I didn’t know we were waiting for. And as the story continued I became more invested in the central mystery: not what happened to one awful man, but how these various women would come together or fall apart. It was a pretty satisfying ride. Four subtle stars. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

Being a professional woman in Texas isn't easy for any woman, but the women at Truviv, Inc have it pretty bad. From the most senior lawyer down to a woman on the housekeeping staff, no woman was exempt from the bad behavior of one of the execs, Ames Garrett. When the CEO of Truviv, Inc dies unexpectantly, the women of Truviv, Inc have a right to be afraid of who might be named his successor. The frontrunner, Ames Garrett, has a track record of treating women poorly. At his best, he is a bully. At his worst, a rapist. Some of the women aren't going to take it and file a sexual harassment lawsuit against Truviv, Inc for allowing such behavior to even occur. In the middle of everything, Ames plunges to his death from the nineteenth floor. Did one of the women of Truviv, Inc kill Ames or did he commit suicide to escape the allegations?

The Whisper Network takes the #MeToo movement head-on. But not only does the author tackle the sexual-harassment that still takes place workplaces all over the country, but also tackles the inequality that is much more common. Like the fact that women are expected to be mothers, yet shouldn't ever discuss aspects of motherhood. Women work hard to be taken seriously at their careers and then are still asked to get the coffee or are expected to handle the cleanup after a company lunch. It is a mindset that women have been trying to overcome for decades, we are not here to just serve and clean-up after men! The author goes back and forth in the timeline, setting a picture of what it is like for a woman to work at Tuveviv, Inc and with Ames Garrett. And mixed into the chapters are the statements made to the police. It paints a very clear picture that Ames Garrett was not a very nice man. - CLICK HERE FOR SPOILERS

Bottom Line - The Whisper Network is more of a social commentary on inequalities in the workplace, rather than a thriller. Either way, it is an empowering story about women who have finally had enough of the inequity they encounter in their workplace.

I had received this book as part of a promotional giveaway and was given two additional copies to share with friends (which I did). It sounded intriguing and so I added it to my TBR pile shortly after receiving it.

This was an interesting novel overall. It took a while to build up to the climax, but then it flowed through the rest of the way. There were a lot of surprises and I liked how they were worked into the story. It spoke volumes about how women are treated when they come forward about being sexually harassed, assaulted, etc. The four leading women were easily sympathetic and I cared about what happened to them.

What didn't work so well was having the narrative of most chapters begin with "we" and then shift into third person after getting a point across. The wording also felt awkward sometimes and I had to go back and re-read sentences to make sense of what they were saying.

Whisper Network conveys an important message in a thoughtful way and is worth checking out.

Movie casting suggestions:
Ardie: Michelle Buteau
Sloane: Ali Larter
Grace: Reese Witherspoon
Katherine: Emma Hunton
Ames: Jon Hamm
Rosalita: Pollyanna McIntosh

I totally tripped out when I read the description of this and was so stoked to get to read this! If you don't absolutely love this book then you are crazy! This was by far the best book this year and Reese Witherspoon says so too! You will read Whisper Network in one sitting! If I could give this 10 stars I would!
Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

The Whisper Network

by Chandler Baker

Once I had turned the final page of THE WHISPER NETWORK, I revisited how the book was categorized. How was this page-turning whodunnit and what was actually done catalogued? Was this a thriller? A piece of literary fiction? A crime novel? Adult fiction? What I found it under was “Women’s Fiction.”

Hm. Then I wondered, is there a “Men’s Fiction” section?

When I started reading the book, I didn’t know what I was getting into, ostensibly a high-functioning office politics drama. But THE WHISPER NETWORK is delightfully decadent and also so literary that I found myself highlighting passages because they rang so true. This has become more of a rarity in my experience of crime-type dramas and so-called “women’s fiction.” Books of this ilk tend to sacrifice savvy for salaciousness and three-dimensional characters for two-sided arguments. This book does neither. It creates a complex tapestry of the inner workings of a corporation, particularly the legal department - an apt department indeed, considering sexual harassment becomes the topic of debate. Where better to hash it out than amongst the best legal council possible?

And yet, this plot makes the arguments regarding sexual harassment and power in the workplace that much more nuanced. Because if a list were to surface - say, a list of individuals to avoid in your career - would you take it an a gift and sidestep? Or would you see it as an offense against said individuals’ possibly very reputable characters?

And I simply could not put it down. I couldn’t wait to see what happened to our varied heroines as they navigated the muddy waters of their careers. Because in those moments, they were us - waffling, debating, discerning, hashing, taking action, failing, and regretting, - plotting, researching, networking, investigating, reflecting, discovering, raging and triumphing. And so the craftiest bit of the novel is this - a device I cannot recall having seen - or, read. The book shifts regularly to first person plural.

"What?" the Literary geek in you exclaims.

Yes, “we” are included for whole chapters. And with each “we” it’s possible I’ve been manipulated into reading on and on, or it’s possible "we” includes me in the war so I don’t feel so alone in my own. But in the end, we don’t care one way or another, because just like in life, we don’t feel like there’s anywhere to go but forward.



*B3 received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book definitely speaks to a timely and necessary issue for women, but I wasn't in love with how it was presented here. This book is marketed as a thriller with parts of mystery. I didn't find this to be a thriller. At all. This is definitely more women's literature with parts of mystery (whodunnit). There is a slow burn with the plot that I found frustrating (hard to describe without spoilers) and I never fully connected with the characters.

This is a very important novel to read. #metoo However, with that being said I could not connect with any of the characters other than Rosita. The rest of the women are over privileged.

There was some mystery in this, and it was unexpected. I didn't expect for the last half of the book to be more like a thriller than anything else. I liked this novel and look forward to other novels by Chandler Baker.

Thanks to Flat Iron Books for my advanced copy! All opinions are mine.

From my blog: Always With a Book:

Is there a particular reason why you are drawn to certain books? I have to say when I hear a book being compared to books I have loved in the past, I definitely am drawn to them. So it was a no-brainer when I heard this book being compared to Big Little Lies, one of my favorite books that I would want to read it.

This book did take a little while to get into, but once I did get into it, I did like it. I think likening it to Big Little Lies, and knowing it was fiction, helped to keep me hooked. In the beginning it was hard to keep the characters separate, but by the end I was able to work out who was who and while I didn't necessarily like all of the characters, I still liked the book.

I loved the way the story was told. It wasn't just a straight narrative but rather interspersed throughout were depositions, police questioning, newspaper articles and responses to those articles. It helped keep things interesting, build up the suspense and keep the story moving forward. I love when authors use different techniques in their stories like this!

This was a good book. It certainly isn't one to rush through, but it was one that every time I did pick it up, I was eager to see where it took me. While I wouldn't classify it as a straight thriller as it has been billed, anyone who enjoys a mystery within literary fiction would enjoy this.

Why should you care about this book? Because of the subject matter, simply put. This book goes beyond sexual harrasment and discrimination in the workplace and the #metoo movement. It’s a reminder that all these major problems start with the little things... the off-the-cuff comments, the innuendos, the assumptions, the snickers, the whispers... all the little battles that we choose not to fuss about because it’s sometimes easier to just let it roll. In addition to important subject matter, loved the female leads and enjoyed the twisty whodunnit plot with an excellent surprise ending.

This is an important story to read especially in today’s society. Sisterhood plays an important role in this book about the me-too movement in the corporate world. That being said, I felt the book was a little too long. It was a powerful story and would be a great book club pick. #WhisperNetwork #ChandlerBaker #NetGalley

This is not a thriller. It’s a ham-handed treatment of a serious subject. The book doesn’t present either women or men in a balanced manner. This might have been ok if the intent had been to be satirical, but it was not. The plot is a rip-off of “Big Little Lies”, but not written nearly as well. And enough with the breast pumping. I don’t know what Reese Witherspoon was thinking, but unless the text of the book is completely ignored this will make a terrible movie. Abandoned at the 36% point, but I did read the ending. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

This novel is very topical in terms of its focus on the #metoo moment, and I appreciated the way that it amplified women's experiences with male misbehavior that are usually just whispered about. As for the story, though, I was never really caught up in it and the characters didn't feel as fully developed as they could be. I really wanted to love this novel, but the writing could have been more engaging.

I don't know if I actually enjoyed this book as I was reading it, but I didn't dislike it. I did think it dragged a little but the last third of the book picked up and made it worth the read. I would have liked the main characters to have been developed more in the sense that they all seemed like the same character.