While I haven’t yet read The Push, I have heard nothing but good things about and was thrilled to read this one. However I was expecting a thriller and this is not it. This is a neighborhood drama and centres around different types of mother and drama. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m not a mother but I was utterly bored with this book. Yes I appreciated the suspense of secrets but I really wanted more of a wow factor. I think a lot of people will love this but it wasn’t for me

An amazing story of families that are struggling with their emotions. A child has a terrible accident and we see how the families struggle with their emotions. Intriguing characters that will draw you into their lives.

I'm not sure any other books will match my reaction to the ending of Audrain's last book, but I still really enjoyed this one.
Thanks for the chance to read and review!

My first book from this author and I can’t wait to read more. She gets right into the nitty gritty of the lives of these women. I found that the characters were very relatable. And definitely not a book that was easy to put down. I highly recommend this book

i love the way she writes her characters, they are so relatable sometimes which really makes you think about yourself

after reading The Push (and loving it) and finding out it was the author’s debut novel, I knew I would be a fan of hers for a long time to come. I have been anticipating The Whispers for months and when I got the chance to read it ahead of time, I could not contain my excitement. so, thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Random House, and of course, Ashley Audrain for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review!

let me start off by saying: I ATEEEE THIS UP. I read this basically in a day and could not put it down. the author has such a way with words and is so incredibly talented. I loved reading from the POVs of four women who all live in the same neighbourhood, who are all different and yet largely connected. the exploration of motherhood and womanhood was something I loved and much like The Push, Audrain really doesn’t brush over any uncomfortable truths and thoughts that some mothers go through.

some of the characters were sooo unlikeable and reading about them made my blood boil. I honestly wish this book was longer because I loved reading about the lives of each women and how they intertwine, but also because I desperately want to know what’s going to happen next!! the ending is driving me crazy because I wanted to read allll about the unraveling and if any revenge would take place but it was also perfect in its own way.

this was such a good suburban suspense novel and I was living for all the juicy gossip and drama. I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy and add it to my bookshelf!

One terrible night a 10 year old boy falls out of his third story window. The Whispers alternates between the perspectives of four women who are neighbours (one being the boys mother) and is told over multiple timelines, as they process their shock over what happened to the little boy, concern for his recovery, and his family, intertwined with dealing with challenges in their own lives. A tragedy like this makes people take stock of their own lives, and realize that they need to make changes, or be grateful for what they do have.

There is a plot to this story, what happened to Xavier the night he fell out his window. But, it is largely character driven, as we learn more about the lives and families of the four women in this story, leading up to the reveal of what did happen to Xavier.

The story exemplifies how truly awful people can be to one another, whether for reasons of power, privilege, upbringing, jealousy, insecurity or tragedy. Each woman was guilty of either small or big acts, which in some cases were so despicable, but were justified, in the worst cases, to make themselves feel power, in the best for relief from terrible pain, or to protect a loved one.

The story was well written and captivating, I was invested to find what would happen to poor Xavier and to find out what happened on the night he died. But, I had a hard time with the characters, with the exception of maybe one or two, they were just overall not good people and they just didn't really resonate with me. But, that is not a reflection on the book, a personal preference of mine is stories where characters might be flawed, but they are likeable.

I loved the concept of The Whispers introduced in this book, call it women's intuition, as I have always firmly believed in this, so I enjoyed seeing how this was represented throughout the book.

If you like complex stories of people and relationships, and don't mind morally bankrupt characters, then you will enjoy this one. But, please check for trigger warnings, there are definitely themes that might trigger some people.

💭 𝕄𝕪 𝕋𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤:

✈️ I love that this novel was chilling and disturbing but in a vacuum of attention. It sucked you right in even if you knew it was just going to get more triggering. It reminded me of My Dark Vanessa in that way. Too good to put down.

🔑 I like how, by reading about these fictional moms, it makes me want to be an even better mom. It really made me think about what kind of mom I am and how I can be better, for my kids. Not a lot of fictional books do that.

💍I found Mara's character a little misplaced. I definitely saw where she had a role but there were some parts that confused me because it was left unattended, in her case.

Story revolves around the lives of four women and their 4 POVs and how they intersect in their neighborhood: a stay-at-home mom, a working mom, a grieving mom, and a barren want-to-be mom.
Not a thriller however more of a family drama suspense which held my interest and I anticipated the ending. The ending was perfect! Will the truth come out and will guilty parties get what they deserve? My book club would have a hay day discussing this book!
Great title as there as whispers amongst characters and whispers from the voices in their heads of characters with respect to lies, infidelity, death, jealousy, criticism, and motherhood challenges to name a few.
Mara, the elderly neighbor’s story was incredibly sad. The red herrings of who were having affairs kept me wondering for sure. I recommend as an easy summer read.
A big thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for an ARC of this book.

Ashley Audrain has done it again. I inhaled this book in one day, but oh my god was it tough. Haunting and heartbreaking at the same time, I’ll need some time to recover. Each character and their story was real and raw, and I am left wanting more. Never thinking about paper airplanes the same way. Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC.

An incident at the neighbourhood party at The Loverly’s lead neighbours to believe Whitney Loverly is not the perfect mom everyone thinks she is. Later, when her 10 year old son falls out of the upstairs window he is left in a coma and Whitney stays by his side but will not speak. 4 neighbours rehash the events leading up to the fall as they navigate a tangled web of miscarriages, abuse, lies and cheating.

This is a slow burn domestic suspense but honestly it was very dark and sad. There are uncomfortable topics about motherhood and infidelity, it was gripping! The last page was 👩🏼‍🍳😘👌🏼 the twists were all relativelity predictable but I found it to be less a page turning thriller and more so about four women trying to be the perfect mother with a perfect marriage and their deepest dark thoughts. If you enjoyed “The Push” I think you will also like this!

✨ Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts and review ✨

There are a lot of imperfect, desperate people in The Whispers, some of whom are downright unlikable— characters you love to hate. I do find Ashley Audrain’s writing to be compulsively readable, and much like her debut ‘The Push’, there is a focus on motherhood. Women who are mothers, were mothers or want to be mothers are the complex characters who tell the story, each woman with a distinct voice. I had no trouble keeping track of who was who, though I can’t say the same for their husbands.

The mystery at the heart of this tale is masterfully woven together in an unpredictable way. I had a real sense of foreboding over what was coming, discovering what unspeakable things these people had done to each other, but I couldn’t stop reading this book. The conclusion is one that is open-ended, left me wanting more, and guaranteeing this is a book that will stay in my mind long after I’ve read the last words.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and Netgalley for this egalley in exchange for an honest review.

This one was a no brainer after the massive success of Ashley’s first novel “The Push”. In what seems to be in classic Ashley Audrain fashion, this novel covers some pretty deep and potentially triggering topics. I hated pretty much every single character in this story but that only kept me more invested in what would happen to each of them at the end and BOY, the ending DID NOT disappoint. Loved this one!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for an e-ARC of this ✨

TW⚠️⚠️: Pregnancy loss/death of a child

The Whispers kept me surface level interested, but I didn’t find myself thinking about it after I’d put it down. The last 20% of the book was a struggle to get through because of how many things were left completely unanswered? And for no clear reason… I’m left with an outrageous amount of questions that definitely should have been addressed at one point or another - OR left out of the novel entirely. A few didn’t seem to have any relevance to furthering the plot.

Blair and Whitney were so annoying to read. Mara felt completely unnecessary to the story (except for RIGHT at the end). Rebecca was the only one I liked, but she still didn’t feel totally necessary to the plot a lot of the time.

My favourite part of the novel was the very last line in it. I did gasp when I read it. Unfortunately, one line isn’t enough to make up for the rest of the novel. I think I would have like this novel a lot more had it been shorter.

First off thanks to net galley for letting me snag this book. I was elated when I fished The Push and realized that the same author had another book coming out. Ashley Audrain is now an auto buy author for me. She writes women so damn well.

The book focuses on the lives of four neighbours who are women and mothers. Each one dealing with their own issues and home life when a horrible incident occurs. Internalized struggles come to light and in order to move on with their lives a lot or self reflection and change needs to occur.

I loved that we got to hear the voice of each woman. Multiple narrators in novels has never been so good. The tension between all the characters made it hard to put this book down. There were a lot of twists I did not see coming and the reveal at the end. WOW. What an exhilarating ride.

In "The Whispers," Ashley Audrain, the brilliant author of the bestselling novel "The Push," delivers yet another captivating and thought-provoking story that will leave readers spellbound. This propulsive page-turner takes us into the lives of four suburban families, forever altered by an unthinkable event and the choices they make in the aftermath.

Set in the idyllic neighborhood of Harlow Street, the story kicks off with a seemingly perfect gathering of well-to-do couples and their children. However, beneath the surface of this picturesque facade, tensions simmer, and secrets abound. When Whitney, the seemingly flawless hostess, has a shocking outburst at her disobedient son, the fragile veneer of their lives shatters before everyone's eyes. What follows is a tragic incident that leaves Whitney's son fighting for his life, and the neighborhood women struggling to make sense of what led to that fateful night.

One of the most compelling aspects of this novel is the exploration of complex female friendships. Blair, Whitney's best friend, begins to question the truth behind the facade, intuitively sensing that something isn't as it seems. Rebecca, an ER doctor who helps treat Whitney's son, grapples with her own personal struggles in the face of motherhood. And Mara, the wise and observant neighbor, witnesses the unraveling of their worlds from her front porch. Audrain skillfully delves into the nuances of envy, desire, and the inner voices we often ignore, creating a chilling narrative that keeps readers engrossed from start to finish.

With its gripping plot, well-drawn characters, and exploration of profound themes, The Whispers is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and domestic suspense. Ashley Audrain's storytelling prowess shines through every page, and her ability to keep readers guessing until the very end is commendable. Prepare to be captivated, disturbed, and moved by this remarkable novel that will leave you contemplating the choices we make and the price we pay for them.

"The Whispers" is a tour de force that cements Ashley Audrain's place among the top tier of fiction writers today. I eagerly await her next literary offering, as she continues to push boundaries and challenge readers' expectations.

This was such a great story. At times hard to read because so much of what Blaire, Whitney, Rebecca and Mara all struggled with really resonated with me as a woman, a mother, a friend. Painful at times, the reflection on yourself when reading the stories of these women.
Another great book by Ashley Audrain.

The Whispers is about 4 families living in a suburban neighbourhood. It is from the perspective of 4 women after an incident occurs with one of the Loverlys children. It’s a fast-paced domestic thriller that I couldn’t put down! I gave this 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5. The writing wasn’t spectacular, but Audrain keeps you hooked and it is overall well done. At one point or another, different characters were awful & I was appalled, but this was purposeful. The women were flawed and (most of them) not always likeable. Motherhood and the sacrifices that may come with it were explored in depth. It was so interesting to see what these different women thought about what it means to be a mother. I also liked the various mentions of whispers. I enjoyed how Audrain wrapped up the ending and audibly gasped at one part. I’d recommend this to people who enjoy themes of motherhood, domestic thrillers and reading multiple points of view.
Thank you to net galley, Penguin Random House and to Ashley Audrain for this advanced digital copy!! Loved the book!

4.5 rounded up. I was captivated by The Push and happy that The Whispers lived up to my expectations! Audrain isn’t afraid to talk about the unspeakable, give voice to the taboo around womanhood and motherhood, and give us characters that are easy to despise at first. I did receive an ebook ARC from Net Galley, but also received my pre-order copy and there’s a bonus scene. FYI major trigger warning for pregnancy loss and borderline child neglect (on par with Verity if you’ve read that).

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was excited to get an early copy of Ashley Audrain's 'The Whispers' as I really enjoyed her debut novel, 'The Push', for its raw exploration of motherhood. I was not disappointed by 'The Whispers' either - in fact, I think I may like it more than I did 'The Push'. This novel is a domestic thriller narrated by four women that live on the same street in a suburban neighbourhood as we learn about the events before and during a young child's stay in the hospital as a result of a domestic accident.

Audrain deftly touches the emotional chords of motherhood yet again in “The Whispers” - honestly depicting the struggles of parenting in all its forms - including detached mothers, and women dealing with miscarriage while creating and maintaining the required amount of suspense. Each character is unique and so multi-dimensional as they struggle with motherhood (or the desire for motherhood), and the expectations of family life.

The ending, like that of her debut novel, is expertly done, leaving me desperate to know how it played out after the final chapter. I look forward to Audrain's next novel.