I love a good domestic thriller and was excited when I got a chance to read this early. This is somehow my first Ashley Audrain but now I can't wait to go read The Push because I thoroughly enjoyed her writing.

The Whispers follows the lives of 4 women living in the same neighbourhood, who interact with one another at social gatherings in the neighbourhood but also outside of it. The 4 women, whose perspectives' we see the story unfold from, lead very different lives, and it was easy to follow whose head you were in at any point in the book because of their distinct characteristics. We experience motherhood, fidelity, and intense emotions through the eyes of these women.

I loved that we got to know what the title refers to pretty early on, because I wasn't sure what "the whispers" meant but it makes so much sense - we encounter it in real life, too, or at least I definitely do. I like how it really made sense for the setting and characters of the story. Because I, too, as the reader felt that feeling, the whispers from the moment I picked up this book, and throughout the story.

Although none of the characters are particularly likeable, and I would be frustrated knowing such people in real life, the story was engaging and I couldn't stop reading about them because of the way Audrain writes them. I don't want to say too much or give anything away as I feel that would take away from the enjoyment of this story, but if you love thrillers, specifically domestic thrillers, then I highly recommend this one. I'm assuming if you loved The Push, you'll love this as well! I cannot wait to read that next :)

Another fantastic domestic thriller by Ashley Audrain! Check trigger warnings first!! But this book kept me glued to it wondering what is next. Her writing style is beautiful and evokes the emotion of the scenes. Loved this. Thank you Penguin Random House for the ARC! LOVED this read.

The second I got this email I JUMPED to download it and begin reading it immediately. I love Audrain's debut - The Push - when I read it and this totally lives up to that book for me. One of my fave author's is Celeste Ng who masterfully paints out these thrillers and leaves you with breadcrumbs throughout and I feel like that's exactly the territory this book moves in. It's not as punchy as the Push is but I ate it up nonetheless!

Overall I enjoyed this book. It’s well written and fast paced so it was a quick read, A domestic thriller written from multiple POV, so it’s very character driven. Most of the characters aren’t very likeable and all are connected in very incestuous relationships. Didn’t identify with any of the characters apart from Rebecca and her multiple ‘very descriptive’ miscarriages; which made me think of my own. Some of the character stories in the book didn’t feel like they finished. Are the whispers all of the neighbours in the circle talking about each other (as it doesn’t seem like anyone is friends) or internal negative thoughts. The final sentence of the book was epic. Loved it, It leaves the reader imagining what is happening next.

Ashley Audrain's book "The Whispers" is a well written gripping thriller. It is written from the points of view of four women. Specifically in the voices of four women who are neighbors. Each character is written with such vivid detail that it's hard to believe Audrain hasn't experienced what she is writing. I enjoyed this read and rate it
4/5. I received a complimentary copy of the book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
A sincere thank you to NetGallery and the Publisher for the ARC of this book.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book! I read Ashley Audrain's first book, The Push and that just blew me away! So I was just so excited to read The Whispers!

The story follows 4 women, 4 neighbours, living in a quiet suburban neighbourhood.

How well do we know our neighbours? We only know what others reveal to us and no one can truly know what goes on inside anyone's home. Bair, a quiet mom struggles with her own identity while wondering if her husband has been unfaithful. She envies Whitney and her life, thinking that Whitney has it all, a loving attentive husband, darling children and a wonderful career. Rebecca, is an ER doctor that is going through personal struggles that is impacting her marriage. Mara has been living on the street the longest. She spends her days taking care of her husband and sitting on her porch, watching the lives of her neighbours.

An unfortunate accident occurs where Whitney's son, has a terrible accident. As the women try to make sense of their own personal lives, they are all connected in each others, in more ways than one.
The Whispers is a powerful story about the challenges, the heartache, the tragedy, the loss of parenthood. At times, I found it difficult to read as the emotions were so raw and heartfelt and at times painful. It was a deeply moving story.

A slow burn psychological thriller.

The main characters are all neighbour's, their lives intertwining. There's a backyard party and something scandalous happens. This books exposes some of the darkest, selfish and dangerous thoughts women could have about their own shortcomings. Emotional and heavy topics, I'd recommend this book as a buddy read so you can talk it out! I enjoyed it thoroughly and can tell you that this is an auto buy author for me now!

CW/TW: infertility and miscarriage.

You'll like this if you like:
🍂Motherhood
🍂Multiple POVs
🍂Tragedies
🍂Short chapters
🍂Psychological thrillers
🍂Slow burn

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked The Push by this author so I was looking forward to her new book. It definitely didn’t disappoint. This is a great suspense story revolving around four families. A child from one of the families has a shocking accident and after that many secrets and twists are discovered around all of the characters. This is a layered book with well developed characters. The POVs are from the wives in the families. I think I like this one even better than The Push. Overall I was captivated by the story and I was curious to see how it was all going to play out. I definitely recommend adding this to your TBR.

Happy to include this title in the June edition of Novel Encounters, my regular column highlighting the month’s most anticipated fiction for the Books section of Zoomer, Canada’s national culture magazine. (see column and mini-review at link)

The way the secrets and stories of the different families in the neighbourhood were slowly revealed was done in a way that didn't make it feel too drawn out. I found this slow, but in the way that it built just the right amount of suspense. This story had a lot more to it than I was expecting.

Ashley Audrain's debut novel - The Push - was a bestseller. Her new novel - The Whispers - is guaranteed to be one as well.
Audrain again turns a keen eye on motherhood and marriage - the good, the bad, and the ugly.

The Whispers takes place in a suburb with a focus on four couples, specifically the mothers, the mothers to be, the mothers that were. The husbands come under close scrutiny as well.

A mother's behaviour opens the book with a bang. From that pivotal moment, the timeline moves from then to now, with more and more of the truth and the hidden being exposed and revealed.

The women all have an idea of what is happening and what did happen. But their own beliefs, opinions and history colours their perception. Audrain keeps the reader on their toes, changing the narrative and conceived notions as we head to the final pages. I had my own opinions and judgements. But were they
coloured by my own experiences?

Audrain's characters are so very well drawn. You'll find a favourite, and one to hate, but no one is perfect. Her suburban setting is just as spot on.

The book is so very hard to read at times, and I'd have to walk away and take a break. (There's a couple of cliffhangers that will have you shouting out loud) Other times, I couldn't put the book down. There as so many great lines in The Whispers, but nothing beats that last sentence.

Just wow - another fantastic book from Audrain. And I think this one's even better than The Push.

"But more than any proof she has, is a feeling. She'd once heard them described as the whispers - the moments that are trying to tell you that something isn't right here."

Wow what a ride! Received both digital and physical copy to review. Loved this one, love this author! Never know what to expect and did not disappoint.
Wow! Speechless and just in awe!
I. LOVED. THIS. ONE.
A new fave author added to my list for sure. This is my fave read of the year so far, and I’ve had some good ones!
Audrain just has this writing style that is so smooth and alluring. She captures every single detail you can imagine when setting a scene. Her words transport you in amongst the pages, so much so, that I felt I was standing on Harlow Street and watching this play out.
The characters in this book are just delicious, I was eating them all up! So much drama and darkness, secrets, and depth.
In all honesty, I’ve heard that The Push is really good, and there is no excuse, it’s been on my bookshelf for a long time and I have not read it yet😬
Let’s just say it got bumped up on the TBR 🤣
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ exceptional book. If you’re looking for that one must have Summer read, this is it☀️

3.5⭐️ Things I loved about this book include the ending! Ugh I loved the ending so much! I also liked the multiple POVs though it did take me a bit to sort out who all the characters were as they were kind of thrown at you right at the beginning of the book. I loved the the twists kept coming. There was a couple storylines that I thought had wrapped up at the end, but nope!
Things I didn’t like so much, too many characters introduced at once and definitely a slow burn start and middle, but the last 40% was fantastic!

The story follows four families in the same neighbourhood - all with secrets. When a tragedy strikes, we try to figure out what happened.

I really liked the short chapters and reading multiple POV. After finishing this book, I still have so many questions unanswered. While I was pleased with the ending, I thought there could have been more. Definitely check the trigger warnings for this one.
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Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for this advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.

This story is a thriller, drama, and mystery combined into one involving motherhood, women’s friendships, secrets, and jealousy.

The Whispers follows four women, Whitney, Blair, Rebecca, and Mara, who all live in the same neighbourhood when, one night, an accident involving Whitney’s son occurs, which affects them all deeply. Over the course of the next three days, they each wonder what led up to the incident, all while dealing with secrets and struggles of their own.

I was thrilled to have read an early copy of this book, as Ashley Audrain’s debut novel "The Push" was one of my favorite reads of 2021! If there’s one thing Ashley knows, it’s how to write complex characters that immediately have you invested, no matter how unlikable they might be. It was interesting to hear each woman’s perspective and to see their very different, complicated lives tangle together.

The last line of this book had my jaw on the floor 🫢 I think The Whispers would be a great pick for a book club, as there is SO much to discuss and many opinions to be had. I’m very curious to see what Ashley will write next!

Thank you to NetGalley & Penguin Random House Canada for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for this read. This book was almost a DNF for me. I was wondering for about the first 60 percent of the book why is this a book?? It was so slow and got slower as it went on. I like mundane sometimes in books but this was just so boring to me and excess details of nothing. The main point of the story was interesting which you need to read to find out. I think it was not a fit for me. I think this is how the author writes and I think you need to expect this to enjoy the book more if that is what you are looking for,

“There is freedom in the truth, and there’s suffering in the lie.”

After hearing wonderful reviews of Ashley Audrain's highly acclaimed novel, The Push, I had the opportunity to request an advance reader copy (ARC) of The Whispers. I’m glad I seized eagerly seized it.
I would like to express my gratitude to @netgalley, @penguinrandomca, and @ashleyaudrain for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Whispers is a captivating psychological slow burn that digs into the lives of four women who happen to be neighbours, each hailing from different backgrounds. With remarkable authenticity, Audrain explores the women's flaws and examines the lengths they are willing to go to in moments of desperation. The character development is exceptional, and the short chapters make for an engrossing and effortless reading experience that had me hooked from the very first page. The suspense woven throughout the narrative adds an extra layer of intrigue.

The story primarily revolves around a fateful party where Whitney loses her temper with her son, Xavier, and the harrowing aftermath of his fall from a window, leaving him in a coma. The Whispers encapsulates a myriad of emotions, including envy, guilt, loss, and a web of deceit that entangles the characters' lives. It delves into the complexities of human relationships, exploring the profound impact of secrets and lies. Additionally, the book addresses sensitive subjects such as miscarriage, warranting a trigger warning for graphic descriptions.

I firmly believe that The Whispers would make an excellent selection for book club discussions, as its thought-provoking themes and intricate storytelling are sure to fuel captivating conversations among readers.

In conclusion, Ashley Audrain's The Whispers is an engrossing and authentic exploration of the power of truth and the consequences of living a lie. With its well-crafted characters, suspenseful plot, and rich emotional depth, this novel has the potential to captivate and spark lively discussions.

The Whispers is author Ahley Audrain’s latest Psychological thriller with motherhood it's theme. The story is told from four alternating voices:

Whitney - a workaholic with three kids. She does not enjoy motherhood. Husband Jacob

Blair - stay-at-home mom with one daughter who she is very close to. She is Whitney’s best friend. Husband Aiden

Rebecca - a doctor. She is desperate to become a mother but she has had several miscarriages. Husband Ben

Mara - 82. She watches the others and knows all their secrets. Husband Albert

The story opens with a backyard bbq at Whitney’s house. When her ten-year-old son, Xavier, disappears into the house, she goes looking for him. She finds him in his bedroom on the third floor with the loot bags of all the other kids and loses her temper. Her angry words are heard by everyone outside. A few months later, he falls from his bedroom window and is now in a coma. Was it a terrible accident or something much much worse?

It took me a while to get into this story mainly because I didn’t like most of the characters usually a complete turn-off for me. I left it for a few days before giving it another try and I’m so glad I did. I couldn't’ put it down. It completely kept my attention on this second try right up to the satisfying ending. Although I never fully got over my dislike for several of the characters, Audrain somehow made me care enough to feel invested in their stories. Definitely one entertaining read.

I received an arc for this book from Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review

A distressing, intense and character driven suburban thriller you won’t want to miss this summer!

What’s said and done behind closed doors isn’t just your secret when you live in a closely housed community.

It all starts with a fabulous party hosted by Whitney Loverly and her husband Jacob! The guest list includes a few neighbours like Blair, Ben and Rebecca, Mara, other moms and many acquaintances.

The party becomes a standstill when Whitney is overheard screaming atrocities at her son, Xavier. Her not-so-perfect life is revealed in a startling way.

Nine month later and Xavier is found outside her bedroom window, as if he’d fallen out.

Was it an accident? Could Whitney’s rage have gotten the better of her this time?

The four very different women from this neighbourhood each have secrets in the personal lives. Their stories revolve around what happened to Xander, and they each have a theory as to what happened and who’s to blame.

TW: child abuse, emotional abuse, child injury, mental health, miscarriage, infidelity

Unfortunately this book didn't make the cut for me. For the first 50% it dragged so much I just wanted to put it down and not pick it up again. There were far too many pov's that a lot of the time I didn't know who the characters were and kept mixing up the spouses as well. The main plot about Xavier's fall and Whitney's feelings of being a mom and her disconnect was good but the book as a whole was not very well executed. The very end as well was so anticlimactic and just fell flat and didn't have the power behind it to save the book.

Please be aware this one has many triggers including miscarriage, infertility, cheating, hospitalized/coma child.

**Received ARC through NetGalley. Voluntarily reviewed**