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.

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!