I read The Push a couple of years ago, and it is one of those books that have stayed with me. I was keen to see what Ashley Audrain did next, and The Whispers is another corker. This author knows how to write a domestic thriller that is uncomfortable but compelling to read.
Set in an undisclosed US city - I was thinking New York but I am not sure it was ever stated - in an area that is on 'the up' and where the original working class residents live amongst the new affluent families. .I liked the setting and the depth this gave to the tale.
None of the characters were particularly likeable, with the possible exception of elderly Mara and ER Doctor Rebecca. This is what Audrian does so well, drawing you in despite your reservations. There is a realism to the cast that is addictive and anyone reading it will have an opinion about them all.
Five Stars from me.

After adoring this authors debut The Push it was hard to not go in with sky high expectations, I was intrigued by the premise although it sounded more drama than thriller, it had me looking forward to what laid ahead.

This was enjoyable, I like a book that focuses on a small group of central characters, and even more so when they are either related or they live close by, so this set being neighbours was great, I loved all the behind closed doors drama and the secrets that were hidden around like bread crumbs.

I liked the switching of narratives, and what each story was telling, the flow was good but overall sadly it didn’t match up to the reading experience I had previously with The Push, of not wanting to put it down and feeling hooked on its darkness and emotions. This was a page turner but it just didn’t have that freshness feel to it like before, this felt it could have been written by anyone and personally it just didn’t live up to the hype id put on it.

I would recommend though to fans of dramas with a domestic thriller feel, that like switching narratives and stories filled with drama and secrets, i just wanted more! Darker and twisted kind of more.

The Whispers centre around 4 neighbours in a residential street in New York. Once a predominantly Portuguese immigrant area, it is now home to more upwardly mobile families.
The book opens at a party held by Whitney in their fabulous newly renovated corner plot house. She is the queen bee of the area, a highly successful business woman with a 10 year old son, Xavier, and 4 year old twins. We also meet Blair, her needy and dependent friend stuck in an unhappy marriage and doting on her 10 year daughter. Rebecca lives across the street with Ben, she is a doctor and they seem the perfect couple. Spying from the other side of the fence is Mara, one of the last remaining original residents, she spends her days sitting on her porch observing her neighbours.
During the party, Whitney is heard screaming at Xavier and when he falls out of his bedroom window 9 months later and is hospitalised, everyone starts asking questions about Whitney, is she the perfect mother and wife everyone thought she was?
Ashley Audrain is so good at developing characters who are just one step away from charicature, they are believable while being utterly monstrous. Few people in The Whispers are nice, other than Rebecca, most are utterly vile or at least pretty unpleasant. You certainly wouldn’t want them as your neighbours. This novel goes to some pretty dark places, in particular it is unflinching in its examination of multiple miscarriages. It’s not always the easiest read but it’s well written and the multiple plot lines are cleverly drawn together with a killer last line.

The Whispers - Ashley Audrain

We follow four women who all live on the same street, we are then led on a drama based journey right to the end, Although I felt the characters were really well written I did struggle to connect to them or warm to them at all, however I did enjoy reading about all of their flaws. Overall I thought it was a really good read with loads of twists and turns and it keeps you engaged right up until the final page. Thanks so much Netgalley, Michael Joseph and Penguin Random House for the e-arc in return for my honest thoughts and opinions.

There's been an accident. A young boy, Xavier, has fallen from his bedroom window and is lying in hospital in a coma. His mother is with him and has gone into herself. His father is away for work, but on his way home. The neighbours are in shock. One of whom works at the hospital.
As well as the time post accident, we also see the run up to the day. We bear witness to key events in the build up that illustrate relationships both within and outwith the family concerned. We follow certain characters as their parts in the whole story are exposed. Told, in turn, by four of the characters:
Whitney - Xavier's mother, also mother to younger twins
Blair - stay at home mum to Chloe who was close to Xavier
Mara - married but also mourning the death of her own son
Rebecca - ER doctor who is struggling to start her own family
We follow all these characters as the events surrounding the incident touches their lives...
And that's all I can say here. Suffice to say that as a character driven book, the characters have to be well described and, I have to say that they are indeed. They are all flawed in some way and their families are all interconnected in some way shape or form which adds to the intrigue surrounding Xavier's fall. It's also interesting to see how they all react to it, and why!
It's quite an emotional read all told with what is going on both within and outwith the incident. Both connected and not... Especially Mara... All rather complex and worth discovering as the author intends. And it also contains some delicious secrets and lies to complement the dysfunctional behaviour. And, at the conclusion, some shocking revelations...
All in all, a cracking read that I have no hesitation in recommending. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for this ARC! The Push by Ashley Audrain is in my top ten favourite thrillers of all time so I was waiting to see what she would write next!

This is a domestic thriller following four different women’s points of views. The book starts with an incident at a neighbourhood barbecue where one of the women, Whitney, yells at her child and the entire party hears. Months later that same child is brought to the ER after falling out of a window. Was it an accident or did something more sinister happen?

Obviously I loved this. This book focuses on motherhood and what happens to women and how they are perceived once they become mothers. I really enjoyed this deep dive into the judgment and pressure women face as mothers and also as women who want to be mothers. The book also talks a lot about child loss in a lot of detail so if that is a trigger for you please tread with caution.

A lot of the characters were unlikeable to the readerbut what was unlikeable about them was how truthful they were about wanting to be selfish while being a mother and as a reader it makes you think, should I really be judging this person? How would I react in these situations? We are living in an age where there is so much pressure on mothers and a pressure to be a certain type of mother. Other people’s “perfect” lives are one tap away and everyone has something to say or advise to give to mothers about how they parent their children and the decisions they make. This is definitely reflected in this book and you could feel the suffocating weight placed on these women’s shoulders.

In terms of the thriller aspects this book gave me Big Little Lies energy (another of my favourites) and that last sentence packed a punch.

Ashley Audrain has managed to craft yet another raw, relatable and compelling domestic thriller. I one hundred percent recommend you grab this one when it comes out on 20th July! This author is an absolute autobuy for me!

This is a page turning domestic thriller but I have to admit to not loving it like I loved The Push. The premise kept me hooked - but i felt like i didn't really know any of the characters properly and that there were too many unanswered questions on a narrative and character level. A lot was left open ended and the interweaving of each story and the interpersonal relationships weren't quite resolved for me for any of the storylines. Having said that if you want an easy read page turner with a domestic whodunnit then this will work for you

Another cracking read from Ashley Audrain. This book is a thriller and a very good one at that but how she manages to write about the ordinary in such an extraordinary way is second to none. The thriller side of the story is very understated as the power of the story is in the characters and their mundane lives as the story evolves but then you get to the end…. These characters are all brilliantly observed and believable if not likeable! Ashley Audrain is definitely becoming a must read author for me.

This is a gripping, intense read.. Neighbours tangled up in secrets, jealousy and deception, whose secrets will be revealed?
The whispers begin in the garden, at a party, with the neighbours in attendance, Whitney is overheard screaming at her 10 year old son Xavier. Perhaps Whitney is not the perfect mum after all.
A few months later Xavier falls out his bedroom window and is in a coma As Whitney sits at his beside, refusing to leave him, going over everything in her mind, the neighbours are drawing their own conclusions on what could have happened.
Going on behind closed doors are affairs, abuse, bullying in the playground, 5 miscarriages for one couple and the heartache that brings.
No mother, or parent is perfect, the story is full of drama and tension, how did Xavier come to fall out the window, was it an accident, is Whitney at fault? Neighbours Blair and Rebecca have their own thoughts on what happened as does the elderly neighbour, Mara, who silently watches, and their stories also get told.
The truth does emerges and what an ending., a last whisper!
Another successful book from the author of The Push.
Many thanks to Net Galley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.

Wow what an intense read! Certainly not for the faint of hearts. Dark, raw and totally compelling - my kind of story! Ashley Audrain's sophomore work definitely delivers

In The Whispers, we follow four couples who live on Harlow Lane. Each of their stories is told from the female's perspective, and, as in The Push, how each of their experiences of motherhood shapes their lives and their relationships.

Whitney and Jacob Loverly have three kids. Their story revolves around eldest son Xavier and a tragic fall. Whitney's best friend Blair and her husband Aiden Parks share Chloe, Xavier's best friend. Blair is a stay at home mum, devoted to Chloe and feeling underappreciated and resentful.
Elderly Portuguese immigrants, Mara and Albert Alvaro made a life for themselves on Harlow Lane, but now watch their neighbours live lives they could have had themselves.
Lastly Rebecca and Ben Goldstein live across the road. Rebecca, an ER doctor, is one of the first to treat Xavier.

The story unfolds beautifully and is very well plotted, the suspense unleashed via drip feed throughout each chapter. We have secrets, lies, accusations and projections weaved in with reflections of the high expectations we place upon ourselves and others, and people who seem to have it all yet deal with their own personal tragedies behind closed doors.

The writing feels raw, and makes you empathise with each character in turn whilst at the same time, never entirely trusting or liking them.

I very much appreciate the art of writing about a subject which is rarely discussed and is almost taboo - that motherhood isn't all roses. Sometimes, women feel pressured into being mothers because that's the path that is expected of us; sometimes there are women who shouldn't become mothers or don't want to (and that's ok); sometimes there are women who want more than anything to be mothers and maybe it doesn't work out for them, or maybe it isn't what they expected at all, or maybe it becomes all encompassing for them.
I have read A LOT of people saying they can't imagine or can't identify with any of the things which happen in this book - that doesn't mean it doesn't happen, or that the only valid experience of motherhood is the one you have had yourself. I appreciate that it might not be everyone's cup of tea. I myself can't imagine or identify with any of the things which happen in this book but still think it's important to read about a viewpoint that isn't your own in order to broaden your empathy; and have to applaud the author for being brave enough to write a book which isn't the "accepted" experience of motherhood and making it so real and compelling.
I have to say, Ashley Audrain's second novel is just as much a must read as the first - as soon as I put it down I couldn't wait to pick it up again, and for that reason, she's now an autobuy author for me! Fave book of the year so far!

I absolutely loved The Push by Ashley Audrain so I couldn't wait to read this one!
The horrific premise of this book: where a child falls out of an upstairs window and is critically ill in hospital is still giving me nightmares! We always lock all of the windows upstairs because we have a very climby 4 year old who I always worry might decide to jump out or could accidentally fall!
What happened on the tragic night in question. Did Xavier fall or was he pushed?
A lot of this book was so relatable
as it is written from the perspective of four women leading up to the tragic incident. What role did each of them play?
Each woman is hiding secrets and despite being friendly on the outside there is plenty of mistrust, jealousy and disapproval between them all! I found these female friendships fascinating! Each character has plenty of flaws but ultimately they are each trying to navigate through motherhood and marriage whilst attempting to find some happiness. The miscarriage chapters were heartbreaking and very hard to read.
Although this was quite a slow burn psychological thriller I love Ashley Audrain's writing and it kept me captivated throughout. She captures the darker side of human relationships brilliantly! I would have loved the book to have continued to find out what happened next in each of their lives.
If you enjoy a character driven psychological thriller I highly recommend this one! I'm looking forward to reading more from Ashley Audrain.

Absolutely loved it and would definitely recommend the story is told from 4 women's point of view and centres around one of their sons being in hospital after falling from a window and that last sentence wow loved it easy peasy 5 stars

The Whispers by Audrey Audrain is a story set in a neighbourhood with four suburban families involved in the story and what happens in the space of a week to upset the equilibrium of the community. There are the Lovely’s, the Parks, the Goldsmith’s and the elderly Portuguese couple. There are secrets and lies that unfold and then there is Xavier lying in the hospital in a coma after falling from his bedroom window. Did he fall, was he pushed or did he jump? All will be revealed along with other events that occurred unnoticed by the neighbours.
A gripping tense thriller with many dislikeable characters and many sad storied that nearly go unnoticed by the very busy people.
Highly recommended

Ready to fall into a suburban nightmare? Full of twists and turns that I didn’t see coming this story of a young boys fall and the drama that comes out of it

It's hard to think of what to say about "The Whispers" without giving anything away. It's a shame I can't just say "It's frikking awesome" and leave it at that! I love Ashley Audrain's writing, the way she turns seemingly ordinary characters into anything but, and the dark imagination that spawns them along with a cracking story. Read it!

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

“She’d once heard them described as the whispers—the moments that are trying to tell you something isn’t right here.”

Having really enjoyed The Push, I jumped at the chance to read the author’s next book. Though it didn’t captivate me as much as her first novel, I did enjoy The Whispers. I’d say the pace of whodunnit aspect of the plot - what happened to Xavier- is a bit drawn out and slow paced, but it does come to a satisfactory conclusion. However, as a character study of four different types of mothers, it’s a fascinating insight.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a good read, but by no means an easy one. I really enjoyed thishe authors previous book, but feel this didn't quite live up to it.

Loved it! Told from the POV of four women living on Harlow Street, based around one of the women’s young sons in hospital in a critical condition, having fallen from a window on the top floor.

Each one of them has their own demons to contend with; The struggles of motherhood, infertility, marriage, jealousy, envy, lust, deceit, trust, friendship and a career. Can any woman really have it all? And at what cost?

The writing is dark, brutal, raw and compelling. And that last sentence? Smashed it 👏🏻

4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Ashley Audrain and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Please be aware that this book does contain trigger warnings. ⁣
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Ashley's debut The Push was one of my favourites of 2021 and I knew I had to read The Whispers when it was announced. Ashley has this amazing way with words that completely grabs hold and has you eagerly turning the pages in order to find out what's happened. ⁣
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The Whispers is very much a character driven story, with four women at different stages of their lives and motherhood. Each character is complex, deeply-flawed and at times incredibly unlikable but I still found myself caring about them and hoping for the best outcomes. This book focuses heavily on the unique choices each women has made during their lives, mainly when it comes to being or becoming a mother. ⁣
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The Whispers is an addictive and captivating story full of twists and turns I never saw coming. Whilst I will agree that this book is not for everyone I definitely recommend it to those who love psychological fiction.