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rready's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Infidelity, Medical content, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
ghostycell's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Child death, Miscarriage, and Child abuse
mrspate22's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Miscarriage and Child abuse
meganjaco's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Child abuse, Miscarriage, and Infertility
Minor: Toxic friendship
mkilgallon's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Miscarriage
michellec13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Miscarriage, Infertility, and Infidelity
courtknee_bee's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is one of those "every marriage is awful in it's own way" kind of books. (Cannot relate.) I've labeled it as a mystery-thriller, but it's really more of a domestic drama with a little dash of whodunit to keep things interesting. I also read The Push by Ashley Audrain, and The Whispers feels like its spiritual successor. Audrain gives her characters such depth and nuance, even if they're "bad" people.
Just like The Push, this one also ends with a big "OMG" last sentence. I find this kind of ending lazy, but it's fun!
Extreme trigger warnings for fertility issues, pregnancy loss, etc.
Graphic: Terminal illness, Child abuse, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Infertility, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Mental illness and Medical content
Minor: Cancer and Injury/Injury detail
adelinebal4's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this; it made me feel a lot of very strong emotions and the commentary on motherhood really had me thinking. The ending is pretty bleak in some ways, but in a way that feels artfully done. I only wish
I love how the concept of intuition is woven through the book, as well as the exploration of the four mothers’ experiences, all taking place in such isolated worlds but in such close physical proximity - a portrait of the way lack of community and the oppressive values of individualistic culture wreak havoc on the domestic space.
I know I’m going to think about this book for a long time - Ashley’s first book left me feeling that way too.
I think I came to a better understanding of my own mother through some of these characters.
Graphic: Miscarriage
marissanbullis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Grief, Infertility, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Infidelity, and Toxic friendship
shesalwaysreading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Miscarriage