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kdahlo's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book was not incredibly ambitious, but it did a good job telling a small, tight story with clear themes. Definitely in the shadow of the Handmaid's tale. Enjoyable, YA vibes.
okevamae's review
4.0
The Hush is set in the near future in the UK, which has been swept by an epidemic of mysterious stillbirths of babies who seem perfectly healthy right up until the moment they are delivered - at which point, they simply never take a breath. In a climate of heightened surveillance and the government suppressing freedoms in the name of safety, young pregnant women have started going missing. As a midwife, Emma’s once-rewarding job has become a waking nightmare. When her teenage daughter Lainey admits she’s pregnant, Emma knows she will do anything to keep her daughter safe.
For the most part, this book is not what you’d call “action-packed” in the traditional sense – no car chases or standoffs at gunpoint here – and it’s just a little slow to get started, but the author still manages to ratchet up the tension, make the pace quick enough, and pack in enough intrigue, conspiracy, and mystery to earn its place in the “thriller” genre. The book also has a distinctly dystopian flavor, even though it’s set less than 10 years after the COVID-19 pandemic. The fact that it takes place only a few years in the future – and that the future portrayed is believably extrapolated from current events – makes it all the more terrifying.
I really enjoyed the book – the plot and the mystery were intriguing and the main characters (the POV switches between Emma and her daughter Lainey) were people you really wanted to root for. My only real complaint is that the ending was pretty abrupt and left some threads unresolved. I would have liked to see more of the aftermath.
Representation: Women of color as prominent side characters
CW: Pregnancy loss, abduction, gaslighting, government abuse of power
For the most part, this book is not what you’d call “action-packed” in the traditional sense – no car chases or standoffs at gunpoint here – and it’s just a little slow to get started, but the author still manages to ratchet up the tension, make the pace quick enough, and pack in enough intrigue, conspiracy, and mystery to earn its place in the “thriller” genre. The book also has a distinctly dystopian flavor, even though it’s set less than 10 years after the COVID-19 pandemic. The fact that it takes place only a few years in the future – and that the future portrayed is believably extrapolated from current events – makes it all the more terrifying.
I really enjoyed the book – the plot and the mystery were intriguing and the main characters (the POV switches between Emma and her daughter Lainey) were people you really wanted to root for. My only real complaint is that the ending was pretty abrupt and left some threads unresolved. I would have liked to see more of the aftermath.
Representation: Women of color as prominent side characters
CW: Pregnancy loss, abduction, gaslighting, government abuse of power
winniewonders's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
muhuhu's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
aseel_reads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This was super eerily and creepy and not great in this current climate of certain countries reducing/removing reproductive rights of half of the global population. But I think it ended in a realistic manner. I will say, all the pregnancy related stuff kind of gave me the ick
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Sexism, Child death, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Kidnapping, and Medical content
Moderate: Stalking
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Abortion, Miscarriage, Police brutality, Pandemic/Epidemic, Murder, Grief, Sexual harassment, Gaslighting, Death, and Child abuse
padsworth's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
merkatt's review against another edition
4.0
Overall this was interesting and hard to put down. The ending felt a little rushed for me, and I didn’t feel as invested in all the characters as I would normally like, but it was still a good read. I would understand if it maybe feels a little too real right now, as it’s based on a post-COVID world where governmental control and uncertainty reign supreme. Maybe it’s too close to reality to be fun for you, and its ideas of what could happen in its governmental collapse felt pretty realistic, so continue on only if you feel up for such an experience.