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A review by _chelseachelsea
The Whispers by Ashley Audrain
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I love a good mystery about rich people and their shenanigans, so naturally I was excited to get to the bottom of The Whispers. I was especially looking forward to this book because I really enjoyed Ashley Audrain’s other book, The Push, which is also a dark and twisty tale about motherhood and discontent.
I found myself disappointed by this book for, really, the same reason I was somewhat disappointed by The Push: it’s a well-written journey with a maddeningly dissatisfying ending. It’s not really a “mystery” (though it’s presented as one at times) so much as it is a slice-of-life glimpse at a neighborhood of awful people. It’s a pessimistic walk through the lives of several people who are unfathomably selfish and deeply miserable, and even the characters who appear to be approaching redemption fail to actually achieve it. This can be entertaining, to be sure, but only if it pays off at the conclusion, and The Whispers simply doesn’t.
I think Audrain’s writing is sharp and her pacing is excellent, but what this story really lacks is substance. There’s a lot of buildup to a resolution that never comes - multiple characters are left with flat, unresolved arcs that are so abrupt I was caught off guard, certain there must be another ten chapters missing. By the end of the book, everyone is simply more miserable than they were before.
If there’s a statement being made here about the futility of seeking happiness in marriage and motherhood, Audrain is shouting that statement in all caps. The problem is, without the hope of a happy ending for a single character, that insurmountable bleakness makes for a really dull read.
I found myself disappointed by this book for, really, the same reason I was somewhat disappointed by The Push: it’s a well-written journey with a maddeningly dissatisfying ending. It’s not really a “mystery” (though it’s presented as one at times) so much as it is a slice-of-life glimpse at a neighborhood of awful people. It’s a pessimistic walk through the lives of several people who are unfathomably selfish and deeply miserable, and even the characters who appear to be approaching redemption fail to actually achieve it. This can be entertaining, to be sure, but only if it pays off at the conclusion, and The Whispers simply doesn’t.
I think Audrain’s writing is sharp and her pacing is excellent, but what this story really lacks is substance. There’s a lot of buildup to a resolution that never comes - multiple characters are left with flat, unresolved arcs that are so abrupt I was caught off guard, certain there must be another ten chapters missing. By the end of the book, everyone is simply more miserable than they were before.
If there’s a statement being made here about the futility of seeking happiness in marriage and motherhood, Audrain is shouting that statement in all caps. The problem is, without the hope of a happy ending for a single character, that insurmountable bleakness makes for a really dull read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage and Child abuse