A review by lrb0135
The Whispers by Ashley Audrain

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

Ashley Audrain has really mastered the 2-3 page cliffhanging chapter thing for me, but this book is a lot of suburban mom trauma porn. I loved The Push, but unlike Audrain's first novel, the message of this book is extremely muddled. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to get out of it except that every character in the story is a messed up weirdo who defies all statistics by living on a street with several just as messed up weirdos. I understand there's secrets, pain, and sacrifice when it comes to marriage and motherhood, but The Whispers laid it on too thick for me.