A review by booksbytheglass
The Whispers by Ashley Audrain

dark emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

oooooo boy! this neighborhood has endless secrets, betrayals, and mysteries - and I was here for EVERY single second of it!

following four different ladies of the neighborhood after one of their sons falls out a window, everyone is on edge with their own opinions 😅 and it’s exactly the messy drama I signed up for!!!

I have to preface by saying that there are a TON of trigger warnings for this one (which I’ll post at the end of this review), and while I’m all about petty drama, this one was definitely heavy. if you’re looking for a happy ending, you’ve come to the wrong place. 

while it took me a minute to get everyone’s names down, I did appreciate how they all felt different from each other with similar demographics and lifestyles. I would have liked to see more BIPOC characters instead of the standard white rich neighborhood always featured in these type of novels - I feel like, in addition to the welcome diversity, it would have added more layers to the plot itself. 

ashley’s writing style is so beautiful, and I feel so enthralled every time I pick up one of her novels. the dialogue is at a minimal, which normally isn’t my cup of tea, but it was written so similar to prose that it flowed so well!!!!

thank you to penguin random house and ashley audrain for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review! 

rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: stags leap cabernet sauvignon 
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