The Whispers
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Synopsis
From the author of The Push, a thriller about four suburban families whose lives are changed when the unthinkable happens—and what is lost when good people make unconscionable choices
The Loverlys sit by the hospital bed of their young son who is in a coma after falling from his bedroom window in the middle of the night; his mother, Whitney, will not speak to anyone. Back home, their friends and neighbors are left in shock, each confronting their own role in the events that led up to what happened that terrible night: the warm, altruistic Parks who are the Loverlys’ best friends; the young, ambitious Goldsmiths who are struggling to start a family of their own; and the quiet, elderly Portuguese couple who care for their adult son with a developmental disability, and who pass the long days on the front porch, watching their neighbors go about their busy lives.
The story spins out over the course of one week, in the alternating voices of the women in each family as they are forced to face the secrets within the walls of their own homes, and the uncomfortable truths that connect them all to one another. Set against the heartwrenching drama of what will happen to Xavier, who hangs between death and life, or a life changed forever, The Whispers is a novel about what happens when we put our needs ahead of our children’s. Exploring the quiet sacrifices of motherhood, the intuitions that we silence, the complexities of our closest friendships, and the danger of envy, this is a novel about the reverberations of life’s most difficult decisions.
Synopsis source: Goodreads
Review
Genre(s): Fiction, Psychological Drama
HB&W Rating: 4 stars
View on Goodreads
Buy on Barnes & Noble, Amazon
I learned the correct terminology for this genre of book, courtesy of its back cover: psychological drama. I kept describing it as a psychological thriller minus the thriller, so this makes WAY more sense, but I digress. You’re here for the review, so on to that.
This novel serves as a compelling companion to Audrain’s previous work, “The Push.” Unlike its edgier predecessor, which skillfully blended psychological drama with thrilling elements, “The Whispers” remains firmly within the realm of psychological exploration, yet it is no less engrossing. Readers should be aware of the sensitive themes addressed, including infidelity, miscarriage, and infertility.
After reading “The Push” and “The Whispers,” I can only wonder what it is like inside Audrain’s head. Audrain’s remarkable ability to craft characters with emotional depth and nuance that enable readers to root for them even when we don’t like them speaks to her inherent understanding of the human psyche. Each woman in this story grapples with decisions that haunt them, often oscillating between feelings of guilt over the decision itself or the fact that they feel no guilt over a decision at all. This book excels in examining the motivations behind these choices and the self-imposed punishments we endure, as well as the judgments we cast upon others.
From the very beginning of this book, I felt a similar vibe to “A Good Neighborhood.” Both novels center around a tragic event that disrupts the fabric of the community, leaving its members to grapple with the aftermath while a child’s fate hangs in the balance. There are so many aspects of this book that would make for fantastic book club topics and discussion. Quite frankly, I need others to read this so that I can talk to someone about it. It doesn’t have the same punch as “The Push,” so while I’ll always recommend that one first, I still recommend this one as well. It’s a compelling read for anyone interested in probing deep into human emotions and relationships.
Until next time,
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