The Whispers

By Ashley Audrain,

Book cover of The Whispers

Book description

“Expertly, subtly and powerfully rendered….[The Whispers] delivers a sucker-punch ending you’ll have to read twice to believe.”—The New York Times Book Review

“[An] electrifying…razor-sharp page-turner.” —Carley Fortune, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Every Summer After

Featured in summer reading recommendations by Good Morning America, TIME, ELLE, The Washington…

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Why read it?

2 authors picked The Whispers as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

This book is an unflinchingly honest portrayal of the pressure moms feel to appear perfect, all while grappling with the realities of parenting in a world that demands so much of us. It addresses head-on the silent struggles and unspoken fears that many women face.

Audrain does a brilliant job of putting into words the conflicting emotions of love, guilt, and frustration that often accompany motherhood. It follows four women, all of whom I loved and hated at different moments, and explores how the weight of expectations can drive women to their breaking points.

It’s dark suburbia at its best,…

From Caitlin's list on tackle the messy emotions of motherhood.

It’s hard to put into words what a really, really great book does to me. But this one did it, as I knew it would (I loved the author’s debut, The Push).

Audrain manages to capture motherhood in a way no one else does. When a terrible accident happens—but was it an accident?—it forces a wedge between neighborhood friends, all of whom harbor their own secrets. The story explores envy, women’s friendships, motherhood, and lies we tell ourselves in such a raw and unfiltered way. And the ending (!!)…don’t cheat…getting there is the best part, trust me. 

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