Genre: Thriller/Literary
Release Date: June 6th, 2023
Pages: 336
Publisher: Penguin Group Viking
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Publisher’s Synopsis:
“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.”
My Review:
There’s a lot to unpack in this book and I can see it being very popular for book clubs. It does deal with some rather dark and traumatic topics (miscarriage, child abuse, etc.) so I would read trigger warnings if those kinds of things are sensitive for you.
That being said, I think it did handle the topics well. I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s a commentary on these things, because it doesn’t really encourage the reader to feel one way or another on them. It is more of a light shined on the stark realities of these topics. I do not have (nor have I tried to have) kids at this point in my life, and some scenes were even difficult for me to read.
The story starts by introducing us to all of our characters, their personalities, and relationship dynamics. Audrain paints a portrait of how everyone is envious of each other, wanting what they don’t have, and the ways in which they compare and contrast to one another. We definitely get the sense that some serious drama is going to ensue.
The story is told from four POVs:
Blair: Her and her husband, Aiden, are struggling in their marriage. Blair feels stuck by the routine of being a housewife. She feels as though Aiden doesn’t truly understand how much she does for the family in keeping their lives running smoothly. But through it all she puts on a smile and tries to be the best mom she can be. She feels that it is too late for her to make anything else of her life. Motherhood is her identity.
Rebecca: Her and her husband, Ben, struggle with the difficulties of miscarriages. She wants nothing more than to be a mother, even when Ben has begun to give up on the idea, unable to cope with the hope and the loss. She feels like damaged goods, less of a woman, and a disappointment to Ben.
Mara: Her and her husband, Albert, are older and tend to stay to themselves. She is jaded and invisible, yet has an inside look into the lives of those around her. They had a son who had special needs and Mara had to deal with Albert treating him very poorly.
Whitney: Her and her husband, Jacob, have three children. The oldest, Xavier, has fallen out of his bedroom window and is now in a coma. She is a career woman and not very involved in her childrens’ lives. She has little patience or restraint with them. She tries to mold Xavier into who she wants him to be.
The story exposes the intimacy of living in close proximity with others, knowing their habits and secrets. It shows how the lack of communicating your needs with your partner can have devastating effects.
It truly is an ode to the complexities of motherhood. It confronts many taboo subjects. If you’ve ever wondered if how you felt was normal and if other mothers feel that way sometimes, you’ll find those same questions and more being asked here.
Does balance really exist for women?
Is it progress to be vulnerable in front of others?
How sacrificial should mothers be?
How do relationships change over time?
How do our needs and wants change over time?
Is there such a thing as too late?
Is “happy enough” really enough?
In what ways do we try to be like/unlike our own parents?
Her writing and prose are raw, visceral, real, and blunt. There’s no sugar coating of the worst thoughts here. The moments where Xavier feels unloved, unwanted, and like a burden to his mother is heartbreaking. No child should ever have to go through the things that this one did.
For better or worse, Audrain has a way of making marriage and motherhood seem utterly unappealing. Or perhaps it shows us all the ways in which we can do better and be better. One thing is for sure, the way children are treated has a lasting effect on them.
The whispers are those moments in life where something doesn’t feel quite right, your intuition telling you something is wrong, and the story explores the different ways in which women ignore these in order to fit in or not make others uncomfortable.
The ending did feel a little rushed for me. I’m also not quite sure that I liked it. Did you feel like anyone got justice or peace? That last line though… that one really got me.
Disclaimers:
Huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for gifting me an early copy of this amazing story! I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Have you read this book? Planning to add it to your TBR?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
I love a good book discussion. 🙂
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