Over one terrible weekend, two teenage girls are found dead in a wealthy Chicago suburb. As the community mourns, Abby Rosso, the girls’ high school counselor, begins to suspect that her son, Benjamin, was secretly involved in their lives—and possibly, their deaths.
Abby doesn’t want to believe Benjamin hurt anyone. But she’s seen the warning signs before. Two decades ago, her brother was imprisoned for a disturbing crime—he was only a little older than Benjamin is now. And Abby has more troubling memories from her own adolescence that confirm what boys and men are capable of. As Abby searches for the truth about what happened to her students, she’s forced to face the question: Has she been making excuses for Benjamin for years?
What Boys Learn is a slow-burn psychological thriller about buried secrets, mother/son relationships, trauma, and dangerous generational behavioral patterns. The book also has thought-provoking themes about masculinity—and what it should be from a very warped perspective—and maternal instinct, especially when it shouldn’t be ignored!
The story follows school counselor Abby Rosso, who’s thrust into a nightmare of suspicion and self-doubt when two teen girls in her Chicago suburb school die under shocking circumstances. She soon learns her son, Benjamin, has a connection to the victims. With memories of her violent incarcerated brother, she confronts the terrifying possibility that her son is just like him.
The story is mostly told from Abby’s POV, and she’s the emotional core of this story. She’s emotionally unstable at times, reactive, and flawed, but she has a fierce love for her son and will go to any lengths to protect him. Her internal conflict is very gripping as she grapples between protector and detective, making her a very captivating character. Benjamin, her volatile teenage son, is moody, inscrutable, and potentially dangerous—and the dialogue between mother and son is an emotional rollercoaster with heartfelt moments, explosive outbursts, and open dialogue that feels very raw and achingly human—and readers should have those tissues ready, especially at the end! Secondary characters, including Abby’s lingering ex-boyfriend Robert and therapist Curtis (who attempts to help Abby with her son), make the story very layered and unpredictable and will make readers question everyone’s motives until the very end!
This is very much a slow-burn thriller. The opening chapters set up the mystery around the girls’ deaths and Abby’s growing suspicions about her son. From there, the story focuses on atmospheric buildup and rich character development, and just when it starts to feel like it’s beginning to drag, a major revelation lands, making it seem like the story is about to end. Instead, the story takes a darker, more twisted turn as the stakes race toward the finish. The climax is intense and high-stakes, but the ending that follows feels a bit rushed. The epilogue is more satisfying and will leave readers with some thought-provoking questions about what we choose to see in the ones we love!
Overall, What Boys Learn is a gripping literary slow-burn thriller that lingers long after the last page. Its provocative and thought-provoking themes make this book a perfect choice for a buddy read or book club! But be warned that this isn’t a light read or popcorn thriller—it’s gritty, emotionally charged, and doesn’t come without possible triggers. Anyone who enjoys slow-burn thrillers that delve deep into the dark corners of human behavior with emotional weight and thematic depth should add this one to their TBR immediately!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of What Boys Learn is an emotionally gripping listen read by award-winning narrators Eva Kaminsky and Michael Crouch.
Eva Kaminsky narrates most of the book in a standout performance as protagonist Abby. Kaminsky uses an emotional yet controlled voice to perfectly convey Abby’s internal conflict between fierce maternal love and creeping dread of what her son has done. The dialogue between Abby and Benjamin is a highlight of the audiobook, as their volatile dynamic, especially from Ben’s perspective, is authentically conveyed and comes across as very raw and relatable! As Abby begins digging deep into the suspicious deaths of the teen girls and becomes suspicious of those around her, Kaminsky quickens her pacing and gives Abby a more clipped tone, adding more tension to the listening experience. When Abby realizes her son is in trouble, Kaminsky adds even more urgency and emotional weight to her voice—and it hits hard without ever sounding melodramatic. Listeners will be emotionally invested in Abby and Ben’s outcomes and fully engaged in Kaminsky’s thrilling “race against time” delivery! By the end, Abby’s character arc is pronounced, and Kaminsky’s performance mirrors her growth beautifully, giving Abby a quiet sense of acceptance and wisdom gained.
Michael Crouch narrates the chapters involving Benjamin and Curtis later in the story with a contrasting energy to Kaminsky’s performance. Crouch uses an uncertain, adolescent voice with underlying intelligence and introspection to convey Ben’s emotional instability, defensiveness, and vulnerability. The dialogue between Benjamin and Curtis, especially during their road trip, is infused with just the right amount of unease and tension to keep listeners constantly guessing and on edge—exactly as the author intended. When Curtis begins to reveal more of his true identity, Crouch makes his voice sound increasingly menacing and calculating—and listeners will be fully immersed and may even become emotionally reactive to some of the shocking dialogue—a true sign of great voice acting and convincing character portrayals!
Overall, Kaminsky and Crouch elevate this slow-burn story to one that’s emotionally gripping with psychological depth that will keep listeners constantly engaged. If you’re considering reading this book, the audiobook is definitely the way to go, as it will keep you immersed even during slower sections. This audiobook is perfect for listeners who enjoy slow-burn family drama thrillers and dual-narration audiobooks with standout, clearly distinct POVs!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of What Boys Learn is an emotionally gripping listen read by award-winning narrators Eva Kaminsky and Michael Crouch.
Eva Kaminsky narrates most of the book in a standout performance as protagonist Abby. Kaminsky uses an emotional yet controlled voice to perfectly convey Abby’s internal conflict between fierce maternal love and creeping dread of what her son has done. The dialogue between Abby and Benjamin is a highlight of the audiobook, as their volatile dynamic, especially from Ben’s perspective, is authentically conveyed and comes across as very raw and relatable! As Abby begins digging deep into the suspicious deaths of the teen girls and becomes suspicious of those around her, Kaminsky quickens her pacing and gives Abby a more clipped tone, adding more tension to the listening experience. When Abby realizes her son is in trouble, Kaminsky adds even more urgency and emotional weight to her voice—and it hits hard without ever sounding melodramatic. Listeners will be emotionally invested in Abby and Ben’s outcomes and fully engaged in Kaminsky’s thrilling “race against time” delivery! By the end, Abby’s character arc is pronounced, and Kaminsky’s performance mirrors her growth beautifully, giving Abby a quiet sense of acceptance and wisdom gained.
Michael Crouch narrates the chapters involving Benjamin and Curtis later in the story with a contrasting energy to Kaminsky’s performance. Crouch uses an uncertain, adolescent voice with underlying intelligence and introspection to convey Ben’s emotional instability, defensiveness, and vulnerability. The dialogue between Benjamin and Curtis, especially during their road trip, is infused with just the right amount of unease and tension to keep listeners constantly guessing and on edge—exactly as the author intended. When Curtis begins to reveal more of his true identity, Crouch makes his voice sound increasingly menacing and calculating—and listeners will be fully immersed and may even become emotionally reactive to some of the shocking dialogue—a true sign of great voice acting and convincing character portrayals!
Overall, Kaminsky and Crouch elevate this slow-burn story to one that’s emotionally gripping with psychological depth that will keep listeners constantly engaged. If you’re considering reading this book, the audiobook is definitely the way to go, as it will keep you immersed even during slower sections. This audiobook is perfect for listeners who enjoy slow-burn family drama thrillers and dual-narration audiobooks with standout, clearly distinct POVs!
The audiobook of What Boys Learn is an emotionally gripping listen read by award-winning narrators Eva Kaminsky and Michael Crouch.
Eva Kaminsky narrates most of the book in a standout performance as protagonist Abby. Kaminsky uses an emotional yet controlled voice to perfectly convey Abby’s internal conflict between fierce maternal love and creeping dread of what her son has done. The dialogue between Abby and Benjamin is a highlight of the audiobook, as their volatile dynamic, especially from Ben’s perspective, is authentically conveyed and comes across as very raw and relatable! As Abby begins digging deep into the suspicious deaths of the teen girls and becomes suspicious of those around her, Kaminsky quickens her pacing and gives Abby a more clipped tone, adding more tension to the listening experience. When Abby realizes her son is in trouble, Kaminsky adds even more urgency and emotional weight to her voice—and it hits hard without ever sounding melodramatic. Listeners will be emotionally invested in Abby and Ben’s outcomes and fully engaged in Kaminsky’s thrilling “race against time” delivery! By the end, Abby’s character arc is pronounced, and Kaminsky’s performance mirrors her growth beautifully, giving Abby a quiet sense of acceptance and wisdom gained.
Michael Crouch narrates the chapters involving Benjamin and Curtis later in the story with a contrasting energy to Kaminsky’s performance. Crouch uses an uncertain, adolescent voice with underlying intelligence and introspection to convey Ben’s emotional instability, defensiveness, and vulnerability. The dialogue between Benjamin and Curtis, especially during their road trip, is infused with just the right amount of unease and tension to keep listeners constantly guessing and on edge—exactly as the author intended. When Curtis begins to reveal more of his true identity, Crouch makes his voice sound increasingly menacing and calculating—and listeners will be fully immersed and may even become emotionally reactive to some of the shocking dialogue—a true sign of great voice acting and convincing character portrayals!
Overall, Kaminsky and Crouch elevate this slow-burn story to one that’s emotionally gripping with psychological depth that will keep listeners constantly engaged. If you’re considering reading this book, the audiobook is definitely the way to go, as it will keep you immersed even during slower sections. This audiobook is perfect for listeners who enjoy slow-burn family drama thrillers and dual-narration audiobooks with standout, clearly distinct POVs!
