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sylvestra's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Car accident, Death, Grief, Infidelity, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Body shaming, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
archaicrobin's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The Push is wonderfully written and pulled me in immediately. The novel follows Blythe and her struggles
to find happiness with a daughter she can’t connect with and that begins to show concerning signs of violence towards others. Going further into this alternate look at motherhood, the book has chapters that delve into Blythe’s own childhood and that of her mother’s, showing a pattern of reluctant mothers.
This novel was emotional, terrifying, and addicting. Blythe’s husband is infuriating and refuses to listen to Blythe’s concerns about her daughter leading to many tragedies. This is marketed as a thriller but I feel it also has some horror elements as well. Creepy kids are always scary to me and The Push has one of the scariest kids I’ve seen. It reminded me a lot of the novel We Need to Talk About Kevin, and it had some similar themes. I highly recommend checking this one out!
to find happiness with a daughter she can’t connect with and that begins to show concerning signs of violence towards others. Going further into this alternate look at motherhood, the book has chapters that delve into Blythe’s own childhood and that of her mother’s, showing a pattern of reluctant mothers.
This novel was emotional, terrifying, and addicting. Blythe’s husband is infuriating and refuses to listen to Blythe’s concerns about her daughter leading to many tragedies. This is marketed as a thriller but I feel it also has some horror elements as well. Creepy kids are always scary to me and The Push has one of the scariest kids I’ve seen. It reminded me a lot of the novel We Need to Talk About Kevin, and it had some similar themes. I highly recommend checking this one out!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Bullying, Child death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Infidelity
lkelly36's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Violence, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Murder, Miscarriage, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Child death
Moderate: Abortion, Blood, and Bullying
linesiunderline's review
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Sometimes you read a book and it is very hard to land on how you feel about it. The Push is one of those books for me. It’s entirely likely my star rating will shift around the more I think about the book as time passes.
What worked:
• It’s compulsively readable. This is a book everyone says you will read in one gulp, and it is. So if you are after that kind of propulsive experience, this will do it for you.
• Audrain is a strong writer. Her prose is sharp and clear and there’s an economy to it that is satisfying.
• There are several genuinely goosebump inspiring scenes - truly creepy. I could see this translating to film or TV (and I imagine it will).
• The feeling of dread and claustrophobia is palpable. I kept thinking about The Perfect Nanny by Leila Slimani, another book that is deeply unsettling and so hard to put down.
Howevers
• I am uncertain about what the author is trying to say. Is it that generational trauma will continue to disrupt lives unless someone is brave enough to see it and name it and initiate a process of healing? Is it that difficult, troubled children exist and that no one wants to see that even when it’s right in front of them? Is it that we need to listen to mothers, and realize that there are many ways to experience and be a mother? I feel like I was reaching for meaning and not sure if I landed where I was intended to.
• I can’t decide if this is simply another thriller that sensationalizes a difficult female experience. Some reviews have said it shines light on difficult topics around motherhood and mental health, but I’m not sure it leaves us in a greater place of understanding or helps to break down existing stereotypes.
• The ending definitely felt gimmicky, like the author / editor decided it would be a gasp-worthy conclusion so why not go for it.
So there you have it. One thing I can say with certainty is that this is a book you want to talk about. It’s ideal for bookclubs. And I will want to read more by the author.
See below for a million content warnings.
What worked:
• It’s compulsively readable. This is a book everyone says you will read in one gulp, and it is. So if you are after that kind of propulsive experience, this will do it for you.
• Audrain is a strong writer. Her prose is sharp and clear and there’s an economy to it that is satisfying.
• There are several genuinely goosebump inspiring scenes - truly creepy. I could see this translating to film or TV (and I imagine it will).
• The feeling of dread and claustrophobia is palpable. I kept thinking about The Perfect Nanny by Leila Slimani, another book that is deeply unsettling and so hard to put down.
Howevers
• I am uncertain about what the author is trying to say. Is it that generational trauma will continue to disrupt lives unless someone is brave enough to see it and name it and initiate a process of healing? Is it that difficult, troubled children exist and that no one wants to see that even when it’s right in front of them? Is it that we need to listen to mothers, and realize that there are many ways to experience and be a mother? I feel like I was reaching for meaning and not sure if I landed where I was intended to.
• I can’t decide if this is simply another thriller that sensationalizes a difficult female experience. Some reviews have said it shines light on difficult topics around motherhood and mental health, but I’m not sure it leaves us in a greater place of understanding or helps to break down existing stereotypes.
• The ending definitely felt gimmicky, like the author / editor decided it would be a gasp-worthy conclusion so why not go for it.
So there you have it. One thing I can say with certainty is that this is a book you want to talk about. It’s ideal for bookclubs. And I will want to read more by the author.
See below for a million content warnings.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Car accident, Child death, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Stalking, Sexual content, and Physical abuse
mollyrose's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Murder, Self harm, Stalking, and Suicide attempt
gabibackus12's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, and Mental illness
nocturnalreader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Have you ever imagined that a mother could hurt her child?
Ashley Audrain’s debut, The Push, is dark, nerve-wracking, and unsettling that will send chills to your spine.
The Push is a devastating tale of a mother that explores the darker side, trepidation, and insecurities of motherhood.
The story mainly focused on the relationship between Blythe and her peculiar daughter Violet, who is unsettling, frightening with disturbing behavior. Soon, Blythe starts believing that her daughter is different from kids and has inherited the trauma and is less trusted by her husband and the more she self doubts herself.
The story is narrated from the second POV and in a manuscript style that is vividly gripping and carefully crafted that captures sensitive emotions like depression, trauma, and postpartum experience/depression in a very well manner.
I finished this book in one sitting and didn’t felt that it’s Ashley’s debut novel. The writing style is phenomenal and absorbing. I love the manuscript style, which is short and easy to read, and an absolute page-turner.
It has fulfilled my desire for a gripping thriller. I highly recommend everyone to pick this book immediately.
“I felt like the only mother in the world who wouldn’t survive it . . . The only mother who couldn’t fight through the pain of newborn gums cutting like razor blades on her nipples. The only mother who couldn’t pretend to function with her brain in the vise of sleeplessness. The only mother who looked down at her daughter and thought, Please, Go away.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Violence
anopenbookshelf's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, Grief, and Mental illness
Moderate: Suicide
imstephtacular's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Child death
Minor: Suicide
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