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elleringer's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Grief, and Death of parent
kelsokake's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Blood, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Mental illness, Miscarriage, Stalking, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Confinement
ahoward94's review against another edition
- 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
Minor: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Suicide
marisabenn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Not a 5 star read because I both love and hate the ambiguity. I wanted to know what really happened, but that's not how the story is meant to be.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Car accident, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Infidelity, Stalking, and Abortion
Minor: Bullying, Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicide, Dementia, and Abortion
batcaves's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Alcohol
kelly_e's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Author: Ashley Audrain
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 2.75
Pub Date: January 5, 2021
T H R E E • W O R D S
Visceral • Unsettling • Complex
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Blythe is sure she will be the nurturing and comforting mother she never had. But in the midst of the exhausting early months, and incapable of connecting with her newborn daughter, she is convinced something is wrong with Violet. When she shares her concerns with her husband, he dismisses her claims.
When Blythe gives birth to her son, Sam, the situation is very different, and it's everything she always imagined a mother/child relationship to be. When their lives change on a dime, it will force them to face the truth.
💭 T H O U G H T S
The hype had definitely subsided when I finally picked up The Push, unfortunately it stilled influenced my reading experience and it ended up not living up to all my expectations.
What I like:
- I appreciated the honest insight and portrayal of the expectations versus the realities of motherhood, yet as a childless woman I didn't connect to the plot line.
- The plot line of multi-generational trauma
- Written as a letter, I thought the format was clever. And it was obvious that Audrain is a strong writer.
What I didn't like:
- The plot delivers quite a few stereotypes but I don't know that it leaves us a whole lot further ahead in our understanding, but rather upholds stigmas that can be detrimental to mental health awareness.
- I believe I'd have liked it more if the ending was different. For me, the ending felt like it was used for shock value rather than a natural resolution.
At the end of the day, I wouldn't call this a thriller, rather it's a psychological drama that is sure to spark discussion. But because the plot has been so overdone, The Push is easily forgettable to me.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers looking for a compulsive read
• bookclubs
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"A mother’s heart breaks a million ways in her lifetime."
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Medical content, Abortion, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Minor: Cursing, Sexual content, Blood, Stalking, Car accident, and Death of parent
postpartum depressioncatarina_fernandes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Violence, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
fictionlostandfound's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This psychological drama is a tense read that had me feeling uncomfortable from the very beginning as the author dives into the darkest fears of parenting with a first person narrative; instantly going where your mind refused to travel because it is so dark. This book left me emotionally drained, uncomfortable, and yet oddly satisfied. Would definitely recommend!
I highly suggest checking trigger warnings before diving in.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Alcohol
lilacwhisker's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Pretty good read and fast paced!!
Graphic: Child death, Emotional abuse, and Infidelity
Moderate: Miscarriage, Blood, Car accident, and Abortion
Minor: Dementia
eeeeva's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Child death and Abortion
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Medical content, Grief, and Pregnancy
Minor: Excrement and Vomit