Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Push by Ashley Audrain

102 reviews

beesbookss's review against another edition

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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Bullying, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Child death, Gore, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Abortion, Blood, Car accident, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship

dorsetreader's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Car accident, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

meleac07's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• 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

5.0

This book unsettled a part of my being that reside deep within my core. I would find myself thinking over the deep and real weight this books held. I was so deeply engorged in this book that it felt part of my reality. The writing is stunningly beautiful and this author created network of characters and plot that felt different from anything I’ve ever read. It’s raw and real, and deeply moving.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Child death, Toxic friendship, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Grief, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Death of parent, and Self harm

Moderate: Suicide, Violence, and Blood

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

What. The. Fuck. This book is so twisted and terrifying. I can’t imagine being so scared of a child in real life but this child is … I just don’t have words. I haven’t ever read a book like this. It’s a psychological thriller and is full of the most heinous acts committed by a kid with no remorse. The bigger horror would have to be being the one who brought that child into the world and having no one believe how psychotic your kid is. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Car accident, Abortion, Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Pregnancy, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Violence

amykuc's review

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-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

4.5

This book is one you need to have someone ready to discuss with! It raises some interesting debate questions.
When Blythe births her first child, Violet, she is unable to connect with her in any way-physically and emotionally. Yet she seems to be the only one who sees this side of Violet. There are the incidents that happen that make you wonder about Violet and a propensity to violence. Even though their mother/daughter relationship is horrible, Blythe wants to have another child.  Maybe the second time will be different.

When Sam is born, the parenting relationship is a polar opposite from the relationship with Violet. While Sam adores Violet, the feeling may not be mutual.

The second half of The Push is a roller coaster of events. And ones that can't be described without ruining the ending. 

This book is one of those where I can't see I liked it. It led to me wanting to have some philosophical discussions about what happened.  It won't be a book I will soon forget.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Child death, Adult/minor relationship, and Bullying

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Infidelity, and Stalking

saltshaken's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

• 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? It's complicated

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Violence, and Child death

Moderate: Child abuse, Medical content, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Blood

nerdygrl's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• 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 was a fast read but very emotional and sad. This was one that was hard to put down!
It didn't feel like a thriller but didn't stop me from wanting to finish it. The ending left me wanting more!!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Toxic relationship, Miscarriage, Child death, Suicide, and Infidelity

jtreinen20's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Death, Self harm, Child death, Grief, and Infidelity

Blythe spends the novel

wondering if Violet caused the death of Sam. Violet tells us in the last few pages that she pushed his stroller out into the road where he was hit and killed.

This book gave me chills. So creepy, but so worth the read. I would give caution to parents of young children wanting to read this book or parents who have tragically lost children as this book might be upsetting.

space_corgi's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional slow-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? Yes

1.75

Forced myself to finish this book because I received it a gift. The first 75% of this was very difficult for me to read. It felt like a cheap way to represent a mother’s insecurities and discomfort. The last 25% was better but still with a cheap and unoriginal end. There was plot added at the last second without resolution which would be fine if it served a purpose. Yeah it didn’t? I don’t know… I don’t think I would let my enemy read this let alone a friend… cheers!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Child death

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Miscarriage

shelbyrodger's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Infidelity, Grief, Child death, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Violence, Child abuse, Suicide, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship