Reviews with content warning for Violence - The Push

As someone who has read and enjoyed many books that explore complex family relationships and the weight of past trauma, "The Push" by Ashley Audrain was a book that I found to be both compelling and emotionally resonant. The novel centers around Blythe, a woman struggling to come to terms with her own past while also grappling with the challenges of motherhood and her relationships with her daughter and her own mother.

What I appreciated most about this book was the depth of the characters and the complexity of their relationships with one another. Blythe is a multifaceted character whose experiences and emotions are explored in depth throughout the novel, and her daughter Violet, while often difficult to understand, is also a complex and intriguing character in her own right. I also found the portrayal of the mother-daughter relationships in the book to be particularly well-done, with Audrain deftly exploring the complicated dynamics that can exist between mothers and their children.

While the book can be dark and intense at times, I appreciated the way that it tackled difficult subject matter with sensitivity and nuance. The writing is excellent throughout, with Audrain crafting vivid and evocative descriptions that bring the story to life. Overall, I would highly recommend "The Push" to anyone looking for a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant read, and I would rate it 4.5 out of 5.75 stars.

Content Warnings

cuddlygryphon's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Content Warnings

nuh_thaan's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional 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

The deep dive into Blythe's psyche, childhood, and her mother's childhood really provide context to what goes through her mind. The concept of behaviors being passed down because of the bond that women have is always very interesting. Violet has such a strong personality too, I'd be interested in exploring her thoughts more in depth as well.

Blythe doesn't connect with Violet, but she did connect with Sam. Violet pushed Sam into the street which caused him to die. Or at least that's what we're meant to believer. Blythe tries to be a good mother, Blythe tries to learn and befriend Gemma (in a roundabout way), Blythe tries to get Fox to understand what is happening. Blythe tries. Unfortunately, no one listens to her and the result is more chaos.

Content Warnings