Reviews with content warning for Child abuse - The Push

Such a page turner. I was addicted. I'm not a parent, but the writing is so absorbing that you understand completely what the characters are going through and feeling. The characters aren't particularly likeable, but they are real, relatable, and fully realised. I cared what happened to them.

It's dark. It's tense. And some bits made me sob. Incredible writing, that left me wanting more. It's not an easy read subject wise, but it made me think about what I would do in similar situations. Such a different book about motherhood than I have read before. Expertly done!

Content Warnings

kathrynjl's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I devoured this book and finished it in less than a day. The Push is a truly gripping, fast paced psychological thriller about the intricacies of motherhood and nature versus nurture. In it, a mother struggles to bond with her newborn daughter. As the child grows, their relationship continues to deteriorate and eventually calls into question whose retelling of events is reliable. Audrain’s debut is a compelling and multifaceted story and I will definitely read more from her.

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betweenbooksandkitsch's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

3.5

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mybestfriendisabook's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

4.5

a page turner! very tense buildup the entire time. the short chapters help make it very easy and addicting to read. i was up until 3:30am during the second to last sitting!
i remember seeing this book around but it never interested me bc of the title until i heard good things about it personally

didn’t think the title would be so literal. i wish the reveal in the end was drawn out more.

the cover scares me so i always had it face down lol

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zarakoconnor's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Wow. This book is an amazing exploration of motherhood and generational trauma. This embodies everything I fear about parenting and pregnancy and failing your children, in a horrific thrilling package. Read this in a single sitting because I had to know what happened and struggle right beside the main character through her devastating life. Amazing.

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moonlightjuju's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional 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? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book gave me so many emotions from start to finish. Audrain writes gripping story of motherhood, mental health, and adultery.

This book provides a jarringly accurate portrayal of the thoughts/feelings women often go through after traumatic pregnancies/births and the effect this has on their family and the bond with they have with their child.

This book follows the shame, self-doubt, and isolation that comes with regretting motherhood, which became heavy at some points. This book does a beautiful job at encapsulating the negatives that can come with motherhood. This book does the rare job of exposing this

Now with characters

Fox was so unsupportive and seemed to only want a child,

then cheating on his wife after the lost of a child was horrible in more ways they one.

This book does a great job handling the first person POV. It was interesting reading from a first person‘s point of view that included the character being an , unreliable source. Readers are left questioning whether or not the daughter Violet is truly evil or if this is all overly exaggerated due to the underlining issues, the main character is going through.

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arianamadison's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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j_pink23's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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