Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

The Push by Ashley Audrain

36 reviews

dimagnolia's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad 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

4.5

I would have loved this more if it had been faster paced but I understand why it was slow. Slow-burn books are typically not my forte as someone with ADHD because it makes it harder for me to get into the story. This was a great book though and I highly recommend it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Death of parent, Abandonment, Child death, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Death, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Abortion, Alcoholism, Suicide, and Car accident

cuddlygryphon's review against another edition

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Grief, and Self harm

Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Confinement, Miscarriage, Murder, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, and Mental illness

Minor: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Medical content, Abortion, Alcohol, Blood, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, and Toxic relationship

unicorndreams's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• 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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death, Child abuse, and Alcoholism

zoiejanelle's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

(another library audiobook rental) 

jesus mary and joseph this book was a mindfuck. motherhood is so scary and this book only worsened my fear. this was a thrilling examination of generational trauma and, as the summary says, what happens when women aren’t believed. 

it was admittedly very slow and takes place exclusively in this woman’s mind, so anyone looking for action or plot should not turn to this book. however, i found the internal monologue, paired with the flashbacks, very entertaining. i was on the edge of my seat the entire time, begging for some closure, some truth. 

not my typical read but totally worth it. 

hashtag mommy issues, amirite?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Child death, Self harm, Misogyny, and Mental illness

Moderate: Abortion, Blood, Alcoholism, Miscarriage, Stalking, Abandonment, Drug use, Alcohol, and Drug abuse

Minor: Suicide, Mass/school shootings, Body shaming, Vomit, and Death of parent

chetakwa's review against another edition

dark 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

2.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Alcohol and Alcoholism

parker_rj's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Death, Blood, Child death, Mental illness, Suicide, and Self harm

heollona's review against another edition

dark tense fast-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

3.75

While I enjoyed the story itself, I was so annoyed by the writing style when Blythe talks in second-person. I get that the author was trying to make it sound like Blythe is telling the story to her husband but it just came off as really annoying most of the time. Also the author seems to have a thing for boobs because she always mentions how a female character's chest looks like.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Death of parent, Murder, and Child death

Moderate: Alcoholism

batcaves's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Child death, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Mental illness, Addiction, Alcohol, Car accident, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Abortion, Blood, Death of parent, Death, Abandonment, Pregnancy, and Toxic relationship

fictionlostandfound's review against another edition

challenging 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

The Push is a story of one woman trying to break the cycle of multi-generational dysfunction and trauma associated with motherhood, specifically the relationship between mothers and their daughters. But the cycle is harder to break when your concerns are dismissed as typical new mom jitters.

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Self harm, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Death, Alcoholism, Abandonment, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Blood, Addiction, Grief, Drug abuse, and Alcohol

thatswhatshanread's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

4.75

4.75 because I needed just a little more from the ending. Otherwise—WHAT A TWISTY, CREEPY, SICKENING RIDE OF CREATION AND DEMISE.

I was hooked immediately and never let go. The writing was smart and breezy and blunt and chilling, the chapters were deliciously short, the characters were multifaceted and unhinged, the plot was searing, uncomfortable, explosive. Darkly fantastic.

“The Push” refers, specifically, to one tragic incident in the main character’s life, but to me it was also a direct metaphor for all of the different types of motherhood represented in the story. How much children shape our worlds, the very good parts and, in this novel’s case, the traumatic and the sinister. 

If you haven’t already, pick this up ASAP. You won’t be able to put it down until the very last page.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Abandonment, Abortion, Blood, Body horror, Car accident, Child death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Violence, Mental illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Self harm, Sexual content, Stalking, and Suicide

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Bullying, Toxic friendship, Stalking, and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Racism, Infertility, Panic attacks/disorders, Miscarriage, Mass/school shootings, and Dementia