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angemc21's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Mental illness, Body shaming, Miscarriage, Infertility, and Pregnancy
samantha_louise's review
mysterious
tense
medium-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
3.5
nahyee's review against another edition
2.0
See my full review of this title on my blog: Books Under the Blanket (with a flashlight): https://booksundertheblanket.com/is-mommy-and-me-still-a-thing/
Live on Feb 18, 2024
Live on Feb 18, 2024
auri_underthing's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
slow-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
4.0
Babies. Desperation. Secrets.
A bit slow, but the ending is great!
A bit slow, but the ending is great!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship
belleaj's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
cleidemarquesf's review
mysterious
medium-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
2.0
hayleybeale's review against another edition
2.0
Fairly standard but mildly entertaining mystery with a few, easily guessed, twists.
When somebody falls from a balcony at a party being held for a group of new parents who met in a prenatal group, it’s not clear if it’s an accident. The novel moves between the point of view of Jax, one of the mothers-to-be, in the weeks leading up to the birth of her baby, the police investigation, and the events on the day of the fall, told through the eyes of different participants at the party.
There’s lots of not particularly likable characters and it took me quite a while to differentiate them. They all have secrets which is somehow meant to make you think they could all have instigated the push. The prenatal group is diverse: there’s a lesbian couple, a couple who are having a baby with a surrogate in America, and there’s a wide range of class and economic circumstances. Jax, who we get to know the best, is an older woman with a much younger partner.
The police investigation, prompted by the well-worn literary device of the leader’s feeling that something is not quite right about an apparently accidental fall, is made more interesting by the two women officers reflecting on how children would affect their careers and lives.
Overall, it kept me reading but I don't feel the need to seek out any other books by the author.
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for the digital review copy.
When somebody falls from a balcony at a party being held for a group of new parents who met in a prenatal group, it’s not clear if it’s an accident. The novel moves between the point of view of Jax, one of the mothers-to-be, in the weeks leading up to the birth of her baby, the police investigation, and the events on the day of the fall, told through the eyes of different participants at the party.
There’s lots of not particularly likable characters and it took me quite a while to differentiate them. They all have secrets which is somehow meant to make you think they could all have instigated the push. The prenatal group is diverse: there’s a lesbian couple, a couple who are having a baby with a surrogate in America, and there’s a wide range of class and economic circumstances. Jax, who we get to know the best, is an older woman with a much younger partner.
The police investigation, prompted by the well-worn literary device of the leader’s feeling that something is not quite right about an apparently accidental fall, is made more interesting by the two women officers reflecting on how children would affect their careers and lives.
Overall, it kept me reading but I don't feel the need to seek out any other books by the author.
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for the digital review copy.
ayeesharbrts's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
2.75
jennpearl_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
onlyadream223's review against another edition
4.0
The Push by Clare McGowan is going to be one of those books you either love or hate. There is no gray area.
This book did a lot of things right, it kept you guessing, it raised doubts on all the characters and oftentimes kept you switching alliances.
The author did a fantastic job tying up all of the loose ends. All of the characters secrets were revealed at the climax... well done.
My only complaint about this story is that it was very dense in themes. The story in it of itself felt negative. All of the characters with their secrets just lived in a giant cloud of doom. There was a lot of topics and situations in one story... it was a lot to take in.
That being said, the author did not skimp on the details. Once the story got going, this reader got hooked.
Highly recommend.
This book did a lot of things right, it kept you guessing, it raised doubts on all the characters and oftentimes kept you switching alliances.
The author did a fantastic job tying up all of the loose ends. All of the characters secrets were revealed at the climax... well done.
My only complaint about this story is that it was very dense in themes. The story in it of itself felt negative. All of the characters with their secrets just lived in a giant cloud of doom. There was a lot of topics and situations in one story... it was a lot to take in.
That being said, the author did not skimp on the details. Once the story got going, this reader got hooked.
Highly recommend.