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toofondofbooks_'s review against another edition
- 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
5.0
So what I want to say first is that I think going into this book expecting a thriller is a mistake. Even on the inside flap, it says it's more of a psychological drama. *Drama.* Anyone who goes into this expecting jump scares and some mystery to solve is going to be disappointed. I, however, went into it without any real expectations, other than that I knew it would be fucked up because every single person I spoke to who read it told me so. There are definitely horror elements, I would say, but I wouldn't say that it's a true horror or thriller.
The writing was so rich and haunting, it had me horrified even throughout the mundane parts of it, which I think takes a certain skill - a skill that I certainly don't possess. I also really enjoyed the themes within pertaining to generational trauma, found family, and how our parents - even if they want us to be different than they are, sometimes can't help but rub off on us. I also loved reading from Blythe's perspective - what an interesting and flawed character to get to be inside the mind of!!
I don't want to talk too much about what this book is actually about because I think you're better off going in at least partially blind. Be mindful of triggers and take care of yourself as needed.
I'm going to be thinking about this one for a long, long time.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Excrement and Fire/Fire injury
lifeofchrstnlvly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Short chapters made it easy to read.
Emotions were raw.
Writing was gripping.
I read this is one sitting. It's a disturbing read, but worth it. It goes into the unspoken realities of being a wife, but most specifically motherhood. I love an unreliable narrator and Blythe can be categorized as one. This is categorized as a psychological thriller, but I think it's more along the lines of psychological family drama. This is Ashley Audrain's debut novel, and I can't wait for the next books she'll write. I don't want to spoil it and it's better if you go in blind, so here's the last part of the blurb just to be safe:
The Push is a tour de force you will read in a sitting, an utterly immersive novel that will challenge everything you think about motherhood, about what we owe our children, and about what if feels like when women are not believed.
Read it if you haven't already, but as usual, check trigger warnings first.
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Grief
Moderate: Suicide, Abortion, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Self harm
thatswhatshanread's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Stalking, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Infertility, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Dementia, and Mass/school shootings
lucyisabella's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Child death, Suicide, and Death of parent
angelafeng's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Pregnancy
booksandbraids's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Suicide, and Grief
Minor: Vomit
mar_2002's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Child death, Self harm, and Suicide
vikidoki's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Self harm, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
Minor: Blood
keijiwolf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
Moderate: Death of parent and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Excrement, Dementia, Car accident, and Abortion
fonteyoung's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Mental illness, Suicide, and Abandonment