Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Push by Ashley Audrain

72 reviews

space_corgi's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional slow-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

1.75

Forced myself to finish this book because I received it a gift. The first 75% of this was very difficult for me to read. It felt like a cheap way to represent a mother’s insecurities and discomfort. The last 25% was better but still with a cheap and unoriginal end. There was plot added at the last second without resolution which would be fine if it served a purpose. Yeah it didn’t? I don’t know… I don’t think I would let my enemy read this let alone a friend… cheers!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Child death

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Miscarriage

brittanythechronicreader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-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

5.0

Ashley Audrain managed to put into words all of the fears and uncertainty I have about becoming a mother. The tension in this book is palpable, and often wanted to reach through the pages to shake characters into action. I could not put this story down, and now that I’ve finished, I already want to pick it back up for a reread. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

shelbyrodger's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Infidelity, Grief, Child death, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Violence, Child abuse, Suicide, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship

moraina's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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

4.25

This was a compelling read. I honestly felt bad for all of the characters for different reasons, it definitely shows how difficult the societal expectations that come with motherhood can be. Definitely not for the faint of heart if you’re sensitive to the topics in the content warnings, but if you’re child-free it will definitely resonate with you in some ways.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Child death, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Self harm, Violence, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Mass/school shootings and Suicide

Minor: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Rape, and Vomit

mcminimin's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Violence, Child death, and Infidelity

spazk27's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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

4.0

Love at first sight. That's how many mothers feel upon seeing their baby for the first time. But what if this doesn't happen to you? What if you don't have that instant connection? What if you never feel it for your child? Does that make you a bad mother? Blythe struggles with these questions when Violet is born. She doesn't see in herself that unconditional love she sees in other mothers. That is, until Sam is born. Blythe and Sam have that connection she dreamed of. And she'll do anything to keep it that way. 

Love, motherhood, a tragic accident, and loss. Written from a unique perspective. Characters you won't love, yet will pull strong emotions from you. A psychological thriller that will keep you reading all night. And an ending that you won't forget...

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Suicide

Moderate: Blood and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Miscarriage, Infidelity, and Violence

littlebookcastle_sam's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Car accident, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, Murder, Self harm, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Violence

smehra's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Violence, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Infidelity, Grief, Death, and Abandonment

Moderate: Body shaming, Stalking, Abortion, Bullying, and Child abuse

lkelly36's review against another edition

dark slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Violence, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Murder, Miscarriage, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Child death

Moderate: Abortion, Blood, and Bullying

pplydm's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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

5.0

The Push is a stimulating book written excellently by Ashley Audrain. This thriller novel tells of Blythe's gloomy life, from her youth to motherhood, using her point of view in narration. The mystery theme, I presume, included a question of who to blame for the rift between Blythe and her daughter, Violet. Readers were given context of Blythe's descent providing a brief background of her parents and grandparents. I felt totally heartbroken for Blythe as I believe her to be a loving mother who did her very best in raising her children and in maintaining her marriage and friendships.

 The shortness of each chapter gave an ideal pacing; it wasn't slow nor fast. The book was effective in instilling fear. I flinched with the idea of kids incorporated with murderous thoughts and acts. Ultimately adding another star for this book to reach a 5/5 star review. The reason being was its pleasant ending which was what I'd personally preferred as finale also.

Blythe, people might think bad things about you that aren't true. The only thing that matters is what you believe about yourself.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Child death, Death of parent, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, and Suicide

Minor: Dementia and Violence