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kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Self harm, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
spokensilence9's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Abandonment
Moderate: Infertility
Minor: Physical abuse
caregorman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Self harm, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Abortion
_federica_'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
2.0
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Car accident, and Death of parent
wocthehell'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
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Car accident, and Gaslighting
sylvestra'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
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Infidelity, Grief, Car accident, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Dementia
archaicrobin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
to find happiness with a daughter she can’t connect with and that begins to show concerning signs of violence towards others. Going further into this alternate look at motherhood, the book has chapters that delve into Blythe’s own childhood and that of her mother’s, showing a pattern of reluctant mothers.
This novel was emotional, terrifying, and addicting. Blythe’s husband is infuriating and refuses to listen to Blythe’s concerns about her daughter leading to many tragedies. This is marketed as a thriller but I feel it also has some horror elements as well. Creepy kids are always scary to me and The Push has one of the scariest kids I’ve seen. It reminded me a lot of the novel We Need to Talk About Kevin, and it had some similar themes. I highly recommend checking this one out!
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
lkelly36's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Violence, Murder, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
Moderate: Bullying, Blood, and Abortion
linesiunderline'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? It's complicated
3.75
What worked:
• It’s compulsively readable. This is a book everyone says you will read in one gulp, and it is. So if you are after that kind of propulsive experience, this will do it for you.
• Audrain is a strong writer. Her prose is sharp and clear and there’s an economy to it that is satisfying.
• There are several genuinely goosebump inspiring scenes - truly creepy. I could see this translating to film or TV (and I imagine it will).
• The feeling of dread and claustrophobia is palpable. I kept thinking about The Perfect Nanny by Leila Slimani, another book that is deeply unsettling and so hard to put down.
Howevers
• I am uncertain about what the author is trying to say. Is it that generational trauma will continue to disrupt lives unless someone is brave enough to see it and name it and initiate a process of healing? Is it that difficult, troubled children exist and that no one wants to see that even when it’s right in front of them? Is it that we need to listen to mothers, and realize that there are many ways to experience and be a mother? I feel like I was reaching for meaning and not sure if I landed where I was intended to.
• I can’t decide if this is simply another thriller that sensationalizes a difficult female experience. Some reviews have said it shines light on difficult topics around motherhood and mental health, but I’m not sure it leaves us in a greater place of understanding or helps to break down existing stereotypes.
• The ending definitely felt gimmicky, like the author / editor decided it would be a gasp-worthy conclusion so why not go for it.
So there you have it. One thing I can say with certainty is that this is a book you want to talk about. It’s ideal for bookclubs. And I will want to read more by the author.
See below for a million content warnings.
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, and Car accident
mollyrose's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Self harm, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, and Murder