A review by cjeanne99
The Push by Ashley Audrain

dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A bit challenging at times - The Push lets Blythe Connor tells us her story, some in second person, as if she is talking to her husband, some in first person and some in memories. Blythe has a family history of abuse and darkness, a history that she is determined to break away from. We learn of Blythe's grandmother, who is born on the day WWII started, to a woman who is left a widow by the man she loves. Blythe's grandmother grows up to be a distant woman, who abuses her only child Cecilia, Blythe's mother. Cecilia in turn is not a loving mother for Blythe, although she tries. 
Blythe meets the love of her life, Fox, who grew up as the center of his parents' universe - and they build a life together. From the moment daughter Violet is born, Blythe feels a distance from her. 
Audrain provides multiple Pushes to the reader as well. I went from believing everything Blythe said, to thinking she made it all up, to questioning her judgement, to eventually understanding
Blythe was right. As a mother you don’t want to question your child’s behavior. Even when she tells you she is going to hurt someone, even when you find another child’s hair in your daughter’s pocket, even when you see her push a child off the top of a slide.
The full circle we come from the opening of the book with Blythe standing outside of her ex-husband’s home at the beginning - to her encounter with Violet on that same night at the end of the book - makes for a satisfying read. 
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