Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

The Push by Ashley Audrain

3 reviews

bookishjester's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

4.25

I loved the beautiful, simple yet elegant prose that this author used. Her writing inspired me, and so did her candor. The frankness of her writing was shocking but believable enough to keep my emotionally invested in Blythe's story and character development, through the unraveling of her family and partially her psyche. The ending was so well done, leaving it open ended but in such a foreboding way. I'll never forget this book. It comes with tons of content warnings, so proceed with caution if you are not in the right mental space, but it is a book that will make you feel all the emotions.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Stalking, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy

Minor: Terminal illness

autumnlutherking's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Stalking, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

nocturnalreader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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

5.0

Have you ever imagined that a mother could hurt her child? 

 

Ashley Audrain’s debut, The Push, is dark, nerve-wracking, and unsettling that will send chills to your spine. 

 

The Push is a devastating tale of a mother that explores the darker side, trepidation, and insecurities of motherhood. 

 

The story mainly focused on the relationship between Blythe and her peculiar daughter Violet, who is unsettling, frightening with disturbing behavior. Soon, Blythe starts believing that her daughter is different from kids and has inherited the trauma and is less trusted by her husband and the more she self doubts herself. 

 

The story is narrated from the second POV and in a manuscript style that is vividly gripping and carefully crafted that captures sensitive emotions like depression, trauma, and postpartum experience/depression in a very well manner. 

 

I finished this book in one sitting and didn’t felt that it’s Ashley’s debut novel. The writing style is phenomenal and absorbing. I love the manuscript style, which is short and easy to read, and an absolute page-turner. 

 

It has fulfilled my desire for a gripping thriller. I highly recommend everyone to pick this book immediately. 

 

“I felt like the only mother in the world who wouldn’t survive it . . . The only mother who couldn’t fight through the pain of newborn gums cutting like razor blades on her nipples. The only mother who couldn’t pretend to function with her brain in the vise of sleeplessness. The only mother who looked down at her daughter and thought, Please, Go away.” 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Car accident, and Murder