Reviews tagging 'Stalking'

The Push by Ashley Audrain

67 reviews

tracipar's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0

This book was so compelling and well-written. I could not put it down. I’m not usually one for dark, psychological books, but this one really got me. Make sure you are ready for heavy themes but if you can handle that, definitely read this one. (Libby: do not read this book)

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse and Child death

Minor: Stalking

akeilmorris's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

5.0

I couldn’t put this book down. I can confirm, as a mother, that the author did not shy away from the nitty gritty of being a new parent. She was also able to express a mother’s love and obsession with her new baby and I think that’s part of why this was so gut-wrenching for me. I was able to relate to that close bond. This book had me feeling tense, frustrated, and sobbing. It really takes you for a ride. I also love her writing style. It’s as if the main character, Blythe, is speaking to her husband, Fox throughout. There are a couple other relevant story lines about the effects of generational trauma. I don’t want to give too much away but there are definitely some trigger warnings for this book that I wish I had been aware of including child abuse and death.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Child death

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Stalking

karen_vandyne's review against another edition

fast-paced

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

3.75

Probably a good explanation of motherhood, what it's like to have difficult child, but it didn't get me as much as her other book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Mental illness, and Stalking

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

trisjt's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

• 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Self harm, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

kirstenw13's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Loveable characters? No

I can’t give this stars yet because I’m still processing. This book was all of my fears regarding marriage and motherhood played out. It carved my heart out of my chest and hit it with an SUV. The book was cathartic as well, there was something comforting about reading the worst scenarios I can imagine. Anyway, I can’t say I liked it but The Push will stay with me for a long time and if that isn’t the mark of a good book I’m not sure what is.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Excrement, Medical content, Dementia, and Toxic friendship

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

pookiee's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

a chilling novel about a mother who suspects her firstborn is a sociopath who

killed her second child

, and the effects this has on their family as she is not believed. there is a lot of domestic drama and generational trauma. I wish it went a bit harder with what it wants to say, but the writing is good and it doesn’t read like a debut. I love short, vignette-like chapters.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Infidelity, Self harm, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Murder

hauntedantiqueshop's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-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

3.5

I’m kinda over killer kids tbh, it’s just a little boring. It’s the same formula— kid hates mom, kid grows more violent but only mom notices, dad refuses to believe mom, mom ends up being right. But this was a fun little read to get me out of the rut I’ve been in. It was also refreshing to not hate the other woman. I did really appreciate that!

At the end when Fox tells Blythe that he covered for Violet destroying her clothes AND HE LAUGHS ABOUT IT— yeahhh. Yeah. You’re done. She gets it from him.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Grief, Medical trauma, and Murder

Moderate: Suicide and Suicide attempt

Minor: Miscarriage, Self harm, Blood, Stalking, Abortion, and Death of parent

sharu901's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Child death, Infidelity, Self harm, Blood, Stalking, Car accident, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

Minor: Abortion and Death of parent