ajay_101's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-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
I think this book would be an easy 5 stars if it wasn't for the way the book was written!
It just took me a while to get into it. But the story and development was incredible. After a certain point I just could not put this down.
I will definitely read more of Audrains books!!
It just took me a while to get into it. But the story and development was incredible. After a certain point I just could not put this down.
I will definitely read more of Audrains books!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Child death, and Child abuse
thenerdylamberti's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Child abuse
soupysammy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really wanted to keep reading once I finished it was so easy to read and fall into the lives of the characters. Was very intense in moments and reminded me a lot of other stories I’ve read such as Baby Teeth, or story telling similar to Gillian Flynn’s books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Medical content, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Death and Child death
Minor: Child abuse
reddybeast's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Child abuse
Moderate: Mental illness and Abandonment
cjeanne99's review against another edition
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 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.
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
Spoiler
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Child abuse
Moderate: Violence
lizreaderhold's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Abortion, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Violence
gianna_lodato's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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
3.0
I really wanted to love this book, I did. Honestly everything pointed to me liking it but for some reason it didn't really vibe with me. I can see why people loved it though the writing was sooooo good and the portrayal of grief was incredible
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Grief, and Child death
thefoxyreader's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.0
The Push is the most effective form of birth control since the invention of The Pill.
SYNOPSIS: A woman thinks her baby just might be the worst person in the world.
The Push is really good, and I feel like Ashley Audrain deserves a lot of praise for crafting a book that not only has some pretty deep thoughts and emotions, but also works on the entertainment level of an actually-good Lifetime Original Movie.
There are definitely some totally outrageous moments that will have you reaching for the popcorn, but those moments are often tempered with moments of reflection that help ground what is a pretty wildstory.
This book reminded me a lot of Verity in terms of subject matter and tone, but, well, it’s actually good.
I feel like for folks who are new parents, your enjoyment of this book can go either way as there are lots of trigger warnings associated with your worst parenting fears. I know for some readers, this book was an absolute no and they DNF’d. For other readers, they said this book made them feel seen.
So, definitely approach it with caution, but I will say I liked it because it’s a thought-provoking thriller and a fast read. There’s a lot of commentary on mothering and nature vs. nurture, and this would be the greatest Lifetime movie if Lifetime had the balls to adapt it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Child abuse
tillie__'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Child abuse
Moderate: Grief and Mental illness
chloelj27'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? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Self harm, Child death, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Grief, Infidelity, Murder, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Blood, Abandonment, Mental illness, and Miscarriage
Minor: Death of parent