Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

The Push by Ashley Audrain

316 reviews

sarahmalopia's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Car accident, Miscarriage, Blood, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Pregnancy, and Self harm

Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Child abuse, and Dementia

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

Moderate: Suicide and Suicide attempt

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

leaettaaa's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• 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

5.0

Ashley Audrain's debut novel, The Push, is a gripping psychological thriller that will have you questioning everything you know about motherhood. With its compelling narrative and unflinching exploration of familial trauma, this book is not just a read but an experience that lingers long after the final page.

The story centers on Blythe Connor, a woman determined to be the loving mother she never had. However, her journey into motherhood is anything but smooth. From the outset, Blythe senses something is wrong with her daughter, leading to a harrowing exploration of nature versus nurture. Is her perception accurate, or is it skewed by her own troubled past?

Audrain masterfully crafts a narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat, questioning the reliability of Blythe's perspective. The tension is palpable as the story unfolds, revealing the complexities and dark undercurrents of parenthood. The psychological depth of the characters makes you empathize with their pain and struggle, while also leaving you unsettled by the ambiguity of their experiences.

The trauma that permeates the Connor family is depicted with such raw honesty that it will haunt you, keeping you up at night as you ponder the devastating impact of unresolved emotional scars. Audrain's prose is both beautiful and haunting, drawing you into Blythe's world and making it difficult to put the book down.

At just over 300 pages, The Push is a quick read that you can easily devour in one sitting. Its fast-paced plot and compelling characters make it impossible to look away, ensuring that every moment is filled with suspense and emotional intensity.

In conclusion, The Push is a five-star novel that will leave you questioning the very foundations of motherhood and the hidden darkness within family dynamics. Ashley Audrain has crafted a debut that is both thought-provoking and heart-wrenching, solidifying her place as a powerful new voice in psychological fiction.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Murder, Blood, Abandonment, Child death, Child abuse, Mental illness, and Violence

Moderate: Miscarriage, Abortion, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Death of parent and Self harm

katrinarose's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective 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 really liked this book. It was heartbreaking and honest and raw. I just want to give Blythe the biggest hug and tell her she’s doing amazing. The character development was incredible and very convincing, and I love that it covered multiple generations. I’ve read a few literary fiction novels that covered themes of motherhood but this book discussed darker things - the fears and doubts that nobody says out loud. I did think that this would be more of a psychological thriller than it was, for me it was more of a literary fiction with some dark themes. I was expecting to have more doubt about Blythe’s mental state and thought she was meant to be an unreliable narrator, but I never doubted her for a second. Overall this was fantastic and I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys fast-paced character studies and topics related to generational trauma or motherhood.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Abortion, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Murder

Moderate: Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Infidelity, and Sexual content

Minor: Bullying, Miscarriage, Self harm, Confinement, and Dementia

corvidcopia's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, and Abandonment

Moderate: Abortion

meh523's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Child abuse

devonsonnessa's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This book was fast paced because of its short chapters. The details of the story were gut-wrenching, easily drawing you in. The only thing is there wasn’t really a big “twist” in this book, and I was looking forward to a crazy twist😭

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Pregnancy, Death, Child abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Murder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Self harm and Abandonment

heatherv's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Child death

Moderate: Abandonment and Addiction

Minor: Self harm, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Stalking, Blood, Grief, and Mental illness

danimylove's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Child death

Moderate: Abortion and Suicide

sandysmith's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

3.5

I'm gradually adding books I've read in 2021 to give a true reflection of the books I've read since keeping records.  This was the first book I read in 2021, and is what kick started my reading journey having put reading on the back burner whilst bringing up the children, previously being an avid reader.  This is a story of family history and motherhood, a nature nurture based book. It's a gripping thriller about Blythe Connor a d her daughter Violet. Her mother Cecelia and Alfa and the question of whether life repeats itself. Unlikeable character, that makes the read awkward. A great read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Grief, and Child abuse

Moderate: Suicide