Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

The Push by Ashley Audrain

157 reviews

rskey's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

Moderate: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Abortion, and Abandonment

allison_elaine's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Child death

Moderate: Self harm and Gaslighting

Minor: Abandonment

baileylemoine's review against another edition

I couldn't handle how graphic the depictions of child abuse were, the flashback portions made it feel like an inevitable and unchanging cycle of shame and pain. The writing is gripping - very well done- but I couldn't stomach it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Abandonment

kirkspockreads's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Grief, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

Moderate: Bullying, Infidelity, Self harm, Medical content, and Medical trauma

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

catroth's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

0.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

micaelacccc's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Infidelity, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Murder

Minor: Suicide

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

Moderate: Miscarriage, Suicide, Abortion, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Self harm and Death of parent