The Push was not quite the book I expected it to be - it's more of a thriller than literary fiction. But I found this was actually its strength - the short, sharp sentences and breathless pacing make it all the more compelling.

It's deceptively simple. The story revolves around the core theme of motherhood. But what at first seems straightforward becomes increasingly tangled. The perspective is intimate and disingenous, slipping from first to second person and between three generations of women. While the plot may be a little predictable, the narration is not, and that is what makes it a real page-turner.

Taught and compelling, The Push makes for a compulsive read.

The Push is a gripping family drama. I don't generally like 2nd person narrative but I got used to it so quickly. It felt like Blythe was telling the story to me as if I had been part of it.

I really enjoyed Blythe's narrative, yet when jumping back in time to get the history and a bit of a back story of the women in her family, I didn't enjoy it as much.

Also, the ending was slightly predictable yet left me on a total cliffhanger. I need answers.

3.5/5

I'd definitely purchase a copy for my shelf and recommend to friends.

Blythe isn’t sure about having a baby: her mother left when she was young and she doesn’t want to put her perfect marriage at risk. But her husband persuades her that she’ll be a great mother.
Reminiscent of ‘we need to talk about Kevin’, this fast and addictive thriller is split between Blythe’s traumatic relationship with her child and - back in time - between her grandmother, mother and herself.
Is Blythe a bad mother or is there something bad about her child?
This is a great read: I got through it in a day. It’s the sort of book you read with a sense of impending doom but it’s well-written and insightful.
Thoroughly recommended.

I read this in a day; I just couldn't put it down. It's incredibly pacy and for fans of Gillian Flynn, Paula Hawkins and Donna Tartt you won't be disappointed. I found myself very invested in Blythe, the protagonist, and her story - it's a frustrating read at times as you discover how she copes and operates, and learn increasingly uncomfortable things about her past.
It's a novel that gets to the heart of what it means for a woman who is forced into motherhood (an interesting read against the backdrop of the latest abortion laws being passed in the States) and also a thoughtful study on how much damage is carried through generations and some behaviour just cannot be unlearned.
I really, really loved it. It's visceral, uncomfortable, thrilling and raw and the last line made my jaw drop. I'm excited for what Ashley Audrain writes next as I know it'll be something I have to read.

I started this book and just wasn't sure it was going to be for me, I knew the write up had made me want to read it so I kept going and boy am I glad I did!

This book offers so much emotion through it, and easy to relate to elements as a parent, and you do question who is right in all of this....

The Push is a raw, emotive read that packs a punch. It's thought-provoking and lingers with you long after you've read the final page. An utterly fantastic read,

A very raw and brutally honest look at motherhood and the expectations that come with it. Acknowledging that being a mother does not guarantee maternal instinct or natural nurturing. I think this book is a fantastic book for anybody mother or not, to gain an understanding of how motherhood can challenge and change lives.

Hard to put down but also hard to read in places . a well written story surrounding motherhood and how naturally maternal we are .. or not !

From the very first chapter this book grabs you and doesn’t let go. I couldn’t put it down.

The author’s writing style is striking and the narrative is skilfully written with just enough detail to keep us readers completely hooked.

The stark reality of motherhood was well described and I loved the way the author went back into Blythe’s family history. Violet is a menacing character and her manipulation of those around her is cleverly written. All of the characters are realistic and well rounded. The plot is well paced and the whole novel has an unsettling feel that keeps you reading long past the time you thought you’d stop.

I only have great things to say about this truly fantastic book. Read it- you won’t regret it! Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy of this book.

There are so many words I could use to describe this book. Raw, compelling, unflinching, visceral. The writing is like liquid, smooth and clear like an undisturbed lake, until the rain starts to fall, and the ripples begin to stretch further and further. The Push is like standing on the edge of a cliff, waiting for the ground to fall away from beneath your feet.

It is a disturbing and brutally honest view into motherhood, and the fears most, if not all, mothers face. The fear that your child will not be what you expect. The fear that you will be unable to love them. Audrain forces you to look into the mirror that society holds up, with all the expectations on women who are mothers and women who are not. A literary masterpiece, with incredible, beautiful, and bleak writing.

Wow. What an absolute compelling emotional rollercoaster of a novel. This is all women’s fears of whether they will love or grow to love their own child and how if they don’t, societies pressures on being a “good mum” can cause some women to develop a feeling of anxiety and depression and yes a feeling of apathy of their own child. This is book that really delves into this topic and brings out all mothers fears of whether a kid learns from being bad because of them or how they are brought up and by whom. Amazing and stunning.

This was such a powerful book! I couldn't stop reading when I started. It's very complex with its characters and so raw and real. It's shedding some light on different sides of motherhood which I loved.
It's very well written that it will definitely talk to your heart.

Thanks a lot to NG nad the publisher for this copy.

Compelling and incredible writing from Ashley Audrain in this book - you can see why 'The Push' has received the hype it has to date. A very clever blend of dark women's fiction and literary thriller, the story of Blythe, her mother and grandmother are woven together; the characters so nuanced and complex that the reader is immersed into their world. The story is bleak - there are no contrived happy endings here, and it left me emotionally drained - it's an excellent read.

This book is nothing short of SENSATIONAL. Raw, unsettling and completely brilliant. I could not put it down and it has lingered with me since finishing it. Incredibly thrilling writing and a unique look at nature vs. nurture.

When Blythe's husband is keen to have children, Blythe tries to bury her concerns that she is not cut out to be a mother. She can't ignore the feeling that she will follow in the footsteps of her mother and grandmother. When their daughter arrives, Blythe's worst fears are gradually founded.

This book will be a real catalyst for conversation and discussion. It is so much more than a simple tale of family drama. It is exposing and haunting and offers one of the most raw narratives around motherhood that I have ever read. Themes of mental health, the nature of evil, motherhood and attachment. Definitely requires a trigger warning as this is an intense novel.

Five stars.