I’d heard a lot about this book so was interested to listen. It was interesting even with it being an uncomfortable and very dark one with a lot going on that portrays how certain issues can impact different parts of someone’s life. It might be triggering for some people as the book discusses the issues of child loss, neglect, PND, abandonment and relationship break-ups in great detail. I felt the flow of the story didn’t work as it was told in the first and second person which I normally love but just found it a little annoying and confusing not to mention jumping from one to the other. I found the characters very unlikeable but maybe that was the idea and being in Blythe’s head throughout was a little depressing. I don’t think it’s a case that I didn’t like it but more so I found it an uncomfortable and hard listen due to the context and not my usual go to. I know a lot of people loved this book and I do think it’s the kind of book you either love it or hate it. 

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House UK Audio for the opportunity to listen and review this ARC that was published on the 7th of Jan.

An amazing read/listen   I loved it
 I cannot recommend this enough.  It is credible heart stopping & exciting   I can't wait for more from this writer

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin for the advance copy of the audiobook for an honest review. 

I think I went into this thinking it was more of a thriller than it actually is trying to be.  I dont think the cover or description helps. Whilst this has got thrilling and dark elements, it is more dark general fiction, not a whodunit or a domestic thriller in the traditional sense.  

We follow multiple female perspectives, if I'm honest it was hard in the audio jumoiung between them all.  It wasn't too clear.  

It is a story, mainly focused on Blythe's experiences of motherhood.  It was raw and it did not hold back from detail.  I am starting to find myself drifting more towards stories about motherhood as I get older.  She believes there is something wrong with her daughter.  But, when she gives birth to her second child she passes it off as she sees how much her daughter cares for her baby brother. 

Then something happens that sends the family spiralling.  

I appreciated this book, it was good to hear a voice like the main characters.  But, it needed editing.  I dont think the other persepctives were needed.  I dont think they added anything that important.  It detracted from the pace, I dont think I gained anything from their perspectives being there.  

By the end I didn't really care about the 'twist'.  It felt cheap.  A quick way to turn the reader around a the last second. It wasnt really a surprise. 

I am more interesting in the fall out of this book, what happened afterwards.  That feels like it could be a compelling story.  

Not a bad book, not a great book.  Worth a read if you're interested in perspectives of motherhood taking a darker tone.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Audio UK for providing access to this title in exchange for an honest review.

This was not an enjoyable read. Though it is obvious from the synopsis that this will deal with dark and uncomfortable topics, it simply does not present them well and this, combined with a host of almost entirely unengaging and unlikeable characters, did not make for a title I would recommend.

While Audrain has a unique and undoubtedly talented way of writing, it is not a style of writing that is for everyone and it prevents the audience from losing themselves in the reading process.

This is a book that had me gripped. I couldn’t put it down. It’s dark, thrilling and wonderfully written. A chilling tale of nature vs nurture. Definitely one to read if you can. 

Thank you to Penguin Random House UK Audio for this advance copy.

The Push - Ashley Audrain

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review thanks to Penguin Random House UK Audio and Netgalley. Read by Marin Ireland.

Blythe Connor is determined that she will be the warm, comforting mother to her new baby Violet that she herself never had.

But in the thick of motherhood’s exhausting early days, Blythe becomes convinced that something is wrong with her daughter–she doesn’t behave like most children do.

Or is it all in Blythe’s head? Her husband, Fox, says she’s imagining things. The more Fox dismisses her fears, the more Blythe begins to question her own sanity, and the more we begin to question what Blythe is telling us about her life as well.

This is a well written, powerful and gripping psychological thriller. The Push is brutally honest in places and raises the debate of nature vs nurture. Whilst the main topic of the book is a mother’s maternal instincts, you do not need to be a mother to understand the emotional struggles of Blythe.

The book starts off slow but quickly gathers pace and hooks in the reader.

Rating 4/5

A brilliant debut novel.

The cover of this book is what caught my attention and then once I’d read the synopsis I knew I wanted to read it. Thank you to @MichaelJBooks and @audrain for this advanced audio copy of The Push in return for an honest review. The Push is published today; 7th January 2021 and you can get a copy here.

Description 🔖

Blythe Connor did not receive the upbringing that a child deserves but she does not want the cycle to continue. When her first daughter Violet is born, she knows that she will shower her with mother’s love. Except becoming a parent for the first time isn’t always flowers and rainbows and Blythe struggles with her baby girl.

Her husband Fox, doesn’t take Blythe’s concerns seriously and insists that she is imagining the disdain that Violet has towards her. Blythe feels like nothing she can do can mend the relationship between her and her daughter and fears that the love she has for her family will not be enough to save it.

General Thoughts 🤔

This book brought out feelings in me that I didn’t know were there. I got so invested in the storyline and the characters that it felt so real and so close to me personally. I haven’t been through any of the things that any of the characters have but goodness it hit me.

I didn’t find this an easy book to read but it was a book I could not put down. I mean there were a few times I had to because it all felt a bit much, but I was back in very shortly after. It’s as dark as storylines get and for some sick reason, that’s what made me love it so much. The whole concept of dysfunctional mother daughter relationships being passed down in generations was fascinating. I found myself questioning if wanting to break the cycle is enough to actually break it or is it something that’s just ingrained in people from early on in life.

Characters 👭👬👫

Immediately I was gripped by the characters in this book. They were all deeply flawed in very different ways.

My heart broke for Blythe. Many times whilst reading I thought about whether anyone would do things differently to how she did. I felt like Blythe had been dealt a seriously bad hand in life and did not receive the love, attention and support that all of us require just to make it through the day sometimes. Throw into that the difficulties with Violet and I can’t even imagine what I would have done in her shoes.

I thought that Fox was disappointing as a man, as a husband and as a father. I suspected that this was due to the type of childhood that he had; stay at home mother who doted on him and a comfortable family life. Maybe he put so much pressure on his own adult life to mirror that of his parents that he blinded himself to the reality that was right in front of his eyes in his own home.

Writing Style ✍️

This is a fantastically written debut novel. I take so much pleasure from reading great debuts as it’s almost like I can feel the love that must have gone into the author’s work. One thing I will say is that I’m not sure I would want to live in Ashley Audrain’s brain; there are some pretty dark places hidden in there.

The book flits back and forth between Blythe as a child and Blythe as an adult. It is all written from her perspective; as I believe it should have been. I listened to the audiobook and the narration was perfect for the character of Blythe and the story. If I was to hear that voice again, it would be Blythe’s voice I’d be listening to.

Conclusion & Scoring 🏅

I had chills reading this and any book that can do that for such an extended period of time has to be great right? All of the feels jump right off the page and I challenge anyone to read this and not empathise with the struggle, the loneliness and despair that’s threaded throughout the story. A fantastic book about the dark side of motherhood. I’m so happy this is published today as I’ve already got friends downloading to read. I won’t be forgetting about this incredible story any time soon.

Whilst I found it somewhat difficult to keep the characters straight in my head as I was listening, I found this novel engaging and fascinating. Thoroughly chilling as our narrator believes her daughter holds a darkness in her but no one around her seems to see it. 

The ending, well, that was just the cherry on top of an already great book.

I had no expectations when beginning this novel, and sometimes, that's even better. I knew it was meant to be good, but didn't know which direction the book would take me down.
This book gave me chills. Actual chills. It was SO unsettling and the child character Violet will stay with me for a very long time.
The audiobook was absolutely fantastic and I loved the narrator's voice. She captured the anxiety and stress of every situation perfectly.
I am astounded that this is a debut novel. Audrain is one to watch.

I listened to this story on Audiobook. The narrator had a calming voice and brought the book to life. 

The book starts by saying that a woman's eggs are traceable back through the mother and grandmother. The book explains it better. It flits between different timelines of the grandmother, mother and the daughter who is the main character. Each daughter narrates each timeline. I'm not sure if it was because it was an audiobook but I did get confused on who was who. But, honestly, it didn't really matter as you realise they all suffered from the hands of their mothers. Then this is transferred down the line.

It's a weirdly shocking book of abuse but very powerful reading. You get into the minds of each relation and the subsequent relationship with their own daughter. It's quite disturbing and shocking but at the same time I couldn't stop listening. I don't think the words I enjoyed this book are the right words but I was sucked in and couldn't get out! The ending sent chills down my spine.

I was lucky enough to have both the print copy and the audio version of this book.

The book took me a little while to get into - I think this was because I started with the audiobook, and I wasn't particularly liking the narrator. She had an incredibly strong american accent, and I found it quite monotone at times. However, when I started reading the hard copy I was gripped. After I was gripped by the hardcopy I felt like I could go back to the audio version - and so for the rest of the book I flipped between the audio and hardcopy.

The book isn't at all what I expected, based on the blurb I thought the book would be more of a thriller, but it felt a lot like literary fiction. The entire time you are wondering about the authenticity of the narrator, Blythe. I love books with a unreliable narrator, as it always feels more realistic - I mean, everyone sees things differently and would have their own version of the truth - this is the same with this book.
There is so much going on with this book, and would be a great bookclub read, as there is a lot to discuss and unpick.

I feel that this book will stay with me for a long time. I really loved the writing style, and I felt connected to the characters. This book is heartbreaking, and intriguing all at once.

I would recommend the print version to the audiobook - just purely as I didn't think much of the narrator. But either way - you MUST read this book. I feel it will be a massive talking point in 2021!

The Push is a thought provoking novel that tackles many difficult issues, the main one being what should a mother do if she knows her child is dangerous? 

When Blythe becomes pregnant, she worries that she won’t be a good mother. The book examines her relationship with her husband and new daughter Violet, while also telling the story of her mother and grandmother. The history shows they were not naturally maternal and in some situations, abusive and neglectful to their daughters. 

Blythe and Violet do not bond and although Blythe cares for her infant, she feels disconnected and can see her husband has a more natural relationship with her. Blythe’s instincts tell her that Violet isn’t like other children, and after a serious incident at a playground, these concerns are confirmed. 
The story continues as baby Sam comes into their lives and Blythe suddenly feels all the emotions she knows were missing with Violet. 

I found this to be an intense read that provoked many emotions in me. The no holds barred descriptions of pregnancy, birth and motherhood, as well as the close examination of marriage and relationships was brutally honest and refreshing. The story is also terrifying in parts and created many questions in my mind regarding a mother’s love and loyalty. 

The narrator was an added bonus to my enjoyment of this novel and did a fantastic job of creating real tension and high emotion. A brilliant Book Club read.

"The Push" encompasses the stories of three generations of mothers and subverts our expectations about traditional mother/daughter relationships. I wondered throughout whether Blythe was perhaps an unreliable narrator and you'll just have to read it to find out. The book also raises questions about nature vs nurture. Ashley Audrain's dark debut makes for compulsive reading and I suspect it stays with you long after the final, shocking lines. 

I listened to the audiobook which is brilliantly narrated by Marin Ireland, who is fast becoming one of my favourite voice artists.

This is an audio book review for The Push by Ashley Audrain. The story follows several generations of mothers within a family.  Blythe is the main character who becomes pregnant. she tries to be enthusiastic about becoming a mother but when her daughter  Violet is born she  doesn’t bond with her. Her husband Fox develops a strong relationship with the child while Blythe and Violets begins to flounder. 
Throughout the story we flicker back through time to Blythes mother Cecilia and then back even further to Cecilias mother Etta and take a look at all of these complex mother daughter relationships which are disturbing  and unsettling at times. 
When Blythe has another child, who she does bond with immediately, Violets dark side emerges and the reader is taken down an even darker and unthinkable path. 
This is a gritty, dark psychological debut and not for the faint hearted. Audrain’s writing is excellent and she knows exactly how to reel you in .I think this book will be big in 2021 and would be particularly good for book groups as there is so much content to discuss. 
Narrated by Marin Ireland and delivered in short punchy audio chapters, this makes for a great audiobook! This book is out on the 7th of June 2021. Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for my much appreciated gifted copy.