Blythe Connor wants nothing more than to be the perfect wife to her husband Fox and live up to his belief that she’s going to make a wonderful mother. Coming from a generation of malfunctioning-mothering, she is as determined as she is fearful of being the best mother to their new baby daughter, Violet.

But as hard as Blythe tries, the baby bond is missing – Violet seems to cringe at her mother’s touch and want only her father’s. As this aversion grows, Blythe wonders if there is something wrong with her little girl, or is she manifesting her every fear? Then, Sam is born, and she feels the fulfillment of maternal, pure, reciprocated love.

When the unspeakable happens, Blythe’s life becomes a nightmarish existence. Has her despair warped her soundness? Do her suspicions have any rationalization? Is it normal for a mother to have these thoughts?

The Push is not packaged in pretty words and wrapped up with the ribbon of happy endings. Audrain skilfully delivers some gravely serious issues to the reader unboxed; baring unspoken terrors that should stay buried deep in a parent’s psyche because they cannot even be thought of, for fear they become real.

A daring-to-go-to-dark places, staggering story, that I read with my body tensed and heart pounding. I could not put it down until the last spine-tingling sentence.

The Push is one of 2021’s must-reads.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada, for the read of Ashley Audrain’s, The Push.

Opinions expressed are my own.

Audrain’s debut is full of beautiful, poetic prose, but I found myself unable to get into the actual story. This was largely due to the book’s pacing issues and the second person POV. It takes a phenomenal writer to make second person writing work, and unfortunately, I don’t think Audrain is there yet. The POV often took me out of the narrative, which I found somewhat sloppy as well.

The highlights of this book were the flashbacks to the seventies following Blythe’s mother, but largely just because it was a break from the novel’s unreliable (and entirely unlikeable) narrator.

This book was hard to read, and not in a good way. What was billed as a psychological thriller read more like a laundry list of new mom complaints at times and torture porn at others. The weirdly short chapters didn't help either.

As a fellow Torontonian, I really wanted to love this book, but I just couldn’t.

The Push by Ashley Audrain is a psychological thriller about mothers and daughters, expectations of motherhood, and mental illness.

The long standing expectation of parents, and in particular mothers, is that they will have an instant bond with their child, automatically be nurturing and loving, but not everyone has this experience. It certainly wasn't true for Blythe Connor's mother and Blythe wants to be so much better than her own mother.

When Blythe and her husband Fox, have their daughter, Violet, Blythe doesn't feel connected to her. The little girl seems to like her father more and they obviously have a special bond. Parenthood is hard; maybe it's just a phase and maybe it's just the difficulties of adjusting to motherhood, but Blythe feels it's more than that. As Violet grows older, the distance is still there. Fox dismisses Blythe and sometimes Blythe thinks maybe it is all in her head.

When their son Sam is born Blythe has an instant connection with him. This causes some tension between Blythe and Fox and when the unimaginable happens it only pushes them further from each other.

This thriller is written from Blythe's perspective which makes the reader wonder if she is a reliable narrator. Is what she thinks about her family true? Are all of the other mothers really better at mothering than she is? Can she keep her marriage together? The flashbacks to her own mother and childhood are heart wrenching.

The story moves at a good pace and the only character we get to know well is Blythe which is very clever for this story and adds to the mystery of what is really happening and who the reader can trust.

The ending was not a surprise for me, but only because I have read similar stories. Overall, I thought this was an excellent debut and I look forward to reading more from Ashley Audrain.


Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for an e-copy.

This is a VERY INTENSE psychological drama that kept me reading all night! I think the author did an UH-MAZING job portraying Blythe's struggle with and navigating through motherhood. I really enjoyed the second-person perspective that Audrain used throughout the book. I think it definitely brought the characters to life and provided a dark feel to the book (probably intentional??). Looking forward to reading more books from Ashley Audrain!

Wow! This was an immersive, difficult read that will stay with me for a long time. I've seen it compared to "We Need to Talk about Kevin," and I can see why, but I like the added exploration of intergenerational trauma. I will recommend it wholeheartedly to customers in the bookstore where I work, drawing their attention to a number of content warnings, including the death of a child, mental illness, and child abuse.

Amazing read. It’s gripping, heartbreaking, and utterly fascinating. It’s the best book I’ve read in a while. You need to pick this one up. Trust me.

4 STARS

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?

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Wow, THE PUSH was a wild ride. Dark, unsettling and completely addicting, I wasn't able to put it down!

This is definitely not going to be a book for everyone (this one has been compared to Baby Teeth, so be prepared) however, it was exactly what I look for in a psychological thriller. THE PUSH has it all: confusing, unreliable narrator. Well fleshed out, flawed characters. Plus a creepy kid (seriously, as an educator she would have raised some BIG red flags!) and a gas lighting husband. Put it all together and you have an "un-put-downable" thriller with a shocking ending. You won't want to miss this one!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for my ARC and #gifted review copy. THE PUSH is out now!

Y’all……where do I even begin? I loved this. So much so I gave it my first five stars of 2021.

If you haven’t heard of this very hyped debut, it’s about a new mother adjusting to motherhood and coming to terms with the histories of bad parenting in her own family tree. However, as soon as her first child is born, she gets the sense that something is wrong. Some may call it motherly instinct. When strange and terrible instances start happening around her daughter, she starts to wonder if there’s really something wrong with the girl or if it’s all in her head.

This was a dark, twisted, heartbreaking novel about the hardships of motherhood and childhood and how our own experiences shape us. That whole multigenerational study was my favourite part of this book because it was so real.

And since this book is a thriller, I have to talk about the more chilling aspects of this book. A major theme when it came to the terrible and sinister and mind boggling moments was when no one believed Blythe at all. No one took into consideration what she was saying or feeling, they all just swept it under the rug. She’s the one with the bad childhood after all. But it was so frustrating to read through and really added a sense of vulnerability and suspense that I really loved. I will say that the things that happen in this book are not for the lighthearted. Please read my trigger warnings and please check other reviews for any I may have missed because this can be an extremely triggering read.

This was a truly compelling read. I think the relationships were beautifully done and this is really a book about mother / daughter relationships and how it shapes us and how it shapes others views on ourselves. I would highly recommend you go out and pick this up for yourself!

(posted on my blog @perusewithcoffee)

Quite a riveting pager turner for me! I found this book hard to put down and I caught myself thinking about the plot long into my evenings. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Book Rating : ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Cover rating : 🌟 🌟 🌟

This seems to be one of this year’s biggest hits so far, but it really didn’t stand out for me too much. It felt quite similar to We Need To Talk About Kevin, but less disturbing and violent

What I liked

✔️ the back stories of Blythe’s grandmother and mother , and Blythe’s childhood - I wish there had been more
✔️I liked Blythe - with all her faults and mistakes, I thought she tried her best

What I didn’t like
✖️ the husband - he just totally annoyed

Wow, this was unexpected! It was a rough emotional ride. I was assuming it was another thriller, a la Gone Girl, one of many similar attempts to grab that market. So this was a surprise in a lot of ways. The emotional depth caught me off guard.

The writing was a little haphazard and the pace was definitely uneven, but that perhaps was intentional. I see how that mirrors the state of mind of the protagonist. I'm a bit all over the place with this one because for me, it didn't read like a thriller, which is how its being marketed, but in a category I can't quite pigeonhole. (There were few of the hallmarks of thrillers, no "twist', not that that takes away from the book at all, but more like it requires an adjustment to the reader's expectations.) After finishing the book, I feel very much what the protagonist must be feeling: numb and sad. I'm honestly not sure where to place this. It's a book that I'll think about in the future, long after I've forgotten many others.

This book grabbed my attention from the first page and didn't let me go until the last. Every time I put the book down, my thoughts were with Blythe and Violet, wondering where the story was going.

The Push, uniquely written in second person, follows Blyth and her family. Blythe comes from a long line of neglectful mothers, and is determined to be a better one herself. While her relationship with her daughter, Violet, isn't the one she hoped for, she gets a second chance with her son, Sam. A family tragedy changes everything.

This thriller is one that left me feeling breathless at the wild ride it took me on. The fact that I still cannot stop thinking about it meant it left its mark on me.

Review on Instagram (@2girls2manybooks).

I’m not sure what to make of this novel. The opening scene grabs you, making you wonder why someone would be watching an ordinary family through their front windows, pondering their once upon a time life with the family being stalked. As the story unfolds and we learn about Blythe, her mother Cecilia and grandmother Etta you know this is going to be a unique read.

“One day you’ll understand, Blythe. The women in this family...we’re different.” Loc129

I’ll say. When Blythe gives birth to Violet she struggles to bond with her daughter. She herself was abandoned by her mother when she was only eleven but did have a warm and loving mother figure in her early life. Is she suffering from postpartum depression, some emotional inability to connect with her first born or is there something wrong with Violet, something inherently evil?

The Push examines the nature versus nurture argument in vivid and at times graphic detail. Do you grow up lacking empathy because your mother abused you physically or emotionally or were you born a sociopath causing your mother to pull away in horror? This idea is circled and explored as the lives of Fox and Blythe and their two children Violet and Sam play out. I can’t say this was a comfortable read. As psychological thrillers go, the pacing is slow, so slow it feels like you are watching a train crash in slow motion. You know there will be carnage but you can’t look away.

If you are looking for an introspective look at the human psyche this might be the book for you. If you are considering getting pregnant, the birth scene might change your mind. And if you are looking for a light and happy read, this isn’t it.

ARC received with thanks from publisher via NetGalley for review.

Blythe is a mom who doesn't really think she wants to be a mother, and she thinks maybe her mother and grandmother potentially both felt the same way. This book is told from Blythe's perspective and explores generational patterns of child neglect and feelings of in adequacy when it comes to motherhood. Blythe's struggles are due to her being unable to form a bond with her first child, Violet, and being dismissed when she shares with her husband that she believes Violet may have something wrong with her. It isn't until her second child arrives that Blythe experiences a glimpse of normalcy, until one day when her life is shattered into a million pieces.

This book definitely deserves all of the hype that it is getting. It starts out slow as you get a feel for Blythe and her familial struggles, and then it becomes so devastatingly captivating that you won't be able to put it down. I have never read a thriller that is written as a character study of sorts, and I found that the unique way the story is told forces the reader to become fully invested in each page. I cannot recommend this book enough.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. This novel was nothing like I expected which was refreshing. It kept me in suspense from start to finish, with a TON of sharp turns that I didn’t see coming. The characters are multi-dimensional and easy to believe. Great book to help get you through stay-at-home orders.

When I picked up this novel I didn't realize that it was written by a debut author. Ashley Audrain pulls you right into this novel from the very first page. I had to literally force myself to put the book down and get some sleep as I had to work the next morning. I am sure I could have read the whole book in one sitting. The chapters are short and it weaves back and forth between different characters, I didn't find it hard to follow but I know some people don't like the alternate POV. This is a psychological suspense that will have you at the end of your seat wondering what will happen next. It is not one of those scary, murder mysteries. It is a story that follows three mothers and their mental health during motherhood. It will make you stop and think about things your own mother or yourself may have thought or down. This book brought me to tears and gave me goosebumps. I still think about it and know I will likely read this one again. I look forward to reading more by Audrain.

I give this book a 5 stars!

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Push.

When I requested this copy I had no inkling of the story which was about to unfold. I’m so glad I went into this journey blind! A young woman finds the love of her life and they begin their marriage, as so many couples do, with hope and blind faith. Pressured by her husband, Blythe gives birth to a daughter who is the apple of her father’s eye. A short time later a son is born, the centre of Blythe’s world; a world which crashes down all around her and changes the course of her life.

The novel is written in the first person, that voice being Blythe’s. There is also another timeline introduced early on. Blythe’s mother and grandmother’s stories are peppered throughout The Push and gives the reader an important insight into Blythe’s psyche. The book was enthralling in a very slow and subtle way. From the first few pages, I wanted to find out more about this family and the woman behind the voice. How did she get to this point? What lengths will she go to? Is she to blame or can she overcome her upbringing? Did it really happen?...you won’t be able to put this book down until you’ve answered those questions for yourself. A great read for a cold wintery weekend!

This book was not for me. I feel like it was written solely for shock value, and if that was the case then it delivered.
I’m not certain what The Push was intending to bring to the table as far as the conversation around PPD/PPA but I am certain that in the wrong hands this book could be very dangerous. This author had the opportunity to remove the stigma around these serious and dangerous illnesses and to normalize the dialogue around mothers that truly need to seek help. But instead the book just seemed to play off of these serious emotions in order to make a buck I suppose. It left me with a sick feeling from start to finish.
That being said, the writing was very good and I can only hope that the author will use her skills in the future towards a more constructive instead of destructive story.

This tense psychological thriller is set mostly around Blythe a young woman, who falls in love, marries, and has children. But it jumps back into the experiences of other women in her family at certain points, and into her own childhood. Besides her own earlier life experiences, we see her mother Cecilia and her grandmother Etta.
Beginning with Etta, who had a difficult childhood and felt like an outsider, we see a pattern with her daughter Cecilia, who felt unloved, yet tried to connect with her mother, until she couldn't anymore, and tried to find a better life for herself. And Blythe herself tried to connect with her mother, but when she couldn't found a substitute mother figure to connect with.
Blythe isn't sure about her own ability to be a good mother. Her husband Fox reassures her and pushes her on the issue, and she has a baby girl, Violet. But Blythe doesn't feel a connection to her daughter at first, and finds the lack of sleep, the lack of understanding from Fox, and her own daughter's personality all contribute to this. Her second child, Sam, is a completely different story, and she connects with him instantly and continues to as he grows. She worries about the discrepancy between the children, but Violet seems to cherish Sam as well, and she hopes that life will improve for the family.
One thing I found interesting was the men in this book. They were largely absent emotionally for Blythe and her mother and grandmother. The women in the previous generations had strong personalities and the men seemed to focus on them rather than their daughters. For Blythe it is different. Once Violet is born, she is Fox's focus and Blythe's concerns and feelings are dismissed and ignored. So Blythe has been failed twice by the men in her life.
Even when things are dark, Blythe doubts herself and tries to make some type of connection to her daughter, but once Sam exists, we can see that her joy is from him. She has a good relationship with her mother-in-law and has confided in her to some extent, but holds back as Blythe expects that if sides have to be chosen, she will not be.
Things escalate slowly, pull back, and escalate again, with the suspense growing as the plot moves forward. I found the one friend connection that Blythe made interesting and how it still had a shadow that existed even when it stopped being what it was.
An amazing read!

It's hard for a "thriller" to impress me these days, but this one contains as much character study as it does suspense - which makes it stand out from the crowd. It explores the (much) darker side of motherhood, which is not always easy to read especially when one has firsthand experience. But it's very elegantly written, with the kind of short chapters that convince you to read just one more and end up in a book that's finished within a day.

And it doesn't hurt that the last page gave me a little shiver!