I don't know what I was expecting with this book, but it wasn't this... BUT I was not disappointed.
This book is a creepy, page turner, with alternating timelines and many villains. 

Hoping to break the cycle of failed mother / daughter relationships, Blythe, tries to be a good mother, but its difficult when you're not sure what that looks like. 
It's also difficult with a daughter like Violet.

Well written, and interesting.

The Push is an absolutely raw portrait of motherhood and all it's associated emotions. 
Thank you to Penguin Random House and Netgalley for my eARC for review.
This debut novel by Ashley Audrain is equal parts difficult to read and impossible to put down.
Blythe's story is told as a second-person narrative to her husband Fox. 
With the birth of their first child, daughter Violet, something isn't right. There's a huge disconnect between mother and daughter and an absolutely dismissive father/husband not helping the situation. As Violet grows up, her behaviors go from indifference to deliberately hurtful to outright harmful. This contrasts to their second child, son Sam, who Blythe is enchanted with immediately.
There are so many dark and emotional elements in The Push - generational trauma, profound grief and despair, mistrust, guilt, lies and tragedy. Audrain's aching and methodical writing style takes you right into Blythe's reality and sustains it throughout the novel. There's a feeling of We Need To Talk About Kevin throughout, which is a book that affected me and The Push has accomplished the same. Right to the very last freaking page! 
Recommended, but know the subject matter going into it.
For release on Jan. 5, 2021.

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ashley Audrain's debut novel is a dark and unsettling family drama you will not be able to put down.

This is the story of Blythe, who married her college sweetheart, and her experience entering motherhood. She is unable to connect with her firstborn Violet and quickly starts to believe that something is not quite right with her. Her husband dismisses her concerns and simply encourages her to try harder and spend more time with Violet. To the point where Blythe starts to question herself.  When her son is born a few years later, the connection is instant. 

We follow the story of this family's breakdown from Blythe's perspective. It was hard to read at times, a lot of what Blythe thinks and feels are things that go against what is socially acceptable to say out loud. A mother is not supposed to say she does not love her child and something is wrong with them. 

Interspersed with Blythe's telling of her story is chapters from her childhood and her mother's childhood, so we get a glimpse of previous generations attempt at motherhood. 

This book had me from the first chapter. Audrain grabbed my attention and never let me go. I cannot wait to see what's next from this author!

This is a debut novel from this Canadian author.  A psychological thriller, it explores motherhood.  Blythe was raised by a dysfunctional mother, who in turn was raised by her dysfunctional mother and their stories are told in flashbacks during the book.  Blythe is determined to do things differently and is thrilled to have a baby girl, Violet...but she soon suspects the difficulty she is having lies more with her daughter rather then her parenting skills.  As a reader you are never quite sure if the Blythe as the narrator is reliable or not, especially given her past.  This is a riveting book and a great recommendation for fans of books such as "Baby Teeth" and "We Need to Talk About Kevin"  It would also make a great choice for book clubs.  I really enjoyed it.

I'm not sure if one has to be a mother to really feel impacted by this story.  I wouldn't think so.  I chose it because it sounded like a good "tense psychological drama", according to the description. I read lots of psychological dramas and I enjoy them. Anyway, it was not for me. It was okay, but I can't say I enjoyed it. 

The story is about Blythe, who is mother to Violet. We are told, in flashbacks, the story of Cecilia (Blythe's mother) and Etta (Blythe's grandmother) and their struggles with motherhood and mother-daughter relationships in some kind of attempt to help us understand Blythe's own struggles with her relationship to Violet.  Blythe doesn't even know most of these stories, as she had/has no relationship with her mother, nor with her grandmother. Blythe also has a son, Sam, and then we are exposed to a sibling relationship between Violet and Sam.  This is where the story seems to drift, as I couldn't connect the Violet-Sam relationship to anything else in the story.  What does Violet's attitude towards her sibling have to do with Blythe's-Cecilia's-Etta's relationships? I have no idea. 

I could see where all the dots are somewhat nebulously connected, but none were connected in a firm enough way to give an "aha" moment of understanding. Maybe this was the point? Regardless, Blythe struggles to connect with her daughter, which affects her relationship with her husband, Violet's father. After a tragedy occurs, the marriage becomes irretrievably broken and the story continues with Blythe sharing custody as a single mother, and her warped effort to connect to her ex-husband's new partner.

The novel is written in 1st and 2nd person which was just awful.  The long 1st person monologues felt like I was sitting with a frenemy listening to her go on and on ("I did this, I saw that, I went here, I met so-and-so...") ad nauseum. The 1st and 2nd person passages made me feel like I was listening so the same frenemy's argument with her husband ("I did this and you did that and I said this and you said that"). Enough already. Get me out of here.  

Being in Blythe's head for most of this novel was unpleasant, dark and depressing. I disliked all the characters except the one I was supposed to dislike. It's hard to read a long novel when you hate all the characters and want to shake some sense into all of them and tell them all to go get some therapy. 

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher, Penguin Random House Canada, for this ARC. I'm sorry I didn't like it.

The Push
Wow! So pleased to have been given an ARC from Net Gallery for this book, “The Push” by Ashley Audrain. I was hooked immediately, wondering why a mother would be looking from the outside at her young daughter on the inside of a house, a daughter who was clearly aware of being studied and taking, what seemed to be a power-wielding, and cold posture.  There was so much to unravel!  Ms. Aubrain gave Blythe Connor, the mother of Violet, a voice through the narration of her thoughts, worries and retelling of her horrific family history.  Of particular note was her intuition of her daughter’s possible twisted mind, yet being placated by her husband Fox, that it was only her own past that was influencing her relationship with her daughter negatively. Aubrain’s writing was not contrived, but very believable. The reader is never sure, unlike many thriller novels. Sam’s birth brought a new light and hope in to this small family until the unspeakable happens. This book will be highly suited for a rich book club discussion. The day-to-day experiences we have with our own children can give us insights to any health issues far better than anyone’s from the outside. The exploration of the insecurities and fears of motherhood and child rearing will keep many readers compelled to stay up late in to the night to finish this book!

This debut novel by Ashley Audrain begins in a slow, slightly disconcerting way with the narrator addressing an unknown, unseen person but soon picks up steam and becomes a tense and disturbing story of psychological suspense that draws you in and never lets go until the end.
Blythe is a young wife expecting her first baby but she's experiencing great anxiety about her ability to be a mother. The product of two generations of neglectful mothers, she wonders if she can really summon up any semblance of maternal instinct. When her baby, Violet, arrives she tries hard to be the best mother she can, but the feeling that something is wrong with her child persist. Is it all in her head as her husband Fox believes? Or is it that she's doomed to follow in her mother's and grandmother's footsteps? It's not until her son, Sam is born that she finds out it may not be since she discovers maternal feelings she never dreamed of when she sees him.
The novel alternates between Blythe agonizing about her feelings - doubting herself and her sanity while trying to be a good mother to two such different children, and flashbacks to Blythe's own mother and grandmother's story and the truly disturbing history of their relationship. At times the transition to the past is a little jarring but ultimately these sections provide important background information about Blythe.
The novel builds towards a deeply disturbing climax and does not shy away from dark, unsettling issues. A compelling read. Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Scuster for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I found the plot engrossing; Blythe's honesty about motherhood was highly refreshing!
I struggled with the structure of the story a bit.
The delivery felt more like a collection of essays rather than a novel.
Pulled me out of the story more than I would have liked.
Thanks to NetGalley & Penguin Random House Canada for my DRC.

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Canada and Ashley Audrain for the Arc of The Push
This was a page turner for sure, and a great read, well done.
This story is written primarily present day but does go back in time to describes some of the main character's, Blythe, family life. The author writes this novel from the main characters perspective, it is very well written. 
The present day story is about Blythe and her husband, the first child they have together, Violet. Blythe struggles to love this child, she feels there is just something about her. Then they have a son and he is everything to Blythe.  She finally has that overwhelming love a parent should have for their child. Over the next couple of years, Blythe can't shake the feeling that something is wrong with Violet, but her husband doesn't see it, he has that father daughter bond. 
I won't go into more detail to avoid giving away what happens, but read this book to find out. I recommend it.
This book goes into challenges of being a mother , a wife, understanding our children, are people inherently good or bad? Is meaness born into us. The guilt we feel as parents thinking our child could be evil.

Author Ashley Audrain does a masterful job of telling a story of motherhood from a side seldom seen. Blythe Conner is a mother who can't connect with her firstborn. She questions herself and her instincts. The reader will, if like  me, swing on the pendulum of is she right or is she wrong about this daughter. She then has a son with whom she has an almost fanatical connection. What sort of mother is Blythe? 
Audrain's writing is compelling. The book's pages kept turning as I looked for the clues, hated then pitied the daughter, cried with and for Blythe and wanted to put her husband in a powerful blender to perhaps shake him up and open his eyes, or not? Perhaps he was right? 
A very good read by a first-time author. Highly recommended

An outstanding debut novel! This is a very well written, powerful and gripping novel about motherhood A chilling and visceral look at motherhood through a multigenerational dysfunctional family. It examines the dark side of motherhood, where the role of mother is not all its cracked up to be, breaking under societal expectations of motherhood, mother-child relationships and raises the dark questions of nature versus nurture.  

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada who provided me with a copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4!
This book raises such interesting discussions of nature versus nature, full of generations of stories of trauma, and the impact that now has on Blythe, raising her own kids. Can a cycle of abuse and neglect be broken? There were many other topics breached including postpartum, divorce and separation, and the idealization of motherhood.

The way the story is told, all from Blythe's perspective except for the flashbacks from her mother (Cecelia's) perspective, is fascinating and I turned the pages compulsively. The story is tense and the topics are heavy- The Push had me questioning what was real and what was in Blythe's head, right up until the very last paragraph of the book.

Read if you liked: We Need to Talk About Kevin

This was a good debut novel, and I can't wait to see what is next from Audrain!

This is Ashley’s debut novel and she does a good job.  The story starts off slow, but it builds and is hard to put down in the end.  It tells the story of Blythe Connor and her journey through motherhood.  Blythe doesn’t want to be like her mother and grandmother were, but she doesn’t know how to be a warm caring mother to her daughter.  Then she gives birth to a son and she has and feels that motherly connection that she never has with her daughter.  When tragedy strikes the family will be pulled apart and Blythe will question just who her daughter really is and whether it’s her or her daughter that is the cause of their discord. 
Thank you Penguin for the advanced copy and NetGalley too.
#thepush #netgalley #indigoemployee

This was an intense book!  It was great, but I wasn't expecting it to be quite as "disturbing" as it was.
This is a true piece of psychological fiction.  It's not a thriller as I was expecting it to be, but more of a story told over the course of multiple generations all dealing with different types of mental illness.
There are many trigger warnings that need to go along with this book - child loss, mental illness, child abandonment, suicide to name a few.  I could see why this book wouldn't be for everyone, but I thought it was incredibly well written and I was hooked.
I rooted for the main character and even loved the fact that there was a bit of a cliffhanger ending.
I think before anyone reads this book they should be aware that there is some disturbing content, but I would definitely recommend this book.

The Push is a well written dark psychological thriller that is a compelling read.  

The subject matter is not for the faint of the heart and yet the author draws you in from page one. 

It is a story of multi generation abuse, trauma and lack of nurturing.  

Blythe is desperately trying to break this cycle .  

It is a tense read and yet I could not put it down.  

I don't want to say too much in order not to give anything away.

The Push will be the talk of 2021 

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House, Viking for a compelling read.

Wow. I am Completely blown away by this novel. One of the best books I’ve read in 2020. I cannot Stop raving about this book! Shared my full review on my Instagram @deebibliophilia. It is unputdownable, twisted, and kept me
Guessing till the last second.

Gone Girl meets motherhood. Perfect for fans of psychological thrillers and fem-noir. 

Motherhood defines many women, not only through their own progeny, should they have any, but through their own experiences. Following three generations, Push is a dark and complex story that explores the ties of motherhood, love, and family. What do you do when you don't have a good role model of a mother, when you become one yourself? How are you to know how to show love, and create those bonds if you never had them yourself? For many romantic and familial partners, it is assumed that women just know. And when they don't, when they struggle, it is viewed as a failing. This view is predicated on the assumption that every child loves their mother and is receptive to love and affection. 

Born to a woman who took her own life, Blythe's father died not long after, leaving her along to navigate the world and learn what relationships should be. With so much loss in her life, Blythe strives to become who she thinks she should be for her husband, demurring that things are fine, and she is okay, and yes, she naps when the baby naps. Underneath it, she struggles. 

What makes a person who they are? It is so impossible to say how things could have been different, but Blythe knows one thing for sure - her daughter Violet is dangerous. And her son paid a very dear price. 

When Blythe's marriage falls apart and her now ex-husband starts a new life and a new family, Violet, ever the daddy's girl, spends less and less time with Blythe, and when Blythe tries to warn the new wife about her fears, she is told not to call anymore. 

I was so unsettled reading this book. It got into my head and twisted my thoughts. Through vivid imagery and graphic detail, Push will twist your thoughts and stay with you long after the final page.

The Push is a multi generational story of child abuse and trauma, focusing on Blythe's attempts to break the chain of bad parenting that began with her grandmother. I would liken this book to a toothless version of Lionel Shriver's fantastic "We Need to Talk About Kevin". The Push touches on similar themes of motherhood that "Kevin" does, but without the same intensity or memorable moments. I don't think the book benefits from the use of generational trauma, because none of it connects to what Blythe and Violet are dealing with in the present - there's a huge leap from Blythe's grandmother locking Blythe's mother in an unfinished cellar and Violet just seemingly born "wrong". 
I did read the book in a sitting, but I finished it more out of inertia than a desperate need to turn the page - the story unfolds very slowly, but with enough foreshadowing that it's like oh yeah, I bet this will happen... and so it has come to pass.
I'm not sure who I would recommend this book to, because recommending The Push would be like offering someone an RC Cola when Coca-Cola is right there ("We Need to Talk About Kevin" is the Coca-Cola in this scenario).
Thank you to the publisher, via NetGalley for providing me with an arc for review.

A special thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published January 5, 2021.

Brief Synopsis:
Blythe doesn't seem to be finding the connection to her new born daughter as warm and supportive as she was hoping to. She's convinced that something is wrong with Violet but doesn't know if it's all in her head. When she has their second child Sam, she experiences the type of motherhood connection she was waiting for. Then, their life gets turned upside down and Blythe starts to face the truth about herself, her past and her daughter.

My Thoughts/Opinions:

Wow...this book was a dark look at motherhood in my opinion. It actually makes me question if I ever want a child now. There were some scenes that made me feel uncomfortable to read and I hope my child is never that creepy. But I think the point was to approach some of the darker aspects of motherhood. I don't think it's for everyone but it's almost tough to explain why without giving spoilers. The ending irked me though. I mean, it was brilliant but I needed more closure. I wanted to know more yet I didn't want to know more.

I'm giving 3.5 stars for this one. It was a wonderful debut novel by Ashley Audrain and I'm looking forward to seeing what else she will come out with, but there were scenes that would jump around sometimes where I would have to go back and figure out who was talking & to who, which was sometimes distracting. I think this book will have very different opinions and I'm curious to hear what others have to say.

Not an easy read, and if the reader has any qualms reading about child abuse, infant death, or depression this may not be the book to choose. But also a gripping page-turner, almost a horror story. The Push explores what it is to be a ‘good mother.’ Exactly how important is the mother/child relationship?

Blythe Conner wants to be a good mother to her daughter Violet, but from the very beginning, the girl rejects her. Violet lights up in the presence of her father and appears to be a normal, happy girl, but with Blythe it is a very different story.

Blythe becomes convinced there is something wrong with the girl, but her entreaties to her husband fall on deaf ears. When their son Sam is born, she finally experiences the joys of motherhood that have so far eluded her with Violet. Her closeness to Sam only serves to widen the gulf between mother and daughter.

Throughout the book, we learn about Blythe’s past, and her own difficult childhood with an uncaring mother, and also of the abuse that her mother had suffered.

A remarkable, beautifully written book that I highly recommend.