I loved this thriller! I was a bit worried that the changing POVs would be difficult to follow, but the writing is strong enough that I was able to stay on track. It was a definite page turner that kept me guessing. I definitely recommend if you’re looking for a good “whodunit”! Good read!

This was a classic whodunnit type book, where someone (you don't know who it is for sure at first) is pushed off a balcony and the book takes you through the investigation of figuring out who it was. Though the story is primarily told from the POVs of Jax, one of the new moms, and Alison, the detective assigned to the crime, there were 13 total people at the new-baby party where the incident occurred and the author delves into some detail on each one of them.

I liked the style of the book, alternating between Jax's POV leading up to the murder, and Alison's POV after it occurred- that style kept the story moving along. While I liked Alison, I did grow tired of Jax, who was so insecure about her age and weight (and later, parenting skills) that it was sometimes painful to read. the author didn't go into much detail on the other players, beyond what Alison/Jax thought/witnessed, but I felt that thiis was actually enough info to get a pretty good idea of their characters and the dynamics between them.

Though this was a fairly fast-paced read, I figured out who the victim was before the author intended, and I also figured out both twists pretty early in the book. The twists themselves were rather interesting (though in one case, fairly improbable) but I wish there was more surprise.

All in all, this was a decent read, though perhaps not the most memorable I've read recently. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53344068-the-push" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Push" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1592242684l/53344068._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53344068-the-push">The Push</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5254219.Claire_McGowan">Claire McGowan</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3454992424">3 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This book i received early from #netgalley! I was so excited about this one since I loved the last Claire McGowan book I read. This book started out having me very intrigued. But then it just got sort of all over the place. So much going on throughout the book. I definitely didn't see the ending coming which is always a huge plus for me when it come to reading a thriller. I definitely enjoyed this book but parts of it didn't hit me right.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/32882885-kayla">View all my reviews</a>

What is a detective to do when someone falls off/is pushed off a balcony, and nobody saw a thing? Well, the easy answer is to call it an accident, close the case, and move on. But something seems off to Alison, and this detective is determined to discover the truth.
Six very different couples who met at a prenatal class facilitated by Nina, attend a barbeque hosted by one of the new mothers, Monica. They don't know each other well, but they are bonded by their shared experiences. What should have been a lovely get together is anything but a good time. Somehow, there are only four babies in attendance, almost no one is telling the truth, and oh yes, there is that little issue of a dead body.
The story is told from multiple perspectives, starting ten weeks ago leading up to the barbeque, and Alison's investigation of the incident. The identity of the deceased is not immediately revealed, so I was trying to figure out who was missing from the interviews Alison held. Once I knew who died, then it was a guessing game to figure out which of them did it or if it was just a tragic accident.
I didn't particularly like any of the characters. Not only do they have no qualms about lying to the police, but they easily lie to their partners. All I could think about was one of the endings to Clue, the movie, where all of them were guilty. Then I could picture Alison, who was trying to have a baby raising all four infants. No way these kids would grow up normal with this group of parents.
But, I digress, there was no butler, so you can at least rest assured that he didn't do it. A fast-paced read that came together in a way that I didn't imagine. I enjoyed putting the clues together, though if this had been a jigsaw puzzle, mine would not have shown the killer's identity.

Six couples attend the same prenatal class. They have nothing in common except the great equalizer, pregnancy/impending parenthood and the fact that they're all hiding something. The Push starts at the end and then is told in a before and after fashion though multiple characters. Their secrets unfold through backstories and for the most part make you love to hate nearly all of them.

I loved the double meaning title, yes, someone is pushed after all the couples go through the big push of birth. The characters are, with only a few exceptions, truly unlikable. Similar to McGowan's "What You Did," the characters' many flaws are essential to the storytelling and the slow unfolding of the truth. I absolutely love that about her books. There are no warm and fuzzy caricatures of real people in The Push. Thrillers need real people with real baggage to be truly gripping. McGowan does that beautifully in her books.

There were a few plot holes that I desperately wanted filled and wished for a couple of the stories to be expanded upon, but on the whole I was once again pulled in fast and could not put this one down.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A neatly plotted psychological thriller with a limited number of suspects. The idea of not revealing the victim until 50% through was novel and shows the ability of the author to maintain a tight narrative. Some of the characters are well developed but some aren’t. The secrets of everyone are nicely brought out in the conclusion. A very good book. Enjoyed it.👍

**4 stars**
It was the perfect way to celebrate six couples' little new arrivals until someone succumbed to a long descending fall in a rookery. Was it an accident? Or was there some foul push? Claire McGowan creates a cunning "can't put down" story lavish with humor and suspense.

The six couples could not be more disparate. Each pair with their confounding stories or lack. They meet weekly at the often not so pleasant prenatal class where the expectant couples learn of details, often horrific, of what to expect while expecting. There are some conflicts and woes, but they all meet post-natally at a lush house where someone meets an early demise off the balcony. DS Allison and Diana are working the case and interview the guests at the party and weeks after. Told in alternating points of view and timelines from past to present, we are privy to the intimate details and thoughts leading up to the tragic event.

The Push was an unexpected delight to read. The characters, some savory and others less, were interesting and complex in history. This context provided ample motives for all couples. We do not learn about who died until midway through the book, which dialed in suspense. From that point, we learn of why the death happened through rich individual narrative. The two detectives harbor suspicion about the nature of the fall and will leave no stone unturned in the 5000 dollar rookery.

Thank you, NetGalley, Amazon UK, and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I received this ARC from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Six couples from the same baby group reunite three weeks later at a barbecue to celebrate their newborns. Some falls from the balcony, the police suspects murder, and everybody’s secrets start to spill out.

I am of mixed feelings about The Push. I was new to Claire McGowan, but I’d heard great things about her work, so was looking forward to it.

The book begins with the crime having already taken place, and the police going through the crime scene. I really liked this and it made me want to find out what had happened, encouraging me to read more.

One thing I really enjoyed about this was the variety of motherhood that features. Ages, socio-economic and cultural backgrounds, relationship statuses, even fertility differences. It was a great insight into a range of experiences of motherhood hidden in the story of a thriller.

On the other hand, I didn’t really enjoy it that much. I found the plot twists incredible predictable, and had guessed a lot of them way before the victim reveal half way through the story. I also was a bit confused, especially in the beginning half of the novel, about the such strong focus of Jax as a character in comparison to some of the others, as it wasn’t really making sense - and the first person narrative for her and the third person for all of the other characters because a bit confusing to follow sometimes.

I almost DNF’d this at around 40%, and I am glad I powered through but I just didn’t really enjoy the book as a whole. I do intend to read another of McGowan’s work though, as I have heard good things so hope that I can connect to another book better.

2.5/5

I really enjoyed this book and read it in a day!
The plot revolves around the members of an ante-natal class. Shortly after the birth of their children, they attend a party at the house of one of their number. Monica, The reader discovers that someone died at the party and follows Alison, a detective, as she tries to unravel what exactly happened, convinced it was a murder rather than an accident. Through a series of flashbacks, we learn how the group interacted at their classes, and discover that each couple is hiding something, though how this may or may not be related to the death does not become clear until the end.. Key among the group is Jax, in her late thirties and having a baby with Aaron, a man in his mid twenties who was abandoned as a child and who has been looking for his birth mother. Alongside the pressures of pregnancy, Jax is troubled by a series of unexplained events that she thinks may be the secrets of her own past catching up with her. Aside from the mystery and tension of the central plot, the book tackles the theme of motherhood: what it means to be or to not be a mother, and the lengths people will go to to have a baby. A gripping read and really recommended.

Six babies due to arrive at the same time- one party to welcome the babies from different families who attended the baby group and one fatal push!
With so many people at the party someone will know what happened but each story is different and stopping DS Alison Hegarty from investigating.
This was such a great read, had me guessing right to the end. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

I figured I would love this book as someone who is struggling with infertility, but in all honesty, it was so hard to read. Not just what the content was about, but it was like reading Reality Housewives of Wherever. With babies. Everyone was so cliche and overdone, especially Monica.
And the kicker...I figured out the twist (or twists should I say) right from the get go and there was no suspense for the vast majority. Just a long winded book that made me want to punch someone and feel a bit more upset about things. 2.5 ish sadly

Loved this book, it was very entertaining. I thought at first I would have trouble keeping track of all the different characters but the author managed to make each couple unique enough.

Great book, solid character development, loved Jax as the sometimes unreliable narrator. Domestic thriller that ticks all the boxes. Loved it.

Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for giving me this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Six couples, who are different from each other in every expect, the only thing connected them is that they are expecting. They met at an antenatal group. Now they are supposed to meet in a party showing off their little bundle of joys, Everything is supposed to be perfect. Until one person falls from the balcony.

Alison is assigned to this case, she doesn't think it is an accident. There isn't evidence which supports her gut feeling, but she is not going to get it away. As investigation proceeds, she found it nothing is perfect. Everyone got secrets, grey or black. 

There were a lot of POV, from different couples, from Alison, from past and present. So it took time to distinguish one voice from another. 

It took time to reveal who is dead, which was interesting and kept me hooked. I like the story and pace. But the mystery? Two major secrets were in plain sight. I guessed many things even before 50% of the book, which made me sad. What is the point of mystery when you already know things? There wasn't any twist or turn which shocked me. So it was kinda plain for me.

Another great book by Claire McGowan! This psychological thriller had me turning the pages as fast as I could to see how this story would end. Loved the storyline, loved the characters and loved how the plot line unfolded. Definitely recommend for a book you can't put down.
Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

(4.5⭐)

This book tells the story of six couples in the same baby group and how just one party on a hot summer day can go wrong.

The party should have been perfect: six couples from the same baby group, six newborns, a luxurious house. But not everything has gone to plan, and while some are here to celebrate, others have sorrows to drown. When someone falls from the balcony of the house, the secrets and conflicts within the group begin to spill out …

Alison Hegarty, herself struggling with infertility, is called in to investigate. She’s convinced the fall was not an accident, and finds the new parents have a lot to hide.

It’s a nightmare of a case, and as events get even darker it begins to look impossible. Only one thing is clear: they all have something to hide. And for one of them, it’s murder.

Where to start? Well, this book is incredible.

It was the first book I read by the author and I was completely surrendered. I loved the author's writing, the chapters are short and fluid which makes reading very addictive.
The author pays attention to details so small details that may not seem like anything are really important.

I loved having chapters alternating between the past and the present and having different points of view of several characters (although we have two outstanding characters), this way you can get to know these characters and their relationships better.

At first I was a little afraid of getting lost in the middle of so many characters but it didn't happen. I was able to quickly understand who was who and understand all couples.

All the characters are well developed (my favorites are undoubtedly Jax, Alison and Chloe).

The couples between them are very different so it is much more than just six couples waiting for a baby. I loved that we have lgbt diversity. No doubt the book has earned extra points for that.

In addition to the couples being different, the pregnancy itself is also different (in addition to the traditional pregnancy we also have adoption and FIV).

I loved seeing the development of some relationships (especially Jax's relationship with his mother).

From the beginning we see that everyone has secrets and is hiding something.

In addition to the main mystery we have many other secondary mysteries which makes the story more captivating.

I liked that in addition to being a mystery about who is to blame, it is also a mystery of who is the victim up to half of the book.

At one point we started to doubt the sanity of one of the characters. Is everything really happening or are they in her head? I really loved this dilemma.

The book talks a lot about pregnancy, which at first seems uninteresting but believe me it is not.

The book also shows the negative side of pregnancy. That it's not always flowers and rainbows and that sometimes there are problems and complications, thus making the book more real.

Despite being very brief, the book addresses some of these themes: child abuse, overexposure to social networks, privilege, racism and prejudice.

This thriller also surprised me a lot because it caused me moments of reflection that thrillers normally can't do.

Now let's talk about what the thrillers can't miss - plots twist. This book, in addition to having many twist plots, they are all amazing and surprising. When I thought I knew what was going on, the author would put a plot twist and I would drift again.

The end of the book is perfect. I would not change anything. The last 20% of the book is just incredible, full of revelations and just impossible to let go.

I loved these characters so much but so much. I will miss you so much.

I want and need a book only focused on Chloe and another one only focused on Alison please.

I think the only downside is the introduction. Not that it's bad, it's just slow because we are still getting to know all the couples and the history that surrounds them. And I also wish that the interrogations had been a little more developed.

To conclude I can say that it is a perfect thriller for any thriller lover.
Full of secrets, revelations, discussions and even a hint of drama (which I love).

I highly recommend this book and don't forget - not everything is as it seems and everything is possible.

Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing Uk for proving this copy in exchange for as honest review.

I read this book in one go, As a horrible rainy day! I enjoyed it and thought the mix of characters worked well ( though very simple). I guessed who had been killed early on and that she was also the mother! No spoilers... but it didn’t stop my enjoyment of it! All in all a good quick read.

I was really excited when I saw this book on Netgalley as I have previously read Claire Mcgowan and really enjoyed.
Firstly the title of the book, very clever as based around an antenatal group and a 'push over the balcony.

Very unique story a 'who done it' based around an antenatal group.
Lots of characters which I do feel some could have been explored more in depth, as I did not feel a deep connection with many.

I did figure out most of the ending about 3/4 of the way through but this did not deter my enjoyment.

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced copy a great read.

#ThePush #NetGalley
Big thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and the talented Claire McGowan for a free copy to review of The Push.
A fast pace gripping thriller in a similar air of Big Little lies and The Husband's secret. Get ready to get comfortable and have plenty free time because as you begin reading the first couple of lines you wouldn't be able to stop till your reach the end.
Six couples who met through a baby group are gathered in a glass fancy house that belongs to one of them to celebrate the arrival of their babies to the world. An incident happens where one of the people present in the party falls to death from a balcony. Was it an accident, an innocent fall or was there a push, a deliberate murder act?
The story is told by the different characters switching between their days before the incident and the day the incident happened. You couldn't have a more diverse group of people; Jax aged 38 having her baby with 24 years Aaron who feels inadequate to have a baby in her age, Monica aged 44 who throws the party and drives everyone crazy with her perfectionism and effortless achievements, Aisha and Rahul Asian Muslim couple, Cathy and Hazel a gay couple, Anita and Jeremy who are waiting for a baby that seems to never arrive whom they were adopting overseas, and finally Kelly aged 22 and her partner Ryan.
I have to admit that till almost halfway the book I even guessed the wrong victim. Some of the plot twists could be easily spotted early on but that wouldn't make the reading any less enjoyable. You wouldn't completely figure out what actually happened till the very end.
All of the characters are not telling the truth, is it because they are hiding something related to the incident or simply because each one of them is hiding his own personal secret?
Alongside the main story line, couple of serious issues are discussed as well, like postpartum depression, teen pregnancy, social media pressure, the emotional and financial ache couples suffer upon trying to get pregnant, and the cons of the foster care system.
After enjoying this I'll be looking forward to reading all the titles by Claire McGowan.
The expected publishing date for this book is 12 Nov 2020, keep your eyes on it.

Six couples from completely different backgrounds are together by the one thing that knows no discrimination: Pregnancy. They all meet once a week for a parenting class ran by the mysterious but helpful Nina. Tensions between these clashing personalities start in the parenting class and escalate with dire consequences during a party. Six couples, four newborn babies, a luxurious glass house and one dead body.

DS Alison Hegarty (who is struggling with infertility) is called in to investigate the death. Despite what all the guests have said, she’s convinced the fall was not an accident. The more she digs, the more she realizes each member of the parenting group has something to hide. Which one has a secret worth killing for?

This was a twisty tale told from multiple perspectives. There were so many layers to the characters, and I loved how their personalities, motives and secrets were slowly revealed throughout the story. I had a particular fondness for DS Alison and her partner Diana, and would love to read more stories with them in the future. (Fingers crossed). Was the story predictable? Yes. But I still enjoyed the journey. Plus the ending wrapped all the story lines up nicely, and I appreciate that.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.