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.