The Push by Ashley Audrain Book Review*

I received a copy to review but all views are my own*

It's been a while since my last book review but what a book to come back with, The Push by Ashley Audrain. I read this just before Christmas and it's stuck with me ever since. It's one of the most anticipated books of 2021 and I can totally see why it's receiving so much praise. Read on to see why I enjoyed it so much!'Blythe Connor doesn't want history to repeat itself. Violet is her first child and she will give her daughter all the love she deserves. All the love that her own mother withheld. But firstborns are never easy. And Violet is demanding and fretful. She never smiles. Soon Blythe believes she can do no right - that something's very wrong. Either with her daughter, or herself. Her husband, Fox, says she's imagining it. But Violet's different with him. And he can't understand what Blythe suffered as a child. No one can. Blythe wants to be a good mother. But what if that's not enough for Violet? Or her marriage? What if she can't see the darkness coming? Mother and daughter. Angel or monster? We don't get to choose our inheritance - or who we are...'

My review

Well, where to even start with The Push? From the very first page, I was hooked, genuinely, and I flew through it within a matter of hours. It was such an easy read and I LOVED the short, snappy chapters. It never felt like it was dragging and I always wanted more.

The Push is very much focused on the mother/daughter relationship and just how temperamental and difficult it can be. The story is told by Blythe and it's a little unique in that throughout she's telling it to another character rather than us, the reader, which at first I found a little confusing but I soon got used to it and now think it was a really interesting way to narrate the book. Throughout the book we find out about Blythe's difficult childhood, which once Blythe gives birth herself, we realise just how much has had an impact on her. Blythe struggles to form a bond with her daughter Violet and their relationship goes from bad to worse as she gets older. Despite her efforts, everyone thinks she is to blame. Blythe though is convinced there's something wrong with her daughter, something almost evil that no one else can see.

From the moment Blythe gives birth, the book becomes brutally honest. Almost a little uncomfortable to read at times. Nothing is sugar coated and I've personally never read something quite so raw but I like how different it is to other books in that respect. It made me pause for thought several times throughout and it's not often a book does that.

I don't want to give anything away as it's a book I'd recommend you read yourself but in short it's a really interesting look at the darker side of motherhood. I can see why it wouldn't be for everyone but I personally found myself intrigued from the get go. I felt for Blythe throughout, I questioned how trauma can be passed on from generation to generation and I genuinely do think this will end up being one of the best books to come out of 2021. It's such a fascinating look at nature vs nurture, it's full of suspense and I promise once you start reading, you won't want to stop, it's addictive!

Have you read The Push by Ashley Audrain?

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