The Push by Ashley Audrain

***My Review ***

Prepare to be swept away by the power of the written word! This book will take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions, with writing that is so exquisite it feels like a work of art. You’ll be transported into the mind of the protagonist, Blythe, and experience her struggles and heartache as if they were your own.

The Push by Ashley Audrain is a gripping and haunting exploration of motherhood and the intergenerational traumas that can shape our lives. This debut novel centers on the life of Blythe, a young mother who is struggling to connect with her daughter, Violet, as she grapples with the legacy of her own fractured childhood.

From the opening pages, The Push draws the reader into Blythe’s world, as she reflects on her own childhood memories and the complicated relationship she had with her own mother, Cecilia. As Blythe navigates the early years of Violet’s life, she becomes increasingly convinced that there is something wrong with her daughter – something that she fears may be inherited from Cecilia’s troubled past.

What makes The Push so compelling is the way in which Audrain deftly weaves together Blythe’s present-day struggles with flashbacks to her own childhood. As Blythe begins to unravel the mystery of her mother’s life, she is forced to confront the painful truth of her own experiences – and to question whether she is destined to repeat the same mistakes as Cecilia.

The Push is also notable for its skillful use of structure. The novel unfolds in a non-linear fashion, with Blythe’s present-day struggles interspersed with flashbacks to her childhood and earlier years of motherhood. This structure serves to heighten the sense of tension and unease, as readers are left wondering how these seemingly disparate threads will come together.

As the novel progresses, it becomes increasingly clear that the events of the past are intertwined with the present, and that Blythe’s fears for her daughter are deeply rooted in her own childhood traumas. The novel’s structure is a testament to Audrain’s mastery of pacing and her ability to keep readers hooked until the very end.

Throughout the novel, Audrain demonstrates an impressive mastery of tone and pacing. The Push is both lyrical and suspenseful, drawing the reader in with its haunting prose and unrelenting sense of unease. At the same time, Audrain is careful not to sacrifice emotional depth for thrills, crafting characters who feel both real and fully realized.

While The Push is undoubtedly a work of fiction, it touches on very real and raw emotions that many mothers experience, such as postpartum depression, anxiety, and the struggle to bond with their children. The novel also deals with the topic of maternal trauma, a subject that is often overlooked in literature but is essential to address in order to understand the complexity of mother-child relationships.

One of the most impressive aspects of The Push is the way that it challenges traditional notions of motherhood. Blythe’s journey is one that defies easy categorization, and Audrain does not shy away from depicting the darker, more complicated aspects of motherhood. Through Blythe’s story, the novel asks tough questions about what it means to be a good mother and what it takes to break the cycle of intergenerational trauma.

Another strength of The Push is the vividness with which it portrays its characters. Blythe, Cecilia, and Violet all feel like fully-realized people, with their own unique voices, personalities, and motivations. The supporting cast of characters is also richly drawn, from Blythe’s husband Fox to her childhood friend Libby. Every character in The Push feels like they have a story to tell, and this depth adds to the novel’s emotional resonance.

What struck me most was the author’s ability to make me feel as though I was right there with Blythe, the protagonist, experiencing her every heartache and struggle. I was invested in her story from the start and felt as though I was living it all alongside her. It is a testament to the author’s talent that I felt so deeply connected to a character going through experiences that I had never personally faced.

And yet, this is not an easy read. It is a book that will leave you emotionally raw and exposed. It delves deep into the inner turmoil of a mother grappling with her darkest fears and worries. The pain and struggles are laid bare, but it is done in a way that is both honest and tender. It is a reminder of the power of the written word to move and transform us.

While The Push deals with heavy subject matter, it is ultimately a hopeful novel. Blythe’s journey is one of healing and self-discovery, and the novel offers a message of resilience and the possibility of breaking free from the past.

Perhaps what is most striking about The Push is the way in which it speaks to the fears and anxieties that so many mothers experience. Through Blythe’s story, Audrain captures the visceral terror that comes with the responsibility of caring for a child, as well as the sense of isolation and self-doubt that can accompany motherhood.

At its core, The Push is a novel about the ways in which the past can shape the present – and the often-unseen forces that drive our behavior. With its haunting prose, masterful pacing, and unforgettable characters, this debut novel marks Ashley Audrain as a writer to watch in the years to come.