‘The Push’ – Ashley Audrain

The Push is a dark psychological study and it covers areas that could trigger many readers, but its key focus is the exploration of the bonds between mothers and daughters. It is far from comfortable reading, and I always felt slightly on edge – never certain to what extent these ideas were based in reality, and what was the product of a disturbed mind.
Our main character is Blythe, a young woman who reluctantly becomes a mother. She doubts herself and her capabilities, constantly feels judged by her ‘perfect’ mother-in-law and worries about the lack of maternal love she feels for her daughter, Violet. Her husband, Fox, seems a natural father and his relationship with Violet is a stark contrast to the one Blythe has. When I read these opening chapters, I really felt for Blythe and wondered how much of her discomfort stemmed from the novelty of her situation.
As the story progresses we learn more about Blythe’s life and the abuse she experienced at the hands of her own mother. Can she be blamed for not feeling comfortable in a role that she has been ill-equipped for?
The novel shows us Blythe’s increasingly dark concerns about her daughter. Mystery accidents that befall children she’s near, things going missing and the callous disdain shown her mother by Violet. She’s so young, but her behaviour is eerily adult. It seemed almost too much at times and it’s very hard to determine how much is in Blythe’s head because we only see her perspective.
Determined to try and make a better job second time round, Blythe pushes for a second child. Sam is a very different character, and Blythe has no issues bonding with him…but when tragedy strikes it’s hard not to wonder exactly what has happened.
I found myself desperate not to believe the worst of either character, and incredibly frustrated by the lack of support shown by those who are meant to be looking out for and caring for their loved ones.
We start to reach an uneasy truce, where it seems both are moving forward and learning to accept their shortcomings. Then came that awful ending, where my heart was in my mouth and I immediately jumped to the conclusion (as I’m sure I’m meant to) that perhaps what we’d been reading was a very deliberate study of someone incredibly dangerous.