The Push by Ashley Audrain

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👩‍👧 The Push by Ashley Audrain — Motherhood or Mayhem?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5 out of 5)
Genre: Psychological Thriller / Domestic Suspense / Mother-Daughter Drama
Warning: 🚨 Spoilers ahead! And probably some unresolved childhood trauma too.

📚 "Best Thriller I've Ever Read"? Not Quite… But Close.

So here’s the deal. Everyone and their book club kept telling me this was the BEST thriller of all time. Like, move over Gone Girl, there’s a new mom in town. And when I started reading, I thought, "Okay yeah, I see it..." But by the middle, I started to doubt. By the end, I was both frustrated and impressed.

Then I couldn’t stop thinking about it for days. And that, my friends, is the mark of a great read.

👩‍🍼 Meet Blythe: A New Mom With Some Serious Baggage

The Push is about Blythe, a woman who grew up in a whole generational trauma soup. Her mother Cecilia abandoned her when she was 11. Cecilia’s mom Etta was an abusive psycho, so the dysfunction runs deep. When Blythe meets Fox, a golden retriever of a man with a shiny architecture career, she dares to dream of breaking the cycle.

But then... they have Violet.

And let’s just say—Violet is no bundle of joy.

😵‍💫 Postpartum Horror + A Colicky Demon Child

From the moment Violet is born (via a very traumatic birth), things go sideways. Blythe is exhausted, deep in postpartum depression, and constantly wondering if she’s a terrible mother.

Fox? Zero understanding.
Violet? Won’t sleep, won’t bond, and seems a little... off.
Blythe? Slowly unraveling.

Eventually, Violet becomes Daddy’s girl and starts showing some seriously questionable behavior—like, shoving kids and making preschool teachers nervous.

But every time Blythe brings it up, Fox gaslights her into silence. Classic.

🚨 A Tragedy… or Something More Sinister?

Now here's where things really go dark. On a walk one day, Blythe is holding a hot cup of tea in one hand and pushing baby Sam in a stroller. Violet, now about 7, grabs Blythe's tea hand, causing her to drop the stroller, which then rolls into traffic and kills Sam instantly.

Was it an accident?
Was it Violet?
No one believes Blythe.
But she’s convinced. And now, she’s alone in that belief.

💔 Divorce, Disguise, and Deepening Paranoia

Fox cheats on Blythe (classy move) with his assistant Gemma, and they go on to have another baby: Jet. Blythe is kicked out of the picture—emotionally and literally.

So what does she do?
She joins a parenting group. In disguise.
Because, surprise, Gemma is in it.

And for a while, this fake friendship helps Blythe feel connected to Jet, her late son’s half-brother. Until Fox shows up one day and recognizes her. (Awkward.)

😱 The Creepiest Christmas Eve Ever

Here comes the gut punch. On Christmas Eve, Blythe watches Fox’s “new” family from the sidewalk like a sad, uninvited ghost. Suddenly, Violet sees her through the window and mouths:
"I pushed him."

Then presses her hands against the glass.
Cue full body chills.

So. Not an accident.

🔚 The Ending That Haunts You

A year and a half later, Gemma calls Blythe in a panic.
Something terrible has happened to Jet.
And we’re left with that gut-wrenching cliffhanger.

Was Violet involved again? Probably.
Will Blythe ever escape this nightmare? TBD.

🧵 Final Thoughts: This One Sticks With You

If you’re looking for a feel-good story about parenting—look elsewhere.
If you want a haunting, slow-burn character study with serious dark vibes, this is your jam.

The writing is sharp, the themes are deeply uncomfortable, and the ending will have you staring at your own kid wondering if they’re plotting your demise.

I gave it 4.5/5 because even though I saw the twist coming, it still packed a punch. And honestly, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. This one gets under your skin.

🛒 Buy This Book

👉 Buy The Push on Amazon (affiliate link)

📚 If You Liked This, You Might Also Like…

  • Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage — Creepy kid energy, on full blast

  • We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver — A mother grappling with guilt, fear, and sociopathy

  • The Perfect Nanny by Leïla Slimani — Domestic drama that turns very dark

  • Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight — Motherhood + mystery = heartbreak

💬 Let’s Chat

What did you think about The Push? Did you guess the twist? Is Violet the creepiest kid you’ve read about since Rhoda from The Bad Seed? Sound off in the comments below!

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