Is it her? Or is it me? Is she the monster? Or am I? The Push by Ashley Audrain @Audrain @lcnicol @MichaelJBooks #Debut #PsychologicalThriller #literaryfiction

The arrival of baby Violet was meant to be the happiest day of my life. But as soon as I held her in my arms I knew something wasn’t right.



I had always known that the women in my family aren’t meant to be mothers.



My husband Fox says I’m imagining it. He tells me I’m nothing like my own mother, and that Violet is the sweetest child.



But she’s different with me. Something feels very wrong.



Is it her? Or is it me? Is she the monster? Or am I?

A new year, a new blog tour review. I’ve been a bit quiet with the tours lately but I could not say no to one of the most high praised releases of 2021. The Push by Ashley Audrain is published in hardback by Michael J Books on the 7th of January, I highly recommend purchasing and losing yourself in this book. You can check it out here. Thanks to Laura for inviting me on the tour, and providing me with a gifted copy.

The Push by Ashley Audrain was one of my most anticipated 2021 releases, I’d already read the crazed reviews around it and I longed for the 7th of January to hurry up so I could read my own copy. Then the blog tour email came through and I jumped on the tour as if my life depended on it. The finished copy will look beautiful next to the proof!

This psychologically shocking, literary fiction thriller is one of the best books I have read, especially in regards to maternal identity and relationships. Blythe is our protagonist, the whole novel is written from her point of view as she entangles us not only in her motherhood journey, but also allows us the peak at her relationship with her own mother. Never wanting to bear her own child, Blythe meets charming Fox, the other half of her soul, one that she can see herself entwined in a family with, but from the moment Violet is born, her life and heart begins to crumble away, leaving her questioning if she’s succumbed to madness, or is her child a monster.

Ashley’s writing is purely stunning, from the first prologue-esque chapterI was both psychologically and emotionally gripped to the storyline. The ideologies of motherhood pushed aside, leaving the raw and emotive side to be looked upon and I feel at some points the reader can somewhat identify with Blythe, while also sympathising with the rationalising she gets tangled up with in her own head. Is she going crazy? What is wrong with her? What is wrong with Violet. The level of thrilling suspense and literary fiction is wonderfully balanced, creating something special that will have your heart racing, but underneath the surface lays an intoxicating current of domestic psychological drama. Every chapter is sure to blow you away.

The Push is a perfect example of an unreliable narrative, executed to the most exceptional degree. The chapters are short, but amply filled with chilling disturb. This sinister debut novel will stay with you, long after you turn the final page and will also make you want to re-read it all over again. Ashley Audrain is definitely an author to watch out for, I can’t wait for future workings by her!