The Push

By: Ashley Audrain

Narrated by: Marin Ireland

Brought to you by Penguin

'I will never forget her eyes in that moment - I couldn't look away from them. But I knew what happened as soon as I heard it.

'I think she pushed him,' I said to you quietly. 'I think she pushed him...'

----
'I read it in one sitting. Not to be missed' Lisa Jewell
'Unsettling, visceral, provocative, compulsive' Sarah Vaughan
----

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?

The Push is an unsettling, breathtaking and powerful read about obsession and our deepest fears that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

© Ashley Audrain 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2021

Critic reviews

Utterly addictive (Paula Hawkins)

The mother of all thrillers! Like The Girl on the Train - but better!

A gripping debut that explores and manipulates the fears and insecurities of mothers everywhere . . . Well thought out, vividly realised and gripping

An inventive twist on the psychological thriller formula . . . Audrain sustains the suspense expertly through assured handling of her unravelling protagonist's voice

Ashley dares us to find the relatable in the worst we can imagine . . . the knife-edge between relatability and horror keeps the reader hooked

I was gripped from the first word to the last. I've been wanting a book to take me back to how I felt when I first read We Need to Talk About Kevin. When you close the book but can't function until you know how it ends ... I really recommend this one (Dawn O'Porter)

I was gripped . . . dazzling and gloriously complete (Daisy Buchanan)

The Push was a poetic, propulsive read that set my nerves jangling in both horror and recognition. I read it one sitting and it stayed with me for days afterwards. Not to be missed (Lisa Jewell)

A compelling, compulsively readable thriller that never lets up and will keep you guessing right to the very last page

Powerful and immersive (Emma Stonex, author of The Lamplighters)

harrowing and riveting

I could not put this down. It's completely gripping. Lots of questions about generational trauma - nature vs nurture.

My least favourite book this year so far.

As I started to listen to this book, I had hopes for a spectacular ending. And yes although the ending is what we were all waiting for, I felt all of the flash backs to Blythe’s mother and grandmother didn’t really go anywhere. I was waiting for something big to happen with the flash backs, and nothing.

Also as a mother of young children it was hard to listen to parts. The playground and the crossing in particular. Both a mother’s worst nightmare.

I chose this book out of a recommendation and really wish I’d not spent my money or time on it.

Gripping, shocking and brilliant

Gripping, shocking and brilliant. Slow start but brilliant story. Could be a brilliant movie. Excellent thriller. I want more

Simply superb. Best book I've read in a year

This is one of those books which will stay with me for a very long time. Quite haunting and almost difficult to read at times but also impossible to put down! I absolutely loved it and the narrator was perfect.

Soooo good!

As a mother, I totally get how hard parenting is. the way the book was portrayed was so interesting and I absolutely loved how it developed and how it shows the way you end up missing things right before your eyes. It was so well written, like a beautiful puzzle, with all the pieces coming together at the end. Soooo good and highly recommended.