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Quick answer: Good discussion questions for The Push by Ashley Audrain focus on motherhood and doubt, whether some people are born bad, a mother’s intuition versus being believed, generational trauma and the expectations placed on mothers. Below are 17 questions grouped by theme, plus a spoiler-free summary.
Quick facts
Author: Ashley Audrain
Published: 2021
Genre: psychological suspense
Narration: Blythe, addressing her ex-husband
Content note: child death, child abuse, neglect, postpartum depression and infidelity
The Push is a dark, gripping novel about motherhood that became a word-of-mouth bestseller. Blythe is sure something is wrong with her daughter, but no one believes her. Or is it Blythe who is the problem? Ashley Audrain’s debut raises uncomfortable, important questions about the pressure on mothers and the patterns passed down through families. It’s intense, so know your group before choosing it. This guide includes a spoiler-free summary, characters and themes, and 18 discussion questions grouped by theme. The questions contain spoilers.
Table of Contents
Spoiler-Free Summary
Blythe Connor grew up with a mother who abandoned her and a grandmother with her own dark history. When she marries Fox and has a daughter, Violet, she is determined to be the warm, loving mother she never had.
But from the start, motherhood feels nothing like she imagined. Violet seems to prefer her father, and Blythe becomes convinced there is something wrong with her daughter. Fox thinks Blythe is exhausted and imagining things.
Then Blythe has a son, Sam, and experiences the easy, joyful bond she always wanted, until a terrible event changes the family forever. Told by Blythe as a letter to Fox, the novel asks whether we can ever really know what happened, or whom to believe.
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Main Characters and Themes
| Character or Theme | What to Know |
|---|---|
| Blythe Connor | A mother who doubts herself and her daughter |
| Fox | Blythe’s husband, who doesn’t believe her |
| Violet | Blythe’s daughter, at the center of her fears |
| Sam | Blythe’s son, with whom she bonds easily |
| Cecilia | Blythe’s mother, who left her |
| Etta | Blythe’s grandmother |
| Motherhood | Expectations, failure and love |
| Being believed | Whose word counts in a family |
| Generational trauma | Patterns passed from mother to daughter |
| Nature versus nurture | Whether children are born good or bad |
Discussion Questions (Contains Spoilers)
Blythe
- Did you trust Blythe as a narrator? When did your view change?
- How does Blythe’s childhood shape her fears about motherhood?
- Why does Blythe tell the story as a letter to Fox?
- Was Blythe a good mother? Is that a fair question?
Violet
- Did you believe Violet was dangerous, or did you think Blythe was projecting?
- Which scene with Violet unsettled you most?
- How does the novel leave the question of Violet’s nature open?
Fox and the Family
- Why doesn’t Fox believe Blythe? Was he wrong to doubt her?
- How does Sam’s arrival change the family?
- How did you react to the event that changes everything?
Mothers and Daughters
- How do the stories of Etta and Cecilia connect to Blythe’s?
- Is the book suggesting that trauma is inherited?
- What does the book say about the pressure on mothers to feel instant love?
Big Picture
- What does the title mean to you?
- How did you feel about the final pages?
- Is The Push a thriller, literary fiction or both?
- Who would you recommend this book to, and who would you warn away?
Is The Push a Good Book Club Pick?
Choose it if your group can handle dark, emotionally intense fiction and wants a book that sparks strong opinions. It’s about 300 pages and very fast to read. It’s not right for every group: anyone who has lost a child or is struggling with postpartum depression may find it painful. Groups of parents often have the most powerful discussions about it.
Book Club Ideas for The Push
- Hold an anonymous poll: was Violet the problem, or Blythe?
- Talk honestly about motherhood myths, like instant bonding, and how real life differs.
- Share local parenting support resources, especially for postpartum depression.
- Keep the snacks simple and comforting, like tea and cookies, given the heavy subject.
- End on a lighter note by sharing one thing you love about your own mother, child or a mother figure.
Books Like The Push
If your group loved it, try We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver for the classic novel on the same fear, The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides for a twisty psychological thriller, or Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng for motherhood and conflict.
Check price of We Need to Talk About Kevin on Amazon
How to Structure Your Meeting
Begin with a quick anonymous vote on whether Blythe was a reliable narrator. Then work through two or three questions from each theme above, saving the “big picture” questions for the end. If your group is large, split into pairs for one theme and report back.
A simple 90-minute plan:
- 0–15 minutes: food, catch-up and the opening question.
- 15–60 minutes: the discussion questions, theme by theme.
- 60–75 minutes: one of the book club ideas above, or a quick comparison with the adaptation if there is one.
- 75–90 minutes: everyone rates the book out of five in one sentence, then you pick next month’s read.
Related: the best thriller books for book clubs and the best book club books for moms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Push about?
Blythe becomes convinced her daughter, Violet, is dangerous, but her husband thinks she’s imagining it, and a tragedy forces everyone to question who is to blame.
Is The Push good for book clubs?
Yes, for groups comfortable with dark themes. It sparks intense debate about motherhood and blame.
Is The Push appropriate for all book clubs?
It includes the death of a child, child abuse and postpartum depression, so share a clear content note before choosing it.
Is there a sequel to The Push?
No, though Ashley Audrain’s second novel, The Whispers, explores similar themes of motherhood and secrets.