Pregnancy. Seems like it would be the simplest thing in the world to make happen, but not for this group. This book exposes the shame, the blame, the guilt, deceptions, family dynamics, addictive personalities and all the interventions leading up to and during a pregnancy. It is a very sad tale. The author reveals an accurate and sometimes upsetting account of how a “ magical time” can be run off the rails. While I easily figured out a few of the character issues early on, I never predicted the final scene. The title sends a mixed message——I chuckled when I made the connection. An enjoyable read.

This book feature two main characters whom you get to know as one works the investigation into a suspicious death, and one tells her story leading up to the day of the incident. Jax felt really fleshed out and vivid, but Alison’s character seemed to only consist of baby-craziness and competence at her job. I appreciated the last check in on all of the characters in the final chapter— I love tying up a loose end. I did not appreciate the one bisexual character being revealed as a cheater, however, as this is a damaging stereotype.

I thought the story was a little slow to get in to but about 30% of the way in it picked up! Classic "whodunit" style with a crazy plot. The book is about six couples that are all a part of the same baby group and after a party something bad happens. Told over multiple POVs. While the twists were a little predictable I still thought it was enjoyable and would recommend.

A classic who done it book. Six couples with one thing in common Pregnancy. They meet weekly at a parenting class held by Nina. Everyone starts to get on each others nerves because of the array of personalities that they are surrounded by. Four babies, six couples and someone ends up pushed off the balcony. Everyone is investigated and it's realized that everyone has something to hide. Full of secrets and twists til the very end! Thanks Netgalley for the advance ecopy.

I really liked the premise of 'The Push'. Antenatal classes are the perfect setting to bring together a diverse set of people , each with their own stories, but there for the same purpose.

The novel was written from a number of different perspectives, before and after the key event, which was a woman falling off a balcony at the BBQ following the births.

in this class we have Kelly , a young mum and her boyfriend Ryan , Cathy and Hazel, who used a sperm donor, Jax and her much younger partner, Aaron, Anita and Rahul and Monica and Ed.

From quite early on, we sense that something is not right about Monica's situation and it transpires that her baby was actually carried by her teenage daughter, Chloe. One of the threads is Aaron searching for his biological mother. Both of these are nicely resolved at the end but quite predictable.

We also follow the stories of Nina, the class leader and Alison, the investigating officer. The stories of each couple's journey were interesting and well thought out.

I enjoyed this read, but I felt it was a bit busy with all the different perspectives. Not all the voices were as strong and I wasn't compelled to keep reading.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

This is one of my favorite types of thrillers, but I couldn’t give a complete 5 stars, as something was missing! I did find it to be well written, character development pretty good, but I don’t think it was completely unputdownable! Overall, for us thriller lovers seeking our thrill, chills, twists & turns, and shocks, I think you will get them. I don’t think it was as fast paced or a thrill ride, as I like, but do think most will be able to enjoy and finish. I recommend to those seeking some chills and thrills, with all stuck together and not knowing whodunnit!

Will make sure to buzz around platforms and use lower Amazon reviewer number on release date!

This was a pretty decent psych thriller. I thought it was a bit slow and predictable in places but overall I enjoy thrillers involving sets of couples.

Claire McGowan sets up an intriguing situation that immediately draws the reader in: at a post-birth party attended by the members of an ante-natal class, there aren’t enough babies to go round.

Monica, the perfectly groomed hostess, seems determined to make her guests feel inferior by showcasing her immaculate house, rich husband and perfectly behaved baby, whilst her sleep-deprived guests squabble with their partners and struggle with their fractious babies.

It’s clear that what was meant to be a celebration isn’t going to go well.

Into this toxic mix comes Nina, the ante-natal group leader, who has intuited all the couples’ secrets and appears intent on stealing someone’s husband.

When someone at the party falls (or is pushed) from a balcony, all the guests have their own reasons for lying to the police about what happened.

So DS Alison Hegarty has her work cut out for her. But she is suffering from her own fertility issues. Will her judgement be clouded by the sight of all the new babies, and pressure from her boss to class the death as an accident?

The story is skilfully structured; as DS Hegarty interviews everyone present at the party, we read the suspects’ accounts of the day of the party and gradually discover their secrets. I enjoyed the technique of showing us the party from multiple viewpoints and felt that it worked because the characters all had distinctive voices.

McGowan is absolutely brilliant at describing the pressures on women caused by pregnancy and birth: the partner who insists on terry cloth nappies but doesn’t wash them herself; the ante-natal group’s total condemnation of sugar, caffeine and alcohol; the ‘non-stop boasting’ on Facebook making other women ‘feel crap’ about their mothering skills.

I raced through this thriller in a couple of days. The twists were a bit predictable and I missed the psychological depth of the characters in McGowan’s other books but the book did the trick of keeping thoughts of Covid at bay for a while.

A few quibbles: there’s something weird going on in this book regarding perceptions of age. I felt it was implausible that DS Hegarty would feel ‘past it’ with a work colleague who’s only 6 years younger. She and Jax both fear that they’re too old to have babies at 36 and 38: surely that’s normal nowadays? Would Jax really believe that she could be sacked from her job as a suspected ‘paedophile’ because her partner is 24?

But small quibbles aside McGowan can certainly write and I’ve already packed a few of her other books in my suitcase for my next staycation.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for my advance copy.

Thank you, Amazon Publishing, and NetGalley for a copy The Push by Claire McGowan. I have heard good things about this author, so I was happy to receive a copy of this.
Six couples from completely different backgrounds join an ante-natal group to learn the joys of babies and parenthood. The story centres around each individual couples’ points of view. Not all the couples get on together. When one day they are all invited to a barbecue, a party for the couples before the babies arrive. But, one of them falls over the balcony to their death. In comes Alison to investigate the death and taking statements from each couple to find out who has the motivation to kill. But the investigation is not straight forward as it seems.
This book I am afraid not for me. I didn’t like anything about it. The characters the storyline nothing. I thought there was too much bitchiness and racist. This is said to be a Thriller, but I didn’t find that. This book reminded me of an American reality TV show which I can’t stand. Sorry I find this so bad I couldn’t finish it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for my copy of The Push by Claire McGowan in exchange for an honest review. It publishes November 12, 2020.
This was an interesting thriller with a large and diverse cast of characters that always kept my interest. I really enjoyed the multiple POV’s and the going back and forth in timelines.
It was somewhat predictable at points, but not everything. The end reveal was pretty surprising!
If you like thrillers you will enjoy this!

Set around an antenatal group at a party shortly after most of the group have had their babies, someone falls from a balcony in an apparent accident. But DS Alison Hegarty, who is herself trying to conceive, is suspicious and decides to dig deeper. The various secrets and lies of the group are revealed bit by bit during this page-turning novel with thoroughly believable and interesting characters. Recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ughhhh......Claire...

Not a fan, not a fan what so ever. FIrst off, why did I know exactly what was going to happen before it ever happened?? Like I mean, way before. So that was a drag right there.

Secondly, what is up with all of the -isms?? I mean, I get it, as humans we are very opinionated but this book was just wayyy too much. I didn't like the way some things were worded, personally. It was too much when it came to stereotypes especially.

Maybe not for me but I won't be recommending.

I’m a huge fan of Claire McGowan, but I just couldn’t get into this book. Maybe the fertility issues hit to close to home and I just didn’t want to relive them, it’s definitely a slow burn compared to some of her other thrillers.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was a bit slow, but eventually picked up and left me wanting to figure out who did. Overall 3/5 stars.

Excellent edge of your seat thriller! I have read all Ms. McGowan’s books and I think this is my favorite one. Six couples gather at what should have been an enjoyable summer barbecue, but ends in the death of one of the guests. The group all met at a pregnancy class to help them prepare for parenthood. All the couples have their own secrets, struggles and different socioeconomic backgrounds. But could one of them be responsible for killing someone or is it all a horrific accident. Fantastic mystery ending that I did not see coming. Highly recommend.

I love this author and have read all her books. This one is just as good and fast paced . Her plots are always fast paced and her characters are real and engaging. Loved it

Another great book by Claire McGowan. At the beginning, it reminded me a little bit of Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty. I enjoyed the writing style (chapters told in past/present and from different characters perspectives). Lots of secrets (some I figured out, some I didn't) going on. I also really like the last chapter, after the murder was solved, how everyone's lives went on.

Overall, a really enjoyable read. Definitely will be recommending to my friends.
Thanks NetGalley, Claire McGowan and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC.

Interesting characters great plot line however it had a slow start it was a good book when the story started to pick up and pull me in

4/5 stars- I enjoyed this one a lot!

After someone falls to their death at an innocent bbq full of new moms, detective Alison doesn’t believe it was an accident. The unlikely group of friends who met at their antenatal class have some secrets to hide.

The alternating perspectives that take place in different time lines is engaging and a great way to reveal the mystery and characters.

My only complaint was a couple of the characters are ignorant and hateful. It wasn’t important to the story and wasn’t needed. I think these parts should have been removed to avoid hurting LBBT+ and black readers. It wasn’t needed. If you can say something nice then don’t say anything at all..

A domestic thriller about couples, babies, infertility and secrets.

6 couples gather to celebrate when someone falls from a balcony. Each of the people involved are hiding something and it it up to DS Hegarty to uncover whether or not the person fell or was pushed.

Excellent pacing, realistic characters and a story that hooks the reader. It is another excellent thriller from McGowan.