The Push – Book Ending Explained

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Note: Be advised that there are spoilers ahead, obviously, so be entirely sure you want to continue reading.

The Push by Ashley Audrain is a gripping and thought-provoking novel that explores the complexities of motherhood and the lasting impact of childhood trauma.

The book tells the story of Blythe, a woman who struggles to connect with her daughter Violet and who is haunted by the memory of her own mother’s neglect. As Blythe’s relationship with Violet becomes increasingly strained, she begins to question her own sanity and fears that she may be repeating the cycle of abuse.

The book’s ending is both shocking and ambiguous, leaving readers with many questions and different interpretations.

So, let’s unravel the mystery and try to make sense of what really happened in The Push.

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The Push Ending Explained

So just what happened at the end of The Push?

The ending of “The Push” by Ashley Audrain left readers with a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty.

Throughout the novel, Blythe, the protagonist, has been struggling with the question of whether her daughter, Violet, is a cold-blooded killer responsible for the deaths of two young boys, including Blythe’s other child, Sam.

Blythe’s own traumatic childhood and her struggles with anxiety and postpartum depression make her an unreliable narrator, adding to the suspense and mystery surrounding Violet’s behavior.

In the concluding chapters, Blythe has started to question her memories and the accuracy of her recollections regarding Violet’s actions. She revisits the scene of Sam’s death and realizes that her memories may have been distorted by grief and anxiety. This realization suggests that her suspicions about Violet’s potential guilt may have been based on faulty perceptions.

However, the ambiguity persists when Blythe observes Violet mimicking pushing the stroller and mouthing the words, “I pushed him.”

This moment appears to confirm Blythe’s earlier suspicions about Violet’s involvement in Sam’s death. Yet, readers are aware that Violet is manipulative and capable of cruelty, and this admission may be another ploy to hurt her mother emotionally.

The novel’s conclusion intensifies the uncertainty surrounding Violet’s character when Gemma, Fox’s new partner, contacts Blythe in a state of distress, implying that something terrible has happened to their son, Jet.

Gemma’s call suggests that she may suspect Violet’s involvement in the incident, given Violet’s history and the tragic events that have occurred in the past.

The book ends without revealing Blythe’s reaction to Gemma’s call, leaving readers in suspense about Violet’s possible role in Jet’s tragedy.

Blythe’s conflicting feelings of wanting to protect and reconcile with her daughter and the possibility of Violet’s involvement in another devastating event add to the psychological drama of the novel.

The author skillfully maintains the ambiguity throughout, never definitively confirming whether Violet is a killer or if Blythe’s anxieties have clouded her judgment.

Final thoughts?

This open-ended conclusion aligns with the novel’s exploration of motherhood, anxiety, and the complexity of human emotions. The book’s ending leaves readers pondering the true nature of Violet’s actions and the impact of trauma and mother-daughter relationships on a person’s psyche.

I hope you enjoyed my interpretation for the ending of the book The Push by Ashley Audrain! Let me know your thoughts in the comments below! Happy reading! ❤️