The Procrastinators Book Club discussion

Welcome to the The Push Buddy Read Discussion thread! This thread officially opens on October 8th and anyone can join at any time. Please keep in mind that spoilers are allowed in this thread but only up to the group's current reading place. Do not spoil the book if you've read further than the group. Any extra days can be used to catch up!

Each day we will be reading by chapters or page numbers. Page numbers are an approximation based on the hardcover or paperback that is the default on Goodreads. The suggested Buddy Read discussion schedule is as follows:

Week of 10/08
October 8th- chapters 1 to 10
October 9th- chapters 11 to 22

Week of 10/10
October 10th- chapters 23 to 32
October 11th- chapters 33 to 44
October 12th- chapters 45 to 55
October 13th- chapters 56 to 65
October 14th- chapters 66 to 74
October 15th- chapters 75 to end

PARTICIPANTS
~ Sophie
~ Edith
~ Leslie

Must be active in the buddy discussion to count for the points. Minimum of two comments talking about the contents of the book, not only "It's good, I like this/that."

Hey, hey! So how are you guys liking the story so far? I swear I sat down to read for a minute and the next thing I knew it was dark out lol. It's been a long time since I've been SO engrossed in a book like this!

(view spoiler)[ I was very disoriented in the very beginning because the way Blythe starts talking with "you" caught me off guard. Other than that, I feel bad for her since she can't seem to make a connection with Violet. I could've sworn she was going to turn out to have post partum, but that didn't seem like the case. (hide spoiler)]

I'm sort of enjoying this book so far, but it is so sad in many ways. It really plays into the fears most mothers seem to have - will I connect with my child, will I be a good mom, etc.

(view spoiler)[ I just got to Sam's death and while we were prepared for it, it still was devastating. And it just seems like Violet is evil. Or am I being influenced by Blythe's thoughts and what she thinks she has seen? And I get the impression that the new assistant of Fox's is going to have some play in the future events... (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 45-55........sorry for replying so late :)

(view spoiler)[ I'm really enjoying this book so far. It's so heartbreaking, raw and chilling. I'm very conflicted as to whether Violet is evil like belives she is or whether it's all in Blythe's head. I find it hard to label Blythe as a reliable narrator because not only is she the sole narrator (bar the flashbacks) but also because of her past with her own mother, her mothers with her grandmother etc. GENERATIONAL TRAUMA. I have a feeling that Fox is having an affair with the co-worker that Violet mentions- explains the late nights. I'm curious to see what will be the final nail in the coffin in Blythe and Fox's marriage (seems pretty inevitable at this point. Blythe's behaviour earlier on in the book, particularly when Violet was a baby, only adds to my suspicion that not everything is as it seems.

What are your thoughts? Predictions? (hide spoiler)]

I agree with both of you, Blythe's narration is one to be weary of. The writing is so great though because it forces me to even question her interactions with Fox. When he gaslights her, he gaslights me, etc. I don't really have predictions forming right now though, (aside from Gemma being involved with Fox bc I'm on the same page as you guys) and I hope my mind stays that way...it's a book that I have a feeling is worth going in blind.

Okay so I finished it today and wooow. There’s a lot to unpack! I really liked it overall—chilling and eerie seem to be the best words to describe the entire story.

(view spoiler)[ A few things: 1. I’m kinda sad that the friendship with Blythe and Gemma didn’t work out. I really like their relationship! 2. I was also hoping, like Blythe, that things got better with Violet. But as soon as Gemma made that phone call in the end I screamed I KNEW IT aloud lol. I don’t know why, but that ending was so satisfying for me. I hadn’t realized how much I sided with Blythe until that very last sentence in the book. Low key I kinda want to know what happened, but it’s safe to say (at least for me) that we know Blythe wasn’t crazy. And 3. I don’t like Fox. I wonder how he’ll defend Violet the second time around. (hide spoiler)]

I agree with you Edith - there was a lot to unpack and it was very chilling.

(view spoiler)[ And yes, I also shouted out I Knew It! at the end. Violet was evil and even her schoolmates could sense it. And yes again, Fox is a putz! He gaslit Blythe the whole time, though he slightly redeemed himself when he said he admitted he wasn't the husband he should have been. It did leave me wondering what was going to happen next, but I guess we can't always have endings neatly wrapped up in a package. (hide spoiler)]