3.5 rounded up.

I think perhaps I could have liked this more if I was a mother, but maybe that also would have made it worse. It's funny, it's campy, and overall enjoyable, but I do wish it had gone in a different direction.

The end had be shook.

The narrator was AMAZING - her voices were fantastic, and it was easy to keep track of which characters POV we were seeing.

Story: 3.5 ⭐️
Audiobook performance: 5 ⭐️

From the "New York Times" bestselling author of "Whisper Network" comes "Cutting Teeth," part murder mystery, part motherhood manifesto. This thrilling story of parental love begs the question, is there anything a mother wouldn't do for her child?

This story is told from the points of view of three mothers, Darby, Mary Beth, and Rhea, whose four-year-old children are in the same preschool class at Little Academy. Each woman's life has been consumed by motherhood, and they are on their own personal journeys to reclaim their identities outside of being parents. Their plans are disrupted, however, when a disturbing and unusual medical condition goes around the preschool classroom. What started as a biting incident develops into something more: the children crave blood. No, really. A classroom outbreak of Pediatric Renfield's Syndrome has caused actual vampiric children. That's not the worst of it, though. When the children's young teacher is found dead, the only witnesses are ten four-year-olds. But they're not just witnesses, they're also suspects, and so are their mothers.

I listened to this audiobook narrated by the incredible January LaVoy, and her performance was fantastic. I actually checked to see if there was more than one narrator because her character voices were so distinctive. If I could give her 6 stars, I would. Just a really superb, high-quality audiobook. The novel itself was a fascinating take on the high standards that mothers are held to by society, told in the most unique way. This is definitely not your typical murder mystery. "Big Little Lies" meets..."Dracula"? A fun book to add to your summer reading list.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

CW: blood, lots of blood; traumatic birth/emergency c-section; murder

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC. This was my first read by Chandler and I thought the premise was interesting, but strange. Definitely unlike anything I’ve ever read and I’m not sure how I feel about Cutting Teeth. The story kept my interest to the end, especially with the interviews mixed in.

I enjoyed the narrator, but the kids voices were almost too real and at points made me cringe. So I would recommend reading this physically if that bothers you as well.

All and all, I liked Cutting Teeth but it left something to be desired with the ending.

3 stars

Parenting is a gruesome experience for most - especially birthing people, it seems - and it turns out that the kids who star in Baker's newest thriller aren't just psychologically and emotionally taxing for those who care for them; they're literally sucking the life out of them!

One of the strangest aspects of this novel is how little concern the parents of the Little Academy preschoolers have over what I can tell you right now would freak me out: their children's sudden taste for human blood. More reasons I never want to be a parent! They wonder if it's dietary, behavioral, or even learned from early environments, but most of all, they realize it's important to...COMPLY WITH THE KIDS' REQUESTS FOR BLOOD! If the kids aren't given what they want on their own terms, well, they take it violently. When even their teacher ends up dead under mysterious circumstances, it's obvious that these maniacal, bloodthirsty babies may even be capable of murder.

Anyone who needs a good dose of anecdotal birth control will get it instantly as an added bonus to reading this. It's a guarantee.

I'll admit to some surprise about how little the plot developed here. There's so much focus on the fact that there are bloodthirsty kids. It's unquestionably an interesting situation, but their parents' various shortcomings were not the fully developed storyline I was anticipating.

Baker knows how to create a creepy, perfect for summer, domestic thriller, and this is no exception. Bon Appetit, readers...!