CUTTING TEETH
Chandler Baker

CUTTING TEETH is the latest by Chandler Baker, a thriller with a big bite of satire.

In CUTTING TEETH we’re following a preschool class and their parents at Little Academy. Darby, Marybeth, and Rhea all have preschoolers at the academy. They are struggling to cope with everyday stresses when a mysterious condition starts to affect the children of the preschool

The kids are "craving" blood and being a mom becomes one of the most dangerous jobs around. One day the preschool teacher is found dead and only the 4-year- old's are able to give witness.

This is the first book by Chandler Baker I have read so I didn’t know what to expect. The writing in CUTTING TEETH is funny and sharp. It feels like a wink and a nod to mothers in the throes of parenting. I immensely enjoyed the opening of the book, and I loved the setup. However, the second half was a bit of a letdown.

There is a loss of consistency throughout the text. This could be due to the formatting of the material which in part includes interview excerpts with suspects and witnesses. The jumping around at some point became too much and was distracting.

And the kids.

The kids’ perspectives get annoying at some point. And the text started to feel lofty and empty. I found some of the content pointless and dragging on beyond the point of cheekiness to becoming an annoyance. Leaving me wishing I could skim parts of the ending, just to get to the end and to see what happened.

I listened to the audiobook and was, as usual, impressed by January LaVoy’s performance. LaVoy alternates between character voices with precision. I cannot imagine this book being read by anyone else.

All total I gave CUTTING TEETH three stars and I’m chalking it up to a miss for me solely based on a few key characters, those pesky, hungry 4-year-olds. CUTTING TEETH might be a great book for you, especially if you are a new parent or someone that deals with little ones as a profession.

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy and the opportunity to provide feedback on this title.

CUTTING TEETH…⭐️⭐️⭐️

This story follows three mothers who all have preschoolers in the same class. A class in which many of the children have an unsettling medical condition where they crave blood and want to drink it. A class where the teacher was just murdered in the school and no one knows who did it. This book is part mystery and part commentary on motherhood.

This book is unique and to be honest, the plot got a bit bizarre at times, but I didn’t hate it. Chandler Baker always has a way of commenting on women’s social issues and this book definitely has deep themes of motherhood and how far mom’s will go for their children. And the mystery is a twisty wild ride for sure. This book is unlike anything I have ever read and I will be thinking about it for a while.

January LaVoy did a phenomenal job narrating the audiobook as always. She is fantastic at adding emotion and depth to the story and I always love listening to her. I do wish there has been a full cast of narrators for the different points of view as I sometimes really had to pay attention to see when the POV switched and which character was the focus.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the advance copy.

4 stars

This is a wonderful and unique novel! I laughed, I almost cried, I rooted for lots of characters, & enjoyed hating a couple villains. (Also, the audiobook narrator & the voices she does are fantastic!)

[What I liked:]

•This is a very creative story! It’s a mystery but it’s also satire & maybe sorta fantasy? It did not end the way I was expecting at all, but the ending is still pretty good.

•This book is so funny! Amusing characters, lots of little details that satirize motherhood, religion, & marriage, & plenty of situational humor involving children made this both a hilarious & a thought provoking read.

•I liked all the characters! Crunchy Rhea & her essential oils start-up, smarmy Pastor Ben & his sex challenge, scores of husbands who expect their wives to feed their children blood but aren’t willing to themselves, delusional parents who think their kids drinking human blood is just normal childhood development, wholesome Mary Beth, & a cast of hilarious children all made this so fun to read!


[What I didn’t like as much:]

•Okay, I’m pretty disappointed that the problem with biting just…goes away eventually & is never explained? That felt like a cop out tbh.

CW: murder, racism, sexism, ableism, substance abuse, infidelity

[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]

Thank you Netgalley & Macmillan audio for an ALC of Cutting Teeth by Chandler Baker!

The setting of this one is Little Academy, where the preschoolers have developed a craving for blood (what???). This doesn't seem like SUCH a big deal until a teacher is found dead and the only witnesses are the ten bloodsucking 4-year olds. Yikes.

The story follows the mothers of the children - Darby, Mary, Beth, and Freddie - Each with their own parenting styles and opinions on the blood (and murder). One thing's for certain though - All the mothers want to protect their children at all costs. Each of them was at Little Academy on the day of the murder. Who's hiding what?

Really enjoyed the multiple POVs with this one and the different personalities of the moms. The bloodsucking syndrome was an interesting take on this book that would've otherwise been a relatively straightforward thriller - So I really appreciate the freshness! I am looking forward to reading more of Chandler Baker's work.

I was absolutely captivated by this book, and it took me on an unforgettable journey. From the very beginning, I found myself intrigued by its unconventional start, and as I delved deeper into the story, I couldn't help but be completely fascinated by it.

The way the author weaved together such captivating and mysterious elements was truly remarkable. I was constantly left wondering what would happen next, eagerly anticipating each twist and turn. Despite the exploration of some uncomfortable themes, I was surprised by how well they were handled, and it made me appreciate the author's skill even more.

The storytelling style was unique and enchanting, painting vivid pictures in my mind that allowed me to fully immerse myself in the mysterious world they had created. The characters felt so authentic and real, and I couldn't help but be emotionally invested in their journey.

What impressed me the most was the book's ability to keep me guessing. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, it took unexpected turns, keeping me on the edge of my seat, flipping pages with anticipation.

In my opinion, this book is an absolute gem, and I feel that it deserves all the praise. It's a rollercoaster of emotions, blending enchantment, mystery, and fascination in a way that left a lasting impression on me. If you're looking for a book that will challenge your expectations and keep you enthralled from start to finish, I can wholeheartedly recommend this one. It truly charmed me with its brilliance.

The audiobook is a lot of fun and January LaVoy also voices for the little kids during their interviews that are interspersed throughout the book.

This story centers around three moms who are trying to reclaim parts of their identity lost to motherhood. Their children are experiencing an unsettling medical condition going around their preschool - the kids are craving blood. Their young teacher is found dead and the only witnesses (and suspects) are the class of four year olds.

This is the third book I've read by the author and has similarities to her previous books - ultra feminist while exploring the standards society has of mothers. This book is part mommy drama, part murder mystery. It's slower paced but the plot moves along and has a very satisfying ending. But warning - there is a LOT of talk about kids biting and their craving blood - borderline weird.

I was excited to get an advance audio by @macmillan.audio for Chandler Baker‘s newest Cutting Teeth after loving her last two Whisper Network and The Husbands - and this book does not disappoint!
Yet again Chandler Baker does what she does so well - acute and bitingly clear social commentary with a satiric punch in a light frothy fun wrapping with a thriller feel. This book is smart and open-eyed and with it‘s reflection on what lengths society expects mothers to go for their children - how much is it ok and simply needed to adjust to the needs of someone so fully dependent as a little kid and where is it too much ? When they draw blood ? Or as Chandler Baker wonders (lightly paraphrased) why hasn’t WitSec discovered that the quickest way to make a woman disappear and morph into a different person is making her a mother…
Her book has three different preschool mothers and models at the forefront (more of course in the background) … there is Rhea the single mom who trying to stave of any perceived criticism tries to embrace naturalistic mothering and quite simply outdo everyone else. Mary Beth is the performer, she is a SAHM who is on all the committees, class room mom and fundraiser extraordinaire, and her kids are picture perfect angels, of course, or are they ? Darby rounds out the picture by being the working mom with a subpar job she only took to have more time for the kids but does she really want to play with them or would she rather be on her phone for five more minutes … this is of course over the top, it is satire and it is fun but as I found myself loving the book and my listening I also found myself reflecting on my own choices and choices I made for my kids. I highly recommend this book and especially the audio since the author herself is a narrator for some of the interspersed police interviews …

I wasn't sure about this book but it interested me enough that I decided to give it a shot. I am honestly glad I did. I enjoyed this book and the darkness within it. I'm not a parent so I definitely missed out on some of that nuance but I still really liked what the author was going for.

The children at Little Academy have developed an unorthodox taste for blood. The parents are extremely concerned as it is wreaking havoc on their already chaotic lives. When the children’s teacher turns up dead, with only the kindergartners as witnesses, everyone is a suspect.

I really enjoyed the first half of this novel but the second half kind of lost me. It started out very good - I was super engaged reading about the kids’ strange medical condition and the intrigue of what happened to the teacher. However, I found it turned into a whinefest about parenting. I am not a parent myself, so maybe I lack that context, but it felt repetitive. I liked the concept, but the execution lost me!

This was my first Chandler Baker novel. I was super intrigued by the premise of the book, as it follows a group of mommies and toddlers in the aftermath of the death of their preschool teacher who may not be who she says…..and the only witnesses to the murder are the children. Speaking of the kids, they are all bitting. Seeking out like vampires. it speaks to the nature of motherhood, but in a creepy way.it reminds me of books like the push, baby teeth, and mixed with a Lianne Moriarty book.

I did really enjoy the story, but found that this wasn’t anything new or revolutionary. It was the same kind of story but slightly different details, I did really enjoy the audiobook. The kids all have different voices and it’s adorable and creepy.

Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for my arc copy.

*First off, thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the ARC of this book*

Unfortunately, this one was just not it for me. I wanted so badly to enjoy this book, however the character development, bizarre actions of the children and the lack of shocking twists made it fall flat for me. It seemed as though there were too many random pieces being strewn together, which made them not work at all in my opinion. It made it difficult to follow along with the storyline, because I wasn't sure which piece we were on at that point... be it the children, the murder mystery, the random drama or what.

I do think the author did a fine job exploring the complications of motherhood. I'm personally not a mom, but I can see how this book would hit home for moms as they would be able to relate to the topic of motherhood and the complications of it that were included.

I think maybe this would have been better suited as a horror novel. Meaning I would have enjoyed it focusing more on the bizarre actions of the children. Where that stemmed from, how long it lasted, why they were the only ones doing it, etc. With that being glossed over and then sort of just accepted and encouraged, it made this too strange to be enjoyable for me.

As always I encourage everyone to read each book for themselves because what may not work for me may work for someone else. If you’re looking for something completely off the wall and thrown in from left field this may be the book for you!

This book was so bizarre and so much fun to read. It's mostly a murder mystery, but has a lot of commentary on how motherhood forces you to give everything you have to your children--literally blood, sweat, and tears. I laughed out loud at some passages.

I loved Chandler Baker's little Easter eggs of narrating a few passages. What a fun way to get the author involved in the audiobook process. I also loved to learn that she listens to audiobooks "aggressively quickly" just like I do!

I flew through this listen and enjoyed it the whole way. It's certainly unique, and I highly recommend it for a lighthearted mystery.

Cutting Teeth by Chandler Baker is a different yet fun story.
The setting was unique. The characters were interesting and really made the story so much fun to read.
I thought the writing was witty. And Baker really did a great job pulling me in.
The narraters were awesome. I could visualize everything happing and enjoyed listening to this story a lot.
I’m a big fan of Bakers work and I believe she really did a good job with her newest title.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I'm not sure what I expected going into this one...but CUTTING TEETH turned out to be more social commentary and "mommy drama" than a hard biting thriller (see what I did there?) The narrator did a fantastic job of capturing all the characters - including the grating whine of the children!

There were aspects of this one that I enjoyed, but I was left wanting at the end.

Dear Cutting Teeth,
Preschool vampires! Heck yeah! I work with kids, which gave me a different layer of enjoyment to the horror of your story. I kept picturing the kids from my school biting and licking and drawing blood, which made me smile in a slightly disgusted way. But more than just your kiddie horror aspects, you are also a close observation on the expectations and pressures that society puts on mothers, a demonstration of how women are expected to give everything of themselves for their children. You really showed all of the different perspectives of motherly sacrifice. You did have a large cast of characters and sometimes they blurred together for me as I listened to you. But I lost myself totally in your story!

This was laugh out loud funny at some points. If you like satire and sarcasm, you’ll love this. It also felt like a hug from a mom friend occasionally.

Wow! This book was so much fun and the plot was absolutely fascinating to me! I really didn’t know what to expect but was pleasantly surprised!

I really love this author and this book did not disappoint! If I were to compare this book to two of her other books - The Whisper Network and The Husbands, I’d say it is closer in style to The Husbands!

I highly recommend the audiobook because the narration was fantastic and so much fun. I could not help but giggle at the interrogation scenes (you will too)! I finished this off in 2 days because I couldn’t wait to hear more!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the digital advanced readers copy!! I received a complimentary copy of this book.

"On her worst days, parenting feels like one big 'supposed to.'"

Thank you to Flatiron Books, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing me with audiobook access to Cutting Teeth by Chandler Baker. I previously read The Husbands and The Whisper Network by the author and this was by far my favorite novel of the trio.

I would characterize this novel as a domestic thriller about parenthood, particularly the ways in which mothers lose themselves when raising young children. The story focuses on three different mothers (Darby, Mary Beth, and Rhea), all of whom exhibit different parenting styles, whose children attend the same preschool. When their preschool teacher ends up murdered and their children, who have been exhibiting an unusual craving for blood, are the only witnesses to the crime, the mothers must decide how they are going to navigate solving this mystery with the potential consequence of implicating their own child.

Overall, this book is a poignant, insightful, and witty observation of modern motherhood wrapped in a suspenseful and mysterious package. Chandler manages to highlight and balance the banal, endless daily to-dos mothers face with the shocking and unimaginable lengths they will go to to raise and protect their children.

3.5 ⭐️

“Everyone is hiding something in one way or another.”

When their children’s preschool teacher is killed just after many of the children begin to display signs of juvenile vampirism, the parents of Little Academy are left in a state of panic. Everyone becomes a suspect as they seek to learn the truth.

I loved the concept of this book and its commentary on motherhood. The beginning and ending were quite strong, but the story’s middle left me underwhelmed. Despite that I am still looking forward to reading from the author again.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an ALC of the title in exchange for my honest review.

Another great story by Chandler Baker, who is quickly becoming one of my favorite new writers to watch. Can children as young as 4 or 5 who developed a strange affinity for blood really be vampires capable of killing their teacher? This is the issue confronting parents at the Little Academy, whose children seemed to have developed a literal unquenchable thirst for blood. This book is sly and clever about motherhood, funny, satirical, and yet also somehow never requires you to stretch your disbelief to uncomfortable proportions. Baker has a gift for writing in such a way that you completely empathize with the characters (even the little potential vampires). The narrator also does a solid job selling the story. This book solidifies Chandler Baker as one of my new favorites and I can't wait to read more from her!