Cutting Teeth
by Chandler Baker
Narrated by Chandler Baker; January LaVoy
Pub Date 18 Jul 2023
Macmillan Audio/ Flatiron Books

Summary
At the Little Academy, mothers fret over their preschoolers, who have developed an unsettling medical syndrome. The children’s odd craving for blood is considered relatively benign (to everyone except their beleaguered moms) until a young teacher is found dead and the only potential witnesses are ten adorable 4-year-olds. Then it becomes clear that the police are looking at the children as not just witnesses, but also suspects…and they’re watching their mothers as well.

Review
Cutting Teeth is a dark humor story that intertwines the challenges of motherhood with the unexpected twist of vampire toddlers - Pediatric Renfield's Syndrome. This novel offers a fresh and entertaining take on the typical mom-lit genre.

Darby, Marybeth and Rhea are “mom friends” who are each trying to find their identity outside motherhood. The characters bring their distinct personalities to the story but I did not find myself sympathetic to their plight - perhaps I was distracted by the toddlers wanting to drink blood.

The author's writing style includes humor - ranging from subtle sarcasm to outright absurdity - but it never crosses into being too dark or unsettling. I found the vampire toddler concept a bit bizarre.

January Lavoy’s narration was well paced and did not overpower the story or characters. Also, loved her narration of Bad Summer People.

Cutting Teeth is an enjoyable and amusing read and that will resonate well with those seeking a break from conventional mom-lit. Those that enjoy books with a touch of paranormal - similar to Kevin Wilson’s Nothing To See Here - will likely enjoy this read.

Thank you Macmillan audio and NetGalley for an advanced listen of this book.

This was a phenomenal audiobook, the production was so well done.

The overall story intrigued me at first but I quickly lost interest. It was sort of repetitive and stagnant at times. I didn’t dislike it enough to DNF or anything like that but just felt there were a lot of missed opportunities. Too many words not enough substance.

There was a lot of focus on the suburban moms and societal expectations, lots of focus on side stories but it never really came together in a cohesive way for me.

The weird mom who was like”here child come suck my blood…oh you don’t want to!? Well why th not!?” (That’s not exactly how it went down but basically. Like the parents were like hey, if my kids wanna drink blood who are we to say no. 🤷🏼‍♀️ It was just odd. I like creepy and horror but this just didn’t sit right with me.

The kids were def creepy, which the audiobook represented so well. Had I read the physical book it may have considered a DNF. I didn’t care about or connect with any characters.

It was just ok, didn’t love it, didn’t hate it. I was just expecting more than what I got.

4 stars and out now! This was an incredibly enjoyable read! It offers a dark and humorous perspective on motherhood and the justifications we make to support our children. The unexpected conclusion kept me on my toes, which is one of my favorite aspects of murder mysteries. There are many intriguing layers and misdirections in this book, making it a sharp and satirical commentary on the topic of motherhood. It's both chilling and ironic, and it prompts the important question of how much is too much when it comes to parenting. If you can overlook the fact that the children in the story have an unusual craving for blood, then you'll love this domestic thriller that's reminiscent of Big Little Lies. I had the pleasure of listening to the early audio version of this and the production is fantastic.

I loved this audiobook/book. It was a great commentary on modern motherhood and the length mothers will go to. The ending literally made me gasp! The narrator was great, her children's voices were so cute. I also loved at the ending there was a conversation between this author and the author of another audiobook I listened to, Bad Summer People. The narrator did both audiobooks.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review!

I was definitely drawn in to request this audiobook because of the cover. I also love January LaVoy. She is an excellent narrator and this one was so entertaining! This was such an interesting and original story. I loved listening to the different mothers perspectives, and the drama! LaVoy captured all the different characters and I don't know how the heck she does it. I was engaged the entire time. Definitely worth giving a listen to!

I finished this book this morning and I absolutely loved it!! It was satirical, creepy, and so much fun!! I binge read it in 24 hours! I went back and forth between the audio from @netgalley and the physical copy. I loved the vibe of the entire book. It had the creepy children along with traditional mystery elements of a good thriller. It’s a solid mix of thriller, horror, comedy, drama. The writing and pace were perfect and the narrator for the audio was perfection. Now to wait for @chandlerbakerbooks next book!

I was so excited when I got this audiobook, but honestly this one was just a little bit underwhelming to me.

Thank you Macmillan audio for this ALC! It was so well done!

Part murder mystery, part motherhood manifesto, Cutting Teeth explores the standards society holds mothers to―along with the ones to which we hold ourselves―and the things no one tells you about becoming a parent.

“Like, as the mother, it’s always her sworn duty and hers alone to take care of the hardest bits, the way the Secret Service has to take a bullet for the president.”

My 3rd book by Chandler Baker and my favorite! This book is layered thick with the nuances of motherhood. It is a great domestic thriller with some humorous bits! At times I felt like Chandler was looking into my soul!

When a preschool teacher is found dead, her class of small children are the only witnesses, and suspects 🫣 They have all recently been found to have Renfield’s Syndrome, which is characterized by a craving for blood 🩸 This hilarious thriller on motherhood asks the common question: is there anything a mother won’t do for her children?
And if you think you know what is happening or who did what… you just wait until the LAST line!!! 😱😱😱

Baker really nails the sometimes terrifying reality of what happens when you become a parent, that you are in fact in charge. I found myself laughing out loud and relating to these characters in many ways!
The dialogue is easy to read and hilarious, I feel like I’ve had some of these same conversations with friends!

“How in the process of raising new humans, you become a new one yourself. How love for a child can accomplish feats modern medicine and technology can still only dream of and it will do so in the blink of an eye. For that love will rewire your brain, alter your personality, modify your DNA, and explode your heart, all, somehow? Without killing you.”

Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me. I love her writing usually, but all the biting and blood talk just honestly made me nauseous. That combined with the incredibly slow pace made this book too hard to enjoy. I will definitely still try whatever she comes out with next!

The premise of this one is a bit ridiculous. A pre-school in which the children begin to crave the taste of blood? Especially the blood of their mothers? And then the preschool teacher is murdered? I thought it would be too much for me, but it actually works somehow. The POVs represent, in their way, different approaches to motherhood, marriage, and work/life balance. The plot is well put-together and the characters are distinct, each with an interesting arc. The narration is OUTSTANDING. It's little wonder January LaVoy is an award-winning narrator. She has a way with making voices distinct, even the men and the children, and the expression is emotional but never overdone.

I would give this book a 3.5 rating.
First of all, I loved the cover of this book! It is very eye popping and unique. I also love the concept of the book, little baby vampires! I was actually expecting to hear more about these little vampires. but instead, the story was parent driven. The story actually follows Darby, Mary Beth, Rhea and their families. These women take the center stage while the "little vampire kids" take a back seat. I would have loved to hear more from and about the kids and followed their POV. That being said, it is still a good read. It had a solid plot, good writing, great narration and a satisfying ending.

Let me just say that January LaVoy did an exceptional job at narrating this book. Omg she was great at every character. She is the reason that I did not put my phone down. She did such an amazing job telling this story. This was my first time reading a book by her and my first introduction to her. I can't believe I have been missing out on her narration. I will be adding her to my list of favorite narrators alongside Eunice Wong and Leslie Howard.

Lastly, I love the bonus conversation at the end. I always when authors include them. It gives us insight into how they create while also letting us know a little more about them. It humanizes them making it more likely readers will want to follow them and lookout for their new books.
I would have given this book an even higher rating if it had included more from the kids' perspective. All in all, it was good read with a very satisfying and twisty ending.
I would like to thank Netgalley and MacMillian audio for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A dark, satirical and creepy whodunnit involving a preschool class of children suffering from Pediatric Renfield’s Syndrome (aka children’s vampirism) and their parents. 


Holy creepy kids! From the first bite, you won’t be able to look away from these families. A dark and satirical look at parenthood, how far you’d go for your children and just how draining it can all be!

When the students in Ms. Ollie’s class begin biting and she ends up dead, it sets off an investigation into the four year old suspects and their parents. Told from the multiple POVs of three moms, Darby, Mary Beth and Rhea, we get their perspectives (and involvement) in the murder as the investigation unfolds.

I loved how Baker told this story - the secrets, the family drama, the friendships, the stress and expectations of motherhood, the ups and downs of marriage and the creepy children suffering from vampirism. It was all just so damn intriguing. I was worried about how it was all going to tie in together but it worked, albeit in a bizarre manner.

The audiobook was fun to listen to with the added music, interview clips and witness statements. The narrator, January LaVoy, did an amazing job voicing the characters. Highly recommend doing this one on audio!

📖 Cutting Teeth follows a group of mothers whose preschoolers attend Little Academy - an elite private school. Not long after the children are afflicted with a strange medical condition, their teacher is murdered. The children are suspects, and there's nothing their mother's won't do to protect them.

💭 This was a hoot! Part murder mystery, part satirical commentary on the struggles of motherhood - it's chalk full of symbolism that I couldn't help but relate to. January Lavoy's audiobook performance is just stellar. Cutting Teeth includes a very large cast, with many children, and Lavoy performs them seamlessly. 👏🏻 HIGHLY recommend, especially in audiobook format.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the gifted ALC.

Story: Entertaining
Narration: Fantastic
Kids: Creepy

I had a lot of fun with this one. I think it was a clever way of combining the tolls motherhood has with a murder mystery. There are a lot of people mentioned so it took me a minute to keep everyone straight and I wish a certain thing got a better closure in the end, but overall I enjoyed reading this one. Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for the ALC of this one.

Check me out on Instagram @books_boards_and_brews and @themarriagestoriespod
Cutting Teeth
Written by Chandler Baker
Read by January LaVoy
Book 149/200
Genre: Horror/Thriller
Format: Audio, ARC
Pages: 320
Published: 2023
Rating: 8/10
Horror: 👻👻

*This ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review*

Cutting teeth is a humorous and horrific window into motherhood. I very much enjoyed reading this latest work from Chandler Baker. Cutting Teeth serves as a metaphor of how children can drain their mothers both physically and mentally. Baker hits home that "good mothers" aren't all cast from the same mold and that being a "good mother" doesn't always look the same. As a father, I have not personally experienced this hardship that effects mothers, but I have watched my wife go though all of this. Through this book I feel I can understand a bit more of what she goes through on a daily basis (and hopefully be a better husband as a result). January LaVoy absolutely nails this audiobook performance. Her range in voices is just incredible and she really help create an immersive experience.

I will say, I would give the first 75-80% of this book a 9.5/10, with the end missing the mark a bit for me. I was hoping it would go in a bit more of a horror ending than a thriller (if you're curious about the difference, keep your eye out for an episode of The Marriage Stories Pod where @thebookannelid and I discuss horror vs thriller). Though that is very much a personal preference, and I know many people who would prefer the thriller-y ending more! Chandler Baker will definitely be an author I watch out for in the future!

The Little Academy has the reputation of being one of the best in town until some strange things start to happen. Children at the school start to display some strange symptoms, they all start to crave blood. Then a young teacher is found dead in her classroom. It soon becomes clear that the police are not looking at the children as just witnesses but as suspects. Could it be possible for a group of four year olds to kill their teacher or should the police be taking a closer look at their mothers?

Cutting Teeth is a satire and commentary on motherhood that is full of the dark humor that I enjoy in Chandler Baker’s books. She has a way of writing about motherhood that makes me feel completely seen and understood. It's like she hears my thoughts and then uses them in her books. I read the synopsis for this book and initially thought, “vampiric toddlers…this is going to be weird.” It definitely was weird but it worked! This book is engaging and thought provoking and the mystery is interesting and twisty. I liked how Baker threw enough suspicion around that I couldn't easily figure out who the killer was. Cutting Teeth is narrated by January LaVoy who is one of my all time favorite narrators and she did an amazing job as usual!

This book…oh my! There is just no way, as a parent, I’d make the same decisions. Lots of friends who also kept secrets from each other. Lots of parents who are drowning in what to do with their kids. Lots of parents doing straight up crazy things! I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure where this one was going but it wrapped up well.

🌀Synopsis
A teacher is murdered.
Now the cops must get to the bottom of it by interviewing the children. Wouldn’t you know, kids say the darnedest thing too.
Piece by piece, this story starts to come out. It starts with some kids who seem to have an odd craving for blood. Yes, that’s right they want to bite and draw blood. Their moms, who are friends, don’t want to talk about it. They don’t want to admit that there are issues. None of them are willing to say how far they are going for their children.
As it turns out, one of them would even murder for their kid.

A murder mystery with vampire children? Yes. This was a eccentric, witty and disturbing murder mystery. Tying in the sacrifice parents make with blood sucking children was *chef’s kiss*. The phantom pooper has me dying - as a Kindergarten teacher I wish I could say it’s outlandish but it truly isn’t. Parents (and teachers!) will get a kick out of this one.

CUTTING TEETH by Chandler Baker presents an intriguing blend of murder mystery and motherhood exploration. Darby, Mary Beth, and Rhea's quests to reclaim their identities while juggling motherhood take an unexpected turn when the Little Academy preschool is struck by a disturbing medical condition—kids craving blood. While the premise hints at vampire children, the story leans more towards a critique of societal pressures on parents. The narrative examines the expectations placed on mothers and the struggles they face in meeting them, which is cleverly represented through the children's unusual condition. I found the domestic drama slightly overwhelming and struggled to connect with most characters. The inclusion of a single mom provided a different perspective. The murder mystery's early reveal was a minor drawback, but a surprising twist towards the end added excitement. Nevertheless, CUTTING TEETH delivers an enjoyable reading experience with its unique blend of humor, mystery, and thought-provoking insights into parenthood.

There is a preschool class full of children craving blood like cute mini vampires. What would you do if your little angel was demanding blood for a snack? And then one day their teacher is killed during the day - could one of the little Draculas have done in it in a blood thirst?

While this is technically a thriller it is a satirical thriller that looks into parenthood, and more specifically, motherhood, and the expectations around what makes a good mother (while we solve a little crime along the way).

In all honesty I kept reading the premise and thinking I didn’t want to read this book - my kids are teens and I didn’t think I wanted to read a “mommy novel” BUT thankfully I kept reading reviews and I put that aside and picked it up (and it is not what I thought it was). I half listened and half read and I really enjoyed it. I thought what Baker had to say about being a wife and mom was insightful (but in an entertaining way). The audio did a great job with the different characters and this book flew by. While the murder plot was pretty predictable the story itself was enjoyable and I will be picking up her other novels.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to review