Baby X is an interesting science fiction piece, that seems to need more specific on age range as the writing seemed very young adult although content is mid adult. This book is set in the near future, with GenG growing up and dealing with their Millennial parents. Phones are nearly obsolete, everyone uses autonomous cars, and a new version of parenthood has come to be. No longer do you have to have a baby the old-fashioned way; now you can submit a DNA sample, and any two people can have their cells turned into sperm/eggs. The healthiest cluster of cells is analyzed, and parents can choose which embryo to implant based on intelligence, physicality, looks and risk for disease. I found the book very slow and struggled staying engaged in the writing, the concept is unique but was just too unrealistic in my opinion. Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity.

Can you imagine having to be careful with something as small as the saliva you leave on a glass or the napkin you just used… because someone could take it and, without you even knowing, you might end up having a baby out there??????

Well, that’s the terrifying premise of this book. And sure, you might think: “Okay, but this probably only affects celebrities, like I bet there are obsessed Harry Styles fans who would actually try this.” But honestly? Society keeps getting worse, sooo yup no one is safe (not even you reading this review).

The plot is definitely wild. It follows a famous singer who hires someone (Ember) specifically to make sure not a single trace of his DNA, saliva or any other bodily fluid, ever gets left behind for someone to use. And just when everything seems under control, a girl suddenly appears claiming that the baby she is carrying belongs to him. Is she telling the truth? How did she get his DNA if he was supposed to be guarded?

The book slowly unravels how we get to that point, with different narrators. One of the things I really enjoyed is how, as a reader, you get to piece the puzzle together little by little while discovering several plot twists. And honestly? I liked them all.

That said, my main issue was with some characters, especially Ember, who I just couldn’t bring myself to like. On the other hand, Quinn? Damn. She carried this book. Maybe if her chapters had been given more focus, I would have enjoyed it even more.

Still, I recommend giving this one a chance. It has some really good twists like I mentioned before, and although it is a bit hard to connect with the story at first, it definitely gets better as you go and all your questions start piling up, in the best way possible.

This book surprised me! You could nit pick a thousand little things, but at the end of the day it was a thought provoking book that I couldn’t put down. I was engrossed and things that should feel far fetched, sadly don’t.

Baby-X explore themes like genetic selection and pandemic. It follows Ember's story, working as a DNA-protector for famous people. Ember falls in love with one of her clients and has to protect is genetic material at the same time. Until someone shows up claiming to being pregnant with his child.

I probably would have liked this book better if I wasn't going through IVF while reading it.

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

A world where being a product of lab grown embryos are a norm and being a product of natural brith seems taboo. Where owning android dogs vs a real life dog means your dog will live forever. Cell phones are a thing of the past (only the older generations still use those) because everyone wears contact lenses that project all the social media news right in front of their eyes. This was such a fun and interesting read, and might a say, not all too futuristic in some aspects. But this book had me saying “oh my gosh!”, “no way” almost every chapter. I enjoyed the character dynamics and was rooting for them to the end. I thought this was a fun spin on sci-if dystopian but also weirdly relatable


Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review

Baby X is a sharp, high-stakes thriller that pulls you right into the moral gray zones of genetic engineering. The story feels both urgent and unsettling...what happens when the line between scientific innovation and playing God completely disappears?

Peikoff does a great job blending real scientific dilemmas with nail-biting suspense. The twists come at the perfect moments, and you’re never sure who to trust or how far some characters will go. It’s one of those books that gets under your skin because the premise feels uncomfortably plausible.

If you enjoy thrillers that make you question what you’d do in the same situation, this one will keep you up past your bedtime.

One of the most interesting near sci-fi premises I’ve read in awhile!

In this near-future world, it’s possible to steal someone’s DNA and create egg or sperm cells from any cell in their body. A black market site pops up dedicated to stealing and selling DNA from celebrity and political figures. Now someone can steal a person’s DNA and have a biological baby with them…and then blackmail them for money.

If you enjoy Blake Crouch’s books, I think you’d really enjoy Baby X! It’s a fast-paced, sci-fi thriller, yet it also does a great job describing the science in interesting and compelling ways while bringing up thoughtful philosophical and ethical questions along the way.

While at times the plot and pacing felt a little too fast, not giving me enough time to get to know the main characters, I still understood their motivations, and related to the their struggles and the decisions they had to make.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced, near sci-fi thriller, I’d highly recommend picking up Baby X! I look forward to reading this author’s next book :)

*Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the digital arc. All opinions are my own.

Baby X is a suspenseful, science fiction story that feels like it could happen today. A thoughtful and engaging page turner that you could read in one sitting.

A very interesting premise with a really engrossing story. Very page turning plot, and pacing was spot on. The ending felt a little over the top for my tastes, but I still recommend this to any speculative fiction/dystopia type fan.

This one was a little outside my usual genres but I am glad I gave it a shot! Baby X is a sci-fi set in the near-ish future where people are able to use DNA sequencing to select their future children, as well as purchase DNA from celebrities and create their own embryos. Told through three main characters, Quinn, a surrogate, Lily a journalist and Ember a bio-security guard whose job it is to protect a famous singer's DNA from being sold on the black market, there is a lot to unpack and a lot of room for twists and turns throughout! This book is very interesting and makes you think about a lot of ethics and problems that could come from the constantly growing and changing field of reproductive technology and gene sequencing. Definitely one I would recommend checking out! Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this book!

THIS WAS SO FUN. I immediately hopped on board when hearing about this premise and was so glad to be part of the ride. Stealing DNA is such a daring plot point and Peikoff didn't disappoint.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my review copy!
I am belated on my review, but this book was thrilling and eye-opening. It was written in a way that really immersed me into a not too distant future, with very frightening consequences involving fertility and science’s involvement.
All too realistically developed…it was hard to read at times, yet I didn’t want to put it down. I highly recommend!

Baby X is a clever, very-near-future-sci-fi story that's full of surprises. It's a very entertaining pop-science story that gives readers a lot to think about as we navigate the future of familial relationships. I would have liked a little more depth and detail, but overall I enjoyed the twisty ride and will look for more from this author in the future.

A very thrilling read! This was a quick read and interesting plot. I couldn’t put this one down. The world building did creep me a little bit, it seems almost like something that would happen to us in the future. Overall 3.5/5

This was one I liked more in theory than reality. Great concept that didn't necessarily go where I wanted, but that's clearly a me thing. Still, it wasn't the book I wanted to read.

A Great Sci-Fi Novel

This futuristic AI world with genetic selection had me hooked from the very beginning.

The story is told through the perspectives of three main women:

-Quinn is a young woman who has become a surrogate. She meets Bob, who recently became a widower after his husband passed away in an accident. When Bob proposes that she carry his baby using the embryos he created with his husband, she agrees.

-Ember has recently decided to open her own business. Her line of work involves protecting famous individuals from having their DNA stolen by "The Vault" and then sold on the black market to the highest bidder. Her first client is none other than the famous singer, Thorne.

-Lily was created the old-fashioned way; she wasn't "selected." She's starting a new internship and is determined to make an impression. She just needs to pitch the next big story to her new boss.

All these women's lives will collide masterfully.

Baby X was so engrossing that I never wanted to stop reading. The novel's futuristic aspects were well-executed, providing readers with intriguing possibilities, such as self-driving helicopters, AI doggies, or the unethical creation of lab babies using cells, hair, or saliva without consent.

I will definitely keep this author in mind for future reads.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Crooked Lane Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Baby X is a futuristic sci-fi novel about a look into the future and how gene sequencing of embryos and what that effect has in this society and how they “select” their future kids. Meanwhile, The Vault is selling DNA sourced illegally from “elite” people like celebrities and athletes, of which people can purchase on the black market and use to create their own embryos.

The whole concept was entirely terrifying honestly 😬😂 if you like Black Mirror, you’ll love Baby X! Once I was invested I couldn’t stop reading and read the whole thing on a single flight! It has three main storylines, following Quinn a surrogate, Lily a journalist and Ember whose job is protecting the DNA of a famous singer.

Each of the female leads were very likeable and each storyline was equally engaging. There was also a fairly big twist at the end that I didn’t see coming and loved!!

Overall definitely recommend this one. My second Kira Peikoff book and she might just be becoming an auto read for me!

Baby X is a thrilling and thought-provoking dive into a near-future world where technology has blurred the lines between biology, privacy, and personal safety. In a society where DNA can be stolen and sold to the highest bidder, celebrity singer Trace Thorne hires Ember Ryan, a bio-security guard, to protect him from the black market site known as the Vault. The plot takes a dramatic twist when a woman named Quinn claims Thorne is the father of her baby, throwing everything into chaos.

I absolutely loved this book! The concept is incredibly intriguing, and it raises thought-provoking questions about privacy, technology, and the ethical implications of genetic manipulation. The mix of suspense, romance, and high stakes kept me hooked from start to finish. Ember’s internal conflict and the growing tension between her and Thorne added emotional depth, while the fast-paced plot made it impossible to put down. Baby X is a must-read for anyone who loves a gripping thriller with a unique and timely concept.

This was great! I loved how the author wove the 3 women’s stories together. Definitely recommend picking this one up if the synopsis sounds interesting to you!

Thanks to NetGalley for the early read. I had a really good time reading this fast paced sci fi thriller. I thought the fertility and baby engineering parts fascinating and wish the novella had dived deeper into those society aspects

I expected this one to be more science fiction but it ultimately ended up being more of a thriller.