Great futuristic read with just enough truth and intrigue around make you wonder how close we are to this type of science. Written from multiple character perspectives. A bit of a surprise when you learn exactly how all of the characters connect.

2.5 ⭐️
What a disappointment. Not really a thriller nor a true drama. Just a lot of predictable plot that leads to a couple underwhelming twists. Wish I had that time back.

Not anywhere near as good as Mother Knows Best. Interesting but a lot of slow, dragging points. I didn't like one of the POVs, took awhile to get into, to find out why it was relevant.

Really Interesting dystopian book about the future of technology and (in)humanity of it. I enjoyed the 3 stories and how they intertwined, especially the twist towards the end! I definitely didn’t see that coming :) I liked the references to our current world and parallels in some parts, as well as ethical questions brought up. This book would make a good book club discussion!

Talk about a scary look at the future when any biological matter can be turned into a sperm or egg for reproduction. This starts with a celebrity's stolen DNA being held for ransom or used to create biological children never intended. But from there we're faced with genetic engineering, "selecting" which embryos become children based on health and personality traits and that's where the technology had me cringing. The three point of views are each interesting and ultimately intersect.

I really enjoyed Baby X. I loved the uniqueness aspect of this book. So many things are rewritten these days, so it was nice to have read a book that I can honestly say I haven’t read the concept before.

We have 3 different point of views throughout this book. I liked how the author told multiple sides of this story and how Baby X affected different families. I kept wondering throughout the book how these 3 different narrators fit together, but it was a surprisingly well put -up together ending. And ultimately I really enjoyed this futuristic concept of how radication of sickness might be played out.

Overall I would recommend Baby X. It has a futuristic/sc-fi/thrillerish theme. 4 stars for me!

***Thank you Netgalley and The Quick Brown Fox & Co for an ARC copy in return for an honest review***

This was a fun and unique read! I really enjoyed the speculative fiction aspects and appreciated that it didn’t feel over the top- but like something that could actually happen someday. It made me think about what I would do in their circumstances- what it would be like to choose your children based on their DNA. It was easy to read, had a few good twists and I love how all of the multiple points of view came together. Overall I really liked it and still think about it often!

Wow! I loved this! 4.5 stars.

“In the near-future United States, where advanced technology can create egg or sperm from any person’s cells, celebrities face the alarming potential of meeting biological children they never conceived.” —book blurb

This scifi thriller alternates between 3 POVs and there are so many cool technology aspects throughout ! I absolutely loved how everything came together at the end!

I highly recommend this one and would compare it to a Blake Crouch thriller! I definitely want to check out more by this author now!

A big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC!

Speculative fiction set in the near future. I loved each of the 3 POVs and how they tied together at the end. If you like Black Mirror, or are a fan of John Maars, I think this would would for you. It was a fun, page-turning, ride that I thoroughly enjoyed!

This one started off stronger than it ended. I thought I was on the wrong track with the ending because it seemed TOO obvious. I wasn't on the wrong track, alas. I did have one big surprise midway that I absolutely didn't see coming, which was great. With these kinds of speculative novels, I expect some challenging ideas about the impacts of scientific developments on humankind. I didn't really find anything new here. The book has been compared to Gattaca, and if you've seen the film then you've already considered many of the themes herein. Most of the themes are things that I had to debate 15 years ago in my bioethics classes. If you haven't, and don't have much exposure to bioethical implications of genetic advances, you may find this one more pleasurable than I did.

A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

If you like john marrs this is probably up your alley but unfortunately this was not my cup of tea. I found it too slow and boring for me

I thoroughly enjoyed the first two parts of this book and the twist that was thrown in there, which I did NOT see coming and absolutely loved.

However, I saw the ending coming from miles and miles away and I refused to believe it could be that obvious so when it happened, I felt quite underwhelmed.

All in all, an ok thriller with an interesting concept.

A very unique book, I’d say it’s perfect for the fans of John Marrs’ speculative fiction books (think his Marriage Act and now Family Experiment). Although the writing is very different, I feel like the general vibe is there.

In Kira Peikoff's "Baby X," technology in the not-too-distant future has advanced to the point where anyone in the United States can have a baby using manipulated biological samples. This process, known as Selection, allows parents-to-be to choose their child based on physical and psychological attributes. However, when biomaterials fall into the wrong hands, the dream of creating a perfect child becomes a nightmare.

Rock star Trace Thorne faces his worst fear when he discovers that a surrogate named Quinn claims to be carrying his baby. Despite taking precautions to safeguard his DNA, Thorne’s stolen cells somehow ended up in Quinn. The revelation not only threatens his relationship with biosecurity guard Emery but also becomes a matter of life and death. Skillfully alternating perspectives among Quinn, Emery, and aspiring journalist Lily, their connections and secrets intertwine, leading them on a journey to uncover the truth.

Peikoff’s vivid imagining of the future, reminiscent of Gattaca and Black Mirror, underscores that progress always comes with peril and societal challenges, and is a riveting exploration of the ethical dilemmas surrounding reproductive technology and the essence of human identity. Additionally, the weight of ethical and moral dilemmas, combined with the consequences of the conception process, adds depth to the narrative. “Baby X” is a thought-provoking and timely thriller, blending science with human emotion, and is sure to spark discussion and debate long after the final page is turned.

The science wasn’t great in the book which made suspending my disbelief difficult at times. For instance, it’s not believable that sperm could be made into eggs or that cells from cheeks could be made into gametes however many technical words are used to dress it up. The premise of a stolen cell pregnancy was intriguing though and I enjoyed the character development throughout. The unravelling of Lily as the baby x was something I worked out late on in the book which was nice that it wasn’t obvious to me from the start. Why Quinn changed her name to Winnie was never really explained which is a bit of a plot hole I feel but it’s not too major an issue although it does feel a bit like it’s there purely so the reader doesn’t guess who she is and how the two strands of the plot are connected earlier which is a tad annoying. I don’t enjoy all the eugenics of the selection in the book as I’m a disabled person with multiple health issues myself, since the idea of being selected against because of potential health issues would obviously cause some personal issues for me and I do feel the exploration of the impact on the people who would have been selected against was minimally explored in the book with only a brief mention in Radia’s article pitch of this compared to the discussions of the benefits of selection and costs of selection to the positively selected.

This book was very unique. I'm not usually into science fiction but I thought I’d give this a try and I am glad I did.

Unfortunately, this just did not do it for me. I was really excited by the premise but the characters were just not giving me anything. They felt very flat and strange almost for the sci-fi scenarios.

"Baby X" is a gripping and thought-provoking dystopian sci-fi thriller that feels like it was plucked straight from an episode of Black Mirror. The novel dives into the chilling and ethically complex idea of stolen DNA and unauthorized reproduction, a premise that feels both futuristic and unnervingly plausible.

The narrative unfolds through the perspectives of three women: Ember, Quinn, and Lily, each grappling with their unique struggles. This multi-faceted approach adds depth to the story, allowing you to engage with the characters on a personal level and understand the varied impacts of the central conflict.

Ember, perhaps the most compelling of the trio, stands out with her resilience and determination. Her journey is marked by emotional intensity and moral dilemmas that resonate deeply. Quinn and Lily also bring their distinct voices and experiences, enriching the narrative tapestry and highlighting the different ways in which the invasion of personal genetics can affect one's life.

The heart of the novel lies in its exploration of autonomy, identity, and the ethical boundaries of science. The idea that someone could steal your DNA to create a child without your consent is mind-boggling and terrifying, pushing me to reflect on what I would do in such a situation.

If you're looking for a book that challenges your perceptions and keeps you hooked from start to finish, "Baby X" is an excellent choice.

I love sci-fi/speculative fiction, I love John Marrs & Blake Crouch (which this book has been compared to) and this absolutely delivered.

This is a story set in the near-future United States and starts off with a bang when a woman approaches a celebrity and tells him that she’s carrying his child. In a world where people can essentially engineer their child in a selection process, you only need to provide someone’s DNA to create an embryo. The risk of being a biological parent to children born without your consent is high, so celebrities have to be extra careful to not leave even a used tissue or straw behind. Even though singer Trace Thorne has been extremely careful and even has a bio-security guard protecting him everywhere he goes, it looks like this complete stranger got ahold of his DNA somehow, and now his life is ruined.

Or is it?

This is told in multiple POVs and has a past to present formatting that is absolutely wild. It’s definitely a slower read but if you do pick this up don’t rush it! The small details I initially overlooked has me already wanting to reread this!

This was such a well written & brilliant read that genuinely made my head spin. The twists were fantastic and even though I ended up guessing midway one of the big ones, I was still left shocked and with my mind blown.

This was awesome & I definitely recommend this one to Blake Crouch & John Marrs fans - if you love their writing and plots then you’ll love this too!

Thank you NetGalley & Crooked Lane Books for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion!

It’s not often that I am truly shocked at the final twist of a thriller, but I really did not see that one coming. I thought this book was a page turner and loved the futuristic element. Would absolutely recommend.