4 ⭐️. I LOVE a pregnancy dystopian book. Baby X is the perfect blend of thriller mixed with just a sprinkle of sci-fi. Set in the not so distant future where pregnancy is accessible to all and "having a baby" is cultivated in a lab rather than a bed, we follow 3 strong females as they navigate the emerging future of "motherhood".

This story kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I LOVED the para-social relationships, the pregnancy horror & the use of futuristic tech.


TY to Netgalley & Crooked Lane books for an copy of this story.

Baby X - 4.25⭐
Genre - sci-fi/speculative fiction

Thanks @crookedlanebooks and @netgalley for the advanced digital copy! This released last month🥰

I’ve been super into speculative fiction lately - I’m taking it as intro to sci-fi. Told in multiple (but easily distinguished) points of view, this was engaging from the start, but the pace was fairly slow from the beginning. By the halfway point though, it was almost unputdownable. The ending was action packed, and the book finished in a way that I found I hadn’t expected at all. It blew my mind in the best way and I couldn’t stop thinking about it!


#babyx #crookedlanebooks

I don't read sci fi thrillers very often but when I do, I am reminded of how great that combo of genres is. Baby X accomplished this and it was very enjoyable reading about an alternate society set in the future. I wasn't too sure about the multiple perspectives in the book but it soon worked out well for the story and I somehow did not see that ending coming! I found some of the dialogue and writing slightly cheesy or trying very hard to make solid metaphors.

Such a fast-paced fun thriller! Loved this sci-fi which felt like a great combo between Upgrade by Blake Crouch and Girl One.

Thanks to Net Galley, Crooked Lane Books and the author for the review copy! 3.5 stars rounded up - this was just the brain candy I needed. Although the writing was a bit choppy, the plot was somewhat predictable, and we were painstakingly reminded every few sentences that this ✨ the future ✨, I still enjoyed it overall. Readers who liked the themes and pacing of The Surrogate by Freida McFadden or the themes and world building in The Prynne Viper by Bianca Marais should check out Baby X.

My Goodreads review can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6445524990

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an e-arc of Baby X by Kira Peikoff through read now.

Told in alternating perspectives, Baby X had my on the edge of my seat until the storylines intersect at the end. A highly satisfying speculative thriller, I would recommend even to those who normally avoid sci fi .There is a lot to think about about and unpack amidst the suspense. This would make for a pretty interesting book club read. 4/5 star read

I requested this book when I heard it could be a book of the month pick. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an early copy to review. I liked the synopsis and was hoping for a little better execution. This book takes place 25yrs from now. They’ve completely changed the way people make babies. People steal celebrities and other high profile figures such as politicians dna to make highly skilled babies. There were so many things wrong with this book. Kids suing their parents for selecting them to be deaf like the rest of the family? Wow. No other words. This book is terrifying in too many ways. 2.5 stars rounded up

Wow! This was the best thriller I’ve read in a long time! Set a few decades in the future, Baby X takes place in the United States where technology has changed much of daily life, including how babies are made. Science has discovered how parents can choose embryos based on desired traits for their kids, and this method of reproduction has become the norm. More notably, technology has been developed to create sperm or eggs with anyone’s DNA (from hair, saliva, etc.) putting people — especially celebrities — at risk of having their DNA stolen to parent children they never knew about.

Told from alternating perspectives of three women, this story is propulsive, twisty, and truly kept me guessing as the three women’s stories intersected in surprising ways. The book was filled with action and intrigue that kept me turning pages, and the setup kept me thinking about the ethical questions and implications of this futuristic world.

Sci-fi doesn’t always intrigue me but I couldn’t put this book down. If you’re a fan of John Marrs, definitely pick this one up! I absolutely loved it!

This is the story of what could easily happen in the near future - and it is both cautionary tale and sweet homage to family. I wasn't sure at the start of this, but the more the stories interconnected the more I enjoyed it! I did not guess the ending (though really should have) and this is a perfect fit if you like reading sci-fi or mysteries, as it has a solid bit of both. The mechanics of the story, essentially that in this 2050ish world we can pick and choose which embryos to implant to ensure healthy (or superlative?) children, are not as far-fetched as we might like to believe. The ramifications of this are spun out well, and get increasingly more human as the book progresses. Four stars, and I would read more by this author!

This book started out great. I liked the concept and it felt like it could happen. However, as the story progressed it just felt less and less likely. There were just too many things that I found unbelievable and too contrived.

Thank you Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books for the Kindle Edition of this book in exchange for my honest review. I wasn't sure about this book as I though it was a sci-fi dystopian type fiction book but this is more speculative fiction with a unique thriller aspect and it got me hooked. It is set way in the 2050's and the author, Kira Peikoff does a remarkable job explaining the advancement that had occurred to set the scenes but it did take me quite some time to read. Inititally, I could only do a chapter or two at a time trying to digest it and understand what was going on- it was just the right amount of science to follow along. There are three different point of views, Ember, Lily, and Quinn- which help tell the story and midway through the book, I couldn't put it down. As the story unfolded, it just sucked you in wanting more. This is such well written, crazy idea story that it was mind blowing enjoyable! It came out last month, March 6 and I highly recommend!

For fans of futuristic takes on science and technology such as Blake Crouch, multiple POVs, and stories of overcoming obstacles.

In some of these instances let's hope they remain a work of fiction and do not come to fruition.

Told in 3 women's POV's. Lily, an up and coming writer trying to find the headliner that will set her career in motion. Ember, the successful business woman dating a super star. Quinn, the surrogate that is going through life on her own.

A lot of futuristic ideas in the first half that made it a slow read. I would read a bit and put it down for a while. So many ideas to take in at once. The characters seemed cold to me but when their stories began to cross over I became more engaged. Although I guessed the tie in at the end, I really enjoyed it and the connecting of stories.

Yooooo a new favorite thriller! Will for sure be recommending this one to friends. I did not guess even ONE of the plot twists. So unique!

My thanks to QBF, Kira Pelkoff and Netgalley.
I didn't get to far into this book at all. Personally, I don't believe it's awful, it just felt very youthful to me. Not my groove at all.
I'm just rating this as average.

Well, that was a happy surprise!
I don't read sci-fi very often. But I decided to pick this one up because the genetic-science of the synopsis was appealing to me. And I was right.
I really liked this one.
Not gonna lie: after halfway through the book I thought it was dragging a little. But things, to me, improved after I go to the last part of the book (it is devided into 4 parts).
Throughout the entire book I had my doubts concerning one of the 3 POVs this book has: I thought one of them seemed out of place, with no connection to the other two.
And then it comes the last chapter (that one before the epilogue) and it ALL made sense to me.
I guess we can call it a plot twist, right?
I was very surprised by it. Totally did not see that coming at all.
I'm gonna say it again: I don't usually read sci-fi, so this book surprised me in many ways. I'd say readers like me who only read sci-fi now and then might enjoy this book maybe a little more than those sci-fi hardcore readers.

This is a scarily feasible futuristic novel where DNA advancements have created a world where sperm and egg could be created from any human cells and genome selection means diseases and personal traits can be "selected" and natural conception is almost unheard of. Because of advancements, an online marketplace selling DNA samples of high-profile individuals illegally threatens celebrities with having their DNA sequenced and turned into sperm or eggs being sold to the highest bidder. Trace Thorne, a famous singer, who has had his DNA stolen and sold in the marketplace, hires Ember, a biosecurity guard, for protection. They are confronted by a pregnant woman, Quinn, claiming that Trace is the father of the baby and they discover that nothing is as it seems.

In other thread, Lily is a journalist undertaking a post-grad fellowship and is researching an article exposing the power reproduction clinics have while uncovering the truth behind her mother's jail time. She is an Unforeseen, a natural conception, and is grappling with the fact that her parents, now in their 60s, want to have another child.

The book is told from the points of view of the three female protagonists - Quinn, Ember and Lily. Their stories are compelling and the storylines come together in the end really well, if not a bit quickly.

My only criticism is that it's set in the near-future and some of the advances seem unlikely considering the timeframes. I would have preferred if no dates and years were included because I found that knowing when these events were supposed to be happening pullled me out of the story a bit.

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for sharing a digital copy of this book with me in exchange for an honest review.

I was SO happy when this book showed up as a “Read Now” on NetGalley! Thank you, Crooked Lane Books and Quick Brown Fox & Co!! Here’s my review.
As someone who enjoys science fiction, this futuristic thriller has you captivated and invested from start to end! Normally with three points of view, there is usually a point of view that I dread reading when it comes up, but this was not the case. I loved each and every point of view and loved this take on a thriller set in the 2100s.
Tbh, I really want some of those smart lenses!!

Interesting concept, a cover I love, but a few silly parts in the story made this one hard for me to enjoy.

I love this idea - I can see parents fine-tuning the selection and choosing embryos based on medical traits that would keep them healthy. I also liked the different POV we have - Quinn, a surrogate; Ember, a DNA protection specialist, and Lily, a fresh college graduate working an internship. These three perspectives really fleshed out the story and the current time. These three woman also gave us different perspectives on the new technology to hand select children and surrogacy.

But where the story really missed the mark, for me, was some of the parts that around technology. For all the advances the story reported they had, characters tried to get on planes eve though they were being tracked, used drone taxis when they knew they were being tracked, and didn't even look up names or search out their mysteries on the internet. It was such a odd move and really took me out of the story and made me question a lot of things. And the ending felt more like a movie ending than the true movement of events.

So, while it was an interesting story, it maybe just wasn't for me. If you like sci-fi and like to explore what might be with surrogacy and next steps in choosing baby traits, then you might give this one a try!

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

This book was an interesting exploration of genetics, ethics, and the human experience. As an Aardvark Book Club pick for March 2024 and an eARC from Net Galley, courtesy of Crooked Lane Books, this one immediately caught my attention with its subject. Being immersed in the world of genetics professionally, I approached it with both excitement and apprehension, fearing an unrealistic portrayal of genetic concepts I so often see in media. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the science in the book holds up well, grounded in current knowledge and concepts, although I’m sure in 25 years we’ll laugh at how little we knew. The narrative unfolds in a setting that feels sufficiently current and modern, offering a speculative yet relatable glimpse into the future. It is delivered through the perspectives of three female protagonists, seeing their journeys of self-discovery and growth, leaving me wondering how they would intersect. This story explores the themes of belonging, identity, and the ever-relevant topic of bioethics. The pacing is engaging, shifting between characters and plotlines, leading to a satisfying conclusion – I do love a good epilogue. This was a gripping read that I think will resonate with both scientists and everyone else. It effortlessly blends heartfelt moments with thrilling suspense.

Thank you NetGalley and the Quick Brown Fox and Co. for the ARC of Baby X by Kira Peikoff. I love stories that give different character point of views and then bring them all together in the end. This book has a little bit of everything, romance, science fiction and thriller! A new way to use biological material to conceive babies, have those who can afford it, wanting to steal celebrity’s DNA. Celebrity Trace Thorne hires Ember Ryan to make sure no one can steal his DNA. She is well versed in the tactics used to steal someone’s DNA and is committed to her new endeavor. The Vault, a company known to help steal DNA is always on the look out to do just that. Then one day, Quinn walks right up to Trace and says, I believe you are the father of my baby, Trace and Ember are thrown into the chase of finding out how someone got his DNA. This story was very interesting to me because it brings about the idea of gene selection, without worry of health issues, mental or physical, or even the ability to have a child at all. Fast paced and easy to read, you wont be able to put this book down!