This book was so good I could hardly put it down. I was fortunate (unfortunate?) enough to get my hands on a copy months before it came out. The downside to this was that I have had to wait months and months for it to be released and read by friends. I've been dying to talk about this book since February!

This is one of those rare can't-put-it-down books that I read in a single weekend. I can't wait to see what else Zoje Stage comes up with!

I must admit this book kept me in suspense and constant anxiety! The relationship between the mother and daughter in this book is so fraught with tension, although sometimes you feel like the mother downplays the behavior and actions of her child when she should be much more alarmed. When the mother finally realizes the extent of her daughter's desire to harm her, it is almost too late; however, the final pages of the book give us an inkling of the "game" the mother may have been playing as well. I found this book to be disturbing, with a Stephen King flavor to it. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys books that take you to the edge of your seat and keeps you there till the end! With mixed feelings, I would have to admit that I would love to read a sequel. (I was given a copy of this book for my honest review.)

I requested to read this novel after seeing countless advertisements which contained a plethora of five star ratings. I thought this was going to be my one great read for the summer.

I thought wrong.

This novel.. I don't even know where to begin. The characters were unbelievable, the plot line weak and to put it bluntly? It seemed as though this author was more about the "shock value" than they were about putting together a well crafted story. Take Hanna for instance - there is seemingly no reason given for her to act the way she does. For one, her thoughts and actions are better suited to a much older person rather than a seven tear old (I mean come on imagined devil sex and wanting her father in a completely inappropriate way)? There was just nothing that could save this. I barely made it to the end, and I only forced myself to finish because I hate marking a book as a DNF (did not finish).

While there are people to whom I believe this story would appeal, it was definitely not for me. At this point, I am doubtful as to whether or not I would read anything else by this author.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

First and foremost- I was graciously granted an ARC of Baby Teeth by Netgalley and the publisher.

This book was honestly terrifying. I don't scare easily in terms of books, but this one really got to me. I felt the need to look over my shoulder the entire time I read this book. I can't imagine being in the position of not trusting your own child, and being afraid of her. I will definitely recommend this to anyone who is a horror fan like myself.

Suzette and Hanna have an explosive relationship. Suzette, the mother, is terrified of her daughter, Hanna. Hanna has never spoken a word, but finds other ways to terrorize her mom on a daily basis. The minute her dad gets home, Hanna morphs into a sweet angel, incapable of doing the terrible things her mother claims she does. As Hanna's outbursts become worse, Suzette begins to realize something is seriously wrong with her daughter, and it could be life-threatening for her.

What would you do with a seven year old child that wouldn’t talk even though it can read and write? Hannah has gone to several doctors for help. The medical tests say nothing is wrong. Why won’t she talk? Alex and Suzette are Hanna’s parents. Hanna’s father only sees the sweet side of Hanna and so never believes anyone including his wife that Hanna is bad . Suzette suffers from a chronic condition made worse by Hanna’s torments. Hanna thinks her father can do no wrong. Suzette is homeschooling Hanna as she has has gotten herself thrown out of pre-kindergarten and kindergarten several times. How? Hanna plots ways to kill Her mommy so she can have daddy all to her self. Why? Will Hannah succeed in killing mommy? Will daddy ever see the other side of Hanna? If so, what will he do?

The novel is well written. It will have you gasping when Hanna does her tormenting to mommy. It is a terrifying novel that kept me enthralled. The is not an easy novel in that I suspect mothers to be may not want to red this. I know if I was pregnant, I would hate thinking of the panic that this book would give me about my unborn baby. Hanna’s plans for getting rid of mommy are horrific. This novel is about family relationships and trust or should I say lack of trust? I think the ending of the story suggested that there might be a second book. Will there be one?

I received an advanced copy of this book through Netgalley. This book had me from the very beginning. I love that it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I would highly recommend this book to my fellow readers. Thank you for the chance to review this book!!!!

The buzziest of the buzzed-about summer reads. Seven-year-old Hanna loves her daddy oh so very much. Mommy, on the other hand… well, Mommy needs to go. I love a creepy kid novel and Baby Teeth totally fit the bill – Hanna has refused to speak until now, and when she does it’s as Marie-Anne Dufosset, the last woman in France to be executed for witchcraft. Each plot to rid the world of Mommy get more and more creative and brutal, from scattering thumbtacks around Suzette’s bed to legit trying to set her on fire.

Zoje Stage is a Pittsburgh gal and that was one of the reasons I was so intrigued by this one. Oddly enough, the setting (Pittsburgh) took me out of the novel. More than once I found myself completely immersed in the story, only to see a restaurant or radio station I’m familiar with get a shout-out and was instantly brought back to reality. Despite this, Baby Teeth was a fun, incredibly engrossing read that I’m positive will receive a TON of attention this summer.

I really enjoyed Baby Teeth. I recommended it to my best friend after only reading about a quarter of it because I knew she would love it too.
Super creepy and definitely reminded me of We Need to Talk About Kevin crossed with the Exorcism of Emily Rose. So good!

Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage is touted as a horror fiction book. Unfortunately the author fell prey to every bad horror cliché. Hanna was unbelievable as a child who has been planning to do away with her mother since birth yet she is not possessed. Suzette is the typical idiotic female character. Even though her husband does not believe that Hanna is evil, Suzette never once thinks of using a spy camera to capture the true Hanna. Really?? Dad Alex is the clueless parent who believes that Hanna could never do a single thing wrong. Obviously Suzette, school officials, doctors, etc. are all wrong. Finally we have the vulgarity factor which has been the downfall of the horror genre. The point that torture porn enters the story is where I am done. While the book had promise, the use of stereotypical horror features completely ruined it for me.

This book reminded me a great deal of We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver. The premise is definitely similar: a mother who has postponed her career to be a stay-at-home mom is left dealing with a “difficult” child, while the father turns a blind eye to the dark side of his child. That is, until he can’t anymore.

As much I don’t like to write comparative reviews, I find it impossible to think about Baby Teeth without thinking about We Need to Talk About Kevin. If you have read it, you likely found We Need to Talk About Kevin disturbing, maybe even deeply so. I’d say Baby Teeth is more unsettling than disturbing. A rather light version, a version where different choices are made earlier on leading to rather different results.

It’s hard to say what is the most unsettling element of this book. Is it this devious child who reflects some of our worst fears, he thoughts of Suzette, whose motherly feelings wane as her fear of her child increases, or the father’s inability or unwillingness to see what was right before his eyes, denying his spouse support, and his child help, until it’s almost too late? All three and then some, I’d say.

Despite its similarities to We Need to Talk About Kevin, it stands up on its own two feet, taking a different tack. I definitely enjoyed it. If you like dark, suspenseful, emotionally challenging books, Baby Teeth is a great choice. If you’ve read We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver and enjoyed it, this book might be a good fit for you as well.

Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage is a great psychological thriller. Told from different viewpoints, it is the story of a mother and child at odds. With such different viewpoints, it's hard to tell at times whose perspective is correct. The plot gets more and more twisted as story develops. This is a great read for readers who love psychological thrillers. It does end a bit abruptly and yes it is a bit predictable, but I still think it is a great read. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher. These opinions are entirely my own.

The Jensens are not your typical family. Alex is a respected architect with a prestigious firm. He prides himself on creating spaces that are warm and inviting as well as good for the environment, designing the space and using recycled materials to build homes that are filled with light, hope, and love. His wife Suzette, before the birth of their daughter Hanna, was an interior designer whose thoughtful use of interior space and creative balance of light and color could infuse a home with comfort, inspiration, and intimacy. They were a perfect team, working and living in harmony. 

They were ecstatic when Hanna was born. Suzette had struggled for many years with Crohn's disease and worried that her body wouldn't allow her to be a proper mother. But instead, she was able to give birth to a beautiful baby girl, and both Suzette and Alex couldn't be happier. But Hanna was not an easy baby. She wasn't an easy toddler. And now she's not an easy 7-year-old, and Suzette is struggling. 

After Hanna gets kicked out of several schools, Suzette decides to homeschool her. But that is difficult too. Hanna refuses to talk, communicating by grunting and pointing and being very happy to make her unhappiness known in loud and demonstrative ways, even in public. Suzette divides her worries between her daughter's well-being and her own digestive health, constantly wondering if she has done something to make Hanna so oppositional. Meanwhile, Alex gets along with Hanna with an unspoken language that Suzette is left out of 

As Suzette and Hanna's relationship grows increasingly difficult, Suzette has to figure out how far she'll go to try to hold her family together. Alex has to navigate the minefield that is growing in his home. And Hanna needs to come up with a new plan to achieve her ultimate goal. 

Baby Teeth is a wild ride, a novel told in alternating points of view between a mother struggling to do what's best for her family and a 7-year-old girl who just wants to be understood. Not for the feint of heart, this psychological thriller will take you to the extremes of family love and make you question everything you thought you knew about being a parent. 

Zoje Stage is a filmmaker and playwright who knows how to bring the drama. From the first scene between Suzette and Hanna, you can sense the tension, and it just keeps rising as mother and daughter find new ways to engage in their battle of wills. The question of who will win, and how, makes this as compelling a read as anything I've seen lately. Dark and twisty, thoughtful and provocative, nerve-wracking and creepy, Baby Teeth is the book you'll be talking about for months to come. 

P.S. Bring wine. You'll need it. 



Galleys for Baby Teeth were provided by St. Martin's Press through NetGalley, with many thanks.

I thought this was a twisted, creepy read. Suzette believed that once Hanna started talking life would get better and Hanna could go to school and not be home schooled. When Hanna does speak it is only to her mother and the things that come out of her mouth are not things a mother wants to hear. This was a very entertaining read and I thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review.

I skimmed through Goodreads reviews before writing mine and it seems like this is a very divisive book. The average rating isn’t bad, but there are a lot of 1-2 star reviews out there, and the writers seem livid about this book. As you can see above, I’m on the opposite end of the spectrum. I picked this one up because I love psychological thrillers, and I was really intrigued by the concept and I thought that Zoje Stage followed through remarkably.

Hanna and Suzette are the main characters of this story, and I felt that the author did a great job of bringing them to life. Suzette is dealing with Crohn’s (this is an ownvoices book!), as well as her psychotic daughter who gaslights her at every turn and you have to feel empathetic for her. I could just feel the exhaustion pouring out of her as she struggled with her day-to-day tasks. It wasn’t long before I felt like I wanted Hanna off my hands, too.

The thing is, even though I know that the things this kid does is wrong and even though I want Suzette’s life to turn around, Zoje also makes us feel sympathetic for Hanna. I could understand the simplistic thought processes that led her to hate her mother, and I longed for her to realize that she was wrong. This isn’t a black-and-white story where the child is irredeemably horrible for no reason, it really deals with the subjectivity of actions and morality.

Overall, I found it to be a pretty enjoyable read. I got through it quickly and found myself thinking about it when I wasn’t reading.I was satisfied by most of the ending, but didn’t love the very last bit of it. I’d definitely recommend this to anyone who likes creepy kids and disturbing stories.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Well, I read this in a couple of days, which meant it really intrigued me! It was a unique read with the perspectives going between the mother and the unstable daughter. While there wasn't really a twist, I had no idea how the story would go. This is a book that brings out the disturbing sides parenthood can offer.

Man, the reviews are all over the place on this one! I have t admit, I was excited to read this one. I saw it all over the lists of “books to read now!” I am a sucker for advertising at times.

I think the time I chose to read it MAYBE wasn’t best. I just had a kid & this book was about parenting, and a child that was acting out one of my biggest fears.

But it was a different spin than the books I normally read.

So I think I will fall somewhere in the middle...

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 Hearts, SJ Romance Junkies

Though BABY TEETH is not a romance by any means, it deals with family and relationships. Both the cover (well done!) and the blurb intrigued me to read more.

The relationship between mother and daughter can be fraught with misunderstandings and tension, as well as love and understanding. But the dual POVs from both young Hanna and her mother, Suzette, are the perfect narrative to what unfolds to be a mindbender of a story.

Mute Hanna seems to be a well-rounded, lovely young girl with a developmental issue. She's manipulative, like all children. Yet Hanna takes it further, alienating her mother in hopes to get closer to Alex, her father. She's way too smart for her age, and way too clever, in a pathological kind of way. (hint)

Suzette is coping with health recovery and an inability to bond with her daughter, that concept all mothers (supposedly) instinctively know how to handle. Mother's guilt figures heavily into her character, and the author did a superb job realistically portraying a mother's torn desire to both protect and discipline her child.

But all is not what it seems, and author Zoje Stage does an impressive job laying out the drama in both Suzette and Hanna's points of view. At turns creepy, sad, horrifying, and always intriguing, this book will have readers on the edge of their seats turning the pages, trying to figure out where the family will go as the actions of a very disturbed young child unfold.

A fascinating look at family dynamics, belief, and twisted love that is as compelling as it is daunting. A wonderful book and I look forward to more from Zoje Stage.

Like other reviewers, I had a difficult time rating this book. The book Baby Teeth actually made me feel uncomfortable many times throughout the book, and yet, it was hard for me to put it down. I needed to find out what happened in the end. That is why I gave it four stars.

Could you imagine having a child who not only wanted you out of the house, but your child actually wanted you dead? Hanna, the child who could appear sweet at times, wanted her daddy all to herself. In order for this to happen, in her mind, she needed to get rid of her mother, Suzette. The book is told from both Hanna's point of view and Suzette's. I wanted to love Hanna and understand why she wasn't speaking to anyone, and why she couldn't survive in a school setting. That just didn't happen. This book could be under the genre horror AND psychological thrillers. What would you do if your child planned out ways to hurt you and ultimately wanted you to die?

I wouldn't recommend this book to my middle school students or to people looking for an easy, happy read. I do know the story will stay with me for awhile, though.

I was given this book for my honest review.

This book really flipped the script. I started it with one opinion and ended with another. I think the subject matter is something that really needs to be talked about more. It really touched on the family dynamic of people with mental illness, and was very thought provoking.

In her creepy debut novel, Zoje Stage has written about a parent/child relationship, involving a psychopathic four year old and her exhausted mother. Hanna is being home-schooled by her mom, as Hanna has managed to sabotage her stay at any schools she has attended. Hanna's goal is to eliminate her mother, and have her father all to herself. She doesn't speak, but her understanding and writing skills are well beyond her age. Reminiscent of THE BAD SEED and WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN.