I was unable to finish the book, which makes me feel bad. I really wanted to like this one. It has generated a lot of buzz online as a dark and twisted thriller....perhaps even overlapping into the horror genre. I thought the writing was good, and the plot of the story fascinates me. I just could not believe that a seven year old child was capable of anything attributed to her. Had the child been older, even pre-teen, I probably would have been able to buy into the premise and enjoyed the book. My stars are for the good writing, and the excellent plot that hooked me in. I'm confident that there will be people who will enjoy the book, and I do wish I was one of them. I think this book will definitely continue to generate a buzz on social media, and who knows, perhaps the adage is true that there is no such thing as bad publicity. I look forward to future releases by Zoje Stage because her writing is enjoyable.

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press who offered me a free copy of the book for my thoughts and opinions.

Baby Teeth is the most creative and most creepy book I have read in a very long time. For readers of Stephen King—this is a must read!

Baby Teeth follows the dysfunctional relationship between Hanna and her mother Suzette.

Seven-year-old Hanna is non-verbal, by choice, as a way to harass and manipulate her mother and family.

This book starts out with an incredible story. Flashbacks include info dumps that give you an idea of what type of people they really are. It has the bones to be truly great. There is a large amount of creepiness as well. But what might take a twist into something scary takes a LONG time getting there. In the middle, you get to the point where you just want someone to die already! Or get committed! I wanted to yell at the mother in the book for being so stupid and naive. The sexual ending was strange and a bit disturbing.

I think I’m full on #TeamSuzette or maybe #TeamHanna
Okay so we have here a husband, a wife and their daughter. We also have a perfect wife and a perfect daughter, who also may be a horrible mother and a horrible daughter. You choose.
While reading this story I feel it took too long to get to a climax, it felt repetitive. I wanted more. I did however like the second half of this story more than the first half, but I felt it was still missing something.
Overall the feel of the story was good and the characters were interesting.
I think my expectations of this story were too high that when I finally read it, it didn’t live up to the hype, that I had been hearing about it.
#BabyTeethBook #BadSeed #NetGalley #stmartinspress #BabyTeeth

I am having a very hard time reviewing this book. On one hand I really enjoyed the mystery of this demon like child, and on the other hand I couldn't stand her parents to the point of wanting this demon child to kill them! So who was I rooting for?? I enjoyed the book when it was told from Hannah perspective much more than from Suzette's. Suzette was whiny and I only really enjoyed her when she was lashing out at Hannah for her crazy behavior. I loved when Suzette had the upper hand and won at Hannah's own twisted game, So how then could I have disliked her in other parts of the book? Whenever she was with Alex or on the phone with Alex she was always so weak aside from maybe one or two conversations. Alex not believing her was her own fault! Why didn't she record or videotape her crazy child in the middle of these crazy behaviors she displayed to prove to Alex she behaved that way?? We live in 2018 for goodness sake! If this book was written in a different era, pre cell phones in hand at all times, then fine. I could believe in that circumstance that Alex may not believe his child was capable of the violence his wife was claiming. But come on...no video proof? Highly UN-plausible. I gave this book two stars because I was on the edge of my seat at times. When Hannah was at her worst is when this book was at its best.

I have never read a book quite like this. It is told partially from Suzette's (the mother) point of view and partially from Hanna's (the daughter) point of view. Alex (the father) and Suzette are very happy when their daughter, Hanna is born. They have an amazing marriage and they are sure the addition of their child will only make their bond even stronger. Hanna however is a very disturbed (evil?) child. She has horrible thoughts when it comes to hurting (and eventually planning to kill) her mother. As much as she hates her mother, she adores her father. It was terrifying to think that a small child could have this type of thoughts and feelings. The author amazed me how they wrote from Hanna's point of view! The way Hanna observed every day experiences and interactions was fascinating. I loved the author explaining her thought process. This book is heartbreaking, suspenseful and disturbing. Suzette takes Hanna to therapy and tries so hard to get Hanna the help she obviously needs. As much as Suzette tries to get Alex involved in helping Hanna, at times he doesn't seem to believe what is happening. It's understandable he would question what Suzette is telling him... who could believe a small child could act so psychotically? What parent would want to believe that a child that was loving and wonderful to be around could act completely different while alone with the other parent. Alex finally realizes the truth when it's almost too late. Thankfully he then takes the situation seriously and begins to work with Suzette. I didn't want this book to end. I wanted to see what Hanna's future would be like. I hope the author decides to do another book of Hanna in her teen years.

This book was great! I couldn’t put it down and read it in a day. The story centers around Hanna, a 7 year old girl, and her parents, Suzette and Alex. The book is told from both Hanna and Suzette’s perspectives which is great because you can see where they’re both coming from. Hanna is non verbal and does not like Suzette. The story centers around the two of them as Hanna tries to get Alex all to herself. Super creepy and great - totally recommend it.

Talk about a genre bending novel.

For me this works more like an old school horror novel. Oh, yeah! I'm a huge fan - think (yes as the cover states) The Omen or even Rosemary's Baby (style/tone not subject matter).

It's chilling yet also heartbreaking (yes, I did find some such moments) and that is why this novel is so freaking brilliant.

Set time aside once you start it.

Hanna...oh Miss Hanna...if she doesn't make the hair stand up on the back of your neck at least once...

Also I was impressed with the accuracy and thoughtful approach to Suzette's having Crohn's (a member of my family has it).

For me, the ending could not have been more perfect and to say more would ruin things.

I was happy to read that Ms Stage has sold another novel and I hope I don't have to wait long!

First of all, THIS BOOK MADE ME CRY.

"It was hard to pour endless love into someone who wouldn't love you back. No one could do it forever."

I was expecting an intense psychological thriller that would have me on the edge of the seat, constantly guessing who would come out on top, even inciting a wide mix of emotions from fear to anger. This book delivered all of that — and more.

The story, told through alternating POVs from mother Suzette and daughter Hanna, had distinct voices, both of which were thoroughly enjoyable to read. I felt conflicting emotions for all three main characters (the third one being father Alex) throughout.

Although I find Suzette to be overly-mopey and weak at times, I appreciated her honesty. That maybe she didn't, couldn't love her child unconditionally. Resented her even. Hanna, on the other hand, was devious to the point where I really wanted to slap her at times. Yet I also felt sorry for her, for her inability to convey how she felt and thought, for feeling like nobody understood her, for so many things. And mainly anger at Alex, for not seeing the truth, for choosing to stay oblivious.

But what I wasn't expecting was for this book to break my heart.

(full review with spoilers on Goodreads)

Thanks for all the feels!

P.S. There are at least 3 to 5 typos.

Oh my. Not for the faint of heart. Baby Teeth is a debut novel by Pittsburgh native Zoje Stage. Move over Stephen King and Mary Higgins Clark. Zoje Stage writes a psychological mixed in with horror that will test a parent's heart, soul, mental, and one's mind. This debut novel is told between two points of view, Hannah and Suzette.
Hannah is a young girl and the apple of her father's eye. Hannah is a sweet, smart, beguiling young girl, but unsure of her mother's love, or is something darker. Suzette has her own struggles from her own childhood and with her own mom. However, Suzette feels that there is something going on with Hannah, some thing she does not want to accept, but the more Suzette seems to give, the more Hannah seems to push back in a bad way. Alex, husband to Suzette, father to Hannah, but like any parent and married spouse is put in a situation beyond any normal person's. His (along with Suzette) heart, mind, and soul is tested in a way that no person should be tested. Alex is tasked with a nightmare that no parent or spouse should have to deal or even think about. Zoje Stage writes a very believable story, with a cast of characters that grow in their own unique way. Zoje pushes the boundaries of writing on a topic some do not like to talk about, let alone think about. Thank you Zoje Stage for crafting a story that pushes boundaries, kept me glued to the novel, and can't wait for your next novel.

Quickly, I realized this book is not for me. I had a really tough time following the story and I just did not like it. DNF at 20%. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this book for my honest review.

WOW, I didn't think I would like this book, but it was AMAZING! It is dark in the best possible way. The story is told from both the mother's and the daughter's perspective and makes you question everything: Who is the sane one? Who is to blame? Why is this happening? I don't want to say too much to give anything away, the story is told perfectly. Just read it, I couldn't put it down.

Note: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for review, I most likely wouldn't have read it otherwise, but I'm glad I did, can't wait to recommend it to others.

This is a book of a different type. A thriller that thrills in a slow and horrifying way. Suzette is a mother who is staying at home raising her daughter, Hanna. Hanna is mute and does not communicate with her parents aside from some nods and other simple communications. However, we begin to slowly see (through Hanna’s chapters) that Hanna is perhaps disturbed and sees her mother as an obstacle to her all-encompassing love for her father. She begins to speak only infrequently to her mother and in the voice of “Marie-Anne”, a witch who had been burned at the stake. This was a fast read and absolutely fascinating. I was spell-bound by the relationship between the mother and daughter and the father’s complete denial of what his daughter was becoming. I urge you to grab this book as SOON as it hits shelves because it is like nothing I have read recently and I guarantee you will enjoy it!

This was a little slow to get into for me, to be honest. The pacing picked up as the story unfolded though. It was haunting the way Hanna looked at the world, even in the end. I was torn between understanding and sympathizing with Suzette and being angry with her decisions and reactions, but in the end, I was left wondering what would I do in her shoes. I think that is the most striking feature of this one, that it creeps into your head making you wonder if you could have done any differently or changed anything.

I requested this book because I was intrigued by the description, even though this is not a book that I would usually gravitate towards. And I am so glad that I read it! The plot hooked me right away, even though. as a parent I had to keep reminding myself that I was reading fiction.

The plot is well developed, but I felt like the ending was a little flat. I also had some issues with Suzette, I understand your child is trying to kill you, but she still acted selfishly, in my opinion.

Overall, a good book. Would recommend to anyone who's looking for a thought-provoking plot.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and the author for providing me with a copy of this book.

Before and After Hanna is how Suzette could label her life. Hanna actually ruined Suzette’s life.

Despite her pain from Chron’s disease, Suzette could handle that better than she could handle her daughter. She also couldn’t handle how Alex, her husband, never saw how Hanna really was. Hanna was two different people - one when she was with Suzette and one with Alex. Alex was definitely clueless

Hanna was evil and manipulative. Hanna is going on seven years old and still doesn’t speak, physically lashes out, plans things to harm her mother, plans things to exasperate her mother so she will leave, and won’t be accepted in any school because of her behavior.

Hanna is an evil, brilliant child who is definitely frightening. I can’t even imagine how she thinks up these horrific things she does. She is VERY unlikable for a supposedly sweet girl.

BABY TEETH has the reader following Hanna’s days with her mother and her evenings with her father as he reads to his sweet girl at night. Many issues are brought up, and you can feel the frustration of Suzette in all aspects.

BABY TEETH is set in Pittsburgh, and the author lives in Pittsburgh.

Ms. Stage’s writing is truly marvelous and immediately draws you into the story line but at the same time has you shaking your head at what is happening because it is unbelievable.

I am not a normal reader of disturbing situations or horror, but any reader who likes disturbing reads will like this book. 4/5

I received an early copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

WOW, really enjoyed this suspenseful book and story line. Haven’t enjoyed a book like this in a long time. Thank You Netgalley and St. Martins Press. I’ll been reading more from this author for sure.

Zoje Stage has written the perfect book for those of us who had serious doubts about parenthood. Her characters are interesting, neither saints nor completely evil (well, the kid is pretty evil, but even she has a few moments where she almost didn't give me the creeps). I very much appreciated that no animals are harmed in the book. In too many stories regarding the kind of character Hanna is, their horrors are revealed through mistreatment of animals, and that didn't happen here.

The conflicts in the book, both Suzette's conflicts with her own body as well as the more frightening conflict between Suzette and Hanna as well as Suzette's remembered conflicts with her own mother, are thought-provoking. Because the story is revealed through both Hanna's and Suzette's perspectives, the reader is constantly kept on her toes as neither perspective seems completely trustworthy.

If you are a fan of the old movie BAD SEED starring Patty McCormick, you will LOVE this book. This book would fit well in the horror genre, right up there with Stephen King and John Saul.

I wasn’t crazy about the story itself, but I could not stop reading it. I had to see what happened next. The writing is intense.

Hanna is an intelligent, precocious seven-year-old. She has her daddy wrapped around her little finger. She has difficulty being understood as she does not talk. Hanna loves her daddy. Loves him so much she wants to marry him when she grows up and live with him forever. Come on, we have heard that before. Nothing unusual. However, Hanna wants her mother out of the way – permanently. This child wants to kill her mother.

Suzette, Hanna’s mother, loves her daughter – as well as she can. She didn’t grow up with a loving mother so struggles with the parenting role. But she finds Hanna exhausting. When her husband Alex isn’t around Hanna speaks to Suzette. As Hanna becomes more and more aggressive toward her mother while her father continues to see her as his little angel, Suzette suspects there is something seriously wrong with their daughter. Can her little girl really be so manipulative? Through the masterful writing I could feel Suzette’s growing frustration and fear, Hanna’s hatred and determination, and Alex’s baffled reactions.

This is going to be a controversial book due to the subject matter. Can children be so evil? How far should parents go in defending their child? It definitely isn’t for everyone.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advance reading copy. The opinion is purely my own.


Note: Also reviewed on Edelweiss, Litsy, LinkedIn and Books-a-Million.

I am not part of the majority as my review has many mixed feelings. Although I find Baby Teeth to be a great psychological read when it comes to detail of how the thriller flows, I find the actual story line to be more in the 'shock' category with some uncomfortable scenes. I think Zoje Stage did an excellent job of delivering a well thought out maze. My complete review is here: http://bit.ly/RAPTReviewBabyTeeth