Wow! The characters were interesting, the plot was excellent and the style of writing was perfect. Lots of twists and turns throughout which keep you on the edge of your seat. The first book that I’ve read by this author but I’ll be keeping my eye out for more in the future. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading this genre. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishing company, Inkubator Books, and the author, JJ Burgess for an early read for my honest review.

Thrilling, edge of my seat, believable, and just totally exciting!! What a great read, and I can't wait for more from this author.

Anna and her husband are happily married, and have everything that they could possibly want....except a child. Anna's husband is unable to have children. Undeterred, the couple opts to use a private sperm donor in order to conceive. At first, everything seems great. Doyle is handsome, charming, intelligent, and athletic. He seems to have the perfect genes to pass on to their child. Anna is thrilled when she immediately becomes pregnant. However, there is just one slight problem. Doyle becomes a suspect in the unsolved murders of several young local women.

Horrified, Anna and her husband are conflicted. Could this perfect man actually be a killer? If so, will his evil genes be passed on to his offspring? Should Anna even continue with the pregnancy? The questions are never ending, and the answers are not easy to come by.

With time of the essence, Anna begins her own investigation into Doyle. As she digs further and further, Anna begins to realize that the truth might be far more complex than she had originally anticipated....

I thought this book was....okay. It had a lot of potential, but frankly the author did not take advantage of it. I kept waiting for a twist, a turn, anything to shake up the plot a bit. However, it was just kind of a bland second half, with no big shocks or reveals. I would certainly give the author another shot, but this book was just ho-hum for me.

☠️🖤 What makes us “who” we are? Genetics, or our environment? Anna is used to her students pondering this over, but now, this lesson has become real life. Anna’s husband, John, couldn’t conceive a child with her, and when the national sperm bank registry options run dry, Anna finds another way. She sets up a private sperm donation with a man who checks everything off her list, tall, intelligent, full head of hair. There’s one thing she left out… make sure he isn’t a murderer. 🖤

Holy Smokes……what did I just read?!

This book was intense, good, and very well written. I was nervous the entire time.

It was like I was watching a scary movie and I was just waiting for the bad character to come out and scare me.

Well, let me just tell you that the bad one did in fact scare me.

No! No! No! This character didn’t scare me, they freaked me out!

This read really makes you think about just how much you really know someone and how much can that someone cover up!

NetGalley, thank you so much for allowing me to read this book. It was fantastically scary!

The Donor by JJ Burgess is a fast-paced read that virtually propelled me through the pages. I enjoyed the writing style and sharp narrative voice, and would certainly add this author to my radar as one to watch.

Anna and John have a loving marriage but they have struggled with infertility. Turning to a sperm donor seems the next logical step, and Anna is thrilled to discover the perfect candidate in handsome Doyle. But what had looked ideal on paper is very different from what Doyle actually brings to the table, and the couple quickly find themselves in an almost unfathomable nightmare.

If you are seeking a quick and easily digestible read that will not bog you down in superfluous detail, this one will hit the mark.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for an ARC.

The donor“ is a psychological thriller about a married couple who desperately wants to conceive a child. After a long time of not getting pregnant, they decide to search for a sperm donor instead. When Anna and John finally find Doyle, they are very excited. This young, healthy man seems to be the perfect biological father for their child. So, they decide to give it a try and Doyle comes over, in order to donate his sperm. But when Anna reveals shocking information, the coupe is confronted with a huge problem. Anna decides that she wants to find out the truth about Doyle, which leads her to a dangerous path.

I liked this book from the beginning since it has a very interesting topic. I’ve read other thrillers where infertility also was an issue, but this book is different. I found it really thrilling to be this close to Anna and John. There are many explicit insights into how a sperm donation works and what obstacles it might bring. I laughed out loud when Anna was disgusted by Doyle, who decided to donate his sperm in the couple’s bathroom. Even though the chapters are told in the third person’s perspective, I felt very close to Anna.

For me, as a non-native-speaker, the writing was pretty easy to read and understand, even if I didn’t know all of the vocabularies which were used. The story stagnated in the middle part – but this wasn’t boring since some psychological things were discussed. I was hoping for more twists and turns, leaving me shocked and thrilled, but that didn’t happen. Anna did a lot of things that I couldn’t understand or relate to. I spent a lot of time wondering why she did this and that. Also, the great reveal at the end just couldn’t catch me. It was just too simple, leaving me disappointed because I was hoping for something shocking. Something I wasn’t expecting.



– my rating: 4/5 stars –

Okay so I did really enjoy this book it was a good read but where I was disappointed was the killer twist - SPOILER ALERT no killer twist. Or is it because I read so much that it was predictable.

I could see myself in the main character being such a control freak so the characters were believable and I could get the husband's reactions. It was just predictable but flowed nicely.

Ideally this would have been a 3.5 star but the rating doesnt allow for it. It is a pleasant way to spend the afternoon.

I was given a free copy by the publishers and netgalley but the review is entirely my own.

In The Donor by J.J. Burgess, Anna wants a baby but with the most recent results showing her husband is infertile they decide to seek out a sperm donor. Doyle is the perfect donor. He’s attractive, smart, and successful, and Anna gets pregnant pretty quickly. Soon, some horrifying news comes to light about Doyle, and she is not sure what to believe anymore.

What I liked: This was a fast read that had constant action. Something was always happening, and I just had to find out what happens next. The book is not weighted down by excessive details, which as a thriller I am happy about seeing. I liked the characters and wanted to yell at all of them so many times, so you know it was enjoyable.

To keep in mind: It is a quick read. If you are looking for some extremely detailed plot, this is not it. The beginning is a little slow, but once the struggle starts, you will not be able to put the book down.

Spoiler Alert...Maybe?

The Donor is a well written novel of a couple who is ready to start a family. However, there is one problem...they can't get pregnant.

Anna and John have it all, great careers, a beautiful home and each other, however, there is a missing link....a child. Just when they feel all hope is gone...they find the answer to their prayers, a donor.

Anna is excited that she has found the ONE. Doyle, is a hunk and looks great on paper and in person. After a few deposits, Anna is pregnant!

They are over the moon, well Anna is at least. John is having some insecurities of not being able to give his wife, the ultimate gift of a child. As if things couldn't get any worse, they do. The couple find out that Doyle, may be a serial killer. This news totally shatters this couple. How can this be happening? Bringing a child into this world should be joyous time not a nightmare.

J.J. Burgess takes you on a journey with Anna and John that is full of twists and turns and an ending you won't see coming!

Thank you NetGalley for a free copy.

Wow! First of all I would like to say this is one the best thrillers I’ve read in 2021. The entire time I was on the edge of my seat, and kept telling myself only a couple more pages, then I needed to go to sleep lol But I just couldn’t put it down!
Anna & John are unable to conceive on their own, and turn to a donor. Things with their donor go from awkward to downright dangerous pretty quickly. And the story centers around Anna trying to find out if the accusations against the man who is fathering her child are true.
I will say there should be a trigger warning for detailed discussions of abortion, and also kidnap/torture.
Overall, a tried and true thriller, and 5/5!!!

Never having read this author before I was pleased to discover that I enjoyed this book. Thank you NetGalley and Inkubator books for a chance to read it. There was a theme of infertility and the difficulties that families often go through in their quest to conceive a child, .and how the different partners may actually feel about dealing with a
child that is not biologically theirs. It also talks about what may be inherited, or what may be caused by experiences and nature. In this case, is it possible that the problems the donor had could be inherited by the baby? Would they always be watching and wondering about each little thing the child did that just didn't seem right? A lot to think about after reading this book.

The Donor by JJ Burgess is a psychological thriller that focuses on Anna, John and their sperm donor, Doyle. Anna and John have an amazing life, with the exception of their ability to have a child. They seek the services of a private sperm donor through the internet when the other options will take far too long. Anna is thrilled when they have found the “perfect” donor in Doyle. However, is he really perfect or is there something hiding behind his “perfect” persona? Anna and John are caught off guard when questioned by the police regarding Doyle’s possible connection with serious murder crimes. In disbelief, Anna begins to sleuth on her own order to determine if Doyle is in fact innocent or guilty. Her actions will put her, John and her unborn baby in danger. This book was a quick read as I couldn’t put it down. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Wow! The twists and turns in this book are crazy! In a good way! Once you think you have it figured out, think again. I totally enjoyed this book, I read it in one sitting.

Thanks to netgalley, the publisher and author for the advanced copy.

This story makes you think. Keeps you on the edge of your seat with your heart racing! First time I have read this author, will definitely read more!! I recommend this book … get prepared for it to rock your world!!

OMG!!! This book is so thrilling and suspenseful. I like that instead it is the male that is infertile and not the female, hence needing a sperm donor. Anna and John think they have the perfect candidate and she quickly becomes pregnant thanks to the sperm donation, and her and John can finally have their family. But once Anna's pregnancy progresses red flags start to happen and they question the choices they have made.

This book was twisty and had so many creepy moments. The final showdown... WOW! A great debut from this author and I look forward to reading more in the future. Definitely recommended for the creepiness.

Thanks to Netgalley, JJ Burgess and Inkubator Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Already available: 10/24/21

The Seemingly Perfect Life…
The seemingly perfect life of Anna isn’t as complete as she would have others think. It’s missing a child but the use of a sperm donor brings more problems than Anna and her husband could ever have anticipated. Intriguing psychological suspense with a credible cast and a compelling narrative. A solid read.

I was not a fan of this book. I felt as though it had potential but this read more like a first draft to me. The situations seemed unrealistic and I didn’t think there was any character development.

Actual rating: 3.75⭐

Another psychological thriller finished.

This is the story of Anna and John as they try to have a baby by artificial insemination. So after lots of screening they chose the seemingly good guy Doyle as their donor.

The premise was very intriguing and I haven't seen/read a book with such premise before. Not that I have read lots of thrillers before, lol.

The writing was okay for me. The story kinda stagnated at the middle part and instead of maybe fleshing out the characters, some Psychology things were discussed. It was informative but made the story felt a bit disjointed for me.

I didn't like Anna. She did a lot of nonsensical things in the book. It was baffling how her mind works and how she ended up doing things that put her in a lot of difficult situations. A lot of too convenient things made it possible for her to escape some of her predicaments.

I kinda like John. He is quite a believable character. I hope there were more POVs of him on the book instead of Anna.😅

There are some characters mentioned but they were a bit one dimensional, like Anna's best friend Laura (or was it Lara? Can't remember). Doyle's background was too short, he comes off as one dimensional as well. Anna's father was just a jerk.

The great reveal was anticlimactic for me. I came up with lots of theories but in the end, the one thing I thought was too simple to be 'it' was 'the one'. I'm trying not to spoil anything.

Overall, it was an okay read.🖒

*Thanks to the publisher for making this book available for review via Netgalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest thoughts and opinions of the book.*

This is an intense psychological thriller that is well written, detailed, and certainly kept me on the edge of my chair as well as reading the whole book within a day!
The suspense grows with each chapter as Anna and her husband,who desperately wish for a child, decide after researching people intensely, to use a donor sperm.
They have picked just the right person.
OR have they?
This journey that this family is on, is like no other. It actually had me thinking: "O-M-G!" so many times!
You will be totally engrossed as you get further and further in to this novel!

I am really looking forward to reading anything that will be written by this author.
It is that good!