There are so many books out there about the drama between mothers at a school or preschool but this one stands out..it brings an element that is unforgettable...baby vampires. We've got a bunch of blood thirsty 4 year olds yall!
I admit, when I read the synopsis for this, I was skeptical..but boy did this deliver. I loved that we get the perspectives of three of the moms; Darby, Rhea, and Marybeth- they all have very different views on what is going on at preschool. 
I loved the uniqueness of this book! I also loved that this story really highlighted the struggles all mothers have. Of course as a mom, we are not typically dealing with vampires, but there are so many struggles we all go through. We need to be supporting each other instead of passing judgement. 
I thought this book was fantastic!
When it comes to the audiobook- January Lavoy is such a pro. She really brought this story to life.

{3.5 stars}

When a pre-school teacher is murdered during the school day, a neighborhood is thrust into the scrutiny of a police investigation. Simultaneously, some of the children develop the urge to bite and drink blood. The families (in particular, the mothers) find themselves looking at their children and their parenting in a whole new way as they balance the desire for justice with the need to protect their kids.

As someone who is not a mother, the kids in this one were ANNOYING (this may have been amped by the narrator - but boy did I want to mute in those parts)! I don't understand books that focus on how hard it is to be a parent, when parenting is 100% a choice these days and you don't have to do it like everyone else does it. The guilt the parents placed on themselves and others was insane. I get it was supposed to be biting and sometimes humorous but some of that was lost on me and rubbed the wrong way, but that may just be because I can't relate. 

That said, the mystery and the kiddie vampirism part was fun and interesting. The drama between the couples, the parents of the town and how they coped with their little biters reminded me of Big Little Lies or The Hunting Wives. Everyone has secrets but just how far will they go to keep them secret. The action picks up only in the last 20% but it's worth waiting for the rollercoaster ride of twists.

Thanks to MacMillian Books for gifted access to the audiobook via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.

Toddlers are overtaken by vampirism in this social commentary on motherhood, marriage, and women trying to be friends while also trying to outdo each other.

Darby, Mary Beth, and Rhea are each dealing with unique persona challenges, but the thing they have in common is their four year olds are all in the same preschool class. Soon, a biting epidemic breaks out in the classroom and, at first, it seems like a somewhat normal behavioral development stage. Then it surpasses expectations and goes into full vampirism. To make matters even more confusing, the teacher is murdered.

What ensues is an intriguing, engaging murder mystery. While I think this plot was very unique, I think I could‘ve done without the vampire aspect. It took me out of the story a bit. That being said, Baker doesn’t disappoint when it comes to social commentary. Her look at motherhood and the impossible expectations placed on mothers was biting, in a good way. If you like The Whisper Network and The Husbands, I think you’ll like this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Publishers for sending me the audiobook, “Cutting Teeth” by Chandler Baker in exchange for my honest review! This book was already on my highly anticipated list for this year, so I was definitely excited to read this book! “Cutting Teeth” was the first one I ever read by this author and it will certainly not be my last!

When I read that this book was considered like “Big Little Lies,” but with vampire-like children, I was so in!

In the book, we follow three moms, Rhea, Mary Beth, and Darby who all take different approaches to motherhood. Besides the increasing pressures of motherhood, they are also dealing with many issues in their personal lives. One is separated from her son’s dad and starting her own business. Another has a seemingly perfect marriage although she finds herself drawn to someone else. And the last one feels her husband is pulling away from her and may be having an affair. Things are really about to hit the fan when the young preschoolers of Little Academy start to exhibit strange behaviors…they start to crave drinking blood. Naturally the mothers in the friend group and in the classroom try to keep these vampire-like behaviors a secret…that is until their children’s beloved teacher is found dead! It is soon determined that the teacher was murdered! Who killed the teacher? Was it the vampire-like children? Or was it one of their mothers?

Going into this book, I didn’t know what to expect and that was probably the best way to approach this book! The narrator, January LaVoy added a great deal to the listening experience as her captivating voice brought each character to life. I appreciate the underlying message in this story in which it shows the lengths that mothers will go through in order to protect their children. Plus, I really enjoyed the many twists throughout…especially the last one! I had one twist pegged, but then Chandler Baker ended the book with one last zinger! Loved it!

Definitely recommend this book! Rating: 4.5/5

Cutting Teeth goes on-sale tomorrow!

I consumed this book in 24 hours, I couldn’t put it down. This book is part thriller, part women’s fiction. It had so many twists and turns while tackling the challenges of motherhood. The author did a great job keeping the reader engrossed.

I think I missed a lot of the message of this book because I am not a parent. Most of this story speaks to the parenting experience through a much more brutal lens than usually seen in media.

Cutting Teeth follows the four-year-old children at Little Academy that have a thirst for blood - each is literally sucking their mother’s blood like mini-vampires. The parents and the school's administration aren’t quite sure what’s happening, but then the children’s teacher is murdered at school and everyone goes a little crazy hypothesizing what happened and why, The parents in particular are trying to figure out how they can best protect their children in case they were at all responsible. Of course while the children are at the focus of the drama, there is hidden info about the parents and other adults that is revealed as the book progresses.
Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the ALC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. The audiobook is excellently narrated by January Lavoy. The book is definitely a dark mystery, and as someone who is a bit squeamish about blood, at times it was hard to continue to listen. I did enjoy the author’s commentary on parents, children, and society, and overall I would recommend the audiobook if you’re going to check this one out - the narration really makes it easier to, uhh, swallow 🤣

Many thanks to NetGalley, Flatiron Books and Macmillan Audio for gifting me an audio ARC of the latest book by Chandler Baker, wonderfully narrated by the author and January LaVoy - 5 stars!

Darby, Mary Beth, and Rhea are mothers, trying desperately to in some way reclaim the people they were before children. Their children all attend Little Academy, and soon a disturbing medical condition is going around the 4-year-old group - one that is literally sucking the life out of their mothers. Then their teacher mysteriously dies and the police begin interrogating the children and their mothers.

I adored the satirical dark humor in this book that have the children slowly draining the life out of their mothers - because who hasn't experienced that? I love books that go behind the Pinterest page of perfect motherhood and expose the real truths, as well as what lengths mothers will go for their children. Besides all that pitch perfect social commentary and hilarious dialogue (those police interrogations!), this is also a murder mystery. Might not be for everyone, but I absolutely loved it!

Ok. So this one was a bit “out there”…
A little far fetched, but, it still kept me reading.
We are brought into the lives of several friends, who are mothers to four year olds.
They are each going thru their own things in life, as well as raising their children, working, taking care of their homes, themselves, and their husbands…
All of a sudden, the kids at the school start exhibiting ‘strange behaviors’…but the parents don’t want to talk about it…
Eventually, when they are forced to talk to try to figure out what to do, the decision they make is despicable…disgusting…totally inappropriate… should I go on??
And then there’s a murder…and who did it? The only witnesses are the little kids!
Crazy book. Still not sure how I feel about this one…but I did finish it, so there’s that!
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me.
Cutting Teeth by Chandler Baker.
Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an ARC of the audiobook. Look for it on July 18th!

First the 4-year-olds in one class at the Little Academy develop a craving for blood. Then, as if the concept of vampiric tots isn’t terrifying enough, their “Preschool Poppins” of a teacher turns up dead in the supply closet in a pool of her own blood. Are the two events connected? Are the children witnesses? Or—even more unthinkable—are the children involved in her death in some way?

You’ve got to hand it to Chandler Baker: she is not afraid to go for it in the social commentary department. I was first introduced to her work by the Whisper Network, a story which I think resonates with any woman who has worked in corporate America.

This time Baker takes on parenting: what lengths are parents—especially mothers—willing to go to for their children? How does society judge them? How do they judge each other? How do they judge themselves? Is there a point when they are willing to give too much? Is there a point when they should stop giving?

Now add in a layer of parenting with a partner or coparenting. How does becoming a parent impact marital relationships? How does it impact the lives of single parents? How does it impact and shape friendships?

Cutting Teeth offers perspectives from three different mothers: a granola, single mother; a room-mom, stay-at-home mother; and a mother who downgraded her job in an attempt to balance work and family life. (Spoiler alert: she has not found a balance).

In my opinion, Cutting Teeth is more likely to resonate with the caregivers of children—especially the female figures in those roles. You’ll find that the kids in the story are not so interested in drinking their dads’ blood after all.

Honestly, it was dark and quirky, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. If Yetis filled with blood lined up in a classroom refrigerator don't put you off, this may be the book for you.

January LaVoy’s audiobook narration definitely kept me engaged and upped the entertainment value. She’s so versatile; from capturing the different parents to the teachers to the cops to the children, she has a different voice for each one. And the audiobook uses special music to offset the interstitials in the story, which, in this case, are the cops’ interviews of the different witnesses. If you decide to pick this one up, I highly recommend listening to the audiobook.

I received an advance copy of the audiobook from Macmillan Audio and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.

Thank you for the advanced reader copy of this book. All reviews are of my own opinion based on the ARC copy.

Chandler Baker always states what every Mom or women is thinking, but rarely says out loud. When I read her fictional books I feel entertained and seen.

Her descriptions on parenting, society and relationships are spot on. Throw in a mystery with some blood and you have a great read with a lot of laughter!

This review has been posted on Goodreads.

CUTTING TEETH by Chandler Baker and read by the spectacular January LaVoy is a darkly hilarious look at parenthood and what one is willing to do for their child!

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

I am apparently in a dark humor mood lately and a story about toddlers who begin to literally suck their mother's blood dry is perfect fuel for this fire!

I hesitate to say too much because this really should be experienced in all its surprising and slightly disturbing freshness.

A preschool suddenly has a spate of 4-year-olds who begin biting and drinking blood. Mothers oblige with some reservations and there is a huge underlying commentary here about what mothers give to their children. I can't speak to this but suffice it to say I never thought being a parent was for the weak (why I have dogs). When a death occurs inside this prestigious little academy, the suspicions, pressures, & and questions can't help but rise through this group.

Told through 3 women's POV'S, and police interviews, January LaVoy expertly changes voices and tones making this an easy listen, despite the bizarre tale! I couldn't take my earbuds out and made sure I had every device charged and accessible. LaVoy captured all the rising angst of the women and the other characters superbly. Honestly, I wanted this because she read it, and I am so glad I did. I think we can all enjoy this even if we aren't parents of humans (or vampires).

Thank you @NetGalley @macmillan.audio for @flatiron_books for letting me listen to this ALC and share my thoughts! This is out July 17 and and I know you all need a read like this! I also loved the author chat at the end. I am now a huge fan of Baker's!

This was a gripping thriller. I had to know what was happening next. I loved the narrator of the audiobook!

Wicked, sarcastic and so much fun! Chandler Baker always has a wry way of looking at parenthood, marriage and the inner life of working mothers. Her newest book CUTTING TEETH is no different. Probably her darkest book yet, this story examines the lengths parents will go to protect their children.

There is a very strange medical syndrome affecting some of the children at the Little Academy. They actually crave human blood. The families are each handling in their own way until their young preschool teacher is found dead at school. Then the young children become witnesses in a murder investigation.

I really enjoy Baker’s sharp observations about parenthood. (“𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨? 𝘍𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘦. 𝘖𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘨𝘦, 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘦.”) The three main characters in the story have wildly different parenting styles but each are still subject to the unrelenting pressures of their social group and the other mothers. And each of them, it turns out, is harboring some big secrets.

“𝘔𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘦…𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘢𝘥 80𝘴 𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘴. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘫𝘶𝘮𝘱 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘥𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘵 𝘶𝘱.”

I loved the audiobook and the narration was perfect for each character. This is witty and satirical thriller arrives on July 18th and it’s just perfect for summer reading!

Chandler Baker is tackles motherhood in the darkest and most enthralling stories. "Cutting Teeth" is an incredible addition to her works.

3.5 - 4 stars

This book was strange, but also incredibly fun! I liked the ways it portrayed the complexities of motherhood, beyond the glory, to the often ugly, often gritty parts. The mystery was entertaining, and really kept me guessing thanks to all its moving parts. I listened to the audiobook, and thought the narrator was EXCELLENT. The pacing was a bit slow at times, in the beginning, but I had a great time in the last quarter or so of the book, where the twists and revelations had me gasping and dropping my jaw! Strange, spooky, and surreal, this was a lot of fun!

Hooked from the first sentence! I listened to the audiobook in one day, loved it! This has been my favorite book of the year so far. I loved the flawed characters, the mystery, the interesting behaviors of the kids. Highly recommend!

This was definitely a fun one, but I must confess that I expected a bit more in the way of vampire children!

Still, as a commentary on parenting and the strange things they feel pressured to conform to, it works. You’re only a good parent if you properly nourish your little vampire kid, right?

I was not madly in love with all of the domestic drama and I wish that I’d found even one of the parents a bit more relatable. Although the author included a single mom (which I had been while raising my children), there wasn’t anything familiar in her. This will, I am sure, differ from reader to reader. I was always the odd one out in the parenting world and that undoubtedly contributed to my disconnect from the characters.

While I do think the author showed her hand a bit too early with the murder mystery, she still managed to slip in a jaw dropping surprise at the end!

I had a good time with this one. I laughed out loud more than once. It may not have been absolutely perfect for me, but I think it will resonate with many other people.

3.5 stars

I am immensely grateful to Macmillan Audio for my copy. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4!

First I want to start by saying if you're an audiobook person definitely pick this one up, it was done fabulously and is a big reason why my rating was rounded up rather than down. January Lavoy expertly transitioned between the voices of the multiple children and adults and she added the perfect element to the story with her narration.

This book immediately sucked me in with the premise of blood thirsty four year olds and I was super excited as I have loved similar, equally strange books in the past. While there definitely was some elements of gruesomeness and a few stomach turning scenes with blood, the focus of the book was much more on the three moms who all have children attending the preschool that has been affected by this "condition." It had a lot to say about motherhood and the social commentary surrounding it which I enjoyed, but I found it rather hard to keep who's child was who straight and their semi-similar POVs kind of started to blend together for me.

Nonetheless, this book was entertaining and definitely keep me engaged throughout. If you're a fan of domestic neighborhood/mommy drama stories definitely pick this one up when it publishes next Tuesday, July 18th. Thank you so much to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for my review copy!

Thank you NetGalley, Chandler Baker, and Macmillan publishers for providing me the audio readers copy. I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook! There were so many twists and turns. I enjoyed the interviews between parents, students, and staff. This was an audiobook I was trying to find time to listen to (and any reason to) because I wanted to learn who killed the preschool teacher! Great thriller and a fun listen!