THIS WAS SO FUN. I immediately hopped on board when hearing about this premise and was so glad to be part of the ride. Stealing DNA is such a daring plot point and Peikoff didn't disappoint.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my review copy!
I am belated on my review, but this book was thrilling and eye-opening. It was written in a way that really immersed me into a not too distant future, with very frightening consequences involving fertility and science’s involvement.
All too realistically developed…it was hard to read at times, yet I didn’t want to put it down. I highly recommend!

Baby X is a clever, very-near-future-sci-fi story that's full of surprises. It's a very entertaining pop-science story that gives readers a lot to think about as we navigate the future of familial relationships. I would have liked a little more depth and detail, but overall I enjoyed the twisty ride and will look for more from this author in the future.

A very thrilling read! This was a quick read and interesting plot. I couldn’t put this one down. The world building did creep me a little bit, it seems almost like something that would happen to us in the future. Overall 3.5/5

This was one I liked more in theory than reality. Great concept that didn't necessarily go where I wanted, but that's clearly a me thing. Still, it wasn't the book I wanted to read.

A Great Sci-Fi Novel

This futuristic AI world with genetic selection had me hooked from the very beginning.

The story is told through the perspectives of three main women:

-Quinn is a young woman who has become a surrogate. She meets Bob, who recently became a widower after his husband passed away in an accident. When Bob proposes that she carry his baby using the embryos he created with his husband, she agrees.

-Ember has recently decided to open her own business. Her line of work involves protecting famous individuals from having their DNA stolen by "The Vault" and then sold on the black market to the highest bidder. Her first client is none other than the famous singer, Thorne.

-Lily was created the old-fashioned way; she wasn't "selected." She's starting a new internship and is determined to make an impression. She just needs to pitch the next big story to her new boss.

All these women's lives will collide masterfully.

Baby X was so engrossing that I never wanted to stop reading. The novel's futuristic aspects were well-executed, providing readers with intriguing possibilities, such as self-driving helicopters, AI doggies, or the unethical creation of lab babies using cells, hair, or saliva without consent.

I will definitely keep this author in mind for future reads.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Crooked Lane Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Baby X is a futuristic sci-fi novel about a look into the future and how gene sequencing of embryos and what that effect has in this society and how they “select” their future kids. Meanwhile, The Vault is selling DNA sourced illegally from “elite” people like celebrities and athletes, of which people can purchase on the black market and use to create their own embryos.

The whole concept was entirely terrifying honestly 😬😂 if you like Black Mirror, you’ll love Baby X! Once I was invested I couldn’t stop reading and read the whole thing on a single flight! It has three main storylines, following Quinn a surrogate, Lily a journalist and Ember whose job is protecting the DNA of a famous singer.

Each of the female leads were very likeable and each storyline was equally engaging. There was also a fairly big twist at the end that I didn’t see coming and loved!!

Overall definitely recommend this one. My second Kira Peikoff book and she might just be becoming an auto read for me!

Baby X is a thrilling and thought-provoking dive into a near-future world where technology has blurred the lines between biology, privacy, and personal safety. In a society where DNA can be stolen and sold to the highest bidder, celebrity singer Trace Thorne hires Ember Ryan, a bio-security guard, to protect him from the black market site known as the Vault. The plot takes a dramatic twist when a woman named Quinn claims Thorne is the father of her baby, throwing everything into chaos.

I absolutely loved this book! The concept is incredibly intriguing, and it raises thought-provoking questions about privacy, technology, and the ethical implications of genetic manipulation. The mix of suspense, romance, and high stakes kept me hooked from start to finish. Ember’s internal conflict and the growing tension between her and Thorne added emotional depth, while the fast-paced plot made it impossible to put down. Baby X is a must-read for anyone who loves a gripping thriller with a unique and timely concept.

This was great! I loved how the author wove the 3 women’s stories together. Definitely recommend picking this one up if the synopsis sounds interesting to you!

Thanks to NetGalley for the early read. I had a really good time reading this fast paced sci fi thriller. I thought the fertility and baby engineering parts fascinating and wish the novella had dived deeper into those society aspects

I expected this one to be more science fiction but it ultimately ended up being more of a thriller.

This book was so good and very timely. I bought a physical copy for my shelf. Would like to hear more from this author.

Thank you to netgalley and Kira Peikoff for this ARC of ‘Baby X’ I apologize for the late review, I have been extremely unwell this past few months.

Now onto my review, I’ll keep it short and sweet. From reading the description of this book I was hooked, I had several books on my list to read and pushed them aside for this. And wow am I impressed, Kira Peikoff has such a great imagination. Adding her other work to my short term TBR ASAP!!

While I found myself not being able to really connect with any of the three main characters, I still enjoyed the storyline. I usually have trouble following along in sci-fi novels, but this one was more simple. It raised some good conversation in regard to bioethics.

Thank you The Quick Brown Fox & Co and NetGalley for the e-ARC of the book.

This book takes places in a near-future where babies are made with advanced technologies from any human biological matter. From one side this progress helps people to have babies later in life and solves infertility problems but on the other hand it gives a possibility of bad people hunting celebrity DNAs to sell on a black market to the highest bidder.

Baby X was a great read, fast-paced, had great twists. I enjoyed the little hints that were left by the author - some details were pointing to possible answers but weren’t fully enough to figure it out.

This was such a fantastic science fiction about fertility/feminism as well as mystery regarding what connects two stories unfolding. The mystery part makes it a thrilling page-turner, and I could not put it down. Highly recommend this to anyone who is looking for a great read.

Baby X by Kira Peikoff is a thought-provoking and emotionally charged read that dives deep into the ethics of science and the lengths people go for what they believe is right. The story is gripping, blending suspense with heartfelt moments, and it kept me hooked from start to finish. The characters are well-developed, and their struggles feel real, making it easy to connect with them.

The ethical dilemmas presented in the book were fascinating and gave me a lot to think about. While some parts felt slightly predictable, the overall execution was strong, and the story left a lasting impression. A compelling read for anyone interested in science, morality, and human emotions!

Wow! I had fun with this one. It also had one of those endings where it felt good to be duped. The premise of the story is futuristic, maybe even a bit dystopian. Told from the POV of three women living and abiding by the new laws and social norms set in the mid 2050s. The way the author wrote the book didn't seem super far fetched, which is definitely a risk with this topic. I thought the DNA explanations were believable but not too in depth that it wasn't interesting. I was deeply invested in all the characters in this book and the flow was really easy. I would definitely read more from this author!

I received an ARC of Baby X by Kira Peikoff through NetGalley. This was my first time reading this author, and I found the book to be a thought-provoking and thrilling read that kept me engaged throughout. Set in the near-future United States, Baby X explores a world where advanced technology allows for the creation of eggs or sperm from any person's cells. This breakthrough leads to a black market for stolen celebrity DNA, with the potential for celebrities to meet biological children they never conceived. The story centers on rock star Trace Thorne, who hires bio-security guard Ember Ryan to protect his DNA from being stolen by a notorious black-market site called "The Vault." Despite their precautions, they are confronted by Quinn, a surrogate who claims to be carrying Trace's child. As Trace and Ember navigate this shocking revelation, they uncover deeper conspiracies and face life-threatening dangers. Baby X is a compelling blend of science fiction and thriller, with a vivid and believable depiction of a future shaped by genetic manipulation. The narrative is well-paced, alternating between different perspectives and storylines that converge in unexpected ways. Peikoff's background in bioethics adds a layer of authenticity to the scientific aspects of the story, making the ethical dilemmas faced by the characters all the more gripping. The characters are well-developed and relatable, particularly Ember, whose dedication to her job and evolving relationship with Trace add emotional depth to the story. Quinn's character also brings an intriguing dynamic, as her motives and background are gradually revealed. While some plot twists were predictable, the overall execution and the thought-provoking themes made Baby X a standout read. It's a smart, entertaining thriller that raises important questions about the future of genetic technology and its impact on society. #netgalley #babyx

2.75/5✨

Baby X is a sci-fi/dystopian mystery/thriller that follows three women in a world where most diseases are now curable and designer babies have become the norm.

I was really excited to get into this one and found it easy to read from the get-go. The world was alluring and I was intrigued by the ramifications of a society where babies were not only selected for desired traits, but DNA could be stolen and used to create both eggs and sperm. I think what attracted me to the story the most was the science fiction elements and societal impact.

However, where this story fell short for me was the plot and the characters. I was most invested in the logistics of the world and how the three character’s stories would weave together. However, after about 30%, I found everything predictable and realized I didn’t care about a single one of the characters. I really wanted to like this more. Unfortunately, this was a DNF at 50% for me, as it sorely disappointed.

I think this story could work for some people, but it just fell flat for me.
[Note: Check Trigger Warnings]

Not gonna lie, I was wondering what the hype was all about most of the time while reading this book and then... wow!!! Turns out the joke's on me all along because 🤯🤯🤯

Filled with intrigue and suspense, this is a bold and imaginative sci-fi thriller set in a dystopian future. I love the refreshing concept here, but at the same time, what's scary is that it's not hard to visualise such a world centuries from now.

Interestingly, I didn't particularly love any of the 3 POVs and felt detached to the characters... until everything came together so perfectly and beautifully and I had to read the book again from the start. Just... beautiful!!!

The writing and ending really made it for me 🥹