Dnf'd. Couldn't get in to it at all. Was a little too science fictiony for me. But that's just my personal preferences. Others that read this genre alot will probably love it!

Uhmmm I did like the idea of this dystopian story, I got a bit lost because we had lots of characters and sometimes I didn’t understand why their point of view was important or even relevant to the main story (only in the end),… yeah I didn’t like Lilly and though she was pointless to the story… if I had to chose someone would be amber…

I did like the world building, in that point I need to say that the author was point on, I could imagine perfectly this world and I dread if we manage to live this reality… I can imagine what the ADN of certain people would be worth, if this became true... I just felt that to me, I got so lost with going back and forth and I really dislike Lilly, that I cant go more than 3,5 starts for this story.

my advice to the author is, to tell a story you don’t need to put all your cards on the same hand, most of the time we only need a point of view or at the most two, if you feel the need to go deeper on your story, write a novella on the same world, I feel that if you had keep it simple I would have enjoyed it much more. But that being said, a book isn't written for individuals but mostly for the author, what happens is, we the readers love a good story. It was still a good story, just it wasn't my favourite.

Thank you Netgalley and The Quick Brown Fox & CO, Crooked Lane Books, for the free ARC and this is my honest opinion.

I had a difficult time getting into this one. Although I loved the premise, I found the head hopping to be a bit distracting. I’m sure lovers of sci-fi thrillers will enjoy it however

Baby X reads like a modern day 1984, a warning about what happens when you give up too much of your privacy and freedoms in exchange for things that may appear better than they actually are. Set in the not so distant future of 2050, technology has advanced in such a way that transforms the world as we know it as something unrecognizable; and it's scary to realize that it's not all that inconceivable for this to actually happen.

Baby X provides a good guy vs bad guy storyline alongside a heart wrenching family drama simultaneously and I felt the way they intersected to be unbelievable. Personally, I didn't care about either storyline that much, but the black mirror feel of the advancement of society kept my interest the same way it peaked it from the beginning.

For me, a story that is realistic and makes you think and/or gives you a lot to discuss afterward is a book that is done well and even without enjoying the drama of either storyline, it still managed to provide me with both. Packed with several ethical dilemmas and eye-opening decisions, this book offers something unique and thought provoking at the very least.

Prepare yourself for a while futuristic ride into the future where you can preselect desirable traits for your children and ensure they are born healthy through genetic DNA modifications. In this futuristic story a person’s biological material can be obtained to create a baby in a lab. As you can guess, everyone who wants a baby is not always forthcoming about why. This story is told from 3 different points of view.

Thorne is a super popular down to earth singer, songwriter and performer who is admired by the masses. Some of his fans would desire nothing more than to say they have conceived a child with Thorn. To protect his DNA Thorne hires the beautiful Ember Ryan to protect his DNA while out touring the country and preforming at concerts.

Ember runs her own bio-security business which protects and prevents DNA from entering the wrong hands. She is very familiar with how the Vault works. She does her very best to swab his microphone, pick up discarded water bottles and throw away any straws he uses. She doesn’t what him to pay millions of dollars to the Vault to buy his DNA back.

The Vault, a shady black-market site is known to buy DNA cells from clients and sells these cells to the highest bidder to create embryos and sperm. The Vault has created some ethical issues stemming from what is right and wrong when it comes to genetically modifying and creating a child.

Thornes world is shattered when a mysterious woman, Quinn, pops up claiming to be pregnant with Thornes child. Ember now is tasked with figuring out where she went wrong and how she could have let this happen. Most importantly she needs to fix this. Buckle up buttercup because the wild ride is just about to start!

This book was absolutely amazing, and I gave it 5 starts. I enjoyed how the author writes this story from three different character perspectives. Each character is intertwined in the most intriguing thrilling way possible. I found the futuristic atmosphere to be creepy and tantalizing and most certainly a page turner that I couldn’t put down. Do yourself a favor and pick up Baby X by Kira Peikoff! I promise, you will not be disappointed.

Baby X is a wild ride. It follows multiple characters, yet never gets bogged down. If you like Black Mirror or Orphan Black, this book is for you.

Thank you The Quick Brown Fox for the ARC. Super interesting premise and although this doesn't apply to today's society, I'm sure it will in the near future. Great book for book club.

This was a great book that makes you think. This could totally happen down the road. Those thoughts kind of scare as to what our life would be like in that kind of society. This started out kinda slow and then took off like a jet plane! I really struggled in the beginning getting into the book, I encourage you to dive in and get through it, because it certainly does pick up and takes you on a heck of a ride. Thanks Netgalley and The Quick Brown Fox & CO, Crooked Lane Books for this advanced copy I thoroughly enjoyed it. #BabyX #NetGalley

This was a fun and fast read! The concept was what drew me in - in a world where you can create an embryo from any two peoples genetic material a crime ring stealing celebrities’ DNA emerges so stalker super fans can have their kids. Even without the celebrity element it got to explore some interesting ethical dilemmas. My only wish was that the fans were crazier - despite the description sounding batshit, all but one of the characters seemed like relatively normal people! I think there was an opportunity for this book to be a lot creepier, but just to set expectations for people picking this up: it’s definitely a thriller as advertised, and not overly scary/creepy/weird so that it makes it a difficult story to ingest.

The other thing that pulled me out of it was the story was told through 3 different characters perspectives, one of the three perspectives seemed to exist only for the purpose of exploring the ethics of this world and didn’t really tie to the rest of the story until the end, but I did enjoy the twist connection and didn’t see it coming at all!

Short chapters so super easy to get through, definitely a good slumpbuster. Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

TWs: reproductive coercion is the big one (duh), and small mentions/instances of stalking, domestic abuse, and attempted sexual assault

I found this book to be a really easy read. Definitely reminiscent of Black Mirror, and I love finding books like that. I was excited to read this ever since I heard about it, and thrilled to be able to receive an ARC! Every time I put it down, I wanted to pick it back up and read it to find out what was going on and how the stories connected, specifically with Lily. That said, in the end, I did feel like Lily's POV was only added for the need to have a "twist" ending. Other than that, her role was unnecessary. My only other wish was that it had a bit more prose and character development. But I did enjoy it and would recommend it to anyone looking for a quick read that comps to Black Mirror.

The fact is, there are a lot of interesting ideas being explored here in Baby X. It's hard to ignore where our current culture has us headed. The biggest issue, I believe, is the fact that you could argue this type of story has been done already, and done better. Great ideas are one thing, but there's a lack of execution here in the writing style that makes this the kind of thing that feels like a chore to read. The characters are difficult to connect with, the plot lines feel flimsy, and even with an interesting, futuristic world, I found myself not wanting to learn more. Kira Peikoff is in the right direction, but more work needs to be done on their craft before I can consider them a truly excellent science fiction writer.

I loved the futuristic feel and enjoyed pondering just how close our society is today to the world that was painted in this book. The concept of this book was so unique! I really enjoyed the perspective of 3 characters, and thought that not only their character development, but the side characters too were really well described. I did guess the connection between all 3 perspective characters about 70% of the way through the book. The ending was okay, and tied up all loose ends. Because I was able to guess the connection earlier in the book, the ending didn’t feel as impactful as it may have been intended.

I absolutely loved this book. I kept having to walk away while reading to get things done at home but my mind would keep trying to piece together the puzzle each time. The futurist setting was well thought out and detailed and the plot was full of twists and turns. Will recommend!

I'm SO disappointed. The general idea of the story was really appealing to even me, as someone who doesn't read much of sci-fi. The writing style just bored me to death, it was very monotonous and robotic. I got through 11% but I can't do this any longer, so that's a DNF from me.

A must read for Sci fi readers, especially those interested in futuristic versions of society.

This books contains multiple POVs and several twists that keep you on your toes. I was hooked from the beginning and was determined to unravel how each character was connected.

Baby X

4.5 ⭐️

My mind is totally blown. This was a crazy fast thriller/scifi and anyone who loves those futuristic books will love this!

In Baby X, parents can choose which embryo to have based on traits they can learn about them. An entire world opens to people choosing to avoid genes that lead to cancer or other diseases and even to a point where parents learn their baby is extroverted or likely to be good at math. But a lot of new types of crimes come in this world; genes of celebrities can be stolen on the black market to make an embryo from.

This book was so crazy and I loved not guessing the twists until they blew me away. If you like Blake Crouch books, this is definitely that vibe!

Thanks to @netgalley for this ARC!

4.5🌟
Technology changes quickly. Can you even imagine where we’ll be in about 25 years? This read will provide you a sneak-peek into one possible (and somewhat disturbing) scenario.

Gone are the days of both planned and unplanned pregnancies. No more concerned parents hoping and praying their baby will be born healthy and happy.

Now conception happens in a lab. (No not like that!😂). It’s all quite scientific with DNA samples extracted from saliva, skin or almost any part of you.
These cells are converted into sperm and eggs then fertilized in a lab. (So much for romance!)
Once the top three embryos are identified it is up to the parents to choose which will be implanted. A bit controversial...but hey that's sci fi.💁🏼‍♀️

So…what’s most important to you for your child? Is it Intelligence? Physical and or mental health? Maybe you want a child who will excel in athletics. It’s your choice…but choose wisely!

Woohoo! What a premise! Right!?

Told from the perspective of three women.
Quinn: A surrogate for those couples who cannot carry their chosen baby.

Lily: A budding journalist who was a ‘traditional’ baby not a chosen one, something she keeps to herself. Funny though, her parents seem to be hiding secrets of their own too.

Ember: The scientist who developed a DNA lab dedicated to taking down corruption. Until the tables were turned on her.

Three distinctly separate storylines. That is until they all intersect with one whopper of a twist that left my head spinning.

Don’t miss this latest futuristic sci-fi from the very talented Kira Peikoff.

A buddy read with Susanne.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books

The premise of this book intrigued me--in the not-too-distant future, there is an illegal dark web company specializing in stealing DNA from high-profile individuals. It targets a renowned singer who hires a bio-security person to thwart them. In this cat-and-mouse thriller, future lives are at stake--literally.

Trace Thorne is tired of being blackmailed by the Vault, a dark website that keeps stealing his DNA and selling it to the highest bidder. He hires Ember Ryan, a bioengineer now specializing in eliminating DNA left by famous people. One year later, Thorne and Ember are confronted by a pregnant woman, Quinn Corrigan, a professional surrogate, who claims to be carrying Thorne's child. Are Ember's efforts ineffective, or has the Vault found a way around her methods? And, for that matter, is Quinn really carrying Thorne's baby?

Meanwhile, an aspiring journalist, Lily has garnered a fellowship at a premiere magazine. She competes for one coveted spot, so the story she pitches must be a hard-hitting piece. Drawing on her background, she pitches the idea of how reproductive facilities hold power to decide who can and cannot have a baby. In this age, when children are Selected based on desirable traits and conceiving a child naturally is frowned upon, the agencies that specialize in the selection process are all but playing God.

This is an engaging story following the lives of Ember, Quinn, and Lily and the reproductive rights of parents. It is both a plausible and frightening futuristic cautionary tale. The characters are well-drawn, with the details of their lives carefully meted out. It is fast-paced with a startling twist I thought I figured out, but it was way off. the mark. If you enjoy a good Robin Cook book, I think you'll enjoy this medical thriller. by Kira Peikoff. 4.5/5 stars

Thank you, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books, for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. The publication date is March 5, 2024.

Genetic and personality selection are becoming more real in the news every day. In the novel Baby X by Kira Peikoff, the futuristic options have arrived and parents need to make a lot of decisions. It is speculative fiction with a twist of dna choices which include so much of a child’s personality and physical attributes known before implantation. Peikoff raises so many questions in reference to a future where babies can be formulated. Do parents give more weight to personality traits or health traits? Can parents provide dna from an unknown donor to create their child? What are the specific rights of each person regarding their dna? What kind of background investigation should the government require of parents choosing these children? The author does a great job of doing just what great science fiction should, asking will science really help in the future or just create more problems? All of these questions are addressed and put into story form so that we can imagine how an imaginary future system of creating designer babies could be causing so many questions. As someone with interest in dna and genetics, I loved this book. So much is brought up and the web is tangled. Consequently I flew through Baby X and highly recommend it. However there are so many more questions unanswered, and I would love to see either sequels to make a series or other stories in the same future. Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for a chance to read this earc in return for an honest review.

Kira Peikoff's Baby X reads like an episode of Black Mirror, but much, much better. I don't typically read sci-fi or dystopian literature, but the premise of Baby X was so intriguing that I deviated from my regular genres. I was pleasantly surprised, though, because it didn't feel like a deviation. It felt like a suspense novel with sci-fi/dystopian elements, because the story itself was paced superbly and is hauntingly close to home.

In the 2050s, Western society has advanced - for the better and worse - with hyper-futuristic technology, leading to the genetic engineering of babies and DNA theft to create non-consensual fetuses. The technology and norms of this near-future American setting felt too close for comfort, and I could genuinely see these things happening in the coming decades. Things such as Android Dogs, UPS drone deliveries, and the Holoverse were woven into the text throughout and integrated into the story so that they felt like nothing out of the norm. There was no info-dumping, which made the story seem all the more realistic.

I think that's what is ultimately so disturbing and intriguing about Baby X - we're not too far behind the ethical and moral dilemma presented through Selection and stolen-cell pregnancies. "Designer Babies" are already here, albeit not on a wide scale and not easily accessible. Science is advancing every day, and it isn't far-fetched to believe that one day in the near future, scientists will be able to make an egg/sperm from any human cell, like in Baby X.

I loved that the story was told in 3 perspectives - Ember, a bio-security agent that protects celebrities from The Vault; Quinn, a surrogate recently hired to carry a baby for a widower; and Lily, a young journalist - and the way in which these perspectives connected. When everything fell into place at the end, it didn't feel thrown together. Everything made sense because looking back, the author had been planning for the reveal all along. Overall, Baby X was a pleasant - and unpleasant - surprise for me; it really made me think about the ethics of genetic selection, the implications and consequences of such advanced technology, and how it relates to where we're currently at with the topic today.

Thank you to the publisher, via Netgalley, for providing me with an advanced electronic copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and are not influenced by any third party.