"Baby X" by Kira Peikoff is a riveting thriller that takes a fascinating look at the possibilities awaiting us in the near future. In a society where advanced technology can manipulate any biological matter to create life, the novel explores the dark underbelly of this innovation. The concept of stolen celebrity DNA being sold to the highest bidder or exploited by obsessed stalkers adds a chilling layer to the narrative.

Peikoff skillfully weaves a tale reminiscent of Gattaca and Black Mirror, presenting a future where the consequences of biotechnology become both intriguing and unsettling. The storyline follows famous singer Trace Thorne, who, tired of being targeted, hires bio-security guard Ember Ryan to protect his biological integrity. The plot takes unexpected turns as Ember finds herself entangled in a web of intrigue, blurring the lines between professional duty and personal involvement.

The novel is brilliantly plotted and offers a terrifyingly prescient vision of a future that feels all too plausible. With its unpredictable twists and relentless pacing, "Baby X" is a compelling speculative thriller that will appeal to fans of Blake Crouch and John Marrs. It earns a solid four stars for its gripping narrative and exploration of the ethical dilemmas posed by cutting-edge biotechnology.

Thanks to Ms Peikoff, the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

📕”Ember considered her baby's health to be non-negotiable. With the right partner, her kid also had a shot at brilliance, athleticism, extroversion, and beauty. But those "A-list" traits were less important to her than the ones people too often overlooked - the "B-list" traits: a sunny
disposition, creativity, empathy, patience.
Competitiveness among parents had fostered a sort of embryonic arms race that Ember thought was despicable. She thought back to the ancient scandals when some desperate parent would bribe a coach to get their kid into an elite university. Today, the impulse was the same. It just started much, much earlier.”
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📗I got Gattaca vibes from this book left and right: made to order embryos and perfect racehorses! I wish people could understand B-list traits are always better than those A-list stuff. I wish people could understand, even though it sounds extremely appealing to have perfect child, imperfect children are better. Life goes on because of entropy (or disorder). Perfection will stop life
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📘Told in parallel lines, this story was full of surprises. It took me awhile to figure out the major surprise, but I’m glad that I was bit thick this time around. If you are into sci-fi and genetics, this is great one to pick!

Baby X is marketed as a high-octane thriller along the lines of Gattaca, Black Mirror, and Blake Crouch’s books. I managed not to see the claim that it’s “perfect for fans of Blake Crouch” until after I finished, which was lucky because this was not remotely like anything by Blake Crouch. When I read Blake Crouch, I’m gripped by terror and dread, heart pounding every time I turn the page, yet unable to look away.
By contrast, Baby X reads like a YA, possibly one written for middle grade level. We have three alternating POV, which kind of yoinks the mystery out of everything because we always know what everybody’s intentions are (and as an aside, all the voices sound pretty much the same). The writing is incredibly basic and superficial, and there’s no sense of imminent danger at any point. I would really not call this a thriller. This is more on the level of John Marrs, so I guess I would recommend it for fans of his stuff.

This review has been posted on Goodreads,

What in the Black Mirror did I just read??


The Plot- Set in the 2050s. Almost all pregnancies being in a lab to create a “designer baby”. New reproductive technology can turn any cell into a sperm or egg cell. Allowing a couple to select physical, emotional, and mental traits for the future baby. You could have a child with literally anyone's DNA as long as you can get your hands on it. The Vault is known for stealing famous people’s DNA and selling it to the highest bidder. Which leaves “important people” at risk. You meet Thorne--he's a rockstar and he is terrified of having his DNA stolen. So he hires Ember to be his DNA-guard: She follow him around and ensure that no traces of his DNA are left behind for someone to steal. Throne world comes crashing down when Quinn who is pregnant claims Thorne is the father....but how is this possible? Didn't he hire someone to make sure something like this never happens? The story is told from three women POVs from the past, and present, that intertwined flawlessly – Quinn, Ember and Lily.
🧬Ember- Head of bio-security
🧬Quinn, who claims Throne is her baby’s father.
🧬Lily Thompson is a young journalist


My Thoughts- I really enjoyed this book. I quickly became immersed in this not-too-distant future. A super interesting concept, made eerie and sinister in how potentially realistic it is. The future world described is so well detailed and so realistic to have followed on from our current world that I left me in the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading this. I was mind-blown and honestly had a little anxiety lol. I could totally see this happening, and that what makes it so eerie. Stolen DNA, engineered babies, shopping for your child…The writing was absolutely engaging. I was captivated by the first page. I would say this is a medium pace thriller. I wish we had Thorne POV you only got his side when reading Ember pov. I think it would have added a different layer to the story. The ending I did not see coming. I was blown away when everything fell into place!

🔬Baby X weaves in ethical concerns about genetic engineering and DNA use and the use of technology. Captivating storyline, I would absolutely recommend this book.

✨Thanks to NetGalley and The Quick Brown Fox & Co./Crooked Lane Books for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. ✨

This is an intriguing, thrilling suspense story based on advanced biotechnology and how far someone will go to have a baby with the one person they can't live without. What would you do if your DNA was for sale on the black market and how far would you go to make sure nobody ever had access to it again. In this thought provoking sci-fi thriller we get to follow the story of 3 main POV's and find out exactly the lengths some would go and the effect on their lives.

This book was fun, unpredictable and twisted. I could not put it down and the twists kept coming. I love stories like this that make you think about our very near future and what it could be like. The story is very well done and not overcomplicated with science and facts that could bog the story down.

I definitely recommend this book to readers who like speculative fiction, thrillers and dystopian settings.

Many thanks to NetGalley, The Quick Brown Fox & CO, Crooked Lane Books and Kira Peikoff for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC to review!

oooo 3 stars?

Right, I loved the idea behind this. How messed up?! people can gather your DNA and use that to create their own baby?! The fact that humanity has gone through all these medical changes so people can observe, test, change, choose etc. what their baby will be like. Even if you don't have consent of that person whose DNA was taken!?! sounds like a Black Mirror episode and too familiar with how AI and deep fakes are now.

I wanted to love this move than what I felt like when I finished it. The start really did grasp my interest and I was reading fairly quickly. Especially at one point when a twist was being thrown in, but then when that twist didn't end up happening or planning out another was thrown in but I wasn't as invested in the story when this kicked off as it felt like so much was happening during Ember and Quinn's chapters but also dragging at the same time for me? That makes zero sense but I wanted a little more like I was getting at the start. Despite this. I love this idea! And cannot wait to see what else Kira Peikoff has to offer.

What a wild ride - I devoured Baby X in 1 day. Without giving away too much, this novel is speculative fiction at its finest and executed perfectly by Peikoff. Highly entertaining and compulsively readable, this is a slam dunk. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this Advanced Reader Copy. It wouldn't surprise me to find this book on a lot of recommendation lists come its pub date in March, 24'.

"Baby X" dives deep into the ethical complexities of genetic engineering. The narrative follows several characters in a dystopian world that interweave together in a way that leaves the reader guessing their connections from the start. I found myself unable to put the book down and attempting to "solve" the mysteries as they unfolded. The book raises thought-provoking questions about the ethical implications of manipulating human genes, but set in a world where it is the norm.

The characters are well-developed, and the pacing keeps the reader engaged. That being said, I found the climax to be a bit rushed, often times finding the dialogue unrealistic. It was easy to overlook with the fast-paced scenes and the several twists and turns. Overall the book felt reminiscent of dystopian sci-fi novels set in the near distant future, a la John Marr's The One. I would recommend it to anyone who loves a good thriller and sci-fi fans who appreciate the ethical complexities of technological advancements.

Friends Don't Let Friends Forget to A, T, C, G: Act to Catch Genetic Illness.

Imagine a world where genetic selection is possible. You can create embryos, sequence their genomes before implantation and determine what genetic illnesses they would have, what they may develop later in life, and what their strengths may be as adults. Genetic illnesses are all but eliminated, the average lifespan increases dramatically, and we can give birth well into our 60s. But with all good things, there are always those who see a way to profit on technology and use it for evil.

What if you could also create gametes from ANY cell--a cheek swab, some saliva, some skin? You could have a child with literally anyone's DNA as long as you can get your hands on it. Which opens the black market for celebrity DNA. People willing to pay millions for the DNA of a basketball player, mathematician, or in this case, musician.

Enter Thorne--he's a rockstar that is terrified of having his DNA stolen for purposes of having a nonconsensual child. So he hires Ember to be his DNA-guard: follow him around and ensure that no traces of his DNA are left behind for someone to steal. Everything is great until Quinn, working as a surrogate shows up 7 months pregnant and states that she thinks the baby is his. Ember seems to know more about the process than she's letting on, Quinn has some concerns with the man who hired her to carry the baby, and Thorne just wants answers.

This one is a blueprint for a Black Mirror episode if I've ever seen one! I thought the premise and the plot were SUPER interesting, as is the science used to get us there. It's written technically, but still in a very easy to understand way. I was really enjoying this book and thought I knew what the twist was--and I was absolutely WRONG!! The book is fast paced and provides an interesting perspective into what dangers could be lurking as we move closer to being able to utilize genetic editing on a large scale. I really loved this one, and the only minor faults it had were some areas of dialogue that felt weird to me, and some pacing issues. Definitely worth a read!!

Read this one if you like:
~Science Fiction/Black Mirror
~Science and Journalism
~Thrillers
~Multi-POV

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Baby X by Kira Peikoff Difficult to relate to the characters and some questions were left unanswered. An interesting premise and a quick read. Fans of Ms Peikoff and futuristic novels will most likely enjoy the book.

Thank you to the author, The Quick Brown Fox & Co./Crooked Lane Books, and Netgalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

Wow! This book is well-written and includes interesting futuristic concepts like paparazzi drones and electronic contact lenses.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reviewer copy of Baby X in exchange for my honest review.

I was very excited by the premise of Baby X by Kira Peikoff - "In the near-future United States, where advanced technology can create egg or sperm from any person’s cells, celebrities face the alarming potential of meeting biological children they never conceived."

The book offers three perspectives: bio-security guard Ember Ryan, surrogate Quinn Corrigan, and Vanguard intern journalist Lily. While Ember's story is what got me interested in the book, I found Quinn to be the most engaging character. I really felt for her and her situation. Of the three, Lily's story was the least interesting and a little off thematically in my opinion.

Baby X starts strong and kept me hooked. There were enough surprises and twists to keep me entertained. I could predict a few of them which made it all the more enjoyable. However, around half-way/two-thirds of the book, I started to find that certain aspects of the story were unconvincing, from the way the characters interacted to the futuristic world itself. I got the impression that this world was simultaneously in its nascent stage of understanding the tech while also having perfected it, which was quite confusing. While the issues of genetic data privacy and bioethics are touched upon, I had hoped for a slightly deeper and nuanced insight in the story. It would have fit well with the sci-fi theme of the book. Instead, this book leans towards psychological horror thriller in my opinion.

I recommend Baby X for a light, quick and enjoyable read where you follow the story without thinking too much.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for my review.

This one was really interesting! The future world described is so well detailed and so realistic to have followed on from our current world that it feels completely possible the whole time through. I liked the three PoVs, each character was unique and well written out. The end landed a bit soft for me after all the excitement but it was a great way to tie it altogether! Definitely an author I'll look to read more of in the future.

Baby X was a ton of fun! This book was more speculative fiction than sci-fi (a plus for me), and I quickly became immersed in this not-too-distant future. One of the major differences to life in the 2050s was the biological and genetic advancements. A person's DNA can be restructured into egg and sperm cells, so anyone can have a baby at just about any age. As a downside, DNA can be easily stolen and sold on the dark-web equivalent. That's where our story begins.

The novel alternates from the points of view of Quinn, a surrogate and big Trace Thorne fan looking for her next job; Ember, a bio-scientist that protects celebrities' DNA so they can't be stolen (and Trace Thorne's fiancée); and Lily, an intern at a thriving news agency that feels she doesn't compare to the "Selected" people of the world. Each voice felt distinct, and I eagerly followed each storyline to when they ultimately connected.

I'm kicking myself because I feel like I should have had a better sense of where this story would turn, but I was pleasantly surprised! There are a few plotlines that I found a bit hard to believe, but they didn't hinder my enjoyment of the book too much. Overall, this was an exciting, twisty book that I'm sure will be widely talked about this year.

(4.5/5) This fast-paced techno/sci-fi thriller had me hooked right from the start! Told through two separate storylines, this novel explores themes of bodily autonomy, nature vs. nurture, ownership of genetic information, and ageism and parenthood.

Set decades in the future, new reproductive technology can turn any cell into a sperm or egg cell. Enter the Vault, a burgeoning dark web marketplace for illicitly harvested celebrity cells. From fanatics looking to have their favourite star's baby to opportunities for blackmail and extortion, the risks are ever-present. Guitar superstar Trace Thorne hires bio-security expert Ember Ryan to ensure that all traces of his cells – on tissues, water bottles, cutlery – are completely taken care of. However, when a young woman shows up pregnant, claiming that the baby is Trace's, they must uncover the truth about the Vault before it's too late.

Meanwhile, aspiring journalist Lily is looking for that big scoop that'll kick off her career. Unlike most of her peers, Lily is not a Selected child – she was conceived the "old-fashioned" way. In a world where prospective parents can analyze dozens of embryos' potential traits and disease risks before selecting a final candidate, "designer" children with extraordinary talents have become increasingly common. When Lily's parents decide to have a second child – a Selected one – she cannot help but feel like they're looking for a do-over.

These two storylines ultimately intersect in an incredibly satisfying way. While this novel will appeal to plot-focused readers for its fast pace and consistent action, it's also thought-provoking and provocative. From Henrietta Lacks to genetic genealogy testing kits, controversy around ownership of biological material is not new, and is poised to become even more contentious. Baby X considers these challenging topics in an engaging, entertaining, and emotionally resonant way.

epically thrilling and great! the idea is quite interesting and something scientists have been working on, and it shows the dystopian possibilities. thanks for the arc

A super interesting concept, made eerie and sinister in how potentially realistic it is.
When you can just collect DNA from a celebrity, or any person in your life, send it off and essentially make a baby from it, obviously people are living in horror.
The red herring in this book of utilizing the celebrity, when in fact he was never really the intended victim, was really clever. This book is full of twists and turns and would work well as, let's say, a black mirror concept or something.

A quick, enjoyable read. 3.5/5⭐️

I read this book in one day, basically in one sitting. It's very easy to get into the story and follow the characters along. Towards the end it gets really enthralling a few times. It also has a few nice twists - some of them I saw coming, others really surprised me. But I'm not good at seeing clues beforehand, so take this with caution.

Overall, it felt less Sci-Fi than I expected, which is a neutral thing for me personally. The only thing I took issue in, but that might be very subjective, was the all this talk about being pregnant and pregnancies etc. I get that it's part of the main plot point but as someone without children I feel you could've toned it down just a tad. But well, it is called BABY X.

Thanks to NetGalley and The Quick Brown Fox & Co./Crooked Lane Books for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

P.S.: Thorne is Harry Styles. At least in my head. Sue me.

In this brilliantly plotted and terrifyingly prescient novel, Kira Peikoff delivers a rollercoaster of suspense, ethical quandaries, and unforeseen twists. "Baby X" is a tour de force that will leave readers pondering the implications of a future where the essence of life itself is up for grabs and the boundaries of bioethics are pushed to their limits.

"Baby X" by Kira Peikoff presents a thrilling and thought-provoking narrative set in a world transformed by groundbreaking reproductive technology. The premise of a black-market operation stealing celebrity cells for profit sets the stage for a compelling and high-stakes plot, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

The author expertly navigates intricate themes of bioethics and technological advancements, prompting readers to question the far-reaching implications on individuals and society. The characters, particularly music superstar Trace Thorne and bio-security guard Ember Ryan, are compelling and well-developed, adding emotional depth to the propulsive action of the story.

With its blend of heart-pounding suspense and a poignant exploration of ethical dilemmas, "Baby X" is a captivating read that offers a fascinating glimpse into a near-future world. This novel is sure to appeal to fans of speculative fiction and anyone intrigued by the societal impacts of cutting-edge technology, earning it a solid four-star rating.