This story is so believable it is frightening. The Vault made me think of a cross between TMZ and an IVF clinic, which is an odd mix.

The writing made me really feel immersed in this world, and was a great example of speculative fiction that I have been loving lately.

I really enjoyed this book. I was very interested in the concept of this potential future. It gave me Black Mirror vibes. The idea of stolen DNA and hand picking a “perfect” baby is quite creepy and brought me anxiety. The writing was fast paced and kept me engaged from the beginning! I recommend this to any fans of Black Mirror and John Marrs!

Thanks you for the chance to read this and recommend it to others.

I loved this one a lot more than I was expecting to! This is a speculative fiction and it keeps you on the edge of your seat with twists throughout. It definitely makes you think about the future of genetics and what technology can do with it. In the way The Measure made me think about if I would look at my string to see how long my life would be, this book made me think about if I would Select my child based on their genetics.

I recommend to fans of John Marrs and Black Mirror- this is totally up that vibe.

I enjoyed this book. The concept was interesting and I was genuinely surprised at many of the twists. The major critiques I had were with the dialogue and the three major viewpoints. The dialogue was pretty basic for anything actually said on page and everything else was told versus said. And the three major viewpoint were women who were mainly difficult to tell apart. It felt like the idea and the twists took the lead and any characterization took a backseat to the plot. But if you’re just looking for a quick read with some fun twists, this is a fun one.

I could NOT put this book down. I had a whole other list of books I was supposed to be reading and I stopped them just to finish this book. I figured I would read a few pages to get a feel for it and could not stop. It was so twisty that I had to find out what happened. Now I didn’t love the ending but the rest of the ride was well worth it. This is a must read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc.

OMG I have no idea how to describe how astonishingly brilliant this book is I was completely hooked from the first few pages and I just couldn’t put it down. The story is set in the near future and is told by Lily, Quinn and Ember who were all superbly crafted and whose stories little by little began to weave together. I don’t want to rehash the plot line as I went into the book knowing very little of what it was about and I feel that made it even better having no preconceived idea about what was to happen. Well I know one thing I had never envisioned the way the story would go and oh my the ending was one the best I have read and was a real didn’t see that coming conclusion that was just perfect. The writing of the book was excellent, the reveals were well paced and clever and I really cannot fault this read at all I absolutely loved it. So do yourselves a favour don’t miss this one it’s a 5 star one for me and I have a feeling it’s going to be a huge hit and it deserves to be, many thanks to Kira Peikoff for superb read.
My thanks also to NetGalley and The Quick Brown Fox & Co, Crooked Lane Books for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

5 ⭐️
I can already tell that this book is going to be sold out in bookstores worldwide when it’s released. I was drawn in just by reading the book’s description, and I managed to finish it in a few hours because it had me HOOKED right from the first sentence.

The book is told from the perspectives of three women: Quinn, Ember, and Lily.

Set in the 2050s, Baby X follows three women during an age where with the advancement of technology, anyone can make a baby out of any two cells.
We follow Trace Thorne - well known, sensational pop star, who goes out of his way to protect himself from having his dna stolen.
Our protagonists:
- Ember: Thorne’s Bioguard
- Quinn: Surrogate mother who claims the baby she’s carrying could be Thorne’s child
- Lily: An unforeseen child who’s also an aspiring journalist
One of the many reasons I loved this book was because of the cool technology the author had brought in; 3D printed food, smart lenses, facial cell replacement therapy, to name a few. I loved all the twists the book threw my way. There was one point, when I was around 75 pages in and I thought I had it all figured out… Boy was I wrong.
Everything ties together so well and I found myself audibly gasping every few pages because of how immersive the whole experience of reading it was. I absolutely loved this book. First book of the year, and my new favorite.

I decided on a whim to begin this book. The premise intrigued me. Sometime in the not so future where science does awesome stuff. What can’t go wrong with that? Well everything. I did not have any expectations going into this book and I was blown away! The numerous twists throughout the book kept me thoroughly engaged. I felt myself trying to solve everything in for me to get it won’t. Such a great book!

I received a free advanced copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5-4 stars

Little bit science fiction, little bit futuristic, little bit thriller, this book was quite a bit outside what I normally read, but it was entertaining and thought provoking.

Set in I think 2050, the world is quite different when it comes to having a child. Babies can be "selected" for traits, health proclivity, abilities. Having a baby "the old fashioned way" is just not done. This has caused the rate of inherited illnesses to go down and "elite" humans have been created. Throw in the fact DNA can be attained from eyelashes, a used fork or napkin, or a discarded water bottle and you can imagine the lengths people may go to to attain the DNA of "desirables" like celebrities, athletes, and intellectuals.

Told in 3 POV's, it was crazy but maybe not so far unattainable the things the story projected. I struggled to figure out the point of one of the POV's (Lily) until it's connection is revealed at the end and even then I had to think back how it was possible. Kudos to the author for the disguise, but I would have liked more an "oh!" response from myself and less of a "huh?" Maybe I'm just slow to catch on.

Overall, very inventive, entertaining, thought provoking, and a tad bit creepy if I'm honest. I would read this author again!

“Baby X” by Kira Peikoff is a riveting fantasy thriller. The book dives deeply into the plausible practice of genetic manipulation of embryos to determine the selection process for a child’s birth. I could not put this book down, the characters are interesting and the mystery that enfolds raises a lot of very thought provoking questions of a “real life” issue that may be facing us in the not to distant future. Imagine being able to steal the DNA from a celebrity and create the child of your dreams and the black market that kind of theft would create…….I really enjoyed this book and thought I knew what the twist was but I was Wrong!! Definitely worth a read!

Thank you NetGalley and The Quick Brown Fox & Co. for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

It’s the 2050s: vehicles are autonomous, phones are quaintly obsolete, tech and social media are controlled by blinking your special contact lenses, and babies are Selected. Thanks to leaps in reproductive technology, no one needs to conceive babies the old-fashioned way anymore. Now, sperm and egg cells can be made from any type of DNA sample and the resulting embryos are scored according to genetic markers for intelligence, personality traits, and physical and emotional health, leaving prospective parents to Select the one they want. Nice and easy in theory, but potentially a little too easy. Someone could steal your used napkin or coffee cup without you noticing, and now they have your DNA and can engineer a baby with your biological material without your permission. A shady outfit known as The Vault steals and sells celebrity DNA to the highest bidder, enabling the creation of a designer baby without the celebrity even knowing about it. And that’s where our story starts, with famous singer Trace Thorne confronted by a young pregnant stranger saying she’s carrying his baby.

I did not expect this book to rock me like it did but WOW!! Told from three female POVs, including a young journalist, a surrogate, and a biosecurity expert, this speculative fiction book is not only a thriller but a compelling and contemplative exploration of medical ethics. The plot is complex and since I don’t want to give anything away, I’m just going to tell you to read this book! The writing style is engaging and I was captivated from the very beginning. Fast paced and twisty but also really deep and intelligent and thought-provoking. I’m not normally a science fiction fan, but this Black Mirror-esque thriller feels all too plausible. If you love The One or The Passengers by John Marrs as much as I do, Baby X is perfect for you!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advance copy of this book.

4.5 🌟

... um.... what did I just read?! 😳😳

Baby X was such a fast paced book that had me hooked from the beginning. If you are a fan of Blske Crouch, this book will be right up your alley. I'm not sure I want to say too much because I don't want to give anything away but buckle up and enjoy the ride!

Thanks, Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

Baby X by Kira Peikoff is a tremendously satisfying novel. I read it across two sittings, gripped by the story and eager to see how it resolved.

Told across 3 perspectives and divided into 4 parts, Baby X follows a famous musician, his bio-guard-turned-fiancée, and the woman who turns up claiming to be carrying his child, conceived from stollen DNA. On the other side of the country, the third perspective is provided by a young woman grappling with her own genetics as an ‘Unforeseen,’ a child conceived the ‘old-fashioned way’ rather than via the new, favored form of genetic Selection.

Baby X straddles the genres of scifi and thriller but reads as a pure fiction novel more than anything. It contains a number of twists, which are predictable but still extremely satisfying. I could see Baby X being this summer’s beach read and I hope it finds success. 5*.

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing this e-arc.

This book is a gem of the genre. With phenomenal world building and meaningful themes, I think this book is a new classic. I really need to read more speculative fiction, every time i do they blow me away. This story was outstanding and incredibly creative. I can totally see this being a great tv show. I'm so excited for the new sci-fi we're going to be getting in our current post AI reality.

Let's get into what I liked and what I didn't like/
things i liked:
- normally i’m not the biggest fan of multiple povs. i think we often read then in narratives and character driven stories and they don’t work and i think are used as a bandage to not have to be descriptive in writing. In this case, i think it really worked. this story is theme focused, it’s about what it means to be human and what it means to be real. And i think the multiple povs really helps to drive this point home. you get to see three incredibly relevent povs that really create an interesting world.
- the pacing of this story is sooo engaging. There's never a time to put it down. it keeps you hooked! perfect for getting out of a book slump.
- the storytelling and worldbuilding in this book was so good! the book gradually shows you how society turned out this way.

things i didn’t like:
- there were a few out of character moments in this story. the author really does a great job in defining these characters and there’s a few moments where their actions don’t line up with who the author has spend the past 50 pages describing them to be.
- the beauty of a good mystery is the discovery of evidence and the way the character(s) unravel the story to reveal the truth. and the downside of multiple pov’s with a plot that is this fast paced is that a lot of the character’s actions and though process is done off screen and some of the mystery gets left out. there’s a lot of telling what the character has been up to off-stage which i didn’t dislike but i definitely would have enjoyed to be shown this and to walk alongside the character making these discoveries. But i do understand that the trade off for that is a slower paced and longer novel which isn’t always desirable.
I think it was worth it for the pacing of this book but if this is more of a sci-fi action novel, than the sci-fi thriller mystery that it’s advertised as.

Overall, a superb book that I would recommend to anyone who's into sci-fi and speculative fiction

This book is not my usual style, but we are looking for a variety of books for our Collections so I gave this one a try.

First off, it was scary as heck. Can you imagine this scenario? The government has a say into everything, including your reproductive rights. This book is set in a near future and pitches biology/rights of the person vs technology and what comes out is an interesting story that feels as though it is even relevant for today when it comes to our rights.

Pacing is good, not great, but good. I am so picky about pacing, but this one is acceptable.

"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.”
-
📗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
-
📘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.