Speculative fiction set in the near future. I loved each of the 3 POVs and how they tied together at the end. If you like Black Mirror, or are a fan of John Maars, I think this would would for you. It was a fun, page-turning, ride that I thoroughly enjoyed!

This one started off stronger than it ended. I thought I was on the wrong track with the ending because it seemed TOO obvious. I wasn't on the wrong track, alas. I did have one big surprise midway that I absolutely didn't see coming, which was great. With these kinds of speculative novels, I expect some challenging ideas about the impacts of scientific developments on humankind. I didn't really find anything new here. The book has been compared to Gattaca, and if you've seen the film then you've already considered many of the themes herein. Most of the themes are things that I had to debate 15 years ago in my bioethics classes. If you haven't, and don't have much exposure to bioethical implications of genetic advances, you may find this one more pleasurable than I did.

A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

If you like john marrs this is probably up your alley but unfortunately this was not my cup of tea. I found it too slow and boring for me

I thoroughly enjoyed the first two parts of this book and the twist that was thrown in there, which I did NOT see coming and absolutely loved.

However, I saw the ending coming from miles and miles away and I refused to believe it could be that obvious so when it happened, I felt quite underwhelmed.

All in all, an ok thriller with an interesting concept.

A very unique book, I’d say it’s perfect for the fans of John Marrs’ speculative fiction books (think his Marriage Act and now Family Experiment). Although the writing is very different, I feel like the general vibe is there.

In Kira Peikoff's "Baby X," technology in the not-too-distant future has advanced to the point where anyone in the United States can have a baby using manipulated biological samples. This process, known as Selection, allows parents-to-be to choose their child based on physical and psychological attributes. However, when biomaterials fall into the wrong hands, the dream of creating a perfect child becomes a nightmare.

Rock star Trace Thorne faces his worst fear when he discovers that a surrogate named Quinn claims to be carrying his baby. Despite taking precautions to safeguard his DNA, Thorne’s stolen cells somehow ended up in Quinn. The revelation not only threatens his relationship with biosecurity guard Emery but also becomes a matter of life and death. Skillfully alternating perspectives among Quinn, Emery, and aspiring journalist Lily, their connections and secrets intertwine, leading them on a journey to uncover the truth.

Peikoff’s vivid imagining of the future, reminiscent of Gattaca and Black Mirror, underscores that progress always comes with peril and societal challenges, and is a riveting exploration of the ethical dilemmas surrounding reproductive technology and the essence of human identity. Additionally, the weight of ethical and moral dilemmas, combined with the consequences of the conception process, adds depth to the narrative. “Baby X” is a thought-provoking and timely thriller, blending science with human emotion, and is sure to spark discussion and debate long after the final page is turned.

The science wasn’t great in the book which made suspending my disbelief difficult at times. For instance, it’s not believable that sperm could be made into eggs or that cells from cheeks could be made into gametes however many technical words are used to dress it up. The premise of a stolen cell pregnancy was intriguing though and I enjoyed the character development throughout. The unravelling of Lily as the baby x was something I worked out late on in the book which was nice that it wasn’t obvious to me from the start. Why Quinn changed her name to Winnie was never really explained which is a bit of a plot hole I feel but it’s not too major an issue although it does feel a bit like it’s there purely so the reader doesn’t guess who she is and how the two strands of the plot are connected earlier which is a tad annoying. I don’t enjoy all the eugenics of the selection in the book as I’m a disabled person with multiple health issues myself, since the idea of being selected against because of potential health issues would obviously cause some personal issues for me and I do feel the exploration of the impact on the people who would have been selected against was minimally explored in the book with only a brief mention in Radia’s article pitch of this compared to the discussions of the benefits of selection and costs of selection to the positively selected.

This book was very unique. I'm not usually into science fiction but I thought I’d give this a try and I am glad I did.

Unfortunately, this just did not do it for me. I was really excited by the premise but the characters were just not giving me anything. They felt very flat and strange almost for the sci-fi scenarios.

"Baby X" is a gripping and thought-provoking dystopian sci-fi thriller that feels like it was plucked straight from an episode of Black Mirror. The novel dives into the chilling and ethically complex idea of stolen DNA and unauthorized reproduction, a premise that feels both futuristic and unnervingly plausible.

The narrative unfolds through the perspectives of three women: Ember, Quinn, and Lily, each grappling with their unique struggles. This multi-faceted approach adds depth to the story, allowing you to engage with the characters on a personal level and understand the varied impacts of the central conflict.

Ember, perhaps the most compelling of the trio, stands out with her resilience and determination. Her journey is marked by emotional intensity and moral dilemmas that resonate deeply. Quinn and Lily also bring their distinct voices and experiences, enriching the narrative tapestry and highlighting the different ways in which the invasion of personal genetics can affect one's life.

The heart of the novel lies in its exploration of autonomy, identity, and the ethical boundaries of science. The idea that someone could steal your DNA to create a child without your consent is mind-boggling and terrifying, pushing me to reflect on what I would do in such a situation.

If you're looking for a book that challenges your perceptions and keeps you hooked from start to finish, "Baby X" is an excellent choice.

I love sci-fi/speculative fiction, I love John Marrs & Blake Crouch (which this book has been compared to) and this absolutely delivered.

This is a story set in the near-future United States and starts off with a bang when a woman approaches a celebrity and tells him that she’s carrying his child. In a world where people can essentially engineer their child in a selection process, you only need to provide someone’s DNA to create an embryo. The risk of being a biological parent to children born without your consent is high, so celebrities have to be extra careful to not leave even a used tissue or straw behind. Even though singer Trace Thorne has been extremely careful and even has a bio-security guard protecting him everywhere he goes, it looks like this complete stranger got ahold of his DNA somehow, and now his life is ruined.

Or is it?

This is told in multiple POVs and has a past to present formatting that is absolutely wild. It’s definitely a slower read but if you do pick this up don’t rush it! The small details I initially overlooked has me already wanting to reread this!

This was such a well written & brilliant read that genuinely made my head spin. The twists were fantastic and even though I ended up guessing midway one of the big ones, I was still left shocked and with my mind blown.

This was awesome & I definitely recommend this one to Blake Crouch & John Marrs fans - if you love their writing and plots then you’ll love this too!

Thank you NetGalley & Crooked Lane Books for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion!

It’s not often that I am truly shocked at the final twist of a thriller, but I really did not see that one coming. I thought this book was a page turner and loved the futuristic element. Would absolutely recommend.

While this one was a little out of my comfort zone - it did really get you thinking. Picking traits for your unborn child - handed picked, if you will. We follow the thoughts of Clarie and Ethan as they decide what this could mean for them..and everyone around them. A strange balance of drama and science.

Baby X was eery and creepy in the most amazing ways. If you love Blake Crouch books, add this one to your TBR right now!

This wild ride of a thriller had me turning pages in every spare minute I could find!

In the 2050s, Technology has advanced to include embryonic selection for medical issues, personality traits, and specialized skills. What follows is a fascinating look at morality, nature/nurture, and body autonomy. The plot is twisty, creative, and very discussable- great for book clubs.

Great for fans of John Marrs and other speculative fiction.

Hope to see more from this author in the coming years.

5 perfectly selected stars!

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

The book description got this novel 1000% correct: A mix of Gattaca and The Ones! This is the kind of Science Fiction I love: A mix of Sci Fi with Speculative Fiction that is realistic! It is also a unique novel that is fast paced, and an enjoyable read. It was a bit of a popcorn thriller, I didn’t want to stop once I started it.

Baby X is set in the not-too-distant future and we have three povs and stories that intersect: Ember who works to protect her clients from their DNA being stolen and then we have Quinn who states that a well-known singer is her baby’s father. We also have Lily who is a newer journalist finishing school who is determined to make a name for herself.

Just imagine a world where DNA can be stolen and manipulated! Any cell DNA can be transformed into sperm or eggs and then a baby is coming. I was just pulled into this strange and scary future that might just be possible one day. There are so many implications to this world. Babies being born and the parents don’t even know they exist!

There are several twists throughout but the big one I had figured out. But it didn’t ruin the novel for me: usually it does, but this case was different. It was a twist I saw coming but it was I really enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading what else Kira Peikoff has written and will write. Many thanks to the publisher for granting me a copy to read and review. I really enjoyed it!

4.5⭐️ rounded up! This book was very entertaining for me. I find genetics fascinating, so this book was a really good fit for me.

This book had perfect pacing, in my opinion. It kept me hooked from the very beginning and it never dragged.

Every time I thought I had figured out what was going on, I was wrong! The story constantly kept me guessing with different theories and it all tied together very well in the end.

Overall this book is very entertaining with interesting concepts and I really enjoyed it!

Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the gifted copy of this book!

4.5 stars

This book surprised me with how great it was! I think if you like speculative fiction, you will like this book. It is set in the 2050s in a world where any cell can be turned into a gamete and people select their embryos after extensive genetic analysis, which is an interesting ethical point on its own, but there is also a black market where famous people's cells are stolen and sold. I was very intrigued by all the cultural commentary and generational differences as there were many tie-backs to the 2020s. This book was well-paced, entertaining, with several surprising plot twists. It started out very reminiscent of a Black Mirror episode but then dived into the thriller portion quickly. Will definitely keep this author on my radar for any future releases.

Thank you Netgalley for a digital copy of this book in exchange for a review.

The book as a meal: I am working my way through a jawbreaker, and about 70% in it finally starts tastling like something
The book left me: Somewhat disappointed, but slightly piqued

Why did this call out to me?
I like sci-fi stories set in the not-so-far out future, and this is that kind of book. The cover also seemed exciting, and the description sold it to me

Pick-up-able? Put-down-able?
Put-down-able the first 70%, and then it gets exciting. It is a downer that I had to read that far before it finally caught my interest, but thats the way the cookie crumbles

Issues:
Plot took a long time to finally get good
A certain POV felt really useless, even with what happens
I feel like there are plotholes, but I can't seem to point them out

Good things:
Interesting concepts for the future
Really tense when it got tense

How did it feel to read?
I felt like I was watching some kind of futuristic drama series that got a below good score on rotten tomatoes or metacritic, but I really wanted to see if it was that middling. And although it got entertaining in the last two episodes, I still agreed with the middling scores

What mood would I read this in?
I would read this after watching some speculative fiction show, or after heavily discussing reproductive health rights with someone

Where does this fall in my tier list ranking?
This goes in C tier. Not bad, but not what I wanted it to be

I appreciate Gattaca, Black Mirror, Blake Crouch and John Marrs, so when this book was marketed towards me using those heavy-hitters, resistance was futile.

Think Gattaca's gene selection meets the chilling violation of bodily autonomy, where a mere strand of hair becomes the key to birthing a baby with your DNA. It's a premise that's as outrageous as it is disturbingly plausible. You might also recognise thematic elements of Black Mirror, the Miley Cyrus episode, Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too, in particular, amongst others.

I won't give away too much of the plot, but trust me, it's a ride you want to hop on blindfolded.

Why 3 stars? Firstly, 3 is a good rating for me. I liked it. And this was a high 3, more like a 3.5

I found myself thoroughly engrossed. Baby X’s wild scenarios somehow feel eerily conceivable, which is precisely what makes for top-notch speculative fiction for me.

Minor nitpicks? Sure. Sometimes I had trouble suspending my disbelief which might be a "me" issue, and the telling-over-showing ratio felt a bit off. Plus, I couldn't help but compare it to the queen of speculative fiction, Margaret Atwood, but that's again on me. Although there were plenty of twists to keep me captivated, I saw one of the big reveals coming, unfortunately.

But don’t let that put you off. This book still has my praise. It's a really unique, trippy page-turner that I'm completely confident will hit the right chords for many.

My heartfelt thanks to NetGalley and The Quick Brown Fox & Co. | Crooked Lane Books | Meryl Moss Media Group for the digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.