I was so excited to get a copy of "Baby X" via Netgalley. The premise sounded unique: In a world where any cells from a person can be used to create an egg or sperm, the creation of people has changed almost completely.

I was thrilled that this lived up to my expectations. While it started a little slow and occasionally got bogged down in pseudo-scientific explanations that were more confusing than helpful, Kira Peikoff does a wonderful job of creating a world where children are chosen, and any speck of DNA must be protected.

Once the action gets moving, it really flies. The only question I kept asking myself throughout the novel was, "How do all of these pieces fit together?" You meet a young surrogate, a superstar musician and his fiancee, and an up-and-coming journalist. While the first three - the surrogate, musician and fiancee - seem to have a readily apparent connection, the fourth seems to be a bit far afield.

But that's where the joy of this novel comes in: The end features a twist that I absolutely did not see coming, and for me, that's really an accomplishment. There are a few little surprises throughout the book, and I saw those coming. The final reveal was, delightfully, an actual shock to me.

If you're looking for a science-fiction thriller with a look into a future where privacy is nonexistent but you can have the child of your dreams, definitely check out "Baby X."

I'd like to express my gratitude to NetGalley and Meryl Moss Media Group for providing me with an ARC of Baby X in exchange for an honest review.

Set in a future where pregnancies predominantly begin in laboratories, Baby X explores the ramifications of advanced genetic manipulation. Ember Ryan runs a bio-security firm, safeguarding celebrities' genetic material from The Vault, a clandestine organization involved in illicit pregnancies. Initially hired by superstar Thorne for protection, Ember finds herself entangled in a complex web when a young woman named Quinn claims to be carrying Thorne's child. Meanwhile, Lily, a budding journalist, grapples with insecurities stemming from being conceived naturally rather than through genetic selection.

Baby X seamlessly blends elements of mystery and thriller within Ember, Thorne, and Quinn's storyline, unraveling the enigma behind Quinn's pregnancy and The Vault's motives. Concurrently, Lily's narrative adds a layer of speculative fiction, prompting contemplation on the ethical implications of genetic engineering. While the divergence between the two narratives may initially seem disjointed, they converge towards a climactic resolution, albeit belatedly.

Despite this minor flaw, Baby X offers an engaging and thought-provoking speculative thriller, delving into themes of genetic manipulation, personal identity, and societal norms. It raises pertinent questions about the potential benefits and risks of genetic technology, inviting readers to ponder the moral and emotional consequences of playing "creator." Overall, Baby X comes highly recommended for fans of speculative fiction seeking a captivating and intellectually stimulating read.

Really enjoyed this book. I was able to figure a couple of twists out, but not all of them! It kept me intrigued and wanting to read more.

Thank you @Netgalley and @CrookedLaneBooks for my e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve never read anything similar to this book. It is blurbed as a “speculative sci-fi thriller” and I feel like none of my descriptions/explanations would do it justice better than that expression.

I really loved the dystopic element of the story, especially because it isn’t too far-fetched, it felt like the type of dystopic future that could become our reality in years to come. Which obviously opens up the opportunity to reflect on the present day, technology and technological progress.

I also particularly like the world building, which I think it’s really well done and very easy to understand and follow along with even through the sci-fi bits.

SO many twists and turns I didn’t see coming, which is possibly my favourite thing when reading a thriller. It took a few chapters to pick up speed, but once it did, especially from part 2, it became unputdownable. Did I even breathe through the last 15%?

Also speaking of twists and turns I didn’t see coming, I don’t know why I didn’t see a major plot point coming (like AT ALL) until the end. I’m convinced that it made it even more enjoyable and I like to think I didn’t see it because of the incredible writing and not because I might be more stupid than I thought 😉

As a hardcore Gattaca fan, I was very excited to read this book. Also, as some who has undergone IVF, I was interested in the way this story took IVF and fertility treatments one step further. I think this is the perfect book for readers who don't read a lot of sci-fi. The explanations and science components of the story were so digestible and easy to understand. The characters and writing style were fairly simple, which I appreciated for the type of story that had science-ey explanations. Several reveals surprised me and I liked how the story wrapped up. The world was so interesting and I would love to see the author delve more into this world with different characters and storylines!

3.75 rounded up

This book was a very fun read. It was paced well, highly entertaining and, although painfully predictable, had lots fun twists and clever ways for all the characters' stories to cross.

There was actually a LOT to this book that I think is fascinating to think about. Ethical issues revolving around identity, abortion, family, disability, privacy, etc, it really gave a lot of food for thought and I kept having little moments of 'oh shit I didn't even think about that' while reading, which is a sign of a well-executed futuristic story.

But I think there was almost too much there for a thriller to be able to really tackle the subject properly. Each of the themes are explored very superficially and we never really get to the meat of the ethical discourse, which gets left behind in favour of the story and the action.
This isn't necessarily a bad thing - this is a thriller after all and maybe the sci-fi elements are meant to be background more than anything, leaving the reader small nuggets here and there to chew on, while the plot keeps the book moving forward.
But I know I was still left wanting more from it.

As a fan of Black Mirror, speculative fiction, and dystopian sci-fi, this book really hit the spot for me. The fact that the technology and use of DNA described in the book could very well be a reality in our lifetime adds to the novel in a unique and almost frightening way.

Baby X by Kira Peikoff was an intriguing dystopian/sci-fi genre blend with interesting plot points and great characters.

4 ⭐️. I LOVE a pregnancy dystopian book. Baby X is the perfect blend of thriller mixed with just a sprinkle of sci-fi. Set in the not so distant future where pregnancy is accessible to all and "having a baby" is cultivated in a lab rather than a bed, we follow 3 strong females as they navigate the emerging future of "motherhood".

This story kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I LOVED the para-social relationships, the pregnancy horror & the use of futuristic tech.


TY to Netgalley & Crooked Lane books for an copy of this story.

Baby X - 4.25⭐
Genre - sci-fi/speculative fiction

Thanks @crookedlanebooks and @netgalley for the advanced digital copy! This released last month🥰

I’ve been super into speculative fiction lately - I’m taking it as intro to sci-fi. Told in multiple (but easily distinguished) points of view, this was engaging from the start, but the pace was fairly slow from the beginning. By the halfway point though, it was almost unputdownable. The ending was action packed, and the book finished in a way that I found I hadn’t expected at all. It blew my mind in the best way and I couldn’t stop thinking about it!


#babyx #crookedlanebooks

I don't read sci fi thrillers very often but when I do, I am reminded of how great that combo of genres is. Baby X accomplished this and it was very enjoyable reading about an alternate society set in the future. I wasn't too sure about the multiple perspectives in the book but it soon worked out well for the story and I somehow did not see that ending coming! I found some of the dialogue and writing slightly cheesy or trying very hard to make solid metaphors.

Such a fast-paced fun thriller! Loved this sci-fi which felt like a great combo between Upgrade by Blake Crouch and Girl One.

Thanks to Net Galley, Crooked Lane Books and the author for the review copy! 3.5 stars rounded up - this was just the brain candy I needed. Although the writing was a bit choppy, the plot was somewhat predictable, and we were painstakingly reminded every few sentences that this ✨ the future ✨, I still enjoyed it overall. Readers who liked the themes and pacing of The Surrogate by Freida McFadden or the themes and world building in The Prynne Viper by Bianca Marais should check out Baby X.

My Goodreads review can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6445524990

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an e-arc of Baby X by Kira Peikoff through read now.

Told in alternating perspectives, Baby X had my on the edge of my seat until the storylines intersect at the end. A highly satisfying speculative thriller, I would recommend even to those who normally avoid sci fi .There is a lot to think about about and unpack amidst the suspense. This would make for a pretty interesting book club read. 4/5 star read

I requested this book when I heard it could be a book of the month pick. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an early copy to review. I liked the synopsis and was hoping for a little better execution. This book takes place 25yrs from now. They’ve completely changed the way people make babies. People steal celebrities and other high profile figures such as politicians dna to make highly skilled babies. There were so many things wrong with this book. Kids suing their parents for selecting them to be deaf like the rest of the family? Wow. No other words. This book is terrifying in too many ways. 2.5 stars rounded up

Wow! This was the best thriller I’ve read in a long time! Set a few decades in the future, Baby X takes place in the United States where technology has changed much of daily life, including how babies are made. Science has discovered how parents can choose embryos based on desired traits for their kids, and this method of reproduction has become the norm. More notably, technology has been developed to create sperm or eggs with anyone’s DNA (from hair, saliva, etc.) putting people — especially celebrities — at risk of having their DNA stolen to parent children they never knew about.

Told from alternating perspectives of three women, this story is propulsive, twisty, and truly kept me guessing as the three women’s stories intersected in surprising ways. The book was filled with action and intrigue that kept me turning pages, and the setup kept me thinking about the ethical questions and implications of this futuristic world.

Sci-fi doesn’t always intrigue me but I couldn’t put this book down. If you’re a fan of John Marrs, definitely pick this one up! I absolutely loved it!

This is the story of what could easily happen in the near future - and it is both cautionary tale and sweet homage to family. I wasn't sure at the start of this, but the more the stories interconnected the more I enjoyed it! I did not guess the ending (though really should have) and this is a perfect fit if you like reading sci-fi or mysteries, as it has a solid bit of both. The mechanics of the story, essentially that in this 2050ish world we can pick and choose which embryos to implant to ensure healthy (or superlative?) children, are not as far-fetched as we might like to believe. The ramifications of this are spun out well, and get increasingly more human as the book progresses. Four stars, and I would read more by this author!

This book started out great. I liked the concept and it felt like it could happen. However, as the story progressed it just felt less and less likely. There were just too many things that I found unbelievable and too contrived.

Thank you Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books for the Kindle Edition of this book in exchange for my honest review. I wasn't sure about this book as I though it was a sci-fi dystopian type fiction book but this is more speculative fiction with a unique thriller aspect and it got me hooked. It is set way in the 2050's and the author, Kira Peikoff does a remarkable job explaining the advancement that had occurred to set the scenes but it did take me quite some time to read. Inititally, I could only do a chapter or two at a time trying to digest it and understand what was going on- it was just the right amount of science to follow along. There are three different point of views, Ember, Lily, and Quinn- which help tell the story and midway through the book, I couldn't put it down. As the story unfolded, it just sucked you in wanting more. This is such well written, crazy idea story that it was mind blowing enjoyable! It came out last month, March 6 and I highly recommend!

For fans of futuristic takes on science and technology such as Blake Crouch, multiple POVs, and stories of overcoming obstacles.

In some of these instances let's hope they remain a work of fiction and do not come to fruition.

Told in 3 women's POV's. Lily, an up and coming writer trying to find the headliner that will set her career in motion. Ember, the successful business woman dating a super star. Quinn, the surrogate that is going through life on her own.

A lot of futuristic ideas in the first half that made it a slow read. I would read a bit and put it down for a while. So many ideas to take in at once. The characters seemed cold to me but when their stories began to cross over I became more engaged. Although I guessed the tie in at the end, I really enjoyed it and the connecting of stories.