A dystopian world where biological matter can be used to create babies by and with anyone and the challenges that rich and famous people face to keep themselves protected from having children born with out their consent-sounds wild and terrifying and yet also semi realistic enough that it could happen in the not too distant future. I enjoyed it. It was an easy sci-fi world to get into despite the fact that I’m not into sci-fi. I think because if the way that it’s written, very simply but yet with quite a bit of world building, it makes it more digestible for even readers like me who prefer more thrill than fantasy. . But the author kept me engaged and semi in suspense.
There’s three different POV to move the story along but sadly it doesn’t spend enough time diving into their thoughts and feelings. I wish they had a little more depth. And Ember’s insta-love with Thorne kinda threw me for a loop. The small twist at the end was predictable but it was a nice bonus and good way to wrap up the story. Overall, not super memorable but not terrible either.
Thanks to the Quick Brown Fox & Co and. NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

Baby X is a sci-fi thriller set in the early 2050s. Much has changed in the world in terms of technology, but much remains the same. Baby X focuses on reproduction options. Most parents now "select" their embryos, based on the most desirable characteristics. Often, based on predisposition to diseases, but also based on traits like intelligence and athletic ability. Scientists have also determined a way to create sperm and egg from any DNA from a person, which has led to the theft of DNA from desirables, Nobel prize winners to professional athletes to famous musicians.

The story follows several women from very different backgrounds, a surrogate in her late twenties, a bio-bodyguard--a scientist who has made it her life's work to prevent DNA theft, and an intern at a prestigious publication. It's not clear at first how they're all connected, but I found their individual stories fascinating. The short chapters and character switches make it an especially fast read. So many of the chapters leave on a cliffhanger, so it makes you want to keep reading.

In terms of technology and the future world presented, I'd put this in a category of sci-fi lite. Those who don't generally go for science fiction shouldn't be deterred by the content. In the 2050s, technology has progressed, and the Christian Right haven't taken a stronghold over most states. Abortion rights have been enshrined and age is no longer a barrier to having and carrying a child. I found it thought-provoking to consider the ethical implications fascinating while thinking about selecting embryos, surrogacy, and defying natural biology. Overall, a fun and twisty read.

Thank you, Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley, for providing this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

Baby X is a futuristic sci-fi thriller which is set in the 2050s. It revolves around the concept of advanced technology which allows any biological material (saliva, etc) to create a baby. Celebrity DNA is now at risk for being sold to the highest bidder in an online black market called The Vault. The story flips between three different perspectives: Ember, a bio-security guard to a celebrity; Quinn, a surrogate; and Lily, a young journalist trying to come up with a juicy story.

It took me a few chapters to get immersed in the futuristic world and understand the three characters. It quickly picked up pace for me and became a page-turner. The ending had me shocked and I had to take some time to process the final twist. The premise was interesting however I found myself really invested in the main 4 characters (Thorne included).

The final twist made me switch my rating from 4 to 5 stars! A fun thrilling read, definitely recommend to fellow thriller fans. The futuristic world was enjoyable to read and learn about.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for my review.

Mild spoilers ahead!!

I typically like science thrillers, particularly when the plot deals with the ethics and future of genetics. I was disappointed to find that this book just didn’t resonate with me the way it has with others. Despite being advertised as perfect for fans of Blake Crouch, I found the stories and writing styles to be nothing alike.

What bothered me the most was the misleading narrative structure. The chapters are divided into "Present day," "A year previous," and "Full circle back to the present," implying simultaneous timelines, which isn't the case. The twisty reveal at the end only works because of this false setup. If you have to lie to me to pull off your surprise twist, I’m going to feel cheated.

There also felt like a lot of plot holes and characters act in ways that feel unbelievable. (Why would the mega star be allowed in the police van during the super sensitive operation? Just to watch? Also their reactions/behavior when Quinn is arrested at the show ring completely false.)

The characters all seem to have the same voice, resulting in bland and generic writing. The science is similarly superficial, with concepts like designer babies and 3D printing introduced but not explored in depth. In a future where such technologies are commonplace, the world would be drastically different, yet in this book, everything else remains unchanged. Politics, entertainment, shopping, day to day life. This book didn’t feel like it was written in the future, it feels like someone took today’s world and just dropped the new technology in but left out all the ripple effects it would have in the wider world.

It's clear that the author put a lot of work into this, and so I don’t mean to sound harsh. It’s equally clear that a lot of people loved this book, and I’m glad. I think I’m just not the right audience for it, and prefer science thrillers that delve deeper into their concepts, like the works of Blake Crouch or Michael Crichton.

Baby X, Kira Peikoff
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is such a clever book. I could not read it fast enough. A story told not too far in the future with a wild journey into the oldest tradition of baby making. She eloquently weaves what the future holds with technology, science, social acceptance, morals, and a many other themes. All while chasing a mystery and creating one at the same time. #brilliance #babyx #netgalley #bookkstagram @kirapeikoff #bookish #generalfiction #mystery #thriller #scifi

Thank you Net Galley for this advance copy.

I was really impressed with Baby X! This sci-fi thriller is set in the 2050s and features some neat technology that doesn't seem so far fetched from the present day. In the novel, almost all pregnancies are created in a lab in order to avoid major health problems and disabilities, while also allowing any gender to procreate with any other gender. The problem this has created is that it has made The Vault possible, an online black market where you can purchase anyone's DNA with enough money. In this novel, singer Trace Thorn has hired Ember to to protect him and his DNA from appearing on The Vault. Enter Quinn, a pregnant surrogate claiming to be pregnant with Trace Thorn's child. Add in a romantic sub=plot and we have a near perfect read. 9/10

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the eARC of this book, which did not influence this review.

I enjoyed this book so much more than I thought I would! This book grabbed me from the start and didn’t let go until the end.

The crazy thing about this book is even though it takes place in the future it is not a hard future to imagine. I can definitely believe that these advancements in DNA could happen in the near future.

This book was told in three different perspectives with different stories and I was dying to know how it all tied together. When it all tied together my jaw dropped.

This was such a great read and I enjoyed every page of it!

I'm quitting this book. I'm bored to dang death and life is too short.

signed,

Wrong reader from hell.

Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review

I LOVED this sci-fi! As a cell culture nerd by day, this thriller hit close to home.
The future is a scary place where someone can steal your genetic information and do whatever they want with it.
A great fictional litmus for the topic of biological ethics and morality. Is this future as far away as you think?
I know it’s only March, but I’m already calling this one a 2024 must-read.

Thank you NetGalley and Kira Peikoff for the eARC. Can’t wait to see this author’s future works!

“Real life didn’t conform to desires, no matter how desperate.”

“Few things in life were as frustrating as sheer helplessness.”

The premise of this book is FRIGHTENING! Woah. Designer babies and being able to steal a single hair or some saliva from a soda can and make a BABY with ANYONE without their knowledge or consent?! Oh man I hope this is not the direction the world is headed in.

This story is told from multiple POV which KILLED me at the end. Argh I was flipping those pages like they were on fire. Baby X is a very fast paced and terrifyingly probable story that I could not put down. Go on Kira Peikoff, writing stories that have me not only reading but 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 science fiction!

Thank you to Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books, and the author for the gifted copy.

Set in the future, this thriller is focused on the legal and ethical fallout when biological advances allow life to be created from any sample containing a person’s DNA. Even though this was a quick and entertaining read, I wish that some of the storylines and characters had been more fully developed so I could have been more invested in the story.

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you so much @CrookedLaneBooks for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 05 March 2024)

SYNOPSIS | In a not-so-distant future, genetic advancements allow a person's DNA (any biological matter like an eyelash or skin cell) to be restructured into egg and sperm cells which can then be analyzed for future traits and health concerns before being implanted into a prospective parent. The downside is that celebrities are beginning to be targeted by "The Vault" (a black-market site devoted to selling stolen DNA to the highest bidder).

WHAT I LIKED:
- this felt more like a speculative thriller than true sci-fi
- equally fascinating and frightening concept
- the futuristic world was really well described and I loved the little nods to the world as we know it today
- a bunch of interesting dialogue around the ethical + moral concerns of genetic engineering (would make a fantastic book club choice)

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- the main storylines felt unrelated until almost the very end

It was good! I remember Black Mirror and this is straight up like an episode of it! It was fun and thrilling.

4.5⭐️ wow! This was really incredible. It was very heavy on the sci-fi, with just a little bit of thriller to keep it engaging. In the not so distant future majority of babies are made in a lab through a process of selection. with that comes the end of many childhood and genetic diseases and overall seems like a positive thing but of course there is a dark side and irreparable consequences to messing with science and human biology.

The premise of "Baby X" was very interesting. There were lots of twists that made it an entertaining read. I think if you enjoyed reading books such as "The One" by John Marrs and "Girl One" by Sara Flannery Murphy, you would enjoy "Baby X".

There has been a lot of buzz about Baby X, so I was thrilled to get my hands on a copy--many thanks to Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books, and author Kira Peikoff for the librarian preview copy! I absolutely loved this dystopian thriller about a world in which babies are made only in labs and protecting one's DNA is a full-time job for body guards. I loved the details about life in the not-so distant future, including 3-D printed food, self-driving cars, and text messages read via contact lenses. The plot centers around the paternity of a baby being carried by a surrogate, and there are three viewpoints in the story, including Quinn, the surrogate; Ember, the bodyguard; and Lily, the journalist. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this page-turning thriller, and it also offers lots of discussion potential for bookclubs. Highly recommended!

Baby X is going to be a big summer sci-fi: it moves quickly with an over the top plot. It reminded me a lot of Naomi Alderman's latest book.

This was a page-turning, dystopian book based on such an interesting concept. The ethical and moral dilemmas were fascinating to consider and the mystery element kept me guessing.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
An engaging, quick science fictional read. It was told from different perspectives that came together for a great ending.

I absolutely love when I read a book that keeps me guessing from the beginning until the end. If you love plots, twists, turns, and are you kidding me(s), then just like me this book is a must read.