I listened the arc of this audiobook. Thank you NetGalley and AJ McDine for this arc.

I give this book 4 stars.

First of I really liked the premise of this book. The mc wakes up one morning and there is a baby in her house. She has no idea how the baby got there.

I did like the female main character quite a bit. She definitely wasn’t perfect and had flaws. There were times I wanted to yell at her as well but overall I like how she was written and how her story unfolded.

The twists were somewhat easy to guess. I definitely had my suspicions early on but I c still enjoyed the book.

I think this is a fun thriller that is definitely worth your time. It kept me interested throughout the book and it is one I will actually remember!

The Baby by AJ McDine has turned the baby trope on it’s head! Lucys husband works offshore and so is gone from home most of the time in on one of these occasions Lucy wakes up and can’t remember what happened the night before and she certainly doesn’t remember where the baby in her living room came from. I want to say so much about this book but OMG I don’t want to ruin it for anyone this is an original amazing awesome perfect delicious thriller! They do have some slight warnings rape is mentioned, there is serious emotional abuse and gaslighting alcoholism is also featured in the book but eventually in a positive way, Not the alcohol the abstaining from it. This book is so good there’s nothing better than starting a book and all the character seem like lovely people and slowly but surely you pull away the layers and see the monsters underneath and AJ McDine done it perfectly in the book the baby I listen to the audio version and as always Tamison canard does a brilliant job The good characters are awesome especially the sister and I don’t want to name them so as not to give anything away but I love love love her. This is a great book and one I definitely and highly recommend truly awesome I want to thank bookoucher audio and net galley for my free Ark copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Lucy likes to drink, but when a baby is on her table one morning, she knows she needs to stop. Miles her husband is on an oil rig in Aberdeen and Lucy has wanted a baby for so long, she pretends it’s hers.

It’s a twisty physiological thriller, full of secrets and dangers of people we trust. Easy to read/listen in one sitting.

I listened to the audiobook and loved it, kept me engrossed and listened to it in one sitting. The narrator has great accents for each character and read the story well.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

I had a hard time getting into this book. The beginning threw me off a bit as the author jumped straight into a situation that, in my opinion, required a little explanation. After a few chapters things picked and the story drew me in. I ended up really enjoying this book, despite the premise being a little farfetched. It’s a quick read with lots of unexpected twists and turns. Definitely recommend.

3.6 rounded up to 4.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the ARC.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.
(spoilers ahead beware)

I was conflicted for a lot of this one. The premise was so very interesting, and I LOVE a good unreliable narrator, but this book loses the unreliable narrator a little under halfway through and then it just turns into a tale I feel like we've heard before, repeatedly, and none of the twists surprised me. It was also very slow, and I did skip from chapter 41 to 59, and I didn't miss anything. Which is a shame, because her unreliability was the best part of this book for me.

Firstly, I was super frustrated with our FMC. The way people clearly knew she had a drinking problem but no one ever said anything to her was so shocking. Her husband says he wanted her to miscarry because she was an alcoholic, but isn't he the one that also encourages her to drink more and enables the behavior? Which I realize could have also been another attempt for her to miscarry, but before that, he still does it. Why does no one ever sit this girl down and say something about it? I think they alcoholic representation in this book is lacking a bit. She seems way to calm, way to chill at all times. I don't know if that was the narration specifically, but the text itself doesn't feel like it ever has a sense of urgency or panic that I feel like she is lacking.

The twists- I saw them coming. From the first second someone said how much the baby resembles them and looks like he could be their child, I knew. I don't understand why that never stood out to her?? And no one is looking for this baby, he hasn't worked for months (where do you think he's been?). and STILL no one is looking for the baby but she just rolls with it. The repetition made it hard for me to miss any twists as well. She has so many times where she said "I didn't have much to drink" but then just assumed okay whatever still must have been drunk and fell down the stairs. A very frustrating FMC.

The narration was great. At first I wasn't a huge fan because of the tone of "blah" is what I'm going to call it, but I think that was from the writing itself, where she is just never freaking out about anything ever. The accent work was fantastic as well.

All things considered, I give it 3 stars. I think for the right audience this book will be well recieved, I just found it too predictable and the FMC too unlikeable.

This story is full of twists and turns that keep you hanging on. Unfortunately to me though, I had a hard time sitting through the story. Why these people even stayed in each others lives and the ridiculous decisions that were being made in the beginning just annoyed me. I've seen many people loved this book, unfortunately it just wasn't for me. Reading about toxic relationships that people stick with is an automatic blah for me in books.

Lucy wakes to find a baby boy in her living room swaddled in a dresser drawer, with no memory of the night before. Has her memory deserted her again or has her alcohol consumption blocked all memories. Her husband, Miles, is away working on an oil rig and she scrambles to gain her memory of where this babies come from before he returns. Did she kidnap the baby from a friend or did she find the baby need? And can she make the hard decision to turn herself in.

I listened to this fast paced, psychological thriller on audiobook and it did boy disappoint! The narrator was great and there were plenty of twists and turns keeping me hooked to the end!

Lucy wakes up from an alcohol induced hangover/blackout, and there's a baby in her house. Although she longs for a baby, she knows it not her baby. Did she steal the baby? Where did he come from? There are so many unanswered questions!

I enjoy a good unreliable narrator, and the author did a great job writing the plot though the eyes of Lucy. This was a book where it seemed you knew what was going to happen from the beginning, so my curiosity was piqued on how events would unfold. I was so entertained and engrossed in this story! I couldn't stop listening because I had to know what was going to happen. There were twists and turns along the way, and I was pleasantly surprised with how the events unfolded. This was a fast and addictive read that has me ignoring adulting to focus on listening!

Tamsin Kennard did a phenomenal job with the narration! She moved between male and female characters very well, and she managed accents and intonations of each character flawlessly. She made the story easy to follow.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

The Baby by AJ McDine is a fast paced and gripping domestic thriller that had me captivated right from the very start. This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I will certainly be reading more. Although I did guess quite early on how the story was going to pan out, I can assure you it most certainly didn’t take away from my enjoyment of this book as it completely absorbed me right until the final page.

Lucy is a housewife whose husband, Miles, works on an oil rig and is rarely home. Lucy struggles with alcoholism, and after a particularly heavy night of drinking, she wakes up to find an unfamiliar baby in her house. Due to an accident, Lucy is unable to have children herself. She wonders whose baby it could be and why she can't recall anything from the previous night. Despite her confusion, she hesitates to go to the police since there are no reports of a missing baby. Instead, she tries to piece together the truth before Miles returns.

While easy to figure out parts of the mystery, I found this book enjoyable.

Thanks, NetGalley and Bookouture Audio, for my free copy.

🎧4.25-4.5⭐️

I had the audiobook read by Tamsin Kennard who does a good job, adding an extra layer of interest to the story.

Lucy wakes up with hazy memories of the day before to find a baby in her house. What she does next is the start of a twisty thriller.

Lucy is married to Miles who works on an off shore oil rig. Gradually the reader gets to learn more about the couple, their relationship and history. There are soon plenty of red flags waving wildly we get to learn why Lucy fails to see/ ignore them.

There’s lots going on with the plot, with plenty of twists and turns which kept me riveted. Theres characters who grow on you plus despicable characters to hate.

The theme is dark, but it’s not a gritty thriller and doesn’t register on my gore score. It may have triggers for some, but I feel it would be a spoiler to mention them.

I am on the cusp of really enjoying it and loving it. It felt that it offered something a bit different, it certainly kept me well entertained.

An unputdownable thriller that’ll keep you turning the pages just to see what happens next.

Lucy wakes up from a long night of drinking and goes in search of water and medicine. What she finds instead is a baby in her living room. She becomes confused and scared because she doesn’t have a baby. And when Lucy’s husband Miles comes home for the week from working on an oil rig and finds them, she has a lot of explaining to do. Like, where did the baby come from? Who’s baby is it? And is she going to give him back?

TW: miscarriage, r@pe, substance abuse

I love a good unreliable narrator! With Lucy drinking excessively as a coping mechanism for her life, she was drunk a lot in, mainly in the flashback scenes. Sometimes she even blacked out. Which brings us right into the story with her having no knowledge of obtaining a child.
I figured out fairly early on what was going on with Lucy, as well as several of the other twists. But there were some surprises that I didn’t guess! The whole cabin scene was a wild ride, and all I could do was hang on. Even being predictable in some instances, the book was worth the read because it was written so well.

Tamsin Kennard’s narration of this book was spectacular!

This was my first book by this author, but it definitely won’t be my last!

Embarking on The Baby by A.J. McDine was like stepping into a veil of mystery and emotion, guided by the gentle timbre of the narrator's voice. The story revolves around the unexpected arrival of a baby at the doorstep of a solitary woman, igniting a journey of self-discovery and connection.

The author's writing style is elegant, painting vivid scenes and fleshing out characters with depth and nuance. However, despite the narrative's charms, I couldn't shake the feeling of predictability that hung over certain plot twists. Additionally, the pacing felt sluggish at times, stalling the story's progress.

Nevertheless, the audiobook's true highlight is undoubtedly the narrator, whose skillful rendition breathes life into the characters and imbues the narrative with warmth and authenticity. Their performance elevates the listening experience, making it a delight to immerse oneself in the world of the book.

In essence, while this book may have its flaws, it remains a touching and engaging story, made all the more enjoyable by the talented narrator. If you're seeking an audiobook that combines heartfelt emotion with captivating storytelling, look no further than this captivating thriller.

Thank you Bookouture Audio for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. This review is being shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.

HUGE thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this advanced readers audio copy of The Baby! Publication date for The Baby is April 23, 2024 so preorder it now!
The cover caught my attention immediately and I was excited to give it a read, but this book surpassed my expectations by a mile! I’m going to say this is the best mystery/thriller since Mark Edwards’ “Keep Her Secret” that I read LAST June! Admittedly, I don’t read thrillers as much as I’d like, but I’ve read quite a few and this one’s at the top.
When the baby shows up you want to think “what did she do? Did she kill the parents? Did she abduct him?” and then you think it’s in her head and then Miles comes in and you’re even more confused! There are so many twists and turns and I couldn’t stop listening until the very end! I love when I find an exciting book that pulls you in and spits you out at the end. This is one of them.

What would you do if you woke up one morning to a baby in your house, with no recollection of how the heck that happened?! This BOOK!!! This is such a fast paced thriller, I never knew what was going to happen next! The plot twists, the character development, the story line, ALL OF IT! 5/5 stars for sure!! I can’t wait for everyone to read this masterpiece!!!

Ps- the ENDING?! Totally did NOT see you coming! I definitely recommend this book. Such an enjoyable, seat gripping read!

Imagine waking up in the morning to a baby in your house and having no idea how he got there. Lucy was drinking the night before and can't remember a thing. Did she take the baby from someone? No one has come forward claiming their baby is missing. Always wanting a baby of her own, she decides not to call the police.
This story was really good. I enjoyed the pacing
as well as trying to solve the mystery behind who's baby this was. Overall, I'd say this was another winner by A.J. McDine! It was quite entertaining.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for my gifted ALC.

This review will be shared to my Instagram account (@coffee.break.book.reviews) closer to pub day.

Right from the beginning I was curious how the book would unfold. It seemed like a straight forward problem that was set up in chapter 1. Lucy wakes up with little recollection of the night before and finds a mysterious baby in her house. Lucy decides not to go to the police- in case she possibly stole this baby and ends up incriminating herself, and as time goes by there are no alerts about a missing baby. The baby eventually brings more answers than questions as Lucy starts to piece everything together.

I enjoyed listening to this domestic thriller. The twists are predictable, but still enjoyable. My dislike for Miles was almost instant and grew with every chapter.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for providing this ARC. This review is being shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.

Pub Date 23 Apr 2024

The Baby was fantastic! The drunkenness and blackouts made for a perfect unreliable narrator, as did the recounted memories. When the baby shows up, I am befuddled, but I slowly start to suspect the twist (or so I think!). Is Lucy a villain or a victim? Is the baby in danger? You must read to find out in this heart-pounding thriller!

The Baby by AJ McDine and narrated by Tamsin Kennard.

Lucy is on her own for weeks on end while Miles, her husband, works offshore on an oil rig. To compensate for her boredom, she drinks. One morning she wakes up to the sound of a crying baby. Lucy does not have a baby. She cannot for the life of her remember what happened the previous day and how she happens to have a crying baby lying in a drawer on her living room floor.

All she can remember is going to the dentist and popping into a pub afterwards for a drink – then everything is a blank. Did she steal the baby? Did someone give her the baby? Why are there no news reports about a stolen baby, surely his mother must be frantic?

What a fabulous, twisty book.

I really enjoyed the narrator. Thank you to NetGalley for my audio ARC. This book releases 23 April 2024.

Trigger warnings: manipulation, miscarriage, rape.

I had a lot of problems with this book.

Main Issue: The cover suggests this is a story about a woman who finds a baby in her home that isn't hers and she doesn't know who it belongs to.

While it's true a woman finds an unknown baby in her house, the baby and this situation is lost as we flashback to the MC's past and this book turns into a "Domestic thriller" with a gaslighting and abusive turd of a husband. Every troupe and story you've read about "bad husbands" is revisited. Eventually it connects back to the baby and that was innovative, though it could have been told and revealed in a much better way.

Big problems I had: 1-hit wonder pregnancies and a raging alcoholic who stops drinking on a dime. One-hit pregnancies are incredibly rare/uncommon making the story unbelievable but also doing a huge disservice to the millions of women out there who struggle to get pregnant. Next, alcoholism and addiction is very real and very serious and very few people, especially someone who drinks as heavily and as often as this character can "just stop" and also manage to do so without side effects. Again, PSA: this isn't how it works and does a disservice to those who struggle.

In the end I guessed all the twists and reveals which made the story less exciting for me; this is partly because a secret second family, stealing money, are so over done. I am also very tired of alcoholic female MCs.