4.25 ⭐️

First of all I would just like to thank NetGalley, Jayne Cowie and Penguin Random House UK, Cornerstone for an ARC of “I Did It For You” in exchange for an honest review.

This is a speculative thriller perfect for fans of John Marrs. I’d say this book has vibes of “The One” by John Marrs, meeting “The Push” by Ashley Audrain, with a dash of “Fifty Fifty” by Steve Cavanagh, whilst simultaneously being completely original.

The plot executes a very intelligent exploration into a different look on how class/privilege, prejudice and discrimination potentially work in a near-future society where boys are tested for the violent M gene. Upon being found to be M positive or negative, their lives will play out very differently. It also evaluates the pros and cons of such a scientific finding, whilst honestly conveying some of the dark truths in society.

And that’s only the premise! Whilst that background is being set, a thrilling plot unfurls as we follow two sisters and their sons of a similar age, as they navigate life through an M gene obsessed world.

Even though I guessed the twist fairly early on, it didn’t take away from the book in the slightest. It’s so interesting and intriguing that I found myself desperately wanting to know more. Plus, as it’s told through multiple POV’s and timelines, you are left with several unanswered questions at the end of each chapter- forcing you to reevaluate everything you think you know.

There are definitely some dark themes in this thriller but these also go hand in hand with some valuable lessons and a look into the alternative approaches to motherhood.

I really loved this book…..which told the story of two very different sisters and their respective son….in a world where boys were tested at birth to determine if they were a danger to society. Really excellent!

I thought Cowie couldn't possibly top After Dark, but here we are with another unsettling masterpiece.

Stunningly terrifying and realistic alternate reality, where men are essentially second class citizens and classed as a guaranteed danger unless tested and proven otherwise.

Settle into a nice, false sense of security that will give way without warning!

Not only is this a real page-turner, but it also throws up a lot of questions for the reader. In a near-future dystopian novel, the concept is around testing boys for a gene that predicts whether they have a tendency towards violence and crime. The book focuses on two sisters and their sons born around the same time. One son comes from a wealthy upbringing and the other lives with his single mum in much tougher circumstances. One son is tested, the other not. The plot unravels to show the implications of the mother’s actions and the lengths a mother will go to hide the truth. It’s a fast and compelling read, heavy on plot and as well as the story of the sisters and their sons, it also shines a spotlight on society and how things might play out should the test for the M gene exist.

An interesting and intriguing concept and a thought-provoking read.

I thorough enjoyed this novel and raced through it. This despite not warming to any of the characters and finding the ending a little unsatisfactory with one or two unresolved issues. However I thought it was a very interesting concept and well written. Recommended.

In this dystopian setting, doctors have discovered something called the M gene. It predicts male violence, and in this setting all male children under the age of seven are offered the test. While many parents take this opportunity; others don’t.
Examining our predisposition to violent behaviour, and whether this can be controlled, is a weighty topic so we’re given a more human angle to focus on. Sisters Bea and Antonia both fall pregnant at similar times. They both give birth to boys. Antonia has her son tested and Bea doesn’t. We then follow the sisters and their children over the course of the next eighteen years, examining the impact their choice has on each of them.
What I found intriguing was the way society reacted to this development. It immediately brought in restrictions for the boys testing positive, curtailing their lives and opportunities. Antonia and her husband, Owen, become wealthy off the back of these changes, setting up a clinic to manage the behaviour of M+ boys. Bea, as a single mother, has a much tougher life. We see how her determination not to test her child impacts them both over the course of time, and arrive at a point where some difficult questions have to be answered.
While the story was engaging throughout, it was once we see the boys as adults that things got interesting. Our assumptions about characters are challenged in ways I wasn’t expecting, and this become much more focused on the mothers and the levels they’ll go to in order to protect their sons.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this prior to publication.

I quite liked this book, at first I wasn’t sure as I had no idea what was going on but once I settled into the story I enjoyed it much more.
I didn’t really warm to the characters which is never a great sign for me, however the plot kept me entertained and I thought the ending just, if not a little disappointing.

I really enjoyed the premise and the execution of this novel - I'd guessed a couple of the twists but there were one or two that really caught me by surprise. Although it is set in the near future, the unresolved issue of nature vs nurture remains as relevant as ever, and questions regarding how far genetic testing can and should go.
The author raises a number of interesting discussion points and I look forward to recommending it to my bookgroup
Thank you to netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book

Two sisters, two sons and a gene test that could jeopardise any future the boys have. Scientists have discovered a test which could help pinpoint the disruptive M gene in boys
Antonio and Bea are sisters but that's where the similarities end, Antonio is happily married to Owen, a successful doctor, and Jack is their perfect M negative son.
Bea, in a failing relationship is mum to Simon, she doesnt believe in testing for M gene, She's seen what happens to parents who's sons are M positive, they are classed as outcasts with little hope for redemption.
But life for each sister is not easy and cracks soon appear.
I loved this book, its such a fascinating subject and lends itself to the "what would I do" scenario.. Every parent wants the best for their child, it's the interesting lengths that some go to to make this hapoen.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Random House for this advanced copy, I'm under no obligation to leave my review

Not for me, this one. I hadn’t realised it is a dystopian novel when I requested it. A DNF. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book.

If you could test your son for a gene that predicts violence, would you do it?

Such an interesting concept!
Bea and Antonia are sisters and both have different opinions surrounding the Test which highlights males who are more prone to violence and anti-social behaviour. In a society where males are either M negative (don’t have the gene) and M positive (do have the gene) would you allow your child to take the test and how would you proceed once a result is given?
As a boy mum, this was a really interesting story. It definitely gave me reasons to think and I really enjoyed the way the author made me question things however, I don’t think things were discussed in any depth which was a shame. I enjoyed the storyline despite disliking both sisters and I didn’t find any of the characters particularly pleasant so found it difficult to connect.

A fantastic dystopia novel about how far would you go to support society and family from the M gene. If a boy is tested positive for the M gene then he will automatically have limited access to be able to grow and develop and be offered any opportunities in life. Closed to good schools, nurseries and jobs.
When two sisters have boys , one of them doesn't get their son tested in order ro protect them from the judging society that he will be predetermined to be aggressive, violent and disruptive in life.

I could not put this book down with the need to know more of what will happen next. Easily readable and addictive. Not a genre I usually read but has definitely encouraged me to look at other books by Jayne Cowie.

This is my true and honest review after receiving a copy of the novel from NetGalley #IDidItForYou

I really enjoyed this book. Scientists have discovered a gene in men that suggests a predilection to violence. Soon a testis available to all new born baby boys. The gene is called M and boys found to be M+ are treated differently to those who are M-. Sisters Bea and Antonia have opposing views of the test, with Bea refusing to have her son tested. I think this would be a great reading group book as it raises so many discussion points. I recommend it as a good read. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

This was an interesting take on a near-future dystopian society where boys take the rap for the world's ills and are treated differently according to whether they have the M gene - a trait that makes them prone to violence. Antonia's son Jack is M negative, her sister Bea refuses to have her son Simon tested. But in an exciting story that takes us back and forward in time to a present day tragedy, it becomes clear that not all is black and white with the testing system.
This was a really good story with a fast-paced plot and sympathetic characters, and plenty of twists along the way. But what I liked most about it was the thought-provoking theme - will boys always be boys, or can their nature be altered? How important is nature versus nurture. And how far will a mother go to protect her son?
What particularly struck me was the altered dynamic the test made between mothers and sons - the mothers may love their sons deeply, but it's no longer unquestioningly - their sons are people to be controlled, whether they are M-positive or M-negative.
The theme also leads to questions about the patriarchy as a whole - males may be getting tested, but they still hold all the power, even from a young age, no matter how they tested.
An entertaining and thought-provoking read.

Antonia and Bea are sisters who both have a son. Their lives couldn’t be any more different- Bea lives from hand to mouth and never has any cash to spare. She lives with her son Simon. Antonia lives a very affluent lifestyle with her paediatrician husband Owen and her son Jack.

Scientists have discovered that the majority of prison inmates test positive for something called the M gene. A positive M gene means they have the propensity to commit violent crimes, behave aggressively and generally are bad people. Some schools refuse to take anyone with a positive M gene and society in general excludes them.

Antonia’s husband Owen owns a private clinic which treats children who have tested positively and offers them lifelong medication. Their son Jack tested negative for the M gene but Bea has always refused to have Simon tested. Antonia doesn’t believe this is right and does everything she can to persuade Bea to have Simon tested as she thinks he will test positive.

Bea and Simon turn up out of the blue on Antonia’s doorstep - they’ve clearly run away from trouble and Antonia thinks it’s due to Simon being positive for the M gene. Secrets are revealed and past events are unravelled. The sisters find out things they didn’t know about each others children.

This book was a really good read. Thanks to NetGalley for my copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.

This is a book that really gets you thinking. What would you do in this situation? Is it right what's happening? Would society really allow something like this?
It was really thought provoking and i loved that.

It had a dark and twisted storyline and it was filled with cunning and untrustworthy characters, all keeping secrets of their own.

The multiple POVs and timelines were slightly confusing at first while you were getting used to the characters, but it became easier as the story progressed.

I don't understand why Simon's dad never told Bea the results of the test.. that was so frustrating 😫
The ending felt quite rushed. I wished it ended differently, but it fitted well with the theme of the book and that everything is not always as it seems.


This was enjoyable and addictive at times and a different type of thriller/drama to what I've read before.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review!

I read 'After Dark' by Jayne Cowie, and thought that in that book Jayne Cowie did an excellent job in using dystopian fiction to challenge the reader to consider how best to tackle male to female violence within and outside the home. I was keen to read an ARC of 'I did it for you' when I saw that it again focused on a near future world where an alternative solution has been found to 'address' male violence. Thank you to NetGalley and to Penguin for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
In 'I did it for you' we follow the fortunes of Bea and Antonia - two sisters who give birth to boys in the same year but whose lives otherwise follow very different courses. Bea lives with her partner in a seemingly unfulfilling relationship having become pregnant accidentally. Her life is a constant financial struggle. Antonia, married to a rich doctor, lives a life of luxury. These are not the only/key differences between their lives. Antonia's son, Jack, is registered as being negative for the violent 'M' gene, which it is suggested results in a propensity for violence. Bea refuses to have her son tested- but the consequences of having no negative test result prove as damaging as if he has in fact tested positive, with some schools and other institutions failing to accept anyone other than females or males who have a negative result.
Again I thought this a really thought-provoking book with some interesting angles for exploration by educators eg the unintended consequences of requirements to test/prove a particular status (parallels here with vaccination status), the unexpected/hidden prejudices that exist in society, the impact of nature/nurture and parenting styles. As a story it worked pretty well too - overall a 4 1/2 rounded up to a 5.

Gripping and thought provoking!

I was lucky to read this book pre-release and I was gripped. A dystopian thriller of having boys testing at birth for a gene that shows violent tendencies. The plot is of two (very different) sisters with two sons and how their sons progress through life and how the genetic testing starts to change life choices and lifestyles.
Through very different parenting skills and also different lifestyle choices you see how the boys are brought up by the sisters and the pressures of having a M+ son versus an ‘apparently normal one’.
I loved this book. The author painted a true picture of all the characters and you could see this being true to life in the future. The book picks up pace as the boys get older and are subjected to hormones, girls and peer pressure. What you would do as a ‘normal’ teenager become judged by the presence of the gene. Life choices change and you can imagine this being an uncomfortable read in parts of the book, where those children are subjected to leading an underprivileged if you have the gene, or have enough money to medicate against the violent tendencies. All of this is written beautifully by other characters throughout the book. There are some dark plots twists that keep you guessing right till the very end, but I don’t want to give it away. Read it! A fantastic summer holiday read!

"Thriller" is a genre that promises to keep readers on the edge of their seats, and this definitely delivers. From the very first page, the tension is palpable, and the plot twists and turns in unexpected ways, making it difficult to put the book down. The characters are well-developed and the author does an excellent job of keeping the reader guessing as to who can be trusted and who is hiding something. The pacing is spot-on, with just the right amount of action and suspense to keep the reader engaged.

The writing style is gripping and evocative, making it easy to visualise the scenes and feel the emotions of the characters. The author's attention to detail and ability to create a believable world adds to the overall experience of the book. Overall, this is an excellent example of the thriller genre. It's a page-turner that will keep readers guessing until the very end and is sure to satisfy fans of the genre. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a good suspenseful read.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

If you had a male baby, would you get him tested for the M-gene which would identify him as a potential aggressor/criminal?
I loved the premise for this book (thinking maybe it would be a bit Atwood-esque) and couldn't wait to read it. However, it didn't really deliver.
Although I thought the paragraphs at the beginning of each chapter were clever - snippets of information about the wider world and social media, and how society was being affected by the M-gene, the story of Antonia and Bea, and their sons Jack and Simon was, I felt, quite clunky. None of the characters were particularly likeable and they all lacked depth. Maybe more showing and less telling would have helped.
The story was very slow until around the 75% mark, at which point Antonia's behaviour became preposterous. Without giving away spoilers, it just didn't feel plausible that a character (who hadn't previously been noted for her computer skills) could merely hack into a national database - while she was left alone in an office feeding her baby for a couple of minutes - and make changes to an official document.

Sorry. Great idea for a novel, but this didn't set me alight.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.