If you could test your son for the violent gene would you do it or protect him from the life he would have to lead.
A bit dystopian for me though I did get through it but found not one character I liked.
An unexpected ending.

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC

This book had me hooked right from the beginning. Such an interesting premise that makes you realize this could be a reality in a not too distant future and sadly another form of discrimination in society. The story is told in both the present and some flashbacks. It was a quick read and although I guessed some of the plot twists I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

Set in the near future scientists have been able to identify the gene that triggers violence in males and have developed a simple swab test to identify its presence. All parents now have the option to find out from birth if their son is M positive or negative.

Bea is resolute in her decision not to have baby Simon tested, you get what you're given and labelling a newborn son a wrong 'un from birth isn't something she wants any part of. Her sister Antonia, married to a doctor thinks differently and can't understand her sisters reluctance, surely its better to know if your son's likely to be trouble. Two sisters, two different opinions, both of them wanting to protect their child.

An interesting dilemma and in a society that sees children who test positive being excluded, disadvantaged and subjected to medical treatment I found this a compelling and often disturbing read.

This one really got under my skin! Its a well paced, fascinating read that once started I didn't want to put down. The characters were well written and the fractured relationship between the sisters easy to visualise.

A clever plot and a thought provoking read that had me questioning what I'd have done.

Due for publication 31/8/2023 - My thanks to Random House UK and NetGalley for the advance copy, I was under no obligation and all opinions expressed are my own.

I read and enjoyed Jayne Cowie's novel Curfew which also dealt with the issue of male violence so I was pleased to received this latest novel to review.

Antonia and Bea are sisters with two young sons. A gene has been discovered which helps predict violence in males. There is a test which will tell you whether your child has this gene or not. If so, treatment is available. One of the sisters decides to have their son tested, the other refuses. As the boys grow up there are suspicions about one of them, the one who hasn't been tested. Does he have the gene, and was his mother right not to have him tested.

A story full of twists and turns, I Did it For You will have you asking yourself 'what would I do in this situation?" I'm just thankful we're not at this stage! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Would you have your baby boy tested? This is a book which has put me through so many emotions. We have one family central to this book. Two sisters, two baby boys and two very different paths taken..

Bea and Simon, Antonia and Jack. Two mothers, sisters but with very different opinions around testing their child. We are taken on a journey throughout this book. We learn about the testing and how experiences are impacted by a positive result.

The relationships between the sisters is tense to say the least. This has oozed off the pages and been evident in every interaction. I found this completely unpredictable and it’s a book that I found impossible to put down.

I devoured this book in just one sitting. I feel as though it’s written in a way, you feel you are watching the events play out in front of you. This is paced perfectly and easy to become lost in the pages.

I read the previous book by this author, which was her debut. I absolutely adored it. This hasn’t disappointed, I have been completely caught up and invested in this one. It has been everything I hoped for and more. This is a great book and one I will be recommending.

An interesting subject, set in the future and thought provoking… could they really identify potential criminals? Would our society allow testing to help prevent crime? Two mothers fight to protect their sons, each protecting their child against the world and being labelled

This book tells the story of 2 sisters Antonia and Bea. They are completely different in every way and only keep in touch really as they have sons of a similar age.

In the future boys have the chance to be tested for the so-called violent M gene. One sister tests her child, whilst the other refuses to. As tragic events unfold both of them will stop at nothing to protect their sons.
I loved this book, there were twists and turns which kept you guessing right up to the end.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A dystopian story where a gene can be identified which will predict whether boys will be violent or not. Thereafter they will be classed as being M+ or M- and the way society treats them will be very different thereby creating a two tier system
Antonia and Bea are sisters, Antonia has had her son tested and he is M- but Bea has steadfastly refused not wanting to disadvantage him or put him under any pressure to take the treatments available.
Not everything is as it seems with the sisters and their two boys and when they reach eighteen a series of previous events culminates in one major one bringing all their lives crashing down
An interesting and thought provoking book.
It begs the question of how far would you go to protect your child

Jayne Cowie has a real talent for finding a dystopian story unlike any other and taking it further than I could ever imagine.

Her previous book, Curfew' explored a world where men were kept under curfew and women
had complete freedom. In 'I Did It For You', scientists have identified a gene to predict male violence; by keeping tabs on the men with the gene, they believe they can reduce offending, violent behaviour, and general anti-social behaviour.
Baby boys are swabbed at birth, and if they do not have the gene, they can go on to a wonderful life full of opportunities and freedom. But if they have the gene, their life can be very different, with most avenues closed to them - even shops will only accept men who do not have the gene.

Sisters Antonia and Bea have different views about the swab, Bea does not like the idea of labelling a child from birth, and setting the course of their life, whilst Antonia thinks it is better to know who they are. Bea has not tested her son Simon, Antonia tested her son Jack and was very pleased to see he was negative.

The story jumps across various timelines and from both sisters' perspectives, from when the boys were young up until the present day- and we learn more and more about how society is adapting to keep the gene-positive boys and their families at arms length, sending them to work in 'farms'.

When Antonia and Bea reconnect after several years of estrangement, how will they handle the difference of opinions and what does it mean for their own children?

A really thought-provoking read with messages for how we can ostracise people who are different from the norm, and what this can do to society.

This had such an intriguing premise that I just had to read it! Would you let your child be tested for a “violence” gene? Even if it meant that they would be brought up totally different from those who tested negative? Two sisters-both have sons, one who’s tested negative at birth and the other not tested-have totally different lives, opinions and attitudes towards the testing of young boys.
There are twists-possibly predicable-but the whole thing works well and certainly makes you think. I bought the authors debut novel as soon as I had finished this one as I really enjoyed her style of writing and wanted to read more.

4.5 rounded up

How far would a mother be prepared to go for a much loved child? What choices would circumstances force you to make? The ‘M’ gene has been discovered and is found in 97% of males in prison for violent crimes. A test is now available for your son to take, so would you? Sisters Antonia and Bea have very different views on that dilemma. Antonia’s son Jack is tested but Bea refuses to allow Simon to have it. What both women have in common is they will go to any lengths to protect their sons. The story is told over the eighteen years of the two boys contrasting lives and from several perspectives which is both fascinating and illuminating.

First of all, THAT premise! Oh boy, it makes your blood freeze in your veins especially those of us who are mothers to boys. It’s so creative yet equally all too plausible and believable. Jayne Cowie writes such intriguing, darkly dystopian, feminist novels and I’m all in, gripped from the get go and utterly absorbed in the storytelling. The characterisation is exemplary although neither Bea or Antonia are especially likeable, perhaps Bea edging it as she’s more down to earth while Antonia strives for perfection in every possible way. Their attitudes towards motherhood couldn’t be more different and their emotions are strongly presented. As for the sons, I’ll leave you to make your own mind up!

Inevitably, this is absolutely chilling in every way, there are some shocking, inhale your breath scenes as all the ramifications of the M test are examined from several points of view. There’s a huge sense of anticipation throughout with much to be revealed, it’s intense and takes unexpected directions. The path to the conclusion is a twisted, tense one, encountering judgements, arrogance, madness, deception and everything in between.

I love this book and Jayne Cowie is a must read author for me.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House UK., Cornerstone for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Such a great concept, and I love a moral quandary in a book.

But this book doesn’t let you wonder, i felt that it was almost immediately obvious where the ending would be, which ruined this book in a way.

An interesting concept, set in the near future, and competently written. The author fed in the progression of the male-testing programme very well, documenting how the screws were tightened almost imperceptibly and how the general public obediently bought into it.
My problem with it was that the end of the book was writ large within a very few chapters. It was only too obvious which way this particular story was going to go, which is a shame because it has the bones of a very good book.
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this e-ARC.. All opinions are my own.

What a book!!! Twist and turns and a brilliantly thought provoking storyline. Well written and I couldn't put it down as I needed to see what happened next. I can honestly say that I was gripped and was reading into the night as I needed to finish it!

An excellent dystopian read, all the more nerve-wracking because it could so easily become the norm in the not so distant future. The ways that M+ boys are discriminated against are chilling; from being barred from certain schools to being forced into menial occupations due to lack of opportunities. This discrimination also affects untested boys like Bea's son who are automatically assumed to be M+ as they can't produce proof of M- status. The characters are all extremely unlikeable except perhaps for the two boys who, despite everything their mothers force upon them, are close friends.

This is a book which screams out to be a 'book club read' as there's so much to discuss. Unfortunately I can't go any deeper into my opinions are I don't want to reveal any spoilers but I will say that I really enjoyed it and will be recommending it everywhere.

Wow wow wow this book was on another level it was really really good it was definitely different and I enjoyed it very much easy 5 stars I will 100% check this author out

I loved this book. The story was very creative and not something I’ve seen/read before. The plot twists were amazing and throughly enjoyed the whole book.

Jayne Cowie is quickly becoming the queen of disturbing feminist dystopian thrillers and I am here for every twisty word.
I Did It For You poses a moral dilemma - if it was possible to predict which boys might become violent should we do it? That's the world Bea and her sister Antonia find themselves in when they both give birth to boys just a few months apart. After the gene which marks volent tendancies is isolated a test soon follows with the persuasive promise that if we find them early we can save them - and society from themselves, Make sure they have the right schooling, the right support. But Bea looks ahead and sees a world in which boys who are positive, who have the gene, aren't supported but scapegoated and excluded, wheras Antonia sees a world where her son will get the recognition and privilege he deserves. Bea chooses not to test her son, Antonia not only goes ahead but makes her fortune through working with boys with the gene, founding a clinic with her husband to support parents and biys who can afford their hefty fees.
Choices made the sisters embark on very different paths and their sons are raised in very different worlds, but when those worlds collide secrets, lies and violence lies ahead and the question can't be avoided, is it nature or is it nurture? And how far would you go to protect your son?
Dark, clever and all too plausible. Highly recommended.

I felt it was a little slow but it really makes you think. Imagine if this could happen?

Thank you to the writer, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

This sounded like an interesting read. It took me a while to read this because it didn't peak my interest until the last 100 pages where the plot started to make sense. I wasn't shocked but what was revealed and I felt that there was one thing after another being revealed for the shock factor, when it simply didn't need it.
I felt the story really drummed in about the positive and negative boys, however, it explained they were violent, but not much else. They didn't really seem that bad? Felt that society was making a big deal about it when it didn't need to be.
Took my time reading this, was an ok read.