I've heard a lot about this book, was really intrigued by the premise, and the prologue starts the story out so well. But the more I read, the more I lost interest. I think this story could have been so much better if it had been edited - it was overly long, with lots of filler that I felt wasn't progressing the plot or deepening the characters, and important details about the characters were only introduced suddenly when they became relevant.

I kept skimming sections because I got bored, and found that the last third of the book was almost jarringly dramatic compared with the slow pace of the first two thirds. Plus, details like the dolls served no purpose other than being a bit creepy, so seemed unnecessary.

Overall, this was disappointing, but there were some sections that kept me engaged, and I can see that I may enjoy future books by this author.

I loved the premise of this story but unfortunately it fell a little short for me. I found it quite predictable and although it was well paced, I didn’t find it exciting or thrilling enough to want to keep picking it up. I didn’t really like the ending although I’ve heard great reviews so it could be that it just wasn’t the right book for me at this time. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book

Wow! The amount of times in the early stages I internally said WTF and stopped to tell whoever I was in the room with. I did guess part of what was to come but the way it built up and was executed was done so well. Then the end… will there be a sequel?! 5 stars and cannot wait to read more of this author. Many thanks to Netgalley for this ARC.

There's a lot to like in this book: solid story, flowing prose, great premise, fascinating characters. It does follow a certain pattern, however, so it's a bit predictable in places; still, I consider this predictability a strength, since it enhances the relatability of the situations described. Motherhood and womanhood both seem more and more like a straining exercise into anxiety psychology nowadays, and the author has a special gift bringing this out. Coupled with the A.I. Dolls, this produces a creepy atmosphere throughout. The ending was superb and left me with no regrets. Huge thanks to NetGalley and VERVE BOOKS for giving me the chance to review this book!