This psychological thriller is intense from the start and only gets twistier with every chapter. Sam Vickery gives us an emotional, heart-pounding story about motherhood, lies, and the limits of love.

Oh my goodness I absolutely LOVED this book!! It was such a quick read for me and I did NOT see the ending coming!! Very psych thriller and family drama!!

This book starts as a slow burner but gradually picks up, becoming more engaging as the story unfolds. The plot was well-crafted, and I found myself really sympathising with the main character, who felt genuine and relatable. The storyline was original and fresh, bringing a unique idea to life that I haven't seen before. Overall, it was an enjoyable read with depth and creativity, especially once the pacing picked up!

This novel starts slowly, but once the storyline picks up, it transforms into an engaging narrative that keeps the reader invested. The multitude of characters can be a double-edged sword; while it adds depth, it also makes it challenging to keep track of who’s who and which character is narrating at any given moment. The author skillfully builds intrigue around the two main characters, both of whom harbor secrets that unfold in unexpected ways, leading to surprising revelations. However, the ending left me wanting more closure. Despite this, the author’s compelling writing style and ability to weave a captivating tale have piqued my interest, and I would certainly read more from them in the future.

The Perfect Baby by Sam Vickery and narrated by Sofia Zervudachi, and Katy Sobey was an excellent audiobook. It was a dark and gripping page-turner which was full of jaw-dropping secrets that will have you hooked. I ended up listening to it whilst doing my weekly shopping, then doing things round my house, it was a hard audiobook to turn off once I started to listen to it. I loved it and the narrators Sofia Zervudachi, and Katy Sobey were superb!

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC

The Perfect Baby is a ticking time bomb of slowly creeping dread and tension that fills the room around you as you dive headfirst into explosive twists that are too diabolical to miss.

Domestic suspense thrillers can be hit or miss for me but this one is all hit. Characters that all seem to be hiding secrets. Shifting character POV’s and timelines that keep revealing breadcrumbs of truth. The murky world of what’s legal in surrogacy. Women who are desperate to become mothers and the lengths they might go for that dream.

All of it packaged together with perfect pacing and intensity that had me absolutely flying through this read in one sitting. You know from the start bad things are coming but you don’t know just how bad or whose side you will be on when it all falls apart and that is the best part of this book, hands down.

Even when I had ideas of what some of the secrets might be, I had no clue how they fit into the bigger picture. And every time I thought I knew who I was rooting for, I ended up surprised at their darkest secrets. It was just so so fun to read.

This is absolutely perfect suspense reading for autumn - dark, twisty and wonderfully satisfying, it everything we want as readers to cozy up with as the temperatures drop.

At first I thought this was gonna be like every other surrogate thriller I’ve read since it did begin with the same troupe….but boy was I wrong. Those last chapters were full of a twisty ride that I now know if I read in between the lines I could have seen it coming. So good!

This was one I had really big expectations for. I wanted to love it, it fell flat for me. With a predictable twist early on it just didn't work for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture I was able to read this masterpiece! Sam Vickery is a MASTER of twists that you don’t expect. Elise is about to receive a baby through surrogacy from her sister Julia. Maya is about to give birth to a baby she’s carrying for another couple. The women meet at a surrogacy support group and become fast friends. They both have extremely dark secrets, and the way their secrets intertwine with each other’s lives is perfectly written. Just when you think you know the ending, you don’t. This is an absolute must read! 5 stars. No, 10 stars. I absolutely loved this page turner!

The Perfect Baby by Sam was one of the most impressive thriller I have ever come across lately. The topic was unique which was about surrogacy, the pace of story was fast which I was hooked and the ending was totally unexpected.

The characters were well invented and their personalities stood out amazingly. The story plot moved smoothly and the twists were planted at the right place!

The various POVs just gave the thriller even a rounder and fuller content!

Many thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and the author for my copy.

Pub date: Sep 27, 2024

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of The Perfect Baby by Sam Vickery. This was quite a book. It was fast paced and very unpredictable. The ending was quite unique. I tried this one as an audio book (I had never tried one before) but ended up reading the book instead. I just couldn't get into the audio version. Well worth the read. I gave it a 4 star rating.

Rating 4.5

The Perfect Baby is a gripping, page-turning thriller about surrogacy, mental illness, and crime - talk about the perfect trio for a psychological thriller!

The book is mainly told from the perspective of two characters, Maya and Elise, with a few chapters told by an another character, Julia. Maya and Elise meet in a surrogacy support group and become friends - but they both have their secrets and unbeknownst to them, they share a connected past.

There are quite a few plot twists in this book, which I actually liked because it kept me guessing. The only thing that stopped me from giving a 5 star review is the open ending. I wanted more closure!

This one had my pulse racing from the very first chapter! Just when you think you've got it all figured out another twist comes along! If you enjoy a fast paced thriller this one is for you!

I feel it has been some time since I have read a 5 star psychological thriller that shocked me the way this did. The way the author set this up was perfect. I liked the unique surrogacy theme which I have not come across much in other books. I saw some reviewers say the story was slow but I did not feel that way at all. There was tension from the beginning and I was eager to know what on earth was going on. The characters played their part well but I will say I hated Ben. I think the book could have done without him and his actions but he played a smaller role. Other than that it was slam dunk. I haven't read anything by Sam Vickery besides this book but I'm looking forward to picking up other books by this author.

Very very good . I was hooked from the first chapter, I didn’t read like the characters but had to see how the story would play out ! It was full of suspense and I finished it in one sitting. Would definitely recommend

I received an arc from net galley in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book, you meet the 2 main characters and learn how they fit together, then histories & secrets start to be revealed quite quickly and you just need to know more! I didn’t see the twist coming & lived the quick-ish ending!

I guess I am in the minority. I did not like this. I don't care for Elise or Maya. and especially Ben! I also didn't care for the writing style. it kept hinting about a BIG secret on the part of Elise and Maya, but I just don't care enough to plow through.
I am about 405 in the book and I am done.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy, but not my cup of tea

Blimey, it's not very often you need a rest after reading a book is it? My heart was racing ten to the dozen through the final half of The Perfect Baby. I had no idea what was coming, but boy when it did what a shocker!

It's a fast paced thriller with twist upon twist, that takes us a dark and quite traumatic journey through child loss, mental health and surrogacy. Unreliable narrators, delusions and erratic thinking will take you up the garden path, then immediately send you off into another direction. Trust me when I say nothing is as it seems!

I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's such a gripping read replete with erratic characters, unpredictability and a journey unlike any other.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review. I really liked this book. I liked how it helps show the nuance in surrogacy and how it can be difficult for both sides. I enjoyed the different POVs throughout and enjoyed how they gave more perspective to the story. I did not fully guess the twist. I had some inkling of what might have been going on but the full twist was beyond my detective skill level. This book is great for those who enjoy fast paced thrillers!

The narrator is sure that she's ready to be a mother and take care of a baby, and has found the perfect one at the hospital. Unfortunately, the baby isn't hers to take home.

First and foremost, if you are as worried about the baby as I was, be assured that no harm comes to her. We meet Elise and Maya at a surrogacy support group. Maya is eight months pregnant and the baby she's carrying is meant to go to a lawyer couple. Elise's sister is carrying a child for her, also due in three weeks. Both have secrets about their past and are connected during the group. Maya is carrying the baby as a penance and feels conflicted with how involved and anxious the couple are (calling five or six times a day, restricting her usual activity for fear of miscarriages, etc) and Elise is hurt that her sister is distant and won't involve her at all. There are also heightened emotions within the group itself, as motherhood isn't what they expected, and going the route of surrogacy is more emotional for everyone involved.

This novel is one of emotional tensions. There are the secrets that Elise and Maya are keeping, the tangled feelings in the support group, and the growing possessiveness of the couple. The twist ending was a surprise when we see the truth for ourselves. If you can read s book regarding pregnancy and the conflicted relationships that can arise, this is the book for you.