Holy wow! The emotional roller coaster I went on when listening to The Perfect Baby - I should have tightened my seatbelt because I was NOT ready for all of the twists and turns. I love the way Sam Vickery laid out this story and delivered each of the character’s perspectives. Sam Vickery has a way of developing the characters so you instantly form connections with them - whether positive or negative. But this character connection also added a level of realism as I listened largely while putting my own baby to sleep… and I will say that I held my baby a little tighter each time. I simply could not stop listening!

The audiobook narration by Sofia Zervudachi and Laty Sobey was spectacular. They breathed life into the characters, adding another layer of personality and emotion to the already riveting story.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Sam Vickery for the opportunity to listen and review The Perfect Baby.

4.25⭐️

I had the audiobook read by Sofia Zervudachi and Katy Sobey who do a great job with the two main characters.

The main theme is surrogacy. So there might be triggers for some.
The two main characters are on opposite sides of the equation, Elise and Maya. Elise’s sister Julia is her surrogate, Maya is a surrogate for Nina and Will.

It starts in a similar vein to other books I’ve read on this topic, although it included some interesting insights that I hadn’t thought about before. From the beginning we know that Elise and Maya have their own personal issues and there are red flags within their surrogacy relationships.
I was impressed with the direction this one took which added something new to the trope, it’s different and very entertaining. Ok it relies on coincidence and something that is now unlikely to happen, but it depends on whether you want entertainment or likely events. I’ll go for entertainment any day of the week.
As it’s got a good pace, and is twisty I think this one would appeal to Freida McFadden fans. I’m keen to listen to more by this author.

Elise and Mia meet at a surrogacy support group. Mia is a surrogate, and Elise’s sister is her surrogate

Both women have big secrets - we learn a few things about Mia to be able to guess what her secret is, but Elise is more reticent and I was unable to even hazard a guess

Although infertility, surrogacy etc is the key subject, there’s a lightness to the writing which I enjoyed. It was still illuminating but also entertaining - definite popcorn feels

There’s a bunch of implausible coincidences but I was too gripped to mind. I really did fly through this and loved the audiobook narrators. They both did a great job of bringing the main characters to life

I didn’t guess the secrets, or the big twist and I really enjoyed the reveal. The pace was pretty steady until ‘the birth’ and then wham! What a ride

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for access to this audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review

While this books synopsis describes a story on surrogacy, it is so much more.
Definitely gives you the perspective of all those involved and by the end I was kinda feeling for the main character.
I really enjoyed this book, honestly more than I was expecting. Very happy that I decided to read this book.
I “read” it by audiobook and the narrators were really good. Definitely made you feel the emotion going on within the characters and the story.

Looking forward to reading more by this author.

Wow! The Perfect Baby is a roller-coaster of a read with twists and turns and a jaw dropping ending! 
I gave it a strong 4  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

A surrogate and a woman using a surrogate with deep, dark secrets meet at a support group and form a friendship. The roller coaster begins and the ride kept me guessing and needing to finish quickly to know how it ended and what happened to the babies and the connection that tied them all together. 

I'll definitely be looking for more books by author Sam Vickey.

Thank you to Netgalley and Booktoure for the ARC of The Perfect Baby which releases September 27, 2024.

READ THIS BOOK! The Perfect Baby by Sam Vickery had me hooked from the beginning! This is exactly what I want in a psychological thriller. What a roller coaster! Buckle up because this is twisty! I felt so many emotions while listening to this audiobook. The story is told from multiple viewpoints and read by two narrators (Sofia Zervudachi and Katy Sobey). The writing and narration were both done very well. Read (or listen to) it! Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the advance reader copy of The Perfect Baby audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Not all surrogate baby thrillers are created equal.

This pacey, twisty, and character-driven thriller takes the angst and drama of surrogacy to exciting and intriguing new levels.

What happens when a surrogate mother meets a woman who passionately wants a baby in a surrogacy support group?

Get ready to enjoy the ride!

I especially enjoyed the book's impossible-to-predict ending.

I listened to the audiobook read by Katy Sobey and Sofia Zervudachi.

Although both narrators did a superb job with the narration, the book unfolded from three POVs and a third narrator would have made "The Perfect Baby" a perfect audiobook.

This was my first book by female author Sam Vickery and I look forward to reading future titles by this talented author.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Wow. That was a bit of a wild ride. The beginning was a little confusing at first with getting to know the characters and the back and forth timelines and POV’s. Once I got into it I was hooked though. I was surprised at the ending as well. Great psychological thriller that keeps you guessing what in the world is going on. And definitely a surprising twist toward the end as well.

I randomly requested this having never read anything by the author before. At the start I was unsure but then I got into it and wow this is so worth listening to. The narration is well done and this will keep you on the edge of your seat !! I will definitely be looking up other books by this author. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this audio arc.

The Perfect Baby by Sam Vickery

The Perfect Baby is a fast paced dark psychological thrill ride that will makes it hard to put down. I brought her home from the hospital. But she wasn’t mine to take…- I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading, finding myself drawn in with the first chapter, then it kind of takes a step back and dives into several different people that meet in a surrogacy support group. this book takes you on a journey from both a surrogate and adoptive parents' points of view.

Once the book picks up, you find yourself on a fast roller coaster ride of information and secrets. I quickly found myself drawn in, unable to stop reading. The book switches between the past and present from different points of view. Will Maya give them the baby? Will Julia change her mind about giving her sister Elise her baby? This book will make you lose sleep, as you won't wany to stop until you find out who stole the baby and why.

The narrators, Sofia Zervudachi and Katy Sobey, were exceptional. They captivate you swiftly and maintain your interest to the very end. Fans of Freida McFadden and Keirsten Modglin will love the twists and suspense. You will find it hard to put this book down. Wow!!! The twists on this still have my mouth on the floor.

I absolutely LOVED this book. The audio was perfect. I could not stop listening to it. The plot twist shocked me and I audibly gasped and could not believe it. This book was so well done and captivating. I will be reeling for daysss
Thank you for the amazing opportunity of being an ARC reader for this audiobook!

I wasn't expecting this!! Ok, complete honesty here, I wasn't sure where this book was going at first, and I wasn't in the mood for it. I knew something was going to happen but wasn't sure what. I even decided I might take a break as I felt I needed a break from reading. I then got the audiobook, and I started listening. (I LOVE listening to books!) I still wasn't sure what would happen, but things got "strange, " and I was hooked and wanted to know what would happen. I wanted to know how everyone was going to be linked.

Then!!!!

That twist!!!!

Jaw dropped! And my head was spinning, I had to pause the book to go to physio, but after I blitzed the last hour or so, what a way to twist everything up. I thought I knew what was happening, but I was wrong. The most delicious of unreliable narrators blew it out. I was shocked, I was like, no f-ing way! It completely floored me. Then the ending, I mean there surely will be a sequel, I need to know if we are about to have an explosive showdown. I think I know what I would do in that character's position. The absolute gall that someone could do "that" and potentially be never found - WOW!!!

This book surprised me in the best possible way. I was itching for the narrator to hurry up so I could connect the dots, (although I couldn't work out the timeline) I connected them, and boy oh boy, they were thrilling!

Hats off to Ms Vickery, she has written a final third to beat final thirds, to twist you in knots. To make you rethink how you felt and feel about people, and to turn everything on its head. Pure genius!

I listened to this audiobook in one sitting.

I thought the narration was perfect and flowed very well between the two characters with a good pace.

Overall I thought the story was good, similar many I’ve read before with the theme of surrogacy however the twist with the one of the main characters gave this story the edge over others.
I will definitely read more from this author and the narration was great.

Wow. That took a turn I wasn't expecting, blindsided feels like an understatement. Absolutely brilliant.

The Perfect Baby by Sam Vickery
🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is an exciting and intense thriller story! It’s a story about the dramas and struggles that some surrogates and families can cause; including lots of secrets and lies. The story has fun twists and suspense throughout! It’s a fun and fast read!
I listened to the audio version of the story and the narrators did a great job!
This is my first book from this author, but I’m excited to check out more!

Thank you to NetGalley for an audio copy of this exciting book!
* This book comes out September 27th. *

4.5 stars

Well!... If ever a book 2 was needed ASAP, this is the story that'll need it! What a roller coaster! Absolutely gripping read, more twists than readers would expect, I can't wait to see what happens next, it's for sure going to be an exciting, twisty finish if this is anything to go by!

Thanks so much to Bookouture Audio via Netgalley for the advance copy of this terrific story.

The Perfect Baby is an absolutely heart pounding, all consuming, addictive psychological thriller. The beginning was a little on the slower side, but trust me keep going, I am so damn glad I kept going because this book ended up being amazing. Definitely different from the regular surrogacy trope !

I can't go into too much detail but that twist left me with my jaw on the floor for quite some time.. It truly took the book in a whole other direction, made it that much better and twistier. Vickery masterfully crafted a tale full of suspense and intrigue that will keep you on your toes until the chilling end.

🎧 The narration by Sofia Zervudachi & Katy Sobey took me a little to get used to because of their accents, but once I did it was truly amazing. They brought so much life and emotion to the characters. I could truly feel the fear, the pain, the anxiety through their voices. It truly enhanced the experience of this book.

✨️Thank you to @netgalley, @bookouture & @samvickery for my gifted ALC in exchange for an honest review.

thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture Audio, and Sam Vickery for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review. 🫶🏻

i have never read a thriller about surrogacy before but after this one i am going to be on the hunt for more!
i really enjoyed the 2 POVs of the main characters and their opposite positions of surrogacy shown. Elise is expecting a baby through surrogacy from her cold & distant sister Julia, and Maya is a surrogate for a couple who are a little controlling at times. i really could not tell who the kidnapper was going to be throughout the story but i was at the edge of my seat after the 70% mark!! the twists were twisty!!

this audiobook was very well done i love dual narration so you can always tell who’s POV we are in. they really brought the story to life and keep your attention. i def recommend the audiobook!!

4.5 rounded up.

If you’re into unhinged protagonist (in the most fun-to-read way) this is for you!

Premise: they say to take your destiny into your own hands. All she ever wanted was to be a mother, but things didn’t work out for her - so she gives fate a nudge, kidnapping a baby from the hospital. Now she’s determined to do whatever it takes to keep her (not actually her!) baby.

The story unfolds mostly before the above-mentioned kidnapping, so tension is high throughout. Some of the twists are pretty obvious if you’ve ever read a domestic thriller before, but the voice and style are so bingeable I didn’t care at all. As a huge fan of popcorn thrillers, I devoured this!

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Sofia Zervudachi and Katy Sobey. They both did such a great job, adding extra dimension to the characters, bringing emotion through in their read, and all around enriching an already super-engaging story. I highly recommend the audiobook version!

Thanks, NetGalley and Bookouture Audio, for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4.5 stars
The Perfect Baby is an emotionally gripping thriller that takes readers on a twisty and unpredictable ride. Without giving away any spoilers, this book keeps you on your toes from start to finish. It’s centered around the tension and emotions of family relationships, with characters whose motivations are as complex as the secrets they guard. The storyline touches on themes of motherhood, desire, and deception, making it a multifaceted exploration of human psychology, as much as it is a gripping thriller.

As a reader who can usually predict the twists of a thriller by the middle, I have to admit The Perfect Baby truly surprised me. Sam Vickery masterfully weaves in layers of suspense and intrigue, keeping you hooked and emotionally invested throughout. Vickery doesn’t just craft a compelling plot, but also makes you care deeply about the characters, sparking a genuine concern for their fates.

The audiobook narration by Sofia Zervudachi and Katy Sobey was outstanding. They breathed life into the characters and heightened the emotional intensity of the story. There was a moment during the audiobook where I found myself tearing up, and I credit that fully to the skillful narration. Zervudachi and Sobey’s performances made the characters feel vivid, raw, and deeply human, making it impossible to remain detached.

I highly recommend The Perfect Baby to anyone who enjoys a thriller that will not only keep you guessing but also pull at your heartstrings. If you’re looking for a twisty plot with unexpected turns and strong emotional connections, this is the book for you.

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture, and Sam Vickery for the opportunity to listen and review The Perfect Baby. I thoroughly enjoyed listening.