Firstly let me start off this review with the triggers - miscarriage, difficulty conceiving, still birth, prenatal anxiety.

Secondly. Wow. What a book. This book absolutely engulfed me and had my brain working overtime.

In this book we follow Claire’s journey, who is struggling to conceive. Claire is an active member of a few online groups who consume her thoughts and journey of conceiving and those groups begin to take over her life. Claire is in trouble at work on several occasions, does not follow medical advice and her relationship with her husband is in turmoil. As well as pushing her family away and struggling to make any real in person friends, Claire is on an obsessive journey to become pregnant and keep her baby safe.

As someone who has no maternal instincts, the triggers did not bother me but I imagine this will be a hard book to read for some. That said, the book was so well written that I felt part of the online groups. I was so annoyed at Claire at times, her naivety and obsessions taking over. I struggled with Flora’s story as there were signs and again annoyed at her naivety. I understand the reasons for some of these women’s actions but I am on the other side of the fence. The book is so thought provoking and I think it would be a great book for book clubs, providing no one is affected.

I raced through the book eager to know how Claire’s story was going to end. The epilogue made me sign in exhaustion at Claire. I really did want her to see the errors in her way (in my opinion)

I absolutely loved the book and the fact that this is a debut blew my mind.

I can’t wait to see what else this author delivers. Highly recommended from me and is available on kindle unlimited

The book follows Claire, who is desperate for a baby.
It follows her pregnancy journey and deals with Claire's anxieties around this, her loneliness in a new city and how toxic and dangerous it can be to follow the advice of a group on the internet. Based on the cover and the blurb, I was expecting this book to be a thriller, which it isn't. It was also much darker than I was expecting, with some very traumatic parts including the loss of a baby.

The main character Claire is infuriating and I found her unlikeable. I was begging her to listen to her husband and family throughout the book. I understand she was lonely and had a high degree of anxiety around the medical professional and hospitals but when it involves your child you get it done. I did find her complaining about the GP and midwife earlier in the book quite annoying. And it found myself rooting more for baby than Claire.
I felt the book trailed off a bit towards the end but I did enjoy it.

This book shows an extremely dark and twisty side to pregnancy, throughout this book you are wanting to slap Claire and the mothers in the group she finds as they are infuriating however this shows that it was very well written where it brings this emotion to you

WOW, Baby Teeth is one of the most uncomfortable psychological thrillers I've read in a long time.
Firstly let's get the trigger warnings out of the way: This book covers the topics of miscarriage, infertility, baby loss, traumatic births and many other sensitive subjects regarding pregnancy.

Claire is our main character, happily married to James, they have recently relocated to London for his work and are trying for their first baby. Unfortunately this just isn't happening for them, which is putting a strain on their marriage and Claire's mental health.

She's alienated from her family and friends having moved so far away from them. She's working in an unfamiliar environment which appears hostile and unfriendly and becomes increasingly dependent on social media for support in her quest to become pregnant.

Quickly falling down the dangerous rabbit hole of Online Support Groups, Claire finds a group of women who seem at first to share her innermost thoughts and fears and starts to rely on them with alarming naivete whilst the reader is literally screaming STOP IT - NO NO NO.

It isn't easy to connect to Claire because her actions are bordering on insane sometimes, but it is easy to understand how her fragile mental health allows her to behave in the ways she does.

Overall, I thought Baby Teeth was a really uncomfortable and thought-provoking tale of the toxicity and dangers of Social Media together with the raw and often distressing aspects of motherhood and I look forward to reading more from this author.

Claire has always wanted to be a mother, after years of trying and IVF treatments- she finally sees those double lines on a stick. She’s so excited but also very paranoid that something might go wrong. This baby is a miracle after all and she will do everything she can to protect this bundle of joy but she can’t talk to anyone about her fears, not without sounding crazy. This takes her down a rabbit hole where she finds allies in mothers and mothers to be online, except maybe they aren’t the best people to give her advice. Claire finds herself on a rollercoaster of an emotional journey as she does anything and everything to protect her baby.

This book definitely has a lot of trigger warnings that readers need to be aware of, as someone who has struggled with fertility issues and a lot of pregnancy losses- this was a very emotional and difficult read, I felt like I went on my own rollercoaster of an emotional journey but this did not put me off reading and I would read it again. There was a lot I could relate to Claire about but then also there was times when I felt like pulling my hair out and shouting, ‘no Claire!’

I think Celia Silvani did a good job of writing this book, it was brave and bold. I look forward to reading future books by this author.

I enjoyed this book! I had heard my friend talk about it so I wanted to give it a try. It makes the reader scared of motherhood but in a good way. Also to be scared of “mom groups”!

A gripping and easy read. Baby teeth explores the story of a woman desperate for her own child and a place where her feelings and worries are validated and not dismissed. The author clearly did a lot of work, and the parts about the NHS system lacking in terms of support feel quite real and relatable, you can see how someone would turn to an online group to fill this gap.
The main character Claire was quite unlikeable and I would say at times quite frustrating, especially because she seems so passive at times. This may be true to life, but can be frustrating to read. I enjoyed the addition of a POV from one of the other women in the group but that left me with more questions, I would have liked more insight into the other women in the group and how they got to that point and the justifications made. The ending seemed to imply that after everything gone through Claire was perhaps being drawn back into this online world, I can understand wanting to leave it a little open, but again that felt somehow frustrating as though the character had not grown or learned despite what had happened. Still overall a very enjoyable read and one that opened my eyes to the world of free birthing.

This story was well written. The concept is compelling, and the exploration of postpartum struggles, societal expectations, and the power of online communities was intriguing.

It’s clear that Silvani is a talented writer—the prose is engaging, and the emotional weight of the protagonist’s struggles is well conveyed.

If you enjoy slow-burn psychological fiction with a focus on motherhood and identity, this might be for you. For me, it was a decent read.

Wow. This is the kind of novel that stays with you long after the final page, with haunting stories of ‘wild pregnancies’ and the dark side of online communities.

A dark, brooding perspective on the loneliness of motherhood with incredible twists and wonderful characters. I had to hold back sobs reading of Claire’s journey. It felt it was really helpful to understand how Claire's experience of losing her father influenced her decision to avoid medical support, as this could have felt quite jarring otherwise.

A must-read for 2025 with insightful perspectives on the different journeys and motivations of motherhood. I also felt it was incredibly sensitive in its treatment of women who choose these 'wild pregnancies'.

After trying for a baby and becoming pregnant, Claire joins an online group of mothers to chat through their experiences. They talk about what they’d like from their labours and encourage each other. However, after an unforeseen event, who knows what could be next?

I felt like I couldn’t put this book down! At first, I did judge a book by its cover and thought it was a thriller but then realised I had totally misunderstood 🙈😂.

This book was so interesting and one of those books that makes you angry at the way people are with others! It highlights a few heavy topics and these are handled so well. I don’t want to ruin it but it’s mad to see how other expectant mothers can judge and scrutinise each other!

I’d recommend this book but definitely check trigger warnings if that’s your thing!

*Thank you to @netgalley and @orionfiction for this arc!

This chilling and timely psychological thriller delves into the dangers of online communities and the power of group influence. Claire, excited but vulnerable as she prepares for motherhood, finds solace in an online group that champions “natural motherhood.” At first, the sisterhood seems supportive, offering the connection she craves but as she’s drawn deeper in, their unwavering rejection of medical intervention begins to feel unsettling. With her due date looming, Claire realizes that silence and blind loyalty might come at a devastating cost.

The tension builds gradually, making you question who can truly be trusted. The exploration of online echo chambers and the pressure to conform feels unsettlingly real, and the emotional weight of Claire’s isolation adds an extra layer of depth. The book masterfully balances psychological suspense with thought provoking themes, making it both a gripping and deeply unsettling

Baby Teeth was a brilliant, bizarre and twisted look at an Internet cult with plenty to say about parenthood, the expectations placed on women and the imbalance of power throughout.

This was an unsettling reading experience as Claire gets pulled further and further into this all-consuming community. Claire is isolated and scared, fixated on her dream of having a baby and affected deeply by her dad’s death. She is heartfelt and trusting with a sense of naivety that endears you to her, even as she makes decisions that make you want to shout no at her. This online community offers the friendship and companionship she is desperate for. Their advice and support is wonderful, especially in her fears around parenthood. However, as an outsider, I felt unnerved by their disregard for certain factors and we know from the first few pages that this will not end happily. It becomes a claustrophobic echo chamber with horrifying consequences.

Silvani’s writing is so compelling, but with a sharp undercurrent that touches on important subjects. There is a lot to unpack around medical misogny, freedom of choice and the emotions associated with parenthood. It would make for an excellent book club pick, with plenty of conversation topics kickstarted. As you may expect, there is discussion around various factors that come into play, so please check content warnings as needed. It is handled with sensitivity across different experiences and perspectives. Throughout reading, you have the sense of being on a train hurtling fast towards disaster. There is a hum of foreboding, which Silvani conveys excellently.

Baby Teeth cuts deep with an insightful and incisive examination of all-consuming communities, parenthood and the way misogyny is woven into our society.

** I don’t think it’s possible to miss the trigger warnings, but if you are affected by fertility issues or baby loss, this is definitely not the book for you **

Baby Teeth is an emotional read. It follows Claire and her struggles to conceive, pregnancy fears and unconventional birthing choices.

It feels so real that I had to keep reminding myself that this is fiction, and I think that’s one of the reasons why I enjoyed it so much. I say “enjoy”, because I feel a bit strange using that word when the topic is so heartbreaking and emotive.

The characters are believable and some of them are utterly vile (Holly I’m looking at you!). I felt like I was on the ride with Claire and really understood her thought processes and fears.

This book was very thought provoking, I’d never really considered the dangers of parenting forums and social media pressure connected with pregnancy and childbirth before. Terrifying.

I feel the author was pretty brave writing about such a sensitive topic but I feel it was really well done. This book flew by for me. I just HAD to know what happened next. I didn’t want it to end! I would’ve loved it to have been slightly longer and covered the actual birth but that is literally my only criticism.

I’d just like to say, I had an amazing home birth (second child, midwifes present and attended all my hospital appointments/scans). It was the most incredible experience and if you’re considering one, and it has been deemed safe to do so by professionals, please don’t let this book put you off.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orion for my advanced copy.

Thank you to netgalley, orion and Celia Silvani for the opportunity to read Baby Teeth.

The story of Baby Teeth follows Claire as she joins a natural birthing group online, that consumes her life and pregnancy. Claire has been trying to get pregnant for a while and is over the moon that this has finally happened, however now the anxiety over the pregnancy begins!

This book was unusual as the main character was not entirely likeable, and neither did she feel trustworthy! I found myself getting tense as I begged Claire to open up to her family and friends, rather than strangers on the internet. This frustration made the book a little harder to enjoy.

I enjoyed how the book explored the influence of online groups. These were intertwined through the book with the use of snippets of the online conversations. I would have liked to have seen a little more dimension with this, as it felt like these were presented as the “bad guys”. However, I did enjoy the brief look into Flora’s experience towards the end.

Overall, a really interesting and engaging read.

After a long time trying to get pregnant, Claire finally rejoices when she tests positive. Feeling lonely on the journey, she finds herself joining online forums where she makes new friends and is introduced to a new way of motherhood.

This book sure was unique. I wanted to knock sense into Claire, the naive one, so many times as she was told things online that seemed pretty obviously wrong. I did enjoy the storyline even though none of the characters were all that nice. I found myself whizzing through the second half of the book purely because I had to know what was going to happen. I did kind of predict one of the storylines and I'm glad it made Claire think about what she was being told. This was a great debut by Celia Silvani - I can't wait to read what she writes next.

A really interesting and tense read, 3 stars.
For what it's worth I don't think the cover or title really match the plot. Judging a book by it's cover, I was expecting something darker and more twisted.

Baby Teeth is a unique story which I found quite unnerving for the most part. It might be a difficult read for anyone with fertility problems, and/or for those who have suffered the loss of a baby. It’s a thought-provoking story though and one I think will stay with me.
I still can’t decide if I liked Claire, or not, but I did find myself immersed in her story. I was thrilled for her when she finally finds out she’s expecting, but I didn’t really understand her reluctance to talk to her husband, or her other family. I do understand her loneliness as I experienced both of my pregnancies with a lot of time on my own as my husband was in the Army at the time. I had no access to the internet back then though, so there was no danger of me falling into the same trap as she does.
Honestly, it’s terrifying how many so-called experts there are online and how many people take their word as gospel. I absolutely agree that mothers should be listened to, always, and pregnancy shouldn’t be treated as an illness, when everything is straight forward. However, I can not begin to imagine refusing any health checks or treatment when required. I do not understand why any mother would put their child, and themselves, at such unnecessary risk. The attitudes of some of these mothers frightened me and their attitudes towards anyone who doesn’t agree with them, well…. Just scary! And when the worst happens, still blaming everyone else but yourselves for which, quite frankly, is neglect in my opinion…. Unbelievable, but sadly entirely believable!
I’m so glad Claire comes to her senses after the trauma she witnesses, but that ending! I wanted to shake her all over again!!
Brilliantly written! This story really got under my skin, in the best possible way. It won’t be easily forgotten that’s for sure.

** Many thanks to the author and publisher for my review copy via NetGalley **

Thank you to Celia Silvani, NetGalley and Orion for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Wow. Baby Teeth wouldn’t have been something I would usually reach for but I am so glad to have had the experience of reading this book.

The book follows the journey of Claire and her partner James, who have had a rocky journey trying to conceive. During this time, Claire has become heavily involved in various online forums for support. This novel explores the relationships she develops both on and off the forums, the ideas of “free birthing” and her mental health deterioration. Miscarriage, baby death and IVF are also themes within the book.

Celia Silvani’s written style is very engaging, even when covering such huge and difficult topics. I found myself reading this very quickly without realising! I thought the subject matter was very original (I was not familiar with the term “freebirthing” before this) and the characters seemed realistic, although I would have liked some more development of side characters like Lily, Taya and Flora earlier on within the story.

I also thought the portrayal of Claire’s and James’ relationship was written so well, although I would have liked to have seen more of James’ thoughts within the story (although having said this - not knowing added to the confusion and really put me into Claire’s shoes, trying to figure out what was going on).

Overall this was a really eye opening read and I look forward to reading more of Celia Silvani’s work in the future.

Thx to the author and netgalley for a e copy of this book. I haven't read a mystery/thriller in a while and this was a good book to get back into them. The book has a lot of hard topics involved in the story that are very well explored through the book but are definitely emotional to read about.

Clare has recently moved to London with her husband, is away from her friends and family and struggles to fit in at work. While her husband has no issues in fitting in with the busy city lifestyle, Clare seeks comfort in an online community for natural motherhood.

Claire is extremely lonely, and isolated, but she I found her quite entitled and selfish. she has an internet addiction and depends heavily on being validated by strangers.

I found this book pacy, and very easy to read and I really loved the premise of this- there’s always something fascinating about internet cults. I do wish we knew a bit more about the other characters in greater depth, but I also understand the authors intentions for why this wasn’t the case.

A great read that explores how loneliness and low self worth can drive us to the extremes.