This story is about two mothers Avril & Jade who have a sorted history. One wronged the other 7 years ago and the other takes her revenge by doing the unspeakable and swapping their babies when the opportunity arises when both women find themselves in the same room on the maturity floor. Neither of the characters are especially likable and both are flawed women. Even with that being the case I found myself flipping back and forth on taking a side and empathizing with them. I thought I had this all figured out.. then bam.. the ending sent me! Great thriller, quick easy read, short chapters ( which I love) daul POV! This was my first Daniel Hurst read and it definitely won't be my last. Thank you Bookouture and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

This was my first ARC from NetGalley and it did not disappoint!
The way this story has been written is just fantastic with the 2 POV as well as taking you from present day to 7 years previous was just great. I was able to get the full picture of both Jade and avril. At first I really didn’t like avril but I became to warm to her and Jade I liked at the beginning but started to change my mind but really they both had a soft spot with me as their own experiences were so real!
Fantastic read and highly recommend will be reading more of Daniel Hurst.

This was my first Daniel Hurst book and I was not disappointed. I enjoyed the characters , plot and pacing of this book. I'll have to check out the blacklist for Daniel Hurst in future

The Baby Swap was an intense read, which hooked me from page one.

Two women, Avril and Jade give birth and are next to each other in the ward, the babies are swapped by one of them.
I thought the actual swapping of the baby was ingenious, with the little steps on how she did it however, I think that once you have your baby in your arms you stare at them so much you would know instantly if it wasn’t your baby.

I didn’t like either character, they were both as bad as each other and very childish and selfish for the ages they were meant to be. I did start feeling some sympathy for one of them towards the end.

The epilogue had me shaken!

Daniel Hurst is such a great author. He really knows how to capture his audience. I have read many of his books, and I have enjoyed them all.

4.5 Stars.
As someone who has read quite a few of Daniel Hurst's popcorn thrillers I can confidently say this was easily my favourite!
I was hooked from the prologue. I guess anything involving children is always high stakes for me and as the title suggests babies are swapped and the obvious question is why would anyone do that? As a parent myself I can't even imagine giving up my child so the concept is so shocking to me which is why the book was so gripping. Even though I didn't agree with the reasons as being good enough to warrant that I do have to say how much of a vile person Avril was. The 7 years earlier chapters were among some of the best it was car crash TV type reading. Love to hate what was going on there.
The half star deduction to make it a perfect 5 star for me came with the ending which fell a bit flat. In the same way as I didn't agree with the reason for the baby Swap is also did not agree with the extreme lengths of the ending, but that's just me.
A fantastic addictive read! Will be recommending this one a lot!
Many thanks as always to Bookouture who provided me a copy of this book via NetGalley for review. All opinions are my own.

The Baby Swap goes into the lives of two mothers, Avril and Jade, whose worlds couldn’t be more different. Avril leads a picture-perfect life, with a successful career, a loving husband, and the luxury of financial security. In contrast, Jade struggles financially and didn't plan to get pregnant. Their lives collide later in life as they deliver their babies on the same day and one of the mothers decides to swap their babies, as an act of revenge against the other. The plot takes readers on a fast-paced journey that keeps them hooked as the truth about the swap unravels. The narrative is full of suspense, with themes of jealousy, resentment, and motherhood coming to the forefront.
However, while the book is an easy, fast read, some aspects of the story feel less than believable. One of the most notable issues arises from a particular plot point where one of the mothers, despite harboring such deep resentment toward the other, doesn’t recognize her years later. This plot element seems far-fetched, especially given the level of spite involved.
While the twists and turns keep readers intrigued, some of the character decisions may leave you questioning the realism of certain moments. Despite this, it remains an engaging and entertaining read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published on Feb 19, 2025.

What could possibly motivate a mother to switch her newborn baby with another's? The Baby Swap is an intriguing book that follows the story of two women who's lives are intertwined more than we initially think. The author keeps readers hooked with quick chapters and reveals that won't let you put the book down. Although promoted as a psychological thriller, the book falls more into the thriller genre.

Would you ever swap babies, at the hospital, to get your revenge on another woman? Interesting thought … Jade did exactly that, in the prologue, creating wonderful suspense and a deep desire to know how on earth she came to this decision. Reading the backstory, although a little crazy, was a fun read. A great story of two characters with very different traits, but are they really so different. A great twist at the end made for a satisfying finish to this complicated story.

Wow! This one really had me guessing and I was completely shocked by the ending. It was so good. I wasn’t sure who I was supposed to feel most sorry for, the mom who swapped babies or the unsuspecting mom whose baby was swapped without her knowledge. I had envisioned a very different ending for them, too. If you are looking for a good book that’ll keep you guessing, you’ll want to read this one.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.

This book was outstanding in my opinion. All along I thought I knew what direction the plot was taking me, then with a twist it sent me in another direction. Just when I thought I had it figured out came the unsuspecting, shocking ending! Would definitely recommend reading this book if you like suspense.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Baby Swap’ written by Daniel Hurst in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Many years ago Jade applied for a position with a luxury cosmetics brand and she still feels a grudge at the treatment she received at her interview from the marketing director Avril Anderson. Now, seven years later, both Jade and Avril are in adjoining beds on a maternity ward giving birth to their baby boys. Jade recognises Avril and her husband Bobby and decides to hurt them by swapping their quiet and placid baby Luca for her continually screaming one she’s called Calum.

‘The Baby Swap’ is a chilling thriller that begins seven years ago when Jade first encounters April, leading to the present time as Jade thinks up a scheme to destroy her nemesis. As the characters’ stories intertwine I sympathised with Jade, but the audacious way in which she swapped babies had my allegiance transfer to a distressed Avril as she failed to understand how her baby’s placid nature could change overnight. There’s been plenty of suspense and shocking twists and turns as the story progressed and the tension increased. By the time I reached the final chapters I was gasping with amazement at how the story was unfolding and was shocked at how it ended which wasn’t what I’d expected. This is another brilliant thriller by a very accomplished author that’s worthy of a huge five stars.

The Baby Swap Daniel Hurst Explores the ultimate struggle for revenge and the consequences of outdoing one another. After an initial slow start, the story became intriguing. While there were some good twists and turns, the ending felt rushed. An interesting read.
Thank you to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

I liked this one. It was full of tension and twists. Liked how the lives of main characters were tied together.

Some things seemed unlikely but it is a fiction and for a fast read to get you out of the reading slump wild ride like this is exactly the thing you are looking for.

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

Someone stole my little boy and I'll do whatever it takes to get him back...

And...he's back!! I've taken time out from this author's thrilling 20 Minute series to read this latest release of his and Daniel Hurst is back with a bang! In his unique style of twists and whiplash, he delivers something of his trademark addictive plots that I have come to know and love. I devoured this book in around five or six hours reading time (I had to sleep in between) and it was thrilling and fast paced from beginning to end.

The story opens with a prologue that draws you in and grips you from the start. And leaves you guessing as to which mother is going to make the swap. Rewind back a few hours to the day before when both mothers go into labour and arrive at the hospital to find themselves sharing the same room, their beds beside each other.

We meet Avril, a forty-one year old woman who has undergone IVF for her miracle child, and Jade, a thirty-eight year old woman who found herself in a position she never thought possible. Both women give birth on the same day to the boys, within hours of each other, and back on the maternity ward have nothing but a privacy curtain separating them. One baby is placid and latches onto breastfeeding immediately while the other does nothing but scream the place down, his mother at a loss as to what to do to soothe him.

But in the hours that follow a plan is hatched, a swap is made and nothing is ever the same again. Each woman has the other's baby - one knowingly, the other completely unaware - as they each navigate the birth of motherhood.

Now while the concept was predictable enough - we guess pretty quickly who makes the swap - the why behind it slowly unfolds. But as with any Hurst thriller, nothing is as it seems and we just know there is far more to the tale that what we are being told.

The story unfolds through the alternating perspectives of Avril and Jade, both in the past and present, as we get to know each of the women and their secrets. And everything about them has lead to this moment. Both women were unreliable narrators and my opinion on whose side I was on kept changing. In the end, I found both of them deplorable in their actions but like any true Hurst thriller, he has finished with us readers yet...and he deals us with yet another and another and another twist. And true to form, there is never a dull moment, no lull in the plot and no way was I falling asleep, such was the action-packed thrill ride Hurst takes us on.

A tense, shocking (if a little OTT in parts, as is his style) and oh so hard to put down thrill ride. Pretty much, if Daniel Hurst writes it then I'm going to read it...whether I like it or not...because you are always guaranteed to be entertained from start to finish. I think I have read about 40 of his books so far and there are still so many more to devour...so I best get to it!

Another hugely entertaining read that was thrilling and captivating from beginning to end.

I would like to thank #DanielHurst, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheBabySwap in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

The Baby Swap by Daniel Hurst is a gripping psychological thriller that explores every parent’s worst nightmare—discovering that their child was switched at birth. Hurst builds suspense as the characters grapple with the devastating truth, forcing them to make impossible choices that test their morals and emotions. This fast-paced narrative, filled with plot twist kept me hooked til the very last page! The Baby Swap is a thought-provoking and unsettling read that will stay with you long after you finish. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book!

This one started off with a bang. As you can tell from the title, there is a baby swap.

The two moms in the story, Jade and Astrid, have a history. Seven years ago they met for the first time and the bad blood remains.

Daniel Hurst switches back and forth between the two moms as well as going back into the past to give them a believable back story.

For the first 75% this was headed for the top of my Daniel Hurst list. In my opinion, there were a few too many twists in those last pages. The ending I had in mind would also have been less violent.

You may be wondering which DH title is at the top of my list? The Doctor’s Wife and from what I have read about rankings, am not the only one.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

Another hit for Daniel hurst! This was a great read. I was anxiously awaiting for the next thing to happen. I couldn’t imagine switching a baby, but then when I continued to read WHY she did it, I guess it made sense. But it cost her her life, so clearly not worth it. I enjoyed the way this book was written. Overall 4 stars

All I can say is that I’m mind blown! Not only do we have one crazy person but two! The lengths that both Avril and Jade are willing to go to make sure the other doesn’t win their weird and twisted game is insane! It’s crazy to think that people would come up with this stuff and go through with it! I was so worried about what was going on between them that I didn’t even see the twist coming. This was a quick read that has put author Daniel Hurst on my radar; I will definitely be reading more of his books. The Baby Swap will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish!!

And....he's back! Seriously, Does Daniel Hurst ever sleep? Is he chained to his desk? Readers may never know but what I do know is that Daniel Hurst has delivered yet again with The Baby Swap!!! I found this book to be an addictive, gripping, thrilling, fast paced page turner! As with his other books, The Baby Swap is wonderfully written, well thought out, tense, shocking, and hard to put down!

The book begins as two mothers give birth and share a room separated by a privacy curtain with their newborns. A swap is made, and nothing will be the same ever again! Holy Moly! I love that Daniel Hurst was able to pull the wool over my eyes quite a few times while reading this book. Just when I thought I knew where this book was heading, he changed directions on me and left me with my mouth hanging open! I enjoyed the POV of both mothers and learning more about their backstories. The things I learned had my head spinning. Whew!

This book has quite a few twists and one quite a few reveals. There were several times I thought "What did I just read?". Seriously, there are some jaw-dropping and shocking scenes in this book. There is never a dull moment, never any down time, and never any slow parts. I was completely sucked into this book from the first page until the very last page.

I've said it before and I will say it again, if Daniel Hurst writes it, I am going to read it!

Someone stole my little boy. I’ll do whatever it takes to get him back…

ME: Staring down at the sweet baby in my arms, I feel panic instead of love. Because this isn’t the child I gave birth to. My husband whispers to the midwife. They all think I’m going crazy. But the tiny boy in my arms is crying again. I’m certain: he knows I’m not his mummy. And I’ll do whatever it takes to get my son back.

HER: I did it. I swapped my baby with another newborn in the hospital. As I hold the child in my arms, I hear my own little boy start to cry on the other side of the curtain. My heart is shattering into a million pieces.

I know I had no choice. I didn’t want to do this. But no one can ever find out the reason why I swapped my baby.