The Perfect Baby

by Sam Vickery

I brought her home from the hospital. But she wasn’t mine to take…

All I’ve ever wanted is to be a mother. And as I look into the beautiful, bright blue eyes of this baby tucked up in her blanket, I can’t wait to bring her home with me. Everyone doubted me, but I know I’m ready now. I’m going to give this sweet child the perfect life.

Stepping into the cold air outside of the hospital doors, a shiver runs through me. I know my life will never be the same again. I slip off her little white medical bracelet and put it in the pocket of my jeans. She’s mine now, I smile, picking up the pace.

I know this little baby is safe in my arms. That I deserve her. That I should do everything in my power to keep her. Even if she wasn’t mine to take...

A heart-pounding, emotional rollercoaster that will leave readers breathless. Fans of Freida McFadden, Lisa Jewell and Liane Moriarty will be gripped by the non-stop twists.

What readers are saying about Sam

‘Wow!… Fantastic in EVERY way! This book literally had me holding my breath and I just couldn’t stop reading until the end.’ Sharon Valler, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘OHMYGOSH what did I just read????? This was a wild ride… I never wanted to stop reading… One of the best books I have read.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘AMAZING… 5 out of 5 stars… I know it’s one I’ll be rereading… Phenomenal… a must-read… I’m still reeling over here, when I should be sleeping!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Everything a psychological thriller should be… Perfection… Nearly every chapter had my jaw dropping with another twist.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Phenomenal… So many twists… Had me hooked long into the night!’ Chicklit Central, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Gripping read from the start. Kept me on the edge of my seat. Stayed up way too late to finish this book in one sitting!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Definitely a page-turner!! Loved every page of this book!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I could not put it down! The twists and turns in the book are so unexpected… such a page-turner!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Such a perfect thriller… dark and very twisty!… I was gripped.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Took me on a rollercoaster ride. I smiled, I was shocked… I felt tears filling my eyes and these are only a few of the emotions I felt whilst reading… A great story I devoured.’ B for Bookreview, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genres: Thriller, Audiobook, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

248 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 27, 2024

Reviews

[Jayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Rachel the Page-Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read A LOT of thrillers in my lifetime, and a few of those have been about surrogacy. I’d say most of them were good, and although the plot lines were slightly similar, they all had different endings. I was ready for a new take on an old trope when I started this one, which began the same as the others.

We have two main characters: Elise and Maya. Elise’s sister Julia is being her surrogate. She had a relationship that went sour, wanted to have a baby on her own but physically couldn’t, so her cold, distant sister reluctantly agreed to the arrangement. Soon though, Julia is leaving Elise out of appointments and avoiding her calls. Surely she doesn’t want to keep the baby…(they always want to keep the baby!)

Maya is a surrogate for a couple named Nina and Will. She and Elise met in a surrogacy group and soon became friends. Maya also had a relationship that ended poorly; that combined with the surrogacies gave them a lot to talk about. Elise soon suspects that Maya wants to keep the baby she is carrying as well. As Julia and Maya get further into their pregnancies, things are starting to get tense for everyone.

Then EVERYTHING CHANGED with a twist that completely caught me off guard. This definitely didn’t follow the formula of other surrogacy thrillers I’ve read - this was a shocking page turner that made me want to read the beginning again to see if there were any clues I missed! There were a couple of implausible things, but for the most part, this was a very twisty and twisted ride. 4.5 stars, rounded up.

(Thank you to Bookouture for inviting me on this book tour. “The Perfect Baby” is slated to be released on September 27, 2024.)

[Josephine Jarman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This high quality audio had me gripped from the first word. A perfect 5 star physiological thriller told from the pov of the 2 main female characters. It was full of twists and turns and red herrings. The narration for me made the story really raw and real. It cleverly touched on some difficult issues of surrogacy, survivor guilt and paitent doctor relationships. This gave me plenty to feel and think about. The real action was towards the end. However the ending left me hoping there might be a sequel as I felt there was much more mileage in this complex story. Thank you so much netgallery and publisher and author and narrators for this highly recommend 5 star listen.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[kayleigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

honestly, this wasn’t even a bad book, despite the rating. it was just so unbearably slow and nothing happened until well over 50%. which is a shame, because the twists were genuinely good and this probably could've been a solid read had the majority of the book been paced better.

but this is just my personal quest to find the best indie books on kindle unlimited, so you win some, you lose some.

2.5 stars

[Isabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

What would you do to have the baby you always wanted? If all else fails, there is always surrogacy. In Vickery's novel, we get all the arguments for, against, and in between for being a surrogate or being the contracting (expecting) parents. Elise's sister Julia has agreed to be her surrogate, but Julia is aloof and as the delivery date grows closer, Julia shares less and less about the pregnancy with Elise. Then, Elise meets Maya at a surrogacy support group. Maya is carrying a baby she has promised to the expectant couple Nina and Will. Maya's problem is that she agreed that Nina and Will could control most of her actions and behavior while she is carrying their baby.

Maya does everything she can to get close to Elise when Elise joins the surrogacy support group. The thing is that Maya is privy to information about Elise's past, which makes her eager to learn all she can about Elise's present situation. You will be shocked when you finally learn how Elise and Maya's lives intertwine. The end is shocking, though it did leave me with a few questions. Nonetheless, this book is worth the read (or listen).

- AMC

[Shauntelle (shauntellereads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This twisty and well written novel is told from the POVs of Elise and Maya, two women who met at a surrogacy support group. Maya is a surrogate for a very demanding and intrusive couple, while Elise is using her sister as her surrogate. Initially, I though this would be a typical thriller that would be all about the intricacies that exist when surrogacy is at hand. Yet what I was in was a ride I couldn't have predicted in a million years!

As this masterfully crafted story develops, we learn that is much more to the plot than meets the eye. These characters were intertwined in a genius way! This was a twisty, fast paced, and emotional thriller that made my mouth drop open at various points in the book. This is my first book by this author, and I can promise it won't be my last!

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Zoe Anne M · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Perfect Baby is a dark and unsettling psychological thriller that follows two women, Elise and Maya, whose lives become dangerously intertwined. Both characters have dark pasts, and the thrill of the plot comes from unearthing how their stories connect. Elise is desperate to create the perfect family, while Maya is drawn into a situation she never anticipated. The tension gradually builds as secrets unravel, leading to shocking betrayals and unexpected twists.

The beginning was a bit slow, and I found the writing slightly confusing, but once the tension kicked in, I was hooked. I also respect how the novel explored surrogacy from different perspectives - a theme that is no longer uncommon in fiction but warrants a deeper introspection. The book clearly drops hints of an unreliable narrator throughout, but it isn’t until the end that all theories are laid to rest.

Some parts of the plot felt a little predictable, and certain twists required some suspension of disbelief, but overall, this was an intriguing and thought-provoking read perfect for fans of dark domestic thrillers.

[Diane Dachota · Rating 3 out of 5]

Twisty novel about surrogate motherhood, lies and secrets. Maya and Elise meet at a support group for surrogate mothers and those using a surrogate. Maya is a surrogate for a couple who are very demanding and Elise is using her not too nice sister as a surrogate. Told in then and now chapters and with multiple narrators this book explores the hard truths about impending motherhood and how difficult the surrogate process can be. Neither Elise or Maya are telling the complete truth about their stories and in order to maintain the mystery the author sometimes has conversations happen that make no sense when the mystery is revealed.

I also found some of the conversations the author had the characters say about children born of surrogates always looking for their real mother to be lacking in scientific merit. As Maya becomes concerned about the couple she is carrying for taking over her life, Elise is feeling very left out by her sister who won't allow her to come to doctor appointments or spend time with her. The whole story gets twisted on it's end in the last third when we find out most of what we read was not real. There are some mention of past crimes and violence and in the prologue we find out a baby has been kidnapped, but which one? Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC in exchange for a review.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Craig and Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Bookouture for a copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Perfect Baby is a twisty, suspense filled melodrama with many moments of gripping tension.
We are introduced to Elise and Maya who meet at a surrogacy group.
They become friends and then the drama unfolds.
As the world turns nothing is as it seems.
Be prepared for a shocking twist and an unexpected conclusion.
This one of those books that the less said the better.
I was hooked from the opening chapter and as I read, I thought where is this going to go, then bam a twist and I was very eager to finish.
It’s a smart, sharp and interesting thriller.
Short snappy chapters, an intriguing plot, a bunch of interesting characters and lots of tense scenarios.
One book I would strongly recommend.

[lea · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Rebecca RebeccasFamAndMore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This. Is. Bonkers!!

It took a little while to get into it, but once you are, it becomes a roller coaster of who’s doing what, to who!! No doubt child rearing is difficult… Some women can’t have kids and so they turn to IVF or surrogacy.

There’s no doubt that both parties going into this type of a contract need support. So many little details need to be agreed-upon. What happens when things start to go off the rails? Which one of you is in the right? Who’s the mother?

**I understand this is triggering to some. If child, loss or infertility is an issue, this book is not for you.**

But Wow! I thank NetGalley for this Read Now audio releasing next week. What. A. Ride!

[Nurse Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I will be the first to admit I did NOT see that coming. This book follows two MC and a multitude of others in a pregnant/surrogate situation. The story holds all of the secrets until the end and left me, the reader, wondering how I missed the plot twist! Overall, great audiobook!

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this ALC!

[Xana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Um excelente thriller, com um twist enorme que nos faz compreender todas as incongruências que vão surgindo pelo caminho. Eu bem que estava a achar tudo tão estranho...
Muito bom!!

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never read a thriller about surrogacy before, and never really thought about that concept prior to reading this, but this definitely put those types of thrillers on the map for me.

This book is told through the POVs of two characters" Elise and Maya, who meet through a surrogacy support group. Elise is using her sister, Julia, as a Surrogate, while Maya is acting as a surrogate for another couple. Elise and Maya connect through similarities in their lives and find support through each other.

However, things are not always what they seem, as we come to find out through the absolutely MAJOR plot twist that I did not see coming at all. I was just going along with the story and then all of the sudden, BOOM, complete twist. Loved it.

My main complaint is about the ending, after the plot twist. It left off on such a cliffhanger and I'm really hoping that there is another book. It makes me sad that the book feels uncomplete because of how the story left off.

Thank you to Sam Vickery, Bookouture, and NetGalley for the eARC of this book. This is my honest review. 4.5 Stars rounded down

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Bookouture for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Oh this book was so haunting and nerve wrecking in the best way possible!
It was my first thriller involving a pregnancy/baby theme, and I have to admit that things are somehow so much more creepy when kids are involved. Everything is so much more precarious and the stakes are much higher. This book has definitely made me want to read more books with the same theme to see how else the theme can also be handled.
Suspense-wise the book delivered for the most part, though the start was a little slow which made it a tad hard to get into the book in the beginning. But at the 30% mark I was invested. So that can be something to think about, if you find the start to be slow. It does get better and it is definitely worth the read! Around the 70% mark it was nearing midnight but I could not put the book down.
The twist was not something I expected at all, and when I found out, it made me want to go back and read all the interactions between the two characters to see if there were any hints to it.

[Heidi Lynn’s BookReviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I want to thank Sam Vickery, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing this book so I can bring you this review.

Dang!!! Sam Vickery I have missed you and your twisted psychological thrillers!! Your latest The Perfect Baby is one that literally had my mind blown, total shock, and utterly speechless with every twisty turny climatic revelation that came to light. This one has to be put on your TBR list.

Sam would like to dedicate this book to Rob who may someday listen to this story and smile when he hears his name.

Two things I love about Sam’s books is she instantly grasps my attention quickly with her fast paced intense storylines and has me invested into the storyline. The other thing is she always picks a storyline that somehow captures my heart and pulls on my heartstrings. With this storyline she did both.

This is one story that had so many wicked twists, turns, ups and downs, and if you blinked you would totally be lost with what was going on.

Sam tackles a lot of important topics this time around that many women may be able to relate to.

This story would make a great Netflix series that I would totally binge watch!

[Aurora Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Perfect Baby" is a psychological thriller by Sam Vickery. This is an easy to binge kind of book. The audio is narrated by Sophia Zervudachi and Katy Sobey.

At first, the book has two POVs, Maya, a woman carrying a baby as a surrogate mother, and Elise, a woman who desperately wants a baby. Elise attends a surrogacy support group and says that her sister, Julia, is her surrogate. Later in the book, Julia is the 3rd POV.

This book covers a lot of psychology around surrogate parenting from both the infertile mother-to-be and the surrogate mother's side.

Characters - 5/5
Writing - 4/5
Plot - 5/5
Pacing - 4/5
Unputdownability - 5/5
Enjoyment - 4/5
Narration - 4/5 (needed 3rd narrator voice)
Cover - 5/5
Overall - 36/8 = 4 4/8 rounded down to 4 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture Audio, and Sam Vickery for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

[Kerrie Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ooh just finished this book amd all I want to do is read more

Elise, has recently joined a local surrogacy support group. Her sister is acting as her surrogate and she has joined the support group alone, so she can discuss her feelings, thoughts and worries with others going through the same. There she meets Maya, who is acting as a surrogate for Nina and Will. The 2 ladies hit it off and tentatively become friends.

However both Maya and Elise are keeping secrets.

What are there secrets. What will happen when the babies are born?

I really enjoyed listening to this title. I couldn’t work out what Maya and Elise’s secrets were. I was blown away when the reveal came.
I have been left wanting more!
Thanks Netgalley and publisher for the opportunity to listen to this title

I cannot wait to discover more from this author. She draws you in and leaves you dangling. Great work

[Els · Rating 5 out of 5]

Often when I watch a movie, I am sitting screaming at the main character not to go in there or not to believe that person or not to open the door, ... but when I read a book I am doing the exact same thing I warn those characters for. I follow the author's lead and walk in the trap with my eyes wide open. :)

I believe what they want me to believe and then afterwards they can shout out loud 'gotcha' :) :)

Being able to pull this off shows the author's craftmanship and I am happy to have had the priviledge to read the book. 

So yes, I fell for it and I loved how everything came together perfectly. 

If you want to find out what disasters can do to a person, you just have to read this book. 5 stars

Thank you

[FoxReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Initially I thought I had sussed this book out, I continued to listen because despite this (false) confidence, I like the way the author writes, making two POV's and timelines easy to follow. Well I did NOT see the twist coming! The ending was satisfying, everything came together well and left me wanting more. My only (very small) criticism is that I feel that the ending could have been expanded on slightly, I would’ve liked to know more about the three ladies lives after the big twist.
The narration was fantastic, easy to listen to and emotive.
listened to this book in less than 24 hours and I'd like to read it again to see if there were any clues along the way!

[Kayla Lambert · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy cow, this book was crazy. It was definitely unputdownable and revolved around a surrogacy support group. It was so interesting to hear the different sides of the surrogacy journey and you keep thinking you know what’s going on, but do you?

Definitely an insane ending too.

The audiobook narrators were great for the roles and kept me engaged throughout.

This is also a must read for those who like Freida McFadden or Kiersten Modglin.

A big thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Bookouture Audio for this preview in exchange for an honest review.

[Abbeigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made my jaw LITERALLY drop. It was the book version of being on a roller coaster; however, you’re in the dark and have no clue what’s coming up ahead of you.

I found the internal debate I had with myself over what people will do when faced with certain situations fascinating. The author really struck a chord and had me second guessing the line between right and wrong, as well as what might be considered morally grey areas!

Easily one of my top thriller reads of this year, I wish I could rate it higher than 5 stars!

[Kristen Dewar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. The first 3/4 of the book really have you wondering what the secrets are. What is everyone hiding? It's actually quite sad how the secrets are related to one another and how they came about. The conclusion that characters come to unfortunately bring things full circle.
I will say, I wish we knew what happened. I can't help but feel this book needs a follow-up or at least another chapter.

[Elliot · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 extremely captivating. I will be reeling for daysss
Thank you to @netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the amazing opportunity of being an ARC reader for this audiobook!

[Chanel “Nellie” · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGallery for letting me read The Perfect Baby for my honest review.
It was a bit different than other books I have read. I love to try something new and dig into new troupe.
This was a slow start for me. I was determined to keep reading because once I start, I have to finish.

I’m glad I did!
The twist was absolutely shocking and didn’t see it coming at all.

[Hooked on books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really good but I wanted even more at the end, I feel like we need another book for closure.