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O Bebé
Há um bebé dentro de tua casa. Só que não te pertence…
No dia em que soube que nunca mais poderia ter filhos, o meu mundo desmoronou-se. O meu marido diz que ainda me ama, mas eu bebo para esquecer ou fico acordada à noite, desejando que pudéssemos ter uma família.
Certa manhã, acordo sozinha, como habitualmente. O lado do meu marido na nossa cama está frio, ele está longe.
Ouço um barulho e desço as escadas.
Há uma gaveta de madeira no meio do tapete da minha sala de estar. Lá dentro, com bochechas rosadas e perfeitas e uns lindos olhos azuis, um bebé olha para mim.
Tremo. É tudo o que eu sempre quis, mas este bebé não é meu...
Um thriller absolutamente viciante, com reviravoltas perturbadoras do princípio ao fim – os fãs de A Mulher à Janela, Freida McFadden e Lisa Jewell não vão conseguir largá-lo!
CRÍTICAS
«O Bebé, de A. J. McDine, convida os leitores para uma viagem emociona
No dia em que soube que nunca mais poderia ter filhos, o meu mundo desmoronou-se. O meu marido diz que ainda me ama, mas eu bebo para esquecer ou fico acordada à noite, desejando que pudéssemos ter uma família.
Certa manhã, acordo sozinha, como habitualmente. O lado do meu marido na nossa cama está frio, ele está longe.
Ouço um barulho e desço as escadas.
Há uma gaveta de madeira no meio do tapete da minha sala de estar. Lá dentro, com bochechas rosadas e perfeitas e uns lindos olhos azuis, um bebé olha para mim.
Tremo. É tudo o que eu sempre quis, mas este bebé não é meu...
Um thriller absolutamente viciante, com reviravoltas perturbadoras do princípio ao fim – os fãs de A Mulher à Janela, Freida McFadden e Lisa Jewell não vão conseguir largá-lo!
CRÍTICAS
«O Bebé, de A. J. McDine, convida os leitores para uma viagem emociona
296 pages, Paperback
Published April 1, 2025
1240 people are currently reading
2336 people want to read
About the author
A.J. McDine
14 books396 followersA J McDine is the author of twisty, character-driven psychological thrillers that explore secrets, lies and the dark side of relationships.
Before turning to fiction, she worked as a journalist and police press officer in Kent, where she lives with her husband, fellow thriller writer A J Wills, their two sons and three rescue cats.
When she’s not writing, she can usually be found with her nose in a book, attempting a 5K, or gazing out of the window thinking up new ways to get her characters into (and out of) trouble.
Her books are all standalone reads. They are (in no particular order):
The Baby
The Husband Before You
The Photo
Everyone Has Secrets
The Invite
Should Have Known Better
No One I Knew
The Promise You Made
When She Finds You
Before turning to fiction, she worked as a journalist and police press officer in Kent, where she lives with her husband, fellow thriller writer A J Wills, their two sons and three rescue cats.
When she’s not writing, she can usually be found with her nose in a book, attempting a 5K, or gazing out of the window thinking up new ways to get her characters into (and out of) trouble.
Her books are all standalone reads. They are (in no particular order):
The Baby
The Husband Before You
The Photo
Everyone Has Secrets
The Invite
Should Have Known Better
No One I Knew
The Promise You Made
When She Finds You
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 399 reviews
May 8, 2024
4⭐
Genre ~ domestic thriller
Setting ~ UK
Publication date ~ April 23, 2024
Page Count ~ 318 (65 chapters)
Audio length ~8 hours 5 minutes
Narrator ~ Tamsin Kennard
POV ~ single 1st, present tense
Featuring ~ manipulation, gaslighting, miscarriage, r@pe
Lucy often tips back the drink when she's on her own weeks on end while husband, Miles, is working on an oil rig. But this time she must've completely blacked out because somehow there's a baby just chilling in a drawer in the living room.
You can't help but be invested in finding out how this sweet boy got there and who he belongs to. As the story progressed I did figure it out, along with every other twist, but I still enjoyed listening to this unreliable narrator figure it out on her own. Boy was she unreliable though with her drinking as a coping mechanism, yet she's relatable and I felt bad for her.
Overall, this was a solid, fast paced read with a completely satisfying ending. My first experience with this author was a great one, so I'll for sure read her work again.
Narration notes:
Tamsin does a wonderful job, as usual.
*Thanks to the author, Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Genre ~ domestic thriller
Setting ~ UK
Publication date ~ April 23, 2024
Page Count ~ 318 (65 chapters)
Audio length ~8 hours 5 minutes
Narrator ~ Tamsin Kennard
POV ~ single 1st, present tense
Featuring ~ manipulation, gaslighting, miscarriage, r@pe
Lucy often tips back the drink when she's on her own weeks on end while husband, Miles, is working on an oil rig. But this time she must've completely blacked out because somehow there's a baby just chilling in a drawer in the living room.
You can't help but be invested in finding out how this sweet boy got there and who he belongs to. As the story progressed I did figure it out, along with every other twist, but I still enjoyed listening to this unreliable narrator figure it out on her own. Boy was she unreliable though with her drinking as a coping mechanism, yet she's relatable and I felt bad for her.
Overall, this was a solid, fast paced read with a completely satisfying ending. My first experience with this author was a great one, so I'll for sure read her work again.
Narration notes:
Tamsin does a wonderful job, as usual.
*Thanks to the author, Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
May 5, 2024
EXCERPT: I flick the kettle on and gaze out of the window while I wait for it to boil. Even though I can see Percy stretched out in the sun by the greenhouse, I could swear I'm not alone. I get that feeling every so often. It's almost as if Grandad's spirit is sandwiched between the plasterboard and the brickwork, like insulation. Sometimes I feel his presence so keenly it's as if her is standing beside me, just out of sight.
But today it's more than that. I can hear something. A rustling noise, coming from the living room. Not rustling. More like snuffling. I stiffen, my hand gripping the worktop, my head cocked to one side. Hoping to God Percy hasn't brought in a rabbit - I can't deal with that, not today - I make my way along the hallway to the front of the house.
At the door to the living room I stop in my tracks. The bottom drawer of Grandad's old oak bureau, the one with the barley twit legs, has been tipped onto the floor. Diaries and birthday cards, envelopes and notebooks, old seed packets and pens, sticky tape and gardening twine have all been upended on the carpet in a jumble.
But this is incidental. Because it's what's lying in the upturned drawer that's holding my attention.
Tiny fists waving in the air. Chubby legs encased in a white sleepsuit. A fuzz of dark hair.
A baby.
And this makes no sense at all. Because I, Lucy Quinn, might have a husband called Miles and a cat called Percy and a cottage that once belonged to my grandad.
But the one thing I don't have, the one thing I have never had, is a baby.
ABOUT 'THE BABY': There’s a baby in your house. It isn’t yours…
The day I was told I’d never be able to have a child, my world came crashing down. My husband says he still loves me but I lie awake at night, wishing we could have a family.
One morning, my husband’s side of the bed is cold and empty. I hear a noise and head downstairs.
In the middle of the rug in my living room is a wooden drawer. Swaddled inside, with perfect rosy cheeks and beautiful round blue eyes, a baby gazes up at me.
I shiver. It’s all I’ve ever wanted, but this baby is not mine…
MY THOUGHTS: I liked The Baby, but didn't love it. Lucy is a character who is hard to like or to empathise with. She is emotionally immature and mercurial. She is an alcoholic, although she would vehemently deny this. Her husband Miles is a manipulative abuser, also thoroughly unlikeable. He more than enables, he actually encourages her drinking then punishes her for it.
There's a lot of repetition as Lucy endlessly agonises over things and questions herself. Some of it is just downright dumb. Like "maybe this baby is mine and I've just forgotten I have it". The baby is sleeping in a drawer. Other than a bag of baby clothes and some formula in the same bag, there are none of the usual accoutrements that seem to come with babies. There are no nappies, no formula, no bottles, no clothes, no crib, no buggy, no toys . . . . Authors - please credit your readers with some brains.
On the plus side - the story of where the baby actually comes from is quite inventive and plausible. I have to admit to enjoying the second half of the story much more than the first, especially the ending, although I do have problems with some of the forensic details.
Narrator Tamsin Kennard was a pleasure to listen to.
⭐⭐.5
#TheBaby #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: A. J. McDine lives in Kent in the UK with her husband and fellow thriller writer A. J. Wills, their two sons and two VERY demanding cats.
She worked as a journalist and police press officer before becoming a full-time author in 2019.
Endlessly fascinated by people and their fears and foibles, she loves to discover what makes them tick.
She writes dark, domestic thrillers about ordinary people in extraordinary situations.
When she’s not writing, playing tennis or attempting to run a 5k, she can usually be found people-watching in her favourite café.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture Audio via NetGalley for providing an audio ARC of The Baby written by A.J. McDine and narrated by Tamsin Kennard. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
But today it's more than that. I can hear something. A rustling noise, coming from the living room. Not rustling. More like snuffling. I stiffen, my hand gripping the worktop, my head cocked to one side. Hoping to God Percy hasn't brought in a rabbit - I can't deal with that, not today - I make my way along the hallway to the front of the house.
At the door to the living room I stop in my tracks. The bottom drawer of Grandad's old oak bureau, the one with the barley twit legs, has been tipped onto the floor. Diaries and birthday cards, envelopes and notebooks, old seed packets and pens, sticky tape and gardening twine have all been upended on the carpet in a jumble.
But this is incidental. Because it's what's lying in the upturned drawer that's holding my attention.
Tiny fists waving in the air. Chubby legs encased in a white sleepsuit. A fuzz of dark hair.
A baby.
And this makes no sense at all. Because I, Lucy Quinn, might have a husband called Miles and a cat called Percy and a cottage that once belonged to my grandad.
But the one thing I don't have, the one thing I have never had, is a baby.
ABOUT 'THE BABY': There’s a baby in your house. It isn’t yours…
The day I was told I’d never be able to have a child, my world came crashing down. My husband says he still loves me but I lie awake at night, wishing we could have a family.
One morning, my husband’s side of the bed is cold and empty. I hear a noise and head downstairs.
In the middle of the rug in my living room is a wooden drawer. Swaddled inside, with perfect rosy cheeks and beautiful round blue eyes, a baby gazes up at me.
I shiver. It’s all I’ve ever wanted, but this baby is not mine…
MY THOUGHTS: I liked The Baby, but didn't love it. Lucy is a character who is hard to like or to empathise with. She is emotionally immature and mercurial. She is an alcoholic, although she would vehemently deny this. Her husband Miles is a manipulative abuser, also thoroughly unlikeable. He more than enables, he actually encourages her drinking then punishes her for it.
There's a lot of repetition as Lucy endlessly agonises over things and questions herself. Some of it is just downright dumb. Like "maybe this baby is mine and I've just forgotten I have it". The baby is sleeping in a drawer. Other than a bag of baby clothes and some formula in the same bag, there are none of the usual accoutrements that seem to come with babies. There are no nappies, no formula, no bottles, no clothes, no crib, no buggy, no toys . . . . Authors - please credit your readers with some brains.
On the plus side - the story of where the baby actually comes from is quite inventive and plausible. I have to admit to enjoying the second half of the story much more than the first, especially the ending, although I do have problems with some of the forensic details.
Narrator Tamsin Kennard was a pleasure to listen to.
⭐⭐.5
#TheBaby #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: A. J. McDine lives in Kent in the UK with her husband and fellow thriller writer A. J. Wills, their two sons and two VERY demanding cats.
She worked as a journalist and police press officer before becoming a full-time author in 2019.
Endlessly fascinated by people and their fears and foibles, she loves to discover what makes them tick.
She writes dark, domestic thrillers about ordinary people in extraordinary situations.
When she’s not writing, playing tennis or attempting to run a 5k, she can usually be found people-watching in her favourite café.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture Audio via NetGalley for providing an audio ARC of The Baby written by A.J. McDine and narrated by Tamsin Kennard. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
April 29, 2024
3.75 Stars
Imagine waking up to a random baby in your home and you have no memory of the day before. What would you do?
Lucy likes to drink while her husband is away for work. After a day of drinking, she woke up the next day with a terrible headache and in a state of confusion. As she wandered into her living room, she was shocked to find a random baby. Lucy was completely taken aback and had no idea how the baby ended up in her possession. She had no memory of the previous night and couldn't recall anything that might have led to this situation. She was left with so many questions and no answers. With a determination to uncover the truth, Lucy began her investigation into the mysterious incident before her husband's return. She tried to retrace her steps from the day before. She kept digging and searching for any clues that might help her solve this mystery. Eventually, she uncovered some surprising and unexpected information.
Overall an entertaining story with unexpected twists and turns. The ending did feel a bit too convenient and tidy, but it was still a good mystery novel. Would recommend it to fans of domestic mystery and thrillers.
***Thank you to NetGalley, A.J. McDine, and Bookouture Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
Imagine waking up to a random baby in your home and you have no memory of the day before. What would you do?
Lucy likes to drink while her husband is away for work. After a day of drinking, she woke up the next day with a terrible headache and in a state of confusion. As she wandered into her living room, she was shocked to find a random baby. Lucy was completely taken aback and had no idea how the baby ended up in her possession. She had no memory of the previous night and couldn't recall anything that might have led to this situation. She was left with so many questions and no answers. With a determination to uncover the truth, Lucy began her investigation into the mysterious incident before her husband's return. She tried to retrace her steps from the day before. She kept digging and searching for any clues that might help her solve this mystery. Eventually, she uncovered some surprising and unexpected information.
Overall an entertaining story with unexpected twists and turns. The ending did feel a bit too convenient and tidy, but it was still a good mystery novel. Would recommend it to fans of domestic mystery and thrillers.
***Thank you to NetGalley, A.J. McDine, and Bookouture Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
May 5, 2024
Usually after a night of drinking you wake up with a killer headache and maybe some regrets. Lucy wakes up with all of these along with a precious mysterious baby. How did the baby get there and who does it belong to? My heart went out to Lucy. Her life was shrouded by a veil of sadness and blame. “Grief doesn't cause blackouts, neat vodka does,” Lucy said her relationship with alcohol was complicated much like this intriguing plot with twists and turns throughout. Just when I thought I had it all figured out a shocking twist would occur and the story would go in an unexpected direction. This thriller is original, entertaining, and intense. The narrator expertly brought the characters to life adding a layer of emotion and suspense. Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for my audiobook.
April 1, 2024
A childless woman wakes up with a painful hangover and an adorable 4-month-old baby.
Did she steal the baby during one of her drunken stupors?
Where did the baby come from and who is the baby's mother?
"The Baby" by AJ McDine sizzles and soars.
Characterizations were compelling and the pacing was spot-on.
Twists, turns, and unreliable narrators were plentiful.
This is the fourth book I have read by talented author AJ McDine and she is now one of my go-to authors.
I listened to the audiobook read by Tamsin Kennard, who did an outstanding job with the narration.
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars
April 3, 2025
*more in-depth review to come*
First off, the narrator was just absolutely amazing! This book hooked me and I stayed up wayyyyy too late to finish listening! 10/10 recommend!
First off, the narrator was just absolutely amazing! This book hooked me and I stayed up wayyyyy too late to finish listening! 10/10 recommend!
March 25, 2024
This book can be summed up in one sentence: a woman wakes up with a hangover and a baby, then craziness ensues.
It’s more than that of course, but that’s about all that can be said without spoilers. Lucy wakes up one morning with a massive hangover, which isn’t unusual for her. She remembers going to the dentist the day before, then grabbing a drink (or four) with an old friend, but she has no idea how she got home. As she stumbles through the house to get to some water and paracetamol, she is stopped short. There’s a baby, asleep right there in her living room.
Lucy’s husband, Miles, works on an oil rig, so is gone for long periods of time. Lucy’s drinking can get a bit out of control when he isn’t there to monitor her, and this time she knows she’s really screwed up. She blacked out, and must have stolen someone’s baby. That’s the only reasonable explanation. Her first thought is to take him to the police station, but obviously this will not make her look like a saint, so she waits and tries to figure out what to do.
As the day goes on, she watches the news and Googles missing children, but there are no reports of a baby being taken. Is it possible Lucy saw a mother who wasn’t taking care of the child, so she stole it? Is it possible that the mother even GAVE her the child? And what is she going to tell her husband when he gets home? He is constantly on her about her drinking, and he has never wanted children. This is going to be the ending of her marriage - but she will be damned if she loses both her husband AND the baby. How can she make this work?
This story was super fast-paced and quite entertaining. The suspense of wondering who this baby is and where he came from makes for quite a compelling plot, and the ending gives the reader several revelations and twists that I didn’t see coming. This one should please most thriller readers - 4.5 stars!
(Thank you to Bookouture, A.J. McDine and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on April 23, 2024.)
It’s more than that of course, but that’s about all that can be said without spoilers. Lucy wakes up one morning with a massive hangover, which isn’t unusual for her. She remembers going to the dentist the day before, then grabbing a drink (or four) with an old friend, but she has no idea how she got home. As she stumbles through the house to get to some water and paracetamol, she is stopped short. There’s a baby, asleep right there in her living room.
Lucy’s husband, Miles, works on an oil rig, so is gone for long periods of time. Lucy’s drinking can get a bit out of control when he isn’t there to monitor her, and this time she knows she’s really screwed up. She blacked out, and must have stolen someone’s baby. That’s the only reasonable explanation. Her first thought is to take him to the police station, but obviously this will not make her look like a saint, so she waits and tries to figure out what to do.
As the day goes on, she watches the news and Googles missing children, but there are no reports of a baby being taken. Is it possible Lucy saw a mother who wasn’t taking care of the child, so she stole it? Is it possible that the mother even GAVE her the child? And what is she going to tell her husband when he gets home? He is constantly on her about her drinking, and he has never wanted children. This is going to be the ending of her marriage - but she will be damned if she loses both her husband AND the baby. How can she make this work?
This story was super fast-paced and quite entertaining. The suspense of wondering who this baby is and where he came from makes for quite a compelling plot, and the ending gives the reader several revelations and twists that I didn’t see coming. This one should please most thriller readers - 4.5 stars!
(Thank you to Bookouture, A.J. McDine and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on April 23, 2024.)
April 17, 2024
Crazy, crazy story! I mean, what would you do if you woke up from a drunken stupor to find a baby in your house? Yet, this story goes beyond that suspenseful headline to questions of how a woman can survive an abusive relationship that is not overtly abusive to the outside world, but also one in which she is gaslighted into believing that it is not as bad as she might think. The story is complicated because it is about more than finding a baby, it is about a woman finally coming to terms with the reality of the person she married. - AMC
April 29, 2024
Wow! Fans of AJ McDine are in for a delicious treat with this one. It pulls you in straight away and leaves you gagging to know where the hell did this baby come from?
Lucy is an alcoholic and one day wakes up to find a four-month-old baby in her house. She wonders if she stole him during one of her drunken stupors.
Her husband, Miles, works away on an oil rig. He returns home unexpectedly and tells her not to go to the police – she’ll get arrested and end up in prison.Without giving away spoilers, as the story unfolds, we learn more about Lucy and Miles’ relationship. Lucy stops drinking to look after the baby, and she recalls the truth about their past.
This is a fantastic read and one not to be missed
Lucy is an alcoholic and one day wakes up to find a four-month-old baby in her house. She wonders if she stole him during one of her drunken stupors.
Her husband, Miles, works away on an oil rig. He returns home unexpectedly and tells her not to go to the police – she’ll get arrested and end up in prison.Without giving away spoilers, as the story unfolds, we learn more about Lucy and Miles’ relationship. Lucy stops drinking to look after the baby, and she recalls the truth about their past.
This is a fantastic read and one not to be missed
May 7, 2024
This one doesn't stand out much for the genre, but it was still an enjoyable quick read despite the predictable twists.
May 3, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of The Baby by AJ McDine. It is my first book by this author and I will be sure to look for more. This book was very entertaining and easy to read. It was a fast read and it had a couple of twists. For those who enjoy a good domestic thriller, this one is worthwhile. The one thing that negatively impacted me was the amount of repetition. Readers don't need quite so much of it. I gave it 4 stars because I did enjoy it.
April 3, 2024
Imagine waking up in the morning to a baby in your house and having no idea how he got there. Lucy was drinking the night before and can't remember a thing. Did she take the baby from someone? No one has come forward claiming their baby is missing. Always wanting a baby of her own, she decides not to call the police. This story was really good. I enjoyed the pace as well as trying to solve the mystery behind who's baby this was. Overall, I'd say this was another winner by A.J. McDine! It was quite entertaining.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for my gifted ALC.
This review will be shared to my Instagram account (@coffee.break.book.reviews) closer to pub day.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for my gifted ALC.
This review will be shared to my Instagram account (@coffee.break.book.reviews) closer to pub day.
April 29, 2024
With alcohol-induced amnesia often ending up with confusing memories for Lucy, her most recent experience rocks her at her core. When she awakes after being passed out after another night of drinking and discovers a baby in her living room, she tries to reach the furthest part of her brain to try and remember whose baby it is and how the baby go there. With her husband Miles away while working on an oil rig, Lucy panics when she thinks of him coming back home to discover the presence of a baby.
Here’s the thing. Miles always said that he did not want them to have children. But, with no news alerts popping up about a missing baby, Lucy fantasizes about keeping it. As this is a psychological thriller, the tension in this book kept me riveted to my Kindle screen. The twist was a jaw-dropper that really surprised me. One thing I will say, Miles reaction was a surprise, both to Lucy and to me as well. I love how this book was written and how compelling it was to read. Kudos to Ms. Mcdine. I will be back for more.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Here’s the thing. Miles always said that he did not want them to have children. But, with no news alerts popping up about a missing baby, Lucy fantasizes about keeping it. As this is a psychological thriller, the tension in this book kept me riveted to my Kindle screen. The twist was a jaw-dropper that really surprised me. One thing I will say, Miles reaction was a surprise, both to Lucy and to me as well. I love how this book was written and how compelling it was to read. Kudos to Ms. Mcdine. I will be back for more.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
April 5, 2024
Lucy wakes up from an alcohol induced hangover/blackout, and there's a baby in her house. Although she longs for a baby, she knows it not her baby. Did she steal the baby? Where did he come from? There are so many unanswered questions!
I enjoy a good unreliable narrator, and the author did a great job writing the plot though the eyes of Lucy. This was a book where it seemed you knew what was going to happen from the beginning, so my curiosity was piqued on how events would unfold. I was so entertained and engrossed in this story! I couldn't stop listening because I had to know what was going to happen. There were twists and turns along the way, and I was pleasantly surprised with how the events unfolded. This was a fast and addictive read that has me ignoring adulting to focus on listening!
Tamsin Kennard did a phenomenal job with the narration! She moved between male and female characters very well, and she managed accents and intonations of each character flawlessly. She made the story easy to follow.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
I enjoy a good unreliable narrator, and the author did a great job writing the plot though the eyes of Lucy. This was a book where it seemed you knew what was going to happen from the beginning, so my curiosity was piqued on how events would unfold. I was so entertained and engrossed in this story! I couldn't stop listening because I had to know what was going to happen. There were twists and turns along the way, and I was pleasantly surprised with how the events unfolded. This was a fast and addictive read that has me ignoring adulting to focus on listening!
Tamsin Kennard did a phenomenal job with the narration! She moved between male and female characters very well, and she managed accents and intonations of each character flawlessly. She made the story easy to follow.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
March 24, 2024
Get ready to lose time when you pick up The Baby! A fast and addicting read that you will just need to keep going with. Lots of wild twists and turns in this thriller that will surprise you until the very end.
Lucy wakes up one morning after a big day previously of drinking. She has no idea how she got home and now she has found a baby in her living room!! She tries to put the pieces together to work out who the baby is and how she has him. Instead of turning herself in, she thinks the baby might be better off with her….
That is just the start of this roller coaster ride. You have to read it to learn more but you will not be sorry.
Thanks to the author and Bookouture for my advanced copy of this book to read. Published on April 23rd.
Lucy wakes up one morning after a big day previously of drinking. She has no idea how she got home and now she has found a baby in her living room!! She tries to put the pieces together to work out who the baby is and how she has him. Instead of turning herself in, she thinks the baby might be better off with her….
That is just the start of this roller coaster ride. You have to read it to learn more but you will not be sorry.
Thanks to the author and Bookouture for my advanced copy of this book to read. Published on April 23rd.
March 30, 2024
ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed Tamsin Kennard’s narration on this book! She does a surprisingly good job with both male and female characters and made it incredibly easy to listen to! The story had some predictable moments and with the main character having a drinking problem, she’s definitely an unreliable narrator. There were some parts I didn’t see coming and the story as a whole held my attention and kept me guessing. I would recommend to anyone who likes psychological thrillers and mysteries!
I really enjoyed Tamsin Kennard’s narration on this book! She does a surprisingly good job with both male and female characters and made it incredibly easy to listen to! The story had some predictable moments and with the main character having a drinking problem, she’s definitely an unreliable narrator. There were some parts I didn’t see coming and the story as a whole held my attention and kept me guessing. I would recommend to anyone who likes psychological thrillers and mysteries!
March 23, 2024
I received this copy from NetGalley, I really enjoyed this book would definitely recommend it .5 star review.
March 28, 2024
Wow i was throw straight into this gripping domestic thriller. The premise you wake up can't remember the night before but there is now a baby with you.
It was a binge high quality listen. The pov and character arc pf her rediscovering the truth about her past and now it skilfully fitted into her presand future. The narration was really good and i was sad i didnt have the time to finish it on one setting. Its a true masterpiece that tugs at the heartstrings. The premise is a hook for anyone as its so many questions who is the baby how did it get there and why cant she remember..
Hooked on every word and blown away through all the twists and turns. The final reveal was out of this world. Wish there was a sequel.
Thank yoy so much netgallery and publisher and author and narrator for this highly recommended 5 star listen
It was a binge high quality listen. The pov and character arc pf her rediscovering the truth about her past and now it skilfully fitted into her presand future. The narration was really good and i was sad i didnt have the time to finish it on one setting. Its a true masterpiece that tugs at the heartstrings. The premise is a hook for anyone as its so many questions who is the baby how did it get there and why cant she remember..
Hooked on every word and blown away through all the twists and turns. The final reveal was out of this world. Wish there was a sequel.
Thank yoy so much netgallery and publisher and author and narrator for this highly recommended 5 star listen
June 13, 2025
3.4⭐
Um livro que serve o propósito de entreter.
Na minha opinião os "plot twist" são demasiado previsíveis, não sei se devido "às dicas" que vão dando ou pela forma como está escrito.
É ideal para quem quer ler um livro com narrativa fluida...
Um livro que serve o propósito de entreter.
Na minha opinião os "plot twist" são demasiado previsíveis, não sei se devido "às dicas" que vão dando ou pela forma como está escrito.
É ideal para quem quer ler um livro com narrativa fluida...
Read
June 6, 2025DNF, livro cujo plot assenta numa relação amorosa tóxica e eu não tenho cabeça para ler isto
April 1, 2024
I liked this book but did feel that it was a bit predictable. It centers on Lucy, who is married to Miles and desperately wants a baby. One day, Lucy drinks a little too much and finds a random baby in her living room! The book is all about Lucy trying to figure out where the baby came from, while appeasing her husband and her own feelings around what she should do.
This was a fast-paced read, with many interesting flashbacks to other events in Lucy's life that brought her to her current situation. While there were some things that she should have figured out long before I did, I still found it enjoyable to read about her and I felt for her when she made mistakes or was indecisive. I thought the end of the book was a little anticlimactic but I was not unhappy with the way it all worked out.
Overall, I just wish I hadn't been able to foresee all the twists coming because it was a fast-paced and enjoyable read. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fast-paced read, with many interesting flashbacks to other events in Lucy's life that brought her to her current situation. While there were some things that she should have figured out long before I did, I still found it enjoyable to read about her and I felt for her when she made mistakes or was indecisive. I thought the end of the book was a little anticlimactic but I was not unhappy with the way it all worked out.
Overall, I just wish I hadn't been able to foresee all the twists coming because it was a fast-paced and enjoyable read. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 2, 2024
A woman wakes up with a hangover and a baby. She doesn’t know where the baby came from – it’s definitely not hers, and she doesn’t remember taking it. Her drinking problem doesn’t help much, because our heroine is too used to not remembering things.
First of all, it was a fun book. It is fast-paced, it’s ok-written, the characters are interesting to follow. We have unrelatable narrator, we have a secret, we have the picture-perfect husband (who obviously has secrets in his own). It’s a default thriller as I like to call them. It’s intriguing, it’s easy to read, it’s quickly digestible, it’s predictable to a point, but it’s still – and it’s the most important thing! – fun.
Yes, I could predict almost all the twists. Yes, it is clear from the start who the villain is. Yes, the writing is simple. Yes, it’s unrealistic.
But it was fun! I liked it ❤️
First of all, it was a fun book. It is fast-paced, it’s ok-written, the characters are interesting to follow. We have unrelatable narrator, we have a secret, we have the picture-perfect husband (who obviously has secrets in his own). It’s a default thriller as I like to call them. It’s intriguing, it’s easy to read, it’s quickly digestible, it’s predictable to a point, but it’s still – and it’s the most important thing! – fun.
Yes, I could predict almost all the twists. Yes, it is clear from the start who the villain is. Yes, the writing is simple. Yes, it’s unrealistic.
But it was fun! I liked it ❤️
April 8, 2024
4.3 ⭐️🎧
This audiobook grabbed me from the first chapter. Could you imagine waking up to a strange baby in your home, with no clues as to why or how?
👮♀️ You can’t call the police, because you may have done something illegal while in a drunken stupor. Many things start to run through your mind as you sort through her limited memories and race against the clock before her husband gets home and discovers what’s going on.
🧩 The mystery of the plot plays out at a nice steady pace, and it doesn’t take much to figure out what could be going on. But just when you settle into the satisfaction of having all the answers, there’s a nice little twist.
😡 I hated the husband. He is a miserable cuss word and I’m so glad to be done reading about him, as he didn’t deserve that many pages. The MC has a nurturing side and I felt myself feeling sympathy for her character much of the time, especially with her state of confusion.
🎧 I liked that there weren’t a lot of characters in the book, and the storyline stayed very focused. The narrator was great, and I was able to easily fly through this story while tending to my plants and garden. I always appreciate a good uncomplicated audio for multi-tasking.
Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture Audio, and AJ McDine for providing me with a complimentary ARC to review!
This audiobook grabbed me from the first chapter. Could you imagine waking up to a strange baby in your home, with no clues as to why or how?
👮♀️ You can’t call the police, because you may have done something illegal while in a drunken stupor. Many things start to run through your mind as you sort through her limited memories and race against the clock before her husband gets home and discovers what’s going on.
🧩 The mystery of the plot plays out at a nice steady pace, and it doesn’t take much to figure out what could be going on. But just when you settle into the satisfaction of having all the answers, there’s a nice little twist.
😡 I hated the husband. He is a miserable cuss word and I’m so glad to be done reading about him, as he didn’t deserve that many pages. The MC has a nurturing side and I felt myself feeling sympathy for her character much of the time, especially with her state of confusion.
🎧 I liked that there weren’t a lot of characters in the book, and the storyline stayed very focused. The narrator was great, and I was able to easily fly through this story while tending to my plants and garden. I always appreciate a good uncomplicated audio for multi-tasking.
Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture Audio, and AJ McDine for providing me with a complimentary ARC to review!
April 8, 2024
I go into books completely blind and I was not really sure what I was getting into with The Baby, but that was such a great book! This was such an addicting listen, I binged it in one day! Lucy was the perfect character. She wakes up after another long night of drinking to find a baby in here home… but she’s the only one whose been home and it’s definitely not her baby. So where did it come from? Lucy is not sure what to do. Should she go to the police? Should she keep him? I mean, no one has reported the baby missing. The twists and the turns of the book after that are mind blowing. So many things I never saw coming, especially that ending!! Holy cow!!
Tamsin Kennard did such a fantastic job narrating the Baby. Sometimes it is difficult for me to listen to a narrator that has a different accent on 2X speed, but Tasman did an amazing job at voicing all characters that I was able to listen to her with zero issue. I will definitely be listening to more of her narrations.
Thank you A.J. McDine, Bookouture, and NetGalley for this ALC of The Baby!
Tamsin Kennard did such a fantastic job narrating the Baby. Sometimes it is difficult for me to listen to a narrator that has a different accent on 2X speed, but Tasman did an amazing job at voicing all characters that I was able to listen to her with zero issue. I will definitely be listening to more of her narrations.
Thank you A.J. McDine, Bookouture, and NetGalley for this ALC of The Baby!
March 25, 2024
AJ Mcdine is one of my favorite authors. "The Baby" is a riveting and exhilarating thriller. I literally was glued to the pages and couldn't put the book down. I was totally immersed into the story. The author is incredibly talented, and her books are the epitome of thrillers. The unexpected twist, anticipation, palable tension, and her skill at plotting. The story is relentless to the last page. The characters are detailed and relatable. The ending was magnificent. The author always exceeds my expectations.
March 22, 2024
This was my first book by this author but it won’t be the last.
I was drawn into it really quickly and raced through it in almost one sitting.
It is a fantastic domestic thriller that I really enjoyed. It’s definitely one that I’d recommend.
I was drawn into it really quickly and raced through it in almost one sitting.
It is a fantastic domestic thriller that I really enjoyed. It’s definitely one that I’d recommend.
March 18, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for an early copy of The Baby. Very weird concept in the beginning, but as soon as Miles was introduced, I knew where the baby came from But it did not stop me from reading this fast moving, gripping novel. I felt very bad for Lucy but as the story unfolds, you do see her strength. Such a GRIPPING read and when I had to put it down, I was thinking of where I left off and couldn’t wait to get back to reading. I LOVE books like this one. Thank you again.
March 12, 2024
Lucy wakes up one morning to sounds of crying. She goes downstairs and discovers a baby swaddled up in an old wooden drawer. Where has this baby come from? She is convinced that she has stolen the baby but has hardly any memory of the night before.
The novel follows Lucy as she tries to cope with her newfound responsibility. She is torn between reporting it to the police and her need to find out the truth about the baby's origins. She’s worried what she’s going to tell her husband, Miles, as he’s due back from working away on the rigs. She starts investigating the mystery surrounding the baby, and begins to uncover secrets and lies.
The Baby is a gripping psychological thriller with a captivating storyline that AJ McDine does an excellent job of creating a sense of suspense and unease, and left me constantly guessing what will happen next. I loved this book. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and AJ McDine for an early copy of this fantastic book.
The novel follows Lucy as she tries to cope with her newfound responsibility. She is torn between reporting it to the police and her need to find out the truth about the baby's origins. She’s worried what she’s going to tell her husband, Miles, as he’s due back from working away on the rigs. She starts investigating the mystery surrounding the baby, and begins to uncover secrets and lies.
The Baby is a gripping psychological thriller with a captivating storyline that AJ McDine does an excellent job of creating a sense of suspense and unease, and left me constantly guessing what will happen next. I loved this book. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and AJ McDine for an early copy of this fantastic book.
March 13, 2024
This is one of those books where you look at your planning for the day and decide which tasks can wait until the following day because you just don't want to put it down. The story has you in it's grip and won't let you go until you have read every single word and you finally are allowed to find out what was going on.
This book is a very good example of not really knowing the persons living closed to you. Or maybe this is not entirely correct. Maybe deep down you do know something is not right, but you are blinded by Cupids arrow...
On the one hand I felt very sorry for Lucy, but ont the other hand she made it easier too?
I always love it when the baddies get what they deserve. It"s a pity they make so many people suffer before they are found out.
I will be on the look out for more of this author's books, because she had me totally hooked. 5 stars
Thank you
This book is a very good example of not really knowing the persons living closed to you. Or maybe this is not entirely correct. Maybe deep down you do know something is not right, but you are blinded by Cupids arrow...
On the one hand I felt very sorry for Lucy, but ont the other hand she made it easier too?
I always love it when the baddies get what they deserve. It"s a pity they make so many people suffer before they are found out.
I will be on the look out for more of this author's books, because she had me totally hooked. 5 stars
Thank you
April 26, 2024
Wow!
I flew through this book in 24hrs. I couldn't put it down. I was hooked from page 1. It is a brilliant plot and the story just flowed so easily.
Miles was certainly a piece of work and my heart kept breaking for everything Lucy had been through in the past.
I can't wait to read more books by this author, I found this one so addictive.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I flew through this book in 24hrs. I couldn't put it down. I was hooked from page 1. It is a brilliant plot and the story just flowed so easily.
Miles was certainly a piece of work and my heart kept breaking for everything Lucy had been through in the past.
I can't wait to read more books by this author, I found this one so addictive.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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