Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: July 17th, 2018
320 Pages
Synopsis: Sweetness can be deceptive.
Meet Hanna.
She’s the sweet-but-silent angel in the adoring eyes of her Daddy. He’s the only person who understands her, and all Hanna wants is to live happily ever after with him. But Mommy stands in her way, and she’ll try any trick she can think of to get rid of, ideally for good.
Meet Suzette.
She loves her daughter, really, but after years of expulsions and strained home schooling, her precarious health and sanity are weakening day by day. As Hanna’s tricks become increasingly sophisticated, and Suzette’s husband remains blind to the failing family dynamics, Suzette starts to fear that there’s something seriously wrong, and that maybe home isn’t the best place for their baby girl after all.
Let me say from the onset that Baby Teeth will not be everyone’s cup of tea. It’s dark and disturbing, and when I finished it last night I found myself unable to sleep because I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
The 3rd person narrative alternates between Hanna and her mother. Hanna is a seven-year-old precocious child, who presents two completely different sides to her parents, Suzette and Alex. With her father, she’s a sweet little angel, but with her mother, she increasingly demonstrates how much she resents and hates her. While seeing Hanna’s perspective adds to the intensity of the story, there are some inconsistencies with her thinking and actions. As each of her chapters begins, she sounds and acts like the seven-year-old she is, albeit a disturbingly creepy one. But then her mental thoughts turn into sophisticated ones that come across as way too adult, even for an exceptionally bright child. This aside, the author crafts her into at times a sympathetic figure, but more often than not, a menacing one who scared the heck out of me.
While Suzette isn’t perfect by any means, I felt a lot of empathy for her. She suffers from a particularly nasty case of Crohn’s disease, and this coupled with her surviving a childhood filled with neglect, had me forming an instant connection with her, even when I didn’t agree with her responses to Hanna. She loves her daughter yet is increasingly afraid of her. When you add in anger and resentment, you have a mother who’s not only at war with her daughter, but also herself.
I didn’t care for Alex in the beginning as he’s written as your stereotypical father who’s clueless and in denial about his daughter, but about halfway in, he starts to realize that Suzanne may be right about Hanna. Watching him come to grips with the truth, trying to protect his wife while still loving his daughter, adds another layer to this twisted yet captivating tale.
The ending wasn’t a huge surprise, but it was one of several that I had envisioned and I found it believable. Overall, I enjoyed(?) Baby Teeth and I’m impressed with Zoje Stage’s debut. It’s an unflinching look at at childhood mental illness and a couple’s difficulty of finding help and coping with it. It’s a riveting domestic thriller with horror added in which should appeal to fans of books such as Lionel Shriver’s We Need to Talk About Kevin.
Carrie Rubin said:
I’ve been wondering about this one. I had decided it wasn’t for me, but after reading your review I think I changed my mind. I’ll add it to my ever-growing TBR list. Thanks!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Awesome! I’d love to know your thoughts on it Carrie.☺️
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fragglerocking said:
Ye gads that sounds bliddy awful. I’ll stick with Chris Moore!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Haha! I love Chis Moore!
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fragglerocking said:
He does make me laugh proper!
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beetleypete said:
Dark and disturbing always works for me, Kim. This sounds like it would be good as a film too.
Best wishes, Pete.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
As usual we’re on the same page Pete. I was thinking who I’d cast while I was reading it.☺️
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Heather Tasker said:
Definitely sounds creepy!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Deeply disturbing!
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Heather Tasker said:
😍
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Reads & Reels said:
Ha ha isn’t it funny when you don’t know if “enjoyed” is the right word when it’s a disturbing book lol? I’m on the side of the fence that agrees with you as I also enjoyed it but you’re right. The consensus is definitely split down the middle. Excellent review!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Shannon. Yeah, I wasn’t sure if “enjoyed” was the right word LOL. Maybe “mesmerized” instead? 🤷🏻♀️
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raistlin0903 said:
Well you already had me convinced to check this out when you mentioned dark and disturbing😂 I always like the dark things and this sounds like a perfect read to me. Another great review Kim..loved reading it 😀
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
After just reading your phenomenal review of The Tunnel Michel, I guarantee you’d like this!☺️
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raistlin0903 said:
I think so too: I have already added it to my to read list over on Goodreads 😊😊 Aww and thanks so much for your kind words 😊
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
🤗
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Mischenko said:
I agree and Alex just really annoyed me! The way this family functioned just wasn’t right. I kept thinking throughout the book that Hanna had to be possessed to be so advanced. It was still thrilling to me though, until the end that I didn’t really like. Great review, Kim! ❤
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Mischenko! I thought that somewhere around the halfway point in the story he started to wake up and that’s when I began feeling a little sorry for him. And that ending totally creeped me out, although it didn’t surprise me.
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jennifertarheelreader said:
Terrific review, Kim! I have been on the fence about reading this one but am happy to read that you enjoyed it.
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Dani☆Touch My Spine Book Reviews☆ said:
Fantastic review, Kim!😍🌺📚 I have been pondering if I want to read this one but after reading your amazing review I am quite tempted, even if the name and cover creep me out a little!😱
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Dani. This is definitely a creepy read.😱
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Dani☆Touch My Spine Book Reviews☆ said:
Creepy is good some times though!!!😱 For some reason I have Metallica’s Enter Sandman is in my head for some odd reason!😅
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
🤣
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Dani☆Touch My Spine Book Reviews☆ said:
😉😅
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Carrie said:
Glad you enjoyed this one Kim! I did say it’s one that really had me thinking the whole time and even after reading it. Perhaps a bit over the top with it being fiction but there are plenty of parents who struggle so it still seems realistic.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I agree Carrie. There were some parts that were a little much, but overall I thought it was a credible look at a family dealing with a psychopathic child.
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thebookwormdrinketh said:
Well, you do know that I live dark and disturbing!! I’ve had this on my TBR for quite a while, but was unsure about it! I’m still a little unsure as I hate an inconsistent narrative and (don’t hate me) I’m not fond of children… At least not in books and movies usually!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Hmm. As usual in cases like this I’m going to recommend the library. That way, you could maybe try it and just return it if you don’t like it?🤔
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thebookwormdrinketh said:
And this is why you keep me coming back. You’re just so damned smart!! 💖💖 I realize that may have sounded sarcastic (or maybe everything just sounds sarcastic to me) ha ha! But, I REALLY MEAN IT!! 💖💖
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Aww. You just made my whole day!🤗🤗🤗
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Dani☆Touch My Spine Book Reviews☆ said:
I have to agree with Nicole’s statement 100%! You are just a diva😁 but so are you Nicole! You rock ladies!❤❤❤
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
🤗🤗🤗🤗
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thebookwormdrinketh said:
💖💖💖😀 You too, Dani!! 💗
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Books Teacup and Reviews said:
It seems everyone has read this and I have heard lot good about this book. Great review!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks! It has quite a few mixed reviews on Goodreads, but I found it absolutely mesmerizing
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Cozynookbks said:
I have this book and based on your review I need to move it up on my tbr.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Woot!☺️
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Lelia T said:
I have this one coming up soon and your review makes me even more intrigued 😉
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Awesome! I can’t wait to see what you think of it Lelia!☺️
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Diana said:
Great review Kim. I ‘enjoyed’ this one too. I read this one quite a while back though I posted my review today but I can still remember Hanna and some of the most horrific scenes.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Diana. I’m heading over right now to check out your review.🤗
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Lashaan (Bookidote) said:
I hear a lot of people mention that it is quite dark and disturbing. I’m glad to hear you still enjoyed this, Kim. Will definitely remember this one in case I run into it in the near future. Great review! 😀
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Lashaan.🤗
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Raven @ Dreamy Addictions said:
Great review, Kim! 🙂
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Raven!🤗
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ignitedmoth said:
Nice review! This is one that’s definitely on my radar. 🙂 Glad to hear you enjoyed it.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thank you. I’d love to know what you think if you read it.🤗
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