Cover Image: The Baby Group

The Baby Group

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Member Reviews

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. I love thrillers that keep you guessing and this is exactly what this book did! I kept changing my mind about who I thought did it and I couldn’t put it

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Thanks to Avon books and Netgalley and of course, the author for my advanced readers copy.
I was completely invested in this book and COULD NOT put it down! I kept changing my mind as to who leaked Scarlett's old sex tape practically every time I turned a page! I would completely recommend you read this book, its unmissable and I cannot wait to read the authors other books now!

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Really enjoyed this addictive thriller although it is a bit of a slow burner. It’s definitely worth a read & would recommend this book.

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A wild read! I’m not a mother but this book felt real to me. If you like big little lies (the show, not the book), you’ll enjoy this book. A crazy ride to the end.

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Scarlett. Even her secrets were incredibly underwhelming. You often hear it mentioned she didn’t want her big secret to come out and how horrible it would be if everyone found out. I was truly expecting something incredibly juicy and shocking. Quite the opposite really.

Aside from that, the story seemed a bit repetitive. Not sure how often we had to hear about Scarlett’s “Glory Days” and her previous love for Ollie and how good her and Ed’s relationship was previously. It seemed like the author wanted to make the story longer so kept putting in the same details worded differently.

None of the characters were likable or decent. The reason for the three stars is because I liked the authors writing style. Witty, sarcastic, and with a lot of sass.

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Scarlett is married to her husband Ed and they have a baby.
She has enjoyed her maternity leave but is looking forward to going back to work.
She has joined a little group with babies they are her new three friends.
But just as Scarlett goes back to work a sex tape of her and two men is leaked to her family, friends and work colleagues.
To say she is mortified is an understatement. This tale was taken when she was a different person .
Scarlet has to work out who has done this to her .
Could it be closer to home than she thinks .
Thanks NetGalley

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This was a super dull thriller. It was okay for the first half, but then it started to drag. It was all very one note, none of the twists were surprising, and all of the characters were just the worst (aside from Poppy). It was a good attempt but I’ve read much better. Cut 100 pages and it might have received another two stars.

(Please note that this is an advanced review copy - the novel isn’t released until September 2020 and I’m not sure if any changes will be made between now and then.)

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The Baby Group is an excellent domestic thriller by new-to-me author, Caroline Corcoran.

In this novel, Scarlett lives with husband Ed in a small town in Cheshire, England. The thirty-five-year-old wife and mother has an outwardly perfect lifestyle and is ready to return to work after maternity leave, following the birth of little Poppy. Over the last twelve months, her circle of friends has changed and she now sees more of her antenatal class pals, Cora, Emma and Asha. When someone sends a shocking video of her to everyone she knows, the only people who claim not to have seen it are these three friends. Now Scarlett must work out how well she knows the people in her life, especially her friends.

Full of undercurrents, this was a cleverly plotted page-turner by Caroline Corcoran and I found myself playing mind games with the main character on many occasions. The narrative was from the perspectives of Scarlett and an unknown individual, which helped to maintain the high levels of ambiguity and intrigue. The author painted a tremendously good picture of all of the characters and I enjoyed her descriptive writing style. Often tense and atmospheric, I was taken through a gamut of emotions including vexation, shock and disgust and there were some great twists added, too. Distrust, family dynamics, anxiety, the power of the internet, and suspicion all had a place in this fabulous and compulsive thriller. Deeply layered and strongly character-driven, this masterful tale provided many misdirection moments along the way and I was taken by surprise by the most satisfying ending. The epilogue capitalised on this ending, with some details revealed that I definitely didn’t expect. The Baby Group is one not to be missed.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Avon Books UK via NetGalley at my request, and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

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As a blogger myself, this story felt very realistic. I thought the premise of the story was great, but there were times when it dragged on a little. The reveal was worth it though! . This is an intense read and will have you feeling fiercely angry, absolutely devastated, and full of joy during various parts. I think I could have finished this book quicker than I did, I really enjoyed the characters Caroline created for this story too! It's definitely worth a read! x

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I really enjoyed this book. The dynamic of the play groups and how it all functions was awesome. Being a stay at home Mom, I was totally caught up in the book. I loved all the twists and turns and the plot! Thank you Net Galley for a wonderful book and for the ARC.

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Thank You to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this ARC!

Scarlett’s golden life suddenly unravels when someone sends a shocking video of her to everyone she knows. The only people who claim they haven’t seen it are the friends in her new mothers’ group: Cora, Emma and Asha. Scarlett is forced to delve into her past to discover who is out to get her.

I really enjoyed this book. There is a small suspect pool and I loved how I kept changing my mind about who the culprit was. This story is so readable as it sucks you right in. Scarlett had a rough time of it when she was younger and I really felt for her.

This is a really good domestic thriller. Really fast paced and edgy. What really I liked about this book is it has a really great story and at its heart are very real characters too. It really manages to reflect the feelings of being a new mum and everything that comes with that but without sacrificing any of its story. Definitely a recommended read.

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This was an enjoyable read with a 'who done it' theme. I did guess it right but did not get it right for the reason why!

A modern easy read of friendships and life challenges. Recommended.

Thank you Netgalley.

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Scarlett seems to have the perfect life. She has a handsome husband, a great job, a beautiful daughter, a huge house and a mummy blog that has really taken off.
But her life wasn't always perfect. After losing her Mum at a young age, Scarlett went off the rails: alcohol, drugs, doing anything just to get by.
Now she is a wife and a mother, a respectable woman trying to keep her past behind her.
But then a video of her surfaces. Its sent to everyone she knows and now she is left to figure out who could hate her this much and why. But she needs to do it before her new life is completely destroyed.

I have mixed feelings about this one. The writing was great but honestly I found myself feeling a little bored. The characters were all unlikeable, their lives were completely mundane and I found their judgemental attitudes and faux personas annoying.
I did enjoy the ending though.

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Scarlett has the perfect life. Perfect husband, baby, circle of friends, job and a successful Mummy blog. Her first day back in the office from maternity leave ends abruptly when her boss reveals everyone has received an email containing a sex tape from Scarlett's past. As the story evolves Scarlett doesn't know who she can trust.
This book had it all. Mystery, suspense, relationships and some laughs.

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I really liked this! What a fun ride. This book kept me guessing for quite awhile although I will admit I figured who the "bad guy" was fairly early on. Although the worst person in this book was the main characters husband. What a Tool he was!

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While the plot was interesting, it was much too chick-flicky for me. I never guessed who did it but the process of finding out was a long one. Reminded me a bit of Girl on a Train as far as the rambling goes. This chick's life...a mess.

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THE BABY GROUP is a thought provoking read about several things….who we really are when no one else is looking.........the nature of friendship…….things we do when we are young and stupid……….how much can we rely on those we love for support and validation….......….the ease with which we can manipulate others ……the thirst for revenge that lurks in all of us……….paranoia……….betrayal…….greed …well you get the picture. It’s a literal cornucopia of exploration into the seven deadly sins that would make any psychiatrist seeking a case with a load of human drama jump for joy.. None of the characters gracing the pages of this tome are particularly likable but that does not detract from the addictive nature of the narrative, so buckle up and get ready for an invigorating psychological ride. 4 1/2 stars

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I haven't read anything by this author previously but I will definitely check her other books out. I quite enjoyed the book. I was hooked by the premise and thought it very intriguing and when I started reading the book it did not let me down.
Scarlet, the protagonist's life seems perfect. She is a popular blogger who shares her life and her husband and baby's life in pics. But ofcourse things cant be as rosy as it depicted. Scarlet heads back to work leaving her baby behind. She is anyway stressed about it when she realises that there seems to be a problem in the way her boss and others at work are looking at her. That's when she realises that a sex tape of Scarlet is sent to all the people whom she knows.
Although it is from years ago she is stunned and completely shocked to know that it has reached everyone from her life. The only people who haven't been sent this is her three friends from her new mothers' group: Cora, Emma and Asha.
And that's when the cat and mouse game begins with Scarlett trying to figure out who would do this. She starts unravelling the mystery and realises that it's not wise to trust anyone.
I love thrillers and this one checked all the boxes. It was pacy and had me engaged from the beginning.
I liked the way the characters were fleshed out and I really enjoyed the author's way of writing.

I will definitely be reading more of her books.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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This is the sort of book I love to read.
It is a book that examines our friendships, what humans do when socialising and how we are made to belong in groups. It looks at our unique personalities and how our experiences shape us as well as how our pasts can define us.
The Baby Group is about 4 mothers, brought together in an NCT class. There is Scarlett who is the central character, as well as Asha, Cora and Emma. The book is brilliant at conveying that period in life, during maternity leave with first born babies, where you don't go to work but throw yourself whole heartedly into the new mummy lifestyle and where your days are dictated by singing groups, soft play and when your little one needs a nap or a feed.
This then makes the book immediately relatable for many women, myself included. It takes you back to a time where you remember the before and after of motherhood, the way priorities change, the way women (and bodies) change and the sometimes devastating strain put on marriages through lack of sleep, worries, boredom and endless baby talk. And yet this story has a contemporary feel that I didn't experience as a mother because these women live in the digital age where social media is King of the Land, where money can be made as an influencer and where reputations can be destroyed at the touch of the share button.
Scarlett Salloway is a social media influencer with her Cheshire Mama blog and seemingly golden perfection of a life. The Baby Group is all about the dismantling of her life and how her past which she has buried so well comes back to haunt her. Past decisions and choices are plastered all over social media and this exposure begins the slow and emotionally torturous descent in paranoia for Scarlett.
Is her husband Ed cheating on her? Can she trust her friends? Who wants to destroy her? And why?
An easy, compelling read, with enough tension and red herrings to keep you guessing and sufficient character development to make the reader care about what happens next.
I found the reveal a bit of a disappointment. It came earlier than expected and was a bit drawn out. However the why of events did make sense and the need for Scarlett to carry on hiding her past very believable.
I am not of an age where bringing up babies is what I do day to day but even so, it does make you question our trust in people we readily accept as friends. Are they friends? Or do they want something from you?
Definitely worth a read and I liked this book slightly more than Through the Wall which is also another good book from Caroline Corcoran.

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This is the first book I have read by Caroline Corcoran and it was so good! I loved the characters and the story kept me guessing until the end. A must read.

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