Cover Image: The Baby Group

The Baby Group

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Scarlett has it all - a lovely home in the country, a young child and a hard working husband. She regularly meets a group of friends from NCT classes.

Then her world is torn apart. She heads back to work after maternity leave to discover that a sex tape that she made years ago has been sent to everyone - colleagues, friends, family and even her Dad.
Throughout the book, Scarlett deals with the humiliation of what’s happened, having to close down her successful Mummy Blog and contend with the arising facts that someone close to her released the video! But who is it!?
The book kept me guessing until near the end. Another fantastic book from Caroline Corcoran. I enjoyed this as much as Through The Wall. Looking forward to her third book already.

Was this review helpful?

I was very intrigued to read this as the world we live in is very much centred around online presence. The storyline started out well and loved the dual storyline that was being told from the point of view of the main character Scarlet and the person behind it all. Having said that it was extremely slow paced and repetitive. It could have been about a 100 or so pages shorter. The storyline really didn’t flow well when it came to changing scenes. The perpetrator was very obvious from early on. I found it hard to like any of the characters but that might be due to the fact we didn’t know a lot about the majority of them. I really was looking forward to this one and I’m sorry to say it fell short.

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the opportunity to read and review this ARC that was published on the 17th of Sept.

Was this review helpful?

A solid thriller that's a bit slow in places but would be perfect holiday reading for the ideal escapist mystery whodunnit set in the world of new mums.

Was this review helpful?

“It’s a strange thing, thinking about who released a sex tape of you while you eat a blueberry muffin next to your baby”.

Scarlett’s world is turned upside down when somebody sends a sex tape of her to everyone in her family, friends and work colleagues. Thank goodness it never got sent to her new friends from her baby group right? Wrong! One of her baby group friends is actually her frenemy and she is intent on ruining Scarlett’s perfectly crafted life.

If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers, you had better add this to your list. From the absolute cracker of a first line until the epilogue, you will be sucked into the plot. You’ll sympathise with Scarlett and be driven mad by her feckless husband. You’ll spend the time you aren’t reading hypothesising about which of the baby group has orchestrated this revenge. You will be chilled which you read the chapters from the culprit’s point of view. and watch their own sanity unravel in their quest to ruin Scarlett’s life. You will predict some events and feel smug about it and then be floored by the end.

“The baby group” should jump to the top of your TBR pile immediately.

Was this review helpful?

Wow this sure makes you sit back and think how much of our lives are posted online and will send shivers down your back thinking about it.

Quite the thriller/mystery even though we pretty much know who it is quite early on We are still left to find out why. The characters and plot were great and I had no set backs reading the story. In fact I didn't want to put it down until it was completed.

I enjoyed the two different POV. This made things easier for me to keep up and follow along with and gave the "who" a voice of their own so to speak.

My first story from this author and I hope to pick up more!

Was this review helpful?

This book was heavy handed, repetitive, overblown and honestly ridiculous. I find it really hard to believe that a sex tape like this would be more than a minor blip in someone's life, in this day and age. Omg shock horror, a mum had sex before having kids! Literally no one cares. Having a sexual history is not some big shameful stain on your character. I just felt like everyone's actions and reactions in this book were way too melodramatic and unbelievable. The protagonist was annoying. The whole thing was basically just two or three basic ideas reworded in different ways for like 30 something chapters. I'm afraid I just can't scrape up a good thing to say about the hours of my life wasted on this.

Was this review helpful?

Great book. I knew this book would be brilliant from the blurb and the beautiful front cover and I was not disappointed. Gripping and twisty, I absolutely devoured this book.

I can't wait to read more books by this author in the future.

Was this review helpful?

I would firstly like to thank Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Keep your friends close and your enemies even closer! That's how the saying goes, right?
And it could be more true! Full of jealousy, lies, betrayal, and scandal, this book definitely kept me at the edge of my seat, constantly guessing who would go so far, and why, to ruin their 'friend's' life. Shocking!
A tad bit slow at the start, but the more I read, the more interested I got, and then came that conclusion! A read I definitely recommend!

Was this review helpful?

This book started so well. I was hooked right from the start!
As a teacher, the idea of social media and 'revenge porn' terrifies me!
The protagonist of this story has to deal with this, and I felt for her straight away.
The premise of this was fab!!

However, I felt really let down by the book. The ending was naff and the pacing felt really off. After being incredibly invested in the book all the way through I felt really let down by the ending. Also, the book overall was quite long, and I think it could have had a good hundred pages cut to make it even more pacey.

I did enjoy the book, but I just felt the ending was a let down. With a thriller you're always wanting to know 'who-dunnit' and this book was no exception. However, when you found out 'who-dunnit' there was very little reasoning behind it.
i enjoyed the writing style though, and would most likely be reading Caroline Corcoran again.

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for my copy.

Scarlett has worked hard to re-invent herself and leave her wild past behind her. Whilst on maternity leave she is writing a blog detailing her perfect life as a yummy mummy and wife.

As she returns to the office she is greeted by stares and whispers from her co-workers. Someone has sent a shocking video to everyone in her office of Scarlett from her wild youth. Scarlet flees the office but then is confronted with the fact the video has been sent to all her family and friends as well.

The only people not on the receiving list are the group of mothers Scarlett has made friends with since the birth of her baby. Who is to blame for the leaked video? Who can she trust as all her relationships become strained?

I felt very sorry for Scarlett being thoroughly humiliated but she was a bit uppity and full of smug importance. Having said that my sympathy lay entirely with her and loss of dignity.Her husband Ed was very unlikeable and and unsupportive.

This was a great read with an absorbing plot and believable characters.

Was this review helpful?

Released 17 September 2020

This one is hard to review. It took me a while to get into it and then I got engrossed and then it dragged and then the end was a big cliche.

This book follows Scarlett salloway, mummy blogger moved to the country side from the city. As the title implies it revolves heavily around the group of women Scarlett did antenatal classes with.

Lots of drama, some of it unexpected and others blatantly obvious well to me anyway.

I enjoyed the friendships, if you can call it that, I feel like so many woman could probably relate to the situation of feeling like you have nothing in common with other mums other than the obvious bonding of that you are all mother's! I enjoyed delving into Scarlett past, and I liked seeing her and eds relationship. I found alot of it relatable.

The parts I didn't really like were when she finds out who did the deed, I found that part repetitive and to be dragged out. Honestly without the main plot of the sex tape, I would have just enjoyed reading about scarlett and her life.

Was this review helpful?

It's so hard to find good genuine people these days. Everyone is usually hiding something or using you for some unknown reason.

Scarlett seems to live a charmed life. That is if you believe everything she posts to social media and her blog. We all know that there is always something below the glossy venire. Even if it is something from years ago that would never have been thought of again.

Once a video from Scarlett's past surfaces everything changes. She becomes the stay at home mom, but not the ideal one her husband would have preferred. Tormented by who could possibly have done this, Scarlett starts to search for the culprit. Starting in the past and working her way forward.

Scarlett wouldn't anticipate the mountain of deceit that she is about to uncover and the lies that have been lying just beneath the surface.

The Baby Group was a very gripping and thought provoking book. Making you question how well you know the ones you trust the most.

Was this review helpful?

The author’s 1st book ‘Through the Wall’ was really good, I have read the 2nd book can be difficult especially if the 1st a success, not so with this book, its awesome
And yet I nearly passed this one by re the title ( I don’t think it gives enough feel of the book and sounds like its all about babies ) but read the blurb and knew it was for me!

Scarlett, half reluctantly, half excitedly, goes back to her job in the City after maternity leave in her Country cottage with Ed her hubby and her baby Poppy.....as she strides into her workplace she feels her colleagues are avoiding her, looking the other way or looking nervously through her
She is flummoxed by their reception until she is led into a boardroom and her boss tells her everyone has had a copy of a ‘sex tape’ and its her, from years ago, with 2 men...as the day goes on she finds out everyone in her life has had it, her Dad, Sister, in-laws, friends, literally everyone...everyone except that is her 3 New Mummy friends she met at pre birth classes, the 3 people bar her hubby she is closest to, trusts and loves
But as the book progresses she ( and we ) learn never to trust anyone as a multi layered deception is underway, one she would never, could never imagine and when she finds out the bitter, nasty truth well the real fireworks start
Awesomely written, draws you in and just never lets you go, shocking, dark, yet at times humorous you will finish the book with a WOW knowing you have read an incredibly good book

10/10
5 Stars

Was this review helpful?

Scarlett attended an antenatal class with Cora, Emma, and Asha. Her precious little girl, Poppy, is now the age where Scarlett can return to work. She has has a successful blog called Cheshire Mama. Scarlett is married to Ed, a wealthy financial manager. In her much younger days, Scarlett drank a lot, did drugs, and had sex with lots of men. It is a past of which she is very ashamed. Today, a video pops up of her having sex with two different men. It has been sent to her friends, family, and co-workers. Scarlett is shocked and humiliated wondering who would have done this to her. She hunts down the men involved and they both swear they did not post the video.

She checks with an attorney and internet expert to see if they can help her find who posted the video. Meanwhile, her marriage to Ed is slowly crumbling and she is getting odd messages from someone tormenting her about her past. Who would do this and why?

As this take unfolds, we see lots of selfish and self-centered people. I am becoming more and more against social media and this book has pushed me to finally delete my Facebook account, and to congratulate myself for never opening an Instagram account. Why share every minute of your life with no-telling what nutcase out there? The book lays it all out - the grit, the dirt, and the weird side of people. I rather feel like I need a shower after reading it. Thrillers like this beckon me to bow to the incredible imaginations of authors.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Review for The Baby Group by Caroline Corcoran.
This is such an amazing book! In it, we follow Scarlett, a new mum who has her sex tape leaked online. This has a huge impact on Scarlett's life and family.
I was on the edge of my seat throughout this book, I was so eager to find out who had leaked the tape and why. I always like to make up theories but genuinely didn't see this coming.
It's gripping from the first page, I was so invested in the characters, even the ones I hated (if you've read this, you know who I'm talking about).
I found myself rooting for Scarlett and ached for her as this chaos took over her life.
A five star read that I would definitely recommend!
And the best bit ?
This is out right now!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this copy to review!

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely loved this book! You are taken through twists and turns, as a woman experiences the ultimate nightmare, in the digital world we live in. It was scary to see just how far her world toppled because of the horrible and rash actions, of someone who knew way to much about her.

I loved the level of detail, and that the main character actually found herself along the way, as well as stumbling through the horrible journey she was forced along. The detail in the world and the story definitely made it very easy to become part of the story, and really feel as though I was there with her, as things fell apart. I liked that there were several different types of characters and they interacted in a very real way, most of them brought together by a simple baby group.

The pace flowed nicely, really giving you a sense of urgency, but still giving you time to take in everything happening and make your own guesses about who was causing it.

Overall, an absolutely brilliant book and one I very highly recommend!

Was this review helpful?

The Baby Group is a thriller that had me go round in circles to get my head around who the blackmailer was.
Scarlett is mum to Poppy and lives a lovely life with her husband, as Scarlett is on maternity leave she has started a blog and blogs several times a day about her perfect family, house and life. At anti natal classes she meets Cora, Emma and Asha and they meet up regularly now the babies have been born. One year on and Scarlett is returning to work but when she gets there it becomes apparent that someone has emailed a link to all her family, friends and work colleagues something from her past that is very embarrassing. She tries to get the link taken down but it is all too late and she finds herself trying to find out who would do such a thing.
The chapters are from Scarlett’s point of view with the occasional chapter from anon and trying to work out who that is, is a headbanger. This was a well thought out thriller and one I enjoyed.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Avon Books UK for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Scarlett, Cora, Emma and Asha have been friends since meeting at their NCT Baby Group while pregnant. They have become a lovely, supportive group helping each other through the first year of their babies lives and appear to be the only friends that Scarlett has left after a sex tape of her is leaked to all of her other friend, family and work colleagues…including some of her clients. Someone doesn’t want to just hurt Scarlett, but they want to destroy her!

This followed a great plot, Scarlett was 23 years old when she made the sex tape, with two men after a devastating life event through to showing up years later in the inboxes of everyone she knows. The analysis of who could have sent it, working through each person, especially when not many knew, combined with her feelings around it, to returning to work after having her baby and then virtually being kicked out again straight away. Who would want to destroy her life so much? What was she missing?

Told in three points of view, mainly Scarlett’s, then Emma and finally the ‘anonymous’ persons voice, they have obviously been hurt and upset by Scarlett and her actions, but the reason why doesn’t become clear until the end of the book. In between is a complicated story of suspicions of love affairs, disputes between friends and the shame and embarrassment that Scarlett feels now that she has been exposed.

The characters are well developed, some appear to be more filler than necessary to the story but on the whole, they are easy to identify with. Scarlett has some lovely people around her and some not so nice which becomes clearer through the story.

I really enjoyed this and, although I had some ideas who published the video it wasn’t obvious and wasn’t the person I thought it was. It’s all well wrapped up at the end as well which is always great to see, we know who did it and why ad the theories behind their thinking. A great read from Caroline Corcoran!

Was this review helpful?

Wow wow wow! The Baby Group totally sucked me in and if you've been part of a playgroup or love stories about mommy drama (and don’t we all?), it will grab you too.

"My narrative is unravelling. It can't come out."

Scarlett Salloway has it all - a successful and handsome husband, a beautiful baby girl, a picture-perfect house in the English countryside, a great group of friends, and a mommy blog on which she shows it all off. But when someone sends a steamy video from her past to everyone she knows, her world starts to unravel. She has to find out who's trying to ruin her life before they can reveal anything else but little does Scarlett know that the person threatening everything she loves is someone in her inner circle...

This is such a fun domestic drama/thriller! I loved that the "crime" was committed via social media and using technology, and the story revolves around Scarlett trying to maintain this glossy world she's created and has everyone believing. We're all guilty of this in some way now - the social media "reality" vs. actual reality - and it makes for a great backdrop. Corcoran really nails mommy group friendships - from the desperation for adult connection when you have newborns, even when it's with people you have nothing in common with, to the competitive and judgmental nature of mom friends - and I laughed out loud multiple times at Scarlett's sassy and snarky feelings about her "besties" and life as a mom who's coming undone.

If you loved Big Little Lies, check out The Baby Group which is out today. I was surprised by its twists and didn't want to say goodbye to Scarlett when it was over. I totally would have been her mom friend.

Thanks to NetGalley, Avon Books and the author for an advanced copy to review.

Was this review helpful?

An engrossing and captivating read which started out light and got very dark very quickly!

Scarlett is a new mum who, on the face of it, has it all; handsome husband, pretty baby, house in the Cheshire countryside, high-flying job in Manchester and - to top it all off - a successful blog. Life is golden until, that is, someone posts a video online from her past when Scarlett's life was a lot less than perfect. Everyone she interacts with has seen the shaming video except her mum friends. So who spilt the beans?

I eased into this thinking it would be on the lighter side but, boy, was I wrong! We all have things from our past (don't we?) that isn't common fodder but Scarlett's is a whopper. It's very easy to put yourself in her place and empathise. This is a good read which flows easily throughout, displaying a surfeit of emotions from a well-drawn character. I liked that the chapters were headed with who was currently narrating - that makes reading a lot less of a guessing game! With a cracking twist at the very end, The Baby Group is an enjoyable and unpredictable read and Caroline Corcoran is definitely an author I would read again. Recommended, and well worth 4*.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

Was this review helpful?