Thank you so much to net galley for sending me a copy of this book. I was so excited going into it and I was not disappointed.

This is a story about motherhood, lies and betrayal. You never really know who you can trust is my feelings when reading this book. The main character is Scarlett after having a baby, she like many mums meets up with the other mums from the baby group. Scarlett has a past and unfortunately it decides to rear its ugly head in a very dramatic and life changing way for her, but who is behind it?and will Scarlett's life every be the same again? There are twists and turns, and it had me gripped, I had my suspicions, but I was wrong. Another good read from Caroline and I look forward to the next book.

A pacy read, I think when you get a group of characters like this, you're always in for a bit of a ride. Loved the twists and turns. A great book for anybody looking for a story they can't put down

Wow. Great novel. Kept me hooked from the first page right through to the last. Great character development throughout

As the title suggests this book revolves around the relatively new friendships made with new Mums. However, all is not as it seems when Scarlett discovers that a video of her when she was younger has been posted online and sent to all her family, friends and work colleagues with devastating consequences.
I found the book rather slow to start off with but it picked up pace halfway through the book and I enjoyed the twists, turns and deceptions and the ending which I didn't see coming.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Wow! I've never read anything by Caroline Corcoran but I'm definitely going to purchase more of her novels. This was an excellent read. Didn't take me long to finish it at all. I could not put this book down. It was a compelling and chilling read. It really makes you question who you can actually trust.
I received an advanced readers copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A tense thriller kept me reading late into the night.An author whose books I will be devouring.Will be recommending to all multilayered thriller lovers,#netgalley#avonbooks Uk

SPOILER-FREE REVIEW: The Baby Group, by Caroline Corcoran, is set to be released by Avon Books UK on September 17, 2020, but I couldn’t find a preorder date or release date on Amazon or B&N for the United States at this time. The book is a mystery/thriller novel about a woman named Scarlett whose world crashes in around her as she prepares to return to work after maternity leave...because someone in her baby group, whom she considers a close friend, is ready to watch Scarlett's life go down in flames.

PLOT RUNDOWN/BASICS: Scarlett is a 35-year-old wife and mother, living with her husband Ed in the (very) small town of Cheshire, England. For the past year, her life has been centered on her maternity leave with her daughter, Poppy, who is just shy of her first birthday when we first meet Scarlett. Finances are becoming tight after spending twelve months at home with her child, and she's reluctantly ready to leave her days of baby classes and coffee meet-ups with her four baby-group friends to re-enter the business world. She's worked on becoming a successful Instagram blogger and has 7500 followers, but while she receives free baby equipment and swag for running Chesire Mama, she's yet to turn it into a money-making venture. In her previous pre-mom life, Scarlett was a star in the world of marketing and social media at her job in Manchester...and while she's filled with dread at the thought of leaving her daughter with a stranger during the day, she feels the tiniest bit of excitement at the thought of spending her days conversing with other adults and making her own food choices. Her husband, a successful accountant for a large firm, is also stoically pushing Scarlett to rejoin the workforce and take some of the financial pressure off...which she finds frustrating, considering his seeming lack of interest in sharing the parental responsibilities at home, even as they enter a dual-working partnership.

Scarlett's former friends and coworkers have seemingly fallen by the wayside in recent months, and she's becoming exceedingly close to three women she met in her antenatal classes during the last months of her pregnancy - Cora, Emma, and Asha. They created phone trees, group texts, and eventually playdates...and having 3 babies the same age has led them to spending multiple weekdays together doing mom-and-me activities and taking some of the pressures off of motherhood. They order each other coffee drinks, hold babies for bathroom breaks, and even feed each other when they're breastfeeding. Scarlett realizes that she's honestly sad about losing her regular playdates with her new friends, but she assumes that they've gotten so close that they'll remain good friends even as she tries to resume a normal working schedule in Manchester, with a 30-minute commute.

But Scarlett's entry back into the workforce begins with a bang that blows up her entire life. Her blog shows her perfectly curated life at home with Ed and Poppy, and her gatherings with her mom friends and their children...but before she was married and "properly posh" Scarlett, she was "wild-and-free" Scarlett. Someone who partied all night, drank and did drugs during the day, and who once - in a fit of grief and rebellion after losing a pregnancy - agreed to a filmed three-way with her boyfriend and a male friend. And that film was not destroyed, nor did it disappear. And now, as Scarlett discovers while re-entering the halls and offices of her employer, it's been resurrected...and sent to literally every person she knows. All of her coworkers, her father, her husband, her in-laws...everyone, it seems, except her new mom friends.

Scarlett works hard to maintain the facade for her mom friends, keeping mum about the tape...but the rest of her world falls in around her. Her husband, who has always been uptight and private, becomes disappointed and distant. Together they hire a lawyer, who tells them that they can eventually remove the video from online...but that first, she should work to gather concrete evidence and figure out who has motive to destroy her life by posting it in the first place. But just as Scarlett begins her investigation, we as readers learn - through chapters written by someone titled "anonymous" - that the threat to her marriage, her job, and her role as a dedicated mother is much closer to home than she could have imagined. Because one of the three women in her baby group is the person who is actively trying to destroy her life...and she'll go to ANY lengths to keep her from finding a way to pick up the pieces, including revealing even more damning secrets that Scarlett is desperate to keep hidden from her past.

MY THOUGHTS: This was my first book by Corcoran, but I will pick up and read almost any British thriller I can get my hands on. The version of the book that I read was the British release, and it took me a good 30-50 pages (and the occasional use of Google) to get used to all of the non-Americanized slang like "WAGs" and "Noughties music" and all of the British pop-culture references. (And as someone who has read so many British novels that I regularly think of elevators as lifts, parking lots as car parks, and "bloody hell" as a great curse...I was stunned at how much work apparently goes into translating a British novel for us across-the-pond readers.)

Corcoran writes in a very stream-of-consciousness way, where it seems as if we're literally hearing every single thought that goes through Scarlett's head as she lives through the experiences in the novel. If you're used to a thriller novel that has more mystery and an unpredictable narrator (think "The Girl on the Train," "The Woman in the Window," or just generally Ruth Ware), this can be disconcerting or hard to get used to...but I was able to appreciate the raw honesty and emotion that this evoked after Scarlett's life starts to fall apart. She spirals through grief, shame, and a desperation to find out who is doing this to her and why...and in the process, reveals many raw truths about the difficulties in being a wife and mother right now. In regards to leaving her daughter with a child-minder during the day, she says, “I’ve overdone it. Even I know it. But if you pack enough bags, the feelings of guilt can perhaps be squashed under their weight. If you buy enough stuff, perhaps what you can’t purchase - time with your daughter, sanity, a mind that isn’t running away with thoughts about the right time to get out Doggy Dog - isn’t as obvious.”

Scarlett’s journey in this book becomes as much a voyage of self-discovery as it does an earnest desire to find out who is trying to ruin her life and marriage. She begins to realize that she doesn’t know her friends from the baby group as much as she thought she did - “We might not have each other’s job titles down, but we know each other’s judgments,” she says. And these judgments among women - the harshest critics, it seems, of other women - seem to be the impetus for what is happening to Scarlett. Her former boss sends her a text to tell her that no one is judging her at the office, and her response? “And I laugh. Because everyone is judging me every day, everyone is judging everyone every day. What they’re posting, what they’re wearing, what they’re ordering, where they’re going. What their job is, who they’re married to, what car they drive, what make their bag is. Sling a sex tape into the mix though and you up the stakes.”

Those snap judgments often lead to fractures in relationships, especially when combined with a heavy dose of anxiety, likely mental illness, and our imperfectly incorrect impressions of other people. Throw these things together in a fiction novel, and you get an unsuspecting victim of an explosive powder keg of rage, which is what happens to Scarlett. She is betrayed by people she believed were her friends, and she has to learn when to stand up for her marriage, her choices, and her friends...and when to let go. By the end of the book, she’s undergone an intense and dark personal transformation...but there is a ray of hope that, just maybe, she walks away in a better situation than you would have imagined existed in the deepest dregs of the story.

To be completely honest, I was doubtful at first that I would like this book; the language and style of writing was a bit much for my liking at first, but I was really won over by the time that Scarlett headed in for her fateful first day back at work. I found myself nodding along with Scarlett’s brutal and honest observations about marriage, relationships, and motherhood, and about what it’s like trying to be honest with the world (especially on social media) about who you are without seeming TOO happy and successful (smug), or TOO depressed and unlucky (ungrateful): “What a precarious balance it is, I think, of being happy in public but not too happy. Celebrating your wins but not being smug. Making it clear that you’ve had your allocated amount of shit times without spending your life moaning. I am drained, thinking about it.” Scarlett’s experience in The Baby Group is an extreme version of what happens when you spend more time worrying about keeping up that delicate balance than you do learning about the people you allow into your life.

Wow!! What a book - totally absorbing, thrilling and heart stopping. Caroline Corcoran manages to convey all the emotions the protagonist is feeling - at times I was holding my breath. A brilliant psychological thriller that I will be recommending to all my friends.

Simply a great book!!
I loved this - easy to read, well written, great characters, believable, and I would thoroughly recommend you read this.

I have now bought the Authors first book as I enjoyed this so much.

4/5🌟 #TheBabyGroup
•
Definite binge worthy read - keeps you engaged throughout the book. Strong plot and it did not disappoint!
•
What makes it even more interesting is that each chapter is told by different character, taking you closer to the truth each page at the time!
•
The relationships between characters are intense, relatable and raw. So easy to lose yourself in this book, really struggled to put this book down and come back to reality!
•
Looking forward to reading more work by the author! Thank you #NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Well written story. Kept me engaged the entire time. A page turner for sure! Looking forward to reading more books by this author!

The Baby Group is about Scarlett, an mummy blogger whose embarrassing secret from the past is revealed and turns her life around. She navigates her marriage and baby group trying to discover who did it, and why.

This was my first "mummy" novel (if there is such a genre) and I didn't mind it at all. The book is told from the point of view of various characters, and each chapter takes you closer to the truth.... which is totally not what you were expecting! The twist is really good and the ending is satisfying, although bittersweet.

Definitely looking forward to Caroline's next novel.

Disclosure: I'd like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for my advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

https://jemimareads.wordpress.com/
https://www.instagram.com/jemimareadsofficial

I really enjoyed ‘The Baby Group’ having been drawn in by the promise of a plot based around the unique friendship that comes with the meeting of women bonded by a shared entry to motherhood.

Where this NCT group takes a departure from the norm is that this one involves a sex tape! We quickly learn of Scarlett experiencing the ultimate mortification - having a sex tape, which had long since been relegated to her youth, anonymously emailed to her work colleagues, friends and relatives!

Told through the dual narrative of Scarlett and ‘Anon’ we are quickly led to believe that one of Scarlett’s mum friends bears a serious grudge against her! But who and why?!

The plot was gripping, the relationships between characters felt real, relatable and authentic. This was the sort of book that was easy to get into, and once it had your attention it had no problem keeping it!

My thanks to Netgalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review.

Really enjoyed this book. Scarlett has finished her maternity leave and is back to her trendy marketing manager job in the city all the usual things she is worried about worried she's lost her edge and is to mum to be the cool trendy person she was before. Little did Scarlett know those were the least of her worries as when she arrives into work she is shown a blast from her past (literally) a video of her an ex boyfriend and another man in more than one compromising position. Her set tape from 15 years ago has been sent to everyone in her life. Everyone that is except her 3 mum friends Emma Asha and Cora. Who has sent out this sex tape and why, sdsrlett needs to look closer to home than she expects.

I loved this book so much its such a page turner I found myself up all night reading until I woke with my glasses still on my face clearly I didn't want to give into my tiredness resd until my body gave in. This story was really interesting and its been a while since I've had a book thats in first person, i find these books alot more personable as if the story is being told to us or we are reading someone's diary. I loved that you got Scarlett's thoughts before she actually replies some of which will have you in stitches if you're anything like me.

I found the characters very relatable, even as someone without children, i could really see the way in which the need to present yourself as all together for those around you is common. It brings into play the roles of motherhood and the judgements that individuals place on themselves and the perceived perfection required from others. People often don't want to hear how much we are struggling its easier for everything to be okay. So I found the way Scarlett handle herself post see tape leak very relatable.

Further it touches upon different types of mental health issues that can often be misjudged by ourselves and others; anxiety, prsd, post natal depression, ocd and a breakdown. I feel Caroline Corcoran really wrote these well and subtly as not to over shadow the story but so they are there.

The character Anon is every few chapters. They're the person who has blown Scarlett's life apart. It's very interesting to have these inserts because having read a lot from Scarlett's perspective, seeing how she is coming across to others is great and why infact this person has done what they've done to her.
I did manage to guess who the character was but I didn't get the rationale as to why they did what they did so that was great to find out. Plus an added twist which I did see coming but still fun to read.

I believe when I read about this book it was advertised as a thriller I would day the last few chapters had a thriller element to them but I would have to say this book is very much chick lit which isn't a negative at all just don't expect a crazy thriller because that's not what you will get.
All in all I really enjoyed this book. I loved the characters especially Cora she absolutely cracked me up! I felt that the storyline is every woman's worst nightmare you see taoe being sent to everyone you know including your father and parents in law along with your colleagues. I personally couldn't think of much worse strong lesson on how decisions made whilst young and dumb can come back to haunt you.
The reason I cannot give the book 5 stars is purely this, the book is extremely repetitive. I'm not sure if Corcoran is trying to ram home the change in Scarlett but at points I got very annoyed by it because yes I do knoe that. Thanks though for reminding me ! Again!

A well deserved 4 stars

Thank you Avon Books UK and Nethalley for the ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review.

Ha well that’s one way to start a book. That opening sentence definitely draws a reader in! It tortured me not being able to read this in one sitting, The Baby Group gripped me so much I (almost) pulled a sickie to stay home!

Following mum blogger Scarlett, her sex tape has been released and she’s mortified! Her friends, family, colleagues and even clients have seen it. Her newest friendship group hasn’t been sent the video and she hides within not telling them of her pain. Who send the video and are they closer than Scarlett thinks?

You really question all of the characters. You know it’s someone from within the baby group but who? They’re all so suspicious which made this a delight to read. I love a book that leaves me guessing until the end!

Scarlett was slightly annoying but didn’t deserve any of this. This book is a little evil but I loved it!

This one wasn't for me. It was poorly written and went on and on. The plot is solid and I was interested to find out what was being teased but just got so bogged down in the main character's endless inner monologue. Everything was written three times in slightly different ways. I ended up skimming after about 40% because I did want to know what happened but didn't want to read anymore.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Scarlett, the yummy mummy blogger, currently on maternity leave and enjoying the baby groups with her NCT friends, Cora, Emma and Asha, has a great life. Baby daughter, Poppy and husband, Ed, finish her family. When she returns to work her world crashes when a sex tape is leaked to her work colleagues, family and friends. Something she did a decade earlier is now ruining her life. Who sent it and why? Who can she trust but thankfully her friends are there to help her.
Wow! I was hooked on this book straight away. The writing flowed and the story never lost pace. It was one of those books, I love, when you can imagine as a three part tv show and who would be cast in each role. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

The book is a pretty standard drama about lies, cheating and striving to conceal your past, but still an enjoyable, easy read, that I am happy to recommend.
Scarlett is thoughtful about her actions, regardless of how others see her, and her anxiety and embarrassment about what happens to her comes to life in this story. Although you can work out who the baddie is, you second guess yourself until everything's finally revealed.
I want to thank NetGalley, Avon Book UK and Caroline Corcoran for a pre-publication copy to review.

Scarlett’s perfect life crumbles when a video of her is sent to almost everyone she knows. Her friends in her new mom’s group say they haven’t seen the video, but Scarlett isn’t so sure. Who in her past would do something so underhanded? Who wants to bring her down a peg or two? You know the old saying “keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer”.