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The beginning is extremely slow and kind of difficult to get through but picks up very fast around chapter 19/20..

The characters and the amount of times cheating was brought up in this book was insufferable.

Thank you net galley for allowing me to read this arc. This book just wasn’t for me 🙃

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Thank you Joffe Books and NetGalley for an early copy of The Baby Group. This was a Fantastic Fast read. I Loved the characters except Alex. I felt like I was in the plot with the women. There were many different emotions through the chapters, I was extremely sad for Darcy at the beach. The birth part was extremely graphic, wow that was intense to read. When it all came together, you realize how CRAZY this book really is! I have never heard of this author, I hope to read more books by her.

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Darcie and Alex have been together less than a year, now they're just weeks away from the birth of their baby. They've moved from London to a lovely seaside town, and decide to join the local antenatal class in order to make new friends. Everyone seems lovely except from Lucy. She seems to take a disliking to Darcie, and yet somehow is getting very close to Alex.
As due dates get nearer, Darcie is sure something is going on. She just isn't sure what.

Okay, so this one was a little difficult for me to get into at first. It was mostly Darcie constantly whining that she had no friends, and how she felt left out of groups when she did make friends, and feeling jealous and constantly freaking out on Alex about his previous infidelity. Then it was her going to the antenatal classes, meeting other women who all made her feel jealous about the way she looks, and attempting to become friends while desperately clinging on to Alex. Most of this time was spent talking about birthing plans and pain relief and babies in general. I get it, it's a story about a group of pregnant women. But having been a pregnant woman, we do have other things to talk about. It would have been nice for there to be some kind of break in the baby talk.
However, once we get into the last third of the book, things start getting interesting. One by one, the women start having their babies, and Lucy is trying to be friendly with Darcie. Things all seem great until Darcie starts being snubbed by the group and realises they're all meeting up without her. Drama unfolds and she's left with no one around her but Alex who is a dick. Then Darcie has her baby. What happens is terrible and scary, and we finally start getting to the "thrilling" part. Secrets come out, and it's filled with tension. The final twists in the epilogue are what made me round my rating from a 3.5 to a 4*. It took me the better part of 2 days to read this purely because it just wasn't gripping me to start with.

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I've been so excited to read this book and it certainly didn't disappoint. Beautiful, engaging writing and fully developed characters who you love to hate. I won't lie. I didn't particularly like any of them but I think that was the point!

It's certainly a slow burn. Not a huge amount happens until well past the half way point so I did find things a little slow which is my reason for 4 stars. Personally, I didn't feel the usual tension at the start either as I already knew what was going to happen from reading the blurb.

But boy, when things kick off, it's an all out rollercoaster! Did I see the twists coming? One of them, yes. The other? Heck no! A brilliantly executed twist!

I can't wait to read more from this author. Possibly a future sequel? We shall see! Highly recommended for readers who love their thrillers on the slow burn side.

P.S. I had mental flashbacks to my own pregnancy and giving birth! 🤣🤣 that was traumatic enough!

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A great debut! There was a lot of baby and birth talk in this novel, it brought back a lot of memories for me - thankfully good ones! I enjoyed this novel. It was well structured and thought out. I liked Darcy but throughout I kept thinking there was something missing - well, the answer to that came later. They say love is blind. Clearly it is in this instance! Alex was a funny character, I liked how he developed throughout the story. Without writing any spoilers, a good read with fast turning pages. I’ll look forward to the next book by this author.

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Psychological thriller with almighty twists..
Six mothers to be one of them is lying.
Henceforth anti natal classes cornwall north coast.
Darcy recently moving from London with her partner Alex it's a good way to make new friends.
Lucy, Dora, Carmen, violet and Rachel all mothers to be all start at the same time.
A mind-blowing creepy read from start to finish that I found so unputdownable absolutely brilliant.
Loved it.

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🌟🌟🌟.5

The prologue does not hold back!! It get's right into it setting the eerie feel to this book right from the start. I felt so much frustration and anger for Darcy when everyone was trying to make her appear crazy and doubt herself, it really set a creepy atmosphere around the book.

I love a psychological thriller and this had such a good concept. There were parts of the book where I couldn't put it down but it took a bit off a lull in the middle and didn't really start to get going until nearer the end. I loved the twist when it was revealed who Lucy was, it tied the story line up so well. Although the twist with Lucy was great it then ment you could see the twist with Alex a mile off, it was a bit predictable.

I'm not sure if the back story with the murders at Lucy's house was really needed, it was mentioned at the start then just forgoten about till the end. This also just made her a total psycho. If this didn't happen her character would of maybe been a bit more likeable and you could understand why she did what she did to Darcy. I think the plot about the crash would of been enough then it would of been a devistating story about two mothers just desperate to have their babies.

The last part of the book was reminding me of the handmaids tale. I was nearly shouting at my book for Darcy to manage and get her phone so she could get help. It was heartbreaking.

I loved the ending, I thought it was a really clever way to end the book. An other twist added in there that I didn't see coming!!!

Over all this was a great thriller, it didn't hook me like some other psychological thrillers have but I wanted to keep reading and it was really well written. A great thriller to add to your tbr.

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Review: Twisty and Tense, But a Frustrating Lead and One Big Plot Hole

I’d give this a 3.5 if I could—closer to a 4 because the plot really pulled me in. The twist was strong, the pacing kept me turning pages, and the supporting cast added plenty of tension and intrigue.

That said, the main character was difficult to connect with. She came across as insecure, needy, and constantly second-guessing herself. I found myself wishing she were more assertive or self-aware, especially given how justified some of her suspicions ended up being. Her lack of confidence and jealousy made her seem passive in situations where I wanted her to rise up and take control.

Also, there’s a pretty glaring plot hole involving the fiancé’s mother. Without giving anything away, her obliviousness just didn’t make sense given what we find out. It felt like a loose thread that should have been tied up more cleanly.

Still, the tension built nicely and the mystery paid off in the end. The book explores the complexities of motherhood, trust, and isolation in an interesting way, and the setting added a haunting atmosphere. Worth a read if you enjoy twisty domestic thrillers, but be prepared for a main character who might wear your patience thin.

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Thrillers are not my usual thing, but I usually enjoy them when I do read them, and picked this one out because the author made some great booktube videos.
That being said, I really enjoyed this book. I could hardly put it down, because I knew something weird was going on and just didn’t know what. And I knew that the weird thing from the main character’s past would somehow have something to do with it.
There were a couple of very predictable moments but this was overall a very well thought out book.

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Darcy is reading a JoJi Notes romance novel. Carrying a Kate Spade on the train. "The guy from The London Underground had become my rock and very quickly my family." The Baby Group starts out with a seemingly normal couple starting a new life outside London at a beach house in Cornwall "Rick")

Very quickly. Darcy becomes extremely jealous. I immediately suspect someone from her childbirth class is going to steal her baby.

It's funny to read about how eager/excited/nervous new parents (& those to be) are to make new friends.

Darcy seems very needy and I question how Alex puts up with her. She is constantly comparing herself to the others. It's so unattractive and annoying.

And it just goes downhill very quickly. They pregnant women are playing truth or dare and they are cold stone sober drinking cocktails.

I kept reading until atc80% in it was so farfetched that I was DONE.

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This book turned out to be quite a ride!

It’s a slow burn psychological thriller that starts off feeling more like drama than anything truly sinister, which, let’s be honest, can still keep you turning pages 😅.
The talk about babies and the antenatal group was a lot at times, but that might just be me. (I’m personally long done with pregnancy and baby talk 😂)

The last third really picked up and brought in some dark and twisted turns that kept me hooked. Darcy’s thought patterns were sometimes frustratingly blind to the obvious, and Alex made me really hate him. Everything built up to something quite unsettling and I have to admit that I guessed wrong about who's the biggest bitch. 😅

What I really liked is that even after finishing, I’m still thinking about it... I’d definitely read a second part if there ever was one and I hope there will be. (Don't leave me hanging, please)

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I love love loved this book so much. This is one of my Fave tropes, Jade is a new Author for me and I cant wait to binge more from her. This book was packed with twists and turns and I couldn't get through it fast enough.

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ooh this was one tense and exciting book and it had me gripped from the very beginning.
Darcie and Alex have moved from the busy streets of London to the peaceful seaside town as they are getting read for the birth of their child. finding the antenatal class seems like the perfect way to meet people who are in the same boat whilst also meeting new friend in their new community. everyone seems great. until they dont. and one in particular seems to take a dislike to Darcie and a certain to much like for Alex. doesn't she?
is Darcie and her insecurities playing mind games or are others playing mind games and using her condition to get away with it? or is this move, these people helping to see the cracks in herself and her relationship. as a reader you are constantly wondering if you are being played too either by the characters or the author, lol. is the narrator reliable?
as the book goes on you become more invested, you see more things or think you see more things. tensions become obvious between the relationships. and all the while Darcie seems to be going somewhere darker.
the pacing of this book took you all the way through with that same eeeek feeling and right up until the ending when it all starts to come together or should i say fall apart!
it all came together and finished just as brilliantly as the rest of the book. there was no tailing off or lessening of plot brilliance at any point throughout the book.
this book was brill.

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Amazing, although from the start you can see things coming, at the end is full of surprises and plot twists.

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I wasn't sure what to expect from this book having never read anything by the author before but I loved it.
I was hooked from the start.
all Darcy wants is to make new friends and is trying so hard, very easily led and not the best judge of character.
She finally thinks her life has turned in the right direction but doesn't realise what is going on right under her nose. Her past is about to be dragged up in the worst possible way and her life will take a shocking turn.
I had the plot all figured out in my head, I couldn't have been further from the truth!
Can't wait for the next book!

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I thoroughly enjoyed The Baby Group, it's a slow burn domestic thriller, with surprisingly sinister undertones. The story was paced well and it allowed the feelings of dread and disgust to build up before delivering the blow. I admire Jade's ability to create such awful characters, I don't think I've ever developed such a dislike to a character before! I think you could say I 'hate read' this book, I was desperate to get to the part where some kind of justice was served. 🥲

Some parts of it were maybe a little over the top, but hey! This book delivered and knowing as well that it was a debut, it was fantastic!

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I received an ARC copy of this book from Netgalley. I don’t do spoilers but I will say it was a fun , face paced read. This was my first book by this author and I will be looking out for more of her books. I left this review on Goodreads.

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The premise really intrigued me - a couple expecting a baby moves to a new town and joins a baby group, pretty harmless right? Think again.

There were so many good twists, although I did find the writing to be a tad repetitive at times. Overall, a good debut novel for Jade Lee Wright!

Thank you Joffe Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

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Alex and Darcy moved from their London apartment to a beach house on the coast before their baby arrives. Darcy joins a moms to be group in town. The group gets together to chat about names, the registry, etc. All the mommas are cool except one, Lucy, who is giving off vibes. This is a quick, twisty read. Thank you to Joffe Books and NetGalley for a copy.

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Such a good psychological thriller - it is the very definition of unputdownable!

Darcy and fiancé Alex have moved to a small community to start new lives with the baby they are expecting. In an attempt to meet new people they enrol for an antenatal group. As hoped they bond with these other couples, but Darcy finds a couple of the other women she warms to less, one she actively avoids. We learn early on that Darcy has some trauma in her past that cause her night terrors and has given her physical scars. As the pregnancy wears on strange things happen to make Darcy question whether someone is out to get her - is she paranoid or....

Great, great novel and an author I am definitely following for new releases!


My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an advance copy.

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