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pixiedust_'s review against another edition
3.0
Zoje Stage's thriller novel "Baby Teeth" initially captivated my attention with its gripping premise and intriguing characters. The story had a promising start, but as it progressed towards the climax, I found myself yearning for a clearer explanation or conclusion regarding the nature of Hanna's behavior. The uncertainty prevented me from fully immersing myself in the story and left me with some unanswered questions.
Stage did a wonderful job of creating a suspenseful atmosphere from the very beginning, whereby the dynamic between Hanna (the daughter) and Suzanne (the mother) was particularly well developed. Suzanne's increasing desperation to understand her daughter's disturbing actions brings out a sense of unease and tension that keeps the reader engaged.
However, as the narrative unfolded and we witnessed Hanna's unsettling behavior escalate, the story failed to provide a definitive answer as to whether she was possessed or dealing with a mental illness or disorder. While this ambiguity can work well in some thrillers, in "Baby Teeth," it left me feeling sort of unsatisfied. I was left wondering if the author intended to leave room for interpretation or if the lack of resolution was an oversight.
Another thing was that I LOATHED that bum of a husband, Alex who exhibited an alarming level of ignorance and denial. That man refused to acknowledge the gravity of the situation until his wife's life was directly threatened. Their (both Alex and Suzanne) lack of proactive parenting and failure to address the unfolding dangers left me exasperated and disappointed.
Despite these shortcomings, "Baby Teeth" is an enjoyable and suspenseful thriller. I’d recommend "Baby Teeth" to fans of psychological thrillers, with the caveat that some aspects may leave you wanting more.
Stage did a wonderful job of creating a suspenseful atmosphere from the very beginning, whereby the dynamic between Hanna (the daughter) and Suzanne (the mother) was particularly well developed. Suzanne's increasing desperation to understand her daughter's disturbing actions brings out a sense of unease and tension that keeps the reader engaged.
However, as the narrative unfolded and we witnessed Hanna's unsettling behavior escalate, the story failed to provide a definitive answer as to whether she was possessed or dealing with a mental illness or disorder. While this ambiguity can work well in some thrillers, in "Baby Teeth," it left me feeling sort of unsatisfied. I was left wondering if the author intended to leave room for interpretation or if the lack of resolution was an oversight.
Another thing was that I LOATHED that bum of a husband, Alex who exhibited an alarming level of ignorance and denial. That man refused to acknowledge the gravity of the situation until his wife's life was directly threatened. Their (both Alex and Suzanne) lack of proactive parenting and failure to address the unfolding dangers left me exasperated and disappointed.
Despite these shortcomings, "Baby Teeth" is an enjoyable and suspenseful thriller. I’d recommend "Baby Teeth" to fans of psychological thrillers, with the caveat that some aspects may leave you wanting more.
aziraphale2000's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5. Everything was great till the ending... it just... petered out.
grace_rangel's review against another edition
2.0
I do not understand the negative reviews this book received other than that Alex--the husband--is insufferable and, in fact, a terrible husband and father. Baby Teeth was a delightful, vivid read, and I couldn't put it down. It is not the smartest book I've ever read, and I think it would have been far better with some more twists and turns, but it was still a blast to read. Content-wise, it was surprisingly clean(er) than I expected, with some language and a few (non-descript) sex scenes. This book was fun and gave what it promised: a psychopathic child.
allyspencer1's review against another edition
2.0
The entire book was weird, and the ending??? What even
mikas44's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
bgumlaw's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
lakinlindsey's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
amullally's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
4/5 - slow paced, but never boring. This is what you want “We Need To Talk About Kevin” to be.
One thing that bothered me was that the MC has Crohns and can’t eat flour, but she ate toast once at the restaurant.
One thing that bothered me was that the MC has Crohns and can’t eat flour, but she ate toast once at the restaurant.
lindahiggins's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to read this book because it sounded similar to what I went through for four years.. Had so much potential, but I got bored with it toward the end because it felt like repetition in a lot of pages. The ending was very anticlimactic, and unless there is a second part to this book in the future, the ending sucked.