Trigger Warning: Baby Teeth contains discussions of pregnancy, infertility, IVF and a scene of pregnancy loss.
Motherhood is often depicted as a perfect, serene journey filled with joy, anticipation and unconditional love. But what happens when that vision of bliss begins to fracture, revealing a darker, more complex reality that forces a woman to question everything she thought she knew?
In her debut novel Baby Teeth, Celia Silvani strips away the comforting façade of modern motherhood, taking readers on a heart-pounding journey into a world where fear, isolation, and blind trust can be just as dangerous as love itself. What begins as a hopeful escape into an online community for expectant mothers soon becomes a sinister web of control, forcing Claire, the protagonist, into a nightmare she can’t wake up from.
Baby Teeth follows the story of Claire, a woman whose long-awaited pregnancy should be a dream come true. Yet, instead of the peace and joy she expected, she finds herself drowning in doubt and anxiety. After relocating to London with her husband, Claire feels more isolated than ever, cut off from her support system and frustrated by the cold, impersonal healthcare system.
In desperate need of reassurance, she turns to an online “natural motherhood” group—an apparently safe haven for like-minded mothers, that promises ultimate autonomy—no doctors, no hospitals, just pure, unfiltered instinct. Initially, it feels like the lifeline she’s been searching for, offering solidarity and comfort in a time of uncertainty. But beneath its warm façade lies a darker truth: compliance is survival, and skepticism is treason.
As Claire becomes more entangled in their world, she begins losing her autonomy, her choices slipping from her grasp, spiraling her into a horror she never anticipated.
Silvani’s storytelling style feels gripping, building a slow-burning tension that burrows under your skin and refuses to let go. She sidesteps cheap thrills and over-the-top twists, opting instead for a more cerebral approach, plunging into the psychological complexities of motherhood, fear, and the need to belong.
What makes Baby Teeth so compelling is its refusal to rely on easy villains; there are none. Just real, flawed women—ordinary yet dangerously devoted—each wrestling with their own insecurities, beliefs, and quiet desperation. Silvani doesn’t vilify these women; she lays bare the terrifying allure of control, exposing the chilling ease with which belonging turns into blind obedience.
The novel’s portrayal of online communities is disturbingly precise—seemingly safe havens that quietly morph into echo chambers, preying on insecurities and reshaping beliefs. It’s a stark reminder of the power digital spaces wield, forcing us to ask: When does support become control?
Beyond its thrilling elements, Baby Teeth is a searing commentary on the intense pressures surrounding pregnancy, autonomy, and the conflicting messages women navigate in a world overflowing with unsolicited advice. Silvani explores these themes without heavy-handedness, instead weaving them into Claire’s story with a raw authenticity. Her descent is frustrating yet painfully plausible, capturing the way anxiety can cloud judgment and how quickly trust can become a trap.
The novel forces readers to confront uncomfortable but crucial questions: Who has the right to dictate a woman’s choices? When does empowerment become control? How much control should we have over our medical decisions? And in a world flooded with conflicting ideologies, who gets to decide what’s truly “best” for a mother and her child?
If there’s one critique, it’s that some side characters—Lily, Taya, Flora, and Claire’s husband, James—feel slightly underdeveloped. While the narrative’s focus is rightfully on Claire’s psychological journey, their dynamics with her could have been explored more to deepen the emotional complexity of the story.
However, the novel’s lingering ambiguity is precisely what makes it so effective. It doesn’t offer clean, definitive resolutions—instead, it gnaws at you long after the final page, much like the very communities it critiques, refusing to let go.
Disturbing, thought-provoking, and impossible to shake, Baby Teeth is an experience that solidifies Celia Silvani as a writer to watch. And if this is only her debut, one can only imagine what chilling truths she’ll unravel next
Words by Khushboo Malhotra
If you’re eager for answers to these questions and a deeper dive into the mind behind Baby Teeth, don’t miss our exclusive interview with Celia Silvani—plus, a sneak peek at what she’s working on next!
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