Preview

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Surrogate

By: Toni Halleen
Narrated by: Stacey Glemboski, Laurie Catherine Winkel, Andrew Eiden, George Newbern, Lisa Flanagan
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $24.29

Buy for $24.29

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

The Surrogate is a thrilling, high-stakes debut centering on a vulnerable newborn and two women who will do almost anything to claim her as their daughter. With a collection of vividly rendered characters, this twisty tale will leave you thinking about the true meaning of motherhood long after you turn the last page. I loved it!” (Patry Francis, best-selling author of All the Children Are Home)

Ruth is a no-nonsense 40-something journalist from the Midwest desperate for a child with her new husband, Hal. Their hope rests with Cally, a 19-year-old who wants to go to college - but doesn’t have the cash. The arrangement seems perfect for everyone.

But within a day of the baby’s birth, Cally has a change of heart - and engineers a harrowing escape from the hospital with the newborn. When Ruth and Hal discover that Cally and their daughter are gone, a whole series of doubts and secrets is revealed, and the difference between right and wrong is no longer clear.

Set in the vast, sparsely populated upper reaches of Northern Minnesota in the middle of winter, The Surrogate follows Ruth, Hal, and Cally through a maze of thought-provoking questions about the nature of family, love, and relationships: What would you do for your partner, when the going gets tough? How much is a pregnancy “worth”? And who, if anyone, “deserves” to be a mother?

©2021 Toni Halleen (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about The Surrogate

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    279
  • 4 Stars
    193
  • 3 Stars
    97
  • 2 Stars
    27
  • 1 Stars
    15
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    331
  • 4 Stars
    160
  • 3 Stars
    50
  • 2 Stars
    11
  • 1 Stars
    8
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    250
  • 4 Stars
    170
  • 3 Stars
    85
  • 2 Stars
    30
  • 1 Stars
    23

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

If you plan to be a surrogate

This might be a nice read., but otherwise this was just plain boring and luckily not too long. Well I fast forwarded through the last hours

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Meh

The story in and of itself was fine. The characters I felt were VERY immature and highly annoying for most of the book. Digger was especially the worst. I also don’t feel like there was much character development and the ending was underwhelming.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Must read!

One of the best audiobooks! I recommend 100%! I loved the story and how it all tied together in the end! Wow!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Melodramatic and Boring

The characters in this book drove me crazy! They continually made choices that no one would make in real life! They talk to each other and say things that no one says. Very unrealistic.
The story was like a soap opera, so melodramatic. I stuck with it to the end because sadly it wasn't the worst book I've listened to.
One thing is for sure this story isn't memorable, I'm sure I'll forget about it by the end of the week.
if you can get it for free, it might be your thing so give it a try but don't waste money or a credit!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very different and great listen.

The story is written in a somewhat different style from other books. The reader is treated to the characters' individual flaws quite openly throughout and is led to second-guessing the author's direction. However, as the story unfolds, there is a greater undercurrent of uncertainty and missteps revealed that make this a very compelling read. I don't review all books I listen to, but this is one that I would highly recommend to any audible listener. Overall a very nice find.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent story in an area I was unfamiliar with

This was labeled as a 'thriller' and 'suspense thriller', it was far from it and I was glad for that. It was, however, an intriguing story of a young girl being paid to be a surrogate and the obstacles and neurotic odd balls she ran into. I loved the fact there were different narrators for each of the main characters. It provided a wonderful depth and reality to the story. Each character's personality was clearly defined by their narrator. Some characters I disliked, others I liked.

I didn't predict the ending but the story was wrapped up well. A good listen. Well done.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Too Pat

The book offers a balanced view of surrogacy from both sides but was complicated by the unlikely convergence of circumstances and an unlikely ending.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good story

except the one narrators voice was a bit annoying. The story brought out all the feels for me as I was highly uoset by the treatment of the intended parents. I really hope that didn't happen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good Quick Read

It wasn't what I had expected... It felt more like an educational young adult book.
But it was well narrated - Up until the last 20 minutes and it started having problems skipping between words.... I am not sure what the issue is.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Must read!

I don’t normally like audiobooks but this book has made me a fan. The book was captivating & I finished the audiobook within a few days!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

15 people found this helpful