Billie hears terrified screams. It's her lifelong best friend Cassie Barnwell, one floor above, and she's just realized her infant daughter has gone missing. What is she doing here and how did the baby wind up in her arms? She was just supposed to be checking her bosses apartment while she was away but heard the poor baby crying and no one paying attention so she took matters into her own hand. Her estranged best friend turns to her for comfort but how can she keep the secret that she was the one who took her baby?

Thank you netgalley, the author and publisher for my ARC

There was a lot to this one that I found enjoyable! The story started really strong but I thought towards the end some steam was lost. The toxic friendship component and the unlikeable characters made for some great drama too!
Thank you St Martins Press for the ARC.

This is supposed to be a thriller??
I kept waiting for another twist or something else to make it "a thriller". It was however a lot of drama. Also, if you read the blurb it tells you most of the book. So I recommend going in blind. I enjoyed it but definitely expected more.

Thank you for this ARC

Thank you to Net Galley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author Carola Lovering for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story is told from two povs: Cassie and Billie. It is told from the present with flashbacks to the past.

The story opens with Billie having just taken her childhood friend, Cassie’s, baby. Cassie unaware of who has taken her baby is screaming for Billie.

Then the story goes back to the events leading up to the kidnapping.

It also flashes back to Cassie and Billie’s blossoming friendship growing up.

Cassie was always determined to marry wealthy and she did. She and her husband, Grant, live it an affluent neighborhood in NY. Cassie is an influencer and shares all aspects of her life with her followers. From her morning smoothie to her yoga classes, nothing is off limits. She flaunts her wealth and brags about brand names. Billie is desperate to maintain her friendship with Cassie. She texts her, but often revives to response. Billie is really a burden to Cassie and her wealthy mommy friends.

Cassie was an unlikable character. She was selfish, entitled, and narcissistic. Billie wasn’t much better. While you felt sorry for what she went through in her past, her obsession with Cassie was annoying.

Overall it was a good story. I kept waiting for there to be some big twist, but that never happened.

3 1/2 stars rounded up

Bye, Baby is the story of two friends who were close when they were young, but grew apart when they grew up. They each had difficult upbringings in their own way, but they shared a secret that bound them forever. Cassie wanted the wealthy lifestyle she enjoyed as a child before her parents fell on hard times and were relegated to the middle class. Billie loses her mother to dementia, then death and suffers horrid abuse at the hands of her lecherous stepfather. Billie tries to remain in Cassie's life, but Cassie wants to leave the past behind. Once she marries well and becomes an influencer, everything is about image and appearance. Billie reminds her too much of the life she quite intentionally left behind. I began reading this book with some trepidation because I don't do well with "child in jeopardy" scenarios. Right in the description it says that Billie kidnapped Cassie's baby, so I was nervous. Those with similar sensibilities should know that it's fine. The kidnapping was more of a misunderstanding, but one that seemed nearly impossible to resolve. The book was well-written, alternating the perspectives of Cassie and Billie. The story moved at a good pace, with enticing bits of evidence doled out along the way, but never became predictable. I definitely intend to seek out other books by this author.

"Bye, Baby" by Carola Lovering is a rollercoaster of emotions that left me breathless. The way Lovering intertwines the lives of her characters is nothing short of masterful. Each chapter revealed new layers of complexity, making predicting what would happen next impossible. The themes of love, loss, and the lengths we go to protect our secrets are beautifully explored. I was particularly struck by the raw and honest portrayal of the character's inner struggles. This novel is a poignant reminder of the fragility of trust and the enduring power of love. Highly recommend! Thanks to Carola Lovering, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

"Bye, Baby" by Carola Lovering offers a gripping exploration of friendship, betrayal, and the haunting shadows of the past. As lifelong best friends Billie and Cassie confront the aftermath of a chilling abduction, their once unbreakable bond is tested by secrets and guilt. With alternating perspectives and a suspenseful narrative, Lovering delves into the complexities of womanhood, motherhood, and the enduring power of forgiveness. This riveting tale leaves readers pondering the depths of loyalty and the resilience of the human spirit.

"Bye Baby" by Carola Lovering is a mesmerizing and unsettling thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. The story follows a young mother, Amanda, who returns to her small hometown after her baby goes missing, only to discover that she's not the only one searching for her child. As the investigation unfolds, Lovering expertly weaves together a complex web of secrets, lies, and betrayal, expertly ratcheting up the tension and suspense. With its unique blend of psychological insight and pulse-pounding plot twists, "Bye Baby" is a must-read for fans of Gillian Flynn and Paula Hawkins.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Unfortunately, this one was a DNF for me. While I appreciate the concept, it simply wasn't holding my attention.

{Book Review} Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering

Always a fan of thrillers with either domestic or friendship dynamics, BYE, BABY by Carola Lovering sounded intriguing the minute I read the summary. Thank you @stmartinspress for the review copy!

Billie and Cassie have been friends since 8th grade and when we meet them in present day, Billie knows Cassie has been pulling back and not super interested in her friendship for years. Cassie has indeed been pulling back and acting like Billie is an inconvenience.

We get both women’s POVs and I found them fascinating. I couldn’t put the book down and I loved reading both of their perspectives even if I definitely had my opinion of who I thought was the wronged party in the friendship.

Their friendship was complicated to say the least but honest to goodness so fascinating and such a great book to discuss in a book club setting. The first part of the book builds up to Billie finding herself holding Cassie’s baby who has gone missing. The second half shows the aftermath of what happens next.

This book was addicting and had me filled with a lot of anxiety as to how this was all going to turn out. I liked the ending and even if I thought it felt a little…anti-climactic, I mean that in the best way.

I would highly recommend this book if you want an unputdownable story that will really have you thinking deep thoughts about friendship and the dynamics surrounding a person’s character vs the grace you give to someone you love.

This book was entertaining and I did finish it. This is saying good things since lately several books have left me returning them early or never picking them back up. The story had a lot of different side stories going which I enjoyed. It was also wrapped up nicely at the end. The major plot piece left me scratching my head a bit, but the author worked into the story nicely. Thanks to the publisher and net galley for the advanced read.

A tale of two lifelong friends, filled with secrets, lies, and a toxic relationship that traps you and doesn't let go.

Billie and Cassie have been through a lot together. As kids they were inseparable, but as they start transitioning into adulthood, the dynamic of their friendship shifts and becomes a toxic, co-dependent relationship that leads to betrayal, jealousy, and tragedy.

This book is marketed as a thriller and it is not, but regardless I enjoyed it for what it was - a domestic/friendship drama. I found myself coming back to the audiobook to see what direction their relationship would head to next. Told in alternating views, I enjoyed getting to know each character individually. This is a very character-driven plot and having alternating POV's puts things into perspective nicely.

Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for an e-ARC of this book.

Talk about a toxic friendship! Billie and Cassie are friends from childhood but have slowly drifted apart. Billie is single and works in travel and Cassie is married with a baby and is also an influencer with a huge following. The plot revolves around Cassie's baby going missing and the events before and after this event. I went in thinking the plot would be more mystery/thriller but it was actually more of just contemporary fiction. I'm not sure if that's why my expectations weren't met but unfortunately it did fall short for me. Read this if you like books about complicated relationships + and dash of mystery with some twists.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I loved that this was handled with care for both mothers and non-mothers. I was surprised to feel sympathy for the character who took the baby. I really liked the spotlight on influencer culture as well. I love Carola Lovering’s books and look forward to her next one!

This book is well written. The author brings the characters to life. Lots of twists and turns. This is the kind of book that makes readers buy all the author's other books.

This was a good read. Where it goes back and forth between the past and present. The story of Cassie and Billie’s friendship is complicated and they have so much history and secrets. They’re relationship has been strained until Cassie’s baby is kidnapped and she needs Billie.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this eArc of Bye, Baby. I absolutely loved “Too Good To Be True” and knew immediately that I had to pick this one up. Also, side note, I went into this one completely blind. (**cough, cough this is not a thriller).

Why is it that I love reading the “toxic friendship” trope so much? Seriously, what does that say about me? All jokes aside, I thought this one was done very well. I felt like I just couldn’t stop reading the hot mess express!

Lovering has this ability to write relatable characters/plots while the story still being absolutely bonkers. You know that phrase, “I can’t make this sh*t up”, well both books I’ve read by Carola Lovering have that same jaw dropping effect.

I just jived with this book so hard! What a rollercoaster ride! Highly recommend!

Really enjoyed this story of a long friendship that goes wrong. The incites to their pasts was interesting and how the relationship was co dependent , til one moves away from the other and hard feelings flare up.

BYE, BABY opens with an ambitious and startling scene, and never lets up from there. On a chilly fall night, Billie West hears the terrified screams of her lifelong best friend, Cassie Barnwell just one floor above her as she realizes her infant daughter has gone missing. The culprit? Billie, who has gotten so fed up with the one-sided friendship that she has kidnapped Cassie’s daughter to teach her a lesson. The novel then backtracks into multiple timelines — Billie and Cassie’s teen years as they build an inseparable friendship and the weeks before the kidnapping as Billie and Cassie’s lives diverge. Billie, single and childless while Cassie is a newlywed and new mother who is building a following online as an influencer.

OKAY — Carola Lovering’s novels always scratch the itch when I’m craving a book that’s not quite a thriller, but still has an air of suspense. This hits the sweet spot between suspense and contemporary fiction.

At its core, BYE, BABY is an exploration of obsession and toxic friendships. Without giving too much away, we learn why Billie and Cassie are inextricably tied together for life. Lovering often uses alternating timelines, and I adore the way they peel back the truth layer-by-layer.

There’s something special about a friendship book — I love not only those that focus on the strengths of lifelong relationships, but those that delve into the ways those bonds can be fractured. I always lament that there aren’t more of them in this world, and BYE, BABY is one that I’ll certainly be recommending!

Lovering has a knack for infusing her work with the perfect level of rich people problems, and I loved the way she wrote about NYC and influencer culture.

This book made me feel so many emotions. I loved the friendship that Billie and Cassie had when they were young, with each of them having each other's backs as they went through tough things. And then the adult versions of themselves, not so much. I got so frustrated with both of them, sabotaging their deep friendship. How could they do that to each other?

I won't go any further into the story because I don't want to give anything away but..... seriously? I had to keep going to see what was going to happen next. And I'm glad I did, but oh what a ride to get there.

Like other books of Ms. Lovering's that I have read, this one had me on the edge of me seat, feeling it all, and racing to the end. Bye, Baby is an exciting and riveting thriller that I highly recommend.