While this won't be a best book of the year, it absolutely held my attention and I couldn't put it down.

While Bye, Baby is advertised as a Thriller/Mystery, I would argue it's more of a psychological suspense. There's not a LOT of action but if you read it knowing it's really more psychological, then you can really enjoy it!

I thought it was a bit slow in the beginning, but it eventually picks up and I got sucked in!

This was mostly about the relationship between Cassie and Billie and how it's evolved since they were kids. They don't get along as much anymore as adults, but they share a traumatic event in their past that will link them forever.

In the last 30% or so, I was definitely on the edge of my seat, a bit stressed out for the characters and really invested in what was happening.

I don't want to say too much so I don't spoil anything, but I definitely recommend if you're a fan of psychological suspense and mystery!

I did enjoy this book. There are a few parts in the slower side but overall a good read.
It deals with a lot of different types of trauma and whether friendships can withstand all of this.
I didn’t really bond with the characters that much. But the storyline was interesting.
Many thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read and review this one.

Book review!

Billie and Cassie have been friends since childhood, but at 35 years old, their friendship has seen better days. For over twenty years they meant the world to each other, and although their desires didn’t always align, they had each other’s backs- or at least, Billie thought they did. But now all they have between them is a secret they can never tell, ignored text messages, and Cassie’s new circle of friends that are too highbrow to ever include Billie. When Cassie’s baby goes missing from a party Billie wasn’t invited to, the pair leans on each other. But Billie has another secret.

My only real complaint about this book was that it is marketed as a thriller when I feel it should have leaned more into selling it as a book about toxic friendships. The main even happens about halfway through the book and then the thriller element disappears. The focus absolutely is on the twisted relationship between Cassie and Billie, and if I had known that before had, the book would have read differently.

Overall, solid read.

Thank you to @netgalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I was so hesitant to read this book in the first few pages, because I'm a mother of two and I've found that I have such sensitivities to any storyline that contains children. But I'm so glad I pushed through, because this was so much more than just another thriller. It was actually the story of female friendship and how it waxes and wanes over the years, and how even though one friend may grow apart, the other one doesn't necessarily feel the same. It was written in such a way that both main female characters were flawed, yet so relatable and sympathetic. I'm curious to read other feedback to see which woman readers identified with and sided with, because I could see it going either way. That, to me, is truly genius storytelling and writing.

I really enjoyed this book! It had me hooked from the beginning and I really enjoyed all the different themes of the book. The reason for 4 stars is because I thought it was supposed to be a thriller, but it wasn’t very thrilling lol but still very good!

This is my third @carolatlovering book and I’ve loved all three. The plot of Bye, Baby really intrigued me. Lifestyle influencer Cassidy Adler’s young baby is taken from her apartment the night of her birthday party… by her best friend Billie. We learn all of this right away, so the experience of reading this one is different than that of other books in the genre - instead of wondering who did it, we’re exploring the reasons why. What happened that led Billie to make such a terrible decision?

Told from the perspectives of both Cassidy and Billie, I really enjoyed how this book broke down the intricacies of female friendships. It’s a topic that isn’t explored enough; how deeply we love those friends who have shared such a huge part of our lives, and how heartbreaking it can be when that relationship changes or ends.

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the advanced copy of this book, it comes out today, March 5!

This was my first read by Carola Lovering, and it definitely won’t be my last! It was a quick read and definitely kept me interested, and I liked the different POVs and timelines. There were so many secrets and lies right from the beginning! The ending was definitely not what I expected, but I liked how it ended with both consequences and redemption. I will say that the story gets a little dark a times, and definitely be aware of trigger warnings going in. 👇🏻

TW: sexual assault, Alzheimer’s

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the opportunity to read before pub day! BYE, BABY is out now!
ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is one of those books that you question, what did I just read and why did I finish it? I really don’t know what I expected the ending to be, but the toxic friendship was doomed from the beginning. I don’t believe anyone in the story learned anything from any of their mistakes. I’ll give it two stars because I did continue to read it but I had more anxiety from reading it than hoping for a good ending. My other issue is foul language. Maybe I live in a hole, but is this the way people commonly talk? All I can say is, I’m grateful that my life has very little drama! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I wanted to like this one but it really didn't do it for me. It was really hard to like either Billiie or Cassie. Their relationship was very toxic from the moment they met. I thought the telling from each point of view was interesting and the flashbacks were well placed. It's definitely a disturbing psychological novel.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for advanced copy, and I give my review freely

This one was not for me, but other may enjoy it.

I liked the writing in this book, and thought it was very good. It was the plot that I didn't care for.

My main issue was that this was marketed as a thriller, and it certainly was not. The way that it was set up with two POVs ruined the thriller aspect. Although one character was experiencing something horrific, it was ruined because we had the other character's POV and the reader knew everything was fine.

I enjoyed the first half of the book better. The second half was just waiting for something to happen that never did. I also feel like no one really learned their lesson in the end from any bad behavior.

𝗬𝗢𝗨’𝗟𝗟 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 𝗜𝗙:
• You like toxic friendship dynamics 👯‍♀️
• You want a New York setting 🌃
• You enjoy social media influencers 👩‍💻
• You want lot’s of twists & turns 👀

📚Billie and Cassie have been best friends since the moment they met as children. Their upbringing and traumatic experiences bonded them like sisters. Fast forward to life in NYC in their 30’s and there’s a distance that keeps them at arm’s length. Is this a friendship that can stand the test of time, or has it run its course? One incident might decide it all….

💭Lovering is one of my favorite authors and her books are always page turners! I didn’t want this one to end! The story sheds such a relatable light on when a friendship changes and you grow apart. It can be confusing and devastating, especially when you have so much history. I really felt for Billie, even though she let things go a bit too far lol. I loved that it was written in two POVs and timelines, while touching on motherhood, past trauma, wealth, loyalty, rejection and illness. I wouldn’t say it was a true “thriller” but a suspenseful drama, either way add this one to your list, you won’t be disappointed! 👏🔥

A great book that explores the trials and tribulations of friendships, with a hint of mystery added throughout. What a great book!

Oh,…..baby. BYE, BABY is an exciting and suspenseful novel that I binge read in one day. This is a psychological thriller that grabs the reader and never turns loose. I loved everything about this book, especially the toxic friendship between Cassie, an online influencer, and her best friend for over 20 years, Billie. This book is chock full of secrets that are revealed slowly through the dual point of view of these two characters. Author Carola Lovering’s writing is no less that masterful as she weaves in backstory and inner thoughts to give complete character descriptions. I found myself, at different times, siding with each of these women, for both of them were right in a sense, and they both made understandable mistakes.

All the stars on this one! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A thriller with a focus on characters? Sign me up. This is my jam. The two MCs have fabulous arcs and though there are times their stories drag a bit, a fast pace and short chapters make up for it in the end.

Thank you to Carola Lovering, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

2.5 Stars

I am not sure how I feel about this book. To me, it really wasn't a thriller. The friendship between Cassie and Billie is toxic. The twist with Wade was easy to figure out.

I liked the writing. I liked the alternating perspectives. It just wasn't "thrilling" enough for me. I even found it quite boring if I am being honest.

For my psychological suspense readers you’re going to want to grab Carola Loverling’s Bye, Baby. An exploration of secure the bonds of youth that become uncomfortable as we grow older. It’s a story of privilege, the slow burn of jealousy, a curated life both mocked and craved. What would we do to get and keep the attention of someone when it’s gone?

This is the story of how 35 year old Billie West kidnaps her best friend, Cassie Barnwell’s, infant daughter. Somewhere between high school and their early thirties there’s been a shifting, a movement where Billie is no longer a priority to Cassie. While this is easily explained by Cassie getting married, having a baby, vastly different socioeconomic status, the underlying current feels like something different. Billie’s outsized reaction certainly gives a clue. Is it her unhealthy obsession, or is there something else going, perhaps both?

Told in alternate voices between Billie and Cassie Loverling expertly takes us between four POV’s: then and now for each Billie and Cassie. It’s incredible effective. I dual read/listed on ebook audio which is my absolute favorite way to read, giving me the best of both worlds! I never have to leave my stories behind. The audiobook is narrated by Helen Laser (Yellowface, The Second Chance Year) and Karissa Vacker (A Flicker In The Dark, Check & Mate). If you’re going to choose one format (and I have to choose favorites) go with audio on this one. The voice acting is so well done and adds the extra depth I’m always after in my audio experience. The nuances of this relationship is so well captured.

I binge read/listened to this one in a day. I couldn’t put it down! I recommend for weekend reading, something compulsively unputdownable. This is great to stick in your tote bag as you start to head out for sunny adventures!

Thank you so much to my friends at St Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for the early egalley and advanced listening copy via Netgalley.

Title: Bye Baby
Author: Carola Lovering
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"Bye, Baby" by Carola Lovering

My Thoughts:

"Bye, Baby" was quite a read that once you start reading [and it was a long read], you will not want to put it down until the end. From the characters, friendships, and twists and turns, wow, what a read this one was that will give one a lot to think about long after the read.

How did Cassie and Billie, best friends from high school, turn their friendship into something so toxic? Well, all that is left to say is that this is what can happen when someone decides to poke in and try to destroy it all, and in the end...it happens. Was it the secret that broke them up, jealousy, or were they such opposites? Is this what happens when people grow up and change?

Be ready for a read that takes in a lot...from 'toxic relationships, messy friendships, motherhood, trauma, and toxic narcissism and much more' that you will just have to pick up this read to try to understand it all if you can.

I will stop here and say, pick up 'Bye, Baby,' and see how well this author gives it all to the reader. I didn't think this was a happy read; however, you know what you feel about this thriller. I was left shaking my head and saying what a friendship this one was. Okay, I will stop here.

I was given this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

Even though there is never a mystery as to who did what, this book is still intensely gripping and keeps you wanting to read. It is about friendship toxic friendship and true friendship and knowing the difference between them and when to let a friendship that has run its course go. The character of Billie in particular is so relatable. She just can't give up her friendship with Cassie even though it's clear that the friendship has run its course, and Cassie is and always was a gold-digging social climber who doesn't think Billie is good enough for her. Cassie, on the other hand, is a much harder character to like although her devotion to her daughter is admirable. Other characters in the book who are likable include Billie's boss, Jane, and Billie's boyfriend, Alex. They are examples of what true friendship and caring are like.

This was my first book by this author. The writing was great, there was a lot of depth, but the story just wasn’t for me. This book starts with the kidnapping, then gives us glimpses into the past to show what led up to this point. I felt there was no suspense this way. You already knew what happened, and honestly, the alternating points of view between Billie and Cassie just proved how unlikeable both characters were. They were toxic for one another and this book just proves that some relationships outlive their usefulness and it’s best for everyone involved to go their separate ways. Alex was the best thing about this book, and unfortunately he deserved so much better.