Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering.
Cassie and Billie have their secrets and they also have a fallout. Cassie's glamorous world no longer aligns with Billie's
Then one night the unimaginable happens, someone kidnaps Cassie's new baby, The event brings Billie and Cassie back together, The problem is , Billie is the kidnapper...

I really enjoyed the first half of this book, it was fast paced and really had me in its clutches. The second half seemed to drag on a bit, though it was still enjoyable. nearing the end I started to dislike both of the main characters and found them to have an incredibly toxic co-dependent relationship. And in retrospect, maybe that was how I was supposed to feel about them. There were parts that seemed a bit contrived, but all in all I enjoyed this book. I would give it 4 stars.

With friends like these, who needs enemies?!?!? Cassie and Billie have a lifelong, unique friendship. Thankfully, I don't have friends like them!

I wouldn't call this book a thriller, but it was a good story. This is a new to me author and I will be seeking out more of her books. I really liked the writing style.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

Bye, Baby is a well crafted domestic suspense novel that focuses on the friendship between Billie and Cassie, the friendship that is full of some deep secrets and some toxic behavior.

The characters in the story were so well-developed and you really felt like you knew them. I found myself feeling many conflicting feelings about the characters throughout the journey of the story and any story that makes me feel something is one that will stick with me! While I didn't find either character particularly likeable, I did enjoy watching their dynamic unfold and I wanted to know how the story would end.

I really enjoyed the past/present timeline and liked how that added a layer of intrigue to the story!

Check this one out if you like:
- slow burns
- past / present timelines
- good character development
- domestic drama

Landing at a 3.75 (rounded up to 4) for this one- I wish that the ending was a little more ambiguous or there was a little more of a surprise or twist, it was tied up a little too nicely for me at the end!

Also, definitely check the trigger warnings for this one! I also heard it was great on audio, so if that's your favorite way to read- check out the audiobook!

Huge thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Billie and Cassie have been beat friends since their teens but now that they are in their thirties life have changed and pushed them apart. Will a life changing event revive the life long friendship?

Thanks NetGalley and Carola Lovering for the chance to read this ARC! This was my first book by Carola Lovering but I will be looking into her other work!

Bye, Baby definitely grabbed my attention from the beginning. The butterflies were in my stomach the whole book trying to figure out what was going to happen next. I did feel like parts were a tad drawn out and I felt like the conclusion undid a lot of the character development that had happened but over all I did enjoy this book! I give this one 3.5 stars bumped up to 4!

Carola Lovering is a true storyteller. In the last three years, she has become one of my favorite writers of women’s fiction. Her stories are thought-provoking and multidimensional. I never know quite what to expect from her - that’s a compliment. She writes complex female characters. This book is no different, and it is another five-star read for me.

Check for trigger warnings before reading.

Billie and Cassie have been friends since they were teenagers. They both have very different relationships with their families that will inform every decision and relationship they have as they grow up. They are best friends. This story tells their story from the perspective of both women, and flashes back and forth between the past and present.

I truly enjoyed the dual point of views - I read a digital copy and listened to the audiobook. Both narrators were incredible. At times, I was angry with both women, felt empathy for them, and heartbroken too. They are very complex women. This story is a true reflection on the choices that we make and who we become. There were also moments of true mystery, and there were also times this story was a thriller. Carola Lovering weaves a tale that will leave you shocked, angry, sympathetic, and empathetic around every twist and turn.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, St.Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for the digital and audiobook copies of this book. I loved this author’s previous books, and this is another winner. It is out in March 5th - I highly recommended that you pick this one up!

“As the years have passed, the gap between us has only grown wider. Now, we exist on separate islands.”

I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read by Carola Lovering, and this one was no different. I was completely engrossed in the friendship and motherhood dynamic. If it's one thing Lovering does well, it's suspense. The core of this story is so relatable and realistic, and makes for such a compelling read.

Billie and Cassie’s relationship has deteriorated the older they have gotten, and their paths have diverged. Cassie is now a wealthy influencer and married, Billie is still single. Billie has some lingering resentment and jealousy towards Cassie, and it results in an unhealthy obsession. In turn, it's clear that Cassie has intentionally pushed Billie away in an attempt to assimilate into her wealthy lifestyle.

The way this book deal with both friendships and motherhood is incredibly relatable. Billie and Cassie don’t really have much in common as adults and Billie is reluctant to let that go, no matter how much worse it makes her feel. I could really relate to Billie and her thoughts on motherhood. She has trauma that has made her decide she doesn’t want children, but with what she sees around her she still feels unsure. The flashbacks we get to Billie and Cassie growing up are so telling of their personalities and it adds so much to their overall dynamic. Cassie has always wanted to be wealthy and popular, and this has caused tension in their relationship even when they were young. They're also tied together by an incident, and it's obvious that plays a big part into their relationship as adults.

The resolution is fairly satisfying. Cassie and Billie have the conversation that they really need to and Billie lets herself accept her aversion to motherhood. I really loved her budding relationship with Alex, and the ending left me feeling hopeful, which seems to be rare for a thriller.

This is a great thriller that really explores some difficult and deep topics. Carola Lovering just doesn’t disappoint.

Cassie and Billie were childhood best friends who are now in their mid thirties. During college, Cassie found a new group of friends and started pulling away from Billie. Billie however can't get over their friendship even if they go weeks without talking. One night Cassie's baby goes missing and Billie is the one holding her.
While not exactly the mystery/thriller I was expecting the book was engaging, quick and interesting. The way Carola Lovering writes just keeps you wanting to read more. I couldn't put this one down.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Carola Lovering and NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This one publishes March 5, 2024

Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering
Billie and Cassie have been best friends since childhood. They share a hometown, and the kind of trauma that either binds friends together or tears them apart. They are adults now and have grown in different directions. Still when crisis occurs, they are the first in each other’s mind, and that feeling expands to obsession. Will the mystery be solved?
This tightly written novel is told from each woman’s viewpoint and sheds light on the lives of the rich, the influencers, and the people that get left behind. A page turning read, even though some of the characters seem to be stereotypical.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read Bye, Baby. It was just the break I needed. Publication date is March 5, 2024.

BYE, BABY by Carola Lovering is a compelling story of toxic friendship, obsession and the consequences of the choices people make. Cassie and Billie have been best friends since childhood. They are bound together by a shocking secret that can never be revealed. Years later, now in their thirties, their lives couldn’t be more different. Billie has a posh career in the travel industry, but has never married and is childless by choice. However, Cassie has what seems like the perfect life. She is married to a wealthy and connected man, has a new baby, owns a high-end boutique and has become an influencer on Instagram, where she documents her every waking moment. With her new lifestyle, Cassie is happy to leave her past – and Billie – behind. But Billie will do anything to rekindle their friendship despite it being clearly one-sided. Does the trauma from the past that connects them keep her holding on to an unhealthy relationship? The story is told from both Billie and Cassie’s points of view which gives an in-depth insight into their characters. Lots of themes are explored: sexual abuse, friendship, motherhood and even murder. I enjoyed this thought-provoking and taut drama and I am grateful to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.

I enjoyed this book. I would say it's more drama than physiological thriller. Toxic friendship.
Secrets. & a twist that personally I don't see coming.

It's heavy because irl friendships change;
especially the friendships you have as a child. It's sad really. I know a lot say this book has a lot going on. But I didn't think so.

Very character driven.

This was okay. Kinda predictable. I did like that it was a fast read. Easy to read on a Sunday afternoon.

Billie & Cassie have been lifelong friends, but Cassie has become an influencer and has pulled away from Billie a bit of late. Billie feels as if she is being left behind in favor of Cassie's newer friends and her internet presence. But when Cassie's infant daughter goes missing and is returned later in the same night, she only wants Billie at her side. Billie & Cassie have a history, they have secrets, they can count on each other, no questions asked.

I thought the author did a great job of building Cassie and Billie's characters and crafting a toxic friendship between them. Their relationship has changed over time and in a believable way. It seems very natural the way their relationship has declined. This book was suspenseful, but I wouldn't classify it as a thriller. It was more of a psychological suspense.

3.5⭐️

Dark. Ominous. Emotional.

Billie and Cassie’s decades long friendship is tied to a secret that neither of them want revealed. As they enter different chapters of their lives, one to a family and motherhood and the other more career driven, they begin to drift apart…

Cassie is pushing Billie out of her new life, as she doesn’t fit into it the same way she did before. This all comes blatantly clear to Billie when she goes to feed her boss’ cat (who lives in the condo below Cassie), and realizes she wasn’t invited to Cassie’s birthday party. Then she hears baby Ella on the terrace above, just shrieking and no one seems to hear her.

So what does Billie do? Scales the fire escape and scoops up the baby… As shock settles in, Billie realizes what’s she’s done. Now what?

Can Billie return Ella no questions asked? Does the return of Ella bring Billie and Cassie closer together? Or will Billie’s mistake cost her everything?

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Bye, Baby is set to be published March 5, 2024.

"Bye, Baby" by Carola Lovering is a gripping and emotionally charged thriller that delves deep into the complexities of female friendship and the haunting effects of past secrets. When Billie West finds herself responsible for the disappearance of her best friend Cassie's infant daughter, their once unbreakable bond is shattered. As the story unfolds, Lovering skillfully weaves together alternating perspectives, revealing the intricate layers of guilt, betrayal, and love that define their relationship.

Lovering's writing is both powerful and addictively suspenseful, drawing readers into a tangled web of secrets and lies that keeps them guessing until the very end. Through her exploration of the characters' past traumas and present-day struggles, "Bye, Baby" offers a compelling commentary on the evolving nature of friendship and the lasting impact of our choices.

With its unflinching portrayal of complex female dynamics and its compelling narrative, "Bye, Baby" is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers. Carola Lovering has crafted a riveting story that will leave readers questioning the boundaries of loyalty and the true meaning of forgiveness.

Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering is about two friends who have grown apart as adults and one of them is not happy about it.

" Billie and Cassie have a shared secret in their past - one that could send them both to jail. Cassie has moved into the life she dreamed of - wealth, motherhood and a large Instagram following. Billie wants to go back to having Cassie as her best friend. She can't stop obsessing about Cassie's online life. An event with Cassie's new baby brings them back together but Billie is having difficulty not telling Cassie the truth."

This is not a thriller (even with the dual timelines) It's Fiction/Women's Fiction. It's hard to care about either of the main characters. Billie struggles to move on from a long time friendship. She obsesses over Cassie's IG photos and insta-stories. You do empathize with Billie when you find out the horror of what she went through as a teen. I couldn't generate any sympathy or feeling for Cassie. She is shallow and snobbish and self-centered. She really believes that random strangers care about what bag she has or shoes she wears.

The ending was not what I expected or wanted for this story. It just kind of ends.

If you're looking for drama between old friends, you might enjoy this one.

I’ll be honest, this one started off strong - I was invested, I wanted to see where it was going. I was a little disappointed. I kept waiting and feeling like a huge twist was coming, but it didn’t deliver in the way I wanted it to. I did enjoy the alternating POVs and the flashbacks to their childhood. The pacing was good, it moved quickly. It was a good, quick read but not my favorite thriller. I would definitely read another book by this author though.

Bye, Baby is my first book to read by Carola Lovering and I am hooked. This is a psychological thriller that I could not put down. The toxic friendship and alternating viewpoints captured me from the very beginning of the book. I highly recommend.

Carola Lovering is a new author to me and I enjoyed this novel, Bye, Baby. This book tells the story of two best friends, Cassie and Billie. It’s really hard to give a review of this book without giving it away, so I’ll just say I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good women’s fiction story with lots of twists and turns to keep the reader engaged.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

A must read!!!

Billie and Cassie are childhood best friends. Over time, they drift apart. When the unthinkable happens to Cassie, she reaches out to Billie for support.

This was a really good domestic drama. It touches on friendship, secrets, lies, and motherhood. This had me in the edge of my seat several times. It was one that I could t put down! I thought it was well written and I can’t wait to read more from this author!

📘: Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering
🗓️: March 5, 2024

Thank you to NetGalley, Carola Lovering, and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

*Reviewed on NetGalley, Amazon, and Goodreads.

BYE BABY review

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

💞Talk about a bingeable book! I flew through this one in less than 24 hours! I needed to know how it would wrap up and resolve itself and couldn’t put the book down until I got answers. Unfortunately the back half of this one fell a bit flat for me.

💞Here’s a summary of the plot:👇
Billie and Cassie have been best friends since childhood and became even closer after a horrific night that bound them to forever be in each others lives. Now in their mid 30s, their lives seem so different. Cassie is a lifestyle influencer and new mom who has a hard time relating to Billie who is perpetually single and always traveling to a different country. When Cassie’s baby is kidnapped, the only person she wants to comfort her is Billie. But Billie is the very reason Cassie’s baby is missing…

💞This book started off with a bang! I was hooked immediately and couldn’t wait to find out what would happen. It felt like the story was building to a jaw dropping twist at the end. Unfortunately that twist never came. I kept waiting for some hidden secret to be revealed but before I knew it the book was over and no final twist was there. I enjoyed this one overall and liked the themes of motherhood and friendship. While the backhalf did fall a bit flat, I’d still recommend picking it up if you want a quick, bingeable suspense read! Also perfect for people who want to get into thrillers but don’t want anything too scary!

💞BYE BABY publishes Tuesday, March 5th. Thanks @macmillan.audio and @stmartinspress for my advanced copies!