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!

I could not put this down. I loved this author’s writing style and her depiction of a complex female friendship over the years. While the ending fell a tiny bit flat for me, this was still a well-paced page-turner that I highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review!

3.5 stars

Main Characters:
-- Billie West – 35-year-old luxury travel consultant, lives and works in New York, has just recently started dating Alex, best friends with Cassie since they were 12 until recently
-- Cassie Adler – 35-year-old influencer and owner of a curated clothing boutique branded Cassidy Adler, new mom to Ella, married for a year to the very wealthy Grant Adler
-- McKay Adler Morris – Cassie’s current best friend, she and Cassie met in college, Grant’s cousin, married to Tom, also a new mom
-- Jane Falkenberg – Billie’s friend and boss, married to Sasha, owns the travel company where Billie works
-- Alex Jensen – recently started dating Billie, a New York City police officer, working to make detective

Trigger Warning: child sexual assault

Billie West and Cassie Barnwell met when they were 12, and a traumatic event, something they kept secret their entire lives, binds them. But as they got older, Cassie drifted, spending more time with the rich kids at Harvard in search of a rich man to marry. Now adults living in New York, Billie is happily childless and traveling the world as a luxury travel consultant, and Cassie is a new mom, happily married to a wealthy man, and running her own clothing boutique.

The story unfolds in alternating chapters between Billie and Cassie and with flashbacks to their childhood as well as their high school and college years. Their lives have been intertwined for a long time, but we as readers know long before Billie does that she is more invested in Cassie’s life than Cassie is in hers. But when Cassie discovers her newborn missing, Billie is the only person she believes can understand the trauma she’s experiencing.

There were a number of reveals over the course of the book—some unexpected, some predictable, some that I thought I guessed but was wrong about. But the reason for 3.5 instead of 4 or even 5 stars was that many of them took a long time to get to. Billie talked a lot about her ex, Remy, and a bad breakup that has influenced all of her relationships since, but we don’t get to the details of the breakup until three=quarters of the way through the book. By that time, I was kind of tired of waiting for what sounded like it was going to be a big reveal.

***SPOILERS*** SPOILERS***SPOILERS***

On top of that, both Cassie and Billie became so unlikeable. Cassie is completely obsessed with money and clicks and likes (she’s an “influencer,” after all, with 40,000 followers) but especially money. Billie is completely obsessed with Cassie. But once Cassie’s baby goes missing, suddenly all of the influencing doesn’t matter. She realizes how important the baby is and doesn’t care about Instagram or her boutique. Billie is elated by that because Cassie suddenly needs her again.

But when Billie admits to her friend and boss Jane that she is the one who took and returned Cassie’s baby, Jane covers for her! She just continues on with her life, saying that she doesn’t understand Billie’s friendship with Cassie but, of course, she has Billie’s back.

And when Billie is finally forced to come clean to both her boyfriend Alex and Cassie, Alex is angry at first but forgives her because the Barnwells aren’t pressing charges. Cassie tells Alex to tell Billie that she wants nothing to do with Billie (understandably) and that now they’re even. And then Cassie immediately goes back to her normal influencing life and her own obsession with being accepted by McKay, who couldn’t have cared less about Cassie until Cassie married McKay’s cousin.

The ending became so convoluted because there was so much detail packed into the end that could have been scattered throughout the story. And, honestly, the book could probably be shorter without losing anything. Overall, a little above average and could have been better.

3.5 stars
Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering is billed as a mystery/thriller, but reads as dramatic women’s fiction about old friendships, childhood secrets, and the effects of both on the lives of two now adult women, Billie West and Cassie Barnwell, after 20 years.
The story plays out in dual POV and dual timelines. As adults, the friendship is strained, as Cassie has become a wealthy social influencer and wife with a newborn, with similar friends, and Billie is single, childless, and seemingly obsessed with hanging on to an unrequited relationship with Cassie. No spoilers here—there are some suspenseful incidents, past and present, and decent plot twists. But there are also a lot of head-scratching moments, especially involving Billie’s actions. Be prepared to suspend disbelief a few times.
Billie is a somewhat sympathetic character, but I could not become invested in her complicated circular mental wrangling and behavior. Cassie and her crew were less interesting and superficial stereotypes of wealthy, vapid women.
The writing is solid and the author is a good storyteller. I have enjoyed her previous novels, and I know there are many readers who liked this book and its observations about 35 year-olds with lots of baggage in their friendship. It just did not resonate with me.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.

Well this wasn’t at all what I expected. I thought it was going to be a thriller, but it’s not. It’s really about toxic mean girl friendships and what happens when we can’t stop comparing ourselves to others.