Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC. I am going to proceed with this review assuming the final copies will have a trigger warning for sexual assault. If that is not the case, I will certainly change my review to 1 star as there is NO excuse to omit this information.

Despite the synopsis, I do not believe this is a thriller. It reads more like Women's Fiction exploring a toxic friendship between two mid-thirties women who have been friends for over 20 years. With the dual timeline and POV, Carola Lovering touches on themes of trauma, trauma bonding, growth, motherhood, and the influence of social media.
Honestly, I do not know what I want to rate this book. If I rated it as a thriller I would give it 2 stars, if I rated it as fiction, probably 4 stars. So maybe split the difference and say 3 stars? I think the author did a great job with the setting and character cast but there was absolutely no thriller/mystery plot to it whatsoever. Overall, I think the publishing house should have reconsidered the synopsis and marketed this as Women's Fiction, then my marks would be much higher for this novel.

Did you have a chldhood best friend who was there for you during the toughest moments of your life? Someone who had your back no matter what?

“People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.”—Brian A. “Drew” Chalker

This character-driven story revolves around two besties, Cassie and Billie, who meet at a young age. As the story unfolds, we see how their friendship evolves. They're as different as night and day, however, they serve a purpose in each other's life. As adults, they want different things. Cassie settles down with a wealthy man and starts a family. Billie has no desire to be a mother, but is desperate to hold onto a friendship that has run its course.

The author's writing is so engaging that I couldn't stop listening to the audiobook, which was narrated by the talented Karissa Vacker. I must admit, her voice is so captivating that I would probably listen to her read an owner’s manual with the same level of interest! She has done a fantastic job of bringing this story to life.

This is an emotional story that is truly heartbreaking at times, and it's impossible not to become emotionally invested in Cassie and Billie’s journey. I can't wait to read more books from this author and get lost in another captivating story!

Thanks to the Macmillan Audio / St. Martin’s Press this complimentary ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, all opinions are my own and are left voluntarily.

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Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing this book, with my honest review below.

Bye, Baby was an absolutely beautiful story about friendship and motherhood and those things we want along with those we think we need. Carola Lovering has gotten to the heart of the matter, spanning the female experience and I am so glad to have read a book that brings to light that not every woman wants what she sees around her.

Billed as a thriller and mystery, as well as women’s fiction, I’d say this is more suspenseful women’s fiction with some mysteries that don’t act as the end goal for the story but help drive the plot by better understanding Cassie and Billie’s friendship. This one resonated with me as I think it will for all readers, because it speaks about what occurs outside of the traditional mould. I highly recommend this, and while it will be appreciated by women of all ages, if you’re in your late twenties and beyond it may speak to you just a touch more.

I had so much hope for this. Actually, it kept me engaged until the end. The end just really didn't do it for me. I don't want to spoil anything. I feel like the author had too much going on in the backstories. Am I still glad I read it? Sure.

I absolutely love Carola Lovering ever since reading Too Good To Be True and Bye, Baby totally delivered for me!

This story had so many elements I love - social media influencer, frenemies, catty women, and secret pasts. It also had some elements that I can even relate to which was fun, i.e. new motherhood! I loved the format of the story with the flashbacks, dual narrators, and the buildup to a momentous scene that was previewed in the prologue. I also loved that the buildup escalated about halfway through and that there was so much more to the story. Often, the opening scenes are tied to the very end, but the fact that it wasn't the case here made this unique and totally bingeable.

Billie and Cassie's friendship was complicated and felt authentic in so many ways. We all can relate to clinging to parts of our past, or alternatively, doing whatever we can to separate from them. I could also relate to desperately trying to keep a failed relationship alive, while all the signs point to it being in the rearview.

Having the dual narrators worked so well for this story. I empathized with Billy and felt her pain at being rejected by Cassie and her shiny new life. I also connected with Cassie and felt her terror at her baby being briefly kidnapped and feeling like she couldn't live in the present with her past still knocking on her door. Both characters were so human and raw and the audio enhanced that for me even more. I really enjoyed both narrators and thought they did a stellar job. The voices were well done, the theatrics were spot on, and they kept the pacing really moving forward.

Overall, I absolutely loved this novel. Lovering has quickly made herself an auto-read author for me and Bye, Baby is definitely one I highly recommend!

Thank you to MacMillan Audio, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the copy.

I absolutely loved this psychological thriller. Completely embodying the term ‘popcorn thriller’, you’re not going to want to put this one down; it’s a bingeable read that you’ll have no problem getting through in 24 hours if time allows.⁠
The story itself is juicy; Billie kidnaps her lifelong friend Cassie’s baby, but it’s what unfolds prior to (and after) the kidnapping that really draws you in. Told in dual POV’s between Billie and Cassie, both present day and past, we trace their friendship back to itsit’sorigins, and get really deep into the psychology of female friendships. Lovering did a fantastic job of creating layered characters and relationships that really make you pause and think about how we change as people, what drives us to make the decisions we do, and how our experiences shape us. ⁠
I highly recommend you add this one to your TBR for the spring when it pubs!

This book has multiple POV perspectives and both past and present timelines. The storyline follows Cassie and Billie who are childhood best friends. It follows them as they grow up, grow apart in their high school years, and becoming two very different people as adults. When Cassie's baby is abducted witnessed by her ex best friend Billie- what will happen? The author goes back and forth between the days leading up to the kidnapping (showing the differences in the two women's lives) and flashbacks to their childhood which shows us the basis of their friendship and how it started. (I loved the back and forth and multiple POV writing). Will their friendship last? Will they heal their toxic friendship? Will there be consequences to their actions?

Their friendship has many layers and makes you as the reader feel emotionally invested in them. This book covers issues of sexual abuse, friendship, motherhood, Alzheimer's, and influencer culture (which honestly felt like A LOT of topics to cover).

This book didn't really feel mystery like to me and reads more like women's fiction.

You'll love this book if you like psychologically complex characters, stories of friendship and secrets,

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins press for an ARC in exchange for a review. This book is set to release 3/5/2024.

The way I binged this book. I couldn't put it down. No matter that I knew the crime that was committed. No matter that I knew who committed the crime. I couldn't put this down. It's like a train wreck where you can't peel your eyes away as you watch the tragedy happen. I felt so invested in the book. I simply could not put it down. This book felt very relevant to the times as they stand now. And quite a testament to how dangerous and unbalanced codependent relationships are. Even in platonic relationships. It's been a few days and I'm still unsure about how feel about the ending. I may need to discuss this with someone. Truly. LOL.

Thank you, St Martin’s Press, for the gifted copy of Bye, Baby.

I rated this novel 3.5 stars. This was my first novel written by Carola Lovering and while this book didn't pull me in as much as I had hoped, the eloquence of her writing encourages me to read more of her work.

Bye, Baby mainly revolves around the friendship of Billie and Cassie and I would not necessarily define this novel as a mystery or thriller. However, how Carola navigates the complexity of their friendship and really dives in to how being friends in your childhood does not always look the same in your adulthood. The story lacks a heavier punchline, but the characters bring enough to the table to make up for that in some ways.

I am huge fan of dual timelines and multiple POV's and this book had both, so that's a plus. There are some potential trigger warnings for this book, i.e. sexual assault, motherhood. But the way they are handled, in my opinion, was just right.

All in all, I would recommend this book for a palate cleanser when you need a break from heavy reading or just want something that is considered a quick read - which I feel this book is.

After realizing that her baby has been stolen from her stroller, influencer Cassie Barnwell stands in her apartment, screaming for the woman who used to be her best friend. In the apartment downstairs, Billie stands with the baby in her arms, thrilled that after pushing her away for so long Cassie finally wants her. This is the best domestic thriller I've read in I don't know how long. As the plot moved in unexpected directions, I found myself aching for both characters and hoping that things would somehow turn out okay.

ABSOLUTE PERFECTION. I read a lot of books and enjoy most of them, but this one stood above and beyond most books I've read the past few years. It is absolutely fantastic. The plot was already interesting from the description, but even that is not exactly what you think it will be. Excellent writing, excellent plot, excellent details. 100% recommend!

This isn't really a mystery or a thriller, like the tags or information might lead you to believe.

This is more of a look at a friendship. Can they stand the test of time?
Cassie and Billie have been friends since middle school. They spent high school protecting each other. But Cassie has always been all about status and money and Billie has always been content with her lot in life, she just wants love and friends. Really, she just wants one friend (maybe 2) - she wants to be Cassie's friend.

But Cassie is now married to a wealthy man and has had her first baby. She's making friends with others moms and bumping shoulders with people well out of Billie's tax bracket. But Billie is still a bit whiny and jealous - she still wants this high school friendship that Cassie has grown out of.

Thank so much to the publisher for giving me access to an ARC of this book for review through NetGalley. Unfortunately, we're not a fit.

I hate to say this, but this will be a DNF at 10% in. I just can't continue with these characters. Billie reads like a crazy ex-boyfriend stalking Cassie. I'm really over the premise of women in their thirties who can't deal with their BFFs getting married and having kids. Please. This is what the population around the globe has been doing for thousands of years. Just because modern American women of a certain age decided childfree was their whole persona, doesn't make it interesting, especially when it appears in so many thrillers these days.

And her way of improving on the situation is to...kidnap Cassie's baby? How in the world does she think that's going to end...

But Cassie isn't any better, as the "I must please my thousands of followers for that sweet dopamine" influencer in her posh little Hamptons life.

Unfortunately, this came down to being a subjective miss. I'm not the reader for this book or this author.

Another domestic suspense hit from Carola Lovering! I really enjoyed this dual POV, alternate timeline story that focuses on two best friends and the way they grow apart after one of them has a baby. Set in New York city one of the friends becomes an momfluencer while the other is very much childfree by choice. Great on audio and highly recommended for fans of authors like Liv Constantine. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

CW: abortion

Cassie and Billie grew up bestfriends. As close as two friends could ever be.

Until college, that is.

Cassie attends Harvard and hopes to meet a trust fund husband (she does!) and her new wealthy elitist friends don't understand her relationship with plain old, Billie.

The fact that Cassie, now a famous Instagram influencer, is slowly cutting Billie out of her life has never been more evident until after she gives birth to baby, Ella. Weeks and months go by without any communication and Billie feels completely lost without Cassie by her side. In brighter news, Billie has met a nice guy, the first one in a long time she has felt feelings for. Maybe this will be just what she needs to take her mind off Cassie.

Cassie's thirty-fifth birthday has arrived and the festivities are being held in their glamorous Gramercy Park apartment. Billie, who wasn't invited, see's the party unfold on Instagram. The hurt and anger consumes her until.....

Baby Ella goes missing and Billie hears the words she has longed to hear from her dearest friend "Billie, I need Billie."

That's all I'm willing to say about Lovering's latest book on dysfunctional relationships. She's the queen of getting into the nitty gritty of relationships, be it between man and woman, or in this case best of friends. Oh, how I loathed Cassie. Money and appearance are all that matter to her. Billie, on the other hand, was kind, understanding, and an excellent friend to have. Her one fault being her absolute steadfast loyalty to an undeserving Cassie. While my feelings toward Cassie never waivered my feelings toward Billie ebbed and flowed but never once did I wish her ill will. I felt sorry for her and more often than not I wanted to reach into the pages to hug her. I was completely satisfied with the ending where a glimmer of hope shone through the pages. I'm beyond pleased to say this was another winner from Lovering. 4 Stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my complimentary copy.

Bye, baby” has to be my favorite binge read in a long time - fast paced, twisted, and dark with a solid ending. I enjoy Lovering’s writing and character development. Cannot wait to see what she comes out this next!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was granted both an e copy and an audio copy. I went the audio route. I enjoyed the book but wasn't a favorite. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book early before release.

Wow, this was one of the best thrillers I've read so far this year. It was dynamic, fast paced, and kept me guessing the whole way through. I absolutely loved the characters and the dynamics between all of them. I absolutely love the way Carola Lovering really immerses you in the story and makes you feel apart of the friendships. I was so absorbed in this and thought it was brilliantly plotted. I was definitely surprised and satisfied with the ending as well. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book! Really fast paced. This is the story of two girls growing up as friends, the story of their lives from girls to women.

Billie is more down to earth while Cassie is looking for a rich husband to change the status of her life. They each have their own moments of making a terrible decision and the book is the consequences of those decisions.

As they grow up, their friendship changes, their priorities change, and what they want out of life is not the same. Will their friendship survive or will they learn to live without each other? What will happen to each of them as the result of their bad decisions?

Would be great for a book club, lots to discuss. Highly recommend!

🤯 MIND-BLOWING MONDAY review 🤯 featuring “Bye, Baby” by Carola Lovering!

BOOK REVIEW: 🖤🖤🖤🖤/5

23 years ago, Billie and Cassie met in their small hometown and became inseparable best friends. Together they navigated through the trials & tribulations of being teenagers, dating and family drama … AND trauma. One tragic night and a shocking dark secret will bind these two together forever. But did Cassie do it for Billie?? Or for herself?? As the duo reach adulthood, they begin to drift from one another … their secret staying hidden forever.

Now in present days, Cassie is approaching her 35th birthday and does not want Billie invited to her party. Billie is no longer a part of her world … and just doesn’t fit into her lifestyle anymore. Little does Cassie know, but Billie has been asked to feed her boss’ cat who just happens to live one floor below Cassie. Billie can hear the raging party going on above her … but also the shrieks of Cassie’s baby who has been forgotten about among the party.

Billie climbs up the emergency escape and gathers up the baby to soothe its cries downstairs. The next thing she hears is Cassie’s shrieks above for her missing baby and Billie spirals knowing that she has just kidnapped Cassie’s baby and Cassie can never know it was her.

I will be thinking about this book for a LONG time 🤯! This story surrounds a friendship that turns toxic over the years and at the root of it is a dark rooted secret. This book is full of raw emotion & twists and turns, and covers themes of trauma, obsession, betrayal and relationships. This story is hauntingly beautiful and at times feels like a razor blade to the heart and the gut. A MUST READ for anyone who enjoyed My Dark Vanessa, The Push, None of This is True and Strange Sally Diamond!

Thank you kindly to Carola Lovering, St Martin’s Press and Netgalley for my advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest reviews! This book releases on March 6, 2024!