This book had me hooked from the start.
The author did a great job of alluding to something that bonded Cassie and Billie in the past. As you read, you get a feeling of what it is but the leas up is good. The present story of Cassie and Billie is so good. You feel for Billie who misses her friend and root for her when she meets Alex. However, what she does is so crazy. You start not feeling bad and rooting more for Cassie. Still undecided on how I feel about Cassie.

Overall, a great read. Definitely recommend!

Tell Me Lies is probably one of my favorite books written (by this same author). I love how she tries to get inside the minds of very relatable characters. That said, this one was on point for character development, but it just wasn't riveting enough for me. Carola Lovering's third book is a social commentary on women's friendship and motherhood, focusing on the toxic friendship between two different women. The story explores issues such as sexual abuse, classism, Alzheimer's disease, and the downsides of being an influencer. The author skillfully weaves a one-sided story, but the social media aspect can be a bit watered down. Despite the plot, the character-driven nature of the story is enjoyable. I'm giving it 3 stars with NetGalley and the publisher providing the Advance Readers Copy.

This was my first book by Lovering, and it was quite a satisfying domestic drama. With duel points of view and a past and present timeline, we explore the relationship of two childhood friends who grow up and grow apart over time and what tore them apart.

There is definitely a lot to unpack in this story as it touches on first-time motherhood, losing yourself and friendships as life's circumstances change. It also deals with trauma and sexual abuse, classism, and a few other themes. But the plot is very character driven, and there are layers and depth that had me feeling empathy for both of them.
I just wish the author had given us more on Billie's behaviors, but i really enjoyed the incident that brought everything to a head, and we get more back story.

I also loved how she started the story with a big shocker. It's so unique and keeps you wanting to read more.

I think most women will relate to this story on some level as it's very engaging with secrets, lies, jealousy,influencer vibes, and the complexity of female friendships.
I highly suggest you add it to your reading list.

Bye, Baby, will be available March 5th, 2024
Special thanks to Netgally and Saint Martin's Press for the advanced copy. My opinion is my own

I really enjoyed this book! It was one that I thought about even when not reading it and every day I looked forward to getting my next chance to pick it up. I wouldn’t consider it a particularly twisty domestic thriller but that didn’t make it any less exciting or entertaining. Both MC’s were a bit irritating but I really liked the direction the author took this story. It explores various relationships, specifically, the friendship of Cassie and Billie and what happens when they grow apart. With a dual POV, chapters jump back and forth between the current dramatic event of Cassie’s baby being kidnapped and prior years of her friendship with Billie.

This one just didn't work for me, I couldn't get into it or relate to the characters. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read it early.

Oooh okay this was a multilayered examination of a friendship with a toxic dynamic and a dramatic history. It was not thrilling, but it was compelling. Neither Billie nor Cassie is the perfect person, but I found redeeming characteristics in both of them despite their mistakes.

I found I had to suspend my disbelief for certain parts, but overall this held my interest and I was very empathetic towards Billie. Haven’t we all been there at some point? Feeling on the outs, especially with someone we once felt close to? Just wanting that closeness back? I was confused about Grant - he seems like a total dick at times, but then is very thoughtful and understanding at the end. I was also confused by Cassie’s response to her daughter going missing - her moratorium on social media/her phone seems like a weird swerve. Alex’s choice at the end also feels unbelievable to me. But besides some of these little moments, I thought this was a strong read with some really compelling elements, especially as relates to female friendships. Would be a great choice for a book club because there’s a LOT to unpack here!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

4/5 stars

3.5 rounded down. Quick read and held my interest, but overall thought it fell flat at the end. Was expecting it to be more of a thriller. May have rated higher if had different expectations.

**a huge thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Carola Lovering for the opportunity to review an ARC of this book**

3.5 stars!

I wouldn't necessarily consider this a thriller but more domestic suspense.
the story is told in dual POV between Cassie and Billie, with flashbacks that provide backstory of their 20 year friendship and give you insight into why Billie is behaving in such a way now that she feels Cassie is neglecting her.

The flashbacks, inner monologue of Billie and stalkerish tendencies gave me total Joe Goldberg vibes (from You by Caroline Kepnes), so if you enjoyed that series, you will like this. It wasn't as well done as the you series, but its definitely in the same area!

this was my first Lovering book, will definitely be reading more from her.

Note: Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC.

Domestic thrillers are my favorite so I was happy to get this delicious read! In particular, I find female friendships to be the most fascinating and complex relationship experiences. I think the author did a wonderful job depicting the non-mutual exclusivity of some friendships' love/hate relationship. I follow many NYC influencer moms and I think the author really hit the spot with the habits and rituals of this elite population. Although we knew the plot line from the prologue, the anticipation of consequences and dual timelines really kept me on my toes.

I honestly could not predict how this book was going to end and it really wasn’t anything explosive , but it’s always nice when you can relate to characters or storylines. That’s what makes reading so human!

My favorite quote from the book: “And isn’t that a requisite of loving someone—to grow complacent to their most fatal flaw? To suppress the urge to change them until it all but disappears? The practice resembles acceptance, but the process is more painful. It’s more like sacrifice.“ This reminded me of Tinx’s fatal flaw theory where “once you realize each friend’s fatal flaw, you either have to accept it and choose to not be bothered by it or rethink the friendship.”

This captivating book skillfully weaves a narrative that immerses readers in a rich tapestry of suspense and drama. The plot unfolds with meticulous precision, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats as the story takes unexpected twists and turns.

One of the standout elements is the author's ability to tackle difficult themes with grace and depth. The narrative doesn't shy away from addressing complex and profound aspects of the human experience. It invites readers to confront challenging ideas, prompting introspection and sparking conversations that extend beyond the confines of the book.

The characters in the story are crafted with intricate detail, each contributing to the overall emotional resonance of the narrative. Their struggles and triumphs are portrayed with authenticity, making them relatable and memorable. As the plot unfolds, the reader becomes emotionally invested in the characters, adding an extra layer of connection to the unfolding events.

What sets this book apart is its ability to seamlessly blend entertainment with intellectual stimulation. While the suspenseful elements keep readers engaged, the underlying themes serve as a thought-provoking foundation. It's a literary journey that not only entertains but also challenges and enriches the reader's perspective.

In essence, this book transcends the conventional boundaries of genre, offering a reading experience that is both thrilling and intellectually satisfying. Long after the final chapter, the echoes of its themes resonate, leaving a lasting impact on those who embark on this literary adventure.

👋👶 Bye, Baby

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Normally I would be the last person to pick up a book centered around anything to do with a baby, but I was hooked from the moment I read the synopsis. Told in present day and flashbacks, the relationship between Billie and Cassie is fully explored and shows how the two women gradually grew apart and led to Billie stealing her childhood best friend's baby after being lied to. Leading with the twist compels the reader to dive into the novel and not want to put it down. I was viscerally angry at having to pause reading to sleep last night.

One quote that will always stand out to me and made it an instant 5 star read was "I think of the basement, of what he did to me, of Cassie keeping it all in a locked corner of her heart. Of the love between two best friends that dies but doesn't disappear. There's still the soul of that love. It goes somewhere."

This book will appeal to anyone who has been part of a toxic female friendship and knows that their friendship ending was the best situation but still mourns the loss of their friend.

Great book!! Lovering kept me hooked throughout the entire book. Her characterization was on point, and the book really moved along nicely with a blend of past and present and the two different points of view! Loved it! Will be a must read author from now on, in fact, getting a book I already had of hers off my shelf to read next!

Two best friends, since they were 12, Billie and Cassie have grown apart. Cassie is a new mother with a rich husband who is trying to become a successful entrepreneur and influencer. Billie loves her job but can’t understand why Cassie has no place for her in her new life.
Told in the present, and in the past, we learn how Billie’s life fell apart when her mother became ill. Something life-changing happened and Billie and Cassie have kept a secret for all these years. I felt like understood Billie way more than Cassie, especially when all of Billie’s trauma comes to light. Honestly, I’m not sure if I could name more than one time when Cassie didn’t come across as a rather shallow and terrible person.
No spoilers, but Billie seriously crossed the line, and I thought the consequences would’ve been more severe. This was a page flipper as I wanted to understand what brought these two women together and what tore them apart. Some hard topics, especially Billy’s traumatic relationship with her stepfather.

I really enjoyed reading this book, but I wouldn’t really label it as a mystery/thriller even though that’s what the blurb is trying to suggest. Bye, Baby is more of a suspense/drama, and it was hard to put down! I found myself constantly wanting to know what was going to happen next.

This book explores so many difficult themes…loss of friendship, new motherhood and navigating that with your partner, loss of a parent, sexual abuse, etc. There’s a lot going on in this book, but it never felt messy. It was interesting to see how my loyalties changed throughout reading, and I ended up rooting for the character I didn’t expect.

I will definitely be checking out more from this author. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my copy in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 stars rounded to 4. I went into this expecting more action and excitement but I was still pleasantly surprised by how gripping this was without action.

Cassie and Billie’s friendship is incredibly complex and complicated and I couldn’t get enough of it. Two POVs and two timelines weaves the way of childhood besties into adulthood.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for an early copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

I'm pretty picky about my thrillers and <i>Bye, Baby</i> came highly recommended from several bookstagram people that I follow. As far as thrillers go, I did like it a lot more than some of the others I've read this year, but I also felt that the characters just didn't make sense. The protagonist never really seems to have a good enough motive for the choices she makes and I ended up just feeling sorry for both characters. I think this is a fast-paced, easy read if you like thrillers, but once I read it, it didn't really stay with me.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

This is one of those stories where you cringe about both of the main characters making painfully awful choices in their lives and relationships. Cassie and Billie are best friends from childhood and share a dark secret. Cassie is trying to make her mark as an influencer and business owner living the high life with her trust fund husband. Making it in this world her lifelong dream. Billie has a great job traveling the world, but seemingly unable of escaping her near obsession with being Cassie’s best friend. Cassie has left Billie behind, but hasn’t completely forgotten her occasionally seeing her, never quite able to sever all ties. The story is building to a reckoning and it is as cringeworthy as their relationship. Enjoyed the story.

Overall, this book was okay. I felt as though it was long winded as the crescendo of the book was towards the middle of the book; not the end. It was a good storyline that placed emphasis on, one, hand what it looks like to be obsessed/addicted to social media and then on the other hand, what it looks like for someone to be obsessed with their past friendships and relationships who hasn't grown, I'm glad that the situations within the book ended on good terms.

This book was an emotional rollercoaster. As many reviews mention, it's leans more into a general fiction category but definitely has some thriller/suspense elements. It's about a complicated relationship between two friends. Both are flawed but the person you think is a monster actually ends up not being that bad. Very interesting.

Dysfunctional friendship abounds in this one! Cassie and Billie, now in their 30s, have known each other since middle school. They were inseparable until their early 20s, but things have changed now that Cassie is an influencer and married her rich husband. Cassie has always been a gold digger, selecting potential suitors who could fund her dream life. Grant is her perfect match, and with him comes friends like McKay who are snobby and elite. Billie tries to stay relevant in Cassie's life, but always feels left out. A family emergency brings the pair back together, but secrets threaten to tear the two apart forever.

This was a good read and shines a light on the obsessive nature of social media. Cassie was insufferable throughout most of the book, and I wanted someone to put her in her place. But Billie wasn't the friend to that, and I shook my head at her dropping everything to be by Cassie's side whenever she beckoned her. Some of Billie's actions were anxiety-producing! The second half of the novel really picked up, though I thought the end was a bit too tidy. Either way, it was enjoyable!