Thank you @stmartinspress & @netgalley for my digital copy. My thoughts are my own.

How far would you go for your best friend?

Growing up, Billie and Cassie were best friends. They supported each other through boyfriends and breakups…and, they kept each other’s secrets, no matter how dark and deadly they were.

As adults, Billie is working in the travel industry and she is still single. Cassie has married a wealthy man and established friendships in the upper crust of New York society. She is an influencer, and delights in sharing her beautiful life, including pictures of her perfect daughter, on social media. Cassie wants to put the past, including Billie, behind her.

But Billie can’t let go of Cassie. She watches every Instagram reel with sadness, until one night when she hears Cassie screaming that her baby has been kidnapped, and Billie looks down at the baby in her arms.

Told in alternating viewpoints with a dual timeline, this is a dark and emotional tale of friendship, trust, and betrayal. The plot-driven story moves at a good pace, as it builds in suspense and guarantees to keep the reader turning the pages.

Read this if you enjoy stories that explore the dark side of women’s friendship stories.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC.

Bye, Baby is a weird story. At times it feels like a story I’ve read a million times. There’s not much about it that makes it stand out from similar books. The writing is fine but not super impressive. And the plot is missing things that would make it cohesive.


*spoiler alert*


The thing that really gets me is that through everything nobody questions the fact that this these parents got drunk and left their four month old baby on the balcony alone long enough that someone was able to hear the baby wailing, climb up a fire escape, take said baby, and climb down the fire escape into another apartment before anyone realized the baby was gone. This isn’t a baby in a bedroom and a forgotten monitor. This is a baby screaming outside by herself while a bunch of wasted people party. And it’s never addressed as an issue. By anyone. Including the police. Yikes.

I truly enjoyed reading this book. It is the perfect combination in a psychological thriller--friends who have known each other since childhood and share a dark secret, one an ambitious social influencer who never stops recording her life and the other who is afflicted with jealousy, a murder in the past, and a stolen baby. There plenty of twists and turns, and the ending is totally satisfying.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this advance copy.

Loved this book right away.
It started out with Netflix's "You" vibes (not the book, the show, trust me) which had me hooked.
I'd say half way through I was confused because it felt like the story had ended, with few loose ends to tie up, so it was a longer second half, but still an easy read.
I wouldn't necessarily consider it a thriller, and it gave rom-com toward the end.. I was hoping for a twist that never came.
But, overall, a great read and I would definitely recommend.

Similar to other novels by Lovering, Bye Baby is more of a friendship drama than a thriller, although the cover and description seem very thrillery. There's some suspense to the drama, though, and I know by now not to expect thrillers from this author even though they seem to be marketed as such.

Despite the genre, I was hooked. This author has a particular skill for weaving the most toxic of friendships! It's an interesting look at how friendships evolve over time, sometimes unevenly. I found both main characters to be rather unlikeable, but I was fascinated by their toxic interactions and certainly wanted to see how things would play out for Billie.

I did feel like the book was over halfway through. Usually books like this climax around the 80% mark, with some wrap up and explanations and then it's done. With this book, though, all the questions posed by the summary were answered by the 50% mark. The ending felt way too drawn out for me--I was expecting a final reveal, but nothing else came.

I knew when the advance copy of Carola Lovering's Bye, Baby arrived that I was about to read another exceptional novel by this gifted author. I could hardly wait to open the book. Lovering did not disappoint.

Bye, Baby brings us on the deep, dark psychological journey of childhood best friends, Billie and Cassie, whose codependent relationship is tested by time and circumstance. As teenagers, the friends are deeply scarred by shared trauma that alters their paths to adulthood. In their thirties, their friendship is tested again, and that test brings us to the heart of the story. Here, our ability to empathize with these women likely determines our enjoyment of the book. Even when we question their choices, Lovering does an outstanding job of showing readers how to understand Billie and Cassie. Whether or not we like them or agree with them misses the point of the novel. It's our job as readers to see the world through the eyes of the characters.

Bye, Baby is largely set in Manhattan, where Lovering's skillful use of setting and dialogue to shape her characters is nothing short of masterful. The dialogue sounds so real one can actually see and hear the characters speak inside our imagination. Lovering's writing is that good.

As readers, we all know how important a satisfying ending is to a story, no matter the genre. I have to say that I *loved* the ending to Bye, Baby. It's perfect. Carola Lovering gives us every reason to look for her next novel. Recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for providing an advance copy of this book to read and review. This review will be posted to Bayside Book Reviews at https://baysidebookreviews.com and its Instagram page on release day. Follow us! *NetGalley Top Reviewer*

I went into this reading without much expectation: I had not read Carola Lovering's work before, and I didn't really read the blurb. But I did expect it to be a thriller, since it is labeled as such. This was definitely not a thriller. BUT it is a fantastic read! More about the friendship between two women who have been best friends since childhood. That's an interesting phrase though: best friends. I wouldn't call the friendship and the things that bound them good. There's a lot of brokenness, loneliness, and hurt between them. And as adults, the friendship becomes even more toxic, resulting in some really poor decisions. I enjoy Lovering's writing. There is a lot going on in this novel...perhaps a little too much, as she only touches on most of the themes that pop up. But it works well, and the novel as a whole was so well written. Lovering is most definitely staying on my to read list!

Many, many thanks to Netgalley and to St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this novel!

This is a complex deep book, about the evolution of a friendship over time. One character was likeable, the other grew on me over time. I think my older students will like this and hopefully be moved by the personal growth of the women as the navigate their friendship for the good and bad of it

I loved this book!!!!! well written story of a deep, complicated, twisted long friendship between two women,. Loyalty, co dependence, betrayal, differing values challenge the relationship, in this slow burn suspenseful story that doesn't go for gimmicks but the heart of relationships is what drives the story. Did i say i loved it.... well let me say it again

Carola Lovering's upcoming novel "Bye, Baby" starts off a bit slow in the first 25 percent of the story, but it's crucial for setting up the background and exploring the friendship between Cassie and Billie. The author takes her time to establish the characters and their dynamics, which ultimately pays off in the later parts of the book. While it may require some patience from the reader, this initial section provides important context that enhances the overall reading experience. From the very beginning, the reader is aware of what happened, but the real intrigue lies in uncovering the how and why behind the events.
The dynamic between Cassie and Billie is explored in a complex and nuanced way. Cassie's apparent outgrowing of Billie and her self-centered nature are contrasted with Billie's devotion and obsession with their friendship. It's a poignant portrayal of the complexities and sometimes toxicity that can exist within friendships. Additionally, the novel delves into Cassie's preoccupation with her wealthy friends and social media status, adding another layer of depth to the story.
To me this book was more of a drama than what I consider a thriller. It was very well written and this actually makes the 4th book I have read and enjoyed by this author! Thank you so much for my advanced copy of this book! I hope everyone will love it as much as I did. 4 1/2 stars rounded up!

I thought this was kind of odd. I don’t know if it’s considered a domestic thriller but it felt more to me like just the story of a toxic friendship. I don’t like the dynamics between most of the characters. I had a hard time believing that women in their mid-thirties would act like they did and flip flop so much but maybe that’s because I’ve hit the “I have no energy for friend drama” stage in my forties and so their relationship doesn’t feel worth the angst despite the trauma they experienced together. It kept my attention but I didn’t particularly enjoy the characters.

Must, must, must read! Carola Lovering is a master at domestic thrillers and her latest novel Bye, Baby could quite possibly be my favorite from her to date! This epic read centers around childhood best friends, Billie and Cassie, who become estranged as their adult lives take them in different directions. But no matter what their future holds their past forever links them, and that connection could be the key to rekindling their friendship…or not.

This book is absolutely unputdownable! I mean, I literally finished this novel in record time, because I HAD to see who everything played out! In true Carola Lovering fashion, the unexpected twists and turns did not disappoint. I am completely blown away how Carola Lovering takes these crazy circumstances/situations and makes them somehow relatable! Bye, Baby is a solid and complete 5 star novel that would make an awesome book club selection—-sooooo much to discuss! I absolutely recommend this novel to EVERYONE!

Writing this review proved challenging, as it struck a unique chord with me. I was genuinely captivated by Carola Lovering's writing, especially since she is a new author to me. The narrative was profoundly relatable, particularly in the realm of friendship. However, I'm hesitant to delve too deeply into the plot, as it's a tale best experienced firsthand.

"In 'Bye, Baby,' we are introduced to the central figures, Cassie and Billie. From their shared childhood, it's evident that Cassie and Billie were inseparable, always supporting one another through thick and thin. Yet, through well-crafted flashbacks and alternating perspectives, we witness a stark contrast. Billie emerges as the embodiment of loyalty and love, while Cassie reveals herself as the self-absorbed friend, always putting her own needs first. To say that I found Cassie unlikable would be an understatement. My sympathies lay entirely with Billie, whose heartache throughout the narrative left me profoundly moved.

Billie's upbringing was far from ideal. With her only family being her mother, who was afflicted with early-onset dementia and wed to the neighborhood drunk, Billie yearned for unwavering support and believed she had found it in Cassie. Regrettably, Cassie moved on to what she deemed to be greener pastures, leaving Billie behind.

Admittedly, Billie makes a grievous decision within the book. Nevertheless, I couldn't help but empathize with her, given the depth of her emotional turmoil. As for Cassie, one might ponder whether she deserved the consequences that befell her. Perhaps.

Ultimately, 'Bye, Baby' provides a thought-provoking exploration of friendship, exclusion, loneliness, and the grief that accompanies being shunned by those we hold dear.

4.25 Stars: This was such a good book. I loved the story line and even the sometimes unlikeable characters. The beginning hooked me in and I'm so glad it did. I don't want to give any spoilers but I will say It is a story of friendship that outgrows each other.

Pub date: 3/5/24
Genre: suspense/thriller
Quick summary: Billie is frustrated that her best friend Cassie, now an influencer, pulling away. When she sees Cassie's baby left unattended at a party, her choice to take the baby will upend both their lives.

I don't really know what to think of this book - the premise is SO dramatic. But I also read it super quickly, and it was full of surprises. I liked how Lovering used the past timeline to show Billie and Cassie's friendship, eventually showing their communication breakdown as Cassie tried to escape her past. If you enjoy books about complex friendships and don't mind suspending your disbelief, I bet you'll enjoy this one! 3.5 stars rounded to 4.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book caught my attention from the very beginning. This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I love her writing style making the characters come to life. Her descriptions of the many facets of friendships and motherhood were very thought provoking.The who done it aspect was revealed early on in the story but how the characters were interwoven and the consequences of the actions made it a real page turner. Secrets, love, forgiveness, self evaluation were all so important to the story. Highly recommend!

This book did not disappoint. It kept me wanting more right up to the end.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cy_uY1GRsTG/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

I am having a hard time to review this book. I really enjoyed the writing, I kept coming back to it. I had to adjust my expectations as I thought I was diving into a thriller but I really see it more as a story about a toxic friendship and it's expectations.

What I loved : the dual point of view, the different timelines, the backstory.
What I struggled with: The characters infuriated me. At times I just wanted to shake them and yell ''what are you doing!''.

3.5 stars - would recommend.

This was definitely not the book I was expecting to read in anyway by the premise. In my opinion I wouldn’t classify this book as a thriller. It is more of an exploration of the friendship of two women who were/are best friends and how a tragic event can push them back together and apart in so many different ways and how they will each handle that journey.
You have alternative POVs between the the two women . Cassie, I did NOT like at all. I found her to be snobby and self-absorbed. Billie, had her own issues that didn’t make her the most likable character related to obsessive tendencies. These women seem to be connected through trauma and that can be a slippery slope.
This book has characters I couldn’t stand , villains really, secrets will/wont they come out, and tragedy… what could go wrong?!

Honestly, I wish this book would have redirected its focus because a little over halfway through I was ready for it to end . When it did end … it wasn’t the ending I expected. This author is talented so definitely form your own opinions!

Thank you to the Author, Netgalley, and St.Martins Press for the ARC of this book!

I was given the opportunity to read the ARC Bye, Baby by @carolatlovering. I was just coming out of a reading slump and I received this email from @stmartinspress & I was like “it’s a sign!” And so, I started. So extra special thanks to St. Marins Press & Carola Lovering.

Have you ever kidnapped your estranged best friend’s baby? No? YEAH ME NEITHER. First of all, how in the world does someone find themselves in this position? And even if in the position to steal your estranged best friend’s baby, WHY WOULD YOU? Billie made some questionable decisions, and this by far might be the most outlandish. Toggling between the past and present, Bye, Baby showcases the past and current relationship amongst Cassie Barnwell & Billie West and what lead Billie to this exact moment. Both Cassie & Billie lead very different lives. Cassie is a social media influencer who shares every. single. detail. of her life online. Billie is very private and quiet and can’t fathom how Cassie could be so open online. Cassie wants to forget the past, including Billie and never look back. Billie is desperate to repair their friendship and would do anything to do so. However, stealing your best friend’s baby probably isn’t high on the “Tips on How To Get Your Best friend Back” list.

Bye, Baby truly captivated me. I think more so because of the personal issues going on in my life at the time of reading, so I really related a lot to Billie, save the baby stealing. Losing a friend is hard and even harder when your friend is half there like Cassie was, it feels like they’re within reach but still so far away. I understood Billie’s point of view, but I also understood Cassie’s. Sometimes it’s time to let go of your past and your old friends, and accepting the fact that you’ve outgrown someone is apart of life.