Rating: 4/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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I went into this one completely blind and I really enjoyed this story. Bye, Baby is told in a dual POV and through a dual timeline. The two POV’s are two best friends - Billie and Cassie and the timelines are obviously the past when they met and their friendship growing up and through the present.
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This is more of a slow burn that deals very much with motherhood, social media influences on peoples lives and the ups and downs of friendships (even toxic ones). I was so drawn to the dynamics of Cassie and Billie’s friendship, their past experiences and how they were navigating through life. When reading this you get such a glimpse into both characters past and how they grew up being who they were.
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Lovering really spoke to me with everything she said about motherhood, with breast feeding, with the bond a mother has to her baby. I found myself shaking my head yes to so many of Cassie’s feelings (in regards to her child) throughout the story. I also really felt so drawn to the whole social media aspect as well, the addiction to the phone and how life can be portrayed so differently.
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I think all of these different topics combined made this such an interesting and addicting read. I ended up devouring this one within a day and I really enjoyed it.
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I listened to this one via audio while read ing my eARC and Helen Laser and Karissa Vacker did a phenomenal job at narrating the voices of Billie and Cassie. I loved the audio and will be recommending it to all of my audiobook friends.
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Bye, Baby will be releasing on 3/5 - be sure to check this one out! Huge thank you to NetGalley, Carola Lovering, MacMillan Audio and St. Martins Press for the ALC and eARC in exchange for my honest review!

This book is one of the most anxiety inducing books I’ve read in awhile. The main character holds a secret that has the power to destroy the relationships she holds most dear, the author did such a good job of conveying the fear and anxiety in this situation that I had to take a lot of breaks to calm down and remind myself that it was just a book (gotta love being an empath).

Jumping back and forth between past and present isn’t something I'm usually a fan of, I think a lot of authors rely too heavily on it to delay the main storyline and it winds up taking away from the quality of the plot. However I felt its use in this book was very well done. It provided so much context to the characters and was a nice reprieve from the anxiety of the main storyline.

This book is more of an exploration of friendships and the ways in which they change over time than it is a thriller. It poses a lot of really interesting questions about what people want out of life, codependent relationships, how we move in and out of people’s lives, and how we show up for others. With just a bit of a thriller spin to it.

Overall I loved the writing, Carola Lovering did a fantastic job, and the audiobook read by Helen Laser and Karissa Vacker was very well done.

I really enjoyed this psychological mystery/thriller about a friendship spanning decades. The friendship between Billie and Cassie was totally warped and they shared a past secret that could wreck both of their lives. I could not STAND Cassie. But it felt like she was written that way to be over the top and obnoxious. I also liked the view of how the dependence on screens makes our lives worse and can cause a lot of issues and inflated sense of self worth. This was an intriguing story and the dual POV and dual timelines kept me coming back for more. I'd definitely recommend it. The narrators did a fantastic job voicing these characters and really did a great job with the emotional range of the story.

Thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and Carla Lovering for my copy of this ALC which publishes 3/5/24.

Billie and Cassie have been lifelong best friends despite trauma, secrets, and differing lifestyles. But as Cassie experiences motherhood and wealth, Billie is left behind. Billie will do anything to get Cassie back, including hiding the truth of what happened the night Cassie’s baby went missing.

Bye Baby by Carola Lovering, narrated by Helen Laser and Karissa Vacker, is a psychological thriller that I could not put down! It dived deep into women relationships, childhood trauma, and the evolution of friendship.

I loved these characters and the very thorough character and relationship building the author put into this. While both characters aren’t exactly likable, it’s really I think because we’re seeing the ugly honesty behind them that most are never able to witness. The narration was absolutely perfect too.

While reading this, I thought of two friends of mine through different times of my life. One was my best friend growing up that I no longer talk to, the other my current best friend as an adult. I’m very lucky that my current best friend is still close even when she’s had a baby and moved away. I know keeping that friendship is a blessing I appreciate every day. ❤️

This is a book focused on the breakup of a friendship and everything else just supports that. It made me sad as I reminisced, and it made me really consider what exactly makes a healthy friendship.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the audio ARC!

This was a 3.5!
I really enjoyed reading this book, but the premise was definitely strange! It reminded me of "The Push" in a lot of ways. The story follows two childhood friends as grown women and flashes back to different times in their youth. It was sad because it shows how these women grew apart and the different paths their lives took. It was set in New York and it was nice that the two women's Billie and Cassie each represent two different viewpoints on NYC living. One is Uber rich and belongs to an elite circle of friends. The other is just an average human trying to work and make a decent living in the city. Money and status is part of the reason they drifted apart.
This was definitely enjoyable, the entire plot line with the baby being kidnapped was just very odd.
Thanks as always to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for letting me listen to an advanced copy of the book!

Ohhhh this audiobook was great!! I loved the narrator, I thought she did an amazing job portraying the story! Highly recommend this one if you want a book that keeps you guessing!

I listened to Bye, Baby, and I enjoyed this book so much! I've read another novel by this author, and once again, she did not disappoint. I like the short chapters and the two point of views - characters typically alternate from one chapter to the other. The flow of the plot was quick, and it held my attention from start to finish. There is an element of mystery, which I like, but it's also about learning about the character dynamics and the complexities of friendship. For audiobook lovers, this one is great, and the narrator nailed it.

I appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to listen to the audiobook of Bye, Baby in exchange for an honest review.

Read Completed 1/9/24 | 3.5 stars, rounded up because I guess I was entertained by the story

Review contains mild spoilers talking about the overall tone and how I felt about the ending.
I read this because I loved TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE be Carola Lovering because that is an actual psychological thriller, but none of her other books quiiiite seem to be. This was another that has all the makings of a thriller and you kind of don't know if it even really is until the end. (I don't think it is?)

I really liked the tone of the book. The tension was there, there was a backstory with a hidden past, suspense, not wanting to be caught... but in the end, it didn't feel very thriller-like and everything just kind of fizzled away. I was hoping for one more jab of something good to really put the nail in the coffin, so to speak, but it was all a little too nice and I honestly didn't know if I wanted Billie to fall apart or be whole again, or if I wanted something bad to happen to Cassie, who really wasn't a good person.

I think the book suffered (for me) at not really "committing" to a genre. If you're not a thriller reader, maybe this is a good book for you! It has some tense moments, explores friendship as adults and mothers and business owners, dips into grief, and everything resolves itself in the end. I just don't think I like the way it ended. If you're a thriller reader, you may be left wanting more.

I enjoyed the ride and was hoping for more of a bang at the end, and I think that's why I'm the most disappointed, but really, I didn't have issues with the rest of the book. I wasn't quite loving it but I was still engaged. Read at your own risk, I guess 😅 It's hard to recommend this one since it's kind of in limbo between genres and both characters can be pretty unlikeable, though Billie grew on me.

I was honestly hoping for a more twisty situation with this book description. It didn’t read like a thriller. Good storyline but then felt uncomfortable and I felt disappointed once the details came to light at the end. The book alternates between two characters, Billie and Cassie, past and present and what brought them together and ultimately tore them apart. Suddenly Cassie’s baby goes missing and they are brought together again. The book had a chance to be great but then became an average read given the ending. I’m giving it three stars because I was kept interested in the story line and it isn’t like anything I’ve read in the past, just disappointed that it wasn’t the thriller it was lead on to be.

This has been posted to Goodreads.

" absolutely loved this book! I listened to it non-stop during a snow day at home. The story had me completely captivated and I couldn't put it down. If you enjoy suspenseful page-turners that explore complex relationships between women, including friendships and obsessions, as well as themes of coming of age, adulthood, and flashbacks, then this book is a must-read."

Please be aware going into this book that it is not a thriller. I may have given it a higher rating had I know this going in. The synopsis is misleading. Yes, there is a missing baby. However, the baby is missing for all of 4 hours. It is not a major role in the story. I was expecting a big, thrilling drama looking for the baby for the entirety of the novel. However, that is not what this is. I would mark this book more along the lines of women's fiction, maybe suspense if you're stretching. But thriller? No.

Now, onto the novel itself. Growing up, Billie and Cassie were besties. Cassie moved to town when the girls were 12 and they were instant friends, the kind of friendship that rewrites your entire life. Where you saw Billie, you saw Cassie. Billie had her struggles in life- a creepy step-father and a mother with early-onset dementia, while Cassie is fairly well off. She has a very wealthy grandmother and was wealthy herself until her father lost their family's money.

In the present day, Cassie and Billie are 35 years old and are no longer close. Cassie has married a very wealthy man, has started her own clothing boutique, is a social media influencer, and has a 4-month-0ld daughter named Ella. Billie is single and working for a travel company which she absolutely loves. On the night of Cassie's birthday party, due to a misunderstanding, they don't have a babysitter. They bring Ella onto the terrace during the party and the next thing you know, Ella has disappeared. She is brought back 4 hours later, but this changes Cassie- makes her paranoid. You would assume from the synopsis that the kidnapping is the central focus of the story, however, that isn't the case. Cassie and Billie's relationship is more of the focus. Cassie and Billie share a dark secret from their past. Cassie has created distance from Billie in adulthood because she doesn't want anyone to know about this secret. Billie craves the closeness with Cassie that she once had. The primary focus of the novel is their ever-evolving relationship.

Overall, I did enjoy the novel. However, be aware that this is not a thriller. It will not keep you on your toes. There is no deep, dark mystery. You know what is happening at all times. There is a back story that makes each character's past more complex and interesting, but it's all pretty guessable. For that reason, I'd give this one 4 stars. It's still a great read! The audio was very well done. Just adjust your expectations to the mis-marketing.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Bye, Baby was less a thriller and more an emotional journey through childhood friends, toxic relationships, and childhood trauma. Some serious subject matter that was hard to listen to (look up trigger warnings), but the material was essential to the story line. Really enjoyed this dual POV narration on audio. The voices suited each character. Would recommend the audio!

As a new mother myself, Cassie had some relatable moments, but motherhood was the extend of her appeal. The FMCs were insufferable and I found myself cringing in annoyance more often than not throughout the narration.

The second part was better than the first, but I was just to the point where I wanted to be done with the book. To be honest, the narrator was so good she made me dislike the characters more based on her inflection.

Thanks so much NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the ALC for review.

For me this felt more like a suspense than a thriller since we basically knew what happened from the start. It was a really interesting dive into the dynamic of female friendship and how growing apart can cause jealousy to rear its ugly head. I really enjoyed the narration. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

I thought this story started out interesting, but the main event happened just after the halfway point and it lost steam from there.

I wasn't a fan of the characters in this book, but I was okay with that because I was curious to find out how these people got to the point they were at. Unfortunately, you return to the prologue just after the halfway point and the remainder of the book is just the fallout from the event. You would expect the fallout might be thrilling based on the blurb, but it is sad in a pathetic sort of way. There are also a lot of dumb decisions, which I found frustrating.

Eventually, the book comes back around and the ending was good, but it was too late to completely save the story for me. I thought the overarching story was good, but that section of the book just wasn't executed very well.

I received an audio copy in addition to the ebook. The audio was narrated by Helen Laser and Karissa Vacker. I thought the narration was very well done and suited the characters.

I feel like the big deal in this book is so not that big of a deal. Both friends have secrets and the fact that one is acceptable but the other isn’t is frustrating. This friendship is honestly ridiculous but I guess most of us have been there too- where one person kind of moves on but then goes through something where they need you and it feels “normal” again. Just a crappy friendship in my opinion, they both deserved better.

🌀Synopsis
Billie and Cassie have been friends since they were kids. Well, kind of. Billie doesn’t have any friends besides Cassie but Cassie has moved beyond her. Cassie is married with a daughter and has a lot of other friends and a lot of money. Billie hasn’t moved on and wants to maintain the friendship even though she is constantly rejected by Cassie.
When Cassie’s daughter goes missing the only person she wants to see is Billie. The two share an intimate secret that Cassie is sure she’s being punished for. When their daughter is returned, Cassie and Billie remain close. Cassie no longer has the desire to be friends with all those other people and relies instead on Billie again. The two are just as close as before.
Except, Billie has a secret too and little by little it starts to unravel and takes their friendship with it.

The description of this novel hit me like a gut punch. Billie hears the terrified screams of her best friend on the floor above, only to realize she is the source of that terror. Billie has kidnapped her best friend’s daughter… WOW! I’m totally hooked from the very beginning!

The novel is told in two parts. Part one traces Billie and Cassie’s friendship from the beginning as well as the daily leadup to the kidnapping. Part two focuses on how their friendship slowly unraveled overtime and post-kidnapping.

As the novel progresses, it is very apparent that Cassie and Billie have an incredibly toxic friendship based on past trauma. Billie has become codependent upon Cassie to the point that she quite unhealthily stalks her Instagram and obsesses over every detail. Cassie has her own self-esteem issues and the need to “fit in” with her new wealthy friend group, leading her to further cut ties with Billie. Neither woman is willing to completely give up the other and this becomes more apparent after the kidnapping.

Part two was intense. As the listener, I was totally immersed in the story and almost literally biting my nails while waiting for the inevitable. The audio production was absolutely fabulous and helped build the suspense of the novel. This is a fast-paced read, worthy of a beach or rainy day.

Bye, Baby is a drama filled character driven novel. It is not a thriller, don't go into it thinking that you will be let down. I am usually not a big fan of these but this one truly kept me hooked. The tension, the secrets, the lies, the drama everything was just on point.

I loved the deep dive into friendships, the friendships we hold on to even with all their toxicity. It was very well done. From the start I was truly immersed in this book and couldn't stop listening. It starts off with a bang and honestly it does not let up.

It is definitely a slow burn, but I really appreciated it, as there was constant drama and suspense. The dual POV was great as we got to explore both characters in depth. This was a solid bingeable read.

🎧 The narration by Helen Laser & Karissa Vacker was fantastic. They truly did a good job with both characters, they made it so I would be hooked on both characters. Their emotions, their pain and fears were all so well expressed through the narration.

✨️Thank you to @netgalley, @macmillanaudio & @carolalovering for my free ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This book touches on so many things - friendship, motherhood, secrets, relationships, molestation, Alzheimer's, trauma, and lies to name a few. Some of these may be triggers for some.


I had the pleasure of having the audiobook and kindle version of this book. It made for a fully enjoyable reading experience.

Well written, gripping, hard to put down, thought provoking and riveting.

First I would like to thank Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced audiobook.

I spent a couple of days thinking about this book. I really feel like I had to process by thoughts about it before writing a review. There were parts of this story I loved: the backstory friendship between Cassie and Billie, the growing romance between Billie and Alex, the bond between mother and child and the influencer lifestyle which was fun and hilarious. But there were also things that I found a little cringy. Specifically the obsession Billie has with Cassie. Even with their backstory that seemed to be a little much.

Other thoughts: I really loved the beginning of the book. It caught my attention right away. As well, the narrators were fantastic in this book. Both of them made the characters. I would listen to other books by them for sure. And I appreciated the ending. When I was about 75% through I thought everything was going to end badly for everyone but I felt like the author really wrapped up everyone’s storylines nicely. Even if they all weren’t happy endings. It all just felt right.

A solid 4/5 stars for me. #netgalley #byebaby