Billie and Cassie were best friends as kids. Now they’re adults and live very different lives but Billie has never really gotten past the fact that they’ve drifted apart. Cassie is now an Instagram influencer and has a husband and baby and Billie has none of these things. Their friendship was toxic as children and as adults, jealousy has lead Billie to make a spur of the moment decision that changes everything in the course of her life. The story begins the day the event takes place and then goes back 50 days beforehand and then to the days after. You spend a chunk of the story just waiting for Billie to get caught, which amps up the stress factor. Then slowly bits and pieces of their relationship as kids are revealed and you see why their friendship was toxic and the secret that they share that drove them apart, and while that aspect was predictable, I still enjoyed the suspense leading up to the revelation. It’s a slow burn that’s worth the wait.
I was lucky enough to have been given both an eArc and an audiobook version and the audiobook was fab! The narrators are quickly becoming 2 of my favs as they do a great job of bringing the stories to life.
Overall this was a great popcorn thriller that I would recommend with trigger warnings of sexual abuse.
Thanks to St. Martins Press, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this eArc and the audiobook in exchange for my review.

3.5 stars
Cassie’s baby goes missing from her home, during her birthday party. Her former best friend, Billie, has taken the child. We learn very early what happened but we don’t know *why* it happened. The story is told in alternating POVs and timelines to fill in the past, present, and future for Cassie and Billie. The first half sets up the past up until that fateful moment. The second half of the book unravels with the fallout for everyone after the baby is returned and the hunt for answers begins. No one in this story is likable (except maybe Billie’s boyfriends, past & present) but I appreciate that we don’t need to relate to characters or like them to enjoy their stories. The format was unique but it also leant itself to being fairly repetitive, though I’m not sure how it could have been otherwise and still worked as well. The narration was wonderful, though the volume levels were different. Cassie’s POV was often quieter and hard to hear so I had to adjust the volume up for her chapters.

Two great narrators, high suspense, and the intriguing premise of what we do for or because of love, in this case for a best friend, and how toxicity in relationships impacts choices. All wrapped around the safety of a baby...

Here's the thing: I was so worried about the protagonist (and disliked the influencer best friend so much) that I WANTED to turn off this audiobook, but I COULD NOT, and was glad I didn't. Literally, I could not make myself quit it even to avoid the pain I feared.

No spoilers... I survived. The author did a great job of landing the plane so to speak.

An intense experience for me.

Bye, Baby is a story about love, toxic friendship, and self-discovery.

The story follows Billie and Cassie, two friends who grew up together in the charming town of Hudson Valley. They were inseparable. However, their friendship suffered a blow after a traumatic event in their teenage years, causing them to gradually drift apart. Now in their mid-thirties, Cassie seems to have it all - a thriving career as a fashion and lifestyle influencer, a wealthy husband, and a beautiful daughter. Meanwhile, Billie is still single and childless. Despite the distance between them, Billie can't help but long for the bond they once shared. Billie is determined to reconnect with Cassie and rekindle their friendship, no matter what it takes. But is it possible to bridge the gap that has grown between them over the years?

I love the premise and idea, especially the intriguing history of Billie and Cassie's friendship. However, I feel that the characters could have been more likable to enhance the overall reading experience, especially Billie. She made numerous irrational decisions, and it drove me up the wall. Despite that, the story still had its moments of interest and intrigue. If you're a fan of character-driven stories with complex and flawed personalities, this book might be a great read for you.

***Thank you to NetGalley, Carola Lovering, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***

What a lovely women fiction story of childhood best friends, Cassie Blackwell lives one floor away from her best friend Billie in New York. He dynamics of their friendship changes throughout their relationship. Hey are they for each other especially where Cassie’s child goes missing and Billie hears her screams. This audiobook took me through all of the emotions of these girls friendship.

Frenemies bonded by secrets from the past are reunited when one of them discovers her baby has gone missing. This is less of a thriller, more of an in depth look at one friendship that’s turned toxic over time. Despite some heavy subject matter, things never got as nefarious as I wanted and everything gets tied up a little too neatly for my taste. Nonetheless, it was a fun lil’ romp!

TW: Graphic sexual abuse, Rape

Billie’s and Cassie’s lives have been intertwined since they were teens. But as they grew older, they drifted apart despite being connected by a traumatic past. Sometimes secrets bring people together, sometimes they force them apart, but they always tie people together.

This story is told from a dual-POV and multiple timelines. The author did a good job at writing characters that were difficult to like. I did like Billie more by the end though, and that was an interesting journey to go on. I wasn’t expecting that to be the case, but I enjoyed how someone could make such an awful decision and that the author could convince me to see where she was coming from.

This work is also character-driven rather than plot-driven, which made for an interesting read. It did slow down the story overall and kept it from feeling like a thriller, but it was still enjoyable. There were many darker themes explored in this story. I think there were almost too many as it bogged down the primary plot, but it did help to explore the characters’ pasts and their motivations, so it’s difficult to say.

If you like slow burn psychological suspense/mysteries you’ll probably enjoy this one. DO NOT read the GR blurb if you’re planning on reading this one as it gives away too much. My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read this work, which will be published March 5, 2024. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This book had me stressed and on the edge of my seat almost the entire time. I enjoyed this a lot more than Tell Me Lies, and feel like they both fall Into the category of “social commentary” rather than thriller or romance or anything else really. I thought the way that the relationship between both Cassie and Billie was portrayed was really relatable for anyone who has ever been in that type of dynamic. You really feel all of the emotions the different characters are feeling. I think some of the flashbacks could have been pared down but maybe that’s just me. Overall really enjoyed this and would recommend

𝗕𝗬𝗘, 𝗕𝗔𝗕𝗬 𝗯𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗮 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴, though labeled a mystery, leans more into domestic women's fiction, unraveling a complex tale of friendship, secrets, and shared trauma. The narrative, alternating between Cassie and Billie's perspectives, delves into their evolving friendship since adolescence. The exploration of childhood trauma, women's choices, and the impact on lifelong relationships adds depth to the plot. While the mystery element is brief, the interpersonal dynamics take center stage. Cassie's unlikable traits, materialistic pursuits, and mistreatment of Billie create tension. The narrative juggles multiple themes, occasionally lacking focus. Despite struggling to connect with the characters, the well-crafted ending redeems the story.

Bye, Baby is a unique thriller in that we know within the first couple pages of the book that a) a baby was taken from her home and b) we know right away who kidnapped the baby.

Billie and Cassie are childhood friends, but they’ve grown apart over the years. Billie would do anything to hold onto Cassie’s friendship, but kidnapping her baby wasn’t the smartest idea.

The book is told in two POVs (Billie and Cassie’s) and during two timelines. I very much enjoyed the backstory of Billie and Cassie’s childhood and the secrets that bonded them for so long. But the present timeline just wasn’t as interesting and, at times, it was very frustrating. Cassie was not a good person and Billie continually made so bad choices that it made me actually anxious. By the end of the story, I didn’t care about any of these very shallow characters.

The audiobook narration was great, and the narrator brought these two characters to life.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

his is most definitely not a mystery/thriller, despite the blurb. This was such a great domestic drama as the author weaves a thought-provoking story around friendship, women and motherhood. This was a very interesting book about friendships, feeling left out, loneliness, and even grieving (because that does happen when our friends exclude us).

This novel was addictive for sure, I could not put it down. The story lured you in and kept you guessing how it would end. We all experience that moment as "What if I acted on an impulse?". It would certainly change the course of your life. I truly felt the main character's angst and cheered for her to find a way to get ahead. A testament to friendships and difficult relationships that are bound together and ruined by secrets.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC

Casie and Billy have a long, somewhat discombobulated past. They grew up as best friends, but Casie was determined to leave all of her small town life behind for bigger and better things. When she marries Grant Adler and all the money and perks that come from being an Adler, she thinks she has made it. When her baby is kidnapped, the only person she wants is Billy. But Billy has secrets that she knows can turn everything upside down and she wants to keep them hidden at all costs to keep Casie in her life again.

What a ride this book was! It really examines friendship and betrayal. I really enjoyed it!

This book is lauded as suspense in the description, however, I don't believe there is an ounce of suspense in the whole book. It starts with the kidnapping of a baby, Cassie's baby, by Billie. From there, we go back in forth in a timeline in both Billie and Cassie's POV. Everything is non-linear, but it is easy to follow. We break down this friendship of these women who were best friends from age 12 until about 2 years before the kidnapping incident. Billie clings to this childhood friendship and Cassie looks at it as a thing of the past that she outgrew. These two women come from very different worlds and upbringings but somehow their childhood friendship worked well. We also explore a few other themes including a woman wanting to find love, but not wanting children and the pressures that she feels. A woman whose sole goal is to marry rich. Also, losing your mother to early onset dementia and watching her disappear before your eyes. PLUS, childhood sexual abuse.

To be honest, I feel the detailed descriptions of the abuse were unnecessary. However, the fact that it happened added to the plot. I couldn't connect with the characters, especially Cassie who had no redeeming qualities. Billie was a decent character, although very insecure for obvious reasons. I was confused as to why she would crave Cassie's attention. The overall story was alright, but it is not something I would read again. Though it is described as suspenseful, I would call it more of a domestic drama. The story revolves around a friendship that fades over time with some dark secrets buried within. The best part of the book was during the last quarter, where the pace picked up, and the secrets started to come to the forefront. The aftermath was also enjoyable, especially Billie's ending. However, I did not like Cassie's ending. The narration was fantastic, and I loved that they used two separate narrators for Billie and Cassie, bringing out their personalities. Overall, the story is okay and great for those who love women's fiction with a bit of dark drama.

A story about the ups and downs of a lifelong friendship, and the traumas that bind for life.

I enjoyed the dual timelines and dual POV that helped paint the picture of Billie and Cassies’ friendship, but things were just too toxic. I can appreciate that they had a shared secret, but is that enough to keep them connected when their friendship so clearly had run its course? They often voiced how they hated and judged one another, so it didn’t seem believable that they would drop their lives in a heartbeat to be there for each other. Not to say those friendships don’t exist in the world, but I didn’t believe it in this situation. Cassie’s baby is stollen and her first instinct is to call Billie? Why?

Also,it’s my fault for not better pre-researching, but the way this was written, I would have assumed it was a thriller. I was invested from the beginning and waited, and waited, and waited for the big “twist” or reveal and it never happened. Why? Because it’s not a thriller. The writing and narrating build making it feel like there’s a big climax coming, but then… nothing? Not really a critique or a fault of the book, but also, maybe it is? The writing is so suspenseful, but the genre is simply contemporary fiction.

With that being said, I was captivated and finished very quickly. The writing was fast-paced and the narration was strong. A good read touching on the evolution of friendship, surviving trauma, motherhood, relationships, family struggles and more.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for this ARC available March 5, 2024.

4.25 stars

I can still recall my first heartbreak. And no, it wasn't a boyfriend, but rather my best friend moving on. Although this heartbreak happened to me at the tender age of twelve, the pain of that loss rang deeply as I listened to this audiobook. I completely understood how Billie, the protagonist, felt and empathized with her situation.

Billie and Cassie met as kids and became inseparable friends. Their close friendship lasted well into young adulthood, but then something changed. Billie isn't sure why Cassie doesn't return her calls anymore or why she's too busy to get together. Months now go by without a word from her. All Billie has of Cassie is her Instagram posts, sharing her with thousands of other followers. Until one day, Billie finds herself in an unthinkable situation. She has stolen Cassie's 4 months old baby.

The story goes into emotional depth about their complicated relationship. It explores the various childhood factors that shaped each girl to become the women they are today. It examines the heartbreak of losing a trusted friend, someone you thought would be by your side forever. This was a book that brought tears to my eyes and pain to my heart.

Readers looking for women's fiction with layers of emotion about friendship and loss may want to pick this one up. The audio performance by the two narrators representing Cassie and Billie's perspectives was terrific.

Thank you to MacMillan Audio and Netgalley for an audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to my friends at @stmartinspress and @macmillan.audio for the #gifted copies of this book.

Suspenseful and easy to get lost within.

🤨 If you walk off with your best friend’s baby, is it really kidnapping?

That’s not a spoiler. It’s the attention grabbing first scene in Lovering’s newest drama infused domestic suspense.

Bye, Baby is a character driven novel that explores the gritty details of a friendship turned toxic.

With dual narrators and timelines, the complexities of the relationship are examined in thought provoking detail. From loyalty to obsession. From devotion to superficiality. There’s much to glean from this exposition, and I think that many will find it relatable in some capacity.

Neither character is particularly likeable. Early on, I found myself frustrated with Billie. But at some point, the frustration melted away, and I began to feel empathy for her situation, even understanding her impulses and motivations. Cassie, though…I found no redeeming qualities in her. But that amplified the intricacy of the situation all the more.

The short chapters brimming with drama made this a quick read. And the deeper themes regarding the impact of living with a sick parent (and eventual grief) alongside the trauma of sexual abuse created a thoughtful commentary.

This was an addictive plot with a stark reminder: not everything is worth holding on to.

🎧 With dual narration by Karissa Vacker (a fav!) and Helen Laser, both characters are distinctly brought to life. The separate narration amplifies the best and worst within the friendship and harnesses the tension within the unraveling.

This one started so good, I was so intrigued by these two characters and their shared history. A dual POV and timeline revealing pieces of their friendship as they go from teenagers to adults.

Neither Cassie nor Billie were likeable characters. Cassie, an influencer who uses her life as content and comes across as very materialistic and self-absorbed. Billie, a travel guide who gets to travel the world scoping out locations and deals, but she has an unhealthy obsession with Cassie rooted in a trauma bond they share.

Cassie is desperate to leave her past, including Billie, behind her and Billie will do anything to keep that from happening. I was all in for their drama.

I was invested in a majority of the book but it lost steam toward the end and felt pretty anticlimactic as the ending was anything but thrilling. While I was underwhelmed by the wrap up I did enjoy a majority of the read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an audio arc in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Stars

Billie and Cassie have been best friends since jr high and have been through everything together including college, moving to New York, the tragic mental decline of Billie's mother and long buried secrets that will tie them together forever. Recently though there has been a shift in their friendship as Cassie's new foray into motherhood and an upper crust social media influencer has left her no time for her oldest friend who no longer fits into her world. One evening during an extravagant birthday party Cassie's precious baby is kidnapped rocking her world... Billie is shocked to discover she's the one who took the baby.

This is definitely more of a character driven story then a traditional mystery/thriller as much of the story is known from the beginning but is still enjoyable. There is an interesting dynamic being explored as friendships age out and paths diverge with a huge focus on single woman vs married mother and if those friendships can last. Billie has had many life traumas that have left her clinging to the only person she has ever really had, but it is to the point of obsession. The story is told from the POV of both Cassie and Billie as they reveal the events of the kidnapping, the aftermath and their history. There is not a lot of action in the story and some of the big secrets are no surprise but it still managed to keep my attention. I feel like there were too many side themes and none were flushed out enough to give the characters' relationships more depth. I was also not a huge fan of the ending and could not figure out why some of the characters who find out about the kidnapping did not report her. I have enjoyed other works by Lovering and look forward to more.

I had the audio version read by Helen Laser and Karissa Vacker who both do an excellent job and are easy to listen to and I will look for more of their work.

The first chapter of this book sets up a mystery. When it's finally solved and I realized the story was still going, I looked at my phone to realize I still had 3 hours of the novel remaining. That can be an irritating discovery, but I did enjoy the writing of this book so I didn't totally mind spending a little more time with the characters. I do want to mention that there are some very graphic sexual assault scenes here-- the "bad guy" is really, really bad (overly so, a little mustache-twirly in my opinion) and while I'm not particularly sensitive to that kind of thing, it did feel like a bit too much.