Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering, narrated by Helen Laser and Karissa Vacker, is another thrilling exploration of toxic female friendship. Lovering is absolutely spot on when it comes to telling a story that is both insanely bananas and completely believable. The story of Billie and Cassie, individually and as childhood besties, is like a slow motion car wreck—I couldn't tear my eyes away from them, even as I was cringing and stressing and hoping they could somehow steer away from the point of impact. Highly recommend!!

📕Cassie… I don’t know if I would want to be friends with her after her “transformation” even if she did what she did. She sounded shallow. She was a wanna be influencer using husband’s money and connections. She should have been more but she wanted to be an arm candy. There are things people do for survival but did she need to “survive”?
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📗Billie… girl, I understand. When you found a friend who understands you and does anything for you, you held onto to her for your dear life. But maybe remove that pink sunnies because your “friend” only talked to you when she needed you. She paid attention to you only when she thought past might come out of her cracks
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📘I’m mad at both women. I’m mad at them for trying so hard to fit in. Normalize being an outsider. Normalize owning your personality. Normalize having friends and connections with all walks of life. Or go have a party at your Gramercy apartment and be shallow

I initially requested this ebook but saw amazing reviews for the audio, so I had to request it as well and it was fabulous. I was hooked immediately and was constantly battling if Billie was going to tell Cassie the truth. I thought the way that it played out in the end was really well done. I thought it was plausible and was really happy with how it ended. I listened to the whole thing today and just loved it! 5 stars for me!

Carola Lovering's "Bye Baby" is a web of friendship, secrets, lies, drama, and betrayal. This is more of a domestic drama than a thriller, but it does contain some suspense and a whole lot of drama. The story revolves around the once-inseparable best friends, Billie and Cassie, whose friendship took a dramatic turn as life led them on different paths.
Cassie, now lives a glamorous life as a wealthy influencer, and Billie is living the single life. The toxic and obsessive nature of their friendship becomes evident as the plot unfolds, secrets start to unravel and the real reason why Billie and Cassie aren’t so close starts to come out.

This story has alternating timelines and dual points of view that keep you engaged and invested. The majority of the story unfolds in the present, with time skips taking readers back to moments in the past.

The rich narration of the audiobook enhances the overall dynamic of the story, making it an engaging and enjoyable listen. The audio adds an extra layer to the narrative, keeping listeners immersed in the unfolding drama. This story is a must read for anyone who loves suspenseful stories full of secrets, lies, and drama. 4 stars! Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the advanced copy.

Read this book if you like:
*Secrets, lies, drama, betrayal
*Multiple point of views
*Dual timelines

Oh shit! This hooked me in from the very beginning!

There’s an obsessive, toxic friendship dynamic going on in this book, but as you continue reading you start to understand that what you think may not actually be reality.

Told with alternating timelines, majority of the story takes place in the present we have time skips that take us back to the past driving the plot. We also get dual POV’s- my absolute favorite!

Why you’ll like it:
Manipulative women behaving badly
Characters you can hate and characters you can root for
Fast paced cat and mouse

I wouldn’t categorize Bye, Baby as a thriller, but it was suspenseful as I had nervous energy for pretty much the entire book. Let’s call it a suspenseful domestic drama.

My only real con is that the ending felt a bit rushed. I’m not quite sure what else I wanted, but it definitely felt like it was missing something.

Bye, Baby melted my heart. I absolutely loved this story. The narration is rich, enhancing an incredible plot. Billie and Cassie have been through it! I loved getting the backstory on their relationship and the events that framed their future. The character development and pace are on point. There is so much to love about this story of female relationships.

I highly recommend you read or listen to this book. Both are unmissable experiences.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝘼 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙮𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥𝙨 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙫𝙚 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙪𝙢𝙖, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣’𝙨 𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥𝙨.

I’ve read one book from this author before and thought it was fine, I did go into this a little bit hesitant, but I actually really enjoyed it.

I went into this knowing as little as possible. I honestly enjoyed the writing style in this. I did a mix of the physical book and audio, both were solid choices.

In this, we follow Cassie and Billie, who are both such interesting characters. Cassie was much more unlikable, but Billie was a great character you just wanted the best for. I loved the alternating perspectives between the two and how the story had flashbacks every now and then.

The story kind of took a disturbing route in regards to Billie’s past, it was traumatic and sad (I would check up trigger warnings). Honestly, Cassie was not the greatest friend and it was so emotional seeing how Billie felt.

This does touch on themes like friendships, loneliness, feeling left out, grieving, secrets, and lies. The triggers can be intense for some.

I was completely invested in the story from the very beginning. It was thought-provoking and well-written. It did drag a bit and this was more of a character-driven story, don’t expect it to be as thrilling. Overall, this was a gripping, engaging, and unputdownable story between two so-called friends.

Thank you so much NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the physical copy and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review!

3.5 stars
I had to adjust a bit when reading this as it is less thriller-y than I was expecting, but once I just let the story be what it is I liked it better. The most interesting thing about this book was tracking the friendship between Billie and Cassie. It's hard to say much without being spoiler-y though. It is interesting to see how the two friends process a traumatic event differently.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advance copy of this book for review

3 out of 5 Stars

Thank you to Carola Lovering, NetGalley, and MacMillan Audio for a e-ARC of Bye, Baby!

Overall I thought this was an OK book. It didn't wow me with anything, but it was fairly entertaining. It is listed as Women's Fiction with some elements of a thriller:

Things I liked:

I loved to hate the characters!: I personally related more to Billie than Cassie even though Billie made some HORRIBLE life choices. I found Cassie to be vapid and shallow. Some of her inner thought processes really made me cringe. I could see exactly why everyone in Billie's life told her she would be better off without Cassie but also understand that sometimes those childhood friendships are hard to let go of. If I thought Cassie was bad, her new friends were exponentially worse. Surprisingly enough, I did think Cassie's husband, Grant, got a bad wrap... until the end of the book. Then he joined the ranks with the rest of them.

The varied perspectives: This novel goes back and forth between Cassie and Billie's perspective and Billie's perspective jumps back into the past as well. I though this was pretty well executed. Even though I disliked Cassie, I felt like her POV was interesting. The looks back into Billie and Cassie's shared history gave really great insight into their friendship and why their bond was so strong.

The narrators!: The narrators of this book were great. I felt like their voices perfectly embodied the characters and gave me a great visual in my mind of what each person looked like.

Things I didn't love:

The plot seemed to drag during the second half of the book: The "kidnapping" comes almost directly in the middle of the book and we spend the entire second half waiting for the shoe to drop. I felt like this was very drawn out. There were a few moments where I was like "Finally! This is it!" and then the story continued. Everything could have been wrapped up a bit earlier to keep my attention.

Overall I enjoyed the story and thought it was an interesting read and perspective on how childhood friendships change.

My thanks to Net Galley and MacMillan Audio for allowing me to review this audio book.

Unfortunately I think I got a defective copy. Book stopped after the prolog. Did it 2 more times. I went under chapter listing to pick the next chapter and it would not play. Even with sound up

Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering

Overall story rating:
4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Audiobook rating: 5/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


Hello new auto-buy author! 👋🏼 Carola Lovering’s writing style is fantastic. I had read her other book Too Good To Be True and really enjoyed that, but I like this one even more!

This book was so good! I had the pleasure of reading and listening to this one and it was such a great experience. The audiobook was amazing! I absolutely loved the narration and how the characters emotions and personalities came through the audio. It was perfection!

I would not call this one much of a thriller, maybe a domestic thriller but one that makes you conflicted as you feel for both the main characters.

I really enjoyed the ending of this one but I wish there was a little bit more! I was so sad it was over.

I would absolutely recommend this one if you love a story about evolving friendships and how life can change at any moment.

I am rounding up to five stars for my review because I had an emotional connection to this story and felt so intrigued on where it would go, even when the main plot is revealed so early in the book!

Thank you Macmillan audio for the ARC! This will be published in March of 2024!

Thank you NetGalley for the advance audiobook! I enjoyed giving this a listen, and the story kept moving.
This story focused on a relationship between two friends-- each individual having their own issues. The alternating POV and timelines kept the story moving. I like Lovering and was a huge fan of Tell Me Lies. However, I felt this was advertised more as a thriller whereas it was a slow burn drama.
Listening was enjoyable as the narration helped showcase the characters' personalities.

rounded this one up to a 4 star. This a complex story not in the sense that it’s a challenge to read, but more so I want to ask so many of the characters “who hurt you?” It’s just plenty messed up. The roles of family and friends are all messed up and then you toss in the role of social media and you get this unrealistic viewpoint on life. It makes me want to send many of the characters to a school where they simply learn how to be a good person…. And the one good person I do see, makes a mind boggling choice that makes me second guess that opinion. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the read.

I did enjoy the narration of this book. It was well paced and I was able to connect to the characters.

I really enjoyed this book. This was my first Carola Lovering novel, and I went into it without any insight into what the novel was actually about, and was really pleased with the read. I have a hard time describing this as a thriller though, and not really a domestic drama but overall it was good. I think I was just missing the jaw drop twist that I expect out of most thrillers.

I really enjoyed the character development, and getting a glimpse into the backstory of what brought these two long time friends to where they are today.

Also, 5⭐️ for the audiobook narration!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“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.”

On a brisk night in a New York apartment, Billie West hears terrified screams. It's her lifelong best friend Cassie Barnwell, one floor above, and she's just realized her infant daughter has gone missing. Billie looks down into her own arms to see the baby, remembering—with a jolt of fear—that she is responsible for the kidnapping that has instantly shattered Cassie’s world.

This is a pulse pounding, stay up past your bedtime, skip life’s responsibilities to figure out what is going to happen type of thriller!
The type of book that you want to fly through but that you don’t want to end. A book hangover book. The best type of book. 👏🏻👏🏻

This story is told from dual pov, Billie and Cassie, and with dual narrators for the audiobook (one of which is Karissa Vacker so you already know, the other is Helen Laser who was also great). It’s written as a countdown with each chapter noting the amount of days before the “incident”. And during flashback chapters it’s written in a different font. Loved that touch!

Bye, Baby was just fabulous! Every time I start a book I hope that it will take me on a ride like this one did. Wow. Thank you thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, @carolatlovering, and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

Story: 🌟🌟🌟
Narration: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Overall: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Bye, Baby is a character-driven thriller about a toxic friendship. One night, Cassie discovers her baby is missing. The kidnapper? Her former best friend, Billie. The story goes through the years of their friendship and how they ended up in the situation they are in.

No one writes toxic relationships like Carola Lovering. This story is much more of a slow burn and is very character-driven (in my opinion). No one is likable, but they are all fascinating. Karissa Vacker is the perfect narrator for this story and delivers the dialogue perfectly. Highly recommend listening on audio.

ALC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for the audiobook of Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering in exchange of an honest review.

Carola Lovering's 'Bye, Baby' is a deeply enthralling exploration of friendship, envy, and the power of social media. The story revolves around Billie and Cassie, childhood friends who drift apart after college. As Cassie marries into wealth and becomes a doting mother, Billie, still single and childless, feels excluded from Cassie's seemingly perfect life. The narrative delves into the complexities of their relationship, capturing the essence of jealousy, one-sided obsession, and the bitter tastes of resentment. Lovering masterfully portrays the impact of social media on modern-day friendships, poignantly highlighting the facades and comparisons that can strain even the closest bonds. With fully realized characters and a storyline that unfolds with razor-sharp tension, 'Bye, Baby' held me captive. I found myself mesmerized by the flawed yet relatable characters, yearning for answers to why Billie couldn't let go of her connection with Cassie. While I was deeply immersed in the book and could have finished it in just a few sittings, the demands of work and life kept interrupting, a testament to its ability to captivate my attention. 'Bye, Baby' is an engrossing and thought-provoking read that explores the complexities of friendship in the digital age.

I liked this one. I had been seeing great things all over bookstagram about it, so when I saw the audiobook available on @netgalley, I knew I had to request it. I went into this one knowing almost nothing about it, which made me pleasantly surprised as I started listening and the story started to unfold. I thought okay this seems like it’s going to be pretty good. And it was good. It’s just that it was very different than what I had expected. I had preconceived notions from what I thought it was going to be like based solely on the title of the book. Although, I liked the storyline, it is a very slow burn in terms of getting to the night in question. Also, I was hoping it was going to be more of a thriller than it was. It was more of a character driven, suspenseful drama than anything else. So that was a little disappointing for me. I was just expecting more and something different I think. But that’s just me. So although, I did like this book and I was invested to see how things would end between the two characters, this just wasn’t my favorite. This was ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨/5 stars for me.
What I DID love and I have to mention is the fantastic job the two narrators did. 👏🏻👏🏻
They were Helen Laser (Yellowface) and Karissa Vacker ( who I just love) If I was rating this audiobook on their performance alone, I would’ve given this book 5 stars. That’s how great they are. Also, please don’t let my opinion sway you if you have this on your tbr. You may love it. I know others who did so don’t go by my review. Find out for yourself.
I want to thank @netgalley and @macmillanaudio for this early audio copy in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: 3/5/24

This was my first Carola Lovering read and it did not disappoint ! I live for complicated and toxic girl friend dynamics and I was constantly torn between yelling at Cassie and Billie to finally figure it out or just stay far far away from each other. While some of the twists weren’t entirely unpredictable, I was still fascinated by how they handled the things that came their way and the fallout from certain incidents. I requested and read this without having any idea what it was about and I strongly encourage everyone to do the same !

Fabulous book. Not really a thriller and not really a domestic drama but overall just good. I enjoyed the characters and the story surrounding the plot.