What a wild ride this is! This book tells a dark story of childhood friendships and the impact they have on adulthood. Lovering has done it again!

This was not what I expected and I thought it was an okay quick read. I enjoyed the story telling and the character devleopment of the main characters. Billie and her friend from school, Cassie, have a strong friendship with a secret that has the potential to destroy both of their lives. When Cassie marries into a rich family, she attempts to leave her less-than-posh early life behind in exchange for his more extravagant one. This means keeping Billie at arms length and making new friends. Cassie is running a social media account, has a daughter, and is loving her life, while Billie knows she doesn’t want children or the life that Cassie has. She just wants her best friend back.

I didn’t love the borderline obsessive friendship between the main character Billie and her friend Cassie, but I did like how the story played out. I also felt like the ending fell flat, which is why this is only getting 3.5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for sending me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this thriller. This was a book that was full of unlikable people but somehow I was still rooting for them. This was a good fast paced read as it moved between the past and the present.

I hate to say it, but I found this story a bit boring! Once the climax happened, I really didn’t understand the point or why it had to happen? The writing was good and it had a lot of promise, but this one definitely fell a bit short for me!

“Bye, Baby” was and AWESOMR read. I cancelled plans twice just to read this one. The main characters, Billie and Cassie, have a long relationship that is now coming to an end. It’s hard to imagine two characters more different than these two. But that hasn’t always been the case. The author lets each character tell parts of their story, thus this story is told from two different point of views…and the ending is completely unexpected. I recommend this one to anyone.

This isn’t a thriller, it’s not a suspense, and the baby crime is resolved entirely too quickly. Frankly t hi a was just weird and an exercise in watching two horribly toxic humans refuse to leave each other.

This was an additive book about friendship, relationships and motherhood.

Cassie and Billie were inseparable when they were younger, but now they have drifted apart. Cassie is a popular social media influencer married to a wealthy man, and Billie is single and childless. When Cassie’s infant daughter goes missing, the only person Cassie wants is Billie. Will the missing child bring the two women back together?

I couldn’t put this one down. Told via the POV’s of Cassie and Billie. It was filled with secrets and a toxic friendship. The plot was bingeable, the suspense kept me wanting to read, and I loved the ending. If you enjoy suspenseful read about the complexities of female relationships give this one a try!

🎧 BYE, BABY by Carola Lovering
Genre: thriller
3 stars

💭: i was kinda bored by this which is so sad for me bec i eat UP everything Carola Lovering writes. Could be bec i OD’d on thrillers this spring, could be the book. I just didn’t care for the plot, the characters, or the ending

A story of friendship, betrayal, and the lengths some will go through to keep a secret. Friends since 7th grade, Cassie and Billie have had each others back during some very traumatic times, until they didn't. Cassie has gone on to her extravagant life of leisure and money, while Billie has taken a single, harder road. While still trying to maintain their friendship, Billie makes a horrible decision and instantly regrets it. Coming to terms with the reality of their relationship, the story unfolds from both perspectives, with glimpses into the past as their history becomes revealed.

I really enjoyed this story - it was fast paced and enticing.

Thank you to NetGalley for this early release in exchange for my honest review.

Pub Date: 05 March 2024

This was honestly a super engrossing read. I would not classify it as a thriller or suspense, but more so women's fiction. It really explores friendships, mother hood, and the way that the closest of friends can change. I was super invested in Cassie and Billie and was so intrigued to see how everything played out. Both in different walks of life and trying to figure out how to still maintain friendships. This was a fun easy ready and I would definitely recommend it.

This was a decently tense thriller that had me guessing and wondering what was going to happen throughout.

Both of the characters are highly unlikeable but they were still somehow interesting to read about. I enjoyed being in their heads and seeing all the gymnastics they both did to justify their actions and their lives.

I think the end was a bit anticlimactic for me and it sort of lost some steam near the end, but overall a worthwhile read and I would still recommend it.

Billie and Cassie have a rocky friendship. As teenagers they’re close, but they drift apart. Billie happens to be in Cassie’s building the night Cassie’s daughter goes missing.

I would probably have classified this book a little differently. It’s definitely not a thriller. I think it’s more of a drama. This book was filled with unlikable characters, and I’m quickly realizing that if there isn’t at least one character for me to connect with I’m not going to enjoy the story.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my ARC of this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for providing me this Advanced Readers Copy of Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering!

This book was definitely not a thriller, as it’s labeled. But it is a captivating story that takes off right from the first page, written from two different POVs that are equally interesting and kept me turning the page near constantly.

It was also thought-provoking, making me consider friendship, growing up, and being in my thirties and how that impacts my relationships over time. Bye, Baby also explored social media and influence which the author weaved into the plot line flawlessly.

If you’re a fan of A Simple Favor or None of this is True, you would love Bye, Baby.

"Bye, Baby" by Carola Lovering is a gripping and emotionally charged psychological thriller that delves into the complexities of motherhood, betrayal, and the search for identity. The story revolves around a young mother whose life takes a dark turn after a tragic incident, forcing her to confront her past and the choices she’s made.

Lovering's writing is sharp and evocative, drawing readers into the protagonist's tumultuous emotional landscape. The narrative expertly weaves together themes of guilt, redemption, and the bonds of motherhood, creating a multifaceted exploration of what it means to be a parent. The protagonist is relatable and flawed, making her journey all the more compelling as she navigates her fears and desires.

The pacing is taut, with a series of twists that keep readers on edge. Lovering skillfully builds tension, crafting an atmosphere of suspense that makes it difficult to put the book down. Each chapter reveals new layers to the story, keeping readers guessing about the characters' motivations and the ultimate outcome.

Overall, "Bye, Baby" is a thought-provoking and intense read that will resonate with anyone who has grappled with the challenges of motherhood or faced moral dilemmas. Carola Lovering has crafted a powerful narrative that lingers long after the last page, making it a standout in the psychological thriller genre.

This book was not what I expected and I was left feeling underwhelmed. Both of the main characters were equally unlikeable and I couldn't find myself rooting for either or a redemption arc. I actively wanted both to crash and burn for what they did to each other and the rest of the people in their lives,

This book is so unique in that it’s a thriller but it’s central theme is friendship. It was fascinating to read, but there is a lot of childhood trauma told in flashbacks, so I would recommend checking content warnings on the StoryGraph app, which include sexual exploitation and rape of a minor.

thank you to st. martin’s press and netgalley for this arc!!

REVIEW ↡
i devoured BYE, BABY and loved this story so much! cassie and billie’s POVs were equally entertaining to me. i loved the behind-the-scenes writing of being an influencer, the detailed references to new york city and what’s trendy lately, and the flashbacks to understand how their friendship had evolved. this is a great, quick thriller to get out of a reading rut as well. can’t recommend it enough!

This might be my favorite book of this author's so far! Bye, Baby is about two friends that are trauma bonded due to childhood events but then living as young adults in NYC and trying to navigate very different lives. One night a decision is made from one of the friends that changes everything. The tension is palpable which causes you to have a hard time putting the book down.

Review4.5⭐️
This is another great book by Carola Lovering! I was obsessed with Can’t Look Away two years ago and when I got the opportunity to read an early digital copy, I had to get my hands on it. I ended up doing a combination of reading and listening to this one and I couldn’t not put either down! This book is by no means a thriller/mystery in my opinion. It was suspenseful at times, but I felt like if toxic relationships were its own genre, this is exactly where it would fall. This book alternated between past and present timelines and the past helps you understand why Billie is trying so hard to keep her friendship with Cassie. It did a great job depicting how friendships grow apart and how something traumatic can bring you back together. The ending was predictable considering what Billie does (read the synopsis), but it didn’t make the ending any less sad for Billie and Cassie. Overall, I think this is a great domestic drama and I will read whatever Lovering puts out next.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for sending me an early digital copy to review.