I couldn’t really get into this book. I really tried because I was excited for another title by this author. I will probably try reading it again at a later date!

While I definitely enjoyed this read, I felt like it was a little mis-classified as a mystery/ suspense. There wasn’t much in the way of “twists” or suspense, but the story line was still taut and had me racing through it to see how it concluded.

I thought the highlights were fantastic character development, an insightful exploration into friendships and how they evolve, and most notably, the impact of children and the decision to either have them or not/ how society views that decision.

Although I didn’t find Cassie’s character remotely “likable” I thought the description and portrayal of the influencer lifestyle and her surface level needs and focus on marrying wealth were very well written and painted a picture that was easy to visualize throughout. This was a great contrast to Billie’s character. I enjoyed how their flaws were clearly portrayed and how these flaws impacted the course of their relationships both with men and each other.

Holy cow what a read! Let me start by saying that I loved Tell Me Lies, but this one was even better. I could not put this one down. Loved how it started right away with the big issue and then the story unfolded to get to that point in both now and then storylines, told from both main characters points of views. Although not surprising what happened (in both storylines) I loved the build up as to how we get there.

I really loved Bye, Baby. I was hooked by the first few chapters and enjoyed reading Billie’s and Cassie’s point of views. I felt like there were a lot of relatable themes- social media, childhood friends and fake friends, expectations of society, and challenging relationships. I was rooting for Cassie and Billie to become friends again and rooting for the end to end certain ways. Great book and thought it ended really well

“Frenemies” is the best word to describe Cassie and Billie’s eroding friendship. Once inseparable while growing up, their lives have gone in different directions. Cassie has married a rich man and had a baby girl. She’s started her own store and is trying to build up an Instagram following as a lifestyle influencer. Although Billie has a glamorous career traveling all over the world to exotic locales, she misses her friendship with Cassie and tries desperately to salvage it.

Feeling hurt and rejected by Cassie causes Billie to go to crazy lengths to get her attention. Meanwhile the secret from the past that binds Cassie and Billie ‘s friendship threatens to surface to further complicate matters.

This is a crazy ride that takes toxic female friendships to new levels. Alternating timelines between past and present and chapters featuring Cassie as well as Billie’s voice, helps to establish mood and helps the reader understand their deep friendship-and the dark places it has devolved.

It’s a disturbing and twisty thriller that pushes credibility a bit but makes up for it in the execution.

I recommend this crazy thrill ride of a book!

This was my first book by Carola Lovering. After just finishing reading it, I have reserved all of her other books to read. This book was hard to put down from the first few chapters. I loved the alternating timeline chapters about the friendship of Billie and Cassie. I wouldn't classify this novel as a thriller, but more of a drama/tragic story of two best friends. Growing up, most girls have that one best friend who they trust with anything, and have core memories with. Reading this took me back to that time with my best friend. This book was very nostalgic for me and also very sad at the same time. The only issue I have is that it got a tad long-winded for the last half of the book, but that won't interfere with my rating or overall opinion. 4.5 stars. I highly recommend to any reader who loves a toxic friendship story with a lot of nostalgia.

Carola Lovering wrote one of my favorite books of all time (Tell Me Lies), so anytime she has a new book coming, I am ready to devour it. I really did like this one but felt like she was maybe trying to do too many things at once. There were lots of different themes and it got a little too much. I also would not say this was a thriller/mystery but maybe more suspenseful.
Cassie and Billie are life long friends with a terrible secret that binds them forever. This old secret combined with new problems is a recipe for disaster. There are a lot of "unlikable characters" in this one, but they are all deeply developed characters that Lovering does a good job in fleshing out. I loved the alternating timelines (even if some parts were hard to read). I felt like the ending gave me the closure I really needed too.

I settled on 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. I received an ARC from Netgalley, so all of these opinions are my own.

Loved this riveting book about a longtime friendship gone wrong. One of the best thrillers I've read in some time. Carola Lovering has quickly become one of my favorite new suspense authors. She excels at character development and giving each character a unique and relatable voice. Here, even though both main BFF characters are arguably totally flawed, you can't help but identify with both of them. Who among us hasn't had an intense friendship from childhood grow colder as we get older? This book captures all those complex feelings with a delicious backstory involving murder, and a present-tense story involving a kidnapping. I really identified with Billie and even identified with her maddening friend Cassie, I zipped through this book in 24 hours and was sad when it was finished. I'd read anything by this talented author, who is now on my automatic must-read list. Can't wait for more by her.

I have read quite a few novels by this author and this was definately my favorite . I honestly think she could write a sequel, I find myself wondering about if they rekindle their friendship etc…. The author did a great job making you feel for the main character and some how she made you care what happened with a host of truly detestable people when it came to everyone else . I have already started recommending this book ! This author does a great job making conversations and interaction feel very real ……

Wow!! I’m not sure what I was expecting with this book but it was a bit of drama mixed with thriller. Kind of a slow burn but it fit the story soo good! I really enjoyed this story and couldn’t believe how it unraveled. Cassie’s character annoyed me most of the time and I still feel bad for Billie. The ending was sad but doesn’t leave you hanging it leaves you hopeful for new beginnings!

I LOVED this book! It had such a unique plot and really spoke to the way friendships change and how hard it can be to move on.

I'm not typically drawn to character-driven novels, but this story sucked me in. Billie, who's so manically and compulsively obsessed with her dwindling friendship with Cassie. And Cassie, who's so narcissistically focused on moving up in the world and putting her past behind her. At times, it's difficult to assess who, or even IF, there's a villain in this story.

I loved the way the story weaved together different timelines and character POV's to create a very profound story about loss, co-dependency and the difficult task of leaving a relationship that no longer serves you.

Five stars from me!

This book was difficult to put down. It really intrigued me and I’m so glad I picked it up! Billie and Cassie are very in depth characters and their friendship complex. I enjoyed going on the thrilling ride of this book. Lovering is quickly becoming one of my new favorites!

Lovering always writes such complicated and real characters and this book is another example of that. I would not consider this a thriller, but it is suspenseful. You know from the beginning that a baby has been taken. The first half is a build up and the second half is a fall out, but running through the whole book is the history of Billie and Cassie’s friendship and the secrets that both bind them and tear them apart.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy and a chance to read this early. All opinions are my own.

I love books about frenemies and toxic relationships which Lovering is great at creating. This is a wild story and I did not think it would go as far as it did. Or that a seemingly normal person, with a good job and apartment and life could be so unhinged just to get the attention of a "friend." This dark tale of female relationships and social media markers is disturbing in many ways. Told from both women's perspectives, the reader can see why their relationship is so tumultuous. Especially when one person is constantly pulling away and leaving the other behind. When Billie was sweating, I was sweating. When she was upset about something Cassie says that is insensitive, I totally understood. And when Cassie wanted a fresh start and do her own thing without the past and Billie following her, I understood that as well. This books kept surprising me until the end.

Holy TW, Batman: SA, abortion, kidnapping of a child.

This book was wild and left me yearning for more. I felt like i kept waiting for more or for another shoe to drop, but overall, definitely an engaging read.

The lengths that friends with go to not only stay close to each other, but also to protect them.

Thanks Netgalley for the eARC! Bye, Baby, is out soon!

I really don't know what to say about this one! First, be warned there's trauma and sexual abuse and it's very graphic and hard to read. I wanted to stop reading even though I was interested in the story line, because it was really hard to get through those parts, but they are a critical part of the story. Also, the author did an amazing job making me detest every single character- literally none of them had redeeming qualities except maybe Alex and Jane, ha!

A new Carola Lovering book? Sign me up, always!

🍼 REVIEW: BYE, BABY 🍼

By Carola Lovering

📖 SUMMARY: Billie and Cassie are best friends from adolescence to adulthood. But, like many female friendships, they begin to drift apart as they take different paths. Billie is desperate to hold on to the friendship, but Cassie, now a wealthy married mom, wants nothing to do with Billie and the past she represents. It seems Cassie may get her wish, until one night, when her infant daughter goes missing… and Billie is the one who took her.

💭 THOUGHTS: I will always drop everything to read Carola’s new work! She is the master of writing books that made my heart rate absolutely skyrocket AND the master of writing about toxic relationships, and in this novel she tackles female friendship. Cassie’s and Billie’s friendship is fraught with secrets and resentment, which leads to *that* night when Billie kidnaps Cassie’s baby. Some parts that described the inner workings of their friendship felt soooo real — for me, it was the middle/high school sections. Also, this book touched on one of the impossible dilemmas women face: do we choose to be childless career women or devoted mothers? And is it possible to be friends with someone who chose the other lifestyle? I’d like to believe that the answer to that last question is yes… but don’t look to Cassie and Billie as an example! P.S. reading this book also encouraged me to curb my addiction to Instagram because YIKES.

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the advanced copy. This comes out 3/5/24!

✨ MADE ME FEEL: extremely anxious, even more than usual 😅

🥰 YOU’LL ENJOY IF: you liked FIREFLY LANE but also love domestic suspense novels, you liked Lovering’s TELL ME LIES

Whoa. This book is great. Definitely a new premise. You’re even told the ‘who’ of the ‘whodunnit’ in the blurb but the story is written so well & very engrossing so you have to finish it (quickly) to find out the outcome. May be my very favorite Carola Lovering book to date.

What a wild ride! Billie and Cassie were high school besties and as time moves on people change. Life changes. Cassie was Billie's protector during her teenage years. Billie is obsessed with Cassie's adult life. Cassie has a huge social media following and a beautiful baby and no longer has time for Billie.
The baby is kidnapped during a party and it just so happens that Billie wasn't included in the invite to the illusive party. As far fetched as the kidnapping scene was, the book has kept me interested and pulled at the heart strings.
Thank you Net Galley for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC.

This book was well written but it was definitely not for me. It is definitely not a mystery or a thriller, but more of a look at the changing dynamics of friendships and adult motivations. There is a mystery regarding the main characters pasts, but it's quickly explained and is fairly easy to spot long before that. The whole missing baby thing that the book is banking isn't even a thing as there is no missing baby. Not really.

The book shifts back and forth between the viewpoints of 2 characters, and one of those characters is absolutely awful. She's shallow, insuffurable, selfish, and clueless. She was painful to read and I wanted nothing good to happen to or for her. And the constant fashion name dropping was overdone and annoying. The other character suffers from some serious low self-seteem when it comes to friendships, and frankly seems to thrive on masochism. Overall it was tiring and uninteresting.

The story really was over by the 50% mark in the book and the other pages were just filler. Overall the book was fine but I'm not particularly interested in reading anything from this author again.