"Bye, Baby" by Carola Love Ring is a suspenseful thriller that follows the story of a woman named Marla Meyers, who is struggling to cope with the mysterious disappearance of her young daughter. As Marla delves into the investigation to find her missing child, she uncovers a web of deceit, dark family secrets, and unexpected betrayals that challenge her perception of reality.

The novel delves into themes of motherhood, loss, and the lengths a parent would go to protect their child. Carola Love Ring weaves a compelling narrative filled with twists and turns that keep readers guessing until the very end.

This was my second @carolatlovering #book and I am officially sold - I devoured this one. It was so entertaining and had me so on edge screaming at certain characters (looking at you Billie) begging them to stop and make different choices and then killing me with #suspense and a thought provoking inner look at loyalty, morality, friendship, and the damage of trauma. A fantastic social commentary on socioeconomic status, femininity, motherhood, friendship, relationship dynamics, and survival, this one is fantastic.

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Billie and Cassie have been like sisters - bestfriends with an inseparable phone since adolescence. Throughout the trauma of Billie’s teenage years dealing with an abusive family member and her beloved mother’s continual decline from extremely early onset dementia, and Cassie’s own struggles with identity and desperation for social status and wealth and an escape from her blue collar life, the two were linked by an unbreakable bond. A bond so strong it led to a sin and secret that tethers both girls to one another forever.

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That is, until Cassie eventually gets everything she ever wanted: a blue blooded exorbitantly wealthy husband, posh friends, beautiful Manhattan and Hamptons real estate, Insta-influencer status that dominates her life, and her newest and utmost love: her infant daughter.

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As Billie comes to grips with the fact that she’s been shut out of her bestfriend’s life, she is pulled back into Cassie’s sphere for a few brief moments. A few brief moments that turn into everything amidst a mystery involving a child, multiple crimes (both past and present), and two bestfriends who will never recover from the truth of what they’ve done.

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*** SPOILER ALERT *** Cassie was a horrendous, cruel friend at times. However, what Billie did, regardless of intentions was absolutely INSANE and had I been in Cassie’s shoes, I would’ve probably ended up in jail for killing her after what she put me through. I do not feel sympathy regarding the incident with the child AT ALL. Unforgivable, unless she walked up and returned the child within 5 minutes. ***

mid, super mid reviews. I felt this was nothing special from this author. Just another thriller that doesn't quite reach a high level of tension

Bye, Baby
Author Carola Lovering
Available now!

One of my March BOTM picks, Bye Baby, was not what I expected, but better! Female friendships can be really hard, especially when we get older and our lives change, grow, and expand when relationships, job, location, marriages, and kids are thrown into the mix. But friendships that are defined by shared trauma and dangerous secrets that have grown into toxic circumstances with lack of boundaries would certainly complicate the future of many.

Cassie is newly married to her wealthy husband with their beautiful newborn as she builds her life as a lifestyle influencer. Billie is single and childless, and Cassie strongly feels that Billie no longer fits into her picture- perfect world. To say the two are opposite in personality and circumstance is an understatement.

The night of Cassie's 35th birthday, Billie is purposely not invited to celebrate with Cassie and her new life. However, Billie went to a friend's apartment to care for her cat, which is conveniently located under Cassie's apartment. Imagine her surprise when out on the balcony, not only does she hear Cassie's booming party, but she also hears Cassie's newborn crying hysterically from neglect. And that's the night that forever changes these two women's lives as Cassie's newborn goes missing for several hours, and Billie is the one who took her.

Told from both Cassie and Billie's perspectives, Bye, Baby is relatable, dark, and thought- provoking. Gripping and suspenseful, this one had my attention as I could not wait to discover how this messy and traumatic childhood friendship was going to conclude. Unique and powerful, I definitely recommend!

I think it’s time to acknowledge that this author doesn’t really write thrillers. Still, I found this to be a fantastic and unputdownable drama with some suspense and plenty of secrets to keep things moving along. Perfect from beginning to end, in my opinion.

📖 Book Review 📖

📱🎧 "Bye, Baby" by Carola Lovering

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
published March 5, 2024

Billie has to feed her boss's cat, who just happens to live in the same NYC apartment building as her life long best friend Cassie. Billie hears a baby screaming and before she can think she climbs the fire escape to console the baby. Cassie and Billie have a unique friendship; they share a secret from their past but they are at totally different parts of their lives. Billie finally has her dream job and recently began dating a great guy, while Cassie married a trust fund guy, had a baby, has a clothing boutique, and is a mega Instagram influencer. 

Told with back stories on how Cassie and Billie became friends in seventh grade, the secret they share from a horrible incident in high school, to sleepovers in tiny college dorm rooms and eventually a tiny NYC apartment. Since their mid-twenties, they have been drifting in and out of each other's lives, and Billie has always wondered why Cassie and her are not as close as they once were. Cassie’s has new priorities, and Billie will do anything to restore their friendship, even as she hides the truth about what really happened the night the baby was taken. Super suspenceful and a story explaining how friendships evolve whether or not we want them to. 

#bookstagram #letsread #somanybooks #bookreview #bookrecommendations #readersofinstagram #readmorebooks #booklover #bookishlove #readersgonnaread #bookishaf

The characters in this one were very well developed. I was instantly hooked by the plot from the beginning and look forward to reading more by this author. I would classify this as domestic thriller over straight up thriller. Themes of friendship, motherhood, womanhood, and social media. I think this one will be a hit with those who read the likes of Megan Miranda And Mary Kubica

I did not like the toxic female friendship at the center of this story. With very unlikeable characters, they overshadowed what might have been an interesting mystery/thriller.

Imagine your ex-best friend transforming into a wildly successful influencer, and you find yourself glued to their Instagram stories all the time. With a setup like that, you can't help but be instantly captivated. It delves into one of the most relatable topics for women: female friendships, especially the heartbreak of losing close friends. This book really took me back to my twenties. I experienced two intense friendships falling apart, and I couldn't understand why. That's exactly how -year-old Billie West feels whenever she encounters her former best friend, Cassie Barnwell.
Cassie seems to have it all - a wealthy Ivy League partner, a lovely baby, and a trendy boutique. She's always surrounded by her fancy friends, who, to Billie's dismay, seem to belittle her at every opportunity. On the other hand, Billie's life is pretty great, too; she has a fulfilling job, a blossoming relationship, and a supportive group of friends. Despite her own happiness, Billie can't help but fixate on Cassie. What makes this book so compelling is the way it subverts the typical portrayal of these characters. While I empathize with Billie to some extent, I couldn't ignore her increasingly unsettling behaviour, which exudes a strong "single-white female" vibe. The story kicks off with a gripping scene where Billie is holding Cassie's baby while Cassie frantically searches for her child in the apartment upstairs.
This book skillfully weaves in flashbacks, providing a glimpse into Billie's difficult upbringing. Cassie emerges as a saviour in these moments, shedding light on why Billie is so attached to their past. However, as Billie navigates through the story, every choice she makes evokes a strong sense of empathy for Cassie. We can all relate to having someone in our lives who just can't take a hint.
This gripping thriller skillfully pushes its plot to the brink, keeping you on the edge of your seat. While the flashback scenes didn't captivate me as much, the main story is truly compelling. Once you start, you won't be able to stop!

This is a page-turner for sure! So relatable about friendships disintegrating. I really felt for Billie and Cassie. We get both perspectives and the book is interspersed with their backstory too.
It starts with Billie holding Cassie’s baby with Cassie freaking out over her missing daughter. Then we rewind.
Hooked from the start and turned those pages so fast! Very complex, intricate story. Loved it!

I went in thinking this was a thriller. I wouldn’t classify this one as a thriller or even a suspense, but I found it fast paced and couldn’t get enough of the mama drama and obsessive behaviors. The toxic friendships and obsession held me throughout the book (not sure what this says about me!). I really liked the illusion of social media depicting a perfect life. Great book and would love to read more from this author!

Well well well call this my new favorite thriller and slap a bow on the front because this was freaking wild. a wild wild ride. I get the hype and can't wait to read more by this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

🔸Lovering’s work continues to impress! I’m still not quite sure why her novels are categorized as thrillers though, because I find them to be much more in the domestic drama realm. So don’t start this book expecting a typical thriller.

🔸Bye, Baby captivated me with its authentic portrayal of a friendship between two women unraveling under the weight of life’s changes and buried secrets.

🔸While the “kidnapping” incident seemed a touch implausible to me, it underscored the human tendency to falter under stress and make incredibly bad decisions.

🔸The storytelling, alternating between past and present, skillfully revealed the depth of the protagonists’ childhood bond and the pivotal moments leading to their estrangement.

🔸The audiobook experience was particularly noteworthy, with Helen Laser and Karissa Vacker delivering performances that brought the women and their emotional journeys to life.

🔸I have really appreciated Lovering’s books, and I find her ability to delve into the complexities of human connections captivating. If you enjoy stories centered around women’s friendships and relationships, or if domestic dramas are of interest, “Bye, Baby” will probably resonate with you.

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for an eARC of this book, which I have read and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

NetGalley Review — my rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

"Bye, Baby" by Carola Lovering is a story about friendship, of sorts. Billie and Cassie met in middle school in a nondescript town -- Billie, the daughter of a mother battling a disease and a stepfather with a wandering eye, and Cassie, a girl always looking to climb the societal ladder.

The story starts with Cassie's 3-month-old, Ella, missing from her stroller during Cassie's birthday party in New York City. This prologue gripped me from the start.

Give it a shot. You won't regret it.

I wouldn't consider this a mystery or thriller, but something in between. It was really good and really freaking complicated (feeling-wise).

This book came out on March 5, 2024, so if you haven't read it, go request it now! If you have, what did you think?

#carolalovering #byebaby #netgalley #arc

What can happen when the friends grow up, grow apart and become two very different women?

Themes: Motherhood, Influencers, Secrets, Early-onset Alzheimer’s, abortion, coercive sexual acts

What I liked about the book:
1. Fast paced and attention-grabbing beginning
2. I had a love-hate relationship with the characters who had a complicated relationship

What I didn't like:
1. It wasn't really a thriller - more women's fiction.
2. Characters are one dimensional even though they have this complicated relationship
3. I didn't connect with the characters overall.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for the chance to review and read.

3.5*
Bye, Baby is a story of female friendship and how it can go wrong. Billie and Cassie are childhood friends that grow apart as they get older.
I don’t think there was much mystery or thrilling aspects to this story, which seems to be the case in a lot of domestic thrillers. We knew from the very beginning what was going on.
Cassie was such an awful friend to Billie, and I didn’t feel bad for her. I overall enjoyed the story but would’ve liked a little more mystery.

This book was one that grew on me more and more from start to finish! Truthfully I went in with no expectations, having never read Carola Lovering before but I was very intrigued by the storyline, the cover and the title. I think going in without expectations kept me unbiased as I read and I found myself more pulled into the story with each chapter passing by. I will say it's a difficult one to review without giving away major spoilers, but the heart of the story is around friendship (and the inequities and struggles our friendships may have) and I found myself relating to that a lot.

I like the style of writing being alternating POV's and I enjoyed very much how bits and pieces were revealed to us as we read on. Carola built a complete puzzle piece by piece, which really captured and kept my attention.

The story of Cassie and Billie's friendship unravels, comes back together, and then unravels some more while we see each of them make questionable decisions, concerning decisions and downright ilegal decisions all in the same of self-preservation and maintaining a friendship. I loved how we see their relationship evolve, and how the impacts of childhood trauma are brought forward into their current lives (something I think people so often overlook!).

Worth the read if you are looking for a suspenseful story that makes you question... a lot of things! Why do we make the decisions we do? Why do our friends and family make the choices they do? Are we right in our pursuits? What justifies the choices we make? How does grief affect our judgment? ... .It really kept me thinking the entire book.

Bye Baby - Carola Lovering

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the Advanced Reader's Copy, which I received in exchange for an honest review.

The way the book started really felt like it was going to be a thriller, unraveling into a story with all sorts of twists and turns. Cassie and Billy have been friends since they were kids in school and have gone through many different transitions in life. As Cassie gets older, her connection with Billy diminishes, and her interest and desire to maintain the friendship decline, relegating him to more of an acquaintance than a friend. Billy struggles with the way the friendship has transitioned from best friends to more of an acquaintance.

Cassie is having a 35th birthday party and has not included Billy in the event, which Billy struggles with. The book is written from two points of view: past tense and present tense from Cassie’s perspective. The friendship between Cassie and Billy is complicated and messy, marked by codependency.

The book hooked me in because it starts off with a baby being kidnapped, and I wanted to understand how the baby was kidnapped and how things in this friendship got to where they were. I read this book voraciously over the last couple of days and enjoyed it. The book is about friendships growing into adulthood, relationships, and motherhood, focusing on those who want to be mothers, those who aren’t, and the pressures of society on these mothers and how it impacts their friendships and relationships, as well as class issues.

I did enjoy the book quite a bit. I rated it 3.75 out of five, but I felt that it didn't pull together as well as I would have hoped. It is absolutely an addictive read and will keep you distracted, so I recommend grabbing this over a weekend or on a vacation when you’re looking for something to just hook you in.

I loved Carola's previous book, and enjoyed this too, more drama than thriller, it still brings an addictive read thats bingeable for one sitting