Cassie and Billie have been the best of friends since childhood, and bonded together in inexplicable ways. They supported each other through the good, bad and VERY bad, leading to a drastic choice that has both bonded them for life and conversely pulled them apart over time. Cassie would love nothing more than to escape her past, but for Billie, it’s not that simple. Now in their mid-thirties, Cassie is living the dream-life she always aspired to: a wealthy, well-pedigreed husband, multiple homes, a new baby, a curated clothing boutique that bears her name, a squad of moneyed mommy friends and thousands of followers who savor her every move as an Instagram lifestyle influencer. Billie, on the other hand, is single, childless by choice, and working as a luxury travel consultant. She has a nice home, a new relationship with a cop named Alex and her own small circle of down-to-earth good friends. POVs of Cassie and Billie which provides the reader the opportunity to understand each of their point of views and concepts around them. Friendship, secrets, lies, and one fateful night set the stage for the plot to unravel at the end. Friendships change, people change, and that can be hard when you were once close to someone, when you spent all your time together, but time and circumstances have created a chasm in our relationship. I found this to be a thought-provoking and well written book. This would make a great book club selection as there is a lot to discuss within the pages of this book.


Thanks to St. Martins Press, NetGalley and author Carola Lovering

This was a lot different than I expected. What they give away in the synopsis is, in some ways, a relatively small part of the story. The friendship itself, the past, and aftermath are bigger parts of the story.

What I didn’t expect was to feel sympathy, especially MORE sympathy than Cassie, for Billie. Don’t get me wrong, what Cassie went through was terrible and she in no way deserved the fear she experienced as a result of Billie’s actions. But.. as a character in general, I was not a fan.

I wasn’t prepared for rooting for Billie though. I thought there was no way there wouldn’t be anything other than a clear bad guy. But it’s not that simple.

Even though you know what happens and it resolves itself really quickly, there’s so much tension as you wonder how is this ever going to work out ok? It was a different kind of suspense and I was very invested in it.

I really enjoyed this one! But saying that I seen this one marketed as a thriller and I didn’t really find it a thriller, I found it more of a women lit or literary fiction, the “thrilling” part wasn’t really thrilling and I wanted more of the ending! I did really enjoy the toxic Friendship between Billie and Cassie. I thought the dynamic was so good and kept me wanting to read! I thought how the time line changed was smooth and I loved going back to the now and the present. This had me wanting to know what happened and not stopping till I found out. I loved how both characters were unlikeable in a way I found Cassie more unlikeable than Billie though! I wanted to root for Billie but how she couldn’t let Cassie go no matter how many times Cassie showed her true Colors. I also loved the aspect for money and influencer status played into this! I think with influencers so big in this world now that seeing what it can actually do to someone and how letting accesses to thousands and millions of people to you’re every day life can be dangerous and the psychological effects!

Compelling characters that are just as easy to love as they are to hate, or hate to love... A story of those friendships from your younger years that you might outgrow but a shared past, sometimes a dark secret, holds them together. I enjoyed reading about Billie and Cassie and felt satisfied with the ending in a way it's often hard to be with these types of stories. I think the author was deliberate in creating characters that we're supposed to have mixed emotions about, and her story telling would make me look for more of her work.

I really liked this one a lot!

Character-driven stories don’t usually do it for me but this one kept me hooked until the end. The writing flowed and both characters had their share of secrets & flaws.

Dual POV, timeline jumping, and set in both NYC & upstate NY - some of my favorite things in books.

Is it weird to say I was rooting for Billie, even after she kidnapped Cassie’s baby? And that’s not a spoiler, it’s in the synopsis.

Thank you @stmartinspress and @Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Bye, Baby really surprised me. I was expecting it to be more of a thriller, and while it was suspenseful, it was truly about female friendship evolving from childhood through the many early phases of adulthood. I won’t forget Cassie and Billie anytime soon. They were layered and complex and just real, even if they weren’t always likable. The dissolution of friendship that was like family is painfully real. There’s a central conflict that’s addressed as soon as the first chapter, and I kept eagerly reading through the alternating perspectives and time periods because I just had to know what happens next. The supporting characters were well drawn out, and the villain from Billie and Cassie’s past was just purely vile. I felt so much sympathy for Billie with all she endured as a very young lady, but I also felt great sympathy for Cassie who was enduring the present conflict. She has a very interesting perspective on being an influencer - just how safe are you when nearly 50K people know you and your family’s whereabouts. Everything played out realistically and I wouldn’t change a thing. Really excellent book that I couldn’t put down!

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for providing this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Bye, Baby follows two childhood best friends tied together by a terrible secret. While their lives follow different paths, their past keeps them tied together whether they like it or not. When Cassie’s baby goes missing from her blowout 35th birthday party, Billie is there to comfort her. But who is at fault and can they trust each other? Will their dark past come back to haunt them? As a micro influencer, Cassie flaunts her lavish lifestyle all over Instagram and I think Carola does a great job of tying in the dangers of social media to this story. Bye, Baby felt less thriller and more drama/suspense, and I really liked the ending more than I was expecting compared to the beginning and middle. Fans of Tell Me Lies and Can’t Look Away (my favorite of her novels) will enjoy this. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

Cassie and Billie are very close friends that would do anything for one another. Unfortunately, as some childhood friendships do, they grow apart as Cassie starts a family. Billie now left by herself, portrays some very irrational behavior.

After Cassie’s baby is taken, the book takes us back and we are filled in on all of the drama that led up to that. Let’s just say jealousy is wild! This story was filled with suspense and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley prior to the release date. My review is of my own opinion.

I absolutely loved this book. From the very first page it had me hooked! I loved reading about the evolving relationship of childhood friends to adults. Each one choosing their own paths and how that can bring people closer or push them apart. This was my first book by this author but I will most definitely be reading her next book! The drama between new friends and old was relatable and felt like you were right there with them. I enjoyed the intertwining the concept of social media influencers and how that translates real life versus a curated image someone chooses to show. I felt for each character at one point or another and could relate to the feelings on either side, which is not always the case in dual POV books. Neither character was perfect, they both had flaws, but in the end, both just wanted acceptance and to feel valued.

A very immersive read about two best friends who have begun to grow a part, Although this was fast paced I just couldn’t quite get over how unlikable the two characters are.

I went into Bye, Baby thinking it was a mystery, and about one third of the way through realized that was not the case. Once I readjusted my perceptions, I began to really enjoy the book for what it was. The book is told from the POV of Billie and Cassie, two friends from childhood who have grown apart in adulthood. Billie has a great job and has a promising romance happening, but she can't stop wishing she and Cassie's friendship was as close as it used to be. Cassie has married money and become an influencer, with all that entails. For her, Billie is a reminder of a past she would rather forget.

Any woman who has ever lost a close friend or been ghosted by a friend who used to mean the world to them will find much to identify with in this story. Billie and Cassie shared so much when they were teens and were so close they considered each other family. But ultimately their goals in life are different. Billie has a job that brings her satisfaction, a boss who is also a good friend, and she is happy in her world. Cassie wants security, and not just security but wealth and everything that implies. She leverages her beauty to find a husband from a rich family, and after her baby is born is living the dream life on New York's Upper East Side. But that life doesn't include Billie, an unfortunate reminder of her past life.

The author does a great job at portraying how strong female friendship can be, and how the betrayal of those bonds can hurt as bad as betrayal by a lover. My heart ached for Billie as she chased for attention from Cassie, who now seems very shallow, living for Instagram likes. I want to shake Billie at some points and say you have got this wonderful friend, Jane!

But least this story sounds too chick lit, there is a very dark event that takes place that we get a look at on the opening pages, before we delve into the past. I didn't see how the author was going to bring any redemption at the end of the story, but she did, and I will admit it brought a couple of tears to my eyes.

If I had rated this book a quarter way in, I would have given it a 3 star. If I rated it at the end, I would give a 5 star. So I'm settling for a very strong 4 star. I'm glad I read this book, with its dark currents and strong storyline.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Carola Lovering for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is suspenseful and intense. It focuses on the friendship between Billie and Cassie, and how their relationship transforms through the years.

The story starts off with a bang - Cassie’s baby has been kidnapped and Billie is the one that did it. From the very first page, I needed to know what was going to happen. That feeling stayed with me until the last sentence.

Billie and Cassie had so much depth to them. I didn’t really want to root for either person because their flaws were large and in charge…but isn’t that how most real human beings are? Reading about their tumultuous friendship was so captivating.

I loved this one and will be thinking about it for quite awhile.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for my gifted copy!

Oof, this book gave me so many feelings. First of all, this is not a thriller or even a mystery. Second of all, trigger warning for sexual abuse of a minor. Just Throw out the description of this book because it is very misleading.

Cassie and Billie are lifelong friends. Or they were, until Cassie gets the life she always wanted and determines she is too good for Billie.

The story takes place in present day New York and flashes back to their childhood in the Hudson Valley. It also has alternating POVs.

Cassie was always a social climber, from the first time Billie met her. For Cassie, it’s all about what brands you wear, where you go to school, where you live, and who you know.

Billie sees Cassie for who she is, but she loves her anyway. They are bound by a terrible secret from their high school years. And Billie is just a little too dependent on Cassie.

Cassie pulls away due to her new life as the wife of a rich WASPY guy, influencer, owner of a boutique clothing store, and status in her cliquey, rich mommy friend group. Billie becomes more obsessive and compulsive as a result of her rejection. This culminates in an act that brings them close again.

This book was so readable. I was surprised how quickly I was sucked in despite the fact that I hated Cassie from the jump. I could not relate to her at all. Billie isn’t exactly likable in the beginning, either, though. Her desperation for attention from Cassie is cringy. However, I could at least sympathize with Billie in her feelings of rejection by Cassie and some of the other things Billie was dealing with in her own life. This aspect was all very realistic. That being said, Cassie had no redemptive qualities at all so it was impossible to feel any sympathy for her, even when she was at her lowest.

I will say that this is another one of those books that gave me a lot of anxiety while waiting for the truth to come out. I couldn’t wait for the reveal but I also I dreaded turning the page to get to that part. That seems like a bad thing, but I think it’s a hallmark of a good book if you can put yourself in the story and feel allll the feelings.

A domestic drama about an extremely toxic friendship, marriage, motherhood, relationships and secrets.

I was drawn in by the premise - I find books about toxic friendships to be enthralling. What is it about adults behaving badly that I just can't tear myself away from?

While I enjoyed this, I never felt 100% invested. I think going in knowing that Billie takes Cassie's baby takes a bit of the mystery away. I liked the different POVs and how we slowly find out about their friendship and what caused it to unravel in the past, while experiencing the present alongside them. The dependency between these two women was T-O-X-I-C! When we see what they went through together as young girls the bond makes sense. Yet, you also understand how it unraveled.

I do think there may have been too much explored (toxic friendships & relationships, Alzheimers, abuse, rape, trauma, social media & influencers, social class) and as a result, some elements remained too surface level for me to really care ir feel invested as a reader.

These two women and their partners) drove me nuts for 90% of the book.
There were just too many bad decisions made. There was not a responsible adult in the bunch!

Still, this was an enjoyable read and if you enjoyable character-driven domestic dramas you'll definitely want to check this out.

I finished this book a few days ago, and I'm still trying to sort out my feelings about it. Part of that might be that I went into it thinking it would be more of a psychological thriller, and while there's a touch of that, the stakes aren't life and death - they're love and friendship. Many reviews mention a "toxic" friendship, in the beginning it's a friendship between two girls who are very different, but are still best friends as teens. Eventually those differences remain, and as adults they grow in very different directions, as is the case with many high school friendships. But in this instance, there's a defining moment that creates a kind of "forever" bond between them. Ultimately though, one of them is ready to release that friendship (despite the bond), the other isn't. And that's where the "toxicity" comes in, and one impulsive move brings things to a head.
The history of their relationships with each other and with other significant people in their lives is revealed gradually as the time frame moves between past & present. Lovering does a good job of helping the reader keep track of those time shifts.
Cassie and Billie were each drawn as distinctly individual personalities, and while I wanted to give them each a good shake at various points in the book, I'm glad I read it.
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing a copy for an unbiased review.

Once best friends, Billie West and Cassie Barnwell have drifted apart. Cassie is married to a wealthy man, has recently become a mother, and is building a following as a lifestyle influencer. Billie is single and childless and no longer fits into Cassie's world. But Billie knows the worst thing Cassie has ever done, and she will do whatever it takes to restore their friendship.

The story is well told in the past and the present by Billie and Cassie. Personally I didn't much like either of these characters but Cassie really annoyed me with her sense of entitlement and Billie made me mad with her fixation on Cassie. I wouldn't class this as a thriller but there is some suspense as we await the finale and there's a lot of relationship drama. This is my first Carola Lovering book although I have a long overdue one on my Netgalley shelf. I enjoyed this one much more than I expected to.

CW: Sexual abuse, dementia, mention of abortion.

My thanks to St. Martin's Press via Netgalley for an advanced copy to read. All opinions expressed are my own.

<i>Bye, Baby</i> is a great way to show how a traumatic experience in childhood turns a friendship from unconditional love to extremely toxic over time.
The story is presented through the points of view of each friend - Billie and Cassie - the one who can't let go, therefore trying too hard and the one who is ready to move on with her life. It is written in such a relatable way that makes it easy to put yourself in each characters shoes. It's easy to lose contact and closeness when one friend gets married and has a kid before the other friend settles down. New parents have new responsiblities and new friends who are parents too, subtly leaving old friends in their dust wondering what they did wrong or why they aren't special enough anymore. Because it feels so true to life, it makes the underlying suspense feel that much more urgent. I enjoyed this pyschological thriller in such a dark way because it felt like it could mimic true life.

How far would you go to get your long lost bestie back in your life? Billie tests those limits when her childhood best friend Cassie intentionally has removed her from her life and friend group. Billie goes to extremes to make Cassie need her again, the initial blurb of this story made it read like this story would has an element of mystery but there really wasn’t much of one, rather this was a relationship drama, a story of love, trauma and toxic relationships. While I enjoyed this story it was a little too far fetched for me at times

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

Billie and Cassie were the best of friends growing up. They went their separate ways for college and things were never the same.

This book is told from alternating point of views and jumps from the present to past. Lovering’s writing definitely sucked me in but I would not classify this as a thriller. I can’t really say too much in this review without giving the storyline away. This is my first time reading a book by Lovering and will definitely be checking out her other books!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy.

I have loved all of Carola Lovering's books to date and this one is no exception. I was hooked from the beginning and didn't want to put this book down until I finished.

Cassie and Billie were childhood best friends who are now adults with very different lifestyles. Cassie married into a wealthy family, is a successful influencer, and a has newborn baby. Billie has a dream job at a travel agency and is in a new relationship. The POVs alternate between past and present (and also between Cassie and Billie).

I don't want to give too much of the plot away but this book really resonated with me. It caused me to reflect on my childhood friendships and consider the importance of them in my life today. Is it possible to outgrow friendships or do they just change with age?

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. I will always say yes to a Carola Lovering book!