She is Instagram famous. I'm addicted to watching her daily posts. She is my best friend, but she forgot I even exist. Until that night. Sometimes the things we do for friendship are unforgiveable, and I really crossed the line this time.

"That's the problem with trauma. You can decide to change how you think about it, time can fade it, but it's never going to disappear."

Lovering crafts an epic exploration into a deep and sometimes toxic female friendship. Shedding a new light on growing apart and no matter how long or well you think you know someone, do you really ever actually know them.

Chalked full of rich people drama, influencer insights, mostly unlikeable characters and a few teeth wrenching moments I WAS ADDICTED. The suspense to see how and where this was going kept the pages turning faster and faster. Rushing to get to that satisfyingly perfect ending.

A huge thank you to Carola Lovering @stmartinspress and @netgalley for an advanced invitation to Cassie's birthday party. Who knows what I would of done if I wasn't invited 😉

Cassie and Billie have been friends for years and know each other better than anyone else. They hold each other's hopes and dreams close, as well as their deepest darkest secrets...but when we first meet these two women they aren't speaking. That is, until Cassie's infant daughter goes missing. Jumping between the two women's POVs as well as jumping through time, we learn of the complexities that shape their friendship, and we see how far their loyalties will lead them. An absolute page turner, this nail biting thriller is one of my top books of 2024 so far!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for ARC access.

Although I was hoping for a bit more suspense, I really enjoyed the audiobook for Bye, Baby. Told from dual POVs of childhood best friends Billie and Cassie, through present and past chapters, this was more of a domestic drama with a side of intrigue. I especially enjoyed the ending, which was different from what I expected.

A great domestic thriller with lots of twists and turns that kept you guessing! A story of relationships, even toxic ones, that everyone who reads this book probably can relate to.

I really enjoyed this slow burn domestic friendship novel. One thing that Carola Lovering is so good at is giving you a breadcrumb throughout the book that ties it all together at the end. I appreciated how she was able to weave both the perspective of Billie and Cassie with their joint history throughout the book. I found it kept it interesting and I was dying to know when their "friendship" went all wrong. This is one of those book where you feel almost the most sympathy for the one who has done the wrongdoing, or at least I did! I found Cassie to be almost unpalatable at times, which goes to show what a good author Lovering is. This was an interesting examination of female friendships throughout the course of a lifetime, and how they can affect people. I had a great time reading this book, and I would recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

Carola Lovering is the master of writing the most unlikable characters in a story that you can't help enjoying. Billie and Cassie have been friends forever, but their recent lives have them drifting apart. Cassie is all about appearance and sharing her perfect life on social media while Billie is just hanging on by a thread in her own life leading her to do something drastic. As the past began to be revealed, Billie's actions become more understandable. Told in alternating viewpoints, this is a tale that is suspenseful and riveting. I will continue to be first in line to read anything Carola Lovering writes.

When I saw that Karissa Vacker was a narrator for the audiobook version, I knew I definitely needed to listen. Karissa Vacker can narrate no wrong for me! I took advantage of having both the ebook and the audiobook to enjoy.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this advance copy. This one was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I thought Lovering’s writing style was engaging and flowed really well. It was an enjoyable read as far as the writing. I just don’t think it’s one that will stick with me. It read more like women’s fiction with a little suspense thrown in, when I expected more of a thriller. Cassie was a horrible person and Billie was painfully sad as the friend who could not let go of this toxic relationship. Overall, I wanted the story to have something to make it more memorable.

I have chosen to withhold my review of Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering in accordance with the marketing boycott of reviewing and platforming titles published under St. Martin’s Press and associated imprints. As a company, St. Martin’s Press has yet to meaningfully acknowledge and address the harm caused by a marketing employee who perpetuated Islamophobic sentiments against those of Palestinian descent specifically, and has a documented history of discriminating against readers of Arab heritage in general. As a reader, I refuse to participate, even passively, in perpetuating harm against my fellow readers in an activity all should be able to enjoy.

Once action is taken by St. Martin’s Press as a company to address the harm caused and how they will be dedicated to a decisive plan of action to address needs for diversity, equity and inclusion, I will upload my review of Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering.

How much do you trust your old childhood friend? You hang with different groups but would you trust her with your baby? This kept me intrigued from the beginning

I assumed this would be more heavy on the “thriller” but it wasn’t. It was a story of female friendship, in childhood and adulthood. Of obsession, internet culture, trauma. It was written so well and the dual timelines worked so good together.

This story of friendship that has gone off the rails is a well-written book of relationships, fear of change and the courage to move forward. Cassie and Billie have been friends since their year in seventh grade in the Hudson Valley. They also hold tightly to secrets from their childhood there, and the secrets that once held them together seem to be tearing them apart. This is a story told in dual timeline, showing the development of their friendship and their co-dependence on one another in the past, and their drifting away in the present. Cassie is happily married, an internet influencer and has a small baby. Billie chases an increasingly elusive friendship with Cassie and ends up committing a desperate act in order to get Cassie’s attention. The characters were complex and not particularly relatable to me, but I did like them and thought that they were realistically portrayed. The plot was gripping and fast-paced once I got into the story and understood the way it moved between characters and time. That did take several chapters but it was worth continuing to read because once I caught on, the book was an engaging and fascinating study of the human psyche. At times, the suspense became intense, but mostly there was an undercurrent of suspense and a lot of drama. The twists are well-crafted into the story and those were my favorite part as more and more truth was revealed. This is a multi-layered page turner that is a satisfying read and one that would be great for book clubs to discuss.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

I really enjoyed this book and I love the cover. The book is very character based which I love and i didn’t have any unanswered questions in the end. The chapters were a good length and weren’t too long and had dual POVs. Some topics covered in the book were sexual abuse, Alzheimer’s and social media influencer. I wouldn’t classify this book as a mystery or thriller and the only reason I didn’t rate 5 stars was because I didn’t get really attached to the story.

Bye, Baby has dual POV’s with dual timelines that centers on the toxic female friendship between Billie West and Cassie Barnwell. ON THE FIRST PAGE, Cassie finds herself living a mother’s worst nightmare. Her baby has been kidnapped: -with Billie to blame. Of course, Cassie doesn’t know this.

Cassie is a new mom who married into wealth, and is a popular fashion + lifestyle influencer. Billie has the incredible job of being a destination planner to the wealthy. She travels around the world to beautiful locations; -perfect for her single-childless life. Cassie and Billie drift apart after a heated argument, which is perfectly fine with Cassie, Billie not so much.. she has tried reaching out, but Cassie wants nothing to do with her. OH, and one more thing.. they share a startling secret from their past.

This to me is not a thriller, but I really enjoyed the psychological aspect of this tale! How it follows their early friendship at age twelve into adulthood. It shows Billie dealing with trauma as a teen, grief and loss associated with Alzheimer’s. And then we have Cassie whose only apparent expectation in life is to attach herself to the wealthy, definitely a “gold digger.” I had a better understanding of why Billie became who she is now after learning of her past. Cassie from childhood on, only cared about Cassie. She is a cunning opportunist that I did not like. I loved the dual POV’s here which gave much depth to the main characters, and what a great ending. 4 stars — Pub. 3/5/24

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Net Galley for the opportunity to read the ARC of Bye, Baby. I'm having a bit of a hard time deciding on my rating for this book. I enjoyed it and think it had a lot of great elements to it. But my least favorite kind of character is a pathetic one, and I hate to say it, but found I Billie's character to be pathetic. While, I think she was a strong woman, I had a really hard time with her feelings toward Cassie. Obviously the main storyline is about how this longtime friendship has clearly become very one-sided, but I felt myself cringing at many of Billie's thoughts and actions, while my heart was breaking for her at the same time.

Putting that aside, I am giving it 4 stars, because I genuinely enjoyed reading it. The alternating POV’s between these two main characters and the flashbacks were very insightful. The backstory was told slowly, which I thought was very effective. The reader was able to truly understand both of their thoughts, whether we agreed with them or not.

The writing was very good and as I mentioned, it touched on many topics, including friendship, motherhood, social media, Alzheimer's, trust and much more. This was the type of book that I will think about for a long time. I liked the ending and was very satisfied when I finished it. This was the first book I read by Carola Lovering, but will definitely look forward to read more from her.

This isn't at all what I expected when I requested this book. I was pleasantly surprised. Not only is this a thriller/mystery, but it's also a story of friendships, childhood trauma and relationships in general. I didn't expect to get all the feels. I honestly didn't want to put it down. The author did a wonderful job going back and forth between POV's and timelines. A wonderful read!

👶Book Review👶
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Happy Friday, hope you’re ready for an unhinged book review because here is it 😂
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Summary: On a brisk fall night in a New York apartment, 35-year-old 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 is shaken as she 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.

Once fiercely bonded by their secrets, Cassie and Billie have drifted apart in adulthood, no longer the inseparable pair they used to be in their small Hudson Valley hometown. Cassie is married to a wealthy man, has recently become a mother, and is building a following as a lifestyle influencer. She is desperate to leave her past behind—including Billie, who is single and childless, and no longer fits into her world. But Billie knows the worst thing Cassie has ever done, and she will do whatever it takes to restore their friendship…
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Rating- ⭐️⭐️
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My thoughts- woof, I was excited for this one but what a disappointment 🥴it followed the most toxic friendship that will leave you screaming at your book to stop talking to each other. I couldn’t stand either FMC and found them both to be intolerable. This book had pretty heavy descriptions of child abuse and grooming that were super hard to read as well. There’s honestly not much I loved about this one. Sorry @netgalley and and @stmartinspress I’m just confused how this was a thriller? Clearly this is an unpopular opinion because everyone online seems to love it but definitely was not for me !
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QOTD: what is the last book that you gave a 5 star rating ?! Hit me with some good recommendations please 😍
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#byebaby #bookreview #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #booksofig #booksofinsta #bibliophile #booklover #bookaddict #bookaesthetic #bookish #booknerd #bookworms #bookwormsunite #bookobsessed #readersofinstagram #readersgonnaread #readmorebooks #readersofig #readersofinsta

Thank you @stmartinspress for the advanced eARC.
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This book is perfect for anyone looking for a quick suspenseful drama read! You can read any of her books in RECORD TIME. Her writing is the BEST. I’ll always look forward to her new books.
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Although this is a slow burn - it goes QUICK! The prologue hooks you from the start. You get an insight to what happens but it unravels what lead to it. Cassie and Billie have a complicated friendship and Carola does an amazing job showcasing the dark side of female friendships.
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This book is really character driven. I enjoyed the dual POV even though they both drove me crazy. Cassie made her whole identity as a mommy influencer whereas you don’t understand why Billie does SOME DUMB SHIT…but it is all explained!
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This book is definitely heavy on the baby/mother talk. If this is a trigger for you…PAUSE...but it truly makes the story less surface level.
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Keep ‘em’ coming, Carola!!

I wouldn’t call this a thriller as it was definitely a slow build and honestly dragged for a bit. I enjoyed the alternating POVs and timelines, but there was a lot going on without there be anything for me to really be invested in.

Normally, I really enjoy her books but this one didn’t quite hit the mark.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I read it in less than two days, captivated by the complex friendship of Billie and Cassie. I enjoyed the dual POVs and multiple timelines, and the author did a great job of giving each woman a distinct voice in the story. There were a few too many pop culture references for my taste that made it feel a bit try-hard, but I’d still definitely recommend!

Bye, Baby is more of a domestic/general fiction than mystery and thriller yet that doesn't take away from Carola Lovering's taut storytelling. Former best friends, Billie and Cassie, have drifted apart after years of secrets kept them together. At odds with being left out of Cassie's glamorous life, Billie is having trouble coming to grips with their friendship falling apart. When Billie coincidentally is one floor below Cassie's apartment and hears Cassie screaming as she realizes her baby girl is kidnapped, Billie looks down and realizes she as the baby in her arms. How did this happen? What led to Billie taking Cassie's baby? I really enjoyed the alternating timelines and perspectives as the layers are peeled away. Lovering examines what happens to strong female friendships when people change-and when we realize they were never who we thought they were. This novel is not to be missed!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalleyfor this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.