Adored this book! This was my first book by Carola Lovering and it made me dive into her backlist. Very tight, cohesive plot that left just enough breadcrumbs that, looking back, you could see how everything was coming together.

This book grabbed me from the very first page. Told through dual timelines by two childhood best friends, it’s packed with drama and unforgettable twists. Both characters are deeply flawed, which only adds to the tension and intrigue. This was a wild roller-coaster ride I won’t soon forget!

I received an ARC of Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering through NetGalley. This was my first time reading this author, and while the book had some intriguing elements, it didn't fully meet my expectations. Bye, Baby centers on the complex and toxic friendship between Billie West and Cassie Barnwell. Once inseparable, their relationship has deteriorated over the years. Cassie, now a wealthy influencer and new mother, has distanced herself from Billie, who feels abandoned and hurt. The story takes a dramatic turn when Cassie's baby goes missing, and Billie is revealed to be the one who took her. The narrative unfolds through dual timelines, alternating between the present day and the past. In the present, Billie kidnaps Cassie's baby in a desperate attempt to rekindle their friendship. The tension escalates as Cassie, unaware of Billie's involvement, spirals into panic and suspicion. In the past, we see the evolution of their friendship, marked by shared secrets and traumatic events, including a tragic incident involving Billie's abusive stepfather. As the story progresses, Billie struggles with her guilt and the consequences of her actions, while Cassie grapples with the fear and uncertainty of her child's disappearance. The plot delves into themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the impact of past traumas on present relationships. While Bye, Baby offers a compelling premise and well-developed characters, some plot twists felt predictable, and the pacing could have been tighter. However, the character dynamics, particularly the strained relationship between Billie and Cassie, kept me engaged. Lovering's exploration of the complexities of female friendship and the lingering effects of childhood trauma added depth to the narrative. Overall, Bye, Baby is an interesting read for fans of domestic thrillers and psychological suspense. Despite its flaws, the book's emotional intensity and character-driven story make it worth a read. #netgalley #bye,baby

*Bye, Baby* by *Kerry L. Lovering* is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into the complexities of friendship, betrayal, and the consequences of secrets. The novel alternates between the perspectives of two lifelong friends, Billie and Cassie, offering readers an intimate look at their evolving relationship over time. Set against the backdrop of their contrasting lives—Billie, single and childless, and Cassie, a married mother and influencer—the story explores how the choices of the past can reverberate through the present. The two timelines weave together slowly revealing the deep-seated trauma and unresolved issues that have shaped their bond. The suspense builds as Billie takes drastic, unsettling actions that threaten to unravel Cassie’s seemingly perfect life.

The portrayal of influencer culture adds a contemporary layer to the narrative, highlighting the superficiality and pressure of social media while contrasting it with the raw, unfiltered history the women share. What truly shines in *Bye, Baby* is the complexity of the friendship. It’s a bond tested by time, distance, and betrayal, yet it’s clear these women understand each other in ways that no one else ever could. Lovering’s sharp writing and suspenseful pacing keep readers on edge, making it a compelling read for anyone fascinated by the intricacies of long-term relationships and the dark side of personal histories.

3 stars. This book has a lot going on but also feels like nothing happened. It talks about complex issues, like SA involving a parental figure, loss of friendships, kidnapping, death, and deception. I'm a big fan of Carola Lovering and her writing style, especially with the past and present storyline, but at the end of the book I just thought hmmm... that's it? 

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Love a book with a dual perspective, and this suspense/thriller novel from Carola Lovering kept my attention.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

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.