What a twisted tale! I raced through this book to see where it would take me next. Even though it was fiction, I was very much reminded of a recent Lifetime movie that was based on a true event. Both the movie and this book kept me up way too late! I will definitely be looking for more books by Carola Lovering. Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and the author for an advance copy to read and review.

Billie West has been friends with Cassie Barnwell Adler for a long time. Billie is on the outside looking in on Cassie's life through Instagram. But Cassie has no time for Billie despite their years of friendship. Billie and Cassie meet up for drinks which turns into dinner party invite. Billie is sort of pleased with this but cautious. When Cassie's daughter Ella is taken suddenly she needs Billie again. Who took Ella and why? Can Billie and Cassie remain friends? Find out in Bye, Baby.

I'd like to thank St. Martins Press for ARC in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley.

Carola Lovering’s writing has a way of getting under your skin. You just need to read one chapter more because you are sure you’ll find the answer out then, but she baits you along until the very end in every book. BYE, BABY is no different - a smooth, steady pace that builds and builds until it hits a crescendo - a book you can’t put down.

I love that Billie and Cassie tell the story so we hear both sides of their friendship. Their friendship goes through quite the arc, and Lovering really shows how it affects both of them and the people in their lives.

Thanks, St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley, for the gifted arc!

Content Warnings: sexual assault, kidnapping, toxic relationship, gaslighting, classism, familial death

First, I was excited for this book! The premise caught my attention for sure and while it was a good read, it unfortunately didn't capture my attention as much as I had hoped. Once the kidnapper was revealed I kept expecting another twist since there was still so much of the book left. I definitely wouldn't consider this a thriller at all, but more of a book about friendships and how toxic they can be.

Thank you to Netgalley & St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book

When Cassie and Billie were teenagers, they were each other’s person. Now, as women in their thirties, Cassie is a micro influencer with a baby and a wealthy husband while Billie is happily childfree and traveling the world for her job and their friendship is hanging on by a thread, mostly for Billie. But when Cassie receives a strange message about something that happened in their teenage years and her infant daughter goes missing from her home, she realizes she needs Billie. However, Billie has a secret of her own. I love books that look deep into complicated female friendships and this one did it so well. I absolutely got frustrated with both Billie and Cassie in different ways, but with dual POVs plus flashbacks of their teenage years, I started to understand their behavior a little bit better. It’s not a thriller so much as a domestic suspense with social commentary on motherhood, friendship and trauma, but I didn’t mind that at all. I did think the ending was a little abrupt, but it did make sense for the story. One thing I really loved was how the book really emphasized that it is 100% okay for women to not want to be mothers. I highly recommend this one to anyone who loves reading about complicated women and friendships.
CW: sexual harassment, sexual abuse, murder, child abduction, death of a parent, Alzheimer’s disease

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Bye, Baby is a character-driven psychological novel (I would not classify it as a mystery or a thriller) that focuses on the friendship between Billie and Cassie, a friendship that began in the 7th grade but that decades later has become a toxic one centered on obsession. I found the characters of Billie and Cassie to be very interesting and enjoyed delving into the complexity of their relationship and learning bit by bit — in a suspenseful way — the underlying reasons it had become so toxic. However, as much as I enjoyed reading this novel, the ending was disappointing to me — and thus the bit of a lower rating. It just seemed to end too abruptly, especially after all of the angst that had preceded it. Nonetheless, I did enjoy the novel overall, and I look forward to reading more from this author.

Bye, Baby is an interesting story of trauma-bonded friends as they connect in High School and evolve into adulthood on separate paths. Cassie is a married mother with a rich husband and huge online following. Billie is a single woman who misses her best friend and the connection they used to share. When Cassie’s daughter is kidnapped, Billie is the first call she makes.

I thought it was unique how the story plays out over the course of the novel. Told between POVs from Billie and Cassie and with flashback chapters that give the reader insight into the way the friendship develops over time. Even though the first “hook” in the novel happens early (and is even in the synopsis), I didn’t connect with this at first. It definitely picks up, but the final resolution felt a little dragged out for me.

I will say both characters are a bit unlikable in their own ways. I am sure Carola Lovering fully intended to shape these women in such a way that right and wrong, the past and the present blurs throughout the story. For this reason, I think this would make for an interesting book club pick because there’s so much to discuss after you put this down. If you’re looking for a heart-stopping thriller, this isn’t it, but it is a really interesting look at friendship that you will want to discuss with your bestie.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have only read good reviews on this book and man are they true!! You won’t regret having this in your yearly read this year it’s a must!

I really enjoyed this book - I even got a little teary at times which is very unusual for me (maybe it's just hormones, but I'm going to credit the book). I thought it was going to be more of a mystery than it really was. There were a few reveals at various times, but most were relatively predictable as you got closer. Still, this didn't ruin the experience for me. I was also very pleased with the ending. I was worried that not every character was going to get a happily ever after, but things ended in a place that felt very satisfying.

“𝙱𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚎. 𝙸 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝙱𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚎.“

This quick and immersive read from Carola Lovering is somewhat of a departure from the domestic suspense reads that I am used to. From the very beginning, we already know the who, the what, & the why. Or, do we?

“𝙲𝚊𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚎 𝚒𝚜𝚗‘𝚝 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚎. 𝚂𝚑𝚎 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚗𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏.“

When we first meet Billie and Cassie, they are childhood best friends who seem to have lost their way in their once inseparable relationship. Relatable and captivating, this story explores the ups and downs of a lifelong friendship & the utter devastation that occurs when that friendship is no longer reciprocated by one half of the whole.

“𝙸 𝚜𝚑𝚛𝚞𝚐, 𝚊𝚕𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚢 𝚍𝚎𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍. 𝙰𝚕𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚢 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚊𝚜 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚜𝚘 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚜, 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸‘𝚕𝚕 𝚏𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚘.“

But, at the heart this tale, there is so much more. Trauma, guilt, love, & life changing choices. What brings us together as friends? And, what can ultimately tear us apart?

“𝚂𝚑𝚎‘𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚢 𝚐𝚘𝚗𝚎.“

Bye, Baby had all of my favorite things in a book: fast-paced, alternating POV, multiple timelines, and some messy drama.

The book tells the story of Billie and Cassie, two childhood best friends who have seemingly grown apart, and the events leading up to and following the kidnapping of Cassie’s daughter by her best friend. This domestic drama (I hesitate to call it a thriller) had me anxious to find out the story behind what happened and why Billie seemed to have taken Cassie’s baby. While the story was very predictable, I still enjoyed reading about the relationship between the two women, both in the past and present, and their relationships with other characters in the story. My only complaint was that I didn’t like how many pop culture references were included, as I think it may be confusing if someone were to pick this book up later in the future. Overall, a fun read!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I’m not sure I would classify this as a thriller, but this story is truly messed up! Twisted friendships, lies, and deception! The friendship between Billie and Cassie is so difficult to define, and their experiences are life altering. The author did a great job of portraying the weaknesses of them both.

This review was posted on my Goodreads

Thank you Heather for this buddy read!

Brief Summary-
Cassie’s is an influencer and a new mother and a wife. She is desperate to leave her past behind. Billie is single and childless who also misses her friendship with Cassie and she is desperate to save their dwindling friendship. At Cassie’s birthday party her baby is stolen and returned at her doorsteps the next morning. Why would someone steal her baby and return it? And why was that someone be Billie?

Trigger Warnings-
🔹Sexual abuse of a minor
🔹Murder
🔹Kidnapping

My Thoughts-
Although this wasn’t a thriller or mystery…It was still a decent read. I think this was more of a story showing one- sided and toxic friendships. The pace was slow for about 80% of the book so it really dragged the plot. The last 20% of the book I really enjoyed.

I really enjoyed the alternating timelines from past to present. As the past story unfolds you get an understanding of Billie and Cassies history growing up together. The present story is shows us Billie stealing the baby from the party and the the aftermath. I enjoyed the POVS of Billie and Cassie. I think reading both of their perspective help move the story along. The chapters involving the past really carried the book.

I would recommend this book, as I think some would enjoy this read.

"Bye, Baby" by Carola Lovering is a gripping and emotionally charged psychological thriller that deserves every bit of its five-star rating. Lovering masterfully weaves together a haunting narrative that delves deep into the complexities of motherhood, identity, and the human psyche.

From the very first page, the tension is palpable, drawing readers into a world where nothing is as it seems. Lovering's skillful storytelling keeps you on the edge of your seat, eagerly turning pages to unravel the mystery of the missing child.

What sets "Bye, Baby" apart is its richly drawn characters, each with their own flaws, secrets, and vulnerabilities. As the layers of their lives are peeled back, the emotional stakes soar, leaving a profound impact on the reader.

Lovering's prose is both lyrical and suspenseful, painting vivid scenes that linger in the mind long after the book is finished. The pacing is pitch-perfect, building tension to a heart-pounding crescendo that will leave you breathless.

In short, "Bye, Baby" is a tour de force in the psychological thriller genre. Carola Lovering has crafted a gripping and unforgettable tale that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Wow, I love when a book sucks me in and doesn't leave me until I finish it. Bye, Baby follows the story of two best friends who grew up together and inevitably grew apart when they get older. One of them, Billie, cannot let go of the idea of losing Cassie, her best friend and keeps trying to get together, but she is too swept up in her own world so she just ignores her. One day, when Cassie's baby gets missing, her first thought is that she needs Billie, the only person in the world who understands her. Billie has a secret to keep but feels extremely happy that Cassie needs her again, resuming the closeness they grew up with.

This is not exactly a thriller because we know from the first page what happened, but it's still tense to know Billie's secret and see how is she going to deal with it. I also enjoyed the side story of Billie's relationship with Alex, the guy he's dating. I think they were very cute. Cassie is very annoying though, I almost skipped her POV but well, it's part of the narrative and ultimately maybe it was intended for her to be annoying.

I like the ending and I always enjoy Lovering's writing. Very worth the read.

This is the second book I’ve read now by this author and definitely won’t be my last!

This was really enjoyable especially as a mother. I mean getting your baby kidnapped from you is every mom’s nightmare but I connected with one of the main characters so much! She often brought up the challenges we face as moms and the friendships and relationships we lose when becoming a mom , my heart was so sad at this!

This was definitely a thrill of a ride and had some jaw dropping moments , I’d totally recommend this if in the mood for a quick paced thriller mystery ! 🖤

I enjoyed this one! It's for sure a filler read if you so happen to be in a slump. I think here my problem was Billie being a "JUST DO THE RIGHT THING" character and they wouldn't so it just turned me off from the book. But, besides that I loved the twists and turns and just hoped for everyone to be happy at the end.

A caddy girl, who dreams of riches, leaves her best fried behind when she lands the lifestyle of her dreams. This story alternates jumping between the past and the present as we learn of Bille and Cassie's friendship. Through glimpses into their life, we understand "why" they've grown apart only to be brought back together over an incident with Cassie's new baby.

This suspenseful story reads as rich people behaving badly, and the consequences of poor decisions. Lovering also tells the story of two friends, both fierce and smart capable women, who make different choices about motherhood. Lovering also touches on grief, loneliness and lifestyle choices.

This novel is angsty, riveting, page-turner. Lovering's novel continue to be some of my favorite reads, and look forward to future works.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press

I got 14% into this story and unfortunately hated every character. Cassidy was obnoxious and Billie was whiny. I didn't care what happened between them nor what led to the kidnapping.

Thank you, Netgalley, the author, and MacMillan audio for the gifted audiobook! ❤️ #gifted. My review is comprised of my honest thoughts.

Read this book if you like: Multiple POV, past and present timelines, missing child, rough pasts

I liked it but I wish it was darker. I expected more thrills. It reads as if it will be an intense thriller but ends up being a light read. It kept my attention, and I wanted to know what happened next. The story is good but not what I expected.