Bye baby review

“Bye, Baby” follows Billie West and her friendship with Cassie Barnwell, both in the present day and the past when they first met. In the present, their friendship is one-sided, bordering on non-existent — Cassie is a new mother, married to a wealthy man, a social media influencer, and boutique-business owner; and Billie just doesn’t fit into that lifestyle. Billie is relegated to finding out about her best friend through Instagram posts, until the night Cassie’s baby is kidnapped and Cassie realizes the one person she needs most is Billie — little does she know Billie is the kidnapper.

The story starts with Billie taking Cassie’s baby before jumping back a few months prior to provide the events leading up to it. It’s a wild ride (in a good way); from the beginning you know things can’t end well, but you have to see how it all plays out. The pacing is excellent, and the balance of present and past helps to understand why Billie is so hellbent on keeping her friendship with Cassie alive.

It initially comes across as growing apart because of the baby/marriage, Cassie becoming an influencer, etc., but as bits of the past are revealed, you realize there’s much more beneath the surface.

I have a love/hate relationship with Billie. Maybe it’s because I can relate to her a little bit — feeling on the outside of a friendship and not understanding why, missing the deep connection she once had with someone she thought would be in her life forever. As the reader, I relate more to her other friends and loved ones who see her friendship with Cassie from the outside. Cassie is just a shallow girl with a single mindset: being wealthy is all that matters.

I will say that I almost liked Cassie multiple times throughout the story though, which is definitely a testament to Lovering’s skill — it’s almost like I was seeing Cassie through Billie’s eyes as well; I didn’t want to cut her off, even if she’s garbage.

It’s hard for me to put this novel in a category. While there are items from the past that are hinted at and slowly revealed throughout the story, I wouldn’t classify this novel as a mystery or thriller. That being said - whatever genre you want to put it under, I highly enjoyed this read! Thanks very much to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eArc in exchange for my honest review.

Great psychological thriller. The books is perfectly named in so many ways.
The story of best friends drifting apart over time, but a dark secret holds them together, and another brings them close again.
This story had me until the end which I found unrealistic and unbelievable.

This was such a wild ride with the dynamics from high school-college-adult life and how much friendships and people evolve. While I had such a good time reading to this, I was disappointed it wasn't darker. Shock, I know.... I truly thought this was going to go in a different direction and I'm bummed it wasn't the direction I was hoping for. This is a good thriller for those who aren't as dark and weird as me, and do enjoy a little light-hearted thriller. Thank you @Netgalley for this ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley, the Publishers, and Carola Lovering for an ARC of Bye, Baby. Oh myyyyyy Carola has done it again! This may be (totally is) a top contender for best book of 2024. This was remarkable - I felt like I was intertwined in the lives of Billie and Cassie. I did not want the story to end and I wished it was 500 pages longer to know more about after 🤣. I loved the alternating perspectives of the book and how it would be from the past to right now with how the story was playing out. It grips you from the first page of Billie having Cassie’s missing infant daughter to how in the heck did Billie get here after being best friends with Cassie and her pushing Billie away. This story will play on your heart and keep you glued to uncover what really fell out between Billie and Cassie.

4⭐
Genre ~ psychological fiction
Setting ~ New York City & Red Hook, NY
Publication date ~ March 5, 2024
Est page Count ~ 352 (p+ 52 chapters)
Audio length ~ 11 hours 24 minutes
Narrators ~ Helen Laser, Karissa Vacker
POV ~ dual 1st
Featuring ~ 2 part story, multiple timelines, childhood friends, sexual assault, secrets, influencer, toxic friendship

Billie & Cassie became best friends when they were 11. Now they're in their 30's and have drifted apart. We begin on the day the baby was taken then head back 50 days before and then we're slowly coming forward to the present. And we also head back to where the toxic friendship began in 2000 and move forward to the present. I didn't find it as confusing as I just made it sound. We learn that jealously can lead to a spur of the moment decision that can change the course of what you thought you wanted.

You're just on the edge of your seat right along with Billie waiting to see when she'll get caught. They share a secret from the past, that while it is predictable I still enjoyed the suspense leading up to it being revealed.

I have family in Red Hook, so it's exciting when I am familiar with the location. Even where I went to college is mentioned. She gives a shout out to Holy Cow, which has the best milkshakes and ice cream cakes I've ever had, so if you're ever in the area you won't be disappointed if you stop there. I do have to say though that true Upstate New Yorkers say they're driving on the Thruway, not I-87.

I was lucky enough to have both a kindle and an audio copy to review.
Narration notes:
A well done job by both! They were both seriously perfect for the characters.

Overall, an enjoyable psychological read.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* I actually really loved this book! I was wondering how it would end and i'll just say i loved that ending& the whole book! Would read more from this author

“Bye Baby by Carola Lovering is an emotionally charged rollercoaster, offering a raw exploration of love, loss, and the complexities of relationships. The author’s compelling storytelling drew me in, creating a deep connection with the characters. The nonlinear narrative adds a layer of mystery, but at times, it required careful attention to follow. Despite this, Lovering’s evocative prose and the depth of emotions portrayed earn this novel a solid 4 stars. A poignant journey that lingers in the heart long after the final page. 📖💔 #BookReview #ByeBaby #CarolaLovering #FourStarRead”

I absolutely adored this book by Carola Lovering. I love getting the background information on the long, toxic relationship of Cassie and Billie. It painted a clear picture of how toxic it became over the years. The ending was everything I expected. I devoured this in 3 sittings.

Billie & Cassie are "best friends" and have been since they were young. Recently, Cassie has been avoiding Billie like the plauge and Billie is obsessed with trying to get her friend back. Billie is lost without Cassie and is unsure on how to move forward. Cassie is just fine with out Billie & living the life she has dreamed about since her father lost all of their families money. When Cassie's baby is taken at her birthday party, she turns to Billie for comfort.

Bye Baby really intrigued me from the synopsis & I was really excited to receive this ARC. Unfortunately, I just really struggled from the start to get into it.

I feel like every single character in this book had no redeeming qualities, and quite frankly, they all sucked as human beings. I really stuggled to sympathize with Cassie for the struggles that she encountered when having her baby stolen because she was quite frankly just awful.

Billie was absolutely no better. Incredibly whiny & just honestly infuriating.

As a mom, I think that having your child taken is my worst nightmare, as it was for Cassie. I definitely think that I would have wanted to continue to look for answers just like Cassie did. I just don't think that she was relateable on any other front.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the early review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.

While I enjoyed the book I was disappointed that it was not a thriller as I was led to believe. The characters were well written and truly infuriating, this novel gave a glimpse into how complicated friendships can be.

When I started this book I assumed a lot more thriller/mystery, but it ended up being more of a drama with the look at friendship from childhood to adulthood and the things that bind those relationships. Cassie and Billie had become best friends as children and due to situations during their youth it created a strong bond between the two. Until Cassie begins to strive for a life as a social media persona and their relationship starts to break apart.

Cassie is a character that was hard to like due to how stuck-up and privileged she continues to think about herself. It felt like a lot of the story was her fighting the initial meeting between her and Billie, where she defended her against rude comments from another friend. They immediately became friends and then Cassie started to show her need for all things expensive and a life that she wanted to have by any cost at all. Honestly, Billie has her own issues and makes mistakes throughout the novel, but I felt like she was more personable and her issues were understandable.

This was an interesting read but left me feeling like there should have been a little more mystery to the storyline. As well as the first thing written in the description for the book on Goodreads being " A missing baby." and that portion of the book didn't seem as dire as it was meant to be. I am curious about her other books and hope knowing her writing style will allow me to enjoy her books even more.

Thank you for the early review copy!

First I will say, I read this in one sitting. I was thoroughly entertained and invested in this entire storyline. I did however feel like it was more of a suspense drama versus a thriller. Billie and Cassie’s friendship was quite the tumultuous one. I enjoyed getting a first hand account through all of the stages of their relationship throughout the years. One storyline involving Billie was rather hard to read and I would suggest checking trigger warnings, but I understood the purpose of this storyline as it really demonstrated the lengths these two would go to to protect themselves and each other. I loved the New York setting as well. I felt like the story concluded in a satisfying way and overall I would definitely recommend!
Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for this #gifted ARC!

Do you remember the obsessive friendships we had growing up? I know I had one. Where we were always together and the times we had to be apart we were talking on the phone. Imagine that, with the addition of some trauma bonding and you have the relationship between Billie and Cassie. This was a fast-paced, entertaining read. The writing is good and the drama filled plot held my interest through out. I was hoping the ending would have a twist. It ended way too neatly and nicely for my liking. It really felt like it should have ended differently in my eyes, but some may appreciate the nice ending. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

This story line was done so well and kept me right on the edge of my seat! It was full of so many twists and turns that I had to know how it ended. This book screamed movie or series material!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Read this if you like books with…
• BFF drama/longterm friendships
• family dynamics
• influencers/social media
• secrets
• dual POV
• multiple timelines
• suspense

Billie & Cassie are longtime BBFs with a deadly secret between them, keeping them tied together in their thirties despite their differences — Cassie married wealthy, is a social media influencer, and new mom; Billie is dating, doesn’t want kids, and doesn’t care as much about the latest trends. Billie is nostalgic for the closeness she once shared with Cassie, as it currently feels they’re drifting further and further apart… until something unthinkable happens that has Cassie turning to Billie, just like old times. But things can’t stay this way forever, and Billie needs to find a way out of the mess she created.

This was an interesting read! I’ve read books with kidnappings, but the dynamic between Billie and Cassie is what made this story unique. The story started strong, but as it went on the things started feeling more and more unrealistic, which is where it began to fall flat for me.

TW: sexual assault

Love the set up that begins in the first pages and the dual timelines with alternating points of view from the two characters, Cassie and Billie. The pages were turning effortlessly for me until things got a little eye-rolley for me. Plot lines turned a bit silly for me and the multiple twists and turns added to the eye rolling. It was all too much. Relationships are complicated enough without all of the backstory. I'm sure I'm going to be in the minority feeling this way. It read very quickly which is always a good thing.

Finished this book today and it is a 4 for me! I loved the characters but didn’t like how Billie was treated most of the book. I also wanted a different ending but I am glad Alex and Billie were able to talk about things and work it out!

This thriller was exactly what I expected in the sense that I was intrigued from page one and could not put it down!
Great book characters were intriguing ! Highly recommend !

The book’s main themes are toxic female friendships and the messy reality of an influencer. The discrepancies between the online personas and and their real life interactions are well developed in this novel.
Billie and Cassie have been best friends since they met in high school. After college, they moved together in a small New York apartment, happily starting their careers. But once Cassie meets her husband Grant the two women, who were once inseparable, start drifting apart.
The plot is centered around a couple of events that shaped the two friends’ lives. Told from both of their perspectives, I liked the way the author laid out the story and wrapped it up at the end. A well-written, highly entertaining novel that will get anyone out of a reading funk. A solid four stars from me!
Thank you St. Martin’s Press, Carola Lovering, and Netgalley for my advanced readers copy.

Billie and Cassie grew up as best friends and there were many flashbacks to take us back to their past. Then the now, we had secrets, lies, a kidnapping, I loved it! This is my 2nd book by this author and I love her style of writing. Looking forward to more from Carola. I was glued from the very first page. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. To be published March 2024.