I definitely wouldn’t consider this in the “mystery / thriller” genre - best way to describe the writing style is contemporary fiction or “soft mystery” if that makes sense lol

Billie and Cassie are bffs who have drifted apart in their early 20s. A classic tale of ditching the hometown childhood friend for a more “prominent / exclusive ” crowd. Billie, the obsessive friend is willing to do anything to get Cassie back in her life.

This was a good story - not great. Just one of those reads to keep you occupied until something better comes along.

This is my second book by Carola Lovering and by now, I know that no matter what the marketing says, I should suspect going in that it’s not going to be a thriller. Bye, Baby unfolds as a work of women's fiction delving into themes of motherhood, friendship, loneliness, and the intriguing landscape of influencer culture.

The narrative revolves around Billie and Cassie, inseparable since they were twelve, their bond forged by past traumas. Fast forward to their thirties, with them both now residing in New York City, yet a growing divide separates them. Billie, engrossed in a jet-setting job and a budding romance, finds herself resenting the void left by Cassie’s friendship. Meanwhile, Cassie, now a married mother and social media influencer, navigates her newfound wealth, leaving little room for their once-unbreakable connection. Billie's resentment fuels a series of regrettable decisions, exposing the toxicity inherent in their trauma-bonded relationship.

Lovering does a fantastic job crafting two intricately flawed and complex characters. Despite Billie's questionable choices, I found myself relating to her and empathizing with her character. I particularly appreciated the portrayal of a childfree character in Billie, whocomes to accept and embrace her choice. As a childfree woman in my thirties, I resonated with Billie's struggle when her closest friendship changes following Cassie's marriage and motherhood. The exploration of non-traditional life paths adds depth to the narrative, portraying the difficulty of adjusting when a lifelong friend takes a different route than the one you’ve chosen for yourself.

Bye, Baby emerges as a compelling character-driven novel, offering an intense exploration of the complexities within friendships, especially longstanding ones. While the central plot-point may feel a little out there, the underlying themes and characters will resonate with most women. Lovering skillfully captures the intricate dynamics that women often navigate in their relationships, making the novel relatable to a broad audience.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Bye, Baby tells the store of a toxic friendship between Billie and Cassie. They grew up together but have since grown apart, as Cassie’s budding family, new friends, and influencer lifestyle keeps her occupied. However, they share a traumatic event in the past that keeps them together, especially when things go wrong for Cassie.

I’m not sure I would categorize this as a mystery/thriller, but it was full of suspense and I wanted to keep reading to find out what was going to happen. I really like the dual timelines and POVs. While I mostly sided with Billie, there were times I truly disliked her character and leaned more towards Cassie.

I liked the backstory about Billie and the relationship with her mom and her mom’s illness, and wish more time had been spent on that.

I both read and listened to the audiobook, and thought the audiobook narrators were fantastic.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copies in exchange for my honest review.

I was so excited to read this and it didn’t disappoint. The gripped me from the start. Highly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This novel was a whole roller coaster. Some WTF moments. Some moments where you're rooting for the main character and other times when you want to shake her. This story kept me entertained and wanting to finish quickly to find out what happened. Overall definitely recommend,

This book was not exactly what I expected. It’s a psychological thriller, the story of Billie, and her childhood best friend, Cassie, told in alternating POVs between the two. Cassie was always there for Billie as she dealt with her mother's early Alzheimer's diagnosis and sexual advances by her skeezy stepfather. Cassie retreated as they became adults and Billie became obsessed with keeping them close. Neither character is portrayed as particularly loveable.

I both read and listened to Bye, Baby and I recommend either format, but I lean toward the audio. Narration by Helen Laser and Karissa Vacker really drew me into the story. 4⭐️


Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for this complimentary ARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

It is difficult for one friend, when the other friend moves on without them. What if that one friend can’t let go? This was such a story, and it will leave you thinking about all aspects of friendship.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

A twisted look into friendship and the changing of two people, Bye Baby is something that’s going to sit uncomfortably with me for awhile. It’s not often I read a book where it feels like no character is likable but that’s the point of this story. I kept finding myself searching for things to like and to relate to but in honesty the characters in this book are two women I’d never want to be around.
This is one I’m going to be sitting with for awhile. I loved how the chapters alternated viewpoints and that it happened over a brief period of current day time.
Thank you so much to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for letting me read an advanced copy!

Friendships come and go as we get older. Friends we had from Kindergarten on into adulthood are so rare and something to hold onto. But at what price? This is the premise around Lovering’s newest novel Bye, Baby.
Cassie, a up-and-coming influencer in NYC has it all: multiple vacation homes, a large following on social media, a rich und successful husband, and a beautiful daughter.
Billy, her childhood best friend, seems to be lagging behind in several of these departments (though she has been quite successful herself), and finds herself watching her friends life from the sidelines.

One night, Cassie’s daughter goes missing and Billie finds herself in a sticky situation when it is her presence that Cassie requests.

Lovering explores the depths of friendship and how hard it is to see someone live their life without being an active part in it so hauntingly. The novel is suspenseful and well written, I got sucked into the story right away. The ending does fall flat a little bit for me, but I like my thrillers with an extra twist at the end.
The characters are all unlikeable, but this does not take away from the book at all. On the contrary, it made me root for them all to get what they deserve.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC!

Carola Lovering is a fantastic writer. Absolutely pulls the reader into her world while also moving the story along. Will definitely recommend any of her books.

4.5 stars
This book was so much fun. Terrific thriller that I could not put down. I finished the entire book in less than a day. It was SO well-crafted and well-written. Do not miss this one.
I will definitely be recommending this to others.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this book and the multiple point of views and the telling of the present and the past. This was hard for me to put down and I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to others.

𝐁𝐲𝐞, 𝐁𝐚𝐛𝐲
𝐁𝐲 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐚 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠
𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: 𝐒𝐭. 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧’𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝟑.𝟓.𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑆𝑜𝑜𝑛!

I’m not sure I would put this one in the thriller category. While it was suspenseful, it’s more about the dynamics of a female friendship wrought with trauma, toxicity, and poor decisions.

Billie and Cassie were the best of friends in their youth. While Billie was suffering at home, Cassie was the one who was looking for attention or needed it, and she usually got it. But after an incident occurs, the two friends are bonded by secrets, secrets that will eventually tear them apart.

As an adult, Cassie has married a wealthy man and is a recent mother. She is also a “lifestyle influencer.” She moves in different circles than Billie, who is single and childless, plus Billie reminds her too much of the past. Meanwhile, Billie desperately wants to try to restore their friendship. But Billie takes it too far when she hears Cassie’s baby crying.

I did not care for Cassie; I found her self-centered and haughty. Billie had been through a lot. I kept hoping she would just move on from Cassie, but the painful memories that bound them made her rejection all the more painful.

The narrative also discusses the lasting effects of trauma, the choice of a woman to be childless, and how secrets have a way of doing damage.

A few trigger warnings for sexual abuse, but otherwise, the story is well-paced and I felt this friendship, though toxic, became quite addicting.

Thank you @stmartinspress for the gifted ebook.

Thank you @macmillan.audio for a gifted audiobook.

Carola Lovering's latest, BYE, BABY, is a knockout, a gripping domestic thriller of dark secrets, toxic friendships, childhood traumas, social media, and choices.

Brilliantly crafted, character-driven, powerful, suspenseful, and highly relatable- BYE, BABY is unputdownable. I loved it! My first book by the author, and I cannot wait for more.

AUDIOBOOK: I read the digital copy and listened to the audiobook. I highly recommend the audiobook, which was well done by the talented narrators Karissa Vacker (favorite) and Helen Laser. Addictive!

Billie and Cassie were long-time BFFs. They met 23 years earlier in a small Hudson Valley town when in the 7th grade. They were very close and had each other's back from childhood. They dreamed, had desires, planned their weddings, and longed for the day they could make those dreams come true and escape their hometown.

There was a devastating and traumatic event and an event that bonded them with a dark shared secret. They would take it to their grave. But as they grew older, the women grew apart.

Cassie married a society man from a wealthy family, now a fashion and lifestyle influencer on Instagram. She is a snob and no longer associates with people like Billie. She also has a new baby; all her posts are picture-perfect IG swoon-worthy.

Billie, on the other hand, is single, childless, and grew up with a traumatic childhood. However, she is smart, a world traveler with a great job, but she still misses her close bond with her childhood friend, Cassie. She stalks Cassie's IG account to glimpse her former friend's world.

They meet, but things are strained with them around her new wealthy friends. She wants nothing to do with her old friend, Billie.

It is Cassie's 35th birthday party (Billie is not invited), and things get crazy; the baby is left unattended on the patio during the party.

When Cassie's baby is mysteriously abducted (later returned) unharmed, Cassie reaches out to her friend, Billie, and they seem to be back where they were on great terms. Cassie needs Billie. This makes Billie happy. Cassie was devastated and realized her life was not about social media but her baby.

However, how long will this feeling last? Will she go back to her old ways and ditch Billie again?

But Billie is hiding a secret and knows it will ruin their friendship if she comes forward. However, they both still share a dark secret from the past that will keep them bonded.

The author cleverly explores toxic female friendships, motherhood, childhood traumas, and the dangers of social media influencers in BYE, BABY.

I loved the cover, the writing, and the story—highly relatable, thought-provoking, compelling, and suspenseful. I felt for Billie and her mother, and you could not help but root for her and despise her disgusting stepdad. I liked Cassie better when she was afraid of an abductor.

For fans of Mary Kubica, Wendy Walker, and Sarah Pekkanen.

Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering will be available on March 5, 2024. Thanks a million to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for a gifted ARC and ALC and the intro to this talented author.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: March 5, 2024
My Rating: 5 Stars
March 2024 Must-Read Books

This book was a page turner from beginning to end. Reminded me of the Gabi Petino (spelling) case in the beginning and I was hesitant however it definitely created its own way and storyline. Two girls find their way to eachother and become best friends. However as with any friendship there’s usually an imbalance. It’s watching this imbalance play out that gives us the storyline. Definitely was action packed towards the end with some twists I didn’t see coming. Would highly recommend. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I wasn’t quite prepared for the depth of this story. It’s less of a thriller and more of a story regarding friendship and the growing pains of life throughout the years. I did really enjoy the romance aspect and the ending for Billie & Alex. I felt like this book dragged a little throughout but overall I wanted to keep going and figure out how things would resolve,

Before I go any further with my raving review: This is very much a “the girls who get it, get it,” kind of book, and the girls who get it will be those who’ve gone through a friendship breakup. Lovering captures the idiosyncrasies of privileged white women SO WELL. It’s definitely her thing, and this is her best book yet.

“Bye, Baby” went to a much darker place than I expected, even though a kidnapping is the basis of the plot. Lifelong best friends Cassie and Billie have drifted apart, especially as Cassie becomes a mom and starts hanging out exclusively with other rich moms. Billie is desperate to get her friend back — so she steals her baby?!

That’s not even the craziest part of the story. It switches between Billie’s and Cassie’s perspective as well as the present day and their high school years. This book is a good, hard look at how our deepest friendships can define us. As an added bonus, Cassie is an aspiring lifestyle influencer, and you know I love commentary on influencer culture. When I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it.

This is a drama about friendship told from the perspective of the two main characters Billie and Cassie. The story is also told in the present and the past. The story has good characters who lead interesting lives. There is pain and deception among the characters that has to be overcome. The intertwined lives of Billie and Cassie is the backbone of the story plot.

I am a long-time fan of Carola Lovering and have read all of her work to date. Until ‘Bye, Baby,’ it took me quite some time to figure out how to provide this book with a proper review without giving away the plot and the underlying reasons for my conflicting opinions of the main characters.

The story, told in alternating POVs between the two women in both flashbacks and present times, did a great job keeping me invested in the overall narrative. Who each character was at their core proved to be an extremely important theme throughout. This is where I found myself at a frustrating crossroads forced to consider whether or not I believe the ends justify the means in situations that ‘should’ be seen in black and white, right and wrong, forcing me to consider a gray area that I may not have even realized could exist before reading.

The two women are both incredibly relatable in this book; Cassie is a classic opportunist with a remarkable ability to manipulate the people around her, her environment, and circumstances to benefit her in a way she feels she is entitled to. Making it incredibly easy to despise her throughout the unraveling of the women’s shared history. On the other hand, Billie is the girl who grew up feeling small, with low self-esteem and, trapped in circumstances she could not change was the perfect target for someone like Cassie. Billie was vulnerable, impressionable, and, for lack of a better word, ‘weak,’ allowing Cassie to swoop in, play hero and pushing Billie into a subconscious unwavering loyalty to someone who manipulated her into believing she needed and owed Cassie for being her friend.

Cassie wasted no time moving on from Billie when it served her and, in turn, strung Billie along to maintain a twisted sense of self-preservation. Billie’s decision in the book was undoubtedly wrong, but I struggle to hold her accountable because the motives behind her actions were not evil at their core, although the anger and frustration she felt at the time. I felt as though her impulsivity was ultimately based on instinct, ironically the motherly instinct she truly believed she did not and never would possess. The guilt Billie felt following that decision truly made me believe she regretted her actions and knew she was wrong in making that choice.

Contrastingly, a choice Cassie made in their past that was the true thread holding the two women together was made selfishly but disguised as selflessness. Billie needed to believe that Cassie made that earlier choice for her, to help her, to ‘save’ her, and nothing made me feel more at ease than when Billie came to the realization that all along Cassie has only made decisions in the best interest of Cassie. Cassie’s lack of remorse was clear following the reality of her being more afraid of other people finding out about what she did rather than feeling bad about what she did; her motives behind her earlier and continued actions were once again only in her best interest without regard for the collateral damage she would cause.

This book made me think A LOT, and it also left me longing for a continuation of Billie’s journey beyond Cassie. I am less concerned about what happened next in Cassie’s life; I think it is easy to write the rest of her story because of the type of person she has shown herself to be. Above all, I was rooting for Billie to face her trauma, let people with genuine intentions into her life to help carry the weight of everything she has carried from childhood, finally have a happy ending fueled by trust, love, and mutual loyalty and adoration, something she thought she found in Cassie but was robbed of for a very long time.

A special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for my honest feedback.
All opinions are my own.
Publication date: March 5, 2024.
Genre: Women’s Fiction, Mystery & Thrillers

A tale of a twisted relationship that never really stands a chance.
Billie and Cassie have been best friends since childhood. They shared their hopes and dreams and had each other's back. Billie was sincere, Cassie, not so much. So when their lives diverge as adults, Cassie's moved on with her wealthy husband and new child while Billie is left wondering why things have changed so much. Then something happens that throws the two back together and more drama ensues.

I really enjoyed the dual perspective and the 'then and now' approach to this story. I can't say I really liked either woman but for different reasons. The themes of relationships, shared secrets, sexual abuse, social media influencers and Alzheimer's are all present here and although it does seem like a lot, the story never got bogged down by them. The writing has an easy way about it and has a relatively quick pace. By the end I had a better understanding of why the things that happened did as well as a feeling of satisfaction by the outcome. I think this one will garner a lot of interest when it's released and think it's a great addition to anyone's TBR list.