This is my first book by Carole Lovering, and I won’t be shy to pick up her backlist after reading Bye, Baby.

I can’t agree with some of the promotion I’ve seen for this book, touting it as a thriller. But if I was told it was a book about obsession and morally grey characters and their actions, I would buy that. When an author has me feeling empathy and hope for the “bad guy”, I am pretty pleased. This book will have you looking at your friends, and really questioning how true that friendship is.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the gifted eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I really enjoyed this book! The only reason I did not give it 5 stars was I really didn't care about all the flash back chapters, I found them pretty boring, and didn't really add anything to the story for me personally! I have heard this classified as a thriller and I do not agree, I would say it is closer to lit fic but in the best possible way!! I really loved Billie's character! I could relate to her one a deeply personal level , and I love when that happens in a book!

Wow, this book was just excellent. I now want to read all of Carola Lovering's back catalog! Billie and Cassie are old best friends who have had a falling out in the past several years now that they are grown. Cassie is a successful influencer/business owner who has recently had a child. But when her child is suddenly kidnapped during a party (that Billie wasn't invited to), she suddenly realizes maybe she needs her old best friend after all. But who kidnapped her child and why?

This was a fun telling of two old friends with old secrets and a fun look into the lives they have grown into. Billie really wants to be there for Cassie but she has a lot of her own hangups and insecurities and finds it difficult to support Cassie's posh influencer lifestyle. The twists and turns in this book are super fun and had me hooked. The ending had me floored! 5 stars!

Thanks to the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for a review!

Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering 4.5 stars

Carola did it again with another drama that kept me at the edge of my seat. The crux of the story is Billie and Cassie's relationship, you get both of their POVs and dual timelines which really highlights all the complexities of their friendship - both the good and the bad. While it is a character heavy story, the tension builds throughout and you are just waiting for the other shoe to drop.

I am a similar age and point in life to the characters so I found it especially relatable in its commentary on how life and friendships change as life events (career, marriages, kids) happen.

I also love rich people behaving badly in NYC. It was engrossing, entertaining, and thought provoking, highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! Great story- pulled into it and couldn’t put down. Didn’t see the end coming

I greatly enjoyed this one. I didn't agree with the actions of a character but I did feel for the friendship dynamics.

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…

Told in alternating perspectives in Lovering’s signature suspenseful style, Bye, Baby confronts the myriad ways friendships change and evolve over time, the lingering echoes of childhood trauma, and the impact of women’s choices on their lifelong relationships.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I devoured this in one sitting! I could not put it down and given how it starts, I just had to know what was going to drive Billie to this moment. I loved every moment of this book and it's such a refreshing and great exploration into the complicated weave of female friendships and how hard it is to let go of relationships that have such fundamental roots in our lives. For Cassie and Billie, their lives together are fraught with constant tests to who they are and who they want to be. It is a friendship that has its own code and as someone who is still friends with someone from grade school, I know what it's like to feel almost trapped in it simply because of the amount of time, history, and effort shared in it. They are both the worst and best thing to happen to one another and because of that, there is connection that cannot be faked or replicated with any other person. Everyone's motivations in this book are so genuine in context that you feel like another part of this extended group just watching everything unfold like gossip told over drinks with an old friend. Phenomenal and heartbreaking, it made Lovering an insta-buy author for me and I can't wait to see what they come up with next.

✨ 4 STARS ✨

going into this, i was not sure what to expect. this is my first book by this author and it is more of a fictional docunovel rather than a thriller. it is a telling of the hardships of friendship through dual perspectives and timelines.

billie and cassie have been besties since they were young but like most friendships, theirs started to fade out. billie is single and childless, still mourning the loss of her mother and childhood trauma. cassie is now a new mom, business owner, and influencer who has married into old money, a life billie no longer fits into. they remain tied only through the secrets that keep them bonded.

the story follows their struggles in a fading friendship of adulthood. the dual perspectives allows the reader to understand both characters while the past and present tense feeds depth into it as well. cassie and billie’s story holds realness and is relatable to most women growing up and having to navigate friendships and relationships, both new and old.

𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 3 ½⭐️✨
BYE, BABY
🤍𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: thriller/drama
📖 352 pages
𝗘𝗺𝗼𝗷𝗶𝘀: 🍼😱🇫🇷🎉🐈💰🛩️📱🍷

𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗜 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱? 👍🏼

💜𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲💜

Thank you @netgalley @stmartinspress for the #gifted copy!

In true Lovering fashion, BYE, BABY captivated me from the start! The story, told through dual POV & multiple timelines spanning over the years, kept me fully engaged. The narrative's structure, counting down the days before & after the main event, was particularly compelling.

I was eager to see how everything would unfold, connect, & conclude. Despite some conflicting feelings, I found myself siding with Billie throughout, even given her actions. Cassie, on the other hand, came across as selfish, self absorbed, & fake, she was a user imo. The past chapters provided excellent insight into Billie & Cassie’s friendship, highlighting their shared experiences. The supporting characters, especially Jane, added depth to the story.

The book successfully blends romance, jealousy, drama, & suspense, though it left a few loose ends I wished had been explored further. It also highlights how social media often glamorizes reality. Overall, I did enjoy this one, although so far TELL ME LIES is my favorite by her!

⚠️ sexual assault/rape

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
◽️ past & present chapters
◽️ dual POV
◽️ the power of friendship
◽️ social media/influencers

𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁: On a brisk fall night in NYC, Billie West hears terrified screams from her lifelong best friend, Cassie Barnwell. Cassie's infant daughter is missing, & Billie realizes with fear that she is responsible for the kidnapping. Once inseparable, Cassie & Billie have drifted apart in adulthood. Cassie, now a wealthy lifestyle influencer & mother, wants to leave her past & Billie behind. However, Billie knows Cassie's darkest secret & will do anything to restore their friendship…

This book was absolutely page turning. It was riveting and kept me on my toes at all time. I really liked both the main characters and I had an absolute blast reading this book. The reason why I chose this book was because of the cover. I thought the cover was so interesting and this book had encouraged me to read her other books.

"Bye, Baby" by Carola Love Ring is a suspenseful thriller that follows the story of a woman named Marla Meyers, who is struggling to cope with the mysterious disappearance of her young daughter. As Marla delves into the investigation to find her missing child, she uncovers a web of deceit, dark family secrets, and unexpected betrayals that challenge her perception of reality.

The novel delves into themes of motherhood, loss, and the lengths a parent would go to protect their child. Carola Love Ring weaves a compelling narrative filled with twists and turns that keep readers guessing until the very end.

This was my second @carolatlovering #book and I am officially sold - I devoured this one. It was so entertaining and had me so on edge screaming at certain characters (looking at you Billie) begging them to stop and make different choices and then killing me with #suspense and a thought provoking inner look at loyalty, morality, friendship, and the damage of trauma. A fantastic social commentary on socioeconomic status, femininity, motherhood, friendship, relationship dynamics, and survival, this one is fantastic.

•

Billie and Cassie have been like sisters - bestfriends with an inseparable phone since adolescence. Throughout the trauma of Billie’s teenage years dealing with an abusive family member and her beloved mother’s continual decline from extremely early onset dementia, and Cassie’s own struggles with identity and desperation for social status and wealth and an escape from her blue collar life, the two were linked by an unbreakable bond. A bond so strong it led to a sin and secret that tethers both girls to one another forever.

•

That is, until Cassie eventually gets everything she ever wanted: a blue blooded exorbitantly wealthy husband, posh friends, beautiful Manhattan and Hamptons real estate, Insta-influencer status that dominates her life, and her newest and utmost love: her infant daughter.

•

As Billie comes to grips with the fact that she’s been shut out of her bestfriend’s life, she is pulled back into Cassie’s sphere for a few brief moments. A few brief moments that turn into everything amidst a mystery involving a child, multiple crimes (both past and present), and two bestfriends who will never recover from the truth of what they’ve done.

•

*** SPOILER ALERT *** Cassie was a horrendous, cruel friend at times. However, what Billie did, regardless of intentions was absolutely INSANE and had I been in Cassie’s shoes, I would’ve probably ended up in jail for killing her after what she put me through. I do not feel sympathy regarding the incident with the child AT ALL. Unforgivable, unless she walked up and returned the child within 5 minutes. ***

mid, super mid reviews. I felt this was nothing special from this author. Just another thriller that doesn't quite reach a high level of tension

I will not be reviewing any St. Martin's Press titles until they address the racist comments one of their employees made in October. See @readersforaccountability on Instagram.

Bye, Baby
Author Carola Lovering
Available now!

One of my March BOTM picks, Bye Baby, was not what I expected, but better! Female friendships can be really hard, especially when we get older and our lives change, grow, and expand when relationships, job, location, marriages, and kids are thrown into the mix. But friendships that are defined by shared trauma and dangerous secrets that have grown into toxic circumstances with lack of boundaries would certainly complicate the future of many.

Cassie is newly married to her wealthy husband with their beautiful newborn as she builds her life as a lifestyle influencer. Billie is single and childless, and Cassie strongly feels that Billie no longer fits into her picture- perfect world. To say the two are opposite in personality and circumstance is an understatement.

The night of Cassie's 35th birthday, Billie is purposely not invited to celebrate with Cassie and her new life. However, Billie went to a friend's apartment to care for her cat, which is conveniently located under Cassie's apartment. Imagine her surprise when out on the balcony, not only does she hear Cassie's booming party, but she also hears Cassie's newborn crying hysterically from neglect. And that's the night that forever changes these two women's lives as Cassie's newborn goes missing for several hours, and Billie is the one who took her.

Told from both Cassie and Billie's perspectives, Bye, Baby is relatable, dark, and thought- provoking. Gripping and suspenseful, this one had my attention as I could not wait to discover how this messy and traumatic childhood friendship was going to conclude. Unique and powerful, I definitely recommend!

I think it’s time to acknowledge that this author doesn’t really write thrillers. Still, I found this to be a fantastic and unputdownable drama with some suspense and plenty of secrets to keep things moving along. Perfect from beginning to end, in my opinion.

📖 Book Review 📖

📱🎧 "Bye, Baby" by Carola Lovering

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
published March 5, 2024

Billie has to feed her boss's cat, who just happens to live in the same NYC apartment building as her life long best friend Cassie. Billie hears a baby screaming and before she can think she climbs the fire escape to console the baby. Cassie and Billie have a unique friendship; they share a secret from their past but they are at totally different parts of their lives. Billie finally has her dream job and recently began dating a great guy, while Cassie married a trust fund guy, had a baby, has a clothing boutique, and is a mega Instagram influencer. 

Told with back stories on how Cassie and Billie became friends in seventh grade, the secret they share from a horrible incident in high school, to sleepovers in tiny college dorm rooms and eventually a tiny NYC apartment. Since their mid-twenties, they have been drifting in and out of each other's lives, and Billie has always wondered why Cassie and her are not as close as they once were. Cassie’s has new priorities, and Billie will do anything to restore their friendship, even as she hides the truth about what really happened the night the baby was taken. Super suspenceful and a story explaining how friendships evolve whether or not we want them to. 

#bookstagram #letsread #somanybooks #bookreview #bookrecommendations #readersofinstagram #readmorebooks #booklover #bookishlove #readersgonnaread #bookishaf

The characters in this one were very well developed. I was instantly hooked by the plot from the beginning and look forward to reading more by this author. I would classify this as domestic thriller over straight up thriller. Themes of friendship, motherhood, womanhood, and social media. I think this one will be a hit with those who read the likes of Megan Miranda And Mary Kubica

I did not like the toxic female friendship at the center of this story. With very unlikeable characters, they overshadowed what might have been an interesting mystery/thriller.

Imagine your ex-best friend transforming into a wildly successful influencer, and you find yourself glued to their Instagram stories all the time. With a setup like that, you can't help but be instantly captivated. It delves into one of the most relatable topics for women: female friendships, especially the heartbreak of losing close friends. This book really took me back to my twenties. I experienced two intense friendships falling apart, and I couldn't understand why. That's exactly how -year-old Billie West feels whenever she encounters her former best friend, Cassie Barnwell.
Cassie seems to have it all - a wealthy Ivy League partner, a lovely baby, and a trendy boutique. She's always surrounded by her fancy friends, who, to Billie's dismay, seem to belittle her at every opportunity. On the other hand, Billie's life is pretty great, too; she has a fulfilling job, a blossoming relationship, and a supportive group of friends. Despite her own happiness, Billie can't help but fixate on Cassie. What makes this book so compelling is the way it subverts the typical portrayal of these characters. While I empathize with Billie to some extent, I couldn't ignore her increasingly unsettling behaviour, which exudes a strong "single-white female" vibe. The story kicks off with a gripping scene where Billie is holding Cassie's baby while Cassie frantically searches for her child in the apartment upstairs.
This book skillfully weaves in flashbacks, providing a glimpse into Billie's difficult upbringing. Cassie emerges as a saviour in these moments, shedding light on why Billie is so attached to their past. However, as Billie navigates through the story, every choice she makes evokes a strong sense of empathy for Cassie. We can all relate to having someone in our lives who just can't take a hint.
This gripping thriller skillfully pushes its plot to the brink, keeping you on the edge of your seat. While the flashback scenes didn't captivate me as much, the main story is truly compelling. Once you start, you won't be able to stop!