Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering

Official rating: 4 stars
Page-turner rating: 4 stars

I jumped into this one blind, knowing only that I have enjoyed the author's previous books, and I quickly felt like this one was in tune with her other books. Easy to read,

Its going to fall under the thriller category but a better summary is: childhood friends + new adult relationships + suspense. With a back and forth timeline and alternating perspectives, I enjoyed seeing the story unfold with the information slowly being served up. There was one topic in the book that I did'nt enjoy reading about, I understand how its crucial to the story. Let me know if you want some content warnings, otherwise, I would highly recommend this one!


Thanks to NetGalley for this early copy! This one comes out March 5th, 2024!

I’m not sure why this is being marketed as a thriller/mystery. It’s anything but that. Having said that, I think I was expecting something different. I couldn’t get Into this book because I was waiting for the suspense that never came . Maybe I’ll reread it again in the future

Thank you netgalley and publishers for this opportunity.

This book was challenging for me as I recently broke up with my childhood best friend, but I was also rooting for the friendship all the same. That breakup has helped shape me and my other friendships and relationships. There was a lot to unpack.

Billie and Cassie have been best friends through it all: a haunting childhood, adolescence, and a marriage for Cassie. But after Cassie had her baby, Ella, Billie feels her pulling away from her. Cassie is getting in over her head with her social media influencer life and trying to forget about her sad past, which includes Billie. When Ella goes missing, it pulls the two of them back together, but Billie keeps it mum that she was actually the one who took Ella. Is this something the could move past or should Billie just keep it a secret?
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💭Thoughts💭
The underlying tension throughout the whole book is something I remember from reading the authors previous book. She keeps you captivated and on your toes the whole time, even when you already know the scope of the plot.
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⌛️Favorite Moment⌛️
Cassie’s influencer life was so interesting to read about and added some depth to the book of understanding her better. When each character had their narration, you felt on their side, until the next character had their turn to talk.
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🎉 Theme Ideas 🎉
Billie and Cassie loved watching movies in the couch with some popcorn. They loved Dirty Dancing the best. They also go away for the weekend and get room service and massages!

I absolutely found this work of writing incredible realistic and believable. I could relate to being in denial and trying to make a true friendship work even though both people have changed and totally different people than the inception of the friendship. Carola did an amazing job illustrating the inner turmoil both Cassie and Billie go through when it comes to their upbringing and dealing with the great shift in their relationship. Overall, I was impressed with the writing and grieved alongside the girls when they faced their greatest challenges.

This is my first book by Carola and I cannot wait to read her other works, I really love the psychological aspect to her plot and characters, seeing the growth in them really makes me want to reflect on my own experiences and friendships.

Thank you to St. Martin Press, Carola, and NetGalley for the ARC.

I loved this book. I mainly read thrillers but I was just in the mood for this book and it was really good. Definitely recommend

Bye, Baby is a story of childhood friendship told in dual timelines and POVs. Reading the synopsis of a twenty three year old friendship resulting in Billie stealing Cassie’s baby makes you think what kind of horrible person is the Bille girl. Carola Lovering showed how childhood secrets can really shape how a people end up and how different personalities handle these kind of secrets. Without giving too much an away I liked to see how this bond and what someone helps you get through in adolescence can really cloud your judgement on who they turn out to be as an adult. Billie feels like Cassie is like family to her so no matter how poorly she ends up treating her she just wants to hold on to this friendship. It was interesting to see what it would take for Billie to see who Cassie really is and probably always was. I liked seeing the past show what is going on in someone’s life that they would stay friends with someone like this for all these years.
Some parts of this book were very hard to read. I would look up trigger warnings before getting into it.

Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering delves into the complexities of female friendships, weaving a gripping narrative that explores the haunting intersection of love and toxicity. Set against the backdrop of a chilling disappearance, the story unfolds with intense suspense, capturing the essence of evolving relationships and the enduring echoes of childhood trauma. Through alternating perspectives, the author masterfully navigates the intricacies of adult friendships, revealing the profound impact of choices on lifelong bonds.

This book was such an interesting read on how friendships grow and change over time. The premise and setting were great! The book was fast paced and a great weekend read.

I wouldn't count this book as a thriller,more of a complicated friendship and the decisions they make! I had a hard time finishing this book!
Thank you Net Galley and St Martins Press for allowing me to read and review this book.

This book had my stomach in knots the whole way through! That feeling of regretting something so much and wishing you could take it back was palpable. I do think everything ended up how it should have in the end, though! Great read!

Bye, Baby is the fascinating new thriller release by Carola Lovering. Set in NYC it tells the story of two childhood best friends who are fighting to keep their friendship alive.

Or at least one of them is! The other will do anything to let the past stay in the past.

Cassie and Becca grew up together in the same small town. They know everything about each other, including the dirty secrets that no one can ever find out.

Through good and bad, and through high school and college, the girls managed to stay friends. But Cassie always had her eyes set on something bigger. Little by little she starts making new friends and associating with new people.

She wants it all. And she just may have it. Until one night her daughter is gone and the only person she can turn to is her old best friend.

I found this book to be very intriguing because I didn’t know whose perspective was the most accurate. On one hand we have Cassie, the “perfect” mom and influencer who doesn’t want to be friends with Becca anymore because she’s a part of her old life.

And then there’s Becca, who plays the victim a little bit by not being able to let Cassie go. She lets Cassie treat her like a second tier friend and it’s painful to watch.

Who do you trust? Who is right, and who is wrong? It’s difficult to say.

But these girls have both had difficult situations in their lives that have made them the way they are. And they share a big secret that no one can ever find out about.

I really enjoyed this book. Lovering’s writing style is easy to fall into and I found myself devouring each chapter. I had to know what would happen next!

If you like thrillers that feature a little bit of drama and dishonesty, this book is for you. I was drawn in by the initial plot, but the characters wrapped me up in their twisted backstory and kept me guessing until the end.

Carola Lovering is a fabulous suspense writer, and BYE, BABY is another great novel that will keep you up late turning the pages. I have some previously familiarity with Lovering's work, and it's always cause for celebration when she has a new novel coming out.

I especially appreciate how each point-of-view character is essential to the narrative. Often, with multiple POVs, some can begin to seem tangential or unnecessary. That's not the case here -- and each is equally captivating.

The story of Billie and Cassie is filled with great tension. I felt very anxious to see how their relationship would develop with all the ups and downs of the plot. Lovering's portrayal of friendship rings true to life.

The way this story plays out is both entertaining and compelling, and the ending provides a satisfying conclusion. Brava!

Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for the complimentary e-galley; all opinions in this review are my own.

I did not connect with this book at all. The two FMC were completely unlikeable. Billie and Cassie were king time best friends until Cassie marries into old money. I read up to 35% and then skipped 40% of the book. I didn’t care about either character but wanted to see how it ended. And I wish I hadn’t, the ending was disappointing. I know that this book will be loved by others, I just did not connect with it.

Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering

This one was so good! I needed to take a break after my last long book and this was a perfect one to pick up next.

I read Lovering’s Tell Me Lies earlier this year (after binging the show on Hulu!) and I liked this one even more! She has a great way of writing characters that are both flawed and likable. Bye, Baby explores growing out of childhood friendships, toxic friendships, social media, societal expectations, childhood trauma, guilt… I really liked Billie’s character and it was fun to see her grow. (The same was true *sometimes* with Cassie.)

Favorite quote:

“And isn’t that a requisite of loving someone - to grow complacent to their most fatal flaw? To suppress the urge to change them until it all but disappears? The practice resembles acceptance, but the process is more painful. It’s more like sacrifice.”

Thank you to @netgalley and @StMartinsPress for this ARC. Billie and Cassie are inseparable growing up and they have endured life together. That is until Cassie marries Grant, has a baby and tries her hand at being an influencer. Now, Billie is annoying and stalkish. When something goes wrong at Cassie's birthday party that Billie isn't invited to, Cassie's first instinct is to call her oldest friend. But did Billie have anything to do with the incident? I read this book super fast. Though the plot is explained very soon in the book, you aren't sure how the whole story will unfold. #ByeBaby #CarolaLovering #March2024

Thank you to netgalley for the ARC of this book!

I do think in all honesty that this book was labeled incorrectly, this was more a suspense/family drama than mystery/thriller. That being said, I powered through this book, the writing kept me invested and the story itself had me on the edge of my seat just WONDERING what was going to happen next.

This book did have dual POV’s as well as past/present POV’s so if you don’t love either of these maybe it would be best to stray away, because it was sprinkled pretty consistently throughout this book.

Overall, it was a good read, I didn’t like it any less because it was categorized wrong (in my opinion ofc) but the ending was just too open/closed for me. I wanted more than what it was giving me, it almost was packaged up and completed TOO perfectly.

Obsessive friendship, trauma bonding, and years and years of therapy...... that's this book.

Holy shit.

Billie and Cassie are best friends. They are as close as sisters and bonded in ways that are inexplicable. Cassie is, to be polite, a 'gold digger'. and Billie remains single and childless. Billie has a jet-set life, organizing events and special occasions for people. Cassie lives her life on social media, with her own clothing life and and beautiful baby.

As the title may suggest.....something happens to the baby.

I mean.....Come on.

I just..... How much further can we go with the domestic thrillers? Is this what it's come to?

This might be my limit.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering was a great read!
Cassie and Billie, the main characters, were childhood best friends. Cassie, even from a young age, was drawn to status and money influenced by her grandmother’s wealth. Billie had a tough upbringing with her mom who suffered a dire medical diagnosis and a step-father who was a monster. Cassie was a rock for Billie when she experienced trauma and loneliness in her younger years. The girls were forever bonded by a huge secret they would keep forever. Carola’s writing made you want to keep reading all night to find out what happened next!
Unfortunately, these best friends grew apart. Cassie opting for the rich husband and very luxurious life, while Billie chose an more average life. Billie became almost obsessed with looking at Cassie’s life via her never ending insta posts.
Another big mystery hits when Cassies baby goes missing. Some themes in this novel explore the best friend relationship, sexual trauma, social class and loss. I want to that netgalley for giving me an ARC copy of this amazing book to read for my honest review. I will be recommending this one to friends !

This was told in perspectives of the two toxic best friends Billie and Cassie. Billie was desperate to liked, and riddled with trauma. The whole time I was reading her perspective, I just wanted to give her a big hug. Cassie on the other hand? I disliked her immediately. Cassie was fake, self centered, mean spirited, narcissistic, judgmental, and pretentious. I really wanted Billie to see her true colors, and I hated how Billie thought she owed Cassie her undying loyalty.

The story was also told in flashbacks mainly of Billie and how her and Cassie met, and how their relationship I felt was one sided. As the book went on you go through a lot of emotions of irritation, as well as understanding. Although I felt like this wasn’t so much a thriller, I truly could not put this one down, and I was here for all the catty, drama that unfolded.