Ohhh this was my kind of toxic friendship story! I loved how it was written, and the narrator did a FANTASTIC job. Highly recommend this one!

What I really found interesting about this book is that it's not a thriller or suspense, because the reader knows what happened right from the beginning. It's more of a matter of having second hand anxiety about when will the shoe drop. It's more of a dramatic examination of a friendship over time, how it's changed, how people change, power dynamics in relationships, and how one impulsive decision could change your life.

I enjoyed the audiobook narration - both female narrators have great voices and really help capture you within the story.

Great read! First read from this author. This book makes me want to read more from this author. Kept my attention and interest until the end.

BYE, BABY REVIEW💙
rating: 4⭐️
genre: suspense (not a thriller!!!)
read if you liked: Only If You’re Lucky

Billie and Cassie have been friends for over twenty years and secrets they have kept have bonded them for decades. But in recent years, they have drifted apart - and their lives couldn’t be more different now. Cassie is married to a wealthy man and has recently become a mom, meanwhile Billie is single, childless and no longer fits into Cassie’s life. Billie will do anything to restore their friendship - but at what cost? When Cassie’s daughter goes missing and ends up with Billie, Billie is left pondering if the truth would completely shatter their friendship or will it somehow help to mend them back together?

I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the Carola Lovering’s books I have read. She tends to write characters that you love to hate, and this rings true with Bye, Baby as well! This book is told in alternating perspectives and offers a mix of drama amongst the two main characters and a few bits of suspense along the way. It’s really easy to become invested in the dynamic between Cassie and Billie. I enjoyed how the author explored their friendship and the complexities that typically come with female friendships, especially long-term friendships!

I did a mix of reading and listening and equally enjoyed both! 🎧📕The audiobook is narrated by Karissa Vacker and Helen Laser and they did a great job of creating these characters and telling the story in an engaging way! I don’t think you could go wrong with physical or audiobook for this one! #byebaby #suspensebook #popularbook #carolalovering #bookreview

Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering is a domestic thriller that hooks you early with its dark secrets and complicated friendships but ultimately doesn’t fully deliver on its promising premise. The story centers around the toxic dynamic between two lifelong friends, exploring themes of envy, betrayal, and the blurred lines between love and obsession. Lovering is skilled at digging into messy, emotional relationships, and that’s where the novel shines.

The pacing is solid, with enough twists and turns to keep you turning the pages, and the exploration of female friendship—especially the jealousy and competition that can sometimes lurk beneath the surface—feels raw and authentic. However, where Bye, Baby stumbles is in its character development. Both protagonists are deeply flawed, which can make for an interesting read, but at times their actions feel more driven by plot convenience than genuine motivation.

The ending, while unexpected, felt a bit rushed and left some threads hanging, which might leave some readers unsatisfied. Still, Lovering’s writing is engaging, and if you enjoy thrillers about complex friendships with a dark edge, this one might be worth a try.

Not perfect, but a quick, bingeable read for fans of domestic suspense.

Bye, Baby is a whodunit, yet we know exactly from the beginning. The “how we got to this point” was much better than everything that happened once the truth was out there.

This is my first read from Carola Lovering. Its told in alternating perspectives, 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.

Many thanks to Netgalley for introducing my to a new author. This book captures the complicated nature of women's relationships and choices.

I absolutely love this book. It brings the current life into a book. A lot of books you read nowadays are ones that are a little dated, but this one talks about real life things happening right now and how social media is I loved it.

Billie and Cassie are childhood friends who support one another through trials and trauma. However, after college, Cassie slowly pulls away from her friendship with Billie as she finds wealthier, more connected friends. At the beginning of the book, Cassie’s four-month-old baby goes missing at a party. The book explains this mystery but mainly focuses on Cassie and Billie’s relationship over time and how it evolved. Major themes include friendship, loyalty, and trauma. This is a book you can't put down and unlike anything I have read in a long time. Thank you for the advanced copy!

Toxic female friendships is quickly becoming one of my favorite tropes as you never know who to cheer for! This situation was HARROWING! I hated everyone and it was a fantastic time!

I felt like I was sitting and waiting alongside with Billie waiting to see when she’ll get caught. Once realizing why Billie was so trauma bonded to Cassie made me understand Billie as a character more. I like an alternating POV and flipping from past to present and this book did it well.

Carola Lovering doesn't miss. I loved Tell Me Lies and this was no different. Told in alternating voices, viewpoints, we go back and forward in time to find out how this friendship became so toxic. A well done story about facing life’s challenges and finding one’s own way.

Although I enjoyed this narration, this story just wasn’t for me. I didn’t really connect with the characters and that made it difficult to enjoy.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for the ARC!

I love a good thriller audiobook. The plot line of this story was extremely captivating and I found myself putting in my airpods and listening to the story as I completed my housework/folded laundry. As a new(ish) mother myself, the story hooked me instantly (no spoilers!) and I just needed to find out what would happen next.

I will read everything Carola Lovering writes! This was great - loved the narration and the story. It was eery and surprising. While I don't think it was her most successful book, it was still entertaining and a quick and compelling listen. Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC!

This book is so unique in that it’s a thriller but it’s central theme is friendship. It was fascinating to read, but there is a lot of childhood trauma told in flashbacks, so I would recommend checking content warnings on the StoryGraph app, which include sexual exploitation and rape of a minor.

"Bye, Baby" by Carola Lovering is a gripping and emotionally charged thriller that delves into the complexities of motherhood, love, and betrayal. The narrative centers around a mother grappling with the challenges of raising a child while confronting her own tumultuous past. Lovering’s writing is both poignant and suspenseful, expertly weaving together themes of loss, guilt, and the lengths one will go to protect their loved ones.

The characters are richly developed, with layered motivations that make them relatable and flawed. Lovering skillfully explores the intricacies of relationships, particularly the intense bond between mother and child, while keeping readers on the edge of their seats with unexpected twists.

The pacing is well-balanced, allowing for both tense moments and quieter reflections that deepen the emotional impact of the story. "Bye, Baby" is not just a thriller; it’s a powerful exploration of the sacrifices and struggles that come with parenthood.

Overall, this novel is a compelling read for fans of psychological suspense, offering both heart and intrigue. It will resonate with anyone who has ever faced difficult choices in the name of love.

Domestic suspense is one of my faves when it comes to thrillers. Featuring an obsessive and toxic friendship, dual POV, and all the drama, I devoured this story right up.

I think it’s most fun to go in with this one blindly, as to avoid spoiling anything, but the plot centers around childhood best friends Billie and Cassie, now in their 30’s.

I paired the book and audio, and loved the immersive read! Narrated by Helen Laser and Karissa Vacker, a powerhouse duo that really brought Cassie and Billie to life, voicing their alternating POVs.

*many thanks to St Martin’s Press, Macmillan audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

I listened to the audio of this book and really like the narrator. This is the story of friends that through life's ups and downs appear to have outgrown each other. One friend kidnaps the other's baby and the complexity of trying to cover up the crime and save the friendship keep you guessing.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

Cassie and Billie were the best of friends when they were younger, growing up as kids. Now, they could not be more different. Cassie is a beautiful and wealthy influencer/boutique owner who just gave birth to her first baby. Billie tends to date the wrong men and is still single and childless. They are having a hard time connecting still and Cassie has moved on with her new, snobby friends. Billie feels hurt and rejected to lose her best friend since 7th grade. One day, Cassie's baby goes missing in a most mysterious way and instead of calling on her newfound rich friends, Cassie only wants the comforts of her childhood pal.

Told in alternating perspectives between Billie and Cassie, this novel will keep you turning the pages. To me, this book was deeper than your run of the mill "thriller" and I wouldn't even call it a thriller. If you are expecting thrills this book might disappoint you. Instead, I took it for what it was which was a commentary on women's friendships, what it is like to lose friends as you get older, and how friendships can evolve over time.

I do think some of the lesser reviews of this book is because the reader is expecting a thriller and this book is marketed as such. It is not thrilling hardly at all. I would consider this more women's lit. If you are expecting a whodunit about a woman's baby being kidnapped, this book is not that.

The narrator of this audiobook did an excellent job and I thoroughly enjoyed her narration.