Bye, Baby

Billie and Cassie have been best friends since childhood, but as adults in New York they???ve grown apart. Or at least, Cassie has grown apart ??? Billie is determined to hold on to what is increasingly a one-sided friendship. For Cassie, her old friend doesn???t fit in with her new mommy-influencer lifestyle, rich husband and jet setting friends. But the two are forever bonded by a shared traumatic past, and Billie doesn't know how to exist without that friendship - she becomes increasingly obsessed with Cassie's life, and regaining what they once had.

My rating: 4 stars

I don???t want to give too much away, but I will say I was hooked in the first couple of pages. Lovering really sets the hook in immediately, and I just had to keep reading to find out how the characters get to this point. We get POV chapters from both women and the entire time I was reading this, I found myself relating to both of them, and also yelling in disbelief at both of them. Groaning as they made one awful, painful decision after another. Cassie???s obsession with social media, growing her audience, and letting them into her life to a disturbing degree was especially relatable. I???m new to bookstagram and I???m certainly not trying to become an influencer with an enormous audience, but I still see that pressure to regularly deliver content and how it could really ruin someone???s life and relationships. And hoo boy, do some relationships get ruined. This friendship is so incredibly toxic and co-dependent, the perfect breeding ground for disaster.

I don???t think I???d really classify this as a thriller, but it???s a story about how lies, obsessions and secrets can twist lives into knots. As for the ending, I feel like half of it was believable, and half of it wasn???t. And half of it was satisfying, and half wasn???t. I???ll let you decide for yourself which was which for me, but I recommend you read it for yourself and see what you think!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced digital copy!

I loved this book in the first part. The rich people drama and the flashbacks to childhood. Billie had a rough childhood and the chapters intertwining were written in a way that was leading up to a big twist or reveal. The synopsis says how a baby was stolen, but I was not expecting the baby to be given back in the very next chapter. Also once we reach part 2, it's like the backstory of killing Wade was just included to show Billie's upbringing, it had nothing to do with the story. I wanted either (or both) Billie to run away with Ella leading Cassie on a hunt OR during the investigation, they unearth that Cassie killed Wade all along. That would have made a much better story and connected the two timelines. Also the random inclusion of Alex, and how he just takes her back at the end?????Had so much potential and on track to a 5* but part 2 on ruined it for me. 

Friends or Enemies?

Struggling with a reading slump, Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering proved to be the perfect remedy, catapulting me out of my literary lull. From the gripping opening scene where Billie finds herself holding her friend Cassie's missing infant daughter, the story gripped me tightly, beckoning me to unravel its mysteries.

The bond between Billie and Cassie, forged in childhood trauma, evolves over the years into a complex friendship that spans decades. Yet, as they navigate adulthood and diverging paths, their once unbreakable bond begins to fracture. Cassie's transformation into a social media influencer with a new family and affluent lifestyle drives a wedge between them, leaving Billie to grapple with feelings of abandonment and betrayal.

Lovering expertly navigates the intricacies of this toxic friendship, weaving together dual perspectives and alternating timelines to unravel the layers of their relationship. Through Cassie and Billie's voices, the narrative delves deep into the complexities of female friendships, the enduring scars of past trauma, and the societal pressures surrounding motherhood.

Narrated with skill and precision by Helen Laser and Karissa Vacker, the audiobook brings the characters to life with vivid clarity, enhancing the immersive experience. Their performances seamlessly capture the essence of Cassie and Billie, adding depth and authenticity to their respective journeys.

While Bye, Baby may be classified as a mystery or thriller by some, its true essence lies in its exploration of domestic drama and suspense. It's a tale of friendship, betrayal, and self-discovery, resonating with those who appreciate nuanced character-driven narratives.

In conclusion, Bye, Baby is a binge-worthy read that will keep you hooked until the very end. I wholeheartedly recommend it to fans of domestic drama, awarding it four stars without hesitation. Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review. Scheduled for publication on March 5, 2024, mark your calendars for this captivating tale.