NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A March 2024 Indie Next and LibraryReads Pick
“Powerful, relatable and crazily addictive, Bye, Baby takes an unflinching look at the battling forces of toxicity and love which define so many female friendships. I couldn’t put it down.” ––Rosie Walsh, New York Times bestselling author of Ghosted and The Love of My Life
Every friendship has its shadow…
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.
Carola Lovering delivers a gripping exploration of toxic friendships in Bye, Baby. While I initially expected a fast-paced thriller, what I found was an emotionally...Read More
Carola Lovering delivers a gripping exploration of toxic friendships in Bye, Baby. While I initially expected a fast-paced thriller, what I found was an emotionally complex story about jealousy, betrayal, and the intricate layers of female friendships.
Told through dual points of view and shifting timelines, the novel paints a haunting picture of two women whose bond becomes a breeding ground for resentment. The psychological depth of the characters is striking, both relatable and deeply flawed. While I appreciated the layered storytelling, I often found myself frustrated by their choices, wanting to shake them into reason.
Lovering’s writing is sharp, immersive, and beautifully unsettling. This book leans more toward domestic suspense rather than a traditional thriller, making it an ideal pick for readers who love deep character studies with an undercurrent of psychological tension.
