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lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"Bye, Baby" follows Billie and Cassie two women who were once the best of friends. They were nearly inseparable in high school, but in their adult years they started to lead very different lives and drifted apart. Cassie married a very wealthy man, has a budding presence online as a social media influencer, and has recently given birth to her beautiful daughter. In Cassie's eyes, Billie no longer fits into her world. Billie has made a modest name for herself, but she is still hurt that Cassie was so quick to cut her out of her life. One unfortunate night, Cassie's daughter goes missing, and Billie has to hide what really happened to the baby.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I do not think this book can fairly be classified as a "thriller/mystery", but I do think it is a great hard-hitting contemporary. The reader knows pretty much from the moment it happens what really happened to Cassie's baby, so there is no mystery. There is a plotline from the past that arguably could be deemed "mysterious", but it is more that the true story is drawn out over many chapters.
Billie's and Cassie's friendship I found so fascinating. I am enthralled by the idea that we are friends with people when we are young because of proximity, but as adults we learn how little we actually had in common with them. Billie's and Cassie's relationship is a little more toxic than the average person's (hopefully), but that is definitely part of why it read so interestingly.
I was very pleased with the resolution of this story. I think Billie's and Cassie's friendship came full circle, and I really loved seeing both of them move forward following the kidnapping.
Once I got into this story, I could not put it down. It felt so relatable, and I felt so connected to both Billie and Cassie for different reasons.
I highly recommend this book, and I look forward to reading more from Carola Lovering in the future.
Graphic: Murder, Sexual assault, Classism, Kidnapping, Dementia, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Death of parent, and Stalking
Moderate: Pregnancy and Adult/minor relationship
smileyjayna's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
* “ghosts” generally, not like 👻
I do not love the narrative voice (if that’s the right term for it, how it’s always “I give a strained smile” or “I jolt up in bed”) but I haven’t read anything else by Lovering so I’m guessing it was it was a choice for a thriller.
I DO like the way choices are dissected and discussed, how they do or do not belong to their characters, if that makes sense.
I like the pacing of the book overall, but I have not decided my opinion on the moments in which two characters experience the same event.
I think it was a sloppy choice to use weight as shorthand for virtue/virtue (wade, ava (to a lesser extent)).
Graphic: Abandonment, Dementia, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Medical content, Mental illness, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Rape, Emotional abuse, Vomit, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Incest, Classism, Fatphobia, Pregnancy, Chronic illness, and Terminal illness
Minor: Infidelity, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Eating disorder, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, and Lesbophobia
msvernier's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Death, Rape, Dementia, Toxic friendship, and Abortion
meagan123's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Pedophilia, Dementia, Toxic friendship, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Kidnapping, and Murder
Minor: Abortion and Death of parent
dblue236's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
First things first, I absolutely hated both of these main characters. Couldn't stand them. Not a single redeeming quality about either of them. I was able to mostly get past that because I was into the story... and then that turned out to be a big nothing as well. There was no real resolution, no real point beyond "People suck, friendships fall apart." I kept waiting to get something out of this, and I just didn't. Points for what could have been, I guess.
Graphic: Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Incest, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Kidnapping, Murder, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Dementia, and Bullying
hollispaige's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Rape, Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, and Sexual assault
Minor: Body shaming, Abortion, and Infidelity
mackenzierm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
BYE, BABY is labeled by some as a thriller but I think that we should be careful with this labeling as it may lead to some false expectations as to what this story entails. I'd be more inclined to state that it is a women's fiction novel with a mix of suspense and psychological drama.
That aside, this novel is a fantastic read and is incredibly bingeworthy. I was quickly hooked into the story by the clever prologue that tells us what happens but not the how or why. BYE, BABY is told in alternating dual POV (Cassie's and Billie's) in the days leading up to the event described in the prologue and the days following. There are some chapters interspersed from the past that highlights how close of a bond Cassie and Billie shared from a young age up to the present.
Lovering does an excellent job at depicting a friendship that has lasted for 20+ years but now is showing the stress of time as the two slowly drift apart as their priorities and interests change. The exploration of the many facets of a friendship, the influence and impact of social media, and overall narration of the plot is highly compelling. Each character is well developed and dynamic if not always likeable. I really enjoyed the side characters: Jane, Alex, Grant, McKay, etc as they each provided a solid support system for both of the main characters. The ending is truly well done and ties up everything neatly.
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, St. Martin's Press, of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions shared are my own.
Graphic: Toxic friendship
Moderate: Dementia, Sexual assault, and Murder
Minor: Abortion and Death of parent
rowanhill's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Bullying and Child abuse
mrscorytee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Murder, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship, and Sexual assault
iamnita's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Rape, Toxic friendship, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Grief, Stalking, Chronic illness, and Sexual assault
Minor: Alcohol, Murder, and Death of parent