A review by kimwritesstuff
Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering

dark fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

 
I'm beginning to think thrillers maybe just aren't for me. Or maybe I'm just really not vibing with these authors. This is another book where I just really don't like most of the characters. 
The book starts with Billie having just "kidnapped" Cassie's baby. The book then moves on to tell the tale from the beginning with Billie and Cassie both narrating. There are also passages from the past that are interspersed throughout that inform Cassie's and Billie's friendship from the past. 
Y'all, this book is so messy to me. Let's start by saying this: Cassie is almost never a good friend to Billie. She consistently alienates her from other people much like an abusive partner. Cassie is always vapid, and every action she takes is in her own self-interest. She takes no time to understand Billie's emotions or desires. When Billie is honest about not wanting to have kids, Cassie is not only not supportive but essentially cuts Billie out of her life because she has a baby and rich friends. Billie experiences real trauma in her life, and while Cassie does step up, she never seems to actually help Billie process. 
As adults, Cassie is happy to just push Billie out of the picture. Billie isn't rich, doesn't come from old money, and isn't a mom. I get that part of the book is to show that friendships run courses and what toxic friendships look like, but I just didn't find that Cassie had a single redeeming quality. Not that Billie was a saint, but I just hated the dichotomy. It reminds me of 90s movies where the hot jock (Cassie) elevates the nerd girl (Billie) by taking her ponytail down and removing her glasses. I just didn't like it. 
And finally, the crux of the story, the kidnapping. THIS IS A SPOILER. STOP READING. 
Billie's boss/close friend Jane buys a new apartment that happens to be under Cassie's apartment. Jane goes out of town and asks Billie to feed her cat. When Billie arrives to feed the cat, she realizes Cassie is having a birthday party that Billie wasn't invited to. Billie is furious and hurt. While on the terrace, she can hear a child fussing. She comes to realize that Cassie and her husband have left THEIR NEWBORN BABY on the terrace in a stroller/bassinet ALONE. This baby is outside in October in New York City, SCREAMING. There is no monitor out there and a raging party full of drunk adults. 
While Billie's motivation for climbing a fire escape to help the screaming baby that has been left alone is anger, she's not wrong for doing it. After the "kidnapping" and the cops are called, Billie quickly realizes how big of a mistake she made. She returns the baby at like 2 am after the cops and guests have left. The rest of the story deals with the aftermath of her actions and of course the ensuing blowback. 
Here's my biggest issue with this plot. At no point does anyone reprimand Cassie and Grant. No social services are involved, none of their friends say anything, the cops don't question why a NEWBORN was on a penthouse terrace alone for God knows how long. Even Billie doesn't bring this up when her and Cassie finally end their friendship. Like Billie was mostly wrong, but Cassie and Grant put their baby in an incredibly dangerous situation and it is never discussed. 
This book was an easy, quick read, but the characters weren't great, and I just didn't love the main plot. 
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC. 
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