I was so intrigued by the cover and the premise of Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering that I had to read it immediately! This novel proved to be a compulsive read for me–I had such a hard time putting it away that I took it everywhere with me.
Bye, Baby uniquely addresses the harmful toxicity that can exist within female friendships and how social media excellerates that toxicity. It also addresses other issues such as childhood trauma, sexual abuse, and choosing to remain childless as an adult woman.
The novel centers around two women who were once best friends. Their friendship has changed over time, especially as one of them has moved up in society and become a mother. It is told in alternating perspectives, so the reader is able to see into the mind and motivations of both women.
Cassie is a social media influencer married to a wealthy man who has recently become a doting mother to a four month old girl. She is desperate to leave her past behind and has grown distant towards her former bestie, Billie West.
Billie, on the other hand, is a single professional who longs for the same relationship she once shared with Cassie. She spends an unhealthy amount of time watching Cassie share her day to day on Instagram while wishing she was a part of her life. She doesn’t fit into the high-class mommy world Cassie has created for herself.
Bye, Baby begins with a dramatic incident when Billie hears terrified screams coming from the apartment above her. She screams are coming from Cassie who has just discoverd that her infant daughter is missing. Billie is shaken to her core as she looks down and sees the missing infant in her own arms.
The remainder of the book is a discovering of the reason why Billie has Cassie’s baby and the aftermath of that event.
There are a lot of issues addressed in this book, but I thought it was done in a realistic(ish) way. People have lots of issues–that’s just life.
While what Billie did in the story was definitely WRONG, I somehow related to her and her struggles more. Cassie was unlikeable on so many levels.
The resolution of Billie and Cassie’s relationship seemed fair, but I do wish the author would have had a different resolution for Cassie in regards to her activity on social media. It seemed as if she was making a commentary on influencer culture that didn’t quite pan out.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book–it was an addicting read that kept me hooked and made me think.
Every friendship has its shadow…
Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for the advance readers copy to review!