It’s no surprise I have another psychological suspense novel to share. I tend to gobble these up like candy. A tip of the hat to Kim of By Hook or By Book for steering me toward this perfect beach read with her own review. Break out the popcorn for this one!
BOOK BLURB:
A young woman takes a job as a nanny for an impossibly wealthy family, thinking she’s found her entrée into a better life—only to discover instead she’s walked into a world of deception and dark secrets.
Nanny needed. Discretion is of the utmost importance. Special conditions apply.
When Sarah Larsen finds the notice, posted on creamy card stock in her building’s lobby, one glance at the exclusive address tells her she’s found her ticket out of a dead-end job—and life.
At the interview, the job seems like a dream come true: a glamorous penthouse apartment on the Upper West Side of NYC; a salary that adds several zeroes to her current income; the beautiful, worldly mother of her charge, who feels more like a friend than a potential boss. She’s overjoyed when they offer her the position and signs the NDA without a second thought.
In retrospect, the notice in her lobby was less an engraved invitation than a waving red flag. For there is something very strange about the Bird family. Why does the beautiful Mrs. Bird never leave the apartment alone? And what happened to the nanny before her? It soon becomes clear that the Birds’ odd behaviors are more than the eccentricities of the wealthy.
But by then it’s too late for Sarah to seek help. After all, discretion is of the utmost importance.
MY REVIEW:
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/ Ballantine / Bantam for my ARC of Nanny Needed.
What a twisty, clever domestic thriller! Sarah and her fiancé, Jonathan, are struggling to make ends meet when she happens upon a flyer advertising for a nanny. Although she has no experience, the position is too good to ignore—a fat, unbelievable salary and a swank luxury penthouse address as the place she’d be working, watching over Patty, a four-year-old girl. Once she applies, she hits it off with Patty’s mother Colette Bird, and soon finds herself hired.
What happens after that is a topsy-turvy roller coaster of events until the end. Many books promise “unbelievable twists” or “jaw-dropping conclusions” but this one delivers. The ending blew me away and left me rereading passages to soak in the enormity of it all. Some suspension of belief is required, but with this kind of book, you sit back, break out the popcorn, and enjoy.
The story plays out like a glossy soap-opera or a Lifetime movie. I liked that the chapters were short, constantly propelling the reader to flip pages. The writing is wonderfully descriptive yet not bogged down in excess prose. I loved the gilded extravagance that surrounds the Bird family and how Colette is portrayed. I want to say so much more about her, but it’s difficult without giving away spoilers.
If you enjoy domestic thrillers, psychological suspense, and flawed characters, Nanny Needed checks all the right boxes and then some. This is a story I could see myself reading over again for sheer enjoyment. It makes a great beach read or poolside escape!
RELEASE DATE IS 10/05/21 | PRE-ORDER FROM AMAZON
This sounds like a great read!
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It’s awesome, Sheri. I couldn’t put it down!
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Good to know, nothing is quite like a good psychological thriller, especially if they nail a good twist at the end that you don’t actually see coming!
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Which this one did! 🙂
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Thanks for the review. This one sounds right up my alley. 🙂
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Awesome to hear, Sharlene. I was glued to the story from cover to cover!
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This sounds like an entertaining read. Thanks for the great review, Mae!
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My pleasure, Jill. This was a wonderful popcorn read!
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Fab review Mae!
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Thanks, Fraggle. I have Kim to thank for pointing me toward this one!
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Wow, the propelling chapters keep readers turning the pages. Sounds thrilling, Mae! Great review.
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Thanks, Miriam. This is one I highly recommend.
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Great review. This read sounds right up my ally. Thanks for sharing, Mae 🙂
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I think you’d enjoy it, Harmony. Lots of twists and some really interesting characters.
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I’m definitely reading this one based on everything you just stated in your review! This has everything I love in a thriller. Kim always has good books to share. 👍 Thanks for your awesome review, Mae. 🧡
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I can’t wait to see what you think of it, Mischenko. I love how we all find books on each other’s blogs that appeal to us. I definitely owe Kim a big thanks for this one. I couldn’t put it down!
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I’ve heard about this one. Sounds like a book I’d enjoy.
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Knowing your love of psychological suspense, I think you’d like this Joan!
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Well, you know this has me intrigued. Great review.
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Oooh, good to hear, Staci. I think you’d enjoy it. There are some really interesting characters.
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Sounds like a book I’d enjoy.
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Wonderful to hear, Sharon. I really loved it and highly recommend it. It made for such entertaining reading.
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Oh wow, this sounds fantastic. Thanks for posting your review, Mae!
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Glad it has you intrigued, Priscilla. I was hooked immediately!
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A great-sounding page turner!
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It’s definitely a page-turner, Pam. I couldn’t put it down!
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Wow, Mae! This one really grabbed you. Thank you for sharing. I like what you said about short chapters. I am seeing more of that as well. Perhaps a new trend?
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I do think short chapters are becoming a trend, Jan, especially in suspense and thrillers. I know when I’m reading and the chapters are short, I’m always thinking “just one more” LOL!
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It sounds like a different concept, too. I like the idea.
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It was definitely unique, Craig…especially the wrap at the end.
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If it sounds too good to be true… But if characters learned this, we’d never have such suspenseful books to read. This sounds like a perfect beach (or pool!) read. Thanks for the rec, Mae!
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So true about not having interesting stories if characters didn’t make bad decisions, LOL. This is definitely a pool/beach read. I read it while floating around on a raft 🙂
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I so wanted to request this one but I had to admit to myself that I’m already overloaded and it would not be a smart decision. But, oh your review makes me want to do it anyway and sort it all out later ❤️. I love a delicious soap opera type of read! Great review, Mae!
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I know how you feel, Tessa. I always worry about requesting too many and then having them all approved at once. I’m still waiting on a few approvals, but if one doesn’t come through soon I’ll tiptoe back to NG—after I finish a few I ordered from Amazon.
So much to read, and so little time! 🙂
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Can I wait until October??? Hmmm….
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It’s soooo good, Noelle. Definitely a page turner 🙂
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Thank you for your kind comments Mae. I’m thrilled you loved it!🤗
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As soon as I saw your review, I knew it was for me, Kim. I’m so thankful NetGalley approved my request. I really loved this one, crazy plot and all!
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🤗🤗
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Good grief this sounds good, Mae. Yikes!
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It was fabulous, Jacqui. I really love this type of book!
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Twists and turns are wonderful. This sounds like a good one!
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The twists were staggering, Judi. Even beyond that, the character of Collette was so amazing. If she were an actress, she would have been chewing scenery in most every appearance!
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I love psychological fiction Mae, and your review has hit the right cords. I’ll keep this one on my wish list. Thanks for a compelling review.
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I love a good psychological fiction book, Balroop, and this one really delivered. Definitely keep it on your reading radar!
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Sounds groovy! Thanks for sharing the review!
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Definitely a fantastic read, Sue. Thanks for visiting to check out my review!
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Wow, what a great review, Mae. Thank you for sharing, I’ll be exploring for sure.
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I just love books like this, Gwen. It was so hard to set it down at the end of the day to sleep! 🙂
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Just joined this great review site!
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Hi, Maryka! So glad you dropped by to check out the review. Welcome! 🙂
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Your review has me curious, Mae 🙂
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Good to hear, Denise. I love sharing books that resonate with me.:)
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You do love these, Mae. A great review. I love really good endings, and it sounds like this one was a winner. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and your recommendation. 😀
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I have such a weakness for psychological and domestic suspense/thrillers, Diana. It’s a disease, LOL.
I’m glad you enjoyed the review. It was definitely a winner of a book!
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You have me curious. Sounds like a good read.
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Glad it has you intrigued, Michele. Highly recommended!
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Terrific review, Mae. Thanks for sharing it.
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My pleasure, John. Thanks for visiting to check out the review!
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😁
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Ooh, sounds intense!
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Definitely an awesome read, Peachy!
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This is an interesting review. What happens to the nanny?
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It’s well worth reading to find out, Robbie. I really loved this one!
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I’ve been reading wonderful reviews about this book. Will have to keep my eye out for it!
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It’s fantastic, Jacquie. I’m so glad I was able to snag a copy from NG. Highly recommended!
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This sounds SO good, Mae! You’re killing me with all these awesome thrillers. Maybe I need a pool to get more reading done. 😉
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LOL! I have to say the pool does work. There’s nothing better than floating around on a raft with a good book 🙂
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A ‘twisty plot’ that keeps you flipping the pages. I’m going to have to look at this one, me thinks. 🙂
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It has a lot of twists and turns, Mark. The author did an excellent job of pulling them all together at the end. A fabulous read!
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Oh my gosh, Mae, I’ve got to read that nanny book. It sounds like an eerie one that stays with you.
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