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3.3 AVERAGE
3.3 AVERAGE
slow-paced
The story started with a sharp spike and then plateaued—the overall pacing felt slow, and the tension never built the way I hoped. I could see Louise gradually embedding herself into the family, but the synopsis promised a much stronger, inescapable presence, and that trapped, helpless feeling never fully took hold.
The ending felt abrupt and unsatisfying (I genuinely thought my Kindle had glitched). While Louise’s backstory and internal thoughts were occasionally intriguing, the emotional intensity felt disjointed and never quite landed.
Since this was originally written in French, I can’t help but wonder if some of the cultural nuance or intended messaging didn’t fully carry over.
Since this was originally written in French, I can’t help but wonder if some of the cultural nuance or intended messaging didn’t fully carry over.
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Suicide, Murder
Moderate: Pregnancy, Alcohol, Classism
Minor: Child abuse, Drug use, Hate crime, Racism, Blood, Abandonment
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Beautifully written, with subtly detailed world building. Slimani creates something beautiful and absorbing out of something harrowing.
Easy read. Read the book in a day. Found the author’s writing too simplistic. The character development & story build up left me feeling like I was just reading empty words. The ending ruined it all. I think 3 stars is generous.
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
‘Unsettling’ at best. A deep dive into one family’s relationship, dependence, resentment and existence together and apart, including their nanny; all hateful and pitiful in their own ways in equal measures. And yet! You will not be able to look away…
This has sat on my TBR shelf for nearly seven years and I could never persuade myself to start it. But after more than one person recommended it over the years I finally took the plunge. I’m not sure I enjoyed it… and yet…
This has sat on my TBR shelf for nearly seven years and I could never persuade myself to start it. But after more than one person recommended it over the years I finally took the plunge. I’m not sure I enjoyed it… and yet…
I picked the book up because it caugh my interest, the synopsis was really promising and when i found out it was written by a moroccan Author, i thought why not, its my homeland after all. Also it only had 200 pages so to me it was like a quick read..
Turns out i couldnt even finish it in 1 week for how boring for me it was, i wanted to switch it up but my goal was to finish the books that are still in my shelves waiting to be read, AND i hate wasting money, so i was kinda stuck with it...
What i noticed first, it was mostly an essay for how little dialogue there was, not even 10% dialogue or action, so it bored the shit out of me after a while, dont get me wrong i looove thrillers but this book wasnt for me i guess, i wasnt gripping the book tightly, screaming at the characters to watch out, or anything, i was just trying to read it as quickly as i can so i can be done with it
I legit lost my love for reading, i couldnt pick up yet another book, read a descriptive paraghraphe and not moan in annoyance, so i spent a 2 weeks watching movies to kinda get away from reading a bit, until i started reading To Kill A Kingdom, but thats for another review.
Back to the book, the characters at least felt real for me, which is something i liked, Louise was an interesting one i must say, what i had in mind before reading it is that she is actually a deranged serial killer who dresses up as a nanny and kill the kids for fun, kinda like that serial killer clown guy, so when i came across scenes where she was genuignly worried and loving toward Mila and Adam i was confused and curious at how Leila Slimani would pull this off, i also like the ending and the added perspective of her daughter Stéphanie and the little boy she used to take care of, but i wished if there was more scenes of the aftermath...
I also love how she got inspired by the murder of the Krim siblings, Lucia 6 and Leo 2 were murdered by their nanny cz she was upset by the response of their mother to her need of money by suggesting she could do housework, OH BOYA
Turns out i couldnt even finish it in 1 week for how boring for me it was, i wanted to switch it up but my goal was to finish the books that are still in my shelves waiting to be read, AND i hate wasting money, so i was kinda stuck with it...
What i noticed first, it was mostly an essay for how little dialogue there was, not even 10% dialogue or action, so it bored the shit out of me after a while, dont get me wrong i looove thrillers but this book wasnt for me i guess, i wasnt gripping the book tightly, screaming at the characters to watch out, or anything, i was just trying to read it as quickly as i can so i can be done with it
I legit lost my love for reading, i couldnt pick up yet another book, read a descriptive paraghraphe and not moan in annoyance, so i spent a 2 weeks watching movies to kinda get away from reading a bit, until i started reading To Kill A Kingdom, but thats for another review.
Back to the book, the characters at least felt real for me, which is something i liked, Louise was an interesting one i must say, what i had in mind before reading it is that she is actually a deranged serial killer who dresses up as a nanny and kill the kids for fun, kinda like that serial killer clown guy, so when i came across scenes where she was genuignly worried and loving toward Mila and Adam i was confused and curious at how Leila Slimani would pull this off, i also like the ending and the added perspective of her daughter Stéphanie and the little boy she used to take care of, but i wished if there was more scenes of the aftermath...
I also love how she got inspired by the murder of the Krim siblings, Lucia 6 and Leo 2 were murdered by their nanny cz she was upset by the response of their mother to her need of money by suggesting she could do housework, OH BOYA