Reviews

What the Nanny Saw by Kaira Rouda

lisacaccamo's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

Too predictable. Not her best work…..

bluefairybug's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

4.0

This book totally gripped me right from the beginning. It reminded me of both The Girl on the Train, and The Hand That Rocks The Cradle, with its themes of parenting, gaslighting and stealing someone elses life.  

I loved the dual POV telling of the story, with each chapter revealing a little more of the secrets the two women carry.  I haven't read the first book in this series, and this one hints at things that happen but I don't feel anything we missing as a result.  I am going to read the previous book though.  

I have to admit that I had guessed a lot of the twists before they were revealed, but I still raced through the book, desperate to see if I was correct or not.  

charlottelynn's review against another edition

5.0

WOW! This book had me unable to put it down. I could not stop turning pages and needing to know what was going to happen with Cecilia and Peyton and how would the nanny fit into that story. I could see the twists coming but I did not see how they would play out.

The nanny, Lizzie, was a character that from the beginning I knew that she would be a unique character. I knew that she would be a character that would keep me on my toes knowing that there was more to her than meets the eye. I liked her from the beginning. She is a character that I hope there is more from in future books.

I love that this is a standalone book but Cecilia had hew own book, The Second Mrs. Strom, so that made her a familiar character to me. This book does not really start where the first took off but there are a few references to things that happen in that book.

kearstens_book_adventures's review against another edition

mysterious

5.0

This was definitely an insane read. I didn't see a lot of the twists happening. Also, if you liked Housemaid, I think this book will be right up your alley. The book keeps your attention the entire time. The reveals were so good. 

bookanonjeff's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Good Enough Domestic Thriller. Technically, there *is* a twist in this book. I'll give it that. But the "shocking moment" described in the description (ok, Masked Singer's "reveal the revealing reveal") happens *late*. As in, personally I was expecting that particular moment to be somewhere no later than at least 2/3 into the book - and it happens closer to 90% in. I thought the book would turn more into a cat and mouse type book beyond that point, and to a degree, it did. But there just wasn't enough "there" there to really say this is even much above average for its genre, which is utter bullshit because I know Rouda is capable of so much more. Still, there's nothing technically/ objectively-ish wrong here, so by my own standards this *is* a 5* book, even though I find myself agreeing quite a bit with many of the 2* reviews from others. 

At just over 300 pages, this book *does* in fact read much quicker, almost more like a sub-200 page book. So there is absolutely that going for it, particularly for those who don't have a lot of time to commit to a book. And there is absolutely a solid degree of "what is going to happen next" to keep you reading well past bedtime. It just seems that the ultimate payoff for staying up so late... doesn't quite land as well as it could, really. And hey, maybe that's more of a "me" thing. 

So read this book yourself and see what you think - and leave a review yourself everywhere you can, whether it be Goodreads, Hardcover.app, BookHype.com, BookBub.com, or TheStoryGraph.com - all places you'll find this very review.

Recommended.

debs_shelves's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense

4.0

 Thanks to @kairarouda and @bookouture for a #gifted eARC. All of us at @thrillerbookloversthepulse love Kaira Rouda and this series!
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Mrs. Strom is back and things are as unhinged as ever. Her mister is in prison, she’s now a mom and has kicked her baby daddy out (he’s NOT her mister). And she’s hired a nanny to help with the baby.
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Everyone - except the baby - is unreliable, unlikeable and keeping secrets. This makes for a wild ride of a book that you do not want to miss! 

randi_reads's review against another edition

3.5

 

3.5 stars

Best Day Ever will always be a favorite of mine. I love to hate Paul Strom. While he is in this new story, it is very little.

Cecilia has a new baby with her soon to be ex, Evan. She needs help caring for her daughter so when she meets Lizzie, a nanny, for the next-door neighbors, it seems to be perfect.

But we all know it's not.

That's where this got a little bit repetitive for me. I feel like I have read this storyline, or something very similar, before. A nanny who is not who she seems, unreliable narrators, and over the top events. You definitely have to suspend disbelief, but it's a quick, easy read.

Make sure you at least read the second book in this series (The Second Mrs. Strom) before this book to completely enjoy it.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

yetanothersusan's review against another edition

3.75

How can so many bad people come together time and time again? I did figure out one of the (many) twists early. That just meant I could follow along as things fell apart? Fell together? I guess it matters how you look at things. In the end I think we need to start a GoFundMe for Peyton’s future therapy or criminal defense. That child is gonna need it!

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.

marbooks88's review against another edition

4.0

 

Add this title to your to be read list if you like twisty thrillers about coveting another person’s life. Lizzie seems like the solution to Cecilia’s struggle to balance life with the new baby. Lizzie has experience and she is just so helpful. On the surface Lizzie is great but why is she always taking pictures of herself and the baby? Is Lizzie just being helpful or is there something else going on? Add in an ex in jail for crimes that injured Cecilia and the baby daddy that is no help at all and it is the setup for a book that grabs hold of the reader and takes them on a twisty ride. This is part 3 in a series but I read it as a standalone and thoroughly enjoyed it. Many of the characters were delightfully unlikeable and I kept wondering what they would do next. The twists kept me guessing and with so many things going on I was engaged until the very last page.

 

juliereadzintherockies's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The array of ultra-wealthy characters is a rollercoaster of emotions. Cecelia stands out as a breath of fresh air among the cast that you love to hate. Despite her fortune, she radiates kindness and generosity, having faced her fair share of struggles that make her stand out.

Then there's Lizzy, the overworked and underappreciated nanny. She endures the snobbish tantrums of entitled teens, and just when it seems she might find a glimmer of happiness with Cecelia, those ominous red flags start waving furiously.

Kaira Rouda masterfully crafts intricate and compelling characters that leave you craving more! The ending of "What the Nanny Saw" isn't neatly resolved, and I'm hoping for a sequel to unravel the mysteries that still linger. I know Cecelia has more secrets waiting to be uncovered!

A big shoutout to the author and Bookouture for the gifted copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own!

#WhattheNannySaw #KairaRouda #Bookouture