Reviews

What the Nanny Saw by Kaira Rouda

celeste_velocci's review against another edition

mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Thank you so much Booktouture for the early release copy of What the Nanny Saw by Kiara Rouda. This was my first book by this author but definitely won’t be my last! I enjoyed this popcorn thriller and read it in about a day. 

The plot was intriguing as were the characters and kept me guessing for a while. I did figure out the final twist but even though I figured it out I still enjoyed the build up to the big reveal.

Unreliable narrators , unhinged female characters , revenge , and deception are some of my favorite themes and trope in a thriller and this one had them all!  

This book releases November 13th definitely add it to your tbr!  

bellebookcorner's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

What the Nanny Saw is a quick, multi-POV, psychological thriller following Cecilia’s new stage of life – motherhood. 

It’s important to note that this is the 3rd book in the series, starting with Best Day Ever and followed by The Second Mrs. Storm. 

 
 I wasn’t aware that this book was part of a series. Although some reviews stated that it could be read as a standalone, I wouldn’t recommend it.  

There’s a tragic event in Paris mentioned repeatedly from the previous book (I think). While it provides enough information about what happened, I can’t help but feel I would’ve connected more if I had read the previous book in the first place. 

 

The characters are not very likeable; in fact, one of them become quite unreliable as the story goes. 

I didn’t know who to trust, who’s telling the truth or if it was just Cecilia’s paranoia. 

This left me with many questions while reading, which was quite fun. 

 

The last few chapters felt rushed and the twists are pretty predictable. Despite this, I still quit enjoy this psychological thriller drama. 

 

I think I would’ve liked this book better if I had read the previous books. Cause then I would’ve had better understanding of the whole situation especially regarding the Paris tragedy and Cecilia’s ex-husband, Paul. 

 

Thank you to Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse, Netgalley, author and publisher for giving me an e-ARC of the book. I’m leaving this review voluntarily! 

 

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: Domestic abuse, manipulation, psychological manipulation 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse

chelz286's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Cecilia! Cecilia! She has it all but motherhood is starting to take a toll on her. Her body is still a mess from her fall in Paris and it is tiring having a baby! If she could just find someone to help her a little bit, then things would be great. When a random stranger offers to help at the coffee shop, it seems things are lining up. Lizzie is looking for a new nanny job as the family she is currently with, the kids are pretty much grown. As things all check out, Cecilia takes on Lizzie. It seems too good to be true at first. Lizzie knows just what they both need and Cecilia has nothing to worry about. But then there seems to be some odd signs and Cecilia, even with the help of Lizzie is still just so worn out and tired all the time. What is happening? Wanting to get back to being there for Peyton more, Cecilia gives Lizzie some time off. When she awakes from a longer than anticipated nap, she finds Peyton is missing. Who took her baby? As she works to untangle the web of who is being taking her daughter and what they want, she fears who might be behind it all. She also will do everything and anything in her power to get her daughter back. This was another great book in the Strom series. Thank you to the author for the complementary ebook. Thriller Book Lovers the Pulse has loved this series from the first book!

abercrombie1986's review against another edition

mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

 I just recently listened to The Second Mrs. Strom.  I was delighted to see that Cecelia and Paul’s story continued.  He played a very small part in this outing so I wasn’t able to chuckle at his ego, but I did get to see what happens to Cecelia after the wild ending of the previous book.  While it is book 2 in the series and I easily think it can be read as a stand alone, it will spoil book one if you are planning to read it.

Cecelia has a daughter and is in need of a nanny and basically poaches one from her neighbors.  She has a lot going on and is still healing from Paris, dealing with the breakup of her last relationship which is tied into her job, and is raising her daughter Peyton.

The author is known for her popcorn thrillers with their twisty plots, fast pace and generally unlikable characters.  I was wondering if Lizzie was maybe going to break the mold.  She thinks highly of herself, but seemed competent and did a good job taking care of young Peyton.

I binge read this one and spent a lot of time trying to determine what the twist could be.  Maybe I should write a twisty thriller because I came up with so many ideas and not a one was right.

It’s another entertaining, bingeable read that kept me guessing up until the very end. 

panicatthebookstore's review against another edition

5.0

This was the sequel to The Second Mrs Strom, the third in this series. In this one we follow Cecelia (from book 2) as she tries to move on from the events in Paris. She has a new baby girl and a partner who isn't helping her at all. She kicks him out and hires a nanny to help while she recovers from some injuries. Only the nanny isn't the nice, helpful lady she made out she was. 

I actually didn't realise this was part of the series when I signed up to read this one, so I'm glad I'd already read the first two books. It is definitely important to read both before reading this.  
I genuinely felt so stressed reading this, because we all know what happens when someone hires a nanny in a thriller. I was absolutely glued to this one and I really hope there's another book coming, because this series is nowhere near ready to end. 

novelgossip's review against another edition

4.0

This is such a guilty pleasure series for me, the true definition of popcorn thrillers and it was so much fun to be back in the world the author created again! This series is best read in order, you should at least read the previous book as that’s when we are first introduced to the main character here, Cecelia. Things pick up awhile after the last book ends and Cecelia hires a new nanny, Lizzie to help with her baby daughter. As always this was filled with unlikable characters, (the kind you love to hate) lots of twisty surprises, and juicy secrets and betrayals. It’s over the top and you may need to suspend some disbelief but it was a blast and a perfect way to spend an afternoon. 

reading2escape's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

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

4.0

morgan_b22's review against another edition

3.0

I was really interested in this book in the beginning. I was curious where Cecilia and Lizzie’s stories were going to take us. It then became predictable, and I got bored towards the end. The once exciting and dynamic characters became flat to me. I enjoyed the writing style and will read more books by Kaira Rouda. This particular story just wasn’t for me. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

ynaiita_5896's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

 To the outside world, new mother Cecilia is the picture of perfection—a beautiful, wealthy woman with a precious baby and a stunning beach-side home in Malibu. But from the moment Lizzie spotted her in a bustling café, she knew Cecilia was far from flawless. When Lizzie offers her nanny services, Cecilia quickly agrees. After all, she’s just discovered that her baby’s father has been both unfaithful and neglectful. Lizzie is everything she needs: smart, nurturing, efficient, and experienced with babies. Without a second thought, Cecilia welcomes Lizzie into her home, unaware that she knows almost nothing about her new nanny—or that Lizzie has been watching her for a very long time.

This psychological thriller was absolutely gripping, keeping me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. I loved the eerie atmosphere woven into both the story and the characters—none of whom were particularly likable, yet each was deliciously unhinged in their own way. From the very first page, it was clear the plot would only get darker and more twisted. The suspense was perfectly executed, with red herrings that kept me guessing until the end. This was my first read from Rouda, and it was an exciting, thrilling experience that left me eager for more.