Reviews

The Babysitter by Sheryl Browne

meg728's review against another edition

5.0

The Babysitter

The story of Mark, a detective and his wife Mel, after a rough start trying to start a family they now have two beautiful children. One night the neighbors house catches on fire and they take Jade in and hire her as the live in Babysitter. After that their lives change forever.

This book hooks you in right from the beginning and keeps you turning the pages and the plot twists happen early and often as no matter what crazy sick thing that just happened a few chapters later something crazier occurs! I read this book in about a day as I could not put it down! A brilliant thriller and will definitely be reading mor by Browne!

teagandoeswords's review

2.0

Not really a mystery or suspense, it's very clear what's going on throughout the book. Having finished it and reading the blurb, the blurb is actually pretty misleading. Mark has no idea what's going on, nor does anyone else, even though the reader does. The blurb references, essentially, the last two or three chapters of the book, so if that's what you're expecting, it's not that at all. Nobody suspects The Babysitter.

I almost DNF at about 35% but skimmed the rest. This writer can sure write disturbing events and characters to the point that I (a person WHO LOVES THIS STUFF) almost had to put it down because of the horrific gaslighting happening to one of the characters.

There's probably more to why I didn't like this book, but I'm not exploring it.

its_a_novel_idea's review

5.0

Loved this book so much I read it in near enough one day! It drips you and keeps you wanting more, it’s not one I can go into detail about in a review without risking giving too much away, but if you are a fan of creepy, twisty, suspense thrillers, then this book is for you

motherelectricity's review

sad tense fast-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Child abuse, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, and Child death

Minor: Rape and Death of parent

zupa_czyta's review against another edition

3.0

Tym razem rozpocznę pisanie opinii od zadania pytania: wiecie, co mnie najbardziej zaskoczyło w tej powieści? To, że małżeństwo Cainów nie dostrzegło, jak Jade sobie z nimi pogrywa. Mark i Melissa to dwoje naiwniaków, a ta cecha zaskakuje przede wszystkim w przypadku Marka - podobno całkiem niezłego policjanta. Cóż, nagrody dla największego bystrzaka na dzielni bym mu nie przyznała - tytułowa opiekunka wodzi go za nos, pociąga za wszystkie sznurki, a ten jak dziecko we mgle, totalnie zagubiony i wielce zdziwiony, gdy wszystko wyszło na jaw (#shameonyou, Mark).
Na pewno nie mogę powiedzieć, że nudziłam się podczas lektury. Mimo, że od początku wiemy, kto jest czarnym charakterem, nie zmniejsza to naszej przyjemności z czytania tej książki. Jade co i rusz wymyśla nowe sposoby na wkupienie się w łaski Cainów i stanie się opiekunką niezastąpioną. Sądzę, że autorce nie udało się jednak we właściwy sposób opisać zbliżania się Jade do rodziny. Wszystko dzieje się tu zbyt szybko i jest z deczka odrealnione - na jednej z pierwszych stron dziewczyna traci dom w pożarze - szast prast i na kolejnej stronie już mieszka u Cainów, jest najlepszą przyjaciółką i powierniczką Melissy, usypia i karmi dzieci, wykonuje pierdyliard innych obowiązków, a to wszystko jako kompletnie obca im osoba. Relacje między nią, a Cainami wydały mi się pozbawione naturalności i wykreowane "na siłę", a nie ukrywam, że coś takiego bardzo mi w powieściach przeszkadza.
"Opiekunkę" czyta się szybko, z rosnącym zainteresowaniem, ale też niegasnącą irytacją. Pomysł na intrygę jest jak najbardziej w porządku, wykonanie pozostawia jednak sporo do życzenia, przez co książce trochę brakuje do miana emocjonującego thrillera.

greencrystal1027's review

2.0

I was seeking a twist on this 'tale as old as time' plot. I was let down. :(

**Copy provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much, Netgalley!**

Video review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Npo3h8IgH64

vviki's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

whatleahsreading's review

3.0

I was creeped out and anxious for the whole of this book. I knew what was going on from the first few pages, as I suppose many people did. After that there weren’t any twists, just seeing how it would finally end. It wasn’t bad, it was quite fast-paced and I still read it in a few hours, but it won’t be one of my favourites.

nazeerah's review

3.0

2.5 stars rounded off to 3

I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is about a babysitter who appears to be a godsend but has some secrets.

I have to admit that I found the book to be rather predictable. It was similar to quite a few other psychological thrillers out there. There were no real surprises or twists. It was an 'okay' read for me.

sarah_'s review

1.0

1.5 stars. I would not recommend this, when there are many better psychological thrillers out there. I'm not even sure why I finished, but I ended up skimming for the last two thirds or so. There wasn't much that was mysterious or thrilling about this, as the babysitter's motives and intentions were revealed pretty much right off the bat, so there was really nothing that was surprising or suspenseful, in my opinion, though it did veer into rather over-the-top territory as things ramped up at the end. And I found the characters all rather flat. Jade wasn't an interesting or compelling villain, and Mark and Melissa were boring. There are better thrillers out there than this one, so I'd steer clear!

*I received a free pre-release copy of this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.