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The Sleepless Nanny
At nineteen, Michelle West is this close to her dream life: a brownstone in New York’s West Village, a couple of kids, a gorgeous, successful husband. The problem is that these are not her kids, this is not her house, and Jeffrey Goldman is not Michelle’s husband. The terror of getting caught, getting fired, and returning home to Seattle in shame isn’t enough to scare her straight—but as she and her circle of au pair friends are about to discover, beneath the surface of their power-couple-employers’ perfect lives is an ocean of deception, addiction, and scandal. And for Michelle and the friends she’s fighting to protect, the stakes are higher than any of them imagine.
203 pages, Paperback
First published August 5, 2011
213 people want to read
About the author
Christa Charter
12 books106 followersChrista Charter worked in the video game industry for two decades including eight years as community manager/website editor/video hostess "trixie360" for Microsoft's Xbox Live before writing books full time. She is the author of "Schooled," "Pwned," "I Saw Lexy Kissing Santa," "Griefed," "The Sleepless Nanny," "B.Y.O.P.: Be Your Own Publisher," and a Detective Malick spin-off, "Summer Wind." The fourth full-length Lexy novel, "Glitched," released March 31, 2015 is available on Amazon. Christa is currently writing Mike Malick #2. Follow her NSFW tweets @trixie360.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 29, 2014
Me love it long time!
December 3, 2012
I think I saw this book first on a friends' goodread feed and thought that I'd enjoy a nanny book about a NYC nanny. Then someone was nice enough to gift it to my kindle.
Really, the book was more of a nineteen-year-old in the big city coming of age story than a nanny-tell-all. And it was set in the early 90s or so, not the near-2011 that it's publication date had led me to expect. Once I accepted that it for what it was, I surprised myself with how much I enjoyed the book. The voice of the nineteen-year-old nanny of the title was fresh and realistic and the writing was rich enough in details to make the book enjoyable. The ending was a bit too fairy tale for me, and the plot perhaps a bit too dramatic, but overall a good light read.
Really, the book was more of a nineteen-year-old in the big city coming of age story than a nanny-tell-all. And it was set in the early 90s or so, not the near-2011 that it's publication date had led me to expect. Once I accepted that it for what it was, I surprised myself with how much I enjoyed the book. The voice of the nineteen-year-old nanny of the title was fresh and realistic and the writing was rich enough in details to make the book enjoyable. The ending was a bit too fairy tale for me, and the plot perhaps a bit too dramatic, but overall a good light read.
April 8, 2013
This book was much better than I was expecting. It had some giggles, some *gasp* moments but all around a great story. Would definitely recommend!
August 14, 2011
I admit that based on the title of this novel, I wasn't sure what it would really be about (other than the obvious), or if I'd really like it. I freely admit that kids aren't exactly my favorite thing -- so a story about them doesn't always appeal to me. Well, I learned that this book is about kids, but only to a certain extent -- it's really more about the lifestyle of a nanny, which I found quite interesting as it's something I didn't previously know much (anything) about, and the life of one nanny in particular.
It's obvious that the author has had personal experience with being a nanny in NYC, so the story definitely has a feeling of credibility. It was interesting to get insight into the life of a live-in nanny. There were definitely some cringe-worthy moments in the story regarding the disgusting pretentiousness and crassness of the upper class, and the harshness of life in the urban jungle of Manhattan. There were also some heartwarming moments where the reader really gets a glimpse of how much these nannies love and become attached to the children they care for, even when the nannies (and the kids) are forced to endure some pretty jacked up circumstances.
I really enjoyed the author's writing style; it was refreshing to read realistic dialogue that was written in the same manner in which we actually think or talk. Sometimes authors try to write so 'correctly' that it actually ends up sounding very disjointed and unnatural. Don't get me wrong -- I do love proper grammar and spelling, but sometimes I just want to read a story that flows, and I don't really care if there are some fragmented sentences thrown in there.
Another thing that lead to the realism of the story was how well the author 'stuck' to the time-frame, which I assume was the late 1980's. The level of detail in the story made it easy to imagine the characters living in the 80's as they waited by the (actual) phone for someone to call, or a phone was 'busy', or they licked stamps or listened to Duran Duran.
All in all, this was a quick, enjoyable read -- but that doesn't mean the story didn't have substance. It actually had much more depth than I expected, and although I saw one of the twists in the plot coming, the other one was a surprise -- and I was very pleased with the ending.
I think this may be this author's first novel (kudos!), and I'll definitely be buying any subsequent works she publishes.
Oh, and one more thing -- I wonder if "The Girl from Ipanema" really was the first song the author heard on the radio when she arrived in NYC for her first nanny gig? :)
It's obvious that the author has had personal experience with being a nanny in NYC, so the story definitely has a feeling of credibility. It was interesting to get insight into the life of a live-in nanny. There were definitely some cringe-worthy moments in the story regarding the disgusting pretentiousness and crassness of the upper class, and the harshness of life in the urban jungle of Manhattan. There were also some heartwarming moments where the reader really gets a glimpse of how much these nannies love and become attached to the children they care for, even when the nannies (and the kids) are forced to endure some pretty jacked up circumstances.
I really enjoyed the author's writing style; it was refreshing to read realistic dialogue that was written in the same manner in which we actually think or talk. Sometimes authors try to write so 'correctly' that it actually ends up sounding very disjointed and unnatural. Don't get me wrong -- I do love proper grammar and spelling, but sometimes I just want to read a story that flows, and I don't really care if there are some fragmented sentences thrown in there.
Another thing that lead to the realism of the story was how well the author 'stuck' to the time-frame, which I assume was the late 1980's. The level of detail in the story made it easy to imagine the characters living in the 80's as they waited by the (actual) phone for someone to call, or a phone was 'busy', or they licked stamps or listened to Duran Duran.
All in all, this was a quick, enjoyable read -- but that doesn't mean the story didn't have substance. It actually had much more depth than I expected, and although I saw one of the twists in the plot coming, the other one was a surprise -- and I was very pleased with the ending.
I think this may be this author's first novel (kudos!), and I'll definitely be buying any subsequent works she publishes.
Oh, and one more thing -- I wonder if "The Girl from Ipanema" really was the first song the author heard on the radio when she arrived in NYC for her first nanny gig? :)
September 5, 2011
I'll caveat this review by mentioning that I've worked with the author, and I initially picked this up as the third "my friend wrote a book, I should read it" title so far this year. It's not a genre I typically read, and I had no idea what to expect. But although I know Ms. Charter, this review's honest -- if I hadn't thoroughly enjoyed the book, I'd simply not have commented on it.
What makes this book an engaging read is a set of fully three-dimensional, realistic characters that really feel pulled from streets of 90's New York. The story unfolds slowly -- the conflict doesn't fully emerge until fairly late in the tale -- but you don't care, because you're quickly drawn in by both the lead character and her supporting cast. You care about the characters, and you want to jump into the book and shake them when they make the kind of bad calls that 19-year-old women often find themselves making.
I'll keep this vauge to avoid spoilers, but if the book has any flaw, it's that the wrapup is a bit fairy tale. This isn't a lesson book, because while some of the supporting characters end up paying for their indiscretions or bad decisions, the turn of events towards the end of the book is, um, better than things typically work out in such situations. When you read it -- and you SHOULD read it, it's a heckuva great read and a steal at the price! -- imagine the book ending before the epilogue. Then just imagine the epilogue is a Lord of the Rings-style extended ending added in the director's cut. :)
But minor ending nitpicks aside, I have to laud the author, because for the first time in my life, I think I finally have an inkling of understanding (and sympathy!) as to why some young women make decisions that seem to fly in the face of all good judgement. You'll feel happy for the lead character, Michelle, you'll feel sad for her, and you'll wish you could talk some sense into her. How often does a character feel that real?
What makes this book an engaging read is a set of fully three-dimensional, realistic characters that really feel pulled from streets of 90's New York. The story unfolds slowly -- the conflict doesn't fully emerge until fairly late in the tale -- but you don't care, because you're quickly drawn in by both the lead character and her supporting cast. You care about the characters, and you want to jump into the book and shake them when they make the kind of bad calls that 19-year-old women often find themselves making.
I'll keep this vauge to avoid spoilers, but if the book has any flaw, it's that the wrapup is a bit fairy tale. This isn't a lesson book, because while some of the supporting characters end up paying for their indiscretions or bad decisions, the turn of events towards the end of the book is, um, better than things typically work out in such situations. When you read it -- and you SHOULD read it, it's a heckuva great read and a steal at the price! -- imagine the book ending before the epilogue. Then just imagine the epilogue is a Lord of the Rings-style extended ending added in the director's cut. :)
But minor ending nitpicks aside, I have to laud the author, because for the first time in my life, I think I finally have an inkling of understanding (and sympathy!) as to why some young women make decisions that seem to fly in the face of all good judgement. You'll feel happy for the lead character, Michelle, you'll feel sad for her, and you'll wish you could talk some sense into her. How often does a character feel that real?
August 31, 2011
I have decidedly fallen in love with this book. Michelle is a nineteen year old college freshman who has dropped out of college to move across the country to New York to be come a Nanny, an Au pair if you will, to one of those well to do families in the heart of the city. What she is not prepared for is the drastic life changes that comes from living in New York City. She is not prepared for the relationships that she comes across, she is not prepared for the demand and the treatment that comes with being a Nanny or how high society functions. She is naive and it is something that comes back to bite her when the nice, neat little world she has built around her begins crumbling.
Her heart torn in two different directions, she chooses the path that can only end in heartache and despair but she doesn't see that until it is too late. She becomes a mother, when the father didn't want the child and will hopefully get a second chance with the one she should have chosen from the beginning.
Her heart torn in two different directions, she chooses the path that can only end in heartache and despair but she doesn't see that until it is too late. She becomes a mother, when the father didn't want the child and will hopefully get a second chance with the one she should have chosen from the beginning.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 17, 2011
The Sleepless Nanny centers around the life of 19 year old Michelle, who decides to take a risk and move away from her friends & family to become a live-in Nanny.
Through insights gleamed from Michelle's narration, we quickly discover that things are not what they first appear to to be.
The Sleepless Nanny's pace is at times blisteringly quick, and the writing style lends itself well to that of a personal journal. While it's not intended to be read this way, it certainly helps set up the hectic lifestyle that Michelle finds herself in.
With some truly inspiration dialogue, and a multitude of highs and lows, The Sleepless Nanny never failed to keep my interest from the moment I picked it up.
I can't wait to see what Christa writes next!
Through insights gleamed from Michelle's narration, we quickly discover that things are not what they first appear to to be.
The Sleepless Nanny's pace is at times blisteringly quick, and the writing style lends itself well to that of a personal journal. While it's not intended to be read this way, it certainly helps set up the hectic lifestyle that Michelle finds herself in.
With some truly inspiration dialogue, and a multitude of highs and lows, The Sleepless Nanny never failed to keep my interest from the moment I picked it up.
I can't wait to see what Christa writes next!
January 28, 2015
This book is dark. Unlike other nanny books you may have read it doesn't set out to trash the parents who hire au pairs and nannies; but you won't like them. It really exposes the problems of hiring unskilled teenagers and paying them a pittance.
The main character is a child of a broken home and bad parenting. She is a victim waiting to happen. The other nannies are away from their homes and in NYC and out of their element.
The book isn't specifically set in a time but it is before 9-11 when you could still get through the airport without a boarding pass, smoke in NY bars, no one had a cell phone and we didn't put kids in car seats. One nanny goes nuts, many get fired, deported, and another nanny ends up smoking crack.
The main character is a child of a broken home and bad parenting. She is a victim waiting to happen. The other nannies are away from their homes and in NYC and out of their element.
The book isn't specifically set in a time but it is before 9-11 when you could still get through the airport without a boarding pass, smoke in NY bars, no one had a cell phone and we didn't put kids in car seats. One nanny goes nuts, many get fired, deported, and another nanny ends up smoking crack.
October 24, 2012
Maybe I found this book so easy to relate to because I was once a sassy girl from the Pacific Northwest with a borderline-unhealthy wanderlust and a knack for getting myself into trouble. I loved the main character, Michelle. She's smart, witty, and terrible at acting her age; this combination gets her into (and out of, now that I think about it) quite a number of situations that she isn't all that ready to take on. There were a couple of twists I didn't see coming - I always appreciate that - and I devoured this book in just a couple of days. This is a quick and entertaining read, and if you like the Stephanie Plum or Aurora Teagarden books, you'll like this one, too.
August 12, 2011
Fantastic book and a great entertaining read. I think the beach house section seemed a bit rushed, and I wished it would of gone for a bit longer, but overall, a great book.
August 23, 2011
Loved it! Very entertaining read. :)
September 4, 2011
loved it! excellent work! :)
April 14, 2015
well done, Christa. looking forward to reading more of your stuff!!
June 28, 2013
This isn't the Nanny Diaries and that's OK with me. It's a glimpse into that world, but also a story of a young adult figuring out life in the late 20th century. Overall, a good summer poolside read.
September 12, 2013
Great characters & Good written story.
December 18, 2013
Loved, loved, loved this. Hit all the right notes and kept me thoroughly entertained. Can't wait to read the author's other books!
October 14, 2015
Not exactly what I expected
I went into this book having read some of the Lexy Cooper books. You can tell that this is a earlier book by the author, however that lends to its charm. I had not planned on getting the follow up book, however I want to know more about the characters.
I went into this book having read some of the Lexy Cooper books. You can tell that this is a earlier book by the author, however that lends to its charm. I had not planned on getting the follow up book, however I want to know more about the characters.
October 12, 2013
How does the old adage go?
If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything......
If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything......
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews