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The Perfect Nanny
“My baby! You stole my baby!” Lara Smith is hysterical, her red lipstick smeared. A teddy lies abandoned in the empty crib. But I wasn't hired to look after a baby. I didn’t even know this nursery existed…
Lara’s husband calls the police and screams: “The nanny has taken our little girl.”
I’m frozen in shock. This is impossible. I was only meant to be looking after the Smiths' nine-year-old twins…
I'm certain that earlier this evening when they left for their fancy event—Lara in high heels and a floor-length gown, Corbin in a tux—they never mentioned a baby. And they definitely didn’t show me this nursery room, up in the eaves of their sprawling, beachfront mansion.
But their angelic blonde twins are now blinking at me in matching horror, and my heart pounds painfully as handcuffs snap shut around my wrists.
As I'm pushed towards the waiting police car, I look back one last time and meet Lara's eyes. Am I imagining the cold calculation in them?
I try to swallow my panic. Why was I really hired for this job?
And then an even more chilling thought races through my mind. Do Lara and Corbin know who I really am? Because if they do, my life is in terrible danger…
An absolutely gripping psychological thriller that will get your heart racing like crazy. Prepare yourself for jaw-dropping, mind-blowing twists! Perfect for fans of addictive page-turners like The Housemaid, The Family Across the Street and The Family Upstairs.
Lara’s husband calls the police and screams: “The nanny has taken our little girl.”
I’m frozen in shock. This is impossible. I was only meant to be looking after the Smiths' nine-year-old twins…
I'm certain that earlier this evening when they left for their fancy event—Lara in high heels and a floor-length gown, Corbin in a tux—they never mentioned a baby. And they definitely didn’t show me this nursery room, up in the eaves of their sprawling, beachfront mansion.
But their angelic blonde twins are now blinking at me in matching horror, and my heart pounds painfully as handcuffs snap shut around my wrists.
As I'm pushed towards the waiting police car, I look back one last time and meet Lara's eyes. Am I imagining the cold calculation in them?
I try to swallow my panic. Why was I really hired for this job?
And then an even more chilling thought races through my mind. Do Lara and Corbin know who I really am? Because if they do, my life is in terrible danger…
An absolutely gripping psychological thriller that will get your heart racing like crazy. Prepare yourself for jaw-dropping, mind-blowing twists! Perfect for fans of addictive page-turners like The Housemaid, The Family Across the Street and The Family Upstairs.
Kindle Edition
First published February 9, 2024
394 people are currently reading
1637 people want to read
About the author
Shari J. Ryan
64 books2,009 followersShari J. Ryan is a USA Today and International Bestselling Author of over 40 novels, with more than 700,000 copies sold and translations in 13 languages. She writes emotionally evocative WWII fiction inspired by true stories that have resonated with readers around the globe. Her work has earned Top 100, Top 10, and #1 chart rankings, as well as two Rone Awards.
As the granddaughter and great-granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, Shari brings a deeply personal connection to her work. Her stories are rooted in truth and remembrance, written to ensure history is never forgotten.
For Shari, writing is more than a passion; it is her way of expressing herself and connecting with others. She strives to share every emotion she experiences with each reader who picks up one of her books.
Shari holds a bachelor's degree from Johnson & Wales University and began her career as a graphic artist and freelance writer until 2012, when she discovered her true calling in novels.
Some of Shari’s bestselling books include The Nurse Behind the Gates, The Stolen Twins, The Bookseller of Dachau, The Doctor’s Daughter, and The Last Words Series—gripping stories that keep readers on the edge of their seats.
A lifelong Boston girl, Shari now lives in a small town in the suburbs with her adored husband and two incredible sons, who make her feel like the luckiest woman in the world.
As the granddaughter and great-granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, Shari brings a deeply personal connection to her work. Her stories are rooted in truth and remembrance, written to ensure history is never forgotten.
For Shari, writing is more than a passion; it is her way of expressing herself and connecting with others. She strives to share every emotion she experiences with each reader who picks up one of her books.
Shari holds a bachelor's degree from Johnson & Wales University and began her career as a graphic artist and freelance writer until 2012, when she discovered her true calling in novels.
Some of Shari’s bestselling books include The Nurse Behind the Gates, The Stolen Twins, The Bookseller of Dachau, The Doctor’s Daughter, and The Last Words Series—gripping stories that keep readers on the edge of their seats.
A lifelong Boston girl, Shari now lives in a small town in the suburbs with her adored husband and two incredible sons, who make her feel like the luckiest woman in the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 218 reviews
January 10, 2024
“𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒌 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒉, 𝒊𝒕 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒍𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇.”
She’s just a year left to complete her psychology degree when Haley Vaughn places an ad in the local paper seeking a nanny position for the summer. Although she’s excited when Lara Smith responds, she’s soon taken aback when Lara takes it upon herself to book Haley a spot in an upcoming first-aid course and offers to pay for it. Mrs. Smith’s offer of $40/hr takes away any feelings of ill-ease.
Less than a week later, Haley agrees to a trial evening while Lara and Corbin Smith head out to a gala. All goes well with the nine-year-old twins, Madden and Blakely and Haley can see this becoming a dream summer job.
All Hell breaks loose when the Smiths return late that Friday night and accuse Haley of kidnapping their 15-month-old daughter, Fallon.
The thing is - they never mentioned they had a third daughter!
“The Smiths accused me of kidnapping their baby, but I swear to you, I never knew that this baby existed.”
Although Ryan’s superb psychological thriller is 𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙥𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, it’s also about
✔️trust and people not being who they say they are
✔️what we’ll do when we feel desperate
✔️how we act differently when we feel we are being watched
✔️how we feel when we discover we’ve been lied to for years
✔️how we feel when we learn the truth buried beneath the lies
✔️what we do when the world feels like its turned its back on us
✔️how love can blind us into making poor decisions
✔️being a victim and how we move on from trauma
✔️survival of the fittest
✔️ignorant bliss
Haley Vaughn feels “like one of those fireflies - trapped, a flickering light only visible for so long.”
"In a world full of lies, I will be the truth."
A well-plotted and intense psychological thriller that had me second-guessing everyone, this offering is Ryan’s best suspense to date! I was waist-deep in lies and manipulation and couldn’t figure a way out. It was everything I look for in a well-crafted thriller.
Why is Haley Vaughn the 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 nanny? You’ll have to find out for yourself!
I was gifted this copy with no obligation to provide a review.
She’s just a year left to complete her psychology degree when Haley Vaughn places an ad in the local paper seeking a nanny position for the summer. Although she’s excited when Lara Smith responds, she’s soon taken aback when Lara takes it upon herself to book Haley a spot in an upcoming first-aid course and offers to pay for it. Mrs. Smith’s offer of $40/hr takes away any feelings of ill-ease.
Less than a week later, Haley agrees to a trial evening while Lara and Corbin Smith head out to a gala. All goes well with the nine-year-old twins, Madden and Blakely and Haley can see this becoming a dream summer job.
All Hell breaks loose when the Smiths return late that Friday night and accuse Haley of kidnapping their 15-month-old daughter, Fallon.
The thing is - they never mentioned they had a third daughter!
“The Smiths accused me of kidnapping their baby, but I swear to you, I never knew that this baby existed.”
Although Ryan’s superb psychological thriller is 𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙥𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, it’s also about
✔️trust and people not being who they say they are
✔️what we’ll do when we feel desperate
✔️how we act differently when we feel we are being watched
✔️how we feel when we discover we’ve been lied to for years
✔️how we feel when we learn the truth buried beneath the lies
✔️what we do when the world feels like its turned its back on us
✔️how love can blind us into making poor decisions
✔️being a victim and how we move on from trauma
✔️survival of the fittest
✔️ignorant bliss
Haley Vaughn feels “like one of those fireflies - trapped, a flickering light only visible for so long.”
"In a world full of lies, I will be the truth."
A well-plotted and intense psychological thriller that had me second-guessing everyone, this offering is Ryan’s best suspense to date! I was waist-deep in lies and manipulation and couldn’t figure a way out. It was everything I look for in a well-crafted thriller.
Why is Haley Vaughn the 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 nanny? You’ll have to find out for yourself!
I was gifted this copy with no obligation to provide a review.
November 23, 2023
Haley takes a job babysitting nine-year-old twin girls. The parents go out for the evening. When they return they start shouting where is our baby. My baby is missing. They ask Haley where their baby is but she has no idea. When Haley took the job there was no mention of a baby.
The police are called and Haley is carted off to police headquarters for questioning as the parents inform the police that Haley kidnapped their baby. Haley tells the police that she didn’t know there was ever a baby as no one told her. It doesn’t look good for Haley as the evidence is pointing in her direction. But did she do it?
The Perfect Nanny grabbed my attention from the first and kept grabbing it over and over the more I read. The twists just kept on coming leaving me gasping page after page. I was stunned when the truth was finally revealed as I never once saw it coming. Oh, man, I was so surprised.
What a thrill to read The Perfect Nanny was. I truly and honestly could not turn those pages fast enough as one twist after another showed up. I couldn’t believe what I was reading. I do believe that The Perfect Nanny is one of the best books I have read in a long time if not ever.
I enjoyed reading The Perfect Nanny so much that I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for their next great read! Grab a copy of The Perfect Nanny today for a shocking ending!
The police are called and Haley is carted off to police headquarters for questioning as the parents inform the police that Haley kidnapped their baby. Haley tells the police that she didn’t know there was ever a baby as no one told her. It doesn’t look good for Haley as the evidence is pointing in her direction. But did she do it?
The Perfect Nanny grabbed my attention from the first and kept grabbing it over and over the more I read. The twists just kept on coming leaving me gasping page after page. I was stunned when the truth was finally revealed as I never once saw it coming. Oh, man, I was so surprised.
What a thrill to read The Perfect Nanny was. I truly and honestly could not turn those pages fast enough as one twist after another showed up. I couldn’t believe what I was reading. I do believe that The Perfect Nanny is one of the best books I have read in a long time if not ever.
I enjoyed reading The Perfect Nanny so much that I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for their next great read! Grab a copy of The Perfect Nanny today for a shocking ending!
January 22, 2024
This book did not waste any time at getting going. There was so many twists I got whiplash. I loved that they were sprinkled throughout the book making it impossible to put down. I did not see any of them coming either. It went a way I couldn’t even guess. 5 stars!
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for a copy of this eARC for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for a copy of this eARC for an honest review.
January 21, 2024
I'm giving this book 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
The Perfect Nanny got off to a very quick start and captured my interest from the beginning. Unfortunately, after a while, it just became too outlandish with how many twists were thrown in. On top of that, not a single character was trustworthy.
That seems like a good thing, and sometimes it can be, but this wasn't one of those times. It seemed like things were just thrown in haphazardly. I prefer a more calculated plotting style in a thriller. Were you can go back and find all the little moments that led up to the conclusion. However, I did enjoy the fast-paced writing style.
Thank you, Netgalley, and the publisher for allowing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Perfect Nanny got off to a very quick start and captured my interest from the beginning. Unfortunately, after a while, it just became too outlandish with how many twists were thrown in. On top of that, not a single character was trustworthy.
That seems like a good thing, and sometimes it can be, but this wasn't one of those times. It seemed like things were just thrown in haphazardly. I prefer a more calculated plotting style in a thriller. Were you can go back and find all the little moments that led up to the conclusion. However, I did enjoy the fast-paced writing style.
Thank you, Netgalley, and the publisher for allowing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 8, 2024
2 stars only because I did not DNF.
You guys, I am sorry but this was awful? It was so looooong, booooring, and drawn out. It almost felt like every possible twist that could happen was thrown in this book just so that there would be more unnecessary things to write about. Some convos were pointless, plot holes, so much. I truly think that the idea and the twists for this story were so promising but it should have been cut in half.
The first half of this book was interesting but after that I felt like I was really forcing myself to read this book just to see how it would end (and it truly never felt like it would end). I remember getting to 80% and just being like, how is there still 20% left?!
This book was just not my cup of tea.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC for my honest review.
You guys, I am sorry but this was awful? It was so looooong, booooring, and drawn out. It almost felt like every possible twist that could happen was thrown in this book just so that there would be more unnecessary things to write about. Some convos were pointless, plot holes, so much. I truly think that the idea and the twists for this story were so promising but it should have been cut in half.
The first half of this book was interesting but after that I felt like I was really forcing myself to read this book just to see how it would end (and it truly never felt like it would end). I remember getting to 80% and just being like, how is there still 20% left?!
This book was just not my cup of tea.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC for my honest review.
February 7, 2024
Haley Vaughn is nearly done earning her degree in psychology, and wants to work with children. She gets a nanny job that starts off babysitting for twin nine-year-old girls. The mother is Lara Smith and she asks Haley to babysit the girls one evening at first to see whether or not she would be a good fit for the family.
When Haley arrives, she meets the girls and there are only a couple of rules. At the end of the night after arriving home, the father Corbin panics - "where is she?! Haley has no idea what he is talking about. The twins are tucked safely in beds and the night went rather well in her opinion. Panic increases and Haley is confused.
There is a missing baby. A missing baby? Haley didn't know anything about a baby. She was hired to babysit the twins and when she arrived she met the girls, and there was absolutely no evidence of a baby. Lara never indicated there was a third child, nor did the girls. Lara is insistent that Haley has done something to her baby.
Manipulation is key in this latest psychological thriller by Shari J. Ryan. Then the reader just might wonder if the style of this book leads to an unreliable narrator. Is Haley to be trusted? Did she actually know abut the baby? What about the parents, Lara and Corbin? Is something more afoot?
This exciting thriller leads the reader down a path of confusion, and that makes this book impossible to put down. This is especially the case when it becomes apparent that Haley is not who she said she is. Then there is the behavior of the twins. What is it about them that makes this book a chilling read?
If you want a book with excellent pacing, with more than one jaw-dropping twist thrown in, then look no further than The Perfect Nanny.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
When Haley arrives, she meets the girls and there are only a couple of rules. At the end of the night after arriving home, the father Corbin panics - "where is she?! Haley has no idea what he is talking about. The twins are tucked safely in beds and the night went rather well in her opinion. Panic increases and Haley is confused.
There is a missing baby. A missing baby? Haley didn't know anything about a baby. She was hired to babysit the twins and when she arrived she met the girls, and there was absolutely no evidence of a baby. Lara never indicated there was a third child, nor did the girls. Lara is insistent that Haley has done something to her baby.
Manipulation is key in this latest psychological thriller by Shari J. Ryan. Then the reader just might wonder if the style of this book leads to an unreliable narrator. Is Haley to be trusted? Did she actually know abut the baby? What about the parents, Lara and Corbin? Is something more afoot?
This exciting thriller leads the reader down a path of confusion, and that makes this book impossible to put down. This is especially the case when it becomes apparent that Haley is not who she said she is. Then there is the behavior of the twins. What is it about them that makes this book a chilling read?
If you want a book with excellent pacing, with more than one jaw-dropping twist thrown in, then look no further than The Perfect Nanny.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
November 29, 2023
This book started off with a bang and hooked me right away. All of the characters appeared to be very likable in the beginning, but about halfway through I wasn’t sure who I could trust. Twist after twist after twist. I read this in one sitting as it was fast paced and exciting, however I found that many parts were not realistic and I much prefer a more realistic approach to a thriller. The writing style kept me engaged and overall I enjoyed it.
January 5, 2024
Where has Shari J. Ryan been hiding? The Perfect Nanny had me gripped from the very first page and I could not put it down. Crazy, wild, unstoppable … that’s what this book was! I loved it and all the characters were fantastic! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance copy in exchange for my early review. To be published February 2024. Will definitely look for more books by this author. She was fantastic!
January 22, 2024
This book did not waste any time at getting going. There was so many twists I got whiplash. I loved that they were sprinkled throughout the book making it impossible to put down. I did not see any of them coming either. It went a way I couldn’t even guess. 5 stars!
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for a copy of this eARC for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for a copy of this eARC for an honest review.
February 17, 2024
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.I anticipated a thrilling journey when I picked up The Perfect Nanny. But I received more than I expected. The Perfect Nanny delivered a complex plot that left me on the edge of my seat for the most part. Get ready for surprises and bewilderment. Readers who enjoy thrillers will definitely find it difficult to put this book down.
While working on her thesis, Haley gets a job babysitting the Smiths' nine-year-old twins. She had no idea that accepting this job would put her in jeopardy. The Smiths accused her of kidnapping their 15-month-old daughter, about whom Haley knew nothing. The twin's reaction to the entire situation was surprising.
Haley is certain there is no baby, so she was astonished when she was arrested and charged with kidnapping. With the evidence growing against her, she lost all hope.
Deception drives the complex and layered plot of this psychological thriller. Everyone in this story appears to have an agenda. The big questions on my mind as I flipped through the pages were: who can be trusted in the grand scheme of things? Did a baby really exist? Is Haley truly innocent, as she claims, or is she a pawn in someone's revenge plot?
Shari J. Ryan weaves a tale intent on baffling readers as they try to unravel the intricate puzzle that is The Perfect Nanny. The jaw-dropping twists and turns will have readers flipping pages, making this a difficult book to put down. The characters will have one wondering who is the craziest of the bunch. The events leading up to the answer to that question is what made this story so thrilling and exciting. So, prepare for a wild ride.
Readers who enjoy a well-written psychological thriller with great pacing and several shocking twists will love The Perfect Nanny.This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
While working on her thesis, Haley gets a job babysitting the Smiths' nine-year-old twins. She had no idea that accepting this job would put her in jeopardy. The Smiths accused her of kidnapping their 15-month-old daughter, about whom Haley knew nothing. The twin's reaction to the entire situation was surprising.
Haley is certain there is no baby, so she was astonished when she was arrested and charged with kidnapping. With the evidence growing against her, she lost all hope.
Deception drives the complex and layered plot of this psychological thriller. Everyone in this story appears to have an agenda. The big questions on my mind as I flipped through the pages were: who can be trusted in the grand scheme of things? Did a baby really exist? Is Haley truly innocent, as she claims, or is she a pawn in someone's revenge plot?
Shari J. Ryan weaves a tale intent on baffling readers as they try to unravel the intricate puzzle that is The Perfect Nanny. The jaw-dropping twists and turns will have readers flipping pages, making this a difficult book to put down. The characters will have one wondering who is the craziest of the bunch. The events leading up to the answer to that question is what made this story so thrilling and exciting. So, prepare for a wild ride.
Readers who enjoy a well-written psychological thriller with great pacing and several shocking twists will love The Perfect Nanny.This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
February 10, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of The Perfect Nanny by Shari J. Ryan. Well where to begin? The book started off great and then the drawn out psychological lessons began. I felt they were on the boring side and way too long. I was not looking for Psych 101 when I started this book. Then the book would pick up again just to be given another lesson. Some of the interactions seemed to be pointless and just page fillers to make the book longer. It was all over the place and too many sub plots. The good parts were good but the gaps between were too long. A 3 star rating from me.
February 13, 2024
I found this addictive and compelling, Except for the last coupla chapters where it became too farfetched. Hence the four stars.
December 20, 2023
Books with nanny in the title are usually about an evil woman who comes into a family with bad intentions; I was happy that this book had a different and original storyline. Haley is a 27 year old college student who lives with her best friend Willa. Haley needs a summer job and sees an ad for a nanny. She agrees to watch two nine year old girls for one night while their parents go to an event to see if she is a good fit. The parents are quite wealthy and the little girls seem nice although they are hinting at secrets and Haley sees bruises on their legs. All is well until the parents arrive home insisting that there was also a baby, a child never seen or discussed with Haley. The couple accuse Haley of kidnapping the baby and although the police can't find any proof of this, Haley feels like she has to find out what is going on.
This novel has a lot of twists and turns and it's better to go into it not knowing too much about the plot. While Haley is trying to clear her name she meets a young man who might be a love interest and we find out about some family secrets and people who can and can't be trusted. Some of the events towards the end seemed a bit over the top to me and I did wonder about the privacy laws regarding juveniles, but this book was a quick fast-paced read and it would be impossible to figure out exactly where this story was heading. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for a review.
This novel has a lot of twists and turns and it's better to go into it not knowing too much about the plot. While Haley is trying to clear her name she meets a young man who might be a love interest and we find out about some family secrets and people who can and can't be trusted. Some of the events towards the end seemed a bit over the top to me and I did wonder about the privacy laws regarding juveniles, but this book was a quick fast-paced read and it would be impossible to figure out exactly where this story was heading. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for a review.
December 19, 2023
my first read from this author and very much enjoyed. Haley needs a job.in the holidays to pay her way in university. She advertises to be a nanny. she gets a reply. From a Mrs. Laura smith to look after her two twin daughters .and want her to start straight away. that evening she goes to the house. The two twins are so creepy. And test Hayley when the couple get home and check on the two girls, they ask her how their baby was. Now no baby was mentioned. the police are called. Hayley is a suspect. Now how this story unfolds is just so good so many twists and turns.an amazing.
December 15, 2023
What a wild premise for a book! A college student named Haley is looking for a job when she meets a family needing a nanny for their twin nine-year-olds, Madden and Blakely. Haley studies child psychology, and not only will this job help her pay her bills, she is also interested in getting to know these girls and get a glimpse of how identical twins interact.
Before starting full time, Lara and Corbin Smith ask Haley to just spend an evening with the girls, to see how they all get along. Things are great until the parents come home…and immediately start asking where their infant daughter Fallon is. Haley is confused - there was no baby there. A baby was never even mentioned, but now Haley is getting arrested for the kidnapping of a child she’s never seen or heard of.
This book was quite implausible, but still very entertaining. I figured out a couple of things, but the ending was twist after twist - those I definitely didn’t see coming! There ended up being a few layers to the story, and there was also a past backstory that helps explain the present. This was a fun read - four stars.
(Thank you to Bookouture, Shari J. Ryan and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on February 9, 2024.)
Before starting full time, Lara and Corbin Smith ask Haley to just spend an evening with the girls, to see how they all get along. Things are great until the parents come home…and immediately start asking where their infant daughter Fallon is. Haley is confused - there was no baby there. A baby was never even mentioned, but now Haley is getting arrested for the kidnapping of a child she’s never seen or heard of.
This book was quite implausible, but still very entertaining. I figured out a couple of things, but the ending was twist after twist - those I definitely didn’t see coming! There ended up being a few layers to the story, and there was also a past backstory that helps explain the present. This was a fun read - four stars.
(Thank you to Bookouture, Shari J. Ryan and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on February 9, 2024.)
November 29, 2023
The Pefect Nanny by Shari J. Ryan started off strong for me and continued to build toward a shocking climax, though I felt that the latter part of the narrative ventured slightly too far into the bizarre.
Haley is a college student seeking summer employment. When an opportunity arises to nanny for Lara and Corbin Smith's twin girls, the chance is too good to pass up. Her first night on the job, however, takes a very dark turn when the Smiths return home from an evening out to discover that their baby is missing, a third child whose existence was never made known to Haley.
So unfolds an intriguing whodunit that will have Haley in the crosshairs of a mystery that becomes more and more complex as the plot well and truly thickens. 3.5 stars
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC.
Haley is a college student seeking summer employment. When an opportunity arises to nanny for Lara and Corbin Smith's twin girls, the chance is too good to pass up. Her first night on the job, however, takes a very dark turn when the Smiths return home from an evening out to discover that their baby is missing, a third child whose existence was never made known to Haley.
So unfolds an intriguing whodunit that will have Haley in the crosshairs of a mystery that becomes more and more complex as the plot well and truly thickens. 3.5 stars
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC.
February 25, 2024
This book started out really promising, but became very convoluted as it continued. Haley is hired to nanny for twin girls but is then accused of kidnapping the baby of the family, who she claims she didn’t know existed. This was a fascinating storyline and I liked where Haley was going as she tried to defend her innocence. The book then twists into a more complex story where we find out there is history between the various players and that many characters aren’t who they seem to be.
I like an unreliable narrator and I did enjoy the author’s way of making the reader unsure of whether Haley was one or not. I also liked the alternating chapters told from 13 years ago that helped set the stage for the current happenings. What I didn’t like were the psychology studies dispersed throughout the book that confused me and took me away from the action, as well as a storyline that got more and more convoluted and unrealistic as it continued. While there were definitely surprise twists, the whole thing just kind of felt like it went off the rails to me.
Overall, it’s certainly a twisty read but just ended up being very different from how it started. It was decent overall but I wish it wouldn’t have required me to suspend my disbelief to this extent. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I like an unreliable narrator and I did enjoy the author’s way of making the reader unsure of whether Haley was one or not. I also liked the alternating chapters told from 13 years ago that helped set the stage for the current happenings. What I didn’t like were the psychology studies dispersed throughout the book that confused me and took me away from the action, as well as a storyline that got more and more convoluted and unrealistic as it continued. While there were definitely surprise twists, the whole thing just kind of felt like it went off the rails to me.
Overall, it’s certainly a twisty read but just ended up being very different from how it started. It was decent overall but I wish it wouldn’t have required me to suspend my disbelief to this extent. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 20, 2024
Thank you so much Bookouture, Netgalley and the author for the review copy of The Perfect Nanny.
OMG...what a plot. If I wouldn't have to much other things going on I know I could read it in one sitting. What a page turner of thriller this is.
When things happens to children in books, that's a trigger for me that I try to avoid. But this one I had no problem with and it was SO GOOD. The mystery, the anxiety and all the loose ends that ties up very well in the end. And I really like that the ending didn't feel rushed.
A thriller I hope a lot more people will find, cause it's highly worth to be read!
OMG...what a plot. If I wouldn't have to much other things going on I know I could read it in one sitting. What a page turner of thriller this is.
When things happens to children in books, that's a trigger for me that I try to avoid. But this one I had no problem with and it was SO GOOD. The mystery, the anxiety and all the loose ends that ties up very well in the end. And I really like that the ending didn't feel rushed.
A thriller I hope a lot more people will find, cause it's highly worth to be read!
February 9, 2024
"The Perfect Nanny" is a book about a woman who places an ad to be a nanny for the summer to make some money. She then gets a nanny position which makes her end up a prime suspect in a crime. Little does everyone involved know what she is capable of!
This book had me hooked from the first chapter as I couldn't put it down as I had to know what happened next. It's written so well by the author that you can't help but keep turning the pages, and the ending is a twist you will not see coming and it made me literally gasp!
This book had me hooked from the first chapter as I couldn't put it down as I had to know what happened next. It's written so well by the author that you can't help but keep turning the pages, and the ending is a twist you will not see coming and it made me literally gasp!
February 9, 2024
Whoa….what did I just read??? What an amazing yet horrifying story Ms Ryan has written. I literally could not put this book down! The twists and turns, the mystery of the characters, the chilling story….it was awesome yet terrifying at the same time! Every time I thought I figured out who was who and what was really happening, I was so, so wrong. And the ending?😳. If you like a great psychological mind bender, this book is for you!!
January 29, 2024
I got an ARC from Netgalley for an honest review.. This thrillers was amazing. It had so many twists and turns I got whiplash but in a good way. A baby sitter is accused of kidnapping a baby she was never told existed in the upstairs nursery. The twins she was babysitting alluded to a strange family life. That’s all I can tell you because you have to read this one. I’ll hear you gasp when you get to the end! #netgalley.
February 7, 2024
I rarely if ever DNF a book and I almost did this one and now that I finished it I wish I would have. I mean so much of this book doesn’t make sense for one thing wouldn’t soon after being arrested she would explain to the police that these people didn’t have a baby and how good of an actor and actress are the parents that they make the police believe they had a baby despite no baby pictures or propaganda anywhere in the downstairs where she would’ve been babysitting Fallon I don’t get how does it get all the way to an arraignment before anyone realizes there was no baby when they left to go to the night out. That isn’t the only thing the whole starting to see Liam the day after being accused of kidnapping in the whole thing with their parents this book was just ridiculous most of that made no sense and that’s the part that wasn’t boring me to death ended when they were in the arraignment the defendant makes their plea then the judge says they’ll be a 10 minute recess and then it says my mouth dropped open… Why because of a recess? The writing style is all over the place some questions were never answered and some answered made no sense. This book sounded like it was going to be so good but I thought the writing was horrible the plot was all over the place and when she was calling her parents crazy it really just made her look like a loony tune. I think I could’ve written a better book. I guess I still want to thank the author and net galley for the free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
December 5, 2023
Thank you to Natgalley for sending me a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
3.5/5, rounded up.
This book entrapped me from the start. The characters had such distinctive personalities, I really felt like I was apart of the story. Without spoiling, there were lots and lots of twists. Some were predictable, some had me sitting in bed with my mouth wide open trying to figure out what had happened. I found myself reading this entire book in a day, it was really good!
For fans of psychological thrillers and The Housemaid by Freida McFadden. Make sure to get a copy of this novel on February 9, 2024!
3.5/5, rounded up.
This book entrapped me from the start. The characters had such distinctive personalities, I really felt like I was apart of the story. Without spoiling, there were lots and lots of twists. Some were predictable, some had me sitting in bed with my mouth wide open trying to figure out what had happened. I found myself reading this entire book in a day, it was really good!
For fans of psychological thrillers and The Housemaid by Freida McFadden. Make sure to get a copy of this novel on February 9, 2024!
February 1, 2024
The Perfect Nanny by Shari J Ryan. Thanks to @bookouture for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Haley takes a babysitting job and is accused of kidnapping by the end of the night.
This one was certainly exciting and fast paced from the very beginning, but much of it felt unrealistic to me. The characters has an odd way of communicating that didn’t sit right with me. I kept at it thinking maybe there was more to it, which there was, but I found it too overly done to rate it much higher.
“A cry for help can’t always be seen or heard but it can be a trap.”
The Perfect Nanny comes out 2/9
Haley takes a babysitting job and is accused of kidnapping by the end of the night.
This one was certainly exciting and fast paced from the very beginning, but much of it felt unrealistic to me. The characters has an odd way of communicating that didn’t sit right with me. I kept at it thinking maybe there was more to it, which there was, but I found it too overly done to rate it much higher.
“A cry for help can’t always be seen or heard but it can be a trap.”
The Perfect Nanny comes out 2/9
December 22, 2023
The main plot of Hayley the nanny and the strange family she sits for was riveting, intriguing from nearly the start. I was dying to know what would come of it all and it twisted and turned in unexpected ways. There was a lot going on around this main plot that felt distracting. Too much that jumbled into a confusing mess. It needs to be scales down to just the main plot and one or two subplots because as is, it is too hard to read.
December 11, 2023
Thank you Bookouture and Netgalley for a ARC!
Publication Date: 2/9/24
5 JAW DROPPING STARS. This is the one people.. this is the book that I will be talking about for a long time!!!
This is one of those books that will pull you in from the first page and have you up until 2 AM reading to get to the bottom of the story.
We follow Haley, who is looking for a summer job nannying a family to watch two twin girls but when the parents come home that evening, they claim their baby is missing. Immediately we are taking through a whirlwind story trying to figure out what is actually going on, who is trustworthy and who did this?
There is great character development and the writing flows beautifully. This will be a 2023 favorite for me!
Oh and the twists... they are JAWDROPPING. I am shook.
JUST READ IT!!!!
Publication Date: 2/9/24
5 JAW DROPPING STARS. This is the one people.. this is the book that I will be talking about for a long time!!!
This is one of those books that will pull you in from the first page and have you up until 2 AM reading to get to the bottom of the story.
We follow Haley, who is looking for a summer job nannying a family to watch two twin girls but when the parents come home that evening, they claim their baby is missing. Immediately we are taking through a whirlwind story trying to figure out what is actually going on, who is trustworthy and who did this?
There is great character development and the writing flows beautifully. This will be a 2023 favorite for me!
Oh and the twists... they are JAWDROPPING. I am shook.
JUST READ IT!!!!
November 29, 2023
My Review:
OMG!!!!! Mind Blown!!!!! Shocked!!!!! These are just a few words I would use to describe this fantastic read. Wow, this whole entire book was filled with so many twists and turns. I didn’t know who or what to believe. Nothing made sense. There were so many secrets to unlock in this one. As each chapter passed the secrets kept getting bigger and bigger. Finally, it ended with a huge explosion that left me totally speechless. In fact, I am still speechless. This book will stay with me for a very long time. It really got into my head and I can’t get it out. This is my new favorite author. I can’t wait to read her next book.
In conclusion, the plot, the characters and all the twists in this book made this book an enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend it and happily give it 5 Hearts❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
OMG!!!!! Mind Blown!!!!! Shocked!!!!! These are just a few words I would use to describe this fantastic read. Wow, this whole entire book was filled with so many twists and turns. I didn’t know who or what to believe. Nothing made sense. There were so many secrets to unlock in this one. As each chapter passed the secrets kept getting bigger and bigger. Finally, it ended with a huge explosion that left me totally speechless. In fact, I am still speechless. This book will stay with me for a very long time. It really got into my head and I can’t get it out. This is my new favorite author. I can’t wait to read her next book.
In conclusion, the plot, the characters and all the twists in this book made this book an enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend it and happily give it 5 Hearts❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
December 21, 2023
This book was so bad in so many ways. I hated the main character. I didn’t care about any of the characters. There was no depth to any of them. And the plot was laughable. I Loled a few times! Ridiculous. The writing was strange also. Very weirdly descriptive in some places and childish in others. I would never read anything else written by this author.
January 15, 2024
I didn't know what to expect when picking this book up because I didn't read the blur, just figured I would like it. I was surprised when this was a storyline unlike any other I have read. Very original and one that kept your attention all the way through.
Haley is a 27 year old college student that is about finished with her Psychology degree. Haley lives with her friend Willa and they have a pretty uneventful life and don't even see each other that much. Willa works opposite hours of Haley being in school so they just pretty much pass and repass each other. Haley has decided to stay in town for the summer break and places an ad for her babysitting/Nannying services. When Lara Smith responds to the ad and offers to pay Haley $40/hour, Haley jumps at the offer.
Lara asks Haley if she is available to come over one night and baby-sit her twin daughters to see if she is a good fit for being their Nanny. Lara insists Haley take a first-aid class before she stays with the twins and Haley agrees and has no problem getting the class in. Haley happens to meet a young man in the first-aid class that she hits it off with immediately.
When Haley gets to the baby-sitting job, she meets the twins and they show her around the house. Some strange things are said but Haley just writes them off and doesn't pay much attention to them. The twins watch a movie and Haley observes some bruises on the twins legs but wonders if it is just from playing. When the Smith's return from their evening out, the begin to ask Haley where their other child is. Haley never heard about another child except for the twins. Nothing was mentioned and Haley wasn't shown the baby's room. Why? How could this be?
Lara and Corbin accuse Haley of stealing their baby and Haley is arrested. Now begins some of the worst days of her life. Haley questions her ability to be a Nanny if she didn't know about a third child left in her care. This was a past-paced book that was very well thought out. The characters are likable until certain things happen. The twists keep coming and keep coming. Poor Haley is put through test after test.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book and all opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advanced copy of this book. I highly recommend this book for thrill-seekers.
Haley is a 27 year old college student that is about finished with her Psychology degree. Haley lives with her friend Willa and they have a pretty uneventful life and don't even see each other that much. Willa works opposite hours of Haley being in school so they just pretty much pass and repass each other. Haley has decided to stay in town for the summer break and places an ad for her babysitting/Nannying services. When Lara Smith responds to the ad and offers to pay Haley $40/hour, Haley jumps at the offer.
Lara asks Haley if she is available to come over one night and baby-sit her twin daughters to see if she is a good fit for being their Nanny. Lara insists Haley take a first-aid class before she stays with the twins and Haley agrees and has no problem getting the class in. Haley happens to meet a young man in the first-aid class that she hits it off with immediately.
When Haley gets to the baby-sitting job, she meets the twins and they show her around the house. Some strange things are said but Haley just writes them off and doesn't pay much attention to them. The twins watch a movie and Haley observes some bruises on the twins legs but wonders if it is just from playing. When the Smith's return from their evening out, the begin to ask Haley where their other child is. Haley never heard about another child except for the twins. Nothing was mentioned and Haley wasn't shown the baby's room. Why? How could this be?
Lara and Corbin accuse Haley of stealing their baby and Haley is arrested. Now begins some of the worst days of her life. Haley questions her ability to be a Nanny if she didn't know about a third child left in her care. This was a past-paced book that was very well thought out. The characters are likable until certain things happen. The twists keep coming and keep coming. Poor Haley is put through test after test.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book and all opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advanced copy of this book. I highly recommend this book for thrill-seekers.
February 9, 2024
A well-plotted and intense thriller that had me on the edge of my seat, second-guessing everyone. The twists and turns just kept on coming! The ending was mind-blowing! The Perfect Nanny written by Shari Ryan is a psychological thriller, it’s also suspenseful, and intriguing.
Haley Vaughn is in her last year of college, studying psychology. She placed an ad in the local paper for a nanny position during her summer break. Lara Smith responds to the ad, Haley is hired to take care of her nine-year-old twin girls, Madden & Blakely.
Lara and her husband Corbin have a gala to attend, this will be Haley’s first night watching the girls. Everything seems to be going well, Haley is getting to know the girls’ personalities, and the girls appear to be warming up to Haley. When the Smiths return later that evening, all hell breaks loose, they accuse Haley of kidnapping their 15-month-old daughter Fallon. The problem is: They never mentioned they had a third child.
“The Smiths accused me of kidnapping their daughter, but I swear to you, I never knew that this baby existed.”
Haley is arrested and questioned about the baby. The police can’t find any evidence linking Haley to the kidnapping. Haley is baffled by what is happening to her, so she decides to take matters into her own hands. She’s going to investigate the Smiths/kidnapping on her own. The truth could be staring her in the face.
What truths will Haley uncover, will she believe them? Is Haley guilty or innocent, you’ll have to read The Perfect Nanny. All will be revealed!
Haley Vaughn is in her last year of college, studying psychology. She placed an ad in the local paper for a nanny position during her summer break. Lara Smith responds to the ad, Haley is hired to take care of her nine-year-old twin girls, Madden & Blakely.
Lara and her husband Corbin have a gala to attend, this will be Haley’s first night watching the girls. Everything seems to be going well, Haley is getting to know the girls’ personalities, and the girls appear to be warming up to Haley. When the Smiths return later that evening, all hell breaks loose, they accuse Haley of kidnapping their 15-month-old daughter Fallon. The problem is: They never mentioned they had a third child.
“The Smiths accused me of kidnapping their daughter, but I swear to you, I never knew that this baby existed.”
Haley is arrested and questioned about the baby. The police can’t find any evidence linking Haley to the kidnapping. Haley is baffled by what is happening to her, so she decides to take matters into her own hands. She’s going to investigate the Smiths/kidnapping on her own. The truth could be staring her in the face.
What truths will Haley uncover, will she believe them? Is Haley guilty or innocent, you’ll have to read The Perfect Nanny. All will be revealed!
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