I'm Here to Help

by Claire Lunn

‘Just rest, Frankie. I’ll take care of you.’ I feel my baby kick as my nanny fluffs my pillows and lays me down. She gives me a soothing smile, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. She knows I’m afraid of her…

When I shake our nanny Jasmine’s hand for the first time and catch her perfect smile, I can’t ignore the feeling that we’ve met before.

But I tell myself it’s nothing. I desperately need help around the house. Since I got pregnant, I burst into tears over the smallest things and my mind is a haze. I can barely look after my toddler Olivia. Jasmine is a godsend – isn’t she?

But as I watch Jasmine spin my precious daughter around in the garden with my husband Russ lovingly looking on, a chill runs down my spine. Something is very wrong. Is she trying to take my place?

It takes just one slip at the top of the stairs for my life to change in an instant. When I wake up in the hospital, I cry with relief that my unborn baby is safe. But I remember one thing before I fell – Jasmine’s smile. I think she pushed me.

No one believes me when I say Jasmine wants me gone. Even my husband says it’s all in my mind. But I know the truth – Jasmine will kill to get my life.

But I’ll soon learn I’ve been completely wrong about what’s been going on in my house. And if I don’t leave now, who knows what will happen to me and my children…

An absolutely gripping psychological thriller, I’m Here to Help will have you on the edge of your seat as you race through the pages until the final heart-stopping twist. Fans of Sue Watson, K.L. Slater, Daniel Hurst and Freida McFadden will be hooked from start to finish.

Readers love I’m Here to Help:

‘WHERE HAS CLAIRE LUNN BEEN HIDING???? What a fantastic book!!!!… What a twist, such a GREAT read!!!… LOVED, LOVED LOVED!!!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Oh. My. Goodness. What a book!… kept me awake when I should have been asleep. I couldn't put it down and kept me hanging onto every single word… gripping… kept me glued to the pages… unputdownable.’ Arcreviews_by_M, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Wow, what a read!!… Loved everything about this… cannot rate it highly enough.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Jaw on the floor… I found myself reading well past my bedtime, unable to put it down… a must-read! NetGalley reviewer

‘Excellent… had me gripped from start to finish. I could not put it down. I love everything about it… gripping… amazing.’ NetGalley, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Excellent… you won't be able to put this one down!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Do not start this book if you have anything else to do. Once you start it you will not be able to put it down.

Genres: Thriller, Audiobook, Mystery

311 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 11, 2025

Reviews

[Tonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s always the nanny, or is it? Jasmine seems to be a blessing. As a nanny, she is a dream and perfectly anticipates Frankie’s needs. Frankie, dealing with a troublesome pregnancy, is not a fan of the overly eager nanny. She is convinced Jasmine has a hidden agenda. Is Jasmine nefarious, or simply misunderstood? This domestic thriller resembles a Lifetime movie in all of the best ways. Tension is high as secrets are revealed. The conclusion is both shocking and satisfying. Elizabeth Bower masterfully brings the story to life adding intrigue and a constant sense of foreboding. Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for my audiobook.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ | I love stories that make me think, what if. I continued to ask this several times throughout this book. This author did a great job of building tension & suspense!

The story follows Frankie & Russ, as they prepare for the arrival of their new baby while also trying to manage their 3 year old daughter and Russ’s demanding career as a doctor. When Russ and his mother suggest they hire Jasmine as a nanny, Frankie has her reservations, but allows Jasmine to come on board as she is a long time friend of her Russ & her in-laws. When strange occurrences began to take place, Frankie is unsure who she can trust, as she appears to be unsafe in her own home. Is someone trying to harm her and her children or is this just a difficult pregnancy & making her read too much into things? She feels that something sinister is going on. She just can’t pinpoint exactly what it is.

Overall, a great story that makes me want to dive into more titles from this author. This was a perfect paced story that laid just enough foundation to appreciate how the story unfolded. I went to add more from this author and imagine my surprise to discover this was their debut novel. She came out the gate swinging!! Great narration in this audiobook, very thought provoking read, that I highly recommend for fans of domestic thrillers. Thank you Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for this advanced listening copy. All opinions are my own.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and to Bookouture for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of I'm Here To Help by Claire Lunn. This is a debut novel of Claire Lunn and I will definitely look forward to future books written by her. This book kept me engaged and the suspense was rising all the way through the book. I really enjoyed this one and it was a quick, fast-paced read. I would definitely recommend this book to others. It got a 4 star rating from me.

[Jo Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy publication day 🎉🥳🎧

Firstly, huge appreciation to the author for the content warning ⚠️

I really enjoyed I’m Here To Help, it was a fast paced and quick listen.

Frankie is pregnant with her second child, her mother in law may well be a nightmare, but she has encouraged Russ to employ a nanny for Olivia while Frankie is struggling. Frankie is less than delighted by the prospect, yet she relents because she really does need the help.

Things are all a bit grim, Olivia loves Jasmin, but Frankie’s sickness isn’t improving, in fact things are getting worse, add to that the suspicion that Jasmin is more than a bit keen on Russ and the continual convenient accidents that Frankie is having, it all points to Jasmin and her want to take over Frankie’s life………

This was well written, well researched and had a killer twist.

The narration by Elizabeth Bower was fantastic 🎧

Huge thanks to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧

[Natalia Farnham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man what a ride! I love books that start in the present in a crazy situation then pulls you right back to the past to the lead up of it all. This was definitely a what the heck is going on I need to know type book. I also loved the dual povs in this book. If you love Riley sager, Greer Hendricks, and Alice freeney this will be right up your alley! Fast paced read that doesn’t get boring which is always a plus! Can’t wait to see what is next for this author!

[Ahmed Ismail · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m Here to Help by Claire Lunn is a slow-burn psychological thriller that steadily builds tension until a mind-blowing final twist that completely floored me. Claire Lunn masterfully keeps you second-guessing what’s real and who to trust. It’s one of those books that pulls you in deeper with every chapter—and when the truth hits, it hits hard. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for whatever she writes next.

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 @𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙜𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 @𝙣𝙚𝙩𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣.

[Danielle-Gemma💜 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5* rounded down

This book was good but it felt like something was missing which is a shame

[Laura Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'M HERE TO HELP BY CLAIRE LUNN.
5 ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨s
Release date set for 11th of April 2025.
I really enjoyed this book .
From the get go it sucks you in and it's fast paced throughout.
This books keeps you turning the pages.
I thought I knew where the story was going but then it pulled the rug out from under my feet.
I'm not sure of this is the authors debut novel but think it could be but what a hell of a first book.
Really looking forward to seeing what else Claire lunn does next  

[Craig and Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big thanks to Bookouture for a copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I’m Here To Help is a tension filled, fast paced and fun psychological thriller with elements of domestic suburban drama.
Frankie and Russ lead busy lives.
With careers, managing their three year old daughter Olivia, an interfering mother in law and Frankie is heavily pregnant.
Then Russ presents the family with Jasmine, a very pretty nanny.
Frankie wonders why she didn’t get a say in the hiring and when Jasmine connects with her daughter, it becomes apparent that something is not quite right.
Strange happenings occur and when Frankie starts to investigate, nothing adds up and then the most shocking matter materialises.
Nothing will ever by the same again…..
I did work this one out, for me it was totally obvious.
But I did enjoy finding out the why.
Overall I did appreciate my time with this book.

[Josephine Jarman]

OMG this was so gripping and twist central. The raw emotion of frankie came through the story so much i was compelled to read on to find out is this so predictable or something more darker going on. This although a story dealt with some very difficult and emotion driven issues which are sadly very real in society. This deal with the preconceptions we all have and now we can all be manipulated to believe things which we cant understand . A typical family is never a typical family really there were lots of stereotypes and the final reveal was like a kick in the stomach. There were times i was screaming get away it doesn't matter who is right just run. This was a pleasure to read. It had such dark elements but also an element of redemption .Highly recommended as a 5 star physchogical thriller. Thank you netgallery, publisher and author for this 5 star read.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m Here To Help by Claire lunn and narrated by Elizabeth Bower is a fast pace thriller. Frankie has the most severe case of morning sickness you can get and needs help with her toddler Olivia. Unfortunately Russell and his mom decide they’re hiring Jasmine. Frankie doesn’t know Jasmine and from the beginning she finds the whole situation suspect as time goes on of course strange things start to happen Frankie’s made to look unstable and as if she’s losing her mind and she believes Jasmine is the culprit. She also believes Jasmine is having an affair with Russell. by the time she learns the truth she may not have anyone to tell. This was so good I always say the end of the story can absolutely change how you thought of the whole book and the end of this one was a doozy. With the great narration setting a tone that really had me sitting up in bed heart palpitating waiting to find out what was going on. anyone who loves thrillers will absolutely enjoy this book I don’t believe I’ve ever read a book by this author before but I will definitely read another in the future. It was greatly executed with a wild ending. I listen to the audio version and the Kindle and either one would be a great choice although I love a good narrator and Elizabeth Bower is definitely that.#NetGalley, #BookToursAudio, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #ClaireLunn, #I’mHereToHelp, #ElizabethBower,

[Els · Rating 5 out of 5]

As soon as I opened the book, I was dragged into it. I loved the storytelling and I thought I was clever this time in thinking I knew how the story would develop. I was convinced I had seen through all the scheming and knew, very early on, what the outcome would be. 

Well, how wrong I was in thinking I knew it all. For a while the book goes indeed in the direction I had in my head, but instead of it being a road that took me straight from A to B, I suddenly braced myself. This was not what I had expected and that made me smile.

I love it when an author can take me for a ride and surprise me with an outcome I never imagined. 

Some things I could see coming from afar, other were uttery and deliciously surprising. Great book. I am looking forward to more stories by this author's hand. 5 stars

Thank you

[Debbie De Salvo · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a fast read. Read it in a day. I was so looking forward to it. So much hype. I am not it’s intended audience. I don’t know why in the past few years authors are resorting to writing about rape as their central plot. It’s really offensive to me. Is this what readers really want?! Why are we writing about surpressing women?! Why not write about strong women?! I don’t get this.
I will say that the author did write a content warning. She’s the first author I’ve seen do that and it’s a respectful move.

[Sandra Leivesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great debut domestic thriller which really hooked me in. As I listened I felt very pleased with myself because I thought I had everything sussed. But then came the shocking, unexpected climax and I realised I m not as clever as I thought I was 😁 Well done Claire Lunn!

I enjoyed the narration by Elizabeth Bower.

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book pulled me right in! I had never read this author before and glad that I did and will read more in the future for sure.

As far as the story it was engaging, well balanced and had a lot of depth with touching on real life struggles surrounding pregnancy as well as female relationships; the food and the bad. It made me stay up way too late as I didn’t want to shut it off!

I consumed the audiobook. I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary audio ALC from Bookouture Audio through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.


There are plenty of reviews picking apart the story so I’m going to focus on the audiobook production instead. In short, it was great!

The narrator Elizabeth Bower did an A+ job with her recitation. What I appreciated is that I could enjoy listening to it on 1x speed as it was at a natural speaking rate. Many times I need to increase the speed which is fine but it does distort the vocals. But I was able to enjoy all Ms. Bower had to offer. Her voice fit the characters perfectly in my opinion. She gave good definition to the different characters so you knew easily who was speaking as well as handling the male voices competently. I liked how she even distinguished the characters ages by using different pitches to express that as it was important to the story. I also loved her British accented voice as an American listener.

The production was also very well done. When you hear a poorly executed audiobook from the production aspect you end up appreciating when it is well done.

This title comes out April 11th 2025. Regardless which version you get you’ll be pleased with this fast paced and intriguing thriller!

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

With gratitude to Netgalley & Bookouture Audio for this ELC in return for an honest review.

This was almost as I anticipated a relatively slow burn initially, but then things really take off, and this psychological thriller is precisely that. This is a genre I tend to listen to or have done most of essentially in the past, and it fits precisely in that category.

Frankie is expecting her 2nd child whilst she has a toddler at home and dealing with hyperemis making her extremely nauseous every day, there are possible further issues with her pregnancy meaning she really has to rest and take it easy. So when her husband Russ suggests a nanny, she comes around to the idea, although initially it doesn't sit well with her. Frankie wants to be healthy doing her own life with her family. Instead, she is going to have to take a backseat while someone else comes into her home and almost takes over.

Frankie never had the best relationship with her mother in law so when Jasmine the nanny seems to get on exceedingly well with her and everyone else, including her daughter, she really feels slighted.

There are various twists and turns that lead Frankie to sensing something is very wrong with this set up and of course immediately she believes there is a problem with the nanny who was simply there to help or was she..? Is it possible that she has a hidden agenda or is someone else behind the issues Frankie faces...

This was well narrated. It flowed well with all characters being easily disnguishable and brought something different in their own way to the storyline. There were moments where I began to think could this be what's happening or that as we all often do with these types of genre however it kept me intrigued and invested throughout.

Good luck & best wishes with publication on 11th April 2025 🙏🏼❤️📚🎧

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m Here to Help is a fast-paced domestic thriller. I enjoyed the dual point of views that unraveled the mystery as we made our way through the book. In some ways, this was predictable, but had a nice twist on a common thriller theme. The characters all had flaws and made questionable choices which left you guessing who was really at fault throughout the novel.
The narrator, Elizabeth Bower, did a fabulous job giving different voices to all of the characters. The narrator can really make or break a novel, and this narrator made it.
Thank you Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

[marjorie birney · Rating 5 out of 5]

My goodness, WOW

I must report a fantastic book. This is definitely a must read thriller. The characters come to life before your eyes. There are women that could relate to the ones in this believable book. You'll be amazed with what twists and turns occur. I will definitely be reading more of this authors books. Make extra time to indulge
Yourself, you won't be able to put it down.
It deserves a 10 rating but only gets the maximum of 5. Enjoy, best read this year.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This audiobook (with narration that was spot-on and accurate for all characters, genders and ages) kept my attention throughout. It is well-paced and easy to follow. Russ and his mother decide a nanny is just what Frankie needs as she faces her second pregnancy and a toddler underfoot. Young, beautiful Jasmine fits the bill nicely...or does she? I eventually figured out the twist but it is still a good suspenseful story for anyone looking for a new recommendation. Good for fans of Lisa Jewell and Nicole Trope.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARL. All opinions are mine.

[Jess H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow I absolutely loved this book and couldn’t put it down!
Gripped me the whole way through. Definitely 5* from me
The twists at the end I wasn’t expecting at all, definitely recommend this book for anyone who loves a book that grips you from the beginning and enjoys good twists.

[Donna Mallery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable book! I’m not much on stalker type books, but this one flows nicely. No over the top, horrifying events. The pace is good.

Now, author, no using “further” when it should be “farther”!

[Nicole Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book/Story: ⭐️⭐⭐
Book Cover: ⭐️⭐️⭐

Trigger Warning(s): Gaslighting
Manipulation
Sexual Assault/Rape
Loss Of Parent(s)
Grooming
Infidelity
POV: Dual, First Person
Series/Standalone: Standalone
First In Series: N/A
Trope(s): None
Spice: None
Genre: Thriller
Burn: Fast
Safe or Dark: Safeish
Release Date: April 11, 2025

Overview  

When Frances Minetti gets pregnant, the pregnancy causes her to develop hyperemesis gravidarum. She very quickly realizes that she can’t do all the day-to-day things she normally could; that includes taking care of her three-year-old daughter Olivia. Her mother-in-law sets her up with a live-in nanny; Jasmine is her sister-in-law's best friend’s daughter. She’s also young, beautiful, and ambitious. Frankie isn’t as taken with her as her husband, Russell, and the rest of his family are, but once she sees how great Jasmine is with her daughter, she relents and agrees to give her a one-week trial. 

The young woman quickly moves into the Minetti’s home, and the seven-day trial goes smoothly. Jasmine is helpful and attentive, not only to Olivia but to Frankie as well. Life with the live-in nanny is wonderful, until it isn’t. As Frankie watches Jasmine interact with Olivia and Russ, something starts to feel off. Is this twenty-something-year-old trying to take Frankie’s place within the family?

One day Frankie suddenly takes a tumble down the stairs that lands her in the hospital. The one thing she remembers before her fall is interacting with Jasmine. Did she accidentally fall or was she pushed? As Frankie’s suspicions build, she becomes certain that Jasmine wants her gone. Frankie turns to the one person who should believe her, Russ, except he doesn’t. Despite the gaslighting and manipulation running rampant, Frankie knows one thing for sure... 

Jasmine isn’t who she claims to be, and she will kill to take over Frankie's life. 

Pace/Writing Style  

I appreciated two things about the book right away. The fact that things kick off and suck you in right away, and the short chapters.

The prologue starts somewhere in the middle of the story, and it made me all the more curious to see how things played out. Chapter one doesn’t disappoint either. We are taken back six months prior to the events that occurred in the prologue, and we get right into the heart of things. We very quickly understand Frankie’s family dynamic with her in-laws and the predicament she’s in. It’s definitely a fast-burn type of book. There is no filler prior to getting to the heart of things. I enjoyed that. 

The chapters in this book are nice and short. Lunn’s writing style flows nicely but gives the readers a lot of information without being confusing. It makes it easy to read a lot in one sitting and fly through this book. While the chapters don’t always end on cliffhangers, they do end in such a way that makes you want to keep on finding out what happens next. Reading one more chapter very quickly turned into ten. 

This was a roller coaster of a ride from start to finish, and I enjoyed being on it. There were times when I thought I knew exactly how things were going to play out just to turn around and find out that I didn’t. This rage-inducing story really threw me for a loop again and again. That was very fun. 

Lunn does play on the predictability of the plot a bit before pulling the rug out from under you. 

As mentioned above, this book made me RAGE. So, be prepared for that when diving into this.

Characters  

I have to be honest; I didn’t like a single character in this book. I thought they were all awful. I just happened to dislike some more than others.

Frances “Frankie” Minetti - Despite being our FMC, I just couldn’t get behind Frankie. She was horribly vain, constantly talking about how her figure was ruined after having kids and commenting about her pre- and post-baby weight. She gave off serious woe is me vibes. I often found her to be very whiny and weak-sounding. Frankie definitely was not a strong female (and not just due to her hyperemesis gravidarum). She tried to come off as working to have everything under control but was often a pushover. She would give in just for the sake of giving in and avoiding an argument. She was often suspicious of Jasmine before even having any reason to be. She questioned Jasmine's and Russ's relationship more than once for no reason. She created problems where there weren't any. I don’t know why, but I just didn’t like Frankie at all. The book is told entirely from her perspective, and that was difficult for me, but since I enjoyed the story in general, I just sucked it up. 

Russell “Russ” Minetti - Frankie's husband sort of stood on the outskirts of things. He was a very busy surgeon, so he seemed to be absent from the home more often than not. He was an attentive father but seemed to undermine a lot of the decisions Frankie made within the marriage. Most of the time Russ would side with his family, who clearly didn’t care for his wife and got joy out of watching her squirm, just to make everyone (other than Frankie) happy and keep the peace. If I’m being honest, I disliked Frankie’s character more than Russ’s. Even though he made a lot of crappy choices and had the gaslighting skills of a champion. 

Well, I liked him more than Frankie for the first 75% of the book. After that I HATED him.

Jasmine – The live-in nanny is a sweet, young lady; in fact, she’s almost too sweet. She’s almost too helpful. She’s almost too kind. She’s almost too much of everything. Jasmine enjoyed challenging Frankie. She had a game to play, and she played it very well. Jasmine knew what she wanted, and by God, she was going to do anything in her power to get it. She was always cool, calm, and collected even in the most uncomfortable of situations. I didn’t care for her at all. Not one bit. 

Well, I didn’t care for her for the first 75% of the book. After that I LOVED her.

Petunia Minetti – She is horrid. I hated her. If she were my mother-in-law, I just might go to jail for murder. 

Other Thoughts

In the synopsis, it is said that when Frankie meets Jasmine, she can’t help but feel like she has met her before. However, when they do finally meet, nothing in Frankie’s dialogue or inner thoughts mentions any of that to the readers. She doesn’t even hint at having a weird familiarity with the young woman. 

When Frankie gets pregnant the second time, it is unplanned. Both she and Russ were happy with one child, Olivia. Russ was going to get a vasectomy to prevent having any more kids; however, he doesn’t. While the Minettis are in their room one night discussing the situation. Russ mentions that Frankie got off her birth control pills without telling him, and she fires back, saying that she didn’t know/think that he would chicken out on actually having the vasectomy procedure done. This all seemed odd to me. I know that their marriage is strained and seems to have been for a while before this moment, but that is a huge, life-altering thing. Don’t you think even a husband and wife who weren’t on the best of terms at the moment would discuss something as severe as that? Even a “Hey Russ, I’m thinking of going off my birth control” would have opened the door for that conversation. The whole thing just rubbed me the wrong way.

I didn’t particularly care for the underlying “women aren’t attractive after having children” undertones in the story. It was mentioned more than once how Frankie was much more desirable before carrying two babies. 

One afternoon while both Jasmine and Russ are out of the house, Frankie decides to snoop in Jasmine’s room. She finds a dress on her bed and very quickly realizes that it’s one of hers. Frankie has no idea how it got there. She didn’t know if Jasmine had taken it from her closet or if Russ had given it to her. The author made sure to point out that detail, and it’s never brought up again. We don’t hear about it anymore after that. Why even bother having it in the story?

Early on in the book, it is mentioned that Jasmine’s mom, Helen, and Russ’s sister, Amanda, are lovers disguising themselves as best friends. They use their friendship as an excuse to spend time together and explain their closeness to one another. The whole family knows there is something more going on but doesn’t bother to mention it. This dynamic doesn’t have any effect on the plot. At all. It has nothing to do with how anything plays out. What was the big deal? What was the point of making sure the readers knew about that? There wasn’t a reason for the detail to be shared.

TLDR: AN ENTERTAINING THRILLER WITH A FUN TWIST!  

As always, please remember that reading is subjective, and that’s what makes it so great. 😊 

I would like to thank Bookoture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book. 

This is my voluntary, unbiased, and honest review. 

[Saltygalreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Synopsis: Frankie is pregnant with her second child and is struggling with hyperemesis. It is taking a toll on her health and her ability to parent toddler Olivia, aged three. Her slick and controlling physician husband and his toxic, overbearing mother Petunia decide that what Frankie needs is a nanny. They bring Jasmine into the home - beautiful, intelligent and capable - to look after Olivia and help Frankie. Jasmine takes over perfectly, winning Olivia's affections, charming Petunia and batting her eyelashes at Frankie's husband. Then Frankie keeps having accidents. Is Jasmine trying to get rid of Frankie and steal her family?

Thoughts: This is a fast-paced and suspenseful thriller with short and snappy chapters and plenty of unlikeable characters. There is a dual POV - told from both Frankie and Jasmine's perspective - along with a great deal of infuriating behaviour, with all parties showing the negative side of their characters at various points. Without giving anything away, the plot takes quite a dark turn, which was somewhat unexpected. Readers looking for the right popcorn thriller to take on vacation and read poolside should enjoy this. Many thanks to Bookouture for my copy.

[Alina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll confess from the outset: “I’m Here to Help” defies my initial expectations. Initially, it seemed to be a straightforward story about a typical nanny who was enthusiastic about taking on a role that went beyond her original responsibilities. However, as I delved deeper, I discovered a more intricate and unsettling plot beneath the surface.

What begins as a familiar premise quickly evolves into a gripping thriller, revealing a chilling world of betrayal and abuse. The pacing keeps you on the edge of your seat, while the conclusion takes a strikingly unexpected turn that prompts deep reflection on uncomfortable truths.

Overall, this fast-paced book explores unconventional themes, delivering a lasting impact long after the last page. Thank you, Claire Lunn, for crafting such an engaging narrative, and my gratitude goes to NetGalley for providing a free advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a roller coaster! I kept going back and forth on emotions with this one. While I was ultimately satisfied with the ending, I was ready to put this down many times throughout. The gaslighting, the narcissism…. it’s dripping into every page. If you’re a fan of that in domestic thrillers, this is for you. I found out hard to get through since I didn’t care for any of the characters or their actions. Round up to a 2.5 star.

[Alex Bente · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for an ALC (Advanced Listening Copy) of I'm Here to Help.

Unfortunately, this was a miss for me. I didn’t feel connected to the characters and only felt mildly interested in the plot/Frankie’s journey. I considered not finishing a couple of times. I feel like there were some plot holes that needed explanation as well.

[Katlyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

You will like this if you’re not usually a thriller reader. But if you are then this book will not be very shocking nor predictable. It reminds me a couple books I have read before.

If you are new to thrillers, you will enjoy!

[Kelly (aka jsybookworm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wowsers, what a story!!! Why haven’t I come across Claire Lunn before?! This was so hard to put down and now I have another favourite author to put on my favourite authors list!

Frankie has found herself unexpectedly pregnant with her second child with her husband Russ. However, this pregnancy is taking a toll on her with Hyperemesis and her GP has strongly advised rest which is difficult for Frankie to do whilst looking after their 3 year old little girl, Olivia, who like most toddlers, is constantly on the go. Russ’s wealthy family have never warmed to Frankie and so they have a very strained relationship. Frankie’s mother-in-law Petunia offers a solution to help Frankie get some rest, a live in nanny called Jasmine. Jasmine is the daughter of a close family friend and the perfect candidate. Initially Frankie hates the idea of having a stranger in her home but soon realises that she really does need some help and so agrees to a week trial. Jasmine seems a nice enough and capable nanny, who Olivia instantly adores and so, initially, the agreement of a nanny works well for the family and the week trial turns into a permanent position, albeit with Russ making the decision without talking to Frankie about it. Soon after this though strange accidents start to happen to Frankie and then she begins to feel pushed out of her own family. To begin with Jasmine takes Olivia on little outings but soon is joined by Petunia and then later on by Russ and Frankie starts to feel less and less like Russ’s wife and Olivia’s mother and more like a lodger in her own life especially as she also seems to be just getting sicker and sicker. Frankie also notices looks of unsaid words between Jasmine and Russ and starts to worry that Russ may be cheating on her again, as he did once before they were married. She forgave him, and he promised it would never happen again, but she is still on high alert about it happening again. Frankie begins to wonder whether Jasmine has ulterior motives for getting close to the family and if so with the strange accidents happening are Frankie, Olivia and her unborn child in danger?!

Well, this book drew me straight in, as soon as I read the prologue I was hooked. I absolutely hated Russ from the very start, and I always say that it is great writing from an author when they make me feel such strong emotions over a fictional character. I actually didn’t think I could despise him more, but the Biggles story just had me raging (sorry a little cryptic but I don’t want to spoil anything 😉). I also really didn’t like Russ’s mother, Petunia, and thought she fit the stereo typical nasty mother-in-law perfectly. I rooted for Frankie throughout the whole book, and, at times, I did admit I was screaming at her in my head because there were so many red flags, but I understood why she took as much as she did. I really really felt for her and at times just wanted to give her a hug (again what great writing!). I did not see the twist coming which was brilliant and to be honest even though I have read a lot of psychological thrillers I have never read one with such a diabolical villain, awful and terrible in their evilness!

Ultimately what a great read this was. I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys this genre, you won’t be disappointed. I really hope Claire Lunn writes more psychological thrillers as this one was brilliant!

And just a little added comment saying I had never heard of the word “sunpuddles” before, but it is certainly in my vocab now. A very much deserved 5 stars from me!

Thank you to NetGalley, Claire Lunn and Bookouture for my advanced reading copy. Out now.

[Calleigh Crumpler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐✨ (rounded up to 4)

I’m Here to Help by Claire Lunn is a gripping and tension-filled domestic thriller with a few twists. The story centers on Frankie, who is struggling through a difficult pregnancy with intense nausea and fatigue. When her husband and in-laws insist on bringing on Jasmine, a family friend, as a live-in nanny, Frankie’s problems seem to compound. As the story unfolds and Frankie grows suspicious of the nanny, the line between paranoia and legitimate concern blurs.

I was torn between giving this a 3 or 4 star rating. The book had a well-paced plot and a steady build of suspense that kept me drawn to tuning in to learn what would happen next, so I went with rounding up to the 4-star. This was also Lunn’s debut novel, which was super impressive. I’d love to listen to her next novel.

The author excels at creating an atmosphere of unpredictability and draws the reader in emotionally, but I struggled to find any character I actually liked or wanted to root for. At times, I literally wanted to yell at them through my headphones! While I felt empathy for Frankie's troubling situation, her constant woe-is-me vibe and helplessness bothered me. She seemed frustratingly oblivious to what was happening around her and unable to recognize obvious solutions, which occasionally made her less believable as a character. I also wondered about gaps in her backstory. Maybe because of her general helpless vibe, I wanted to understand who Frankie was and what she did to support herself before meeting her husband. I was also curious about her lack of friends or any support system (other than the major factor that was brought up).

The themes of gaslighting, control, and manipulation throughout the book created an emotionally intense experience. While this demonstrates Lunn's skill at impacting readers and building psychological suspense, it sometimes felt overwhelming emotionally to engage with the book. Also, there were a few plot holes and underdeveloped elements about other characters that could have been explored to help readers connect more deeply with the story and possibly like the characters more.

Elizabeth Bower's narration was definitely a highlight! She distinguished between characters with different accents and styles that brought each personality to life without feeling cheesy or overdone (as can sometimes happen with audiobooks). The distinct character voices made the plot easy to follow and well suited to multitasking with simple chores, which is always a plus for me with audiobooks! I was excited to tune back in each time, as Bower's performance truly immersed me in the setting and suspense of the story.

Fans of BA Paris and Lisa Jewell will likely enjoy this psychological thriller. I appreciated that while the novel had some violence, it wasn't gruesome or grotesque. Despite my frustrations with certain character decisions and minor plot issues, the book's ability to maintain suspense and deliver unexpected twists makes it a worthwhile addition to any thriller fan's library; just be prepared to occasionally feel annoyed with the characters along the way!

Thanks to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listener's copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Jamie Fortier · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is so many twists and turns, gaslighting, questions that are raised during this book that when it all comes to a closure, it just leaves you sitting there thinking, and for me, the closure that it brought brought a smile to my face also. The basis of the story is that a woman is pregnant with severe hyper emisis. Which essentially means severe morning sickness. She is so sick that she’s having a hard time keeping up with her toddler or her house or work or anything. So for of course, brilliant and handsome surgeon husband and his family decided that it would be a great idea to bring in some help. Notice they decided not she. And at first the person they hired seems wonderful. She is helpful. She is sweet. She is adored by the toddler. But perhaps she’s a little too perfect? Given that previously the perfect husband had an issue with infidelity. This is a constant nag at the back of her mind. This beautiful, gorgeous young woman has now moved into her house And they just seem too familiar. Is there something more or is it just insecurities and the past nagging at her.


The characters took a little bit to develop. The lead honestly came off as a whiny incompetent individual who could not seem to think for herself. Unless she was making a decision off of paranoid and potentially delusional assumptions. There is such a thing as the obvious, but she was oblivious. In the end now, she does everything that she needs to do.

Jasmine, the now live in nanny is somebody that you want to hate, you love to hate, you just can’t trust. Everything about her is just too much. She’s too perfect, too educated, too beautiful, too easily put into Frankie’s place in the family.

The husband, yes, he has a name and it’s Russ, but it doesn’t matter for all the somewhat doting overconfident pretentious individual he is, you end up, hating him for full reason. He’s constantly gaslighting Frankie or belittling her. He is a mama‘s boy and takes full advantage of that while playing both sides. He is the kind of person that we need to urge all women to watch out for, and to be aware.

I don’t have as much to say about his mother Petunia, but she sucks too. Just a horrid individual like the mother-in-law everyone dreads.

By the end, everything that you think you know is different. I ended up loving Jasmine, thinking Frankie was a bit pathetic of an individual and absolutely hating Ross. I would recommend this book to others and I really enjoyed listening to the audio version. Thanks NetGalley for the opportunity. #netgalley