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The Au Pair
Award-winning author Teddy Wayne follows the tremendous critical success of his breakout sensation The Winner—a New York Times Top Ten Thriller of the Year—with another seductively twisty page-turner about the explosive impact of a beautiful Norwegian au pair on a celebrated novelist and his wife.
Steven Hammer was once an acclaimed literary star. Now, his career is floundering, his marriage to a high-powered woman is crumbling, and the only bright spot in his life is Astrid, the Norwegian au pair who cares for their children—and reveres his neglected novels. But what begins as a secret infatuation soon spirals into a scandal that makes them both infamous.
As a headline-grabbing trial captivates the world with a salacious story of sex, power, and betrayal, Steven must confront the wreckage he’s created—and the deeper insecurities that fueled it. Is Astrid an innocent young woman caught up in a case beyond her control, or a calculating femme fatale? And how far will he go, driven by desperation and obsession, for her professed love?
With inexorable momentum and sly, lucid prose, Teddy Wayne’s The Au Pair is an electrifying literary thriller about desire, deception, and the unraveling of a man as he grapples with his fading relevance—where nothing is as it seems, and the truth may be more fantastical than the lies we tell ourselves.
Steven Hammer was once an acclaimed literary star. Now, his career is floundering, his marriage to a high-powered woman is crumbling, and the only bright spot in his life is Astrid, the Norwegian au pair who cares for their children—and reveres his neglected novels. But what begins as a secret infatuation soon spirals into a scandal that makes them both infamous.
As a headline-grabbing trial captivates the world with a salacious story of sex, power, and betrayal, Steven must confront the wreckage he’s created—and the deeper insecurities that fueled it. Is Astrid an innocent young woman caught up in a case beyond her control, or a calculating femme fatale? And how far will he go, driven by desperation and obsession, for her professed love?
With inexorable momentum and sly, lucid prose, Teddy Wayne’s The Au Pair is an electrifying literary thriller about desire, deception, and the unraveling of a man as he grapples with his fading relevance—where nothing is as it seems, and the truth may be more fantastical than the lies we tell ourselves.
7 pages, Audio CD
First published June 30, 2026
About the author
Teddy Wayne
8 books505 followersTeddy Wayne is the author of the novels "The Au Pair" (2026), "The Winner" (2024), "The Great Man Theory" (2022), "Apartment" (2020), "Loner" (2016), "The Love Song of Jonny Valentine" (2013) and "Kapitoil" (2010) and is the recipient of a Whiting Writers' Award, an NEA Creative Writing Fellowship, the PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize runner-up, and a finalist for the Young Lions Fiction Award finalist and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
July 2, 2026
She was twenty-four. From Oslo.
Astrid Ødegaard.
How much more arresting that slashed first letter looked than an unadorned American O.
He looked at all her other pictures, especially the one in which she wore a tight white tank top.
One of my favorite writers spins a dark and twisty tale in which has-been novelist Steven Hammer learns the lesson that men have known for centuries: You can bang the nanny. Just don't fall in love with her.
Astrid Ødegaard.
How much more arresting that slashed first letter looked than an unadorned American O.
He looked at all her other pictures, especially the one in which she wore a tight white tank top.
One of my favorite writers spins a dark and twisty tale in which has-been novelist Steven Hammer learns the lesson that men have known for centuries: You can bang the nanny. Just don't fall in love with her.
June 30, 2026
The Au Pair by Teddy Wayne is a wickedly smart, addictive look at marriage, masculinity, and high-society privilege.
In The Au Pair, New York Times bestselling author Teddy Wayne delivers a seductively twisty, razor-sharp literary psychological suspense novel. The story hinges on a floundering, once-celebrated writer and his high-powered wife navigating a brittle marriage that explodes when a glamorous young outsider enters their household.
Sleek social satire vs. toxic midlife obsession.
A crumbling domestic facade shatters completely when a secret infatuation spirals into a headline-grabbing trial of sex, power, and betrayal.
Elevator Pitch
A high-society psychological thriller following an artistic, middle-aged Brooklyn writer whose secret affair with his family's perfect Norwegian nanny ignites a scandalous, media-frenzied trial that exposes the toxic wreckage of privilege and male insecurity.
Intro:
Steven Hammer was once a breakout literary star, but his career has completely stalled out. He spends his days as a stay-at-home dad managing the household, utterly dependent on a monthly stipend from his high-powered wife, Lucy.
When their nanny suddenly passes away, they hire Astrid, a stunning 24-year-old from Norway. Astrid doesn't just care for the children; she deeply reveres Steven’s neglected books, acting as the ultimate ego stroke for a man desperate for validation. Their red-hot secret affair quickly spirals into absolute chaos, building to a sudden family tragedy, a shock arrest, and a salacious, public trial that captivates the world.
Setting
The hyper-elite, wealthy social circles of Brooklyn and Manhattan, transitioning into a claustrophobic courtroom drama under the international media glare.
Vibe
Cynical, sharp-witted, and relentlessly compelling. It feels like the razor-sharp privilege critiques of Succession colliding with the dark, illicit domestic obsession of The Perfect Nanny.
Genre
Psychological Thriller / Social Satire / Domestic Suspense.
Theme:
~The Psychic Toll of Financial Dependency
~Fading Artistic Relevance and Masculinity
~The Dangers of Seeking Validation
~The Curated Fictions of Contemporary Marriage
Standout Characters
~Steven Hammer:
A frustrated, insecure 45-year-old writer whose desperate hunger for admiration blinds him to the catastrophic wreckage he is inviting into his life.
~Astrid:
The beautiful Norwegian au pair whose sweet devotion to Steven’s work hides a highly ambiguous persona, forcing everyone to question if she is an innocent pawn or a cold, calculating femme fatale.
~Lucy Hammer:
Steven’s incredibly successful, financially dominant wife who bankrolls their lavish lifestyle but harbors deep-seated resentments of her own.
Author Writing Standout
Teddy Wayne excels at creating micro-humiliations and using gimlet-eyed wit to expose contemporary societal pieties, keeping the prose incredibly sleek and fast.
Takeaway
The lies other people spin to deceive us pale in comparison to the elaborate fictions we tell ourselves to soothe our own egos.
Title Significance
The Au Pair points to the central catalyst of the novel, representing both the ultimate luxury status symbol for a wealthy family and the precise point of failure that destroys it.
Metaphor
Astrid serves as a flawless mirror for Steven. She does not reflect who he actually is, but rather the brilliant, relevant literary genius he desperately wishes he still was.
Why You Should Read
It is a deeply intelligent, darkly funny thriller that effortlessly balances sophisticated social commentary on class and privilege with a messy, jaw-dropping courtroom drama.
A SLEEK, INGENIOUS HYBRID OF SOCIAL SATIRE AND DOMESTIC THRILLER. "A brittle marriage and a seemingly perfect young nanny upend a failed writer's life, sparking a scandalous, media-frenzied trial."
My Thoughts
The pacing is incredibly precise, shifting seamlessly from domestic tension into a full-blown legal circus. Wayne’s portrayal of Steven’s midlife insecurities and public embarrassments is both painful and highly addictive to read. It keeps you guessing about Astrid’s true motives until the very final pages, delivering a completely satisfying twist.
"Teddy Wayne delivers an absolute page-turner exploring the toxic wreckage of privilege, masculinity, and midlife desperation."
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5). An elite, gripping psychological thriller that gleefully skewers high society while delivering pure suspense. It’s funny, it’s intense, and it completely deconstructs marriage and privilege.
Recs
Read this if you loved The Winner by Teddy Wayne, or The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: June 30, 2026
June Newsletter
June 2026 Must-Read Books
In The Au Pair, New York Times bestselling author Teddy Wayne delivers a seductively twisty, razor-sharp literary psychological suspense novel. The story hinges on a floundering, once-celebrated writer and his high-powered wife navigating a brittle marriage that explodes when a glamorous young outsider enters their household.
Sleek social satire vs. toxic midlife obsession.
A crumbling domestic facade shatters completely when a secret infatuation spirals into a headline-grabbing trial of sex, power, and betrayal.
Elevator Pitch
A high-society psychological thriller following an artistic, middle-aged Brooklyn writer whose secret affair with his family's perfect Norwegian nanny ignites a scandalous, media-frenzied trial that exposes the toxic wreckage of privilege and male insecurity.
Intro:
Steven Hammer was once a breakout literary star, but his career has completely stalled out. He spends his days as a stay-at-home dad managing the household, utterly dependent on a monthly stipend from his high-powered wife, Lucy.
When their nanny suddenly passes away, they hire Astrid, a stunning 24-year-old from Norway. Astrid doesn't just care for the children; she deeply reveres Steven’s neglected books, acting as the ultimate ego stroke for a man desperate for validation. Their red-hot secret affair quickly spirals into absolute chaos, building to a sudden family tragedy, a shock arrest, and a salacious, public trial that captivates the world.
Setting
The hyper-elite, wealthy social circles of Brooklyn and Manhattan, transitioning into a claustrophobic courtroom drama under the international media glare.
Vibe
Cynical, sharp-witted, and relentlessly compelling. It feels like the razor-sharp privilege critiques of Succession colliding with the dark, illicit domestic obsession of The Perfect Nanny.
Genre
Psychological Thriller / Social Satire / Domestic Suspense.
Theme:
~The Psychic Toll of Financial Dependency
~Fading Artistic Relevance and Masculinity
~The Dangers of Seeking Validation
~The Curated Fictions of Contemporary Marriage
Standout Characters
~Steven Hammer:
A frustrated, insecure 45-year-old writer whose desperate hunger for admiration blinds him to the catastrophic wreckage he is inviting into his life.
~Astrid:
The beautiful Norwegian au pair whose sweet devotion to Steven’s work hides a highly ambiguous persona, forcing everyone to question if she is an innocent pawn or a cold, calculating femme fatale.
~Lucy Hammer:
Steven’s incredibly successful, financially dominant wife who bankrolls their lavish lifestyle but harbors deep-seated resentments of her own.
Author Writing Standout
Teddy Wayne excels at creating micro-humiliations and using gimlet-eyed wit to expose contemporary societal pieties, keeping the prose incredibly sleek and fast.
Takeaway
The lies other people spin to deceive us pale in comparison to the elaborate fictions we tell ourselves to soothe our own egos.
Title Significance
The Au Pair points to the central catalyst of the novel, representing both the ultimate luxury status symbol for a wealthy family and the precise point of failure that destroys it.
Metaphor
Astrid serves as a flawless mirror for Steven. She does not reflect who he actually is, but rather the brilliant, relevant literary genius he desperately wishes he still was.
Why You Should Read
It is a deeply intelligent, darkly funny thriller that effortlessly balances sophisticated social commentary on class and privilege with a messy, jaw-dropping courtroom drama.
A SLEEK, INGENIOUS HYBRID OF SOCIAL SATIRE AND DOMESTIC THRILLER. "A brittle marriage and a seemingly perfect young nanny upend a failed writer's life, sparking a scandalous, media-frenzied trial."
My Thoughts
The pacing is incredibly precise, shifting seamlessly from domestic tension into a full-blown legal circus. Wayne’s portrayal of Steven’s midlife insecurities and public embarrassments is both painful and highly addictive to read. It keeps you guessing about Astrid’s true motives until the very final pages, delivering a completely satisfying twist.
"Teddy Wayne delivers an absolute page-turner exploring the toxic wreckage of privilege, masculinity, and midlife desperation."
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5). An elite, gripping psychological thriller that gleefully skewers high society while delivering pure suspense. It’s funny, it’s intense, and it completely deconstructs marriage and privilege.
Recs
Read this if you loved The Winner by Teddy Wayne, or The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: June 30, 2026
June Newsletter
June 2026 Must-Read Books
June 23, 2026
This was a mixed bag in the most classic “I read it in one sitting but also… hmm” kind of way. On one hand, it’s undeniably addictive. It moves quickly, the writing is clean and readable, and it has that low effort, page turning quality that makes it perfect for a beach day or a travel read when you don’t want anything too heavy or complex. You’re in it immediately, and it’s easy to keep going.
On the other hand, it’s very predictable. The setup—famous but fading man, young beautiful au pair, obsession, consequences—feels familiar from the jump, and unfortunately it largely plays out exactly how you expect it to. I kept waiting for a sharper turn or a bigger shock moment that never quite landed. There’s also a sense that it wants to be more layered than it ends up being. It touches on ego, entitlement, storytelling, and perception, but never fully commits to anything deep enough to make it feel fresh. It’s not bad at all, just not especially bold. That said, it is compulsively readable. Even when I wasn’t surprised, I was still turning pages, which counts for something. It just never quite gave me that “oh wow” moment I was hoping for.
Perfect for Readers Who Love
* Fast, easy to devour literary thrillers
* Domestic scandal stories with messy relationships
* Obsession driven narratives with unreliable emotional dynamics
* Beach reads that don’t require heavy focus
* Books that are more about vibe and momentum than big twists
On the other hand, it’s very predictable. The setup—famous but fading man, young beautiful au pair, obsession, consequences—feels familiar from the jump, and unfortunately it largely plays out exactly how you expect it to. I kept waiting for a sharper turn or a bigger shock moment that never quite landed. There’s also a sense that it wants to be more layered than it ends up being. It touches on ego, entitlement, storytelling, and perception, but never fully commits to anything deep enough to make it feel fresh. It’s not bad at all, just not especially bold. That said, it is compulsively readable. Even when I wasn’t surprised, I was still turning pages, which counts for something. It just never quite gave me that “oh wow” moment I was hoping for.
Perfect for Readers Who Love
* Fast, easy to devour literary thrillers
* Domestic scandal stories with messy relationships
* Obsession driven narratives with unreliable emotional dynamics
* Beach reads that don’t require heavy focus
* Books that are more about vibe and momentum than big twists
July 4, 2026
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ RTC
Review of advance copy
I read a galley of this 1.5-2 years ago. I really disliked it. I found myself repulsed by almost every aspect of this. A lot of real estate is given to the au pairs unique body odor and her bush (iirc).
A generous part of me wants to suggest that perhaps the author was attempting to subvert the genre and was unsuccessful, but to be honest in my heart of hearts I don’t think any subversion was truly attempted.
I felt slimy after reading this. I’m sure the author intended for Paul to be gross and unlikable, but unfortunately the way he wrote women didn’t help him. it still felt entirely too men writing women for this to work. It lacked selfawareness.
A generous part of me wants to suggest that perhaps the author was attempting to subvert the genre and was unsuccessful, but to be honest in my heart of hearts I don’t think any subversion was truly attempted.
I felt slimy after reading this. I’m sure the author intended for Paul to be gross and unlikable, but unfortunately the way he wrote women didn’t help him. it still felt entirely too men writing women for this to work. It lacked selfawareness.
June 19, 2026
A twisty tale of how deceptive people in powerful positions can be-wielding the choices of being wealthy vs. poor/barely making ends meet; citizenship vs. acquiring a working visa; seduction as a trapping tool, rather than just confronting the problem head on.
Steven Hammer, once a famous author, now falling into oblivion with several unsuccessful attempts of regaining stardom. He’s only famous now, with his children, as he’s their favorite parent. His marriage? A failure as well
Wife, Lucy, the Ivy League breadwinner, pays for everything, including the new au pair hired to watch the children, so Steven can get back to writing and Lucy can regain favor in her children’s eyes.
What appears to be a cliche? Wealthy couple, rumors of infidelity, an overseas nanny looking to score a permanent visa/job? Looks are deceiving!!
Engaging, fast paced domestic thriller about scandals, the art of seduction, sex and betrayal!
Thanks to Harper for this fantastic quick read!!👏🏻👏🏻
Steven Hammer, once a famous author, now falling into oblivion with several unsuccessful attempts of regaining stardom. He’s only famous now, with his children, as he’s their favorite parent. His marriage? A failure as well
Wife, Lucy, the Ivy League breadwinner, pays for everything, including the new au pair hired to watch the children, so Steven can get back to writing and Lucy can regain favor in her children’s eyes.
What appears to be a cliche? Wealthy couple, rumors of infidelity, an overseas nanny looking to score a permanent visa/job? Looks are deceiving!!
Engaging, fast paced domestic thriller about scandals, the art of seduction, sex and betrayal!
Thanks to Harper for this fantastic quick read!!👏🏻👏🏻
July 5, 2026
Not his best work. Far from it. But I still couldn't put it down and finished it in less than two days. As an airport novel/summer thriller? I guess it worked. It feels a bit underbaked though, and will probably work better as a TV series a la Big Little Lies. (I read somewhere that some studio already optioned it)
March 20, 2026
Thank you to Teddy Wayne, Harper, and NetGalley for the e-ARC!
We follow Stephen Hammer, an author who had his moment… and has been chasing it ever since. (Sir… just let it go) 😅
His wife is the primary breadwinner, and their dynamic is... let’s just say, not the healthiest.
Then Astrid, a very attractive Norwegian au pair, enters the picture. I was like… oh, this is about to go left. 👀
From there, an affair develops… because obviously.
And when Stephen’s wife dies, the question isn’t just what happened. It’s who do you believe? Was it an accident… or did Astrid have something to do with it?
This one isn’t throwing twists every few pages. It’s more of a slow, messy unraveling where everyone is making questionable decisions and you’re just watching it all unfold like… 😶🍿
Stephen is also one of those characters where you’re like… sir. PLEASE. Get it together. 😅 And yet, I couldn’t look away.
I’ve read Teddy Wayne before and enjoyed his writing, and this was another solid read. It was easy to get into, slightly chaotic, and just messy enough to keep me fully invested.
We follow Stephen Hammer, an author who had his moment… and has been chasing it ever since. (Sir… just let it go) 😅
His wife is the primary breadwinner, and their dynamic is... let’s just say, not the healthiest.
Then Astrid, a very attractive Norwegian au pair, enters the picture. I was like… oh, this is about to go left. 👀
From there, an affair develops… because obviously.
And when Stephen’s wife dies, the question isn’t just what happened. It’s who do you believe? Was it an accident… or did Astrid have something to do with it?
This one isn’t throwing twists every few pages. It’s more of a slow, messy unraveling where everyone is making questionable decisions and you’re just watching it all unfold like… 😶🍿
Stephen is also one of those characters where you’re like… sir. PLEASE. Get it together. 😅 And yet, I couldn’t look away.
I’ve read Teddy Wayne before and enjoyed his writing, and this was another solid read. It was easy to get into, slightly chaotic, and just messy enough to keep me fully invested.
July 6, 2026
Lesson learned - don't have sex with a Norwegian au pair. Consequences are just not worth the hassle!
July 4, 2026
Fast paced & engaging. I love Wayne’s writing style.
July 4, 2026
God, I love Teddy Wayne. As I have described so many times, he writes stories with insufferable male main characters - men who are past their prime, suffer from delusions of grandeur, or are otherwise examples of toxic masculinity. While that’s not everyone’s cup of tea, I devour his books every time.
The Au Pair follows Steven, a former literary golden boy turned washed up professor, married to an ultra-successful impact investor named Lucy. Lucy is so busy that hardly has time for Steven or their two young children - but the real problem in their marriage is more likely Steven feeling emasculated at the monthly stipend she gives him to live off of. After their nanny passes away unexpectedly, Steven hires the 24-year-old beautiful Norwegian Astrid to be his children’s new au pair. She’s wonderful with the kids - and guess what else! - she loves Steven’s novels, even the one that was a commercial flop.
The plot is electric and had me at the edge of my seat - and told through Steven’s eyes, it was hard for me to tell who I should root for, who was telling the truth, and if Steven’s version of reality was accurate. The ending was the sore thumb in this one for me - usually Teddy Wayne’s books involve much more of a fall from grace than this one did, and I found this ending quite unrealistic. But overall, there’s something about Teddy Wayne’s writing, plot pacing, and characterization - not necessarily character growth - that I find addicting, and this book was no exception.
The Au Pair follows Steven, a former literary golden boy turned washed up professor, married to an ultra-successful impact investor named Lucy. Lucy is so busy that hardly has time for Steven or their two young children - but the real problem in their marriage is more likely Steven feeling emasculated at the monthly stipend she gives him to live off of. After their nanny passes away unexpectedly, Steven hires the 24-year-old beautiful Norwegian Astrid to be his children’s new au pair. She’s wonderful with the kids - and guess what else! - she loves Steven’s novels, even the one that was a commercial flop.
The plot is electric and had me at the edge of my seat - and told through Steven’s eyes, it was hard for me to tell who I should root for, who was telling the truth, and if Steven’s version of reality was accurate. The ending was the sore thumb in this one for me - usually Teddy Wayne’s books involve much more of a fall from grace than this one did, and I found this ending quite unrealistic. But overall, there’s something about Teddy Wayne’s writing, plot pacing, and characterization - not necessarily character growth - that I find addicting, and this book was no exception.
July 8, 2026
The protagonist is a misogynistic middle aged white man who hates his wife and doesn’t have a job. His wife literally gives him an allowance. I just absolutely despised him in every possible way and somehow he continued to get worse to the very end. And the hot 25 year old is in love with him? Yeah
I’m so disappointed because the blurb had me extremely excited to read this however not one aspect of this book worked for me. There is no twist. No real suspense. The way every single woman is written is infuriating.
Also, the depth at which they discuss the mmcs attraction to Astrid’s (the au pair) body odor was so bizarre. His internal monologue is gross, corny, and again very misogynistic. At one point he describes Astrid as looking very “pure” because she only has her ears pierced and only one tattoo. This was just a weird and off-putting sentence. Not to mention all the comparisons he makes between her “tight body” and his wife’s, who has apparently really let herself go by becoming a 50 year old woman. If this man was the supposed to be the villain in the story, maybe some of these traits could have worked. But giving him an HEA? absolutely not.
This book truly reads like the authors secret wet dream of leaving his wife and hooking up with the nanny. If nothing else, this book will make me think twice before reading a book written by a man again so thank you for that. I’m so mad I finished this book. I do not know a single person that I think would enjoy this.
I’m so disappointed because the blurb had me extremely excited to read this however not one aspect of this book worked for me. There is no twist. No real suspense. The way every single woman is written is infuriating.
Also, the depth at which they discuss the mmcs attraction to Astrid’s (the au pair) body odor was so bizarre. His internal monologue is gross, corny, and again very misogynistic. At one point he describes Astrid as looking very “pure” because she only has her ears pierced and only one tattoo. This was just a weird and off-putting sentence. Not to mention all the comparisons he makes between her “tight body” and his wife’s, who has apparently really let herself go by becoming a 50 year old woman. If this man was the supposed to be the villain in the story, maybe some of these traits could have worked. But giving him an HEA? absolutely not.
This book truly reads like the authors secret wet dream of leaving his wife and hooking up with the nanny. If nothing else, this book will make me think twice before reading a book written by a man again so thank you for that. I’m so mad I finished this book. I do not know a single person that I think would enjoy this.
June 28, 2026
This audiobook was a well narrated and fast paced read at just over 6.5 hours. The book itself is only 272 pages so it’s on the shorter side. What we have here is a tale as old as time… family hires a young and beautiful au pair, father has affair with au pair and it’s downhill from there. There wasn’t much that happened that I couldn’t predict or that really surprised me, but I enjoyed reading a book that I didn’t have to put much thought into. I found Steven to be extremely unlikable, even more so than Astrid the au pair. Read this if you’re into:
✍🏻 domestic thriller
✍🏻 murder
✍🏻 poor life choices
✍🏻 courtroom drama
✍🏻 a bit of spice
I liked the audiobook narrator and thought he handled the characters well.
✍🏻 domestic thriller
✍🏻 murder
✍🏻 poor life choices
✍🏻 courtroom drama
✍🏻 a bit of spice
I liked the audiobook narrator and thought he handled the characters well.
June 30, 2026
The Au Pair is a fast and easy little thriller that is easily bingeable. The story isn't anything shocking or mind blowing but the author made it work in the end. The plot is predictable, it's the character development that really drives this story forward. I feel it's a good read if you're wanting something mindless that you don't have to break your head over or a palate cleanser in between heavier reads. The MMC is a very hard character to like, from the beginning he gave me such an unsettling feeling. There is a lot of manipulation, lies and secrets which is what truly kept me addicted to the book.
Overall, even if it wasn't a shocking thriller as I wished it would've been, it was still an entertaining read in the end.
✨ Thank you to @harper & Teddy Wayne for my gifted copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Overall, even if it wasn't a shocking thriller as I wished it would've been, it was still an entertaining read in the end.
✨ Thank you to @harper & Teddy Wayne for my gifted copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
June 25, 2026
Ominous, simmering, and twisty!
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐔 𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐑 is a captivating, sinister mystery that pulls readers into the life of Steven Hammer, a struggling author and father of two, whose carefully controlled world quickly unravels when he finds himself unable to resist his attraction to the new, young, attractive nanny, and his wealthy wife suddenly turns up dead.
The writing is crisp and tightly paced. The characters are complex, flawed, and secretive. And the plot is a suspenseful blend of manipulation, deception, suspicion, revelations, chaos, fractured relationships, obsession, and infidelity.
Overall, 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐔 𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐑 is a devious, tense, entertaining page-turner by Wayne that’s a chilling reminder that even those we believe we know best may be hiding the darkest secrets behind closed doors.
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐔 𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐑 is a captivating, sinister mystery that pulls readers into the life of Steven Hammer, a struggling author and father of two, whose carefully controlled world quickly unravels when he finds himself unable to resist his attraction to the new, young, attractive nanny, and his wealthy wife suddenly turns up dead.
The writing is crisp and tightly paced. The characters are complex, flawed, and secretive. And the plot is a suspenseful blend of manipulation, deception, suspicion, revelations, chaos, fractured relationships, obsession, and infidelity.
Overall, 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐔 𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐑 is a devious, tense, entertaining page-turner by Wayne that’s a chilling reminder that even those we believe we know best may be hiding the darkest secrets behind closed doors.
July 9, 2026
This one gave me Verity vibes minus the super creepy factor! I enjoyed this audio book and How it left me thinking about the clues/evidence to try and decipher if the suspect did it or not. it was a super quick listen and I devoured it in a day ! It was not the ending I thought would happen and it did leave me with some questions which I suppose was the point in how it ended. The MMC was pissing me off ALOT but it was just how his character was I suppose as a middle aged man in a ““empty marriage.” I would say this was a 4 ⭐️ read for me as it was quick suspenseful and easy to get sucked into !
July 5, 2026
I was hooked with this one until the very end! 🫢
A struggling author in a struggling marriage is infatuated with his Norwegian au pair - yep, you can guess where this is going! Lots of unlikable characters in this one. Yes, it’s a suspenseful page turner! But the way it ended…just…yeah. Not a bad book, just not one for me in the end! 🫠
Thank you partner Harper Books for the gifted finished hardcover in exchange for my honest review! ❤️
A struggling author in a struggling marriage is infatuated with his Norwegian au pair - yep, you can guess where this is going! Lots of unlikable characters in this one. Yes, it’s a suspenseful page turner! But the way it ended…just…yeah. Not a bad book, just not one for me in the end! 🫠
Thank you partner Harper Books for the gifted finished hardcover in exchange for my honest review! ❤️
July 5, 2026
Fast-paced. Short chapters. Easy to binge. Enjoyed the familiarity until it was a little too familiar. Still would recommend for a popcorn thriller.
July 7, 2026
3.5 a good time, clever and messy
June 8, 2026
The Au Pair is an excellent literary thriller. The story is a familiar one of a man in a crumbling marriage having an affair with the nanny. The wife becomes an impediment until she isn’t. The writing here is outstanding and I loved hating Steven! I also loved the ending, but I don’t want to spill any spoilers. This one would make for a great bookclub discussion.
July 1, 2026
Bottom line: Men are all sh*& and think with their pants....
July 2, 2026
In THE AU PAIR, Teddy Wayne’s stunning novel of suspense, a struggling marriage sets in motion a series of tragic events.
Acclaimed author Steven Hammer enjoyed great success with his first novel. But that was a long time ago. His second effort did not fare so well, and now his agent is having trouble selling the newest idea for his next book. The truth is that Steven has hit a wall. Try as he might, the words simply won’t come. Making matters worse, his wife, Lucy, is a business powerhouse. It certainly pays the bills, but it also plays havoc on his sense of self-worth. The best part of Steven’s life is his children. They truly seem to cherish him, and he absolutely treasures them.
One day, Steven returns home after meeting with his agent and discovers their nanny dead from a heart attack. With Lucy so busy, it falls on him to find a replacement. And that’s where the trouble starts.
Steven posts with a highly respected au pair agency. After reading through a multitude of responses, he settles on a 24-year-old graduate of the University of Oslo. It’s hard to see how Astrid could be more qualified. Aside from her excellent education, she loves reading and writing, is fluent in English, enjoys quiet time, adores children, and is absolutely beautiful. That’s not all, though. There’s much more that Steven doesn’t know about. And a lot of it will come out later. During the trial.
With a capable nanny once again at home, Lucy feels comfortable spending more time at work. Steven tries to focus on his writing, but he soon finds that his writer’s block is allowing Astrid to distract him. So it doesn’t take long before temptation gets the best of him. Astrid not only flatters Steven by paying him the attention he’s been starved for, she also showers him with praise over his failed second novel. As one of its rare fans, she claims to really “get” what the book is about.
Is this young woman consciously trying to destroy Steven's marriage, or is he falling prey to his imagination? Astrid is about half his age. What could a female possessing her incredible beauty possibly see in a washed-up has-been like him? She must have a hidden agenda. Steven simply can’t see what it might be. He foolishly allows himself to be led astray, unsure what he plans for his future but enjoying every day for what it is. He simply doesn’t care. Then one day, his future is decided for him. And suddenly he cares very much.
THE AU PAIR will keep readers furiously turning pages to find out what happens while also examining a relationship gone stale. A stalled dream and forbidden desire clash at the precise right time and lead to the downfall of more than one person. Could someone have foreseen what was coming? Could any of them have stopped it? The book reads like two trains on the same track racing headlong toward each other. A collision is inevitable, but no one does anything about it.
Reviewed by Kate Ayers
Acclaimed author Steven Hammer enjoyed great success with his first novel. But that was a long time ago. His second effort did not fare so well, and now his agent is having trouble selling the newest idea for his next book. The truth is that Steven has hit a wall. Try as he might, the words simply won’t come. Making matters worse, his wife, Lucy, is a business powerhouse. It certainly pays the bills, but it also plays havoc on his sense of self-worth. The best part of Steven’s life is his children. They truly seem to cherish him, and he absolutely treasures them.
One day, Steven returns home after meeting with his agent and discovers their nanny dead from a heart attack. With Lucy so busy, it falls on him to find a replacement. And that’s where the trouble starts.
Steven posts with a highly respected au pair agency. After reading through a multitude of responses, he settles on a 24-year-old graduate of the University of Oslo. It’s hard to see how Astrid could be more qualified. Aside from her excellent education, she loves reading and writing, is fluent in English, enjoys quiet time, adores children, and is absolutely beautiful. That’s not all, though. There’s much more that Steven doesn’t know about. And a lot of it will come out later. During the trial.
With a capable nanny once again at home, Lucy feels comfortable spending more time at work. Steven tries to focus on his writing, but he soon finds that his writer’s block is allowing Astrid to distract him. So it doesn’t take long before temptation gets the best of him. Astrid not only flatters Steven by paying him the attention he’s been starved for, she also showers him with praise over his failed second novel. As one of its rare fans, she claims to really “get” what the book is about.
Is this young woman consciously trying to destroy Steven's marriage, or is he falling prey to his imagination? Astrid is about half his age. What could a female possessing her incredible beauty possibly see in a washed-up has-been like him? She must have a hidden agenda. Steven simply can’t see what it might be. He foolishly allows himself to be led astray, unsure what he plans for his future but enjoying every day for what it is. He simply doesn’t care. Then one day, his future is decided for him. And suddenly he cares very much.
THE AU PAIR will keep readers furiously turning pages to find out what happens while also examining a relationship gone stale. A stalled dream and forbidden desire clash at the precise right time and lead to the downfall of more than one person. Could someone have foreseen what was coming? Could any of them have stopped it? The book reads like two trains on the same track racing headlong toward each other. A collision is inevitable, but no one does anything about it.
Reviewed by Kate Ayers
Read
July 2, 2026I liked The Winner just fine, definitely enough to be interested in this book, but I found I liked this book way more. It fits the bill for a summer/vacation/"read in 24 hours" kind of way. I liked the very ending and the ending before that and the part leading up to that . Is any of that particularly reasonable? Do I care about the legality of it? Did it get in the way of the book being fun? No, no, and no!
I enjoyed spending time with all the characters here. I liked how the reader sees Steven's ridiculousness even when he doesn't, and we also see where it's coming from - at least in some degree. At the beginning, I thought Steven's focus on food and potential eating disorder was kind of strange, but the reader learns where that developed and how much it's affected his life. All the discussion of how boring and trending autofiction is felt a little silly, but I guess that's just going to be part of the terrain for a book with a writer as a main character - it didn't really get in the way of my enjoyment.
There's commentary on the patriarchy here, and personally I liked the role Lucy played - beyond being the breadwinner (and dealing with her job, which takes time away from her family) we learn that . Was Astrid an actual character or more of an object or device? For better or worse, this question didn't bother me - I think because we see how naive and ... powerless? Steven is?
I enjoyed spending time with all the characters here. I liked how the reader sees Steven's ridiculousness even when he doesn't, and we also see where it's coming from - at least in some degree. At the beginning, I thought Steven's focus on food and potential eating disorder was kind of strange, but the reader learns where that developed and how much it's affected his life. All the discussion of how boring and trending autofiction is felt a little silly, but I guess that's just going to be part of the terrain for a book with a writer as a main character - it didn't really get in the way of my enjoyment.
There's commentary on the patriarchy here, and personally I liked the role Lucy played - beyond being the breadwinner (and dealing with her job, which takes time away from her family) we learn that . Was Astrid an actual character or more of an object or device? For better or worse, this question didn't bother me - I think because we see how naive and ... powerless? Steven is?
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.5
🎙️ Narration Review
First listen from Eric A. Altheide and what an introduction it was! First things first: NO BATMAN VOICE🤠 This man can MOVE through dialogue too. He’s a fast talker (which I personally love), so I actually dropped my listening speed down to 1.4x and had a great time. The best way I can describe the audio quality is this….you know when you upgrade from an old TV to one of those ridiculously expensive ones and suddenly you can see pores on people’s faces? That’s what this audiobook sounded like 😂
He absolutely nailed Steven’s personality too. Reserved, awkward, slightly embarrassed, trying his best dad energy. Since the story is told through Steven’s POV, there aren’t a ton of female voices, but when they did appear he didn’t go overboard trying to make them sound feminine. The standouts for me were the kids voices, the lawyer’s New York accent, and the courtroom scenes.
📚 Story Review
First title from him and phew! The second the au pair’s profile picture was described exactly like the cover image, I knew I was in for a treat. Such a small detail but I loved it. This is domestic suspense with a splash of courtroom thriller mixed in, and apparently that’s exactly what I needed right now. It’s been a while since I’ve read a straight-up domestic suspense novel and this reminded me why I enjoy them so much.
The wife is the breadwinner, family dynamics are shifting, tensions are simmering, and then things start getting messy. Also…CHAPTER 44 LOL…Some readers are absolutely going to hate the ending, and I can feeeeeel it.
In fact, I loved it so much that I finished the audiobook in the shower and immediately replayed the final chapter THREE TIMES because I was convinced I’d missed something….spoiler, I didn’t , I just wasn’t ready for it to be over!
🎙️ Narration Review
First listen from Eric A. Altheide and what an introduction it was! First things first: NO BATMAN VOICE🤠 This man can MOVE through dialogue too. He’s a fast talker (which I personally love), so I actually dropped my listening speed down to 1.4x and had a great time. The best way I can describe the audio quality is this….you know when you upgrade from an old TV to one of those ridiculously expensive ones and suddenly you can see pores on people’s faces? That’s what this audiobook sounded like 😂
He absolutely nailed Steven’s personality too. Reserved, awkward, slightly embarrassed, trying his best dad energy. Since the story is told through Steven’s POV, there aren’t a ton of female voices, but when they did appear he didn’t go overboard trying to make them sound feminine. The standouts for me were the kids voices, the lawyer’s New York accent, and the courtroom scenes.
📚 Story Review
First title from him and phew! The second the au pair’s profile picture was described exactly like the cover image, I knew I was in for a treat. Such a small detail but I loved it. This is domestic suspense with a splash of courtroom thriller mixed in, and apparently that’s exactly what I needed right now. It’s been a while since I’ve read a straight-up domestic suspense novel and this reminded me why I enjoy them so much.
The wife is the breadwinner, family dynamics are shifting, tensions are simmering, and then things start getting messy. Also…CHAPTER 44 LOL…Some readers are absolutely going to hate the ending, and I can feeeeeel it.
In fact, I loved it so much that I finished the audiobook in the shower and immediately replayed the final chapter THREE TIMES because I was convinced I’d missed something….spoiler, I didn’t , I just wasn’t ready for it to be over!
July 6, 2026
"𝑫𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒔 𝑴𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒚?"
"𝑶𝒇 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆, 𝒃𝒂𝒃𝒚. 𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝒅𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒔𝒌?"
"𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒂𝒅."
Steven Hammer is a once-celebrated novelist whose career has stalled just as his marriage begins to unravel. The one bright spot in his increasingly fragile life is Astrid, the young Norwegian au pair who not only cares for his children but also seems to admire the work the rest of the literary world has forgotten. Their relationship quickly spirals into a scandal that dominates headlines, leaving everyone to wonder whether Astrid is an innocent caught in the fallout or something far more calculating. As Steven's obsession deepens, the line between truth and self-delusion grows harder to see.
This was a solid, engaging read that kept me turning the pages, even if the overall premise felt familiar. The author does an excellent job exploring Steven's unraveling psyche, and I found myself less invested in uncovering a shocking twist than in watching this deeply flawed man continue digging himself into a bigger hole. There was a quiet tension running through the story that kept me curious, and I appreciated how the narrative focused on character rather than relying on the same tired twists often found in domestic thrillers.
Where the novel lost me was the ending. I kept waiting for one final revelation or emotional punch that would reframe everything I'd read, something that would leave me staring into space after I turned the last page. Instead, it wrapped up in a way that felt a little too safe for the story it had been telling. Even so, this is still a worthwhile literary thriller with strong writing, believable characters, and enough suspense to keep the pages turning. It may not linger in my mind for long, but I enjoyed the journey while I was on it. Thank you to Harper Collins for my finished copy. This book is available now.
"𝑶𝒇 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆, 𝒃𝒂𝒃𝒚. 𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝒅𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒔𝒌?"
"𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒂𝒅."
Steven Hammer is a once-celebrated novelist whose career has stalled just as his marriage begins to unravel. The one bright spot in his increasingly fragile life is Astrid, the young Norwegian au pair who not only cares for his children but also seems to admire the work the rest of the literary world has forgotten. Their relationship quickly spirals into a scandal that dominates headlines, leaving everyone to wonder whether Astrid is an innocent caught in the fallout or something far more calculating. As Steven's obsession deepens, the line between truth and self-delusion grows harder to see.
This was a solid, engaging read that kept me turning the pages, even if the overall premise felt familiar. The author does an excellent job exploring Steven's unraveling psyche, and I found myself less invested in uncovering a shocking twist than in watching this deeply flawed man continue digging himself into a bigger hole. There was a quiet tension running through the story that kept me curious, and I appreciated how the narrative focused on character rather than relying on the same tired twists often found in domestic thrillers.
Where the novel lost me was the ending. I kept waiting for one final revelation or emotional punch that would reframe everything I'd read, something that would leave me staring into space after I turned the last page. Instead, it wrapped up in a way that felt a little too safe for the story it had been telling. Even so, this is still a worthwhile literary thriller with strong writing, believable characters, and enough suspense to keep the pages turning. It may not linger in my mind for long, but I enjoyed the journey while I was on it. Thank you to Harper Collins for my finished copy. This book is available now.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Title: The Au Pair
Author: Teddy Wayne
Narrated by Eric A. Altheide
Published by HarperAudio Adult | Harper
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Pub Date: June 30, 2026
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
Pages 272
This was my first Teddy Wayne. I went into it without knowing much about it only because I like mystery/thrillers as well as a good audiobook. I read several reviews and thought this should work!
Steven and Lucy are married with two young children. Lucy is a successful businesswoman from a wealthy family. Steven has written two books and considered to be a successful author but is struggling now to balance between being a stay-at-home dad and having time to write his next novel.
The decision is made to hire an au pair, and Astrid a young Norwegian girl seems perfect. Astrid is very attractive as well as a good cook. However, as time goes on there are concerns if she was properly trained in childcare. This has caused Lucy concern and wonders is they need to reconsider her employment.
Perhaps Astrid childcare skills are lacking as she really wants to be an author.
Steven, of course, finds having Astrid desirable.
I soon found Steve’s behavior very annoying-he certainly has a strong male ego! I ‘get’ finding an attractive young lady in short shorts attractive but finding her body odor appealing - Really!!! (Obviously, he is more interested in her bedroom skills!)
I hung in there. I do like courtroom drama, so I enjoyed that part of this story.
Oh! I forgot to mention someone is found dead!
Now you have to read on and find out whodunit!
Want to thank NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult | Harper for this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for June 30, 2026.
Author: Teddy Wayne
Narrated by Eric A. Altheide
Published by HarperAudio Adult | Harper
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Pub Date: June 30, 2026
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
Pages 272
This was my first Teddy Wayne. I went into it without knowing much about it only because I like mystery/thrillers as well as a good audiobook. I read several reviews and thought this should work!
Steven and Lucy are married with two young children. Lucy is a successful businesswoman from a wealthy family. Steven has written two books and considered to be a successful author but is struggling now to balance between being a stay-at-home dad and having time to write his next novel.
The decision is made to hire an au pair, and Astrid a young Norwegian girl seems perfect. Astrid is very attractive as well as a good cook. However, as time goes on there are concerns if she was properly trained in childcare. This has caused Lucy concern and wonders is they need to reconsider her employment.
Perhaps Astrid childcare skills are lacking as she really wants to be an author.
Steven, of course, finds having Astrid desirable.
I soon found Steve’s behavior very annoying-he certainly has a strong male ego! I ‘get’ finding an attractive young lady in short shorts attractive but finding her body odor appealing - Really!!! (Obviously, he is more interested in her bedroom skills!)
I hung in there. I do like courtroom drama, so I enjoyed that part of this story.
Oh! I forgot to mention someone is found dead!
Now you have to read on and find out whodunit!
Want to thank NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult | Harper for this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for June 30, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
📜The Au Pair
✍️Teddy Wayne
📠Harper Collins/Harper
📚Mystery/Thriller Fiction
🗓️Pub date: June 30, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you @harperbooks @harpercollins for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy of this #gifted physical book. All opinions are mine alone.
From the publisher:
Steven Hammer was once a literary star. Now, his career is floundering, his marriage to a high-powered woman is crumbling, and the only bright spot in his life is Astrid, the Norwegian au pair who cares for their children—and reveres his neglected novels. But what begins as a secret infatuation soon spirals into a scandal that makes them both infamous.
As a headline-grabbing trial captivates the world with a salacious story of sex, power, and betrayal, Steven must confront the wreckage he’s created—and the deeper insecurities that fueled it. Is Astrid an innocent young woman caught up in a case beyond her control, or a calculating femme fatale? And how far will he go, driven by desperation and obsession, for her professed love?
Thoughts:
This book felt like a roller coaster—you’re slowly crawling up that vertical incline, the anticipation building, and it stops at the top for max effect, and then drops like a guillotine.
I kept holding my breath waiting, just waiting, for the rapid decline, and was on the edge of my seat the whole time. That rapid decline delivered and I kept turning the pages faster and faster, wanting to know what would happen next.
In the likes of the show The Affair, this is scandalous, secretive, and a downright good time. Read this.
#advancedreadercopy #bookstagram #harperbooks #theaupair
✍️Teddy Wayne
📠Harper Collins/Harper
📚Mystery/Thriller Fiction
🗓️Pub date: June 30, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you @harperbooks @harpercollins for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy of this #gifted physical book. All opinions are mine alone.
From the publisher:
Steven Hammer was once a literary star. Now, his career is floundering, his marriage to a high-powered woman is crumbling, and the only bright spot in his life is Astrid, the Norwegian au pair who cares for their children—and reveres his neglected novels. But what begins as a secret infatuation soon spirals into a scandal that makes them both infamous.
As a headline-grabbing trial captivates the world with a salacious story of sex, power, and betrayal, Steven must confront the wreckage he’s created—and the deeper insecurities that fueled it. Is Astrid an innocent young woman caught up in a case beyond her control, or a calculating femme fatale? And how far will he go, driven by desperation and obsession, for her professed love?
Thoughts:
This book felt like a roller coaster—you’re slowly crawling up that vertical incline, the anticipation building, and it stops at the top for max effect, and then drops like a guillotine.
I kept holding my breath waiting, just waiting, for the rapid decline, and was on the edge of my seat the whole time. That rapid decline delivered and I kept turning the pages faster and faster, wanting to know what would happen next.
In the likes of the show The Affair, this is scandalous, secretive, and a downright good time. Read this.
#advancedreadercopy #bookstagram #harperbooks #theaupair
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I've been a fan of Wayne for a while. He got his start in literary fiction and stayed the course until his recent Winner tiptoed ever so slightly into the domestic thriller territory.
That's a lucrative territory to set foot into. Thrillers are all the rage these days, their popularity increase directly proportional to their quality decline.
By now, I've mostly stopped reading them altogether because of how blandly formulaic they've become. It's lamentable to consider that this is the direct response to what the audience wants, but to avoid digressing ...
With this book, Wayne hits all the marks of the modern thriller: the troubled marriage, at least one eventually dead spouse, the hot au-pair, people with money behaving badly, etc. Yet he does it with his unique flair, which is to say he manages to subvert expectations by veering away from offering an easily likable protagonist and by making the narrative deliciously ambiguous and ... gasp ... literary.
Is it going to sell in the millions like all the other trop-ridden genre crap out there? Possibly not.
Is it considerably better than most of what genre has to offer right now? Absofreakinglutely.
I enjoyed it thoroughly, but I don't need cheap gotcha thrills to turn the pages. If you're curious what all those genre tropes might look like upscaled, you'll likely enjoy this book too.
But for purely selfish reasons, I do hope Wayne gets back to what he does so very well and continues to just write good, literary, character-driven fiction. Just as I hope one day the reading world will get back to considering that thrilling in its own right.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
That's a lucrative territory to set foot into. Thrillers are all the rage these days, their popularity increase directly proportional to their quality decline.
By now, I've mostly stopped reading them altogether because of how blandly formulaic they've become. It's lamentable to consider that this is the direct response to what the audience wants, but to avoid digressing ...
With this book, Wayne hits all the marks of the modern thriller: the troubled marriage, at least one eventually dead spouse, the hot au-pair, people with money behaving badly, etc. Yet he does it with his unique flair, which is to say he manages to subvert expectations by veering away from offering an easily likable protagonist and by making the narrative deliciously ambiguous and ... gasp ... literary.
Is it going to sell in the millions like all the other trop-ridden genre crap out there? Possibly not.
Is it considerably better than most of what genre has to offer right now? Absofreakinglutely.
I enjoyed it thoroughly, but I don't need cheap gotcha thrills to turn the pages. If you're curious what all those genre tropes might look like upscaled, you'll likely enjoy this book too.
But for purely selfish reasons, I do hope Wayne gets back to what he does so very well and continues to just write good, literary, character-driven fiction. Just as I hope one day the reading world will get back to considering that thrilling in its own right.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you @harperbooks for the gifted copies of this book!
Wowza. From the very beginning of this audiobook, The Au Pair had me intrigued. It’s a little predictable (husband goes for the nanny) but was still no less addicting because I couldn’t look away. 😅
What made this book especially interesting for me was that I genuinely didn’t like most of the characters...and I mean that as a compliment. 😂 Every character seemed to have something off about them and that was the tension that made the story feel unsettling and hard to look away from. The father alone I’d say I wouldn’t have been mad if he disappeared forever. LOL. 🤢 He was an absolute creep. He gave me the ick from the start and Teddy did such a great job creating an uncomfortable vibe.
One thing I wish we’d gotten a little more of was the background of the husband and wife’s relationship before the story’s major events. I found myself wanting a deeper understanding of how they got to where they were. It didn’t take away from the story but I did want a little more history of their relationship.
I also found some of the details throughout the story intentionally odd in a way that added to the atmosphere. Things like the discussions surrounding the au pair’s body odor (ew) and the focus on the father’s weight gain at the end stood out to me as unusual. At the same time though those details felt very much in line with the book’s mood. As for the audiobook itself I thought it was well done. 🎧 Eric A. Altheide did a great job with this one!
The ending is definitely one that made me wanting to immediately text a friend and ask, "Okay, but what do YOU think happened?" 🤔 It's a little open-ended which I wanted to mention because I know that sometimes doesn't work for everyone. I personally liked it though because it made me want to talk about it.
Overall, this was an easy and fast paced listen. If you like family secrets, sneaky characters and if you don't mind likely not liking any of the characters then give this one a try!
Wowza. From the very beginning of this audiobook, The Au Pair had me intrigued. It’s a little predictable (husband goes for the nanny) but was still no less addicting because I couldn’t look away. 😅
What made this book especially interesting for me was that I genuinely didn’t like most of the characters...and I mean that as a compliment. 😂 Every character seemed to have something off about them and that was the tension that made the story feel unsettling and hard to look away from. The father alone I’d say I wouldn’t have been mad if he disappeared forever. LOL. 🤢 He was an absolute creep. He gave me the ick from the start and Teddy did such a great job creating an uncomfortable vibe.
One thing I wish we’d gotten a little more of was the background of the husband and wife’s relationship before the story’s major events. I found myself wanting a deeper understanding of how they got to where they were. It didn’t take away from the story but I did want a little more history of their relationship.
I also found some of the details throughout the story intentionally odd in a way that added to the atmosphere. Things like the discussions surrounding the au pair’s body odor (ew) and the focus on the father’s weight gain at the end stood out to me as unusual. At the same time though those details felt very much in line with the book’s mood. As for the audiobook itself I thought it was well done. 🎧 Eric A. Altheide did a great job with this one!
The ending is definitely one that made me wanting to immediately text a friend and ask, "Okay, but what do YOU think happened?" 🤔 It's a little open-ended which I wanted to mention because I know that sometimes doesn't work for everyone. I personally liked it though because it made me want to talk about it.
Overall, this was an easy and fast paced listen. If you like family secrets, sneaky characters and if you don't mind likely not liking any of the characters then give this one a try!
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