The Au Pair: A new unmissable, razor‑sharp domestic literary thriller full of power, lust, and a scandal for 2026!

by Teddy Wayne

Named a ‘Most-Anticipated Book’ by The New York Times and LitHub

Steven Hammer was once a literary star. Now, his career is floundering, his marriage to high-powered banker Lucy 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 fuelled 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 propulsive momentum, sharp wit and sly, lucid prose, The Au Pair is a sleek literary thriller about failure, desire, and the unravelling of a man as he grapples with his fading relevance – when the lies others spin pale beside the fictions we tell ourselves.

* * * *

Praise for The Au

‘The Au Pair is Teddy Wayne at his immensely readable best. The plot ratchets up in the creepiest, most chilling way while deliciously skewering the Brooklyn literary set. It’s a book you’ll tear through, one that leaves you guessing until the last page’ Maria Semple, author of Go Gentle

‘You may think you know where it’s going, this novel about a disappointed writer, his frosty wife, and a comely young nanny. You may be in for a surprise. Propulsive but also insightful – and funny, in its merciless skewering of midlife, marriage, and more – The Au Pair cements Teddy Wayne’s status as a master of the wicked little literary thriller’ Rumaan Alam, author of Leave the World Behind

‘An ingenious dissection of marriage, masculinity, and privilege, propelled by a gimlet-eyed wit… A sly, unsettling hybrid of social satire and domestic thriller’ Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

‘A sharp domestic thriller… An intricate look at the perils of seeking admiration. Readers will be hard-pressed to put this down’ Publishers Weekly

‘Teddy Wayne has written a book about selling out that doesn’t—a guilty pleasure that earns its guilt. The Au Pair is a canny seduction wrapped in a page-turning thriller wrapped in an elegy for the literary a threefold delight’ Ayad Akhtar, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Homeland Elegies and The Radiance

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Audiobook, Mystery, Suspense, Crime, Literary Fiction

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 30, 2026

About the author

Teddy 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.

Reviews

[Kennedy]

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.

[Melki]

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.

[Amy]

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

[Nikki Lee (Nikkileethrillseeker)]

You guys are gonna have a real laugh, but, I didn’t know what Au Pair meant lol. Someone had to break it down for me 😆. It’s a young foreign national (typically aged 18–26) who lives with a host family to provide childcare. They receive free room and board with an allowance.

So, with that said, this is about a girl who moves in with a wealthy couple and their two kids. One thing leads to another…. Yada yada …. And someone ends up dead.

I was into this is in the beginning and I did enjoy the courtroom scenes. However, the way everything wrapped up, it was a bit unbelievable. Tied into a nice bow.

I think this is a good fit for new thriller fans. If you’re curious definitely give it a read.

I liked the audio narration as well.

3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Harper Books for my gifted copy.

[Nic]

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.

[Judy Collins]

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

[Samuel Gordon]

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)

[R L HERSKOWITZ]

A couple hires a gorgeous Norwegian young woman to be the nanny of their two children.
The husband is a novelist that works from home.
The wife is a busy powerful businesswoman.
What could go wrong???

Police procedural & courtroom drama for part of the book.

I was extremely surprised by the ending.

I enjoyed this book!

[Bob]

Thanks to HarperCollins for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Teddy Wayne's The Au Pair tells the familiar story of Steven Hammer, a one hit book wonder, who's searching for a new Au Pair to take care of his children. Astrid Odegaard, a beautiful Norwegian, is hired by his wife, Lucy. Steven is not only surprised that the new hire is a hit with his kids, but that she's also a fan of his work. Steven and Astrid give into their mutual attraction to each other which leads them on an unexpected path of betrayal, deception, and murder. There's no big twists or turns because the plot is beyond predictable however the excellent character development and Steven's hillarious observations about book publishing kept my interest. The pace is fast and the ending is a suitable one. The Au Pair isn't the best book to read this summer, but it's good enough for a day at the beach.

[Lauren D'Souza]

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.

[Andrew Smith]

I really like Wayne’s writing. He delivers stories that are intelligently written and focused on flawed yet compelling characters. Here, we’re introduced to a struggling writer and part-time teacher who is maintaining a lifestyle financed by his monied wife. But things get complicated when he hires a young and attractive au pair. Very quickly he becomes attracted to her and the flaws in his relationship with his wife become painfully exposed.

There are elements of Wayne’s earlier novel The Great Man Theory here, in the prevailing characteristics of the leading characters. The writing is great, though I want entirely convinced by what became a rather convoluted plotline.

[LJ]

thank you to HarperCollins Publishing for the ARC

this book was awful. i copy and pasted everything wrong with it from my notes app and i didn’t want to waste my time trying to retype anything.

-steven said he had always known lucy was the wrong choice for him yet he married her
-steven likes the smell of astrid’s medical condition (fucking weird)
-steven and lucy cheat on each other but won’t get a divorce
-a smile is an invitation to kiss someone??
-sleeping with astrid is the most exhilarating sexual encounter of his life yet he’s been married to lucy for like nine years (again, why be married?)
-if you lost weight your penis would look bigger HIS MOM TOLD HIM THIS
-a man definitely wrote this because why is steven okay with having sex with astrid but too insecure to show her his fat childhood self?
-he put his face in her armpit to smell it??
-dude is financially dependent on lucy, that’s why he won’t divorce her.
-left his kids alone in a restaurant to sneak off to the restroom to astrid all for sex
-plunging into ice-cold fjord??
-astrid using a salad spinner makes him think of other things??
-there’s no way this Steven character isn’t just Teddy Wayne
-doing sexual things in the kitchen, not caring if kids walked in
-Steven is a horny bastard that needs to be stopped
-Astrid keeps calling Lucy an ‘impediment’ even though she’s hardly it interacted with her
-lucy wanted to spend some time with the kids but only sees them at dinner on this vacation and decides to be on her phone instead
-steven can’t just tell lucy the truth about what him and astrid are doing, this dude is so fucking unlikeable
-talks about lucy having an affair as if he isn’t??
-steven and astrid are 21 years apart
-literary thriller my ass, WHERE IS THE THRILL
-when lucy took the kids to the movies and astrid makes moves on him, he all of a sudden tries to tell her he can’t do that as if he hasn’t been doing it for over a month and as if he wasn’t thinking earlier that another week without sex felt like a year
-of course when lucy does accuse him of having sex with her, he denies it and accuses her of having too much to drink
-if astrid were to be fired, he would do anything to keep his affair going with her, even if he had to go to a different city (he was far from the only person to carry on like this, as if that’s a reason to do it)
-randomly picks up on page 117, obviously astrid killed lucy. lucy had just talked about wanting to fire her the night before and Steven let astrid know that
-lucy dying had solved all stevens problems instead of him just divorcing her
-all steven is worried about the detectives seeing on the cameras are him and astrid having an affair rather than being worried about his dead wife
-the first thing he wanted to tell astrid was to delete the Risk game so the officers wouldn’t see their texts and he actually cared about losing a stupid game rank he worked for two years to get as if that’s more important than his dead wife
-he’s thinking about how him and astrid can be together now
-steven’s dumbass didn’t realize the police can recover messages
-he refuses to think that astrid could have killed lucy when it’s obvious as is
-the detectives didn’t know astrid the way he did’ bullshit, what could he know about her? all they do is have sex
-lucy’s father saying ‘well, you’re human’ to steven cheating on his daughter
-of course he would randomly change his words and say lucy did tell him she was getting in the hot tub.
-not guilty my ass
-he really tried to defend astrid and put himself in jail while she walks free is hilarious. i hate this book
-astrid titles her book ‘the au pair’ of course.
-yep, they get married.

this book reads like it’s about Teddy Wayne himself. it’s weird and you can tell a man wrote this book.

[Meghan]

I hated this so much.
STFU with the old “husband hates his wife and wants the au pair” BS.
Over played narrative. Which has been done WAY better by other writers.
Do better.

[Karen Bullock]

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!!👏🏻👏🏻

[Linda Hutchinson]

⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Au Pair
Author: Teddy Wayne
Source: Orlando Public Library @ocls
Publication Date: June 30, 2026

THRILLER
FICTION
MYSTERY
CRIME
SUSPENSE

The Au Pair was an entertaining book that validated my theory that sometimes men and women sexually mature at different time frames.

The lead protagonist is a 45-year-old disillusioned male author, Steven, who has seen his career peak and is now in decline. He lives vicariously through his younger wife Lucy’s outrageous and successful career. Added to this is the emasculation of his ego with his rich wife giving him a stipend (allowance) and basically expecting him to be the house husband and caregiver to their two children. Steven spends most of his days pretending to write his next novel, which remains unfinished after years of research. The marriage is on life support.

Enter Astrid, a Norwegian nanny (au pair) that Lucy consents to hire, thinking it might “cheer” her husband’s attitude. The nanny and Steven only last a short while before falling in lust with one another. What could go wrong?

The story starts cranking when murder, lies, secrets, deceptions, and more shameful behavior wreck the entire scenario. Steven is an idiot. I enjoyed the story and want to note that a male author wrote it. It had some great surprises. A solid 4-star read.

#TheAuPair
#TeddyWayne
@ocls
@harpercollins

[Alex O'Connor]

what can I say, I have loved Teddy Wayne for like a decade now and pretty much all of his books have hit a sweet spot. Eminently readable. Wish it was double the length!

[Annie]

literally so cliche; man sleeps with nanny and then nanny kills wife… really?

my two major issues with this book:

1. OBVIOUSLY written by a man
- the narrator says that sleeping with his norwegian nanny reminds him of an icy fjord
- he spends forever talking about how sensual her “odor” is which she has because of a medical condition which affects her fertility and is completely unnecessary to the plot
- he says that her use of a salad spinner reminds him of other things
- he says that her innocence is what makes her sexy and she’s 20 years younger than him

2. the characters are not complex, do not develop over time, and dont reflect on themselves at all
- Steven (husband) is a jerk, but it doesn’t feel like the author does it on purpose, resulting in a book where the husband gets his happy ending and doesn’t care if his affair partner is homicidal because she’s hot and obsessed with him

[Readingbythepool]

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.

[Salty Swift]

Lesson learned - don't have sex with a Norwegian au pair. Consequences are just not worth the hassle!

[ari]

Fast paced & engaging. I love Wayne’s writing style.

[Amiee]

This was a middle aged white mans fantasy and it was wild. He was dumb and infuriately hateful.

I RARELY rate anything a 1 so this is WELL DESERVED.

[Neelam]

Women came across so badly in this book it made me feel ick. Also the most boring premise for a thriller, really hoped something exciting would happen by the end but god that was predictable. 1* because the writing didn’t suck but the plot did.

[Kate | Date With A Thriller]

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! ❤️

[Sam Donley]

Main character SUCKS. Made me mad and annoyed literally the whole book.

[BethFishReads]

Really more like a 2.75

A kind of domestic thriller involving a wealthy New York City couple and their Norwegian au pair. The following thoughts are purposely vague to avoid spoilers.

Steven won notoriety from his mega best-selling debut novel. Unfortunately, his second book was not a favorite with the critics. He barely makes a living, but that's okay because his wife, Lucy, is the owner of fabulously successful start-up. Steven and their two young kids are more than comfortable living off of Lucy's money. It is, of course, a bit of a blow to Steven's ego.

When the couple find themselves in need of a new nanny, they both agree that Astrid looks like the best candidate. She soon wins over the children, and the household is running smoothly. Although Astrid's at least half his age, Steven can't help but notice her beauty.

In a matter of weeks, Steven strays for the first time ever in his marriage, and a moment of passion with Astrid develops into a steady affair. Steven is pretty sure Lucy is clueless, but one evening when the family and au pair on vacation in the country, Lucy tells Steven he has to fire Astrid when they return to the city.

From almost that moment, the family's life is turned upside down, and Steven must make some hard decisions.

The suspense builds nicely as the story reaches its pivotal moment. I had a few theories of what would happen, and I was only partly right. Unfortunately, after that point in the book I started to have major issues with what Steven thinks and does. In addition, I didn't love the ending. I think it could have been way more creepy, but maybe that's just me.

The audiobook was performed by Eric A. Altheide. He kept my attention throughout. I don't have a lot to say about his work here, which isn't a bad thing. I had no complaints and wouldn't hesitate to listen to him again.

Thanks to Harper Audio via Libro.fm and Harper for review copies.

[Marissa (holdme.thrillme)]

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.

[Nikki]

I can’t rate this because I was so invested and couldn’t put it down but sooooo pissed off how it ended!

I suppose the ending of The Au Pair is so awful is because it is a cynical social satire and not a realistic crime story but UGHHHH I was so disappointed.

[Carey Calvert]

I wanted to start this with me gushing over Teddy Wayne’s 2020 novel, Apartment, “a near-anthropological study of male insecurity,” that I was able to devour during the pandemic, or talk about his 5 other novels (I still read backlist when I can), and how Wayne’s The Winner, the tennis pro’s love triangle thriller, knocked all other books off my TBR in 2024, yet I say all this to say

I couldn’t put his latest, THE AU PAIR, down.

I tried.

I read several books at a time: 25 pages – to the next chapter, then move to the next.

I tried. I really did but the tension and heat, which Wayne brought to The Winner, is exacerbated tenfold in THE AU PAIR.

Steven Hammer (and Wayne lets the jokes fly), is a 45-year-old writer whose best days are behind him – the cruelty of April, but his high-powered CEO wife, Lucy, of course, Lucy, takes care of him and their two children, perceptive Sophie, and toddler Caleb.

The death of their nanny leaves the family in a lurch and Steven suggests the young Norwegian au pair, Astrid, who's perfect for the kids, so perfect that she usurps Lucy’s "position," which is not too hard to do since Lucy is forever busy with her company that pays for their lush lifestyle.

It’s inevitable what happens next, which drives the tension, unbelievably so because you know what happens next, and it is Wayne’s ability to make the trainwreck humorous and ... sinister.

THE AU PAIR is a novel within a novel and while Steven’s exploits and foibles drive the plot, it is Astrid who “compels the reader to hold multiple and sometimes contradictory ideas at once, and dwell within life’s ambiguities.”

THE AU PAIR represents the art of fiction: sly and cunning; a domestic thriller that satisfies its basest desires but propels them through a lens that encompasses scathing satire and complicated and flawed characters.

THE AU PAIR is a winner.

[Annie]

This is going to be another divisive book that I ATE ALL THE WAY UP!!! Gobble gobble!

‘The Au Pair’ is one of those books where the setup sounds familiar on paper - wealthy couple, younger au pair, affair, scandal - but Teddy Wayne gives it so much more bite through the social commentary, power dynamics, and sheer amount of self delusion happening on the page.

Steven Hammer is a once successful novelist whose career has stalled while his wife Lucy has become the powerful breadwinner, and his insecurity is practically its own character. Then Astrid enters the picture: young, beautiful, Norwegian, and perhaps most dangerously, deeply admiring of Steven’s work. She becomes the perfect mirror for the version of himself he desperately wants to believe still exists - brilliant, relevant, desirable, important.

And that is where this gets GOOD.

Steven has an Olympic level commitment to ignoring every red flag placed directly in front of him. 😂 He spends so much of the book rationalizing his own behavior, protecting his ego, and choosing whichever version of reality is most convenient for him that by the end, I wasn’t even sure whether I was more fascinated by Astrid’s possible manipulation or Steven’s willingness to be manipulated.

I also really liked how much this book digs into financial dependence, masculinity, class, privilege, validation, citizenship, marriage, and the lies people tell themselves to make their choices feel justified. The domestic suspense is addictive, but the social satire underneath it is what made the story feel sharper than the premise initially suggests.

And that ending!!

Messy, compulsively readable, darkly funny, and extremely discussable. Not perfect, but such a fun one to unpack after finishing.

The takeaway: sometimes the most dangerous lies aren’t the ones other people tell us - they’re the ones we’re desperate enough to tell ourselves.

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[Peter Knox]

I mean, this book was wild in the way that Lifetime movies can be written for men too. I'm sure if you got past the book cover design, you'll be all the way bought in as well.

It's a compelling mix of Californication (the Showtime show with David Duchovny; essentially the older once-famous bad boy big time writer in middle age crisis in mutual infatuation with a younger woman half his age) and Anatomy of a Fall (the Oscar-nominated foreign film where there's a mystery to be solved and complicated by unreliable narrators and plenty of cognitive dissonance deceit and manipulation.

Largely impossible to discuss without spoiling too much, as the point is to not know what's coming and to want to find out, but the experience is essentially 'cringe' beach reading where you know the main character should absolutely NOT do the thing that he's going to do anyway.

If you believe that men will risk their entire life for the right/wrong woman, if you want to read about writers doing everything but writing, and if you're not going to be triggered by bad marriages, parenting, and professional relationships... this will be the quick read you want.