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Yorktide, Maine #7
The Summer Nanny
Set against the beautiful backdrop of coastal Maine, bestselling author Holly Chamberlin's heartwarming novel tells of friendship, family, lessons learned, and newfound love--all under a summer sky . . .
Every June, the quiet beach town of Ogunquit is overtaken by wealthy families who hire local young women like Amy Latimer and Hayley Franklin to care for their children. Best friends since childhood, Amy and Hayley are eager to secure lucrative summer jobs. Amy wants to finance her upcoming move to Boston. Hayley hopes to squirrel away enough money so that her mom can finally leave her abusive husband.
Amy is immediately in thrall to her dynamic boss, Cressida Prior, so different from Amy's mother, Leda. Though skilled at creating tapestries and rugs, Leda lacks confidence. But one thing she does know, after a painful summer long ago as a nanny herself, is how damaging a manipulative boss can be.
Hayley's employers, Jon and Marisa Whitby, are loving parents to their two-year-old twins. Jon also has a grown son by a previous marriage. Ethan is kind, handsome, and not least, wealthy. For the first time, Hayley, usually so selfless, can't help seeing him as an opportunity.
But the passing weeks bring complications and revelations, altering friendships, testing the bond between mothers and daughters, and proving that the ripples from a single season can last forever . . .
Praise for the novels of Holly Chamberlin
"There is sure to be much clamor for this latest beach read. Recommend it to fans of Claire Cook and Elin Hilderbrand." --Booklist on Home for the Summer
"Chamberlin's latest is a great summer read but with substance. It will find a wide audience in its exploration of sisterhood, family, and loss."
- Library Journal on Summer with My Sisters
Every June, the quiet beach town of Ogunquit is overtaken by wealthy families who hire local young women like Amy Latimer and Hayley Franklin to care for their children. Best friends since childhood, Amy and Hayley are eager to secure lucrative summer jobs. Amy wants to finance her upcoming move to Boston. Hayley hopes to squirrel away enough money so that her mom can finally leave her abusive husband.
Amy is immediately in thrall to her dynamic boss, Cressida Prior, so different from Amy's mother, Leda. Though skilled at creating tapestries and rugs, Leda lacks confidence. But one thing she does know, after a painful summer long ago as a nanny herself, is how damaging a manipulative boss can be.
Hayley's employers, Jon and Marisa Whitby, are loving parents to their two-year-old twins. Jon also has a grown son by a previous marriage. Ethan is kind, handsome, and not least, wealthy. For the first time, Hayley, usually so selfless, can't help seeing him as an opportunity.
But the passing weeks bring complications and revelations, altering friendships, testing the bond between mothers and daughters, and proving that the ripples from a single season can last forever . . .
Praise for the novels of Holly Chamberlin
"There is sure to be much clamor for this latest beach read. Recommend it to fans of Claire Cook and Elin Hilderbrand." --Booklist on Home for the Summer
"Chamberlin's latest is a great summer read but with substance. It will find a wide audience in its exploration of sisterhood, family, and loss."
- Library Journal on Summer with My Sisters
464 pages, Paperback
First published June 26, 2018
231 people are currently reading
2146 people want to read
About the author
Holly Chamberlin
38 books565 followersHolly Chamberlin is a native New Yorker, but she now lives in Portland, Maine - the aftermath of stumbling across Mr. Right at the one moment she wasn't watching the terrain. She's been writing and editing - poetry, children's fantasies, a romance novel or two, among many other genres and projects - her entire life. She has two cats, Betty and Cyrus, and when she's not writing her hobbies include reading, shopping, and cocktails at six.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
August 31, 2018
This book is okay. I like the idea of two friends taking babysitting gigs for the summer. Amy was hard for me to relate to, but I loved Hayley. I think I wished both had a bit more depth to them. And their moms seemed weirdly restrained to me. The story moved along nicely but also felt weirdly reserved. The Summer Nanny is an okay beach read, but it never completely grabbed my attention.
June 27, 2018
Original review found here https://kristineandterri.blogspot.com...
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! The story was just released.
The synopsis of this book sums things up pretty accurately. It is a story of mothers and daughters and best friends and how those relationships can be put to the test so I am not going to spend a lot of time regurgitating the plot. Instead I want to get straight to what bothered me the entire way through the story and that is Amy!
For lack of a better word, I can't believe how stupid Amy was. Now that may be harsh but I remember when I was her age, it really wasn't that long ago and I can say that I was never as naïve as her. I came from a very sheltered background yet I was able to form opinions on what was right and wrong and stand up for what was wrong. It was so extreme that she almost read like a fourteen year old as opposed to a college graduate. It got to the point that everything about her annoyed me as she let Cressida walk all over her and worse, worshipped her for it. Then add to it, continue to stand quietly while witnessing the violent and abusive behavior Cressida bestowed on her family. While you knew Amy would learn some lessons in the end, I had a difficult time rooting for Amy for being so immature. On the flip side, she angered me so that I thought this story would make a good book club discussion. I myself debated numerous things in my head.
Moving on to Hayley's story I had the complete opposite reaction. I was in her corner from the very beginning and I completely understood where she was coming from as she tried to find ways to get her mother and herself out of their current circumstances. I could easily forgive her with her fantasies of wealth and how it would answer all of her questions. Heck, I fantasize about it also however I am doing it the old fashion way with a job.
Aside from how much Amy annoyed me, I enjoyed the rest of the story. It was a fairly quick read and it led me to have many inner debates which is always a good thing.
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! The story was just released.
The synopsis of this book sums things up pretty accurately. It is a story of mothers and daughters and best friends and how those relationships can be put to the test so I am not going to spend a lot of time regurgitating the plot. Instead I want to get straight to what bothered me the entire way through the story and that is Amy!
For lack of a better word, I can't believe how stupid Amy was. Now that may be harsh but I remember when I was her age, it really wasn't that long ago and I can say that I was never as naïve as her. I came from a very sheltered background yet I was able to form opinions on what was right and wrong and stand up for what was wrong. It was so extreme that she almost read like a fourteen year old as opposed to a college graduate. It got to the point that everything about her annoyed me as she let Cressida walk all over her and worse, worshipped her for it. Then add to it, continue to stand quietly while witnessing the violent and abusive behavior Cressida bestowed on her family. While you knew Amy would learn some lessons in the end, I had a difficult time rooting for Amy for being so immature. On the flip side, she angered me so that I thought this story would make a good book club discussion. I myself debated numerous things in my head.
Moving on to Hayley's story I had the complete opposite reaction. I was in her corner from the very beginning and I completely understood where she was coming from as she tried to find ways to get her mother and herself out of their current circumstances. I could easily forgive her with her fantasies of wealth and how it would answer all of her questions. Heck, I fantasize about it also however I am doing it the old fashion way with a job.
Aside from how much Amy annoyed me, I enjoyed the rest of the story. It was a fairly quick read and it led me to have many inner debates which is always a good thing.
June 12, 2018
This is great summer read, and takes us on Amy and Hayley’s journey to find themselves and growing up. The town each summer has all these wealthy people who come and need help with their children. And a summer nanny job is just they both need. Plenty of drama ensued, and things did’t quite turn out like they expected it would.
There are a lot of characters introduced and at first I got a little confused with them all, the voices be ace more clear as the story progressed which I certainly happy about. Each of them had their own stories, and they intertwine in some way or another. I have to say, I really enjoyed Amy and Hayley and their friendship, a closeness like sisters would have.
The family dynamics were just wonderful, the mother/daughter bond especially. When Amy and Hayley decide to get a summer job being a nanny, her mother Leda was skeptical, that might have been because she too was a summer nanny before Amy was born. So, of course she has her reservations when it came to Amy. Secrets come in play with those reservations. Secrets that will test the mother/daughter bond.
With so many characters its hard to tell you about them all, or my review will be extremely long. But I do want to mention Vera, who is best friends with Leda. She did have some drama in her life, but at least it didn’t make her bitter or anything, I felt awful for through it all too. I just adored her so much, so carefree and blunt. I like the blunt people! No questions of how thy think or feel.
The story itself had a way bringing some emotions with it, frustration with a couple of these women beacause of their decision making, some heart ache for others and a few tears along the way. I was all caught up in their stroies and how they seem to entwined together. This was such an enjoyable read for me and I would definitely say pick this one.
The Summer Nanny was a wonderful story of family, friendships and love…
There are a lot of characters introduced and at first I got a little confused with them all, the voices be ace more clear as the story progressed which I certainly happy about. Each of them had their own stories, and they intertwine in some way or another. I have to say, I really enjoyed Amy and Hayley and their friendship, a closeness like sisters would have.
The family dynamics were just wonderful, the mother/daughter bond especially. When Amy and Hayley decide to get a summer job being a nanny, her mother Leda was skeptical, that might have been because she too was a summer nanny before Amy was born. So, of course she has her reservations when it came to Amy. Secrets come in play with those reservations. Secrets that will test the mother/daughter bond.
With so many characters its hard to tell you about them all, or my review will be extremely long. But I do want to mention Vera, who is best friends with Leda. She did have some drama in her life, but at least it didn’t make her bitter or anything, I felt awful for through it all too. I just adored her so much, so carefree and blunt. I like the blunt people! No questions of how thy think or feel.
The story itself had a way bringing some emotions with it, frustration with a couple of these women beacause of their decision making, some heart ache for others and a few tears along the way. I was all caught up in their stroies and how they seem to entwined together. This was such an enjoyable read for me and I would definitely say pick this one.
The Summer Nanny was a wonderful story of family, friendships and love…
July 30, 2018
I always enjoy Holly Chamberlin's book and this one was another enjoyable read.
The book is set in Maine, where the wealth come to summer at.
Two friends, Amy and Haley, decided to become a nanny for the summer. Both are from different worlds and both are good friends. The experiences for both of them are vastly different and the book shows us how a strong upbringing can eventually win out and keep your reality in check.
4 stars
The book is set in Maine, where the wealth come to summer at.
Two friends, Amy and Haley, decided to become a nanny for the summer. Both are from different worlds and both are good friends. The experiences for both of them are vastly different and the book shows us how a strong upbringing can eventually win out and keep your reality in check.
4 stars
June 13, 2020
I don't think I ever read a book with 137 chapters!! That's right 137!
August 30, 2019
Absolutely terrible! The main characters are so juvenile and their jobs?! Ugh I thought they were going to be taking care of kids and that will be what the whole story is about. But there is hardly any kids mentioned and Amy's character ends up being a servant to the most horrible person ever.. and here I am waiting to find out how Amy is going to tell her boss off and it was a major let down. Also what is up with Haley! She wants to get a rich guy to marry her so she won't be poor anymore?? And she meets her employers son who is 28 and acts like he is a teenager and they just go on errands together a couple of times and they only know each other a couple of weeks and they say they love each other? They have not even been on a date! Also the author should have edited this book, way way way to long. Also they author is throwing her modern day agenda crap in as well. Horrible horrible horrible! Would never read anything from this author again.
July 12, 2018
This wasn’t a bad book, but I’ve read so many really good books this summer that it just didn’t match them in quality. I guess I would have found the story more interesting if it was about Vera, the mother, instead of about Amy, the daughter, who I found to be really immature and uninteresting. Yes, she had some growing up to do, but she really acted like a teenager instead of someone who went to college. Yes, Cressida was awful, but most would have figured it out much sooner than she did.
There was a reason, I suppose, that Hayley was emotionally stunted as well, but I found the romances really clunky and the plot way too long and clichéd. No one really grabbed me and I really felt the book dragging. Maybe it works as a beach read for some, but probably they need to be considerably younger than I am and without a need for a more sophisticated plot and characters with more emotional depth.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
There was a reason, I suppose, that Hayley was emotionally stunted as well, but I found the romances really clunky and the plot way too long and clichéd. No one really grabbed me and I really felt the book dragging. Maybe it works as a beach read for some, but probably they need to be considerably younger than I am and without a need for a more sophisticated plot and characters with more emotional depth.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
June 12, 2018
I received this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley! This book was exactly what I needed for my Florida vacation! This was an easy read and I enjoyed all of the characters at one time or another (well minus Cressida!). I wanted to smack some of them at times also but I think that is what we are supposed to think. I also loved the descriptions of the setting in the book - I could very easily picture all of the houses, the beach, the restaurants, etc. and I always love that in a book. I recommend this to anyone wanting a good summer read that you don't have to take too seriously. There are some stressful situations in the story but nothing too over the top and I like the way everything works out in the end.
July 29, 2018
Amy and Haley are best friends living on the lovely Maine coast who decided to take nannying jobs on their summer break from college to help fund their futures. Haley has an unpleasant home life with an abusive father and so looking after twins in a loving family is definitely a change for her! The story follows the girls throughout the summer and shows how the experience can change them and how they grow up.
An enjoyable beach read, a bit on the slow side but still worth reading as I enjoyed the characters and watching how they grew in themselves as well as the lovely beach setting
An enjoyable beach read, a bit on the slow side but still worth reading as I enjoyed the characters and watching how they grew in themselves as well as the lovely beach setting
May 24, 2018
The Summer Nanny wasn't my favorite Holly Chamberlin read. This book follows two very different girls who work as nannies for two very different families. While I enjoyed the premise, I found the middle of the book to drag a bit. There were many points where I wanted to reach through the pages and shake most of the characters to get themselves together. The ending, while not surprising, was a satisfactory conclusion to the story.
I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
July 21, 2025
"don't moralize too obviously"
this book: 🧨💥💣🎆
I feel this book is intended for someone's reclusive Christian gramma who lives alone and would describe this as "a fun summer romp"
I fucking hated it tho
yes, i could've written this better thank you for asking
also reminded me if a man EVER quotes a poem at me again, I have to kill him
this book: 🧨💥💣🎆
I feel this book is intended for someone's reclusive Christian gramma who lives alone and would describe this as "a fun summer romp"
I fucking hated it tho
yes, i could've written this better thank you for asking
also reminded me if a man EVER quotes a poem at me again, I have to kill him
July 9, 2018
This is the perfect book to read on vacation. The story is lighthearted and easy to follow with a few twists to keep it interesting.
May 21, 2025
A story about two young women who take summer jobs as a nanny. Their experiences are vastly different. The book was an easy read.
May 15, 2018
Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was really excited to start this book because I happen to be a nanny. And I loved it. The Summer Nanny is everything a great beach read should be. The characters are interesting, and fun to read about. The plot is engrossing and fast paced, and its full of drama. The story pulled me in immediately, and I was captivated by these different work environments. I was desperate to know how their stories played out. Ultimately this is a story about family and friendship.
I was really excited to start this book because I happen to be a nanny. And I loved it. The Summer Nanny is everything a great beach read should be. The characters are interesting, and fun to read about. The plot is engrossing and fast paced, and its full of drama. The story pulled me in immediately, and I was captivated by these different work environments. I was desperate to know how their stories played out. Ultimately this is a story about family and friendship.
October 23, 2018
I just quit reading this book at page 132, I should have quit a loooong time ago. I did not care about any character except one. Then she went 'icky' and I was done. It was boring, there was nothing going on. There is a bit of oddness with one employer, but, who cares? There was no romance. No cute kids even though it's supposed to be about nannies. One is babysitting kids that she never sees, they are with their undefined father. The other one is babysitting twins who miraculously sleep at the same time and for the same length of time. She has so much time on her hands she can do a face mask in the middle of the day. Really? Are they Stepford babies? Do not subject yourself to 448 pages of this.
May 20, 2019
I tried so so hard to read this book twice but I couldn’t get into the book either time. This time I made it about halfway through and gave up. It gets confusing after awhile when there’s only three pages to each character and then the next chapter it’s a different character and so on. I’m not sure if this just wasn’t my kind of book or what but I couldn’t get into it. Thank you to Kensington books for providing me with a copy for my review. I just wish I was able to review the whole thing.
December 31, 2018
I don't remember how or when I came across this book but I'm honestly upset that I did. It is unnecessarily lengthy (I think it's 143 chapters?), not particularly cohesive, full of actions that make no sense (after two stilted conversations - literally, two - characters are saying, "I'm in love with you"?)...finishing it required some effort, but I did, and now I can safely say this wasn't for me and I wouldn't recommend it.
September 13, 2018
This is the lowest ranking I’ve ever gave a Holly Chamberlin book but I don’t know if it was my expectations that ruined it. When you think beach and nannies you think little kids, nice kids, bratty kids, sand, sun, ice cream, etc but this book hardly had the children in it.
You will have to read it to see what you think perhaps even a name change would have made it better.
You will have to read it to see what you think perhaps even a name change would have made it better.
March 26, 2020
where to even begin?
The Summer Nanny was 445 excruciating pages of nothing. The consequences of the various events from the summer were nonexistent. everything wrapped up in a cute little anti-climatic bow. an absolute waste of my time.
the characters were unlikable and acted unreasonably. the chapters were short, but contained nothing of value 70% of the time. the book could have been significantly shorter and maybe wouldn't have been as unbearable. i expected nannying duties. nope. perhaps some romance? nope. what was this book even about?
amy was the "nanny" for a righteous businesswoman, cressida. she never nannied the children and instead was a servant for cressida, but she absolutely worshipped her. the only reason i continued reading this book was because i wanted to see how that was going to end. it was the most dull way to confront someone ever. it was disappointing. this entire book subverted my expectations, and not in the good way. amy was rude to everyone around her but they just kind of put up with it. even at the beginning of the book she hardly listened to her best friend and was self-centered. why did anyone ever like her? there was a boy, noah, who was obsessed with her and he forgave her for blowing him off. we saw him maybe 3 times in the entire book. in one of those times, he was with another girl, which made amy jealous (despite the fact she never showed any interest in him). that is never explained. what was even the point? it only made amy look WORSE. also, amy's confrontation with cressida at the end was unrealistic and a disappointment. after an entire summer of abuse, it ended with a "i quit"? there was nothing gratifying about the end of their relationship.
hayley was poor and decided to golddig her boss's son to escape the situation, despite the fact *she* wasn't poor, her mom was. she was 21 years old and didn't need to do anything. i understand not wanting to abandon your mother, but golddigging isn't going to solve anything?? her plan was halfassed and not thought through. not that it mattered! because after exactly 4 interactions with hayley, the hot son falls madly in love with her! and he doesn't care that she lied to him! oh! also, she almost got hit by a car and that's the reason she actually has deep feelings for him. and that near death experience is never mentioned again. hayley's abusive father also, for some reason, decided to stop being abusive after his wife said "we're leaving if you remain abusive". HUH?
leda is amy's mother and following her pov was alright at first. she ended up just serving as random filler throughout and was so boring to read. she started out fine. she was against amy becoming a nanny because of a traumatic experience she had as a teenager, which was an interesting concept. however, she overcome that trauma halfway through. the rest was boring filler. despite the fact she had the least happening, she had the most character development out of anyone.
something else that bothered me was the treatment of nora franklin (hayley's abused mother) vs will prior (cressida's abused husband). when discussing nora franklin, each character spoke with pity and empathy. HOWEVER, when amy sits down with will, she chastises him for remaining in an abusive marriage. double standard much? it was disgusting how an abused husband was treated by the female characters in this novel vs how an abused wife was treated. for being a feminist, holly really didn't care about spousal abuse involving a male as the victim.
overall, terrible read. absolute waste of time. this is my first holly chamberlin book and it will be my last.
The Summer Nanny was 445 excruciating pages of nothing. The consequences of the various events from the summer were nonexistent. everything wrapped up in a cute little anti-climatic bow. an absolute waste of my time.
the characters were unlikable and acted unreasonably. the chapters were short, but contained nothing of value 70% of the time. the book could have been significantly shorter and maybe wouldn't have been as unbearable. i expected nannying duties. nope. perhaps some romance? nope. what was this book even about?
amy was the "nanny" for a righteous businesswoman, cressida. she never nannied the children and instead was a servant for cressida, but she absolutely worshipped her. the only reason i continued reading this book was because i wanted to see how that was going to end. it was the most dull way to confront someone ever. it was disappointing. this entire book subverted my expectations, and not in the good way. amy was rude to everyone around her but they just kind of put up with it. even at the beginning of the book she hardly listened to her best friend and was self-centered. why did anyone ever like her? there was a boy, noah, who was obsessed with her and he forgave her for blowing him off. we saw him maybe 3 times in the entire book. in one of those times, he was with another girl, which made amy jealous (despite the fact she never showed any interest in him). that is never explained. what was even the point? it only made amy look WORSE. also, amy's confrontation with cressida at the end was unrealistic and a disappointment. after an entire summer of abuse, it ended with a "i quit"? there was nothing gratifying about the end of their relationship.
hayley was poor and decided to golddig her boss's son to escape the situation, despite the fact *she* wasn't poor, her mom was. she was 21 years old and didn't need to do anything. i understand not wanting to abandon your mother, but golddigging isn't going to solve anything?? her plan was halfassed and not thought through. not that it mattered! because after exactly 4 interactions with hayley, the hot son falls madly in love with her! and he doesn't care that she lied to him! oh! also, she almost got hit by a car and that's the reason she actually has deep feelings for him. and that near death experience is never mentioned again. hayley's abusive father also, for some reason, decided to stop being abusive after his wife said "we're leaving if you remain abusive". HUH?
leda is amy's mother and following her pov was alright at first. she ended up just serving as random filler throughout and was so boring to read. she started out fine. she was against amy becoming a nanny because of a traumatic experience she had as a teenager, which was an interesting concept. however, she overcome that trauma halfway through. the rest was boring filler. despite the fact she had the least happening, she had the most character development out of anyone.
something else that bothered me was the treatment of nora franklin (hayley's abused mother) vs will prior (cressida's abused husband). when discussing nora franklin, each character spoke with pity and empathy. HOWEVER, when amy sits down with will, she chastises him for remaining in an abusive marriage. double standard much? it was disgusting how an abused husband was treated by the female characters in this novel vs how an abused wife was treated. for being a feminist, holly really didn't care about spousal abuse involving a male as the victim.
overall, terrible read. absolute waste of time. this is my first holly chamberlin book and it will be my last.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 4, 2018
The setting is gorgeous Maine, in June, and friends Amy Latimer and Hayley Franklin decide to become summer nannies. The possibilities are endless, so they sign up with an agency. Each girl has a very specific goal in mind and becoming a nanny could be quite profitable. Amy has an upcoming move to Boston and Hayley wants to make enough money to help her and her mom get away from her mom's abusive husband.
Both Amy and Hayley are quite successful in getting jobs. Amy has an odd one, though. She is hired outside of the agency by Cressida Prior. Amy is enthralled with her new boss, a woman almost completely opposite than her apparently laid-back mother. However, Amy soon learns that Cressida wants more from Amy than her being a nanny. Hayley gets a marvelous job, caring for darling twin two-year-old girls. In part, due to this idyllic setting, that Hayley wants more than to squirrel away money. No, she decides to shoot far higher, even at the cost of her own dignity.
The summer goes completely differently for the girls than either of them could have ever imagined. They both become increasingly unhappy, but for entirely different reasons. For Amy, her increasing adoration of her employer puts a lot of strain between her mother and Hayley. They've known each other forever, but now it seems they do not know each other at all. For Hayley, she just wants a way out of her unpleasant life, almost at any cost. Meeting Ethan, son of her employer, just might be the ticket.
The Summer Nanny is quite an introspective novel. So many things are handled quite well in this story. The blurb says, in part, "the passing weeks bring complications and revelations, altering friendships, testing the bond between mothers and daughters, and proving that the ripples from a single season can last forever . . ." I was often frustrated at the struggles that all of the women - including Amy and Hayley's moms - experienced. However, I was quite pleased at the tremendous growth.
I admit to having a hard time connecting at first, but then the potential exploded and I could not help but root for these lovely women. Of all of them, Hayley affected me the most. I so wanted this young lady to find happiness. This book is an excellent summer read and was captivating in its own right. My emotions were bit on a roller coaster during this story as it traveled a great road. I look forward to reading more by Holly Chamberlin. This gives me something to look forward to next summer already.
Thank you Kensington Books for this complimentary copy for my review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Both Amy and Hayley are quite successful in getting jobs. Amy has an odd one, though. She is hired outside of the agency by Cressida Prior. Amy is enthralled with her new boss, a woman almost completely opposite than her apparently laid-back mother. However, Amy soon learns that Cressida wants more from Amy than her being a nanny. Hayley gets a marvelous job, caring for darling twin two-year-old girls. In part, due to this idyllic setting, that Hayley wants more than to squirrel away money. No, she decides to shoot far higher, even at the cost of her own dignity.
The summer goes completely differently for the girls than either of them could have ever imagined. They both become increasingly unhappy, but for entirely different reasons. For Amy, her increasing adoration of her employer puts a lot of strain between her mother and Hayley. They've known each other forever, but now it seems they do not know each other at all. For Hayley, she just wants a way out of her unpleasant life, almost at any cost. Meeting Ethan, son of her employer, just might be the ticket.
The Summer Nanny is quite an introspective novel. So many things are handled quite well in this story. The blurb says, in part, "the passing weeks bring complications and revelations, altering friendships, testing the bond between mothers and daughters, and proving that the ripples from a single season can last forever . . ." I was often frustrated at the struggles that all of the women - including Amy and Hayley's moms - experienced. However, I was quite pleased at the tremendous growth.
I admit to having a hard time connecting at first, but then the potential exploded and I could not help but root for these lovely women. Of all of them, Hayley affected me the most. I so wanted this young lady to find happiness. This book is an excellent summer read and was captivating in its own right. My emotions were bit on a roller coaster during this story as it traveled a great road. I look forward to reading more by Holly Chamberlin. This gives me something to look forward to next summer already.
Thank you Kensington Books for this complimentary copy for my review in exchange for my honest opinion.
June 19, 2018
The Summer Nanny is primarily about two friends, Amy and Hayley, who take summer jobs as Nannies in the beach resort town of Yorktide, Maine. Their assignments are very different and each is challenged to rethink what defines a family and their expectations for their future. As a result of their experiences, they change in positive ways, which in turn leads their mothers to rethink their own expectations for their futures.
Amy has been raised by a loving single mother, who has low expectations about her talent in creating tapestries and other woven pieces for wealthy clients. Amy is hired by a corporate mogul, who has no regard for the feelings of anyone including her young children and her husband. Amy is in awe of Cressida's accomplishments and seeks to emulate her. Eventually Amy realizes that though Cressida has wealth and fame among her peers but she is deeply unhappy due to the sacrifices she's made. Eventually Amy realizes that she doesn't like being mistreated by Cressida and quits. Her courage ignites her mother to pursue recognition in her field of fiber arts (she has a loom) by entering a competition and winning.
Hayley has become the caretaker in her family. She makes sure the bills are paid and that a roof is over her families head since her father manages to use his earnings and some times his wife's to drink. His temper and violence is known in the community though Hayley doesn't realize it. When she works for a family that is loving and supportive of one another, she thinks it is an anomaly. Though a few conversations with her employer, Marissa, she comes to realize that she can choose a different future. As she sees things differently, she realizes that she is worthy of a better life.
The story is kind of a snapshot in time, both Amy and Hayley are twenty-one and life long friends. I enjoyed the stories and watching each character grow and change for the better. I have left out some of the good parts (no spoilers here). It would make a great beach read and it will be released on June 26, 2018. I would consider reading more of Ms. Chamberlin's work as she seems to specialize in this genre.
My thanks to Kensington Publishing Corporation and Ms. Chamberlin for providing me with an Advanced Reading Copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Amy has been raised by a loving single mother, who has low expectations about her talent in creating tapestries and other woven pieces for wealthy clients. Amy is hired by a corporate mogul, who has no regard for the feelings of anyone including her young children and her husband. Amy is in awe of Cressida's accomplishments and seeks to emulate her. Eventually Amy realizes that though Cressida has wealth and fame among her peers but she is deeply unhappy due to the sacrifices she's made. Eventually Amy realizes that she doesn't like being mistreated by Cressida and quits. Her courage ignites her mother to pursue recognition in her field of fiber arts (she has a loom) by entering a competition and winning.
Hayley has become the caretaker in her family. She makes sure the bills are paid and that a roof is over her families head since her father manages to use his earnings and some times his wife's to drink. His temper and violence is known in the community though Hayley doesn't realize it. When she works for a family that is loving and supportive of one another, she thinks it is an anomaly. Though a few conversations with her employer, Marissa, she comes to realize that she can choose a different future. As she sees things differently, she realizes that she is worthy of a better life.
The story is kind of a snapshot in time, both Amy and Hayley are twenty-one and life long friends. I enjoyed the stories and watching each character grow and change for the better. I have left out some of the good parts (no spoilers here). It would make a great beach read and it will be released on June 26, 2018. I would consider reading more of Ms. Chamberlin's work as she seems to specialize in this genre.
My thanks to Kensington Publishing Corporation and Ms. Chamberlin for providing me with an Advanced Reading Copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
July 30, 2018
The term “women’s fiction” can connote quite a broad range of books. Thus I was unsure what to expect from The Summer Nanny by Holly Chamberlin. This story is actually two tales in one as best friends Amy and Hayley, from very different backgrounds and with very different prospects, decide to accept employment for the summer as nannies for wealthy vacationing families. Hayley is a product of a dysfunctional family with an alcoholic and abusive father. She loves academia, but rather than finish college has to work cleaning houses to support her family. Amy’s father passed away when she was a baby, but her mother, a gifted crafter of fiber arts, has raised her in a small but comfortable home in a loving atmosphere.
Amy and Hayley find personal challenges in their summer jobs. Naive Amy is hired by a narcissistic and controlling successful businesswoman who claims to want to mentor Amy. Hayley, on the other hand, finds relief from her home environment in her job as a nanny for two year old twins whose mother is teaching French at a community college as a favor to a friend. Both girls experience personal growth as a result of their jobs. Romance plays a role in this novel, but so do family connections.
The style of The Summer Nanny with its short chapters keeps the plot moving as the focus of the chapters alternates between the two main characters. The book is interesting, but some of the scenes could have been omitted without sacrificing the integrity of the plot or the points the author wants to make.
Although this book could be considered a “beach read,” it is not really fluff. The author encourages the reader to examine questions of the causes and results of two abusive situations and the responses of the characters involved in them. There are definite themes of right and wrong and the importance of choices.
I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Amy and Hayley find personal challenges in their summer jobs. Naive Amy is hired by a narcissistic and controlling successful businesswoman who claims to want to mentor Amy. Hayley, on the other hand, finds relief from her home environment in her job as a nanny for two year old twins whose mother is teaching French at a community college as a favor to a friend. Both girls experience personal growth as a result of their jobs. Romance plays a role in this novel, but so do family connections.
The style of The Summer Nanny with its short chapters keeps the plot moving as the focus of the chapters alternates between the two main characters. The book is interesting, but some of the scenes could have been omitted without sacrificing the integrity of the plot or the points the author wants to make.
Although this book could be considered a “beach read,” it is not really fluff. The author encourages the reader to examine questions of the causes and results of two abusive situations and the responses of the characters involved in them. There are definite themes of right and wrong and the importance of choices.
I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 28, 2018
The Summer Nanny by Holly Chamberlin is another novel in the Yorktide, Maine Novels. While the books are not identified as a series, they are labeled as books from Yorktide, Maine. I have always thought they were about York, Maine and not just because of the name of the town.
This novel focuses on Amy and Hayley. Two friends since forever, they both embark on summer jobs as nannies for summer people. Hayley knows life is hard and has struggled her entire life to make her way. Her lack of support from her family has caused her to leave college and help support her parents. She scores a great job with Jon and Marisa Whitby and their 2 year old twins. She loves the girls, but is desperate to find a way out of her life and then she meets Ethan, the son by a previous marriage. Is this her way out?
Amy Latimer is the daughter of Leda Latimer. Leda is a weaver who has recently been growing in reputation, while struggling with her choices to grow. Amy lands a job with Cressida Prior. Amy is immediately smitten with her dynamic employer, but she seems to spend all her time waiting on Cressida and not on her children. Despite the growing signs, Amy continues to find Cressida a role model, which seems to grow a wedge between Amy and her mother, Leda and her best friend Hayley.
I very much enjoyed the novel, especially with how the story unfolded, as the summer progressed. I enjoyed the setting (one of my favorite places on earth) and how the characters interacted with each other. I like how the growth of the characters was self reflective and allowed them to be supportive of each other. One note of caution, the beginning of the book reads like a very similar book by the same author (Last Summer), but once you meet the characters and read beyond the first few chapters, you realize that it is the tone that is similar, not the story (although there are some parallels).
Summer Nanny by Holly Chamberlin is a good read, especially for the summer!
This novel focuses on Amy and Hayley. Two friends since forever, they both embark on summer jobs as nannies for summer people. Hayley knows life is hard and has struggled her entire life to make her way. Her lack of support from her family has caused her to leave college and help support her parents. She scores a great job with Jon and Marisa Whitby and their 2 year old twins. She loves the girls, but is desperate to find a way out of her life and then she meets Ethan, the son by a previous marriage. Is this her way out?
Amy Latimer is the daughter of Leda Latimer. Leda is a weaver who has recently been growing in reputation, while struggling with her choices to grow. Amy lands a job with Cressida Prior. Amy is immediately smitten with her dynamic employer, but she seems to spend all her time waiting on Cressida and not on her children. Despite the growing signs, Amy continues to find Cressida a role model, which seems to grow a wedge between Amy and her mother, Leda and her best friend Hayley.
I very much enjoyed the novel, especially with how the story unfolded, as the summer progressed. I enjoyed the setting (one of my favorite places on earth) and how the characters interacted with each other. I like how the growth of the characters was self reflective and allowed them to be supportive of each other. One note of caution, the beginning of the book reads like a very similar book by the same author (Last Summer), but once you meet the characters and read beyond the first few chapters, you realize that it is the tone that is similar, not the story (although there are some parallels).
Summer Nanny by Holly Chamberlin is a good read, especially for the summer!
July 15, 2025
3.5 stars. I like Holly Chamberlin and this one was no different. In this book we follow 2 girls as they get summer jobs nannying. Amy gets a job working for a family where she doesn't actually nanny the kids. Instead, she's a protégé for her workaholic, anorexic boss who tries to convert her into a mini me. At first Amy drinks the Kool Aid but then she realizes what she's doing and how unhealthy it is and she finally stands up to her boss. Amy has a wonderful mother who stays out of it for the most part and I admired that as a mother because it would be SO HARD to not overstep and tell her what to do. One of my complaints is that the girls felt like early teens and they were actually 21, but for an adult child I think the mom acted appropriately. Hayley comes from an abusive home where her dad is awful and her mom just takes it. She wants more- more stability, more love, more money, etc. She gets a job working for a wonderful family with 2 young girls and an older boy from a previous marriage. She decides to try to seduce him into marriage so she can have the wealth and security. However, she actually falls for him and then realizes she was being a crap person. They do end up together and I was happy about it, but I think the romance could've used more development. Overall I think this book was too long and some things were overdone while others were underdeveloped but overall I enjoyed my time with it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 25, 2018
Amy and Hayley are used to the tourists descending on their town of Ogunquit, Maine when summer arrives. Amy, a recent college graduate, and Hayley, who just lost her job from the business closing down, have decided to be nannies for the rich summer people. Amy wants to save her money for her move to Boston but first she wants to buy some pretties she has been eyeing. Hayley hopes to move her mom and her away from her physically and verbally abusive father. Neither girl realized this would be a summer of growing and learning life lessons that change their futures forever.
The Summer Nanny is touted as a beach read and while I agree it is also filled with depth. It is in no way fluffy chic lit. Abuse in many forms play a huge role throughout the entire book. it shows you abuse doesn't care about social class, age, gender or where you live. Mother-daughter relationships are also highlighted from several different aspects.
I found this to be a quick read with the short chapters. Language was appropriate for all ages. Romance was present but nothing more than a heated kissing session. Drugs are present but not prominent. Age appropriate for any reader 16+.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington Books through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
The Summer Nanny is touted as a beach read and while I agree it is also filled with depth. It is in no way fluffy chic lit. Abuse in many forms play a huge role throughout the entire book. it shows you abuse doesn't care about social class, age, gender or where you live. Mother-daughter relationships are also highlighted from several different aspects.
I found this to be a quick read with the short chapters. Language was appropriate for all ages. Romance was present but nothing more than a heated kissing session. Drugs are present but not prominent. Age appropriate for any reader 16+.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington Books through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
August 7, 2018
Amy Latimer and Hayley Franklin are best friends and have been, since childhood. In their hometown od Ogunquit Maine, wealthy families overtake the town every summer, hiring local young women to serve as nannies . Amy and Hayley are eager to secure lucrative summer employment, Amy to finance her upcoming move to Boston and Hayley needs to squirrel away savings so she and her mom can have a fresh start, away from an abusive husband.
Amy is hired by Cressida Prior, a successful entrepreneur, not so much to watch the children, more of a personal assistant or a muse to Cressida herself. As Cressida's demands become harder to fulfill, Amy begins to second guess herself, the choices she has made and begins to hate her summer job.
Hayley's experience is much more fulfilling. She is hired by Jon and Marisa Whitby to care for their twin daughters, age 2. Both parents work, so Hayley is on her own with the girls, but the girls are a delight, as are the Whitby's. Along with the Whitby's comes Jon's adult son Ethan, from an earlier marriage, who Hayley is drawn to and the feelings are mutual.
As the girls go through their summer, complications and revelations come with it, challenging longtime friendships and the bond between mother and daughter, loyalty, love and kindness are challenged as well.
Amy is hired by Cressida Prior, a successful entrepreneur, not so much to watch the children, more of a personal assistant or a muse to Cressida herself. As Cressida's demands become harder to fulfill, Amy begins to second guess herself, the choices she has made and begins to hate her summer job.
Hayley's experience is much more fulfilling. She is hired by Jon and Marisa Whitby to care for their twin daughters, age 2. Both parents work, so Hayley is on her own with the girls, but the girls are a delight, as are the Whitby's. Along with the Whitby's comes Jon's adult son Ethan, from an earlier marriage, who Hayley is drawn to and the feelings are mutual.
As the girls go through their summer, complications and revelations come with it, challenging longtime friendships and the bond between mother and daughter, loyalty, love and kindness are challenged as well.
July 2, 2018
Holly Chamberlain writes the perfect beach read novels. I enjoy returning to her writing every summer. The author has a talent for transporting the reader into the coastal areas she writes about.
In this book we are following the story of two young 21 year old girls who are nannies . They are each very different and fast friends.
Set in coastal Maine during the summer season the location is wonderfully described as if you can smell the sea air and feel the pull of the ocean waves.
Hayley is working with difficult two-year-old twins who are part of a very loving family and Amy works for a woman who is driven and hard to deal with. Each girl has very different working experiences. Each girl is drawn into the family dynamics.
She writes her characters so well so you know them right away. The location is done to perfection. The supporting charcters and the back stories are interesting and add depth to the story .The Summer Nannies is going to make a perfect summer read. Thank you for the ARC that does not influence my review. A pleasant read for a summer day in your beach chair.
In this book we are following the story of two young 21 year old girls who are nannies . They are each very different and fast friends.
Set in coastal Maine during the summer season the location is wonderfully described as if you can smell the sea air and feel the pull of the ocean waves.
Hayley is working with difficult two-year-old twins who are part of a very loving family and Amy works for a woman who is driven and hard to deal with. Each girl has very different working experiences. Each girl is drawn into the family dynamics.
She writes her characters so well so you know them right away. The location is done to perfection. The supporting charcters and the back stories are interesting and add depth to the story .The Summer Nannies is going to make a perfect summer read. Thank you for the ARC that does not influence my review. A pleasant read for a summer day in your beach chair.
July 8, 2018
For a more in-depth review of The Summer Nanny, check out my blog: https://thenextpage950344705.wordpres...
The Summer Nanny tells the story of two best friends, Amy and Hayley, and their mutual decision to apply for nannying jobs over the summer in the beautiful coast of Maine. Inseparable since birth, both girls are about to embark on journeys that will take them in different directions when the summer season comes to an end. Needing money for their new beginnings, Amy and Hayley apply for nannying positions in hopes of an easy summer job that will give them both the opportunity to put away some money for their new adventures. What they didn’t know was that the nannying experience totally and completely depends on the family you work for. Amy and Hayley also had no idea that during these busy, breezy Maine summer months, they’d experience valuable life lessons, love and growth along the way.
An easy, light summer read that describes the importance of growth and the coast of Maine like a dream.
The Summer Nanny tells the story of two best friends, Amy and Hayley, and their mutual decision to apply for nannying jobs over the summer in the beautiful coast of Maine. Inseparable since birth, both girls are about to embark on journeys that will take them in different directions when the summer season comes to an end. Needing money for their new beginnings, Amy and Hayley apply for nannying positions in hopes of an easy summer job that will give them both the opportunity to put away some money for their new adventures. What they didn’t know was that the nannying experience totally and completely depends on the family you work for. Amy and Hayley also had no idea that during these busy, breezy Maine summer months, they’d experience valuable life lessons, love and growth along the way.
An easy, light summer read that describes the importance of growth and the coast of Maine like a dream.
July 17, 2019
I have to admit I had a love hate relationship with this book. Honestly I think it was supposed to be about female empowerment but most of the time I found the three main characters to be pretty weak. But by the end I had done a complete 360 on Amy.
Amy came across as shallow for most of the book, until the end. I think she had the most growth of any of the characters. Haley definitely has had it rough and I do feel sorry for her at times. She develops a plan that is just so silly I found it unbearable to read those parts at times and wanted to shake some sense into her.
But I found myself rooting for her and her mom to find some happiness.
Amy’s mom Leda could also be annoying at times. I think I just couldn’t relate to her lack of confidence in herself. It was nice to see her start having some success and realize there is so much more to life than she had settled on.
With all that said I did enjoy reading this book and seeing how the characters developed. I think it’s a nice beach read.
Amy came across as shallow for most of the book, until the end. I think she had the most growth of any of the characters. Haley definitely has had it rough and I do feel sorry for her at times. She develops a plan that is just so silly I found it unbearable to read those parts at times and wanted to shake some sense into her.
But I found myself rooting for her and her mom to find some happiness.
Amy’s mom Leda could also be annoying at times. I think I just couldn’t relate to her lack of confidence in herself. It was nice to see her start having some success and realize there is so much more to life than she had settled on.
With all that said I did enjoy reading this book and seeing how the characters developed. I think it’s a nice beach read.
May 6, 2022
I wanted to love this book a lot, but I just could not get there. I did like the fact that the chapters were short - that made the book very easy to move through very quickly for some reason. However.....
I could not stand Amy/Aimee. I know it was part of the character, but I wanted to scream at her to stop talking about Cressida. "Cressida says..." or "Cressida thinks..." I was so frustrated with her, and I found her to be whiny and annoying.
Hayley, or rather Hayley and Ethan. I wasn't annoyed with her as much as Amy, but come on. I could not figure out how we got from the two of them taking the twins for ice cream to they are in love. Completely unbelievable.
The only character that I didn't necessarily get annoyed with was Leda. Her development seemed to be the most complete to me. She went from not being sure of herself to taking chances that she had been afraid to.
The cover had me believing that this was going to be a great beachy read...and it just fell short.
I could not stand Amy/Aimee. I know it was part of the character, but I wanted to scream at her to stop talking about Cressida. "Cressida says..." or "Cressida thinks..." I was so frustrated with her, and I found her to be whiny and annoying.
Hayley, or rather Hayley and Ethan. I wasn't annoyed with her as much as Amy, but come on. I could not figure out how we got from the two of them taking the twins for ice cream to they are in love. Completely unbelievable.
The only character that I didn't necessarily get annoyed with was Leda. Her development seemed to be the most complete to me. She went from not being sure of herself to taking chances that she had been afraid to.
The cover had me believing that this was going to be a great beachy read...and it just fell short.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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