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The Au Pairs #2
Skinny-Dipping
While Mara recovers from her break-up with Ryan and Eliza’s family repairs their financial damage, the girls still manage to find a way to enjoy their busy summer as nannies in the Hampton homes of the rich and famous.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published May 31, 2005
34 people are currently reading
2418 people want to read
About the author
Melissa de la Cruz
187 books15.8k followersMelissa de la Cruz is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of many critically acclaimed and award-winning novels for teens including The Au Pairs series, the Blue Bloods series, the Ashleys series, the Angels on Sunset Boulevard series and the semi-autobiographical novel Fresh off the Boat.
Her books for adults include the novel Cat’s Meow, the anthology Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys and the tongue-in-chic handbooks How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less and The Fashionista Files: Adventures in Four-inch heels and Faux-Pas.
She has worked as a fashion and beauty editor and has written for many publications including The New York Times, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, The San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney’s, Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl! and Seventeen. She has also appeared as an expert on fashion, trends and fame for CNN, E! and FoxNews.
Melissa grew up in Manila and moved to San Francisco with her family, where she graduated high school salutatorian from The Convent of the Sacred Heart. She majored in art history and English at Columbia University (and minored in nightclubs and shopping!).
She now divides her time between New York and Los Angeles, where she lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband and daughter.
Her books for adults include the novel Cat’s Meow, the anthology Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys and the tongue-in-chic handbooks How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less and The Fashionista Files: Adventures in Four-inch heels and Faux-Pas.
She has worked as a fashion and beauty editor and has written for many publications including The New York Times, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, The San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney’s, Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl! and Seventeen. She has also appeared as an expert on fashion, trends and fame for CNN, E! and FoxNews.
Melissa grew up in Manila and moved to San Francisco with her family, where she graduated high school salutatorian from The Convent of the Sacred Heart. She majored in art history and English at Columbia University (and minored in nightclubs and shopping!).
She now divides her time between New York and Los Angeles, where she lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
June 6, 2016
Yay, back to the Hamptons! Haha, NO…
I honestly was debating between giving this book a 1-star, a 2-star, or a 3-star rating. After a while, it wasn’t that hard for me to decide.
This book is like watching a cat fight and I’m sitting in the middle of it all eating popcorn and watching teenage girls all go down from situations that could’ve been easily preventable.
Out of all the three girls: Eliza, Mara, and Jaqui; I hated Jaqui with a passion in the first book! In this one, I hated everyone.
Don’t get me started on Ryan. God. Like, this boy needs a nice, tall, refreshing glass of common sense with a side of calm your hormones.
Why am I still continuing on with this series?
I honestly was debating between giving this book a 1-star, a 2-star, or a 3-star rating. After a while, it wasn’t that hard for me to decide.
This book is like watching a cat fight and I’m sitting in the middle of it all eating popcorn and watching teenage girls all go down from situations that could’ve been easily preventable.
Out of all the three girls: Eliza, Mara, and Jaqui; I hated Jaqui with a passion in the first book! In this one, I hated everyone.
Don’t get me started on Ryan. God. Like, this boy needs a nice, tall, refreshing glass of common sense with a side of calm your hormones.
Why am I still continuing on with this series?
September 1, 2020
I love these girls! Reading the other reviews made me hesitant to pick it up. If you like drama and the Hamptons, this book won’t steer you wrong.
(I was a little disappointed that this book wasn’t about the Palm Beach trip.)
(I was a little disappointed that this book wasn’t about the Palm Beach trip.)
August 30, 2016
This was the most embarrasing sequel to a book I've ever read. The Au-pairs was a good book. Nimble and funny style of storytelling, great characters, good story... and an ending expecting another EXCITING summer.
I couldn't believe Melissa de la Cruz really did this. It's okay when you don't think that the girls (and a boy) are supposed to work here in Hamptons and not just to attend parties and have fun and if there are two paragraphs about the work, it's too much. In about two first thirds, it's still fine, similar to the previous book. But the ending, that's an insult. It seems like the publisher said "come on, finish it, we have to publish the book!" and Ms. de la Cruz got stressed and finished the last chapters like: "that's not the right boy for me, so I'll got the right one". Three girls, three times.
I actually wanted to read the third book of The Au-pairs, but it wasn't published in Czech republic... I think I know why.
I couldn't believe Melissa de la Cruz really did this. It's okay when you don't think that the girls (and a boy) are supposed to work here in Hamptons and not just to attend parties and have fun and if there are two paragraphs about the work, it's too much. In about two first thirds, it's still fine, similar to the previous book. But the ending, that's an insult. It seems like the publisher said "come on, finish it, we have to publish the book!" and Ms. de la Cruz got stressed and finished the last chapters like: "that's not the right boy for me, so I'll got the right one". Three girls, three times.
I actually wanted to read the third book of The Au-pairs, but it wasn't published in Czech republic... I think I know why.
June 2, 2017
I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first book. Mara in particular was incredibly annoying, she was a completely different character. I like Jacqui much more than I originally did, it seems as if she finally coming into herself. This series is a fun and enjoyable read, while they have many issues I'm excited to see what the remaining books have to offer.
July 19, 2021
I liked it, it's not amazing but I enjoyed it.
This is the second book in The Au Pairs series. The first one was Beach Lane.
In this one I would have liked to see more of the au pairs taking care of the kids, it was more about the girls than anything else but it was okay. There's still so much drama and I'm here for it, there are things I didn't like but overall it was a good second book.
In the first one I didn't like Jacqui that much but she's changed for the better in this one so it was fine. I was surprised about Mara and Eliza on this one though.
And of course, all of the drama could have been avoided if they actually talked but look, it's a fiction book about teens, so I get it.
I will continue reading this series cause they're fast reads and I enjoy them!
This is the second book in The Au Pairs series. The first one was Beach Lane.
In this one I would have liked to see more of the au pairs taking care of the kids, it was more about the girls than anything else but it was okay. There's still so much drama and I'm here for it, there are things I didn't like but overall it was a good second book.
In the first one I didn't like Jacqui that much but she's changed for the better in this one so it was fine. I was surprised about Mara and Eliza on this one though.
And of course, all of the drama could have been avoided if they actually talked but look, it's a fiction book about teens, so I get it.
I will continue reading this series cause they're fast reads and I enjoy them!
May 31, 2024
J'ai mis 4* seulement à cause de Mara. Dans le premier livre, elle est la miss parfaite du trio, toujours a reproché des choses aux deux autres filles, mais ça passe, est quand même sympa. Dans celui-ci, elle se prends vraiment pour au dessus de tout, ça m'a énervé. En plus, le livre tourne presque tout autour d'elle, en TK je pense qu'on a compris que j'aime pas Mara lolll. Je veux plus de Jacqui et Eliza !!!
March 9, 2020
Can't wait to read the others, wasn't sure if I'd continue this series, but it's cute.
June 20, 2024
Unfortunately this was so bad haha BUT i did still somehow enjoy it. It was enjoyable in a cringey mindless way, but as an actual story it was bad lmfao
March 26, 2012
This one was sooo much better than the first one! The relationship drama was obv the best part. This time, my favorite character was Eliza shockingly. I thought she was pretty stuck-up in the fist book, but in this one she was interesting. Her new job at The Seventh Circle was fun to read about and I loved the Eliza/Jeremy/Ryan love triangle. Moving on to Mara, I feel like she was acting kind of like Eliza did in the first book, annoying, stuck-up, self righteous and all that. She got too attached to the life of a Hamptons socialite. And Garrett was annoying from the start, there was always something off about him. When Mara and Ryan got back together at the end of the book it was the cutest thing ever! With Jacqui, I was so proud of her for swearing off guys! But of course she got drawn into the lure of Philippe, who turned out to be a drug dealer lmfaoo. Finally, Jacqui realized she liked Kit and that's gonna be really cute in the next book. Just a side note, Ryan's sisters Poppy and Sugar are probably the most annoying people I have ever read about. I was like "Go Away! Please!". Yeah so I hate them, that's nothing new. Can't wait to read the next book!
March 24, 2009
I want to say if you look on the back of this book it say when you star to read this book you can't put it down. I want you to know that is so true. When I pick this book up I could not stop reading it and I don't like to read but this book I could not keep my eyes off of it. This is all I'm going to tell you cute guys,parties,sex and a nanny jod.Who said a nanny jod couldn't be fun.
July 9, 2018
Read for Goodreads 2018 Summer Reading Challenge, Expert Level.
Sand Between My Toes: Read a book that takes place in or around a beach/ocean
Absolute junk of a book. The pleasant character development of the first book was ransacked here, and I didn't like anyone. I'm done with this series.
Content Advisory: Teen sex/drinking. smoking/drug use, homosexuality, cursing
Sand Between My Toes: Read a book that takes place in or around a beach/ocean
Absolute junk of a book. The pleasant character development of the first book was ransacked here, and I didn't like anyone. I'm done with this series.
Content Advisory: Teen sex/drinking. smoking/drug use, homosexuality, cursing
February 26, 2012
very disappointing :( bad writing style, story line was very boring
November 3, 2017
This is the second book from the Au Pairs series from Melissa De La Cruz and I did enjoy it as much as the first one! This is the second summer, and our beloved au pairs are back in the Hamptons. However, things are going to be a little different. Firstly, Eliza’s family is slowly making more money now and she decide to not work the Perry’s this summer and she finds a new job a new club called the Seventh Circle. She is in love with Jeremy but they broke up because of the distance and she looks forward seeing him again. During the winter break in Palm’s Beach, it is revealed that Eliza hooked up with Ryan, Mara’s ex-boyfriend. She feels immensely guilty about it and fears of Mara’s reaction but she doesn’t know how to tell her friend. She later invites Jeremy to meet her family but they do not approve of him and so he avoids Eliza since he is not in the same ‘’world’’ as her. Secondly, Mara is back at the Hamptons to work for the Perry’s as an au pair. She didn’t work during the winter break because she had broken up with Ryan. She felt that she didn’t fit in his ‘’world’’ so she broke up with him and he didn’t do anything to fight for their relationship. Her goal this summer is to be with Ryan. But then, she sees he is with another girl and totally ignores her. Mara meets Garett Reynolds, the Perry’s neighbor, and asks her out on dates. She accepts in order to make Ryan jealous. Mara becomes very popular, she gets free fashionable clothes to wear when she goes out and she also lacks her duties as an au pair. Last but not the least is Jacqui, who promised to hit the books and tris her hardest not to be distracted by any boys this summer. But when Phillipe, the hot new French au pair shows up, she may be regretting everything she said about boys. She wants to become the Perry’s full-time au pair and finish her senior year in New York to hopefully go to NYU. She turns out to be a really good au pair this summer versus last summer. Drama, romance, friendship and secrets, the Au Pairs are back for another summer to remember!
I obviously loved the first novel but I can’t really complain about the story for the second novel. There were so much drama in this one and it kept me captivated the whole time. It focuses more on the obstacles the girls were facing, especially the relationship with boys and their friendship. I was wondering what happened to Mara (who was my favorite character in the first novel), she totally changed this summer and I completely agree with Ryan when he said that the Hamptons really came to her and changed her.
Overall, I really did enjoy the second installment of the Au Pairs. It was another great summer read. Now, I’m on my way to read Sun-Kissed!
I obviously loved the first novel but I can’t really complain about the story for the second novel. There were so much drama in this one and it kept me captivated the whole time. It focuses more on the obstacles the girls were facing, especially the relationship with boys and their friendship. I was wondering what happened to Mara (who was my favorite character in the first novel), she totally changed this summer and I completely agree with Ryan when he said that the Hamptons really came to her and changed her.
Overall, I really did enjoy the second installment of the Au Pairs. It was another great summer read. Now, I’m on my way to read Sun-Kissed!
March 7, 2021
Not that this is important, but how could Mara be in the pages of Vogue after two weeks in the Hamptons? Vogue is published once a month and it takes time for everything to be put together. Now if it was vogue.com, sure, but Mara specifies the glossy pages...
And a 'candid' reality show generally airs months after it's shot, not like a day like Sugar's show.
Both books end with the girls proclaiming each other the best friends they've ever had, despite barely getting along in the first 90%. Not very believable.
Ranking them, book 1: Eliza
Mara
Jacqui
book 2: Eliza
Jacqui
Mara
The worst being the one who barely does her job at all because she spends all her time partying and obsessing over a guy, while dripping with disdain over the lessers. The middle being the one who does most of the actual babysitting and is a tad boring.
And a 'candid' reality show generally airs months after it's shot, not like a day like Sugar's show.
Both books end with the girls proclaiming each other the best friends they've ever had, despite barely getting along in the first 90%. Not very believable.
Ranking them, book 1: Eliza
Mara
Jacqui
book 2: Eliza
Jacqui
Mara
The worst being the one who barely does her job at all because she spends all her time partying and obsessing over a guy, while dripping with disdain over the lessers. The middle being the one who does most of the actual babysitting and is a tad boring.
August 9, 2017
Ah this bring me back. Not because I partied it up like the girls in the story did, but rather because I read this about 10 years ago.
Still a nice and light summer read. One thing that bothered me is how fast-paced this book was compared to the first. It seems like we barely even saw the children they were supposed to be baby-sitting. Did Mara even talk to any of them? hahaha
This series really makes me want to be a rich lady and move to the Hamptons
Still a nice and light summer read. One thing that bothered me is how fast-paced this book was compared to the first. It seems like we barely even saw the children they were supposed to be baby-sitting. Did Mara even talk to any of them? hahaha
This series really makes me want to be a rich lady and move to the Hamptons
March 14, 2017
I just got annoyed how Ryan just acted like she was just a friend so I threw the book across the room
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2017
Skinny Dipping was a lot like Beach Lane. It wasn't an overly amazing read, but it was entertaining. The girls were fun and had more drama that didn't totally feel forced.
February 16, 2018
I may not have read the first one but after reading this one that is full of fun and drama I will probably try to pick up the first. a brilliant read even when it's dull outside
Want to read
July 19, 2020elibrary
September 12, 2020
This book was literally just 3 teenage girls making bad decisions.
2.5 stars.
2.5 stars.
May 26, 2021
How do any of these people have jobs?
October 8, 2021
amazing!!
January 3, 2023
3.5 ⭐️
Same as the first, but more drama
Same as the first, but more drama
October 15, 2023
Cute book. I liked how it ended.
December 22, 2023
This was a fun, don't think read that ends up being a happily ever after, as these types of books go.
November 22, 2025
je vous jure que c’est pas moi
March 27, 2014
This is the second summer, and the summer before the girls' senior year.
Eliza- her family is making more money now, and she is trying to find a job at a new club. she and jeremy broke up because of the distance, but she is looking forward to seeing him again. it is also revealed that during the winter break in palm's beach she hooked up with ryan. Jacqui knows, but eliza is dreading telling mara. Eliza is absent for much of this book because since she is working at the club and not au pairing she does not hang out with the other au pairs. She brings jeremy to meet her family but they disapprove. he starts to ignore her so she hooks up with ryan more. sugar and poppy tell her that mara knows about ryan so she doesn't feel guilty. Mara finds out, and eliza tells ryan that she loves jeremy and she can't be with him anymore.
Mara- she is going to work for the perry's again. She also did not go and work for them during winter vacation because she had recently broken up with ryan because she felt like she didn't fit in with his world. she becomes more and more popular and starts getting free clothing. she also starts dating garrett a very wealthy man in the hamptons. This makes ryan jealous. she starts slacking on her duties as an au pair. Mara's sister also visits during the summer. after an earring scandal she is forced to return all of the clothing she borrowed. Garrett breaks up with her. She apologizes to her friends, and her and ryan get back together as a hurricane arrives.
Jacqui- She swares of boys for the whole summer which means nothing happened between her and kit since last summer. She likes the new au pair phillipe and they hook up a couple times but anna says the only way jacqui can stay with them in new york is if she stays away from phillipe. Jacqui is a better au pair this summer. She hangs out with kit during the hurricane, and starts to have feelings for him. She finds out that Dr. Abraham and Phillipe were selling drugs.
Review: this was a good sequel to the first book, but I did have a few qualms. I hated how easily ryan was forgiven for hooking up with eliza. It seemed like the author was blaming mara because during the apologizing we never see ryan apologize for his actions. He was the one that hooked up with another girl leading mara to stay with garrett. I also really hated ryan this book. It seemed like he didn't really care about mara because he was willing to stay with eliza even though she didn't love him. He just seemed like he didn't really care one way or the other in some parts and like he was really in love in other parts. Just very confusing!!!
Eliza- her family is making more money now, and she is trying to find a job at a new club. she and jeremy broke up because of the distance, but she is looking forward to seeing him again. it is also revealed that during the winter break in palm's beach she hooked up with ryan. Jacqui knows, but eliza is dreading telling mara. Eliza is absent for much of this book because since she is working at the club and not au pairing she does not hang out with the other au pairs. She brings jeremy to meet her family but they disapprove. he starts to ignore her so she hooks up with ryan more. sugar and poppy tell her that mara knows about ryan so she doesn't feel guilty. Mara finds out, and eliza tells ryan that she loves jeremy and she can't be with him anymore.
Mara- she is going to work for the perry's again. She also did not go and work for them during winter vacation because she had recently broken up with ryan because she felt like she didn't fit in with his world. she becomes more and more popular and starts getting free clothing. she also starts dating garrett a very wealthy man in the hamptons. This makes ryan jealous. she starts slacking on her duties as an au pair. Mara's sister also visits during the summer. after an earring scandal she is forced to return all of the clothing she borrowed. Garrett breaks up with her. She apologizes to her friends, and her and ryan get back together as a hurricane arrives.
Jacqui- She swares of boys for the whole summer which means nothing happened between her and kit since last summer. She likes the new au pair phillipe and they hook up a couple times but anna says the only way jacqui can stay with them in new york is if she stays away from phillipe. Jacqui is a better au pair this summer. She hangs out with kit during the hurricane, and starts to have feelings for him. She finds out that Dr. Abraham and Phillipe were selling drugs.
Review: this was a good sequel to the first book, but I did have a few qualms. I hated how easily ryan was forgiven for hooking up with eliza. It seemed like the author was blaming mara because during the apologizing we never see ryan apologize for his actions. He was the one that hooked up with another girl leading mara to stay with garrett. I also really hated ryan this book. It seemed like he didn't really care about mara because he was willing to stay with eliza even though she didn't love him. He just seemed like he didn't really care one way or the other in some parts and like he was really in love in other parts. Just very confusing!!!
May 22, 2019
This is the sequel to last summer's wonderful beach read, The Au Pairs. All of the juicy bits - pop culture references, fashion name-dropping, and partying galore - will captivate readers once again. Skinny-dipping further defines the characters, helping us get to know them better. You will root for a happy outcome for each of them ... although it's not exactly the one you might predict. Melissa de la Cruz gently catches readers up on Eliza, Mara, and Jacqui without rehashing the previous book's plot.
Last year, middle-class Mara fell in love with Ryan, her employer's teenage son. During the intervening year, ashamed of her meager living circumstances and sure she'll never keep Ryan's interest, she broke up with him. Now Mara's back for another summer of child care in the Hamptons, and hoping for another chance with Ryan. Will Mara's affections be swayed by billionaire-heir Garrett Reynolds and the corresponding it-girl status that goes with seeing him?
Eliza's family is coming back from the brink of poverty. Financially secure enough to rent a modest house in the Hamptons, Eliza is hoping that a job at a posh nightclub will get her noticed again. Can she face Mara after hooking up with Ryan over the winter? And what about Jeremy, her gardener-boyfriend from last summer? Jacqui has decided to swear off boys this summer. She wants to concentrate on studying for SATs, and getting the Perry family to hire her as their year-round nanny so she can go to school in New York City. Jacqui's resolve is weakened when she meets Philippe, the newest (and definitely hot) au pair.
Can the three girls remain friends through a tumultuous summer? Although these characters lead lives that most teens can only imagine (or read about), the author makes them believable and likeable. The humor and misunderstandings help us to realize that, despite money and location, issues are universal. A very original and entertaining plot will keep you involved in the story and hoping for another installment. Grab Skinny-dipping and a towel and jump on board with the hottest book of the summer.
Last year, middle-class Mara fell in love with Ryan, her employer's teenage son. During the intervening year, ashamed of her meager living circumstances and sure she'll never keep Ryan's interest, she broke up with him. Now Mara's back for another summer of child care in the Hamptons, and hoping for another chance with Ryan. Will Mara's affections be swayed by billionaire-heir Garrett Reynolds and the corresponding it-girl status that goes with seeing him?
Eliza's family is coming back from the brink of poverty. Financially secure enough to rent a modest house in the Hamptons, Eliza is hoping that a job at a posh nightclub will get her noticed again. Can she face Mara after hooking up with Ryan over the winter? And what about Jeremy, her gardener-boyfriend from last summer? Jacqui has decided to swear off boys this summer. She wants to concentrate on studying for SATs, and getting the Perry family to hire her as their year-round nanny so she can go to school in New York City. Jacqui's resolve is weakened when she meets Philippe, the newest (and definitely hot) au pair.
Can the three girls remain friends through a tumultuous summer? Although these characters lead lives that most teens can only imagine (or read about), the author makes them believable and likeable. The humor and misunderstandings help us to realize that, despite money and location, issues are universal. A very original and entertaining plot will keep you involved in the story and hoping for another installment. Grab Skinny-dipping and a towel and jump on board with the hottest book of the summer.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews