Rating: 
Summary: Great concept, poor execution
Review: The nanny-authors attempt a contemporary version of the life of the governess, set in the upscale high-rise apartments of New York's Upper East Side. (Excerpts from nannies of past literature -- Mary Poppins, Jane Eyre, Gone with the Wind, etc. -- are the best feature of the book.) But they fall short in the opportunity for a modern classic, due to terrible writing and confusing tones of satire, disdain, and sentimentality. I can't decide whether to categorize it as (bad)"comedy" as some reviewers have called it, or (bad) social commentary. In any case it's satire that loses control by being at times, too ridiculous (the scenes in Nantucket), or too sappy (the sorrows of the other house servants). I'd like to read a book that tells the same story with a sharp, witty, satirical edge OR one that exposes the heart-breaking sadness of kids with self-centered absent parents. The authors tried to achieve both in one book and failed twice.
Rating: 
Summary: Fun Weekend Read
Review: As a New Yorker who works with the ladies who live on the upper east side I had to read the book. Although the account does seem quite exaggerated at times for anyone who has crossed the path of a lady who lunches its clear that it is based in realirt. The book is well writted, and very hard to put down.
Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly Good
Review: I tore through the book after picking it up on a guilty impulse --- I too thought it would be poorly written and fluffy. Au contraire --- DO NOT throw this on the pile with Bridget-Jemima-Hunting and Fishing-Shopgirl-Poker girlie tomes of late. Sure the protagonist is young and cute, and it will soon be a movie, but it reads more like Dominic Dunne or even Tom Wolfe. I for one love the inside-scoop on the rich and foolish --- I was a personal assistant for a member of a prominent American family, and I worked as a birthday party entertainer in the overindulged suburbs of Boston. Mrs. X, the socialite mom from this novel, is just like the moms I met on my gigs, people with "more money than sense," I used to say. I felt much sympathy for Grayer, because there are plenty of kids out there these days whose parents have no clue how to relate to or raise them other than providing an avalanche of material goods. Of course, the reverse is not true, that those without material wealth are always noble and happy, and The Nanny Diaries makes that point too --- note that other affluent families (notably a little girl in Grayer's class with two daddies) in the book, including Nanny herself, have very affectionate homes. So give the book a chance and enjoy the sharp insights into American culture.
Rating:
Summary: A rather shallow book
Review: Well, you've read all the other reviews, so you know what this book is about. I would just like to inject that if you think you are going to get biting social satire in this book, you will be sadly disappointed. I was expecting a light fluffy read, which is what I got, so I was reasonably satisfied (didn't spend a cent because I got it at the library, and it only wasted a few hours of my life). The Nanny character/narrator comes from a privileged background, even if she is not as filthy rich as her employers; she is white, went to private school, speaks French, and knows her way around the names of designers and fancy restaurants. She makes some mention of the other nannies she meets who are women of color, illegal immigrants, or parents who cannot even see their own children, but there is really no awareness of how different in kind their plight is from hers - to her they are all equal victims of the personal self-centeredness of their employers. There is really no analysis of class or racial issues at all. Class politics aside, the other thing that really bugged me about this book is this: Why is Nanny such a doormat? There were plenty of times that she could have fought back for herself but she does not, and her only excuse is that she doesn't want to get fired because she needs the money or that she cares about the child. At the end she has the chance to rant out her criticisms of the X's style of child rearing, but in a space where there is no fear of retaliation, and then she neutralizes her own message. Of course, you could say she had the last laugh, because she (or her real-life counterparts) turned around and wrote a best-seller that blows the lid off of the whole system, but frankly, this book is the equivalent of the narrator's rant; it might make her feel better (and obviously make her a lot of money) but it really isn't going to change anything. The book is reasonably entertaining and even amusing at times. It is not a bad book. But it is not a good book either.
Rating:
Summary: Soooo true!
Review: This not only happens in Manhattan, but in CT. It should be required reading for half the parents in my county, and in most of the affluent communities in America! Hopefully some of them will see themselves in the mirror after reading this. Then again, they all think they are such perfect specimens. Children need nurturing from their parents. Unless you HAVE to work for financial reasons, please do you and your child(ren)a favor and be a real parent. Spend quality time with your child, read with them, giggle, go to the playground, and just LOVE them for who they are. Trust me you both will benefit in the long run. This was a quick fun read, and one we chose for our book club. We all work/worked in a school and interacted with nannies
frequently. (Many who knew more about the child than the parent.) We related throughout the book, and felt so bad for the victim...the child. Make this your next book and if you feel compelled - drop it in the mailbox of someone whom you think could learn a lesson from it. Please note that this is not a literary gem, but the message is loud a clear. Nan was a real trooper. Thank goodness she had a heart.
Rating: 
Summary: mixed review
Review: This is a can't-put-it-down, deliciously nasty look at the very rich and their relationship to their children. If you liked Bridget Jones Diary, you'll like this book (though possibly not as much). The prologue is extremely funny. After that, it does go down hill a bit. The book would have been much funnier if the characters had been more believable. Yes, the comic style is exaggeration, but it goes too far. The Dad is especially unbelievable. If only out of sheer egocentrism, the man would take some interest in his child. The end is disappointing. Nobody in the novel grows up, and we are left feeling angry and sad. (Hence, this review.)
Rating: 
Summary: Fast, enjoyable read!
Review: If you are looking for a great, juicy read that is quick , this is your book! Nan is a nanny for G and reveals the self-indulgent, decadent world of the upper class. Talk about dysfunctional! Mrs. X, G's mom, is too busy with her social calendar and grooming habits to be bothered with the hassle of raising her son so she hires Nan to do the job. She seems to care more about proper place settings and who wears what than her young son's development and care. Just as long as he is a fashion accessory and doesn't get in the way. Mr. X is too busy making money and other women to care so it is left to young Nan. The story is often hilarious with juicy tidbits of how the rich live. They are so obsessed with appearances! And their monetary habits are a hoot! However, a lot of the story is heartbreaking. Children are at the mercy of selfish, egotistical parents and we see the sad life of young G. Great book and the authors are obviously well acquainted with the job.
Rating:
Summary: Validates my reasons for not being a nanny...
Review: After reading The Nanny Diaries, I can tell you this for sure -- I'd never have the patience to be a nanny. Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus have written a cringing story of the rich, pretentious, and motherly -- and those who are paid to deal with them. This tender portrayal of the bond between child and caregiver, however, shows how putting up with selfish, snotty mothers can make it all worthwhile. NYU Senior, Nanny, takes up a job as nanny to 4-year-old Grayer X as a way to pay for her overpriced New York apartment. The X family is every nannies nightmare: rich, selfish, unapproachable. Especially heartbreaking is the way they interact with their own child. Sure, Grayer has the world handed to him on a silver platter, but all the love and attention responsibilities fall into the hands of Nanny. And as time moves on, the X family becomes increasingly difficult to handle, and the situations Nanny puts up with will have readers red-faced with emotions. If this novel doesn't garner some respect for the nanny profession, something must be wrong! The ending of this book satisfied me beyond belief -- I cried, I shouted, I whooped for joy. The Nanny Diaries will definitely mess with your emotions, which is the true mark of a very good book. Highly recommended -- an excellent debut novel. Will be looking for more in the future from these two young authors.
Rating:
Summary: worth reading, but the criticisms are valid
Review: I, like another reviewer, was glued to this book like a wreck on the highway. I felt real pain for this little boy, however, and I wonder if the vulgar boys HH associated with were meant to allude to what young Grayer would be when he got older. Or perhaps HH was a symbol of hope; maybe relatively healthy, if spoiled, manhood could be raised in this posh apartment building full of nothing. given the shallow writing otherwise, this is probably "reading in" too much.
Rating:
Summary: Satirical. A good first novel.
Review: This was a breezy, fun book. It's not Shakespeare, but, it was well worth the time it took to read it. It had some passages in it that made me start giggling as I was reading. I think that the reviewers that said the authors didn't fill out characters very well miss the point of the book. It is satire, plain and simple, not a character analysis. After all, how much can you say about these folks? It was more a collection of mostly amusing and sometimes sad observations. The writing reminded me a little of David Sedaris's work: a little fun, a little emotion and some dead on observations about a certain segment of life thrown in for good measure.
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