Rating: 
Summary: What's so funny?
Review: While most of my friends have said they loved this book, I found it a sad commentary on the lives our children live. I could not find the humor in this story! The nannies portrayal of the tortured life of these children not to mention the cold and lonely lives of both the wives and husbands just doesn't spell comedy. The material world of all involved painted a picture of callousness and a lack of understanding of what is really important in life.
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Summary: The Nanny Diaries
Review: Twenty-one year old NYU college senior, Nanny, (yes that's really her first name) majoring in Early Childhood Development, seeks part time employment, twelve hours a week, as a nanny. She gets a job with the Park Avenue, X family, to take care of their intelligent, playful, high-spirited, attention starved four year old boy, Grayer. His extremely inconsiderate, vacuous, self absorbed, and self important mother is totally uninterested in raising her son. He's just a trophy. The philandering, always too busy with mergers and acquisitions, Mr X, is for all intents and purposes a non-existent family member. Nanny becomes devoted to little Grayer, and for nine months puts up with all the rudeness, slights, condescension, and ever-growing work hours, until the final clash and climax sends her packing..... Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus have attempted to chronicle the real life and times of an industrious working girl caught between a rock, the obnoxious and too rich Upper East Side elite parents, and a hard place, the adorable, worthy of love and attention child, but they can't quite make it work. The story line is formulaic and transparent, and gets bogged down with endless repetitive scenes. There are no subtlties, unexpected twists, or surprises in this novel. The writing, though breezy and easy to read, could have used more editing, and the dialogue, with its constant asides, doesn't ring true, and is rarely witty or clever. But it's the unoriginal, one-dimensional cast of characters that is the most disappointing. These cliched, cartoon caricatures of New Yorker's are underdeveloped, have no depth, and less motivation. With it's weak and predictable, anti-climactic ending, The Nanny Diaries goes out with barely a wimper, instead of a bang. There's just nothing new or inventive here. Save your money. There are too many really good books out there to read, and this isn't one of them.
Rating: 
Summary: Fluffy Fun But Not Much More
Review: "The Nanny Diaries" provides a voyeueristic, fun peek into the not-so-pretty world of New York City's Very Rich and Their Offspring. The glimpses are interesting enough to sustain the reader through the novel and the writing is not bad. Anyone interested in becoming a fly on the wall of a super-rich, self-centered Upper East side family certainly will enjoy the time they spend with this book.On the downside, however, the book could be far better than it is. There is not much plot to speak of: the book tracks the trials and tribulations of "Nanny" as she works for the "X" family to pay her New York rent during her last year of college. Along the way she meets a boy whom she really likes. But that's the entire story and we don't really get to know these characters even as well as we might like. While a wicked satire that achieves what it attempts, the book is by no stretch of the imagaination literary. And, for me, the present tense narrative and the rather contrived device of naming the main character "Nanny" and the family "X" were both initially distracting and unnecessary.
Rating: 
Summary: quite worth the read!
Review: I'll save the plot synopsis for the other reviewers, who've done the job nicely. I'm in agreement that the ending seems a bit pat and left me wishing for more. I'd love to see reviews from folks who actually have nannies! My sisters-in-law each have a nanny, and I hid the book when they came over. My experience (with a husband who works in child care and seeing my nephews raised by nannies) is that the attention-starved child w/a nanny is so true! these poor children might have all the stuff money can buy, and even well-intentioned parents sometimes, but the fact is, the love and care come from doing the real work (as opposed to "quality time", which is really silly when it comes to kids) and being there not just for trips to the zoo, but for the day-to-day. I think this book manages to get that idea across, as you see how Grayer learns to love his nannies, yet craves the real attention from his parents, who are all too self-absorbed. One of the funniest parts to the book was talking about Grayer's dietary restrictions and food allergies (allergic to air!). Amusing, and again, accurately told. A fast read, and a good one. Makes you wonder where all these kids end up. Probably with great jobs and their own kids raised by nannies!
Rating: 
Summary: good
Review: This is a quick and easy read. If you're looking for something slightly salacious and gossipy, then this book is for you. I was fascinated and at the same time disgusted with the attitudes of the rich people in the book. Only goes to show that just because you have money doesn't mean you automatically get class with it. Poor Nanny gets put upon all the time and Mr and Mrs X don't seem to understand that she's there TO WORK. She's not there out of the goodness of her own heart. There are some very funny moments during the course of her tenure with the Xes. At the end she just sort of walks off into the sunset.
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Summary: Wake me up when it's over!
Review: I'm glad I bought my book for half price, because I'd be really peeved if I'd paid the full cover price- it's not worth it! This story was a big, long whine by a character who didn't really do too much to help herself out of the situation she got herself into, full of cliche, 2 dimensional characters, none of whom change one iota throughout the story (including "Nanny"). My LEAST favorite is "Harvard Hottie". I was actually quite insulted as a reader to find that these authors would think for a second that just because some guy goes to Harvard, is "cute", and lives on the Upper East Side [because this is ALL WE KNOW ABOUT HIM!], we will naturally assume that he is a prize. This whole subplot really made Nanny no better than the charicatured wives who she works for! I get a sense that this was written by two grumbly young girls, who just wanted an outlet to complain about their "trials and tribulations" at their summer jobs. Get a grip, get a spine, or get a job in fast food next time.
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Summary: Love This Book!!
Review: I could not put this book down. McLaughlin and Kraus do an excellent job of making the reader feel as if they are right there with the main character, experiencing every emotion as she rides the "Nanny" emotional roller coaster. You gain a whole new appreciation for your own family and feel that maybe, they are not as dysfunctional as they may seem.
Rating:
Summary: Readable from beginning to end!
Review: There was so much hype surrounding this book that I finally decided to give it a whirl. I am glad I did. McLaughin and Kraus introduce us to the world of Park Avenue and the parenting skills (or lack thereof) of the people who live there with wit and poignancy. In order to earn a living while attending NYU, Nanny decides to care for the child of Mr. and Mrs. X -- a wealthy Upper East Side family. She soon discovers that she isn't just helping raise the child, she's the one raising the child! In her busy schedule of shopping and relaxing in spas, Mrs. X never deigns to spend quality (not even quantity) time with her adorable child who adores her. And need I mention wayward Mr. X? Nanny gets more work than she bargains for with little respect or appreciation in the long run. She also witnesses how other socialites treat their child-care helpers. (Very badly.) Poignant, compelling, funny and readable from beginning to end, The Nanny Diaries lives up to its high praise. You will laugh, you'll be touched and you will definitely want to slap Mrs. X on several occasions! Great read!
Rating:
Summary: nannie diaries
Review: This book was an excellent book! Good for everyone from the "nannies" to the "employers". It's hard to put down once you start it. LOVE THE ENDING! You go "Nanny"!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Disappointment!
Review: I was eager to read this book, hoping that it would be a fun poke at the rich and famous, but it was a big disappointment. None of the characters, with the exception of the child, is sympathetic--including the Nanny who comes off as EXTREMELY self-righteous and aggrandizing. In addition, a lot of the literary conventions (Mr. and Mrs. X?) are just plain silly.
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