Rating: 
Summary: Very good, but sad
Review: I was once a nanny, and I feel so greatful for the children I cared for and their parents after reading this book. (Except that one family....)The Nanny Diaries has just about all you want in a book. You'll laugh, cry, become enraged with anger, all in one chapter. One second you hate Mrs. X. THe next sympathize her. Two pages later you want to be her best friend. Ok, sure, right. Mostly you want to hate her. It did make me run in and hug each of my sleeping angels several times, swearing that if I ever have to hire someone to help with them I will ALWAYS be the one raising them. Saddest part was thinking that what happens in this book really does happen in some families. Basically: Good but sad story. Loved the book. Kept me up nights. Would read it again. Making a list of people I know who should read it as a wake up call.
Rating: 
Summary: Trashy but good
Review: I liked this book more than I wanted to, considering the raft of unsympathetic characters and obvious invasion of privacy that the writers committed in writing about their ex-employers. McLaughlin and Kraus manage to write some nuance into characters like Mrs. X and her cohort and are skilled at weaving details into the story without sound like Judith Krantz-esque label-droppers. Women like Mrs. X have made their deals with the devil, but the authors never completely let go of compassion for the women and their charges. The husbands in the story are little more than shadows, which is perhaps the point. It would be nice to think that the authors are exaggerating, but judging from New York Magazine, no exaggeration is required to reflect the materialism, superficiality and reactionary values of this subculture. Scary!
Rating: 
Summary: Fiction bordering on real life
Review: This is a fantastic book. Imagine working for someone as narcissistic as this woman. If the thought scares you, don't become a nanny, as it happens everyday in cities across the United States. Ultimately the mother overcomes her insecurities and finds strength by abusing her "help." Sad, but true.
I used to be nanny myself and fortunately I worked for wonderful people.
I wanted to write all of my ex-employers thank you notes after reading this book.
Rating:
Summary: The Nanny Diaries
Review: The Nanny Diaries is a satirical comedy about the lives of the rich and their so-called 'stressful lives' from day to day. We are introduced to the X family, a typical hard-working father, snobby, socialite mother, and a single, lonely child. The narrator, a college-aged girl named Nanny is hired to care for the X's child, Grayer. Throughout the novel, Nanny must keep up with their fast paced life of secrets, gossip, and lies. I really enjoyed this book because it gives average people insight into the corrupt lives of rich people. Nanny is constantly used as a call girl to Mrs. X's every need. The fact that Mr. X stops coming home due to an important affair drives Mrs. X into a frenzy. I found myself laughing constantly at the ridiculous events that occurred in this book. Another reason I really liked this book was because I could relate to Nanny's struggle between the balance of work and school. Nanny is frantic at times to balance her time and I could relate to her situation, including finding time for the 'Harvard Hottie'. This book is a great read for young women who struggle to make it young in this world.
Rating:
Summary: Deeply Engaging and Moving
Review: Among the rather large genre of books about women in their mid 20's - early 30's this one has been one of my favorites to read. An enjoyable tale about a Nanny taking care of a 4 year old Park Avenue kid named Grayer "X". (...)The only reason why I gave this book a 4 is the ending really leaves a lot be desired. It is all rather abrupt, and while you can fantasize and predict what the last 10 pages or so will lead to in the future for the X family, it would be nice to have a more complete conclusion. Perhaps a sequel will be written, but if not I'm sure everyone that reads this story will come up with hopeful, realistic, or their own favorite future for the X'es, particularly Grayer, and of course our heroine, Nanny. A good read if you like this genre, and insightful into the demanding life of being a Nanny.
Rating:
Summary: Very GOod!
Review: I thought this was a very interesting book...and from my perspective, even thought it's a satire, it seems that it's true..in some ways at least. I enjoyed this book, the happy parts, the sad parts, and the ending, this book left me fulfilled. I liked the charachters, and I liked the way it was written...now...what's with the lavender water?
Rating:
Summary: Amusing
Review: I found this book very easy to read because the way people behave can be so fascinating. A bit of a sad reflection on the attitudes of people and the effects upon their children, this book boldly shows just how bad those attitutes can be and the extent of rationalizing to justify how absurdly correct they want to be. The entertainment value of this book is high. It is very amusing and well worth reading. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Not the TV show
Review: "The Nanny Diaries" is a funny, bitter, and often heartbreaking novel based on the authors' experiences working for upscale Manhattan families. The narrator, a college student in need of money, takes a part-time job as a nanny for a family whose previous nanny has abruptly left. The job quickly becomes full-time, and she finds herself sucked into the parents' dysfunctional lives while trying to provide stability for their neglected trophy child. Exploited and manipulated from day one, the nameless nanny copes as best she can. She bonds with their child and manages to establish a daily routine, but the parents' behavior becomes more and more outrageous. "The Nanny Diaries" isn't great literature, but it is both funny and biting. Even though the ending is inevitable, its sadness lingers after the book's end.
Rating:
Summary: Funny!
Review: So, I first went to the States as an au pair and then I went back there to school. To pay it, I worked for many years as a nanny in these rich families and oh my god! this book is everything I went through during those years. Same stories, same notes, same problems... I am so glad that my nanny days are over. You should definetely read it! It is so funny!
Rating:
Summary: Over-hyped
Review: Given all the buzz about this book, I was desperate to read it, and I was thrilled when a friend loaned it to me a few weeks ago. It wasn't bad - in fact, it was really good in some ways - but didn't live up to my expectations. The book was easy to get in to; the beginning was really engaging. I thought the authors gave Nan a really clear voice. She seemed like a real person. Loved all the name dropping of fancy places in New York, which I've always wanted to visit. I thought the book was really funny in parts - some of the demands that Mrs. X placed on Nan were just bizarre. So in many ways it was effective satire. I also loved Nan's family. They provided a nice counterpoint to the insanity of her work situation. The storyline with Nan's boyfriend was surprisingly ineffective - if they'd stuck to her grandmother and parents, I'd have been happier.
The problem was the book was a bit schizphrenic. At times it seemed like just a lighthearted novel wanting to poke fun at high society. But as we got to know Grayer, and watch Nan bond with him, we started to care about him and his situation. So, as the family fell apart, and we saw how he was suffering, I had this need for something more - a bit more depth, somehow. In the end I was left with this vague sense of dissatisfaction. The authors tried, at times, to give the Mrs. X character a bit of depth and create a bit of sympathy for her, but it didn't work. I think the book might've been more effective if the authors hadn't bothered to give it the extra bit of seriousness, and stuck to writing an all out funny book, ala the Shopaholic series. I do think this book is generally well written, and it is easy to read. It just isn't what I expected. So, bearing that in mind, I do think it's worth a look.
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