The Devil doesn’t always wear Prada. Sometimes it’s dresses with Peter Pan collar.
The Perfect Nanny by Leïla Slimani
Genres: Thriller, Contemporary
Published: 9th January, 2018
Goodreads
Series: N/A
Rating: 4
When Myriam, a French-Moroccan lawyer, decides to return to work after having children, she and her husband look for the perfect caretaker for their two young children. They never dreamed they would find Louise: a quiet, polite and devoted woman who sings to their children, cleans the family’s chic apartment in Paris’s upscale tenth arrondissement, stays late without complaint and is able to host enviable birthday parties.
The couple and nanny become more dependent on each other. But as jealousy, resentment and suspicions increase, Myriam and Paul’s idyllic tableau is shattered…
The baby is dead. It only took few seconds.
With a tagline like that, you just know this book is going to be intense. Even though you know the who and most details of the how, it’s the question of why that will make you stick with the story about the perfect nanny.
What unfolds between Myriam, Paul and their nanny, Louise is one of those slow burns with a constant tension simmering just under the surface. Although I don’t have children, it never stopped me from imagining all the things that could possibly go wrong if I were to become a mum. There’s nothing in Leïla Slimani’s book that is overly direct or right in your face, and yet, it somehow resonated with all my fears. Back in the day when I was still seeing him, my therapist would have had a field day with all the crap I came up with after I finished this book if. All those subtle hints and little nuances that went on was just utterly chilling.
Myriam and Paul seem to be getting along just fine, but as soon as the nanny enters, all sorts of problems arise, from mom-guilt over feeling the need to go back to work, or wanting to have time away from the children, to not being able to see eye to eye with your partner about boundaries or priorities. Throughout this Louise is always there, always helpful, soon an almost invisible, but vitally important part of everyone’s life. Sure, it’s nice if your nanny stays late every day voluntarily, but where does it end? At what point does this become an exploit of someone’s kindness? Is it kindness, or does she have some hidden motive?
The mystery surrounding the nanny is the backbone of the story, but what drives the plot forward are the heightened emotions that arise from the family’s new arrangement. The nanny is so great! So why does Myriam feel bad for leaving the children with her? In spite of all the secrets, this is not a whodunit. There aren’t twists and turns in the story that will keep you guessing, the writing is almost simplistic, and yet I couldn’t help but read this story in one sitting. The raw honesty and the emotions laid bare in front of me made The Perfect nanny an absolutely fascinating read. After the graphic and violent details in the first chapter the rest seems almost like nothing happens. There are some dropped hints that all point towards something sinister, and yet, at the end of it, I was left with more questions than answers. Nothing was as clear cut as it seemed. But that’s just how life is. Sometimes no matter how you twist the story, how much you know, some questions are just never answered.
A beautifully written, haunting story about motherhood, society’s pressure on women, and the constant inner battle we all feel sometimes, that little nagging feeling that no matter what we do, we are just not good enough.
P.S. For us UK people this is called Lullaby… Still creepy. Just sayin’…
Perfect tagline!Seen this one around. Glad to hear that you enjoyed it. The themes sound so realistic and relatable. Great review!
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❤
It was! And weirdly enough quite emotional but in an objective way. If that makes sense.
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Seems threatening for blood pressure Norrie 😂
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Ha!
Compared to the first chapter the rest was quite tame. Even tho the topic is really intense. 😀
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Great review! Your review makes me want to read this one immediately! Already added it to my TBR
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Yay 🙂
I hope you’ll like it when you get the chance to read it!
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I enjoyed this, too, Norrie! I felt the open-ended ending was sort of realistic too. Fantastic review, and I love how you started and finished it. Shortly after I read the book, the real verdict came in for the nanny that may have inspired it.
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Aaah, i didn’t realise it was connected to the real life stuff. Just looked up the real story online. Brutal 😦 I think it’s quite realistic ending. A lot of times murderers seem to have no reason and yet they do horrible stuff.
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Great review, Norrie! Sounds really creepy.
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Thank you!
It was! I was just told in another comment that it was loosely based on real life events… 😦
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Ha I was thinking as read that I have just read, but it was called Lullaby. Thin but ok so it is quick read, definitely after leaves with more questions than answers.
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I don’t know, I just don’t know.. I was all in for it but I don’t like unanswered questions :-). How could a nanny so devoted suddenly murder a child? I want to find out though.. I’ll think about it some more :-). Thanks for your review!
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I must say i would have liked some answers too! But it was kind of realistic.
Even in the true crime documentaries there’s not always a satisfactory explanation to all the horrible things that happened
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I love me a really well written emotional roller coaster ride, and this one sounds like it hits all the right notes, quick read or not, it got you riled up!
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Definitely!
It was quite unique as well with all the open ending and whatnot.
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Life is, in it self, messy, and doesn’t have clear cut conclusions, so why should all stories? I like it when an author can pull off leaving people asking questions, it means they’ve done a good job.
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I actually like the Lullaby title better. That and the tag line on the cover. Glad you enjoyed it. Seems like a good read for Fall!
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I can’t decide which one is better 😀 They both really fit!
🙂
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http://wonderwall360.blog/2018/08/27/is-it-a-new-thriller-trend-to-set-you-up-for-a-twist-that-never-come/
Yep I wonder if Lullaby better title, I feel like Perfect Nanny needs a ? after.
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For them she did seem perfect. Until she wasn’t but then it was too late.
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Brilliant review, I really liked this one too. And agree, the tagline is intense, one of the best I’ve come across in making me want to read a book!
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Thank you 🙂
I wonder why they only used that line on the UK cover.
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Maybe they thought US readers were too sensitive for a tagline like that 😂🤣
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Uhh, could be!! 😀 Wouldn’t surprise me.
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I’ve heard so many mixed things about this book, I can’t quite decide if I want to check it out or not! Fantastic review, I’m glad you liked it 🙂
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I can see why!
If you like clear cut ending and straight forward explanations, chances that you won’t like it. But if that’s not necessary, then you should give it a try. It’s a really short one. Finished it in a few hours 🙂
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I like an open ended novel tbh! I saw it in Sainsbury’s earlier for £3.99, hmmm
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Ooh, not bad! Even on kindle is cost more at the moment.
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Fabulous review- you make the book sound so very good! And creepy… that tag line? *shudders*
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I thought it was really good! And very much ‘real’ feeling. Apparently a similar thing actually happened and that inspired the author.
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I’ve seen this one around a lot around its release date and I can definitely say that a nanny is a perfect position to be in to add horror twist to things hahaha Can’t imagine what goes on in this story! Awesome review, Norrie!
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Haha… i used to be a nanny 10 years ago. How did they ever let those kids hang out with me is a mystery 😀 I guess they never read these kind of books!
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Sounds like the kinda book I wanna read!! Gonna add it to my TBR 😀 Love your blog btw! The layout, the design and most of all, your posts! Following! ;D
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❤ Thank you 🙂
I hope you'll enjoy Lullaby too.
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