Wow!! What a twisty, turny book. Edge of your seat read and really engrossing.

When a flyer is put into the newspaper of a nanny needed for the bird family Sarah Larsen applies straight away. The job on the surface is all of Sarah's dreams come true. A job with a high profile family, adorable children, a stunning penthouse apartment and a salery that is eye wateringly good. So when the bird family ask Sarah to sign a NDA she signs it without a second thought. However there is something extremely strange about the bird family and as time goes on Sarah wonders exactly what on earth she has got herself mixed up in.

Wow. That was a twisty, addictive, sometimes silly but always engrossing, read!

Sarah Larsen is in financial difficulties. She and her fiance Jonathan have large medical debts after the death of her aunt, and their restaurant salaries are not helping to clear them. When she sees a flyer advertising a nanny position, she should know it's actually too good to be true, but goes ahead and meets up with the Bird family. When she's offered the job, but has to sign a non disclosure contract before accepting, again she should run but the money on offer is just what she needs.

What follows is sometimes predictable - the first big reveal is one the author doesn't even try to hide - and sometimes requires the reader to suspend their disbelief, but an engaging read nonetheless. 3.5 rounded up to 4.

Sarah Larson picks up a flyer left in her apartment building. A nanny is needed where “discretion is of utmost importance“ and “special conditions apply”. Sarah debates whether to submit an application but as she and her fiance Jonathan are drowning in debt, she decides the extra money would be very useful. She applies, meets Stephen Bird, stepson of Colette Bird and stepbrother of Patty who is nearly four who she will nanny. The money is good but her first meeting with beautiful Colette is strange if not positively peculiar. Further money is offered and Sarah accepts the job.

What have I just read!! This is immersive reading that’s for sure and although parts of the story are bizarre especially surrounding Colettes behaviour, I can’t put the book down and I’m all in! There are some almost surreal but very colourful scenes some of which make you gasp as they’re quite shocking but it’s what I describe as “deliciously awful reading“! The Birds are super rich and the luxury penthouse exudes an atmosphere all of its own as even though it’s huge it feels very claustrophobic and there is tension in abundance. Add in odd behaviour from other staff and the overprotectiveness of Stephen and his father Alex and you begin to get the picture. At times it’s very creepy and sends chills down the spine as the narrative takes a very disturbing direction, way beyond things that can be put down to wealthy eccentricity.
Events take a much more dangerous turn and the suspense builds. Then, we enter the station at Crazy Town with an ending which is almost overly dramatic ( and accompanied with malevolent cackles!) and I really don’t like it at all. However I dare say even if I don’t buy into it, it fits since a lot of this is pretty bonkers anyway! As the majority of the book is crazily entertaining I’m going to give it four stars despite my feelings about the ending.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Avon for that much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Underlying Sense Of Menace…
Answering an attractive job advertisement means that Sarah Larsen’s life would change beyond question. A position for a nanny in an uber glamorous apartment with a breathtaking salary. It sounds too good to be true. Perhaps, however, that’s because it is. When her contract contains a non disclosure clause she thinks little of it. After all, these people probably have to be careful. Don’t they? It’s not too long before things are to take a very sinister turn indeed. With a palpable sense of tension and an underlying vein of menace this is a wholly immersive, one sit suspense which delivers on its’ premise in droves.

Really enjoyed reading this book. So many surprises to keep me guessing the story line. A Nanny is hired to take care of a little girl from a wealthy family, Sarah is excited about starting her new job with the Birds, but things aren't what they seem!

What a rollercoaster ride! And one I really enjoyed!

This book was so bingeable that I was surprised to fly through it in two sittings. It's rightfully marketed as a thriller and actually does deliver.

Slight suspension of disbelief might be required as some things feel too convenient, but I had fun wondering what was going on and was totally on board with all the craziness that was going on!

Gripping thriller aside, I really liked the book's exploration into grief and loss. People having public meltdowns is something I come across a lot in my job but this novel made me stop and think about what sparked their behaviour as well evoked empathy in me.

I'm definitely going to check out the author's previous novels now!

As a nanny myself I should stop reading these types of books but I just can't help it! It was such a ride, I didn't expect the twist at the end, honestly! However, I had to put aside a lot of feelings in order to get into this one. It was very unrealistic for me due to working in the field. I read it in one day!!

Fast-paced thriller!

Nanny Needed hooked me in from the first page with a brilliant set up of character and their troubles. Sarah has a lot of medical debt and is offered a job of a life-time. But when she's there, things take a turn for the unusual!

Lots of twists and turns, and I just had to know what on earth was going on with the family Sarah went to work for. Well-written and a page turner.

Recommended.

Thanks to Avon and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review.

This book had me stumped. Sitting smug and thinking I had it all thought out, the author put me in my place. Finally we have a thriller that will keep you your toes. As with a number of authors I have been reading recently I cannot believe that this is the authors debut novel! I truly enjoyed myself and will be recommending it to anyone I see for the next few months.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A very enjoyable read. Fast paced and often weird and disturbing, this book will definitely hold your attention throughout. A creepy storyline and some very creepy characters.

Sarah Larsen is in a desperate need for money. She has debts and her job as a waitress is low paid. And she wants to get married.

When she sees the advertisement where nanny is needed, she immediately applies. The wealthy Bird family asks that Sarah remains professional and responsible and courteous at all times while she is with them in their home, and discreet about their affairs when she is not. She signs a strict confidentiality clause. Soon is obvious that this nannying job is not even close to what she thought it would be. It’s going to test her limits, but the money is worth it.

What a thriller. The tension rises with every turned page. Characters are immensely believable. Sarah just wants to be loved and Collette - underneath the manipulation and erratic moods, is a deeply lonely woman. A woman in pain and delusion.

The atmosphere is claustrophobic and Bird's home feels like a time warp. It is hard to know which one is lying and who to trust.

Fabulous read!

This book was impossible to put down! What a triumph. I loved the set up - young woman in crippling debt, a job opportunity too good to be true. The whole Bird family set-up had my hairs on end and I couldn’t work out why during the introductions. The tone was well and truly set.

Sarah was an amazing character to follow, I genuinely liked her. I felt all her bumps in the road. Also, the writing was brilliant, clear and fast, just what you need in a thriller. This book is definitely a one or two sitting read. It was for me.

Another element of the book that entranced me was the New York setting. I enjoyed following Sarah’s day to day life through this fabulous city. Then there was the penthouse that was both creepily claustrophobic and, charming and entrancing.

‘Nanny Needed’ is a gripping psychological thriller which will literally have your jaw dropping as the revelations play out. Super read!

OH MY GOSH this book was EVERYTHING. it was so well written with a good storyline, well developed characters and a great narrative. It was suspenseful, intriguing, mysterious and unpredictable. the twists literally slapped me in the face in the best way. I loved it and I cannot wait to read more by this author.

I literally (get it?) FLEW through this book! I devoured it in one morning! Georgina Cross knows how to write a book that holds your attention from the first word through to the last! I really liked Sarah and kept cheering for her. I never knew which direction she would be pulled or pushed and oh my gosh was she pushed and pulled!
I never knew whether Colette was truly crazy or if she was just really manipulative. As always, I freaking loved the first person perspective. I absolutely loved being in Sarah’s head!
All of my theorizing did zilch to prepare me for the crazy bombs that dropped one after another toward the end. Now I need to go back and read Georgina’s previous books! I’ve already bought one!