After reading and loving The Second Mrs. Strom, I jumped on the chance to read What The Nanny Saw. I enjoy hating characters as much as I love them and this cast delivers that morally grey vibe. Cecilia dominates this story, and the addition of her nanny Lizzie was amazing. If you like twisted domestic thrillers with big twists and dramatic plotting, you’ll enjoy this book.

ARC Review- 4.5 ⭐

Wow--what a great book! I devoured this book over 2 days--reading late into the night with little regard for how much sleep I got! This book was so much of everything I love in a good thriller. I enjoyed the alternating chapters between the two women, Cecelia--a pretentious new mom whom has some skeletons in her closet and Lizzie, a young nanny who always seems to be at the right place at the right time. The domestic undertones between Cecelia and Evan as well as the mother-in-law Marian were great as well--it added to the overall appeal of the story and book.

The one thing I didn't realize until after reading (which doesn't affect the story at all, but would be nice to know going into it), this is the 3rd book that references a character by the name of Paul. There are 2 books written before this one that take place before this one with him in it, Best Day Ever and The Second Mrs. Strom. This didn't affect my reading of the book whatsoever, it would just be nice if you wanted to read the books in order to know ahead of time. This can definitely be read as a stand alone novel like I did.

Very twisty and attention grabbing--would highly recommend!

On the edge suspense that keeps the pages turning late into the night! Who is the best caregiver for Peyton? The twists and turns will keep you on guard and changing your mind!

This is the first book I've read by this author & I really enjoyed it!! Though I didn't realise it was the 3rd book in a series! I'm off to get the first 2 books now & will probably re read this one again!!!

Kaira Rouda is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors! I gave this book 5 stars because it hit every mark. I was trying to guess along but she had me completly fooled. This book is one you will want to pick up when you have plenty of reading time! Once I got started I did not want to put it down even when I had to.

What the Nanny Saw is the third book in a loose trilogy which began with the deliciously bonkers Best Day Ever, about charming malignant narcissist Paul Strom, and continued with The Second Mrs Strom, which introduced scheming temptress Cecelia. This book picks up Cecelia’s story five years on - I don’t want to say too much in case I spoil the earlier books for anyone who hasn’t read them. This one would actually work fine as a standalone, and spare the reader the disappointment of finding out what motherhood has done to our once Machiavellian heroine.

Cecelia lives in luxury in Malibu, but is struggling emotionally - she adores her infant daughter Peyton, but her previously attentive partner Evan is now too busy at work to help, and his interfering opinionated mother Marian is no use either. When kind, dowdy Lizzie, the nanny from next door, is willing to step in, it seems the perfect solution, and the two women quickly become friends. But everything is not what it seems, both are hiding secrets, and only one can hold on to the dream life Cecelia fought so hard to achieve.

Kaira Rouda has produced a suite of domestic/psychological suspense thrillers featuring obnoxious wealthy characters and their toxic relationships. I enjoy them like fast food - they’re a guilty pleasure but you don’t feel good afterwards. I thought Best Day Ever was brilliant, mainly because Paul Strom was so delightfully awful, but the following books haven’t quite lived up to my expectations, with plots that are too far fetched and unbelievable behaviour from the protagonists. Paul barely features here, although his legacy haunts the narrative - it does feel like his story is incomplete, so hopefully he will appear in another book. This did do a good job of showing what Postnatal depression can do to even the uber-privileged, and probably does explain how Cecelia can be so blind to what’s been going on.
I didn’t predict how it would all turn out, and was satisfied enough with the ending, assuming there is going to be another book. 3.5 rounded up.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC. What the Nanny Saw is available now.

When I added this one to my TBR I didn’t realize it was book 3 in the Family Secrets series and I was excited to see more of Cecelia and Paul. Paul was a minor character in this one, but it was still good to see him again. I was a little disappointed in the difference between the Cecelia from the last book and this one, but it was still a fun popcorn thriller. There were several points the reader needed to suspend some disbelief (especially about Cecelia going from beyond loaded to broke in two seconds) but it was still fun. I did see the twists coming but enjoyed them all the same. Cecelia has had a baby with Evan and while she hasn’t gotten Paul to sign the divorce papers yet he’s still in prison and life is good. Except Evan isn’t very helpful with the baby and her back is still prone to hurting after being thrown off a roof. Lizzie is a nanny and feels it’s time to start looking for her next gig since her current family is driving her crazy. The two women meet in a coffee shop, but they have a lot of secrets even from each other. This is fun and I can’t wait to see the next one.

As a first-time reader of Kaira Rouda’s work, I can confidently say that her storytelling holds promise, even if this book wasn’t my personal favorite. Her writing style reminds me of Freida McFadden, blending psychological tension with domestic chaos. However, unlike McFadden’s edge-of-your-seat pacing, I found the first three-quarters of this book slow to engage. It wasn’t until the final 25% that the suspense truly gripped me, making it a slow burn rather than an immediate page-turner.

That said, What the Nanny Saw is far from a bad book. For readers new to this genre, its familiar tropes and twisty narrative will likely be irresistible. Those who’ve read fewer domestic thrillers may find it an unputdownable debut. However, for someone like me who’s read a lot of similar novels recently, the predictability of certain elements dulled the intrigue. Though some aspects of the plot felt predictable, I was genuinely shocked by the revelation of who took Peyton—a twist that redeemed some of the slower moments.

The dual perspectives of Cecelia and Lizzie add depth to the story, introducing a range of (for me) very unlikable characters that keep readers guessing. Cecelia, in particular, stood out as a compelling protagonist. Her portrayal as a struggling new mother felt incredibly authentic and relatable, grounding the story in emotional realism that makes you root for her. Meanwhile, Lizzie’s observations reveal just enough to keep you questioning her motives—and everyone else's.

One drawback was the sense that I was missing key background details about Cecelia’s relationship with her ex, Paul. Only after reading other reviews did I realize this book is part of a series. While it can be read as a standalone, I suspect that diving into the earlier books would provide a richer context for Cecelia’s story and enhance the reading experience.

Overall, while this book wasn’t a standout for me, it is a solid entry point for readers exploring domestic thrillers. Rouda’s ability to craft relatable characters and her potential for shocking twists make me interested in checking out her other works. I’d especially recommend this book to those new to the genre or looking for a light, suspenseful read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for sending me a digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

I wish I’d read The Second Mrs. Strom first simply because it sounds like I really would’ve liked it! What the Nanny Saw can definitely be read a standalone. It gives enough of Cecilia’s background so it all makes sense. But just a heads up it also includes spoilers for The Second Mrs. Strom.

If you’re a fan of domestic suspense, interesting villains and overall unlikeable characters, you’ll be entertained by this one. Everyone seemed like they were in it for themselves but that’s exactly what propelled the story forward. Lies, secrets, twists, turns, it had it all. If you’re looking for your next fun, quick, suspenseful read, you need to check out What the Nanny Saw.

There’s so much excitement about this one among my
@thrillerbookloversthepulse peeps! A huge thank you to Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for an honest review!

What the Nanny Saw by Kaira Rouda is the 3rd book in the Family Secrets Series and I have loved it Kaira has done it again......This book is fast paced, with lots of twists and turns that will have you turning your pages over quickly to find out what happens next.

A superb book/series and I highly recommend them.

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC

Another outstanding book by Kaira Rouda. Our favorite bad guy is back and up to no good as usual. This time he has some help. Loved the book, as I do all of her books, from the first chapter. Lots of twists and turns and you keep thinking you have it figured out, until you don’t. Keep them coming, Kaira! That you to Netgally and Bookoture for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3⭐️⭐️⭐️



✨ secrets
✨ lies
✨ 2 different povs



✨ oh gosh.. this is hard.
I have been looking forward to this and I thought it will be fast paced. It is,, but it took me so long to get on each of the chapters.
It’s hard to understand on my side so I have to listen all over again.


✨ the story was plain. It was supposed to be a nanny who has a secret but turns out to be a friend.
Okay .. now the ex convict of an ex just came by all of a sudden but the main characters still hiding and doesn’t want to get involve the police.
I don’t get. While she is married to this ex convict and had a baby to this new guy, with a mother in law that has a screw loose aswell,, I just… nope.. too many going on that doesn’t connect.

Just sad that it was a lovely blurb but unclear plot.



✨ Thankyou @bookouture for the opportunity to read this arc for a honest review




❤️shaye.reads

This author is a favorite of mine. Her books are always outrageous fun! This one follows Cecelia, following her recovery from her marriage to Paul Strom. In this one she has a new beau, a overbearing mother in law, a new baby and a nanny. This book was a fast paced read with some over the top situations. I liked how the author captured the culture of southern California within her setting. A recommended read!

This one was a total rollercoaster and keeps you on the edge of your seat till the end! A woman with very painful back pain who's newly given birth and a nanny cross paths. The nanny offers her help with the baby and the woman agrees for the kind help as she's pretty isolated and can't count on her boyfriend. Then all the twists and turns will keep you awake at night! A must read!! Thanks a lot NetGalley for the early read :)

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of What the Nanny Saw by Kaira Rouda. It wasn't a bad book aside from being a little too repetitive at times, but it took me way too long to finish this book. I just found other things to do rather than read which is unusual for me. Once I did pick it up again, I was enjoying it. This was my first book by this author. So even though it was not a bad book, I guess it just wasn't right for me. A 3 star rating from me.

I see a book by Kaira Rouda and know it will be good. What The Nanny Saw was a great suspense, especially if you have read the other books in the Paul Strom series, featuring the man we love to hate.

This one involves a lot of twists and turns and uncertainty of who we can trust, certainly not the nanny, Lizzie. Or can we? We really just dont know, so suspense all disbelief, and enjoy the ride.

Paul doesn't feature much in this book but that's ok, we dont really need much of him anyway. The plot was tense, and the chapters flew. I read this quickly!

Synopsis:

I keep all her secrets. She thinks she can trust me…

Cecilia has it all. The house on the beach. The cute figure. The beautiful baby. But she’s a long way from perfect.

She’s let me into her gorgeous house as her nanny because now she’s on her own, she needs a little help with her baby daughter Peyton. She barely notices me. But I see everything.

While Peyton naps, I rifle through her drawers and discover the dark secrets of her past, the threatening letter from her ex-husband.

It’s a shame that Cecilia doesn’t have my powers of observation. If she took some time, she might just recognize me. I’ve been following her for a while, after all.

If she knew who I was then I don’t think I’d be so invisible. And she wouldn’t be so surprised one morning when little Peyton’s cot is found empty…

ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ: Traumatized by her childhood, Lizzie wants nothing more than to be a traditional rich housewife/mom, so she devotes herself to being an indispensable nanny in Malibu. Cecilia is in desperate need of Lizzie’s help, but has a haunting past threatening to come back to her present.

ᴍʏ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴄᴇɴᴛs: This thriller was even better than I expected! It was so engaging that I flew through the chapters in just a few days. A little repetitious at times, the dual POV kept my attention as we found out more about Lizzie and Cecilia’s skeletons.

Lizzie’s tragic childhood made her much easier to sympathize and the snippets of letters from Paul interspersed throughout was such a nice touch, though it did help me figure out early on who he was connected to.

Overall, I loved it and if thrillers had “tropes,” I think I definitely love the nanny trope.

So many twists in this story. Kept me glued to the pages. Had to find out who was doing what! The ending oh my gosh! Need to read more of this. Can’t wait for the next one. So very good!

I have read all of Kaira Rouda's books and knew I wanted to read this when it was released. This is a follow-up to The Second Mrs. Strom, and in this book, we follow Cecelia, who was in that book.

She has a baby girl with a partner who she decides to split up with because he is useless. Cecelia hires a nanny to help her, but unknown to her, the nanny isn't what Cecelia thinks.

Another gripping and tense psychological thriller from the mind of Kaira Rouda. I had read the previous books so had no problems and thoroughly enjoyed What The Nanny Saw. It would make perfect sense to read the other books first. It can be read as a standalone too, but I always say, read the complete 'set', and then everything is clear.

Told by the two women, Cecelia and the nanny, Lizzie, we are given both views, and I have to say I couldn't decide who I felt sorry for more! They are both flawed and pretty damaged. In fact, they are both not normal! I love it when I am sitting waiting to find out how everything's going to turn out!

Twists and turns galore! Unreliable narrators make me unsure who to trust and invest in.  I whizzed straight through this in two sittings. It was that much of an addictive read. The ending was worth the wait, too! Expert storytelling for sure.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the gifted book to write this review. Apologies its late.

Thrilling. tense. Fast paced, dark and twisted. Loved it! Do read this one - I promise you will be hooked. A wonderful read.