The Nanny by Eleonor Samuel
Reviewed by Gemma Tidmarsh
If you’re a fan of Freida McFadden’s ‘The Housewife’ then this book will be up your street. I read it in one sitting and it is fantastic! It’s great to find such compelling books by indie authors/ publishers and they deserve to have all the praise heaped on to them.
India, the protagonist, is running away from something, someone. We are shown letters she writes to her best friend, Hope, and are left to infer what could have happened to her and their friendship. I think the author intended us to believe it could have even been a romantic relationship with the level of affection between them. India becomes a nanny to 7 year old, Alicia.
The two develop a beautiful relationship which clearly makes up for the neglect at the hands of the parents who seem more concerned about keeping everyone (including themselves) away from their eldest son, Alex.
What I love about their relationship is the tenacity and perseverance of India’s attitude towards Alex. She gives him the chance to show her the true him, not the picture that has been cruelly and unfairly painted for her. Alicia, Alex and India form their own family dynamic but are forced to keep it a secret. The Maine’s treatment of Alex is very narcissistic and they appear to have a conditional relationship which is extremely damaging.
I really love the character development of Alex. You wish for him to be a good guy and to have redemption against his past. I believe that this is where the true strength lies in this novel and enthrals the reader. The dynamic and chemistry between India and Alex is strong and endearing to read. Samuel is conservative and classy with the intimate scenes making their romance passionate and true to who they are. India needs a protector and someone to love and she finds this in Alex.
Although parts of the story were easy to guess, this doesn’t deter me from awarding this 4.5 stars. It kept me interested throughout and I found it to be a real page turner. It is gripping from the first page and should be added to your TBR list immediately!