Couldn't put it down
My sister-in-law was a nanny for several years, so when I saw this book, I had to get it for both of us. Every story she ever told me has unfolded in this 306 page book.

The authors, former nannies themselves, have a disclaimer at the front of the book stating that the characters written are completely ficticious and not based on any particular past employer. This must be why the main character's name is simply "Nanny", and her employers are "Mr. and Mrs. X". Nanny has just been hired by the wealthy Xes to look after their son Grayer. She is to replace the old nanny, who had the audacity to request a week off to visit her sick sister in Australia. Nanny is just looking to keep her rent money coming in while completing her senior year at NYC, but soon finds that she is drawn to poor little Grayer, who at times can be a pill, but for the most part is just a poor little rich kid who wants his parents to notice him. Mrs. X spends most of her time shopping, planning dinner parties (in the hopes that her absentee/workaholic husband just might spend time with them), and volunteering on several committees. Nanny is used to the explicit demands Mrs. X requests for Grayer, and is not surprised when Mrs. X constantly asks her to do extra chores she wasn't hired for (like picking up Mrs. X's dry cleaning, picking up about 12 different items for a 30 people dinner party, or even escorting Grayer and the Xes to a fancy executive Halloween bash dressed as a giant Teletubby- one of the funniest passages in the book). Or, she'll show up 2 hours past the time she told Nanny she'd be home, leaving Nanny little more than 15 minutes to get to a school to give a speech that will determine whether she passes or fails. Nanny feels it's worth it, though, when the envelope of cash comes at the end of the week ("most nannies are paid under the table", she tells us).

Even so, Nanny gets more than she bargained for when, at the Halloween bash, she and Grayer walk in on Mr. X and his Chicago executive (whom the book simply calls "Ms. Chicago")making out. Mr. X acts as if mothing is amiss, and Nanny is left to question whether or not she should report this infidelity to his wife. Slowly, Mrs. X begins to get her own suspicions, and Grayer begins to fall apart under the obvious cloud of neglect and dread that his father has stirred up. Nanny wants to run, but feels obligated to navigate these treacherous adult waters for Grayer, hoping things will calm down on their own. Meanwhile, she's also fallen for a Harvard student that lives in the Xes building, leaving Mrs. X to treat her badly and hurl rude comments at her because she is jealous of the happiness Nanny is finding with a guy. Hhhmph! How can Nanny tread through these tumultuous waters and still graduate from NYC? You'll have to find out for yourself. I read this book in less than 48 hours because I couldn't wait to find out what outrageous thing Mrs. X would come up with next. After listening to my sis-in-law's horror stories, I found that I wasn't surprised about the Xes shannanigans. All in all, a very interesting look into the frustrating world of raising someone elses children under extreme conditions.

The Nanny Diaries is the fictionalized story of the two authors experiences as nannies in New York City. The main character is named Nanny (or Nan). The story focuses on a job she holds for nine months as the nanny for Grayer Addison X and, as a result of her peculiar employers an all-around servant (or, perhaps more descriptively a baby sitter) for Grayer's parents, Mr. and Mrs. X.

Many people think that the book is popular because it gives us a glimpse of the super rich of New York through the eyes of someone who is not one of them but is able to laugh at them. I found the book to be so enjoyable for another reason: Nanny is so sweet and devoted to her charge, Grayer. Grayer is more spoiled than lots of kids, but he is also intelligent and in need of love. It is heartwarming to see him get love from Grayer.

We also spend the entire book rooting for Nanny. Rooting for her to get up the nerve to tell off Mr. and Mrs. X in the hopes that this will make them better parents. Rooting for her to graduate and get a good job. Rooting for her to get the boy of her dreams--one of the enjoyable side plots. We do spend a decent amount of the time indulging our less charitable side by feeling superior to Mrs. X, but the goodheartedness of the book keeps this from happening all the time.

I would love to discuss all of the many crazy spots that Nanny gets into because of her employers; all the torments that Nanny has to bear while retaining her integrity and tenderness, but I enjoyed discovering all of these for myself, and I think it would be better for other readers to do so as well, so I will end here.

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