Some of you may be puzzled by this modern, contemporary title but The Manny by Holly Peterson is a novel about a male nanny. Told in first person point of view, main character Jamie Whitfield doesn’t know how to get through to her nine year old son because her business powered, money hungry husband is never around to help raise the children. When the suggestion of hiring a male companion for her son is brought to her attention, Jamie lucks out by meeting the prime candidate Peter.
Peterson weaves a believable tale of how the male nanny, Peter, affects the Whitfield’s life, helping Dylan’s social life and self esteem as well as strike a deep friendship with Jamie. Peterson also uses her real life experiences of being a television producer by intertwining a story of Jamie’s professional life as a television producer. As Jamie is dealing with producing the story of the century, she must also juggle her responsibilities of being employer, mother, and doting wife.
This novel is recommended for anyone who liked chick-lit type, light reading. You will catch of glimpse of
Upper East Side society living and you may actually appreciate what you have. Peterson has a knack for writing meaningful, powerful lines. My favorite chapter ending was, “Sleeping with your friend’s husband isn’t something a happy person does.” However, reading this book is something a happy person does! You will be guaranteed to smile, laugh, and even cry.
