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Family Secrets #3
What the Nanny Saw
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 in 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 recognise 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…
A completely gripping and unputdownable read that will have you turning pages deep into the night. Fans of Shari Lapena and Freida McFadden will be hooked by What the Nanny Saw.
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 in 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 recognise 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…
A completely gripping and unputdownable read that will have you turning pages deep into the night. Fans of Shari Lapena and Freida McFadden will be hooked by What the Nanny Saw.
311 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2024
469 people are currently reading
1099 people want to read
About the author
Kaira Rouda
41 books2,839 followersKaira Rouda is a USA TODAY and #1 Amazon and Amazon Charts bestselling author of contemporary fiction exploring beneath the surface of seemingly perfect lives. Her suspense novels include BEST DAY EVER, THE FAVORITE DAUGHTER, ALL THE DIFFERENCE, THE NEXT WIFE, SOMEBODY'S HOME, THE WIDOW, BENEATH THE SURFACE, UNDER THE PALMS, THE SECOND MRS STROM, WHAT THE NANNY SAW and JILL IS NOT HAPPY. Her next novel, WE WERE NEVER FRIENDS, is out February 3, 2026.
She lives in Southern California with her family and is at work on her next novel. Visit her webiste, KairaRouda.com for more. Connect with her on Instagram and Pinterest: @KairaRouda; and on Facebook at Kaira Rouda Books.
If you'd like to host Kaira at your book club, please reach out through her website KairaRouda.com
Sign up to receive a monthly email from Kaira with exclusive sales news, book excerpts, sweepstakes, and giveaways at: kairarouda.com/signup/
She lives in Southern California with her family and is at work on her next novel. Visit her webiste, KairaRouda.com for more. Connect with her on Instagram and Pinterest: @KairaRouda; and on Facebook at Kaira Rouda Books.
If you'd like to host Kaira at your book club, please reach out through her website KairaRouda.com
Sign up to receive a monthly email from Kaira with exclusive sales news, book excerpts, sweepstakes, and giveaways at: kairarouda.com/signup/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 213 reviews
October 19, 2024
3.5🌟
Life in California isn’t all sunshine and surfing!
Book three of the Paul Strom series by Kaira Rouda.
Cecelia is in the process of healing, hoping to move forward with her life after Paul. With more money than she’s ever dreamed of, a new baby and a life in Malibu, healing should be considerably easier. But when her current boyfriend and father of her child fails to pull his weight she boots him to the curb…. Now all she needs is a nanny to help her with her baby girl.
Enter Lizzie, the nanny who dumps her current family and immediately moves next door with Cecelia.
So many unanswered questions. Can Cecelia trust her? Can she trust anyone? And what about Paul? Will he be trying to make a comeback and return to Cecelia?
What I’ve loved about this series is Paul. He’s my favorite sociopathic character. Unfortunately, his role was fairly minor and his presence was missed.
This book can be read as a stand-alone but I would highly recommend starting at the beginning with Best Day Ever!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture
Life in California isn’t all sunshine and surfing!
Book three of the Paul Strom series by Kaira Rouda.
Cecelia is in the process of healing, hoping to move forward with her life after Paul. With more money than she’s ever dreamed of, a new baby and a life in Malibu, healing should be considerably easier. But when her current boyfriend and father of her child fails to pull his weight she boots him to the curb…. Now all she needs is a nanny to help her with her baby girl.
Enter Lizzie, the nanny who dumps her current family and immediately moves next door with Cecelia.
So many unanswered questions. Can Cecelia trust her? Can she trust anyone? And what about Paul? Will he be trying to make a comeback and return to Cecelia?
What I’ve loved about this series is Paul. He’s my favorite sociopathic character. Unfortunately, his role was fairly minor and his presence was missed.
This book can be read as a stand-alone but I would highly recommend starting at the beginning with Best Day Ever!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture
November 1, 2024
The third super-charged book in a series based around Ms. Cecilia Strom, What the Nanny Saw was everything I would expect out of a Kaira Rouda novel. After all, she’s made herself known for her addictive popcorn thrillers with those of us in Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse. Each bearing a ratcheting pace and twisty, twisty plot, I’m never disappointed when I sit down with one of her thrillers. This time around was no different, of course. Packed with unbridled suspense, all I could do was hold on for dear life as the delightfully over-the-top scenes came brilliantly to life.
Just like in every other book that I’ve read by this author, this one had plenty of thoroughly unlikeable characters. While not necessarily true-to-life in the typical sense, they nevertheless made my alliances shift back and forth as the deliciously unhinged events quickly got underway. With emotions such as jealousy and suspicion riding high, I happily got sucked into their plot charging drama. And the fact that it was all told via dual POVs made the whole thing undeniably sing. Who to trust? Who to suspect? As the puzzle pieces were laid down, I was utterly floored.
All said and done, while I definitely had to suspend all disbelief as I flew through the pages, this crazy train ride was bingeable in the extreme. So much so, in fact, that I read it in just a matter of hours. With palpable tension, an explosive climax, and teasing plot twists, I was even completely won over by the smile-inducing conclusion. Now I’m just crossing my fingers and toes that there’s going to be a fourth book in the series. Fear not, you can read them all as standalones, even though I don’t really recommend it. After all, you not going to want to miss out on a minute with the Stroms. Rating of 4.5 stars.
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 in 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 recognise 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…
Thank you to Kaira Rouda, Bookouture, and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: November 13, 2024
Scroll down for my potentially plot spoiling trigger list.
Trigger warning: gaslighting, kidnapping, blackmail, being drugged, mention of: infidelity, death of a parent, stalking
Just like in every other book that I’ve read by this author, this one had plenty of thoroughly unlikeable characters. While not necessarily true-to-life in the typical sense, they nevertheless made my alliances shift back and forth as the deliciously unhinged events quickly got underway. With emotions such as jealousy and suspicion riding high, I happily got sucked into their plot charging drama. And the fact that it was all told via dual POVs made the whole thing undeniably sing. Who to trust? Who to suspect? As the puzzle pieces were laid down, I was utterly floored.
All said and done, while I definitely had to suspend all disbelief as I flew through the pages, this crazy train ride was bingeable in the extreme. So much so, in fact, that I read it in just a matter of hours. With palpable tension, an explosive climax, and teasing plot twists, I was even completely won over by the smile-inducing conclusion. Now I’m just crossing my fingers and toes that there’s going to be a fourth book in the series. Fear not, you can read them all as standalones, even though I don’t really recommend it. After all, you not going to want to miss out on a minute with the Stroms. Rating of 4.5 stars.
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 in 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 recognise 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…
Thank you to Kaira Rouda, Bookouture, and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: November 13, 2024
Scroll down for my potentially plot spoiling trigger list.
Trigger warning: gaslighting, kidnapping, blackmail, being drugged, mention of: infidelity, death of a parent, stalking
November 13, 2024
Kaira Rouda has done it again! I was absolutely enthralled by WHAT THE NANNY SAW. Rouda has the enviable ability to create the most duplicitous characters that we love to hate. Fast-paced and twisty, WHAT THE NANNY SAW is not to be missed.
November 20, 2024
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.
November 14, 2024
Everyone at the Pulse loves Paul Strom! He is an iconic character and I just had to see what shenanigans he was up to this time, so I when I saw a spinoff of his beloved series, I was quick to pick it up. What the Nanny Saw follows Cecelia Strom - Paul's second wife - and her new venture into motherhood.
Motherhood is not for the feint of heart and Cecelia is struggling. I appreciated how authentic her struggles felt, particularly because her partner was so unsupportive and left the childcare burden to Cecelia. It was surprising that for as wealthy as Cecelia was, she didn't have a nanny right away, particularly once she realized just how difficult a newborn can be.
Lizzie was an interesting character. She clearly had a very sordid past and I liked that more and more of it was revealed as the novel went on. It was hard to tell what her motives were but my spidey senses were going from the moment she entered the picture.
For being such a strong and intelligent woman with Paul, it was amazing to see how far Cecelia had fallen. The effects of new motherhood, sleep deprivation, and stress from Paul's release were palpable and my heart went out to her.
There was definitely a need for suspension of belief. Cecelia losing all her money when we were repeatedly told how wealthy she was seemed surprising and the closing of a commercial building in a literal day was also anything but realistic, but if you could disregard these minor grievances, the novel is really unputdownable.
Now if you're reading this because you love (or love to hate Paul), be warned that this is Cecelia's story. He's a minor character for sure, but the story isn't based around him nor is he a primary character.
Fun and not exactly what you would think, I absolutely recommend What the Nanny Saw!
Motherhood is not for the feint of heart and Cecelia is struggling. I appreciated how authentic her struggles felt, particularly because her partner was so unsupportive and left the childcare burden to Cecelia. It was surprising that for as wealthy as Cecelia was, she didn't have a nanny right away, particularly once she realized just how difficult a newborn can be.
Lizzie was an interesting character. She clearly had a very sordid past and I liked that more and more of it was revealed as the novel went on. It was hard to tell what her motives were but my spidey senses were going from the moment she entered the picture.
For being such a strong and intelligent woman with Paul, it was amazing to see how far Cecelia had fallen. The effects of new motherhood, sleep deprivation, and stress from Paul's release were palpable and my heart went out to her.
There was definitely a need for suspension of belief. Cecelia losing all her money when we were repeatedly told how wealthy she was seemed surprising and the closing of a commercial building in a literal day was also anything but realistic, but if you could disregard these minor grievances, the novel is really unputdownable.
Now if you're reading this because you love (or love to hate Paul), be warned that this is Cecelia's story. He's a minor character for sure, but the story isn't based around him nor is he a primary character.
Fun and not exactly what you would think, I absolutely recommend What the Nanny Saw!
November 13, 2024
What the Nanny Saw
By: Kaira Rouda
Pub Date: November 13, 2024
Publisher: Bookouture
I CANNOT get enough of the character Cecilia. I knew after “The Second Mrs. Storm”, the sequel to “Best Davy Ever” she was one to watch.
Cecelia is now raising a baby girl, while her soon to be ex-husband Paul is in prison. The father of the Peyton is Evan. Paul wants something from her, and Evan is wanting to be part of their lives.
She wants nothing to do with either man. Evan was sweet and seemed to be a great distraction from Paul situation. Now he has done something unforgivable and Cecelia is determined to raise their daughter with luxury and a mom who is present.
Raising her is exhausting and she meets Lizzie who she hires as a Nanny to look after Peyton. Things seem easy at first and Cecelia showers Lizzie with gifts and appreciates her help. Little does she know, Lizzie has alternative motives.
Jealousy, envy, revenge and power can be destructive. Rouda has created a character that is EVER-CHANGING and FUN to read.
By: Kaira Rouda
Pub Date: November 13, 2024
Publisher: Bookouture
I CANNOT get enough of the character Cecilia. I knew after “The Second Mrs. Storm”, the sequel to “Best Davy Ever” she was one to watch.
Cecelia is now raising a baby girl, while her soon to be ex-husband Paul is in prison. The father of the Peyton is Evan. Paul wants something from her, and Evan is wanting to be part of their lives.
She wants nothing to do with either man. Evan was sweet and seemed to be a great distraction from Paul situation. Now he has done something unforgivable and Cecelia is determined to raise their daughter with luxury and a mom who is present.
Raising her is exhausting and she meets Lizzie who she hires as a Nanny to look after Peyton. Things seem easy at first and Cecelia showers Lizzie with gifts and appreciates her help. Little does she know, Lizzie has alternative motives.
Jealousy, envy, revenge and power can be destructive. Rouda has created a character that is EVER-CHANGING and FUN to read.
November 30, 2024
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.
September 29, 2024
If you haven’t read Best Day Ever and are Second Mrs Strom what are you doing? Go read them, and then come and read What the Nanny Saw.
It is 5 years since the events in Paris and Paul is now in prison and Cecilia has a newborn baby with Evan. But things are working out with him and she is still suffering from her injuries.. so insert a nanny,a Lizzie. Only Lizzie is not all she seems and life starts to spiral out of control for Cecilia.
Another book full of unlikeable characters that just keeps you turning pages. It is fast read, waiting to see who would do what to who. I thought there would be a bigger twist with Lizzie, ai was waiting for it but it never came. But a throughly enjoyable book all the same.
Thanks so much to Bookouture and NetGalley for my early copy of this book to read. Publishes on November 13th.
It is 5 years since the events in Paris and Paul is now in prison and Cecilia has a newborn baby with Evan. But things are working out with him and she is still suffering from her injuries.. so insert a nanny,a Lizzie. Only Lizzie is not all she seems and life starts to spiral out of control for Cecilia.
Another book full of unlikeable characters that just keeps you turning pages. It is fast read, waiting to see who would do what to who. I thought there would be a bigger twist with Lizzie, ai was waiting for it but it never came. But a throughly enjoyable book all the same.
Thanks so much to Bookouture and NetGalley for my early copy of this book to read. Publishes on November 13th.
November 24, 2024
I love this series, starting with Best Day Ever. This latest installment features Cecilia (The Second Mrs. Strom) and her new life with her baby daughter and Lizzie, the nanny. Lizzie has made herself indispensable to Cecelia, wants everything she has, and will go to crazy lengths to get what she feels she rightfully deserves. As usual for a Kaira Rouda novel, this one is filled with characters we love to hate, and initially my sympathies were bouncing back and forth. A bingeable popcorn thriller, but I felt like the story wrapped up a little too neatly. I would love to see a fourth book in the series, with Paul back as a major player!
July 26, 2025
Book 3 in a series that began with "Best Day Ever", still my favourite of the three. This time we catch up with Cecilia, Paul Strom's 2nd wife, five years after their disastrous first anniversary trip to Paris. Paul is in prison as a result of his assault on Cecilia in Paris, she has a sprawling McMansion and a new baby and has just kicked Evan, a boyfriend and father of her child, out of her house after discovering he had cheated on her. Into the picture comes Lizzie, a dream of a nanny ... or is she a nightmare?!
It's not necessary to have read the first two books in this series although I highly recommend the first one. The story is told in short chapters from the points of view of various characters but I found it rather slow and a bit repetitive. Not much happened and I think maybe I'm done with the Stroms. I'll continue to look forward to standalone books by Kaira Rouda though.
I borrowed this book from Kindle Unlimited with my membership.
It's not necessary to have read the first two books in this series although I highly recommend the first one. The story is told in short chapters from the points of view of various characters but I found it rather slow and a bit repetitive. Not much happened and I think maybe I'm done with the Stroms. I'll continue to look forward to standalone books by Kaira Rouda though.
I borrowed this book from Kindle Unlimited with my membership.
September 15, 2024
This summer, I was invited on the book tour for “The Second Mrs. Strom”, and I really enjoyed it. I realized afterwards that it was a sequel to a book called “Best Day Ever” (which I finally purchased in the middle of reading this third book). As with the second book, this would be fine as a stand-alone, but it was great knowing a couple of the characters. I can’t wait for my copy of the first book in this series to arrive!
We know Cecelia from “The Second Mrs. Strom”, but she is a different person now. Her soon-to-be-ex-husband, Paul, is in prison, and she’s now dating Evan, who gave her a daughter she wasn’t trying for. Once she got pregnant, Evan became distant, and when Peyton was born, he didn’t seem to want to connect with his daughter. Once Cecelia finds out he’s been unfaithful, she kicks him out of her luxurious home and refuses to let him see their child.
The problem is, Cecelia has severe back pain, loves her daughter so much but never felt maternal or anticipated having a child, and doesn’t feel she can do this on her own. After a breakdown at a coffee shop, she meets Lizzie, who surprisingly lives right next door. Lizzie is a nanny for the Johnson family, but after the kids got older and Mr. Johnson got pervy, she was looking for a new job. When she realized how much Cecelia needed her help (and how much she’d be paid), she immediately quit, and moved in next door.
The two women get along great; they both love Peyton, and Lizzie loves living in the luxurious house on the ocean (at the Johnson house, she was relegated to the attic - not quite as nice as the guest suite she was given at Cecelia’s house). Soon though, Evan and his mother start to come around asking to see Peyton, Paul is released from prison, Cecelia starts getting threatening texts, and the entire situation becomes out of control. Cecelia doesn’t trust anyone; even Lizzie is worrying her, and she’s feeling like she’s the worst mom ever. This ends with a terrifying twist, then perfection. I can’t wait to read the first book of this group, since I enjoyed the other two so much - look for that review soon. 4.5 stars!
(Thank you to Bookouture for inviting me on this book tour. “What The Nanny Saw” will be released on November 13, 2024.)
We know Cecelia from “The Second Mrs. Strom”, but she is a different person now. Her soon-to-be-ex-husband, Paul, is in prison, and she’s now dating Evan, who gave her a daughter she wasn’t trying for. Once she got pregnant, Evan became distant, and when Peyton was born, he didn’t seem to want to connect with his daughter. Once Cecelia finds out he’s been unfaithful, she kicks him out of her luxurious home and refuses to let him see their child.
The problem is, Cecelia has severe back pain, loves her daughter so much but never felt maternal or anticipated having a child, and doesn’t feel she can do this on her own. After a breakdown at a coffee shop, she meets Lizzie, who surprisingly lives right next door. Lizzie is a nanny for the Johnson family, but after the kids got older and Mr. Johnson got pervy, she was looking for a new job. When she realized how much Cecelia needed her help (and how much she’d be paid), she immediately quit, and moved in next door.
The two women get along great; they both love Peyton, and Lizzie loves living in the luxurious house on the ocean (at the Johnson house, she was relegated to the attic - not quite as nice as the guest suite she was given at Cecelia’s house). Soon though, Evan and his mother start to come around asking to see Peyton, Paul is released from prison, Cecelia starts getting threatening texts, and the entire situation becomes out of control. Cecelia doesn’t trust anyone; even Lizzie is worrying her, and she’s feeling like she’s the worst mom ever. This ends with a terrifying twist, then perfection. I can’t wait to read the first book of this group, since I enjoyed the other two so much - look for that review soon. 4.5 stars!
(Thank you to Bookouture for inviting me on this book tour. “What The Nanny Saw” will be released on November 13, 2024.)
November 4, 2024
Thank you so much Booktouture for the early release copy of What the Nanny Saw by Kiara Rouda. This was my first book by this author but definitely won’t be my last! I enjoyed this popcorn thriller and read it in about a day.
The plot was intriguing as were the characters and kept me guessing for a while. I did figure out the final twist but even though I figured it out I still enjoyed the build up to the big reveal.
Unreliable narrators , unhinged female characters , revenge , and deception are some of my favorite themes and trope in a thriller and this one had them all!
This book releases November 13th definitely add it to your tbr!
The plot was intriguing as were the characters and kept me guessing for a while. I did figure out the final twist but even though I figured it out I still enjoyed the build up to the big reveal.
Unreliable narrators , unhinged female characters , revenge , and deception are some of my favorite themes and trope in a thriller and this one had them all!
This book releases November 13th definitely add it to your tbr!
November 2, 2024
This is such a guilty pleasure series for me, the true definition of popcorn thrillers and it was so much fun to be back in the world the author created again! This series is best read in order, you should at least read the previous book as that’s when we are first introduced to the main character here, Cecelia. Things pick up awhile after the last book ends and Cecelia hires a new nanny, Lizzie to help with her baby daughter. As always this was filled with unlikable characters, (the kind you love to hate) lots of twisty surprises, and juicy secrets and betrayals. It’s over the top and you may need to suspend some disbelief but it was a blast and a perfect way to spend an afternoon.
November 24, 2024
Cecelia is trying to heal. She has a new baby, a new life with plenty of money to take the time to get back to normal. Her husband, Paul, our favorite sociopath, is still in prison.
Now all Cecelia needs is a new nanny. Can she trust the nanny she met at a coffee shop?
Read “Best Day Ever” and “The Second Mrs. Strom” first for the full story of this whacked out couple.
Now all Cecelia needs is a new nanny. Can she trust the nanny she met at a coffee shop?
Read “Best Day Ever” and “The Second Mrs. Strom” first for the full story of this whacked out couple.
November 4, 2024
The array of ultra-wealthy characters is a rollercoaster of emotions. Cecelia stands out as a breath of fresh air among the cast that you love to hate. Despite her fortune, she radiates kindness and generosity, having faced her fair share of struggles that make her stand out.
Then there's Lizzy, the overworked and underappreciated nanny. She endures the snobbish tantrums of entitled teens, and just when it seems she might find a glimmer of happiness with Cecelia, those ominous red flags start waving furiously.
Kaira Rouda masterfully crafts intricate and compelling characters that leave you craving more! The ending of "What the Nanny Saw" isn't neatly resolved, and I'm hoping for a sequel to unravel the mysteries that still linger. I know Cecelia has more secrets waiting to be uncovered!
A big shoutout to the author and Bookouture for the gifted copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own!
#WhattheNannySaw #KairaRouda #Bookouture
Then there's Lizzy, the overworked and underappreciated nanny. She endures the snobbish tantrums of entitled teens, and just when it seems she might find a glimmer of happiness with Cecelia, those ominous red flags start waving furiously.
Kaira Rouda masterfully crafts intricate and compelling characters that leave you craving more! The ending of "What the Nanny Saw" isn't neatly resolved, and I'm hoping for a sequel to unravel the mysteries that still linger. I know Cecelia has more secrets waiting to be uncovered!
A big shoutout to the author and Bookouture for the gifted copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own!
#WhattheNannySaw #KairaRouda #Bookouture
December 8, 2024
A combined wrap up of Best Day Ever, The Second Mrs. Strom, and What The Nanny Saw.
Say it isn’t so….I miss them so!🥹
I sure do miss this dysfunctional mental bunch from Best Day Ever, The Second Mrs. Strom, and finishing with, What The Nanny Saw!
I am having major withdrawals! I enjoyed every second of these stories, and I think I’m going to say Cecilia, The Second Mrs. Strom, from books 2 & 3 is my favorite, she does have her own issues to tackle, but I always found myself routing for her! Paul Strom met his match in her! 💎
We know how I feel about Mr. Paul Strom 🥊 🥊, as my review for “Best Day Ever,” where we are introduced to Paul, explains it so perfect. I may just have to do a re-read/re-listen, and I don’t do those often! 🤩
Lizzie the Nanny…I never saw her coming.👀👀👀
I would love for Lizzie, the nanny, and Evan, from “What The Nanny Saw” to come back with their very own story!🤩
I highly recommend these phenomenal books! What an amazing experience! Read them in order for the best experience ever!!
1-Best Day Ever
2-The Second Mrs Strom
3-What The Nanny Saw
And remember to never ever ignore
🚩🚩🚩flags, they pop up for a reason!
👏🏻I adore Kaira Rouda’s writing, and I cannot wait to read another!
Say it isn’t so….I miss them so!🥹
I sure do miss this dysfunctional mental bunch from Best Day Ever, The Second Mrs. Strom, and finishing with, What The Nanny Saw!
I am having major withdrawals! I enjoyed every second of these stories, and I think I’m going to say Cecilia, The Second Mrs. Strom, from books 2 & 3 is my favorite, she does have her own issues to tackle, but I always found myself routing for her! Paul Strom met his match in her! 💎
We know how I feel about Mr. Paul Strom 🥊 🥊, as my review for “Best Day Ever,” where we are introduced to Paul, explains it so perfect. I may just have to do a re-read/re-listen, and I don’t do those often! 🤩
Lizzie the Nanny…I never saw her coming.👀👀👀
I would love for Lizzie, the nanny, and Evan, from “What The Nanny Saw” to come back with their very own story!🤩
I highly recommend these phenomenal books! What an amazing experience! Read them in order for the best experience ever!!
1-Best Day Ever
2-The Second Mrs Strom
3-What The Nanny Saw
And remember to never ever ignore
🚩🚩🚩flags, they pop up for a reason!
👏🏻I adore Kaira Rouda’s writing, and I cannot wait to read another!
November 2, 2024
This was the sequel to The Second Mrs Strom, the third in this series. In this one we follow Cecelia (from book 2) as she tries to move on from the events in Paris. She has a new baby girl and a partner who isn't helping her at all. She kicks him out and hires a nanny to help while she recovers from some injuries. Only the nanny isn't the nice, helpful lady she made out she was.
I actually didn't realise this was part of the series when I signed up to read this one, so I'm glad I'd already read the first two books. It is definitely important to read both before reading this.
I genuinely felt so stressed reading this, because we all know what happens when someone hires a nanny in a thriller. I was absolutely glued to this one and I really hope there's another book coming, because this series is nowhere near ready to end.
I actually didn't realise this was part of the series when I signed up to read this one, so I'm glad I'd already read the first two books. It is definitely important to read both before reading this.
I genuinely felt so stressed reading this, because we all know what happens when someone hires a nanny in a thriller. I was absolutely glued to this one and I really hope there's another book coming, because this series is nowhere near ready to end.
September 15, 2024
NetGalley review: Let me start by saying how much I love Kaira Rouda’s books! I was excited to see more from this series after reading Best Day Ever and The Second Mrs. Strom. These are not my favorite books of hers, however I love domestic thrillers and What the Nanny Saw really kept me entertained. I’ll eagerly be awaiting her next book!
November 28, 2024
Fun read
Creepy, but not scary
All the characters in the book deserve each other (except for the baby)
Creepy, but not scary
All the characters in the book deserve each other (except for the baby)
April 2, 2025
I'm just shocked that my sweet, little itty bitty author pal drums up these crazy characters and plot twists. Brava, Kaira!
October 30, 2024
What the Nanny Saw is what I would consider a popcorn read. The action within the story is so wild and bizarre that one needs a big tub of popcorn to eat while reading it. (Kind of like when you're watching a fight on a daytime talk show where people are throwing chairs.)
I had been looking forward to this novel ever since finishing The Second Mrs. Strom, and it did not disappoint! I enjoyed going back and forth between Lizzie and Cecilia's narratives. There was a lot of suspense and I just never knew what was going to happen next. I was definitely anxious for most of the story. I also couldn't decide who I wanted to have "win," even though one of the characters was clearly in the wrong. (Kaira Rouda wins for best "Zack Morris" effect.) Peyton sounded adorable and I felt bad for her having to be caught in the middle of so much drama with untrustworthy adults.
There were a lot of inconsistencies and I felt like some storylines got dropped. I believe I had an ARC, so maybe they will be fixed in the final print. The opulence annoyed me after a while, especially with Lizzie getting so caught up in it.
This novel can be read as a standalone, but it's much more fun if you read Best Day Ever and The Second Mrs. Strom first. Especially since this one has spoilers for the latter (which has spoilers for the former).
I am hoping that there will be another story in this Family Secrets series so we can read more about what Lizzie and Cecilia are up to. I'll need to make a double batch of popcorn for if and when that happens!
(Trigger warnings below.)
Movie casting suggestions (some from previous novels):
I had been looking forward to this novel ever since finishing The Second Mrs. Strom, and it did not disappoint! I enjoyed going back and forth between Lizzie and Cecilia's narratives. There was a lot of suspense and I just never knew what was going to happen next. I was definitely anxious for most of the story. I also couldn't decide who I wanted to have "win," even though one of the characters was clearly in the wrong. (Kaira Rouda wins for best "Zack Morris" effect.) Peyton sounded adorable and I felt bad for her having to be caught in the middle of so much drama with untrustworthy adults.
There were a lot of inconsistencies and I felt like some storylines got dropped. I believe I had an ARC, so maybe they will be fixed in the final print. The opulence annoyed me after a while, especially with Lizzie getting so caught up in it.
This novel can be read as a standalone, but it's much more fun if you read Best Day Ever and The Second Mrs. Strom first. Especially since this one has spoilers for the latter (which has spoilers for the former).
I am hoping that there will be another story in this Family Secrets series so we can read more about what Lizzie and Cecilia are up to. I'll need to make a double batch of popcorn for if and when that happens!
(Trigger warnings below.)
Movie casting suggestions (some from previous novels):
Lizzie: Grace Van Patten
Cecilia: Virginia Gardner
Evan: Max Lloyd-Jones
Marian: Marcia Cross
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TW: Death of family members, death of young child, domestic violence (all off the page), kidnapping
Marian: Marcia Cross
Paul: Mark-Paul Gosselaar
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TW: Death of family members, death of young child, domestic violence (all off the page), kidnapping
October 9, 2024
A great follow up to Best Day Ever and The Second Mrs. Strom (where we met Cecelia). This book follows Lizzie, the nanny, and Cecelia with her struggles to be a great mother to her newborn daughter Peyton. All the characters are horrible, but they are thoroughly entertaining.
Cecelia is still struggling with her divorce from Paul, and now her new man and baby daddy Evan isn't who she thought he was. And single motherhood is not for her. As if by magic, Lizzie appears and helps her out when Cecelia is struggling with Peyton and easily becomes the nanny she dreamed of. But everyone has secrets, and nothing goes as planned. A fun read that keeps you guessing, smiling, and enjoying the crazy-ride.
*Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book to read and review*
Cecelia is still struggling with her divorce from Paul, and now her new man and baby daddy Evan isn't who she thought he was. And single motherhood is not for her. As if by magic, Lizzie appears and helps her out when Cecelia is struggling with Peyton and easily becomes the nanny she dreamed of. But everyone has secrets, and nothing goes as planned. A fun read that keeps you guessing, smiling, and enjoying the crazy-ride.
*Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book to read and review*
October 24, 2024
The sequel to The Second Mrs Strom so definitely read that one first!
In this book, Cecelia is back but now as a single mother to an infant baby girl. She desperately needs to get her life back on track, and as luck would have it, she meets Lizzie at a coffee shop, who’s the nanny to four kids and phenomenal with babies - and also looking for a new job.
I flew through the last book so was excited to start this one! I loved the pace of the whole book, and love when you can’t figure out what’s going to happen next.
I do feel like you have to suspend a bit of belief at the end of the book, I personally just wasn’t overwhelmed by anything particular in it. While I didn’t *love* the book, I still overall enjoyed it and think readers would love to see Paul and Cecelia again.
3.5 ⭐️
Thanks so much to Bookouture and NetGalley for my ARC! Pub date 11.13.24
In this book, Cecelia is back but now as a single mother to an infant baby girl. She desperately needs to get her life back on track, and as luck would have it, she meets Lizzie at a coffee shop, who’s the nanny to four kids and phenomenal with babies - and also looking for a new job.
I flew through the last book so was excited to start this one! I loved the pace of the whole book, and love when you can’t figure out what’s going to happen next.
I do feel like you have to suspend a bit of belief at the end of the book, I personally just wasn’t overwhelmed by anything particular in it. While I didn’t *love* the book, I still overall enjoyed it and think readers would love to see Paul and Cecelia again.
3.5 ⭐️
Thanks so much to Bookouture and NetGalley for my ARC! Pub date 11.13.24
June 5, 2025
I really enjoyed the audio of this one, and will say, I wished Paul was more prevalent in this story, without him it was not the same as he was such a great villain. But he is lurking, so don’t worry but this one focuses on Cecelia, Paul’s second wife. That being said, this works okay as a standalone but you’d really benefit from reading the first two books if you have not yet. Nannies can be tricky, you let them in, let them around your kids, and next thing you know, they are taking over everything, including your role. Oh, that’s not the norm? My bad. Well it seems to be in this series, and I could not wait to see how it would end.
Thank you to Bookouture for the digital copy to review.
Thank you to Bookouture for the digital copy to review.
November 7, 2024
Everyone at Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse loves to hate Paul Strom, and I was excited to see what he could get into in the third book in the series by Kaira Rouda. What the Nanny Saw focuses on Cecilia Strom, Paul’s second wife, who last we saw her, was pushed off the roof of a building in Paris. Five years later, she is living in Malibu with a new baby. After catching her boyfriend cheating, she decides she needs help taking care of her daughter, Peyton, so she hires a nanny, Lizzie.
Rouda delivers an intriguing, page-turning popcorn thriller that navigates themes of privilege, deceit, and the dark undercurrents of wealth. I was excited to delve into Cecelia’s life again, and I thought Rouda gave a realistic depiction on the struggles of motherhood.
Lizzie, the nanny, was an interesting character. I liked how Rouda included pieces of her past throughout the book, as this showed us her true character. I could tell something was off about her, and I loved how it all came together in the end.
While Paul Strom is mentioned in this book he isn’t the main character. This book focuses on Cecelia, but don’t worry, you still get a crazy story with some unlikeable characters. You can read this as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading Best Day Ever and The Second Mrs. Strom first to get some backstory.
Overall, I enjoyed What the Nanny Saw. The pacing is brisk, keeping the reader hooked until the very last page, though at times, you will need to suspend all disbelief and the plot twists can feel slightly predictable for seasoned thriller enthusiasts. Nonetheless, Rouda’s storytelling and her knack for suspense make this a highly engaging read.
Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
3.5 stars
Rouda delivers an intriguing, page-turning popcorn thriller that navigates themes of privilege, deceit, and the dark undercurrents of wealth. I was excited to delve into Cecelia’s life again, and I thought Rouda gave a realistic depiction on the struggles of motherhood.
Lizzie, the nanny, was an interesting character. I liked how Rouda included pieces of her past throughout the book, as this showed us her true character. I could tell something was off about her, and I loved how it all came together in the end.
While Paul Strom is mentioned in this book he isn’t the main character. This book focuses on Cecelia, but don’t worry, you still get a crazy story with some unlikeable characters. You can read this as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading Best Day Ever and The Second Mrs. Strom first to get some backstory.
Overall, I enjoyed What the Nanny Saw. The pacing is brisk, keeping the reader hooked until the very last page, though at times, you will need to suspend all disbelief and the plot twists can feel slightly predictable for seasoned thriller enthusiasts. Nonetheless, Rouda’s storytelling and her knack for suspense make this a highly engaging read.
Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
3.5 stars
September 16, 2024
The adventures of Paul and Cecelia Strom continue in this fun and highly entertaining read! I was on the edge of my seat, flying through the pages with anticipation to see what would happen next. I simply couldn't read fast enough. Cecelia's character felt a little off from the first novel though. She didn't seem to be as ruthless. I wanted to scream at her over her gullible choices and naivete. Rouda certainly knows how to stir up my emotions. I kept trying to figure out the nanny's motivations and her end game. I'm still not quite sure if there was more to the explanation given, but I'll settle for what I know. I'm guessing and hoping that there will be a third book since this story ended without much of a resolution. I wanted a little more, but it was a fun, quick read and sets the tone for book three. I would certainly recommend, but not as a stand-alone. Start with Best Day Ever (featuring Paul Strom) and then continue with the start of this series, The Second Mrs. Strom.
Thank you to Bookouture for granting me early digital access via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!
Thank you to Bookouture for granting me early digital access via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!
September 23, 2024
I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN. So much so that I was sneakily reading it at work.
I requested the ARC for this book because the blurb reminded me a bit of The Housemaid by Freida McFadden which I absolutely loved. It had some similar traits but at the same time it was a completely different story. The plot was exciting and all the little tidbits and characters with their own motives made it so that I did not really know who was behind what was happening.
The ending was a little disappointing personally in terms of who I was rooting for but I am not going hold that against the book since it is a personal preference. I think most people would be happy with the way it ended. What I really liked about it was that the ending was actually in the realm of believable unlike some mystery/thriller books that are so desperate for a shocking twist that they just a completely unbelievable culprit out of nowhere. Kaira Rouda is definitely on my radar after reading this book and I need to check out more Bookouture books as I have been enjoying several books from them lately.
Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for the ARC!
I requested the ARC for this book because the blurb reminded me a bit of The Housemaid by Freida McFadden which I absolutely loved. It had some similar traits but at the same time it was a completely different story. The plot was exciting and all the little tidbits and characters with their own motives made it so that I did not really know who was behind what was happening.
The ending was a little disappointing personally in terms of who I was rooting for but I am not going hold that against the book since it is a personal preference. I think most people would be happy with the way it ended. What I really liked about it was that the ending was actually in the realm of believable unlike some mystery/thriller books that are so desperate for a shocking twist that they just a completely unbelievable culprit out of nowhere. Kaira Rouda is definitely on my radar after reading this book and I need to check out more Bookouture books as I have been enjoying several books from them lately.
Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for the ARC!
October 18, 2024
Summary: The follow-up to The Second Mrs. Strom, this novel continues the story of Cecilia after Paul Strom goes to prison for attempted murder. Cecilia continues to struggle with the physical and psychological impacts of the murder attempt and being thrown from the building. In an attempt to improve life for herself and the baby, Cecilia hires the nanny away from her neighbours. Initially, she thinks this is the best decision ever and life is running more smoothly. However, Cecilia’s personal possessions are going missing – her Rolex watch, her favourite bath salts – and where did that personal letter from Paul Strom go? As it turns out, the nanny wants much more than to work for Cecilia.
Thoughts: This latest installment of the Strom chronicles is true to form. It has short chapters, multiple POV, and quickly moving action, as well as underhanded characters and schemes. Paul features very little in this one, but never fear I strongly suspect he will be back in the next! My only real issue with this one is that it ends quite abruptly, and this could have been executed better. However, if you are addicted to the bad behaviour of the Stroms then you won’t mind too much.
Thoughts: This latest installment of the Strom chronicles is true to form. It has short chapters, multiple POV, and quickly moving action, as well as underhanded characters and schemes. Paul features very little in this one, but never fear I strongly suspect he will be back in the next! My only real issue with this one is that it ends quite abruptly, and this could have been executed better. However, if you are addicted to the bad behaviour of the Stroms then you won’t mind too much.
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September 20, 2024𝑰𝒕'𝒔 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒑 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒑 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒚 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅, 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒆.
BEST DAY EVER is one of Kaira Rouda's best thrillers, and I was so happy to find out there would be a sequel, THE SECOND MRS. STROM. Well, Cecelia's story wasn't over yet, so look out for WHAT THE NANNY SAW this fall!
Lizzy is working as a nanny for a family who takes advantage of her. The mom is either drunk or sleeping off a hangover, the dad is lewd and inappropriate, and the kids, except for one, are all entitled brats. Lizzy needs more from her life, and she finds her purpose when she meets Cecelia, a frazzled new mom, in a coffee shop. Cecelia is instantly taken with the young woman, and after performing her due diligence, hires her. But what Cecelia doesn't know is that she didn't meet Lizzie by chance. Someone engineered it to get close to Cecelia and her baby girl.
Lizzy had a compelling backstory, so much so that I hope we get a book about her past. I wanted more of a presence from Paul, who was very much in the background in this installment; however, I think the door is open for us to hear more about him!
Thank you to Bookouture and Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse for this much-anticipated early read. At the time this review was written, this title was expected to publish November 13, 2024.
BEST DAY EVER is one of Kaira Rouda's best thrillers, and I was so happy to find out there would be a sequel, THE SECOND MRS. STROM. Well, Cecelia's story wasn't over yet, so look out for WHAT THE NANNY SAW this fall!
Lizzy is working as a nanny for a family who takes advantage of her. The mom is either drunk or sleeping off a hangover, the dad is lewd and inappropriate, and the kids, except for one, are all entitled brats. Lizzy needs more from her life, and she finds her purpose when she meets Cecelia, a frazzled new mom, in a coffee shop. Cecelia is instantly taken with the young woman, and after performing her due diligence, hires her. But what Cecelia doesn't know is that she didn't meet Lizzie by chance. Someone engineered it to get close to Cecelia and her baby girl.
Lizzy had a compelling backstory, so much so that I hope we get a book about her past. I wanted more of a presence from Paul, who was very much in the background in this installment; however, I think the door is open for us to hear more about him!
Thank you to Bookouture and Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse for this much-anticipated early read. At the time this review was written, this title was expected to publish November 13, 2024.
October 2, 2024
I'm a huge fan of Rouda's and I've read every novel she's written. And I adore this series starting with Best Day Ever! Initially, Lizzie is the nanny to four youngsters but when the dad hits on her after his nude pool party, she's sure she needs another job. Fortunately, Cecilia is a new mother as well and lives next door with a new 5-month-old, Peyton. Father Paul is in prison for throwing Cecilia off a rooftop--in the previous book--so Lizzie is able to step in immediately as Cecilia has chronic pain and back issues due to her fall. She sees Lizzie as a godsend but Lizzie has eyes on Evan, the baby-daddy. Alternating chapters reveal the machinations of the scheming woman who is desperate to have her own happy family--even if it means hurting anyone in her path!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
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