New and completely updated edition
Hilarious and addictive, this chronicle of a small-town girl’s stint as a celebrity nanny re... read full description
Hilarious and addictive, this chronicle of a small-town girl’s stint as a celebrity nanny re... read full description
reviews
Jan 01, 2008
Kate
rated it: 
Suzanne Hansen spent a year working to care for the three children of Hollywood power player Michael Ovitz and his wife, Judy. Nearly 20 years later, she wrote her first book about the experience. In it, she writes of how the Ovitzes routinely neglected their children and mistreated their staff, as did their friends and neighbors in show biz.
Many people found a lot to criticize about this book, and I can say that I found a lot of Hansen's issues to come about on account of her own l More...
Many people found a lot to criticize about this book, and I can say that I found a lot of Hansen's issues to come about on account of her own l More...
0 comments
like
(3 people liked it)
Oct 11, 2011
Ciara
rated it: 
i wasn't really into this. it's a memoir by a woman who went to hollywood & worked as a nanny for a high-powered well-connected entertainment business couple. it wasn't a great situation, not because her employers were evil, horrible people, but because of the inherent power dynamics at play in such a situation & the fact that when the author got the job, she was like 18 & fresh out of nanny school & totally failed to agree to a contract or even any verbal arrangement about what exactly the job
More...
Aug 11, 2011
Sam
rated it: 
Amusing story about a young nanny finding herself working for the top agent in Hollywood. I didn't realize it was a true story when I bought it ...
The supposed mega-agent Michael Orvitz, actually comes off pretty well -- fairly sympathetic most of the time until the end. It's his wife Judy comes off as a mean person.
In the end, I find the story something of a compromise ... it's not really that titillating in terms of Hollywood gossip, and not really that mean-spirited an attack on the ridicu More...
The supposed mega-agent Michael Orvitz, actually comes off pretty well -- fairly sympathetic most of the time until the end. It's his wife Judy comes off as a mean person.
In the end, I find the story something of a compromise ... it's not really that titillating in terms of Hollywood gossip, and not really that mean-spirited an attack on the ridicu More...
Jan 17, 2010
Holly
rated it:
I am currently a Nanny and I can tell you first hand, that I have never experienced anything like what the Hollywood nannies have to put up with. Thank god for that!
If you thought the Nanny Diaries were scathing, well check out this true story. Author Suzanne Hansen holds nothing back while telling her story of a short lived career as a nanny to the stars.
The majority of the book features her working for notorious Michael Ovitz. Turns out that the guy is as much of a jerk a More...
If you thought the Nanny Diaries were scathing, well check out this true story. Author Suzanne Hansen holds nothing back while telling her story of a short lived career as a nanny to the stars.
The majority of the book features her working for notorious Michael Ovitz. Turns out that the guy is as much of a jerk a More...
Jan 11, 2012
Sonja
rated it:
I didn't review this book after I finished because I was thinking it was just an easy read that didn't read leave a lot of thinking. But I was wrong. I have been thinking about this book more than I would like. It has changed the way I look at celebrities and their "success". I would love to have lots of money and be skinny and have someone to do everything for me, but it would kill me to do it at the expense of my children. I have found myself to be much more cynical in the last few d
More...
Nov 16, 2009
Lisa
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Jan 01, 2012
Krista
rated it: 
A truly juicy read about what goes on in the homes of the rich and famous from the perspective of the nanny. The nanny describes her year working as a live in nanny for Michael Ovitz's ( CEO of CAA and superagent to the stars) children. The author was just 19 when she took this job and fortunately for her this was an era in Hollywood (late 80's) prior to the requisite non-disclosure contracts that the famous now require any potential employees to sign. The author also works for Debra Winger and
More...
Aug 28, 2009
Beverly
rated it:
Two stars says it: it was ok. It did bother me that the author exposed the faults of her first Hollywood employers - the Michael Ovitz family. Why bother? It seemed nasty, especially since the family has kept other servants for many many years. Otherwise a light hearted look at being a nanny, a profession that did not satisfy the author who went on to become a nurse. After the Ovitzs she worked more happily for Debra Winger and the Danny Divito/Rhea Perlman family. But she was so stupid and unpr
More...
Jan 06, 2011
Tara
rated it:
I thought it was great. I loved that she used real names. It did get a little enough-is-enough with the comparisons between her small town life and LA. I mean, she went to LA because of it's "LA-ness" then hated on all of it. Her bosses were complete a-holes and took total advantage of a 19 yr old naive girl but she didn't write the book at 19- she wrote it as a married mom/adult. At that point, it was unnecessary to go on and on about how life was so much "better" in her hom
More...
Apr 11, 2010
Lindsay
rated it:
I've never wanted to be a nanny, and after reading this I think that you'd have to be crazy to want to be one. You'd have to really love kids in order to put up with their parents. The author shows how different celebrity parents can be. One seems horrible, another loves their kids and it shows. I could never do it. Even if the parents weren't famous. For the most part of the book, when the author is getting belittled by her employers, I just wanted to yell at her to stand up for herself. I'd sa
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Nov 01, 2009
Michelle
rated it:
Memoir from a former Hollywood nanny. This was fine; defintiely a quick read (I read it during the commercials of the Chargers/Raiders game). The writing was pretty lackluster. I didn't find it "funny" as the description called it. And the author was a real dipsh*t at times. Interestingly I thought the best parts of the book were at the end when she a couple of nice employers. And I expected the "mean" ones to be more jaw-droppingly terrible. They were certianly annoying and
More...
Oct 21, 2011
Krista
rated it:
I'm being harsh and following the goodreads mouseover text: I thought this book was OK, meaning I liked it fine. I wish I could give it 2.5 stars. It was a quick light read, with some good nuggets of food for thought about money particularly. I could see more of myself than I wanted to in the recurring ways the rich employers would pinch pennies in nonsensical ways, despite being rich, because they were afraid of being taken advantage of.
Favorite quote: "Sometimes friends are a go More...
Favorite quote: "Sometimes friends are a go More...
Sep 03, 2011
Jessica
rated it:
I’ve always been fascinated by the world of nanny’s. I absolutely loved reading The Nanny Diaries last year which gave me a little peek into the semi-fictional world of a NYC Nanny. This book, You’ll Never Nanny in This Town Again gave me a in depth look into the life of Suzy, a nanny for a wealthy Hollywood power family.
Suzy comes from a small Oregon town and upon graduating from high school isn’t sure of her next steps. She’s always loved children, so she decides to attend a few mont More...
Suzy comes from a small Oregon town and upon graduating from high school isn’t sure of her next steps. She’s always loved children, so she decides to attend a few mont More...
Aug 03, 2009
Christina
rated it:
19 year old girl from small town USA decides to try her luck at Hollywood, Nanny style. Soon, the reader gets a glimpse at the Hollywood styles of parenting and social status. There is some name dropping; which is expected. The reader also relates to the narrator as she watches the "rich" fly on a private jet but will not replace an iron that has frayed wiring.
Reading this book was just like talking on the phone with an old friend; relatable, likeable, and laughable. A More...
Reading this book was just like talking on the phone with an old friend; relatable, likeable, and laughable. A More...
Aug 27, 2010
Michelle
rated it:
I read this book in about a week, just an hour or two each night, so it's quick, easy read. And I have a lot going on right now, so I wasn't in the mood for a heavy or deep, meaningful story and this fit the bill.
I think the reason for my low rating is that I was disappointed by the lack of humor. I had read "The Nanny Diaries" a few years ago and remember laughing through it. I had hoped this one would be somewhat similar.
This is the real-life account of one More...
I think the reason for my low rating is that I was disappointed by the lack of humor. I had read "The Nanny Diaries" a few years ago and remember laughing through it. I had hoped this one would be somewhat similar.
This is the real-life account of one More...
Oct 30, 2008
george
rated it:
Suzy Hansen graduated from high school adn had no idea what to do next. She didn't want to go to college and she definitely didn't want to hang aroun Cottage Grove, her tiny Oregon hometown. So on the advice of her guidance counselor, she heads to Portland and attends the Northwest Nanny Institute. After graduating at the top of her class she decides to head to Hollywood and try her hand at being a nanny to the stars. Her first job is with Michael Ovitz, THE most powerful man in Hollywood. While
More...
Sep 30, 2008
Brenda
rated it:
A young woman from Oregon graduates from nanny college and heads straight for the bright lights of Hollywood. This volume follows her through three nanny jobs for some big names in the Biz.
I enjoyed reading this book like I enjoy reading People magazine from time to time. It may be a little deeper than that, but not by much. The author is a decent writer, but not great. She is fairly honest about her experiences and her own actions and feelings during them. Interesting insight i More...
I enjoyed reading this book like I enjoy reading People magazine from time to time. It may be a little deeper than that, but not by much. The author is a decent writer, but not great. She is fairly honest about her experiences and her own actions and feelings during them. Interesting insight i More...
Mar 25, 2009
Elizabeth
rated it:
Two Things I've Learned Reading This and Nanny Diaries:
- I'm so glad I get to raise my own kids
- I'm so glad I didn't nanny!
The similarities between the two books were eerie, but I felt a level of emotional immaturity in this author that I didn't notice in ND. Yes, sometimes people strike out, but was there another reason? At least she owned up to the mistakes she made. Was it particularly funny? I didn't think so. Apparently I'm missing the "nanny mishap More...
- I'm so glad I get to raise my own kids
- I'm so glad I didn't nanny!
The similarities between the two books were eerie, but I felt a level of emotional immaturity in this author that I didn't notice in ND. Yes, sometimes people strike out, but was there another reason? At least she owned up to the mistakes she made. Was it particularly funny? I didn't think so. Apparently I'm missing the "nanny mishap More...
Aug 09, 2011
Jen
rated it:
It's unsurprising fluff, but it's fun. As a former nanny who worked for a few wonderful families and one very, very bad family, I identified with Suzanne's stories... especially her descriptions of hellish vacations with her employer and the pain of leaving behind beloved children when the job has ended.
Nov 14, 2011
Michelle
rated it:
This book is just okay. It's the author's memoir of babysitting Michael Ovitz's (Hollywood usperagent) kids. She was 19 and the book in set in the late 1980s. It is biased because the author didn't know about contracts and being a live-in nanny.
It was a fun read, but not memorable.
It was a fun read, but not memorable.
May 26, 2010
Joan
rated it:
Awesome book mainly because I'm fascinated with the worlds we create and Hollywood people create some fucked up ones. I must say it was inspiring to read how one's bad experiences with a job can turn out to be a positive when trying to find out who you are.
Sep 03, 2010
Misty
rated it:
She was a nanny for the Ovitz some big wigs in Hollywood up to the par of the Speilbergs, Danny Devito,and Debra Winger. The Ovitz's were the only one's that really didn't treat her with much respect but the Devito's and Winger were really nice.
Jun 14, 2009
Emily
rated it:
This was a fun escapist read. If you find yourself perusing People more than regularly and always up on the latest gossip, you'll probably enjoy it, too. I've always had my opinions on stars and their families, but then we're always "told" that they're "just like us," and "hands-on" mommies. It was nice that all the little tidbits she included in this basically tossed those claims aside. And I was worried she would make herself out to be a martyr and was glad wh
More...
Sep 03, 2011
Lori
rated it: 
Still reading it, but I'm skimming it. Having been a nanny and dealing with all the crap she describes, it's too much a bad trip down memory lane, so I didn't find it very enjoyable.
Read it and still didn't like it. Tales of star-obsessed young women who subject themselves to bad work environments don't appeal to me. I would much rather have read about her adult life's work.
Read it and still didn't like it. Tales of star-obsessed young women who subject themselves to bad work environments don't appeal to me. I would much rather have read about her adult life's work.
Apr 22, 2011
Melissa
rated it:
I have always liked reading about stars and Hollywood life, probably because I know my own life will never be like that. This was a nicely written account about nannying to the stars. It's nice to read that at least some of the stars are down to earth and reasonable, although most seem to be high maintenance at least according to the anecdotes in this story.
I don't know how this author did her job, it seems like one of the most nerve-wracking jobs one could have. I identified with the movi More...
I don't know how this author did her job, it seems like one of the most nerve-wracking jobs one could have. I identified with the movi More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Feb 06, 2009
Michele
rated it:
This was a very funny, but very sad true story of a 19 year old girl who goes to Hollywood to become a nanny. It really opens your eyes to celebrities and what kind of parents some of them are.
Aug 17, 2011
Loved this book! It was a precursor I'm sure to Nanny Diaries. It was written before they had to sign disclosures so you really read the whole story. This woman worked for some famous people!
Sep 03, 2011
Aimee
rated it:
Finished in 1 day, just a fun book, especially if you have a fascination (as lame as it may be) with celebrities. Some of the stories in here were hard to believe but it was a good book that made me laugh.
Nov 01, 2010
Cathy
rated it:
It's funny - I had such high expectations for this book - I'm not sure why but I guess the title and the cover really intrigued me. I've gotta say I really wasn't entertained until about 1/2 way to 3/4 of the way through. Byt he time I found myself looking forward to what was happening next, it wsa over. I think I would have liked it a lot better if I'd gone in with no expectations. The mind is a funny thing like that, huh...
Jul 31, 2009
Melissa
rated it:
This book was similar to the Nanny Diaries, but very boring with out any new insight. The book is just plain forgettable! I thought it would be a great beach read - NOT!
