What’s a Park Avenue working mom to do when her troubled son desperately needs a male role model and her husband is a power workaholic? If sh...
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reviews
Jun 18, 2011
Rebecca
rated it: 
This book could have been so much better! Sometimes all the lovely-dovey in chicklit novels really piss me off and I wish there could be a guy and a girl and they didn’t always have to fall in freakin’ love because the situation is just like, NO! I bet you can see where I am already going with this one. Because seriously! Manny’s are a new term and this book could have been so good, but did the women really have to fall for the manny? Agh. The conflict of her job was also annoying because who ge
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Dec 04, 2009
S.
rated it: 
This beach read is so light, it might just fly away. I wasn't sure what the author, daughter of billionaire Pete Peterson, was trying to say about herself and her circle. A former television journalist herself, she obviously, but Jamie came from a humble background a married rich where Holly was to the manor born. The book sometimes idealized Jamie as an outsider to the rich clique, but she often played along with all the games as much as everyone else. Perhaps Holly thought her readers would no
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Oct 23, 2011
che
rated it: 
I was really disappointed with this book. The Manny. I mean come on! A male nanny?! There’s soooo many ways this book could be a hilarious runaway hit. But..it wasn’t. it was just one of those cliché, contrived chick lits where everything goes in favor of the protagonist (who isn’t even likeable) without even an ounce of entertainment. The lead character, Jamie Whitfield was kind of a two faced annoying, whiny bitch. She was always complaining about the women in The Grid whom she says is so supe
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Jul 10, 2011
Kate
rated it:
2.5 stars
It took me a while to get into this book because I can't stand the main character. Jamie Whitfield is... well for lack of a better word, a complete bitch.
In the first few pages of the book she is so incredibly horrible about the wealthy people at the school pick-up but at the same time she wasn't any different.
She has the live-in housekeeper and a nanny and a driver. Enter the Manny. And whilst she only works part-time, she still has no time fo More...
It took me a while to get into this book because I can't stand the main character. Jamie Whitfield is... well for lack of a better word, a complete bitch.
In the first few pages of the book she is so incredibly horrible about the wealthy people at the school pick-up but at the same time she wasn't any different.
She has the live-in housekeeper and a nanny and a driver. Enter the Manny. And whilst she only works part-time, she still has no time fo More...
Jul 01, 2009
Kath
rated it: 
I have to say that I loved Karen Ziemba's narration of this book. I might have only given it a 3 because of the abrupt ending, but the narration was excellent and I brought it up to a 4 because of this.
Loved this story of a working mom, her 3 children and her absent husband trying to live in a ritzy New York life with the assistance of a "Manny". Loved the Manny and loved Jaimee. I have to say, I even liked her absentee husband Phillip in some ways. I found him very rea More...
Loved this story of a working mom, her 3 children and her absent husband trying to live in a ritzy New York life with the assistance of a "Manny". Loved the Manny and loved Jaimee. I have to say, I even liked her absentee husband Phillip in some ways. I found him very rea More...
Aug 08, 2011
Jessica
rated it:
This book ends reading by browsing the library shelves. Back from vacation, with nothing to read, I picked this up. This is my greatest regret. I'll never be able to get the hours back that I spent with this book. After finishing, I read a number of reviews on line which sum up all that's wrong with this book (and it's 1MM advance!). Let me just share my ONE problem with this books inconsistencies.
Halfway through the book, two of the characters are in an SUV traveling to Long Island. Only More...
Halfway through the book, two of the characters are in an SUV traveling to Long Island. Only More...
Feb 02, 2012
Pat
rated it: 
This book, of course I did use the audio version- was a really fun
story and I enjoyed it very much. I can not even begin to fathom the
life-style of the people Jamie associated with.
At the end of the audio book, the author discusses where she came up
with her characters. She actually has lived in the circumstances and
hangs out with people like the ones she wrote about. She has an insiders
scoop on the lifestyle of the rich and richer!
The frivolousness was t More...
story and I enjoyed it very much. I can not even begin to fathom the
life-style of the people Jamie associated with.
At the end of the audio book, the author discusses where she came up
with her characters. She actually has lived in the circumstances and
hangs out with people like the ones she wrote about. She has an insiders
scoop on the lifestyle of the rich and richer!
The frivolousness was t More...
Feb 09, 2011
Andrea
rated it:
This was an okay book about a couple in Manhattan who are having trouble with their 9-year-old son - apparently because of lack of attention from his all-too-busy father, so they hire a "manny" - a nanny of the male persuasion.
It is a predictable look at the upper crust society with too much money for their own good, the keeping up with the Joneses pressures with the predictable outcome of an attractive, not too much younger, and definitely attractive, male playing the father More...
It is a predictable look at the upper crust society with too much money for their own good, the keeping up with the Joneses pressures with the predictable outcome of an attractive, not too much younger, and definitely attractive, male playing the father More...
Mar 28, 2011
Kathy
rated it:
Reviewed at : Mama Kucing Meow : The Manny By Holly Peterson
Reviewed on : 16 February 2011
this book tries to tackle many issues...a tad too many issues and not enough time/room to elaborate. Hence the characters and plot comes out as stiff and lacking of depth. There are so much potential in this novel but again and again a particular issue was not given the chance to develope properly before jump into another issue.
Sometimes, I think it is best not to bite more th More...
Reviewed on : 16 February 2011
this book tries to tackle many issues...a tad too many issues and not enough time/room to elaborate. Hence the characters and plot comes out as stiff and lacking of depth. There are so much potential in this novel but again and again a particular issue was not given the chance to develope properly before jump into another issue.
Sometimes, I think it is best not to bite more th More...
Sep 05, 2011
Toni
rated it:
Jamie a TV producer, married to a "never rich enough" lawyer, hires Peter as her son's Manny ( Male Nanny who acts as a father figure for kids who fathers are too busy)
Book was good however really found the interview with the author at the end interesting. She grew up in NY with extremely wealthy parents, who "worked hard for their money" Although the story is fiction, she claims minor characters, scenarios and attitudes are based on real people. Found the class More...
Book was good however really found the interview with the author at the end interesting. She grew up in NY with extremely wealthy parents, who "worked hard for their money" Although the story is fiction, she claims minor characters, scenarios and attitudes are based on real people. Found the class More...
Apr 11, 2010
Katie
rated it:
I was intrigued by the cover and decided to give my current reading list a different light. I was entertained by the Manny and it had many cute twists in it. The main moral I got from this story is that money really isn't everything. All women want and need are stability and a partner that will support and help you in all aspects, especially in rearing your own children. I definitely liked how the author left the ending. Peter gave Jamie her space she needed to stand on her own and then cam
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Jul 07, 2010
Donna
rated it:
Upper-class chick lit that's set in Manhattan and is written by professionally successful women who live and work there is a long-running favorite/weakness for me, and this book fit that bill. It was a fun read while I was on vacation and overall I liked it. I think the author meandered off-topic a lot, however, and the ethics behind many of the character's actions were definitely smarmy. There were some explicit scenes that pushed the book's quality level down for me. In the end it kind of all
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Nov 01, 2010
Meaghan
rated it:
I ended up reading this in one day. It was an easy read and if you're looking for something fun and mindless then this is a book for you. I have to say that while I enjoyed reading this book the main character bothered me. She couldn't make up her mind and never stood up for herself. Even at the very end when she has made the obvious decision, she remains ambiguous about her decision. The ended also left too much to the imagination. It doesn't tie things up at all. The title character was endear
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Oct 21, 2011
Candace-CandyCanesFly
rated it:
2.5 stars. I didn't love it, I didn't hate it.
I read this book because I needed another trip to the library and couldn't make it. I had picked this up for some wild unknown reason and liked it so-so.
The main character is hard to like through most of the book, you feel sorry for her, but you don't because she has so much that is a blessing and also, she put herself in that terrible relationship with her husband.
The Manny is adorable but unrealistic.
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I read this book because I needed another trip to the library and couldn't make it. I had picked this up for some wild unknown reason and liked it so-so.
The main character is hard to like through most of the book, you feel sorry for her, but you don't because she has so much that is a blessing and also, she put herself in that terrible relationship with her husband.
The Manny is adorable but unrealistic.
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Feb 23, 2009
Merredith
rated it:
I borrowed manny by Holly Peterson from my friend, who had read a couple chapters then got bored. I originally picked it out from the store. I thought it would be like the nanny diaries but as a guy. It wasn't. the book is from the rich woman's point of view, with the manny always telling her how ridiculous everything is, and her denying it. She didn't grow up as rich, so she thinks she's above it all, but she's obviously not. This could have been interesting, but the writing is pretty dry. You
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Aug 31, 2008
Karen
rated it:
My Review of The Manny by Holly Peterson
It was only a matter of time. Once The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin came out, and Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding became popular, chick lit was in full swing. It was only natural that The Manny by Holly Peterson would be written. For those who enjoyed the shoes in Beth Harbison’s Shoe Addicts Anonymous, or designer clothes in Lauren Weisberger’s The Devil Wears Prada, one might enjoy this VERY light beach read. Although it is a somewhat w More...
It was only a matter of time. Once The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin came out, and Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding became popular, chick lit was in full swing. It was only natural that The Manny by Holly Peterson would be written. For those who enjoyed the shoes in Beth Harbison’s Shoe Addicts Anonymous, or designer clothes in Lauren Weisberger’s The Devil Wears Prada, one might enjoy this VERY light beach read. Although it is a somewhat w More...
Sep 03, 2007
marg
rated it:
I know, I shouldn't even admit I read it, but I was desperate for something light (ok, that it was) and didn't realize I was walking into the shopaholic genre so unabashedly - it doesn't even pay to talk about how bad this book was; it would be like saying, I was reading Cosmo and you know, it was really shallow .... But I was thinking, Khay, that you and I often debate the merits of lets say, Olivia Goldsmith or even Maeve Binchy, I mean they're both very different but just in that some authors
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Jun 27, 2011
Irene
rated it:
love this book much!!!
sangat menghibur dan berisi.
buku yang menarik selalu membuat saya membayangkan tokohnya dan buku ini membuat saya membayang sosok Peter, sang manny-male nanny- yang berusia 29 tahun, punya gelar master untuk bidang komputer dan tergila-gila dengan 3 anak kecil dan bisa menangani mereka sebaik seorang psikolog anak, hanya karena dia jatuh cinta pada anak-anak itu.
Holly membuat saya melihat gambaran seorang ahli komputer dari sisi yang berbeda sama sekali.
sangat menghibur dan berisi.
buku yang menarik selalu membuat saya membayangkan tokohnya dan buku ini membuat saya membayang sosok Peter, sang manny-male nanny- yang berusia 29 tahun, punya gelar master untuk bidang komputer dan tergila-gila dengan 3 anak kecil dan bisa menangani mereka sebaik seorang psikolog anak, hanya karena dia jatuh cinta pada anak-anak itu.
Holly membuat saya melihat gambaran seorang ahli komputer dari sisi yang berbeda sama sekali.
Jan 29, 2012
Karschtl
rated it:
Eine berufstätige Frau mit schicker Wohnung am Central Park und drei kleinen Kindern, engagiert einen jungen Mann als 'Kamerad' für ihren ältesten Sohn, der Angst vor dem Sportunterricht in der Schule hat. Die neue Nanny soll ihm die Freude am Sport wiedergeben und als ein Vaterersatz fungieren. Dies widerum findet der echte Papa gar nicht toll, wer mag schon ersetzt werden? Allerdings ändert er daraufhin auch nichts an seinen Arbeitszeiten und verbringt nach wie vor kaum Zeit mit seinen Kindern
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Jul 28, 2011
Stacy
rated it:
It's a good beach read in that it's 100% mindless. If you are looking for simple "chick lit" with no intellectual substance, this is your book! It was predictable and seemed to follow the usual "girl meets boy, girl doesn't want to admit she likes boy, girl finally comes to terms with liking boy, boy leaves, boy and girl find each other, boy and girl get together" pattern. It's not worth buying, but if a friend loans it to you, you might as well read it.
Sep 28, 2010
Deborah
rated it:
If you are a fan of Sex and the City, this is a book for you. This book focuses on one woman's attempt to be an executive producer, while being a mom to 3 children and a loyal wife. When she hires a Manny to assist her with her son, the world she knew so well turns upside down. A great book to which the reader is able to relate. I never would have read this book, good thing a it came friend recommended.
Feb 19, 2009
Kelley
rated it:
I was in need of a good chick lit book because I hadn't been motivated to read any of my more literary books on my shelf at home. I scanned the library shelves looking for the brightest, pinkest book spine I could find. The result was The Manny. It was an escape to a ridiculous life in the Upper East Side of NYC but there was enough interest between the mom and the manny to keep me reading.
Sep 16, 2008
Lulu
rated it:
I wasn't expecting a great work of literature when I bought this book. I simply hoped to be entertained, perhaps enjoy a few laughs. Sadly, even these modest expectations were not met. The story isn't that funny; the plot is very predictable; the characters are stereotypical. Simply another disappointing I'm-so-rich-I'm-depressed-I'll-find-a-higher-calling-by-throwing-away-my-wealth story. It doesn't shed any new light on anything, and it's getting really boring seeing the portrayal of rich
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Oct 29, 2009
Aprile
rated it:
I saw this book on the shelf and it caught my eye. After reading the back, it seemed interesting so I borrowed it from the library. It was pretty good. I liked the main character and I thought the story was pretty good. The book was funny and touching at the same time and I thought it was a pretty good chick-lit book.
Aug 07, 2011
This was a nice easy read. I think Charm lent it to me in a big stack she gave me a few months ago. Imagin what it would be like to be so ritch you can have your own plane, Nanny to come on holiday with you and chef in Aspen. Intresting to wonder how the other half live.
Apr 06, 2010
Book Concierge
rated it:
1.5 stars
Trite chick lit. Weathly over-extended Mom living in Manhattan with power-hungry attorney husband, hires a "ski bum" to provide male role model for 9-year-old son who is over anxious. I didn't quite finish because it was due at the library and just too ridiculous to renew.
Trite chick lit. Weathly over-extended Mom living in Manhattan with power-hungry attorney husband, hires a "ski bum" to provide male role model for 9-year-old son who is over anxious. I didn't quite finish because it was due at the library and just too ridiculous to renew.
Apr 18, 2011
Anne
rated it:
Ending was dumb and it made ME anxious to keep reading since there were so many twists and nothing ever happened or it was an overreaction or overthinking of something. It was a good short-ish read to just remind my brain I need something more indepth once in a while.
May 19, 2009
Jessica
rated it:
I'm not sure I'm going to finish this book. Too many f-bombs. Great premise, though.
As predicted, I didn't finish it - I skipped to the end and what happened was exactly what I thought would happen. I don't think I'd recommend this book to any of my friends - it's not exactly the stellar moral compass I'd guide my life by. Plus the aforementioned swearing really detracts from the story.
As predicted, I didn't finish it - I skipped to the end and what happened was exactly what I thought would happen. I don't think I'd recommend this book to any of my friends - it's not exactly the stellar moral compass I'd guide my life by. Plus the aforementioned swearing really detracts from the story.
Jun 12, 2011
Amy
rated it:
Good beach read I think but at times may be a bit predictable. Can not remember whether it was this one but think they get peters name wrong on the back of the book and call him Jason!
Book makes more sense now I know the writer is from a wealthy family.
Book makes more sense now I know the writer is from a wealthy family.
Aug 13, 2010
Terri
rated it:
Almost half way through. I get bored with the "breaking story." Otherwise, kind of cute and I think I can tell where it's going.
Finished. Kept skipping almost whole chapters when it was about the news story. Those parts just were not engaging for me. However, the main character's feelings toward her husband were very convincing, almost too real, hitting quite close to home at times. That part of the book felt worth the read.
Finished. Kept skipping almost whole chapters when it was about the news story. Those parts just were not engaging for me. However, the main character's feelings toward her husband were very convincing, almost too real, hitting quite close to home at times. That part of the book felt worth the read.
