"The Nanny" pulled me in and kept me engaged from start to finish. I enjoyed the dual timeline, and did not see the twist at the end coming, which always makes for a great read! The book felt like it left on a cliffhanger, which makes me wonder if a sequel will be added? I hope so! If it's meant to be a standalone, then the ending left something to be desired, but that would be my only complaint. Highly recommend!

I appreciated how Finch narrated this story through alternating timelines between the past and present as well as telling the story through Evie, Lucy, and Taylor’s perspectives. This dialogue built a gradual sense of unease and had me guessing throughout. I also appreciated the complex characters Finch fabricated. As a mother myself, I found Lucy’s character the most relatable. Lucy was a privileged and fragile mother. She struggled with postnatal anxiety, marital tension, and a growing sense that she was losing control. Contrary to Lucy, Taylor was the abstruse nanny who appeared to be the “ideal nanny”. She was calm, efficient and nurturing. And lastly there was Evie. She was the unsettled daughter. Evie was guarded, introspective and determined to uncover the truth about her family when she was older. I loved how these women’s lives intertwined in a gradually unearthing of the devastating effects of deception, obsession, and identity theft. It was engaging. All three were bound by secrets — but only one of them knew the full story, and it was up to Evie to untangle it.

Evie’s discovery of mysterious newspaper clippings from her mother’s belongings sparks a thrilling journey into a world of secrets that threaten to unravel everything she thought she knew about her family—and herself. Finch expertly builds suspense, making it almost impossible to put down as the truth slowly comes to light. The characters are well-drawn, with the enigmatic nanny's quiet menace hiding a complex, compelling darkness. The plot twists are cleverly executed, even if a few feel a little predictable, they still pack a powerful punch. The themes of motherhood, obsession, and what lies beneath the surface of a picture-perfect life stay with you long after the book ends

What the Nanny Said was overall an enjoyable read. I loved the setting and imagery created that really put you into upscale London. I liked the different perspectives but I will say they were so different that you knew for sure one view was a complete lie. I almost wished it had more subtle differences. The twist at the end was surprising but there were a lot of small holes throughout the story that got pretty distracting. I did like this book but it wasn’t the best writing I’ve ever read.

What the Nanny Said by Lara Finch is a mysterious domestic drama filled with manipulation, lies, gaslighting, and secrets.

I tried really hard to like this book, but it just didn’t work for me. I often found myself disengaging, struggling to connect with the characters, and feeling that the story was overly drawn out. I finished reading it in hopes that something would happen and that the second half of the book would improve, but it didn’t.

The story unfolds over two timelines: 1999 and the present day.

In London in 1999, Lucy, a young mother, struggles to care for her daughter, Evie and her famous husband, Sam. Sam embodies the traits of a gaslighting, narcissistic jerk who treats Lucy poorly while she, unfortunately, allows it, descending into a state of deep depression and self-destruction.
Shainy and perfect Taylor quickly becomes close to Lucy and soon takes on the role of Evie’s nanny. However, it seems that Taylor desires more than just a job.

In the present day, in Mexico, after Evie’s mother Mia’s death, Evie discovers documents and newspaper articles detailing murders and disappearances that somehow connect to her early life. Determined to uncover the truth, Evie travels to London to ask some questions.

I recognise that this book may not have resonated with me, but many others have enjoyed it. I always encourage you to give it a try and form your own opinion.

What The Nanny Said by Lara Finch, when the book starts we meet Mia and Evie who live in Mexico Mia is Evie‘s mom and they’re very close soon after we meet her Mia passes away. her death devastates Evie but when she finds a letter telling her why an English girl spent her life growing up in Mexico. she is left confused and wanting answers and soon finds herself heading to England. In the second POV we meet Lucy she’s a lonely housewife of a roving reporter for the BBC and is left at home with her young daughter quite often. So when she meets a very sweet and nice girl named Taylor Love, Lucy is excited to befriend her. they become close and Taylor soon becomes the nanny for Lucy and Sam but soon Taylor’s closeness infringes on intervening and it will eventually throw Lucy‘s life into chaos. at first all Evie knows is her name and the more she learns the more she wishes she would’ve stopped there. Was Mia her mom and if not who was and where is her dad Sam, who she never met. This was such a great well put together thriller. i’m going to be honest and say I thought I knew how it was going to end and despite thinking I knew the ending I still could not put this book down it was so good and I only hope we get to see a second book with EV getting all the answers and the perpetrator getting what’s coming to them. This was a great book it was so good I even signed up for the authors newsletter because I definitely want to read more by her in the future. It’s definitely one I recommend. #NetGalley, #StormPublishing, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,#LaraFinch, #WhatTheNannySaid,

This thriller was a wild ride from start to finish. Though it started off a bit slow, it didn’t take long before the pace picked up—and once it did, I was completely hooked. The story is packed with twists and turns on nearly every page, constantly keeping me guessing and second-guessing what I thought I knew.
One of the standout elements for me was the use of multiple points of view. Each perspective added depth and complexity to the plot, and I loved how the different voices wove together to create a fuller picture of the story's events. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, another reveal would shift everything, leading up to an ending that was truly unexpected.
If you enjoy thrillers that keep you on your toes and characters you can’t stop thinking about, this is definitely one to pick up. Highly recommend!

I am not giving anything away. This book surprised me with how I thought it would go and then it did not happen. It had good twists! This book is a great psychological thriller that I did not want to put down. I can not wait for the author`s next book!

Omg wtffff have I read my best book of 2025 to date read it in 3 short days spell binding Sam got what Sam deserved … I really felt bad for evie no parents just trying to find out what happened to them !! Taylor live was a mess she used every one in her path to get what she wanted and poor Lucy just to slow to see right through this woman she wanted her life took it and shattered it right before her eyes omggg so fucking good

This is easily one of my favourite thriller so far this year. A fantastic introduction for me to this author! I've read it in one day, there was so many times I thought I knew what was coming and was wrong! Highly recommend you read this!

📚I was able to read an advanced copy of title thanks to NetGalley, Lara Finch and Storm Publishing📚
📚All reviews and opinions are entirely my own📚

The novel starts with a young women experiencing a devastating loss, because of this she discovers that her life is not as she knew it through flashbacks from twenty years ago we begin to discover how a young lady who came into a young couples life had a big impact on them and that this young lady may not be all she seems.

I really enjoyed the flash backs of the past - especially the cultural references as well. Spliced between these chapters is a police interview with a lady called Taylor, sharing her version of events whilst the flashbacks share the other side, so it’s quite hard to work out who is telling the truth. I will admit the first half of the book, the pace is quite slow but then the second half quickens and I found myself desperately wanting to know what was going on. The background of the characters is really in depth but the way the narrative is written it is hard to tell who is telling the truth - the author is clever as she manipulates the reader to mirror the characters.

I would definitely read another novel by this author .

One of the best thrillers I’ve ever read— there was never a moment where I truly knew what the truth was. I started this book in the morning during my walk and finished it before bed this evening, I am truly so sad it’s over.

First, thank you Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC!

While this was a really promising book and I did love the story with all it's twists and turns, it also was moving a little slow at times for me. I still needed to know what was going on, not trusting any of the narrators really. The story itself is also told in two timelines, past aka late the late nineties, and the present day and we meet our character Evie there both as a child and as an adult.

So, alltogether, the book had some slow moments, but all in all it was a good thriller, keeping you on your toes. I sometimes thought I had figured things out, but truth was, I had not. Very well done!

This novel by Lara Finch is a page-turning psychological thriller about a young mother Lucy who is gaslighted by a 'friend' turned nanny Taylor Love. Lucy Bliss thinks her marriage to Sam is rock solid, but then this nanny begins to try to take away Lucy's family and peace of mind.
Who will win this ongoing struggle? There are many twists and turns before the resolution to the story.

Wow, just wow. This book had more twists and turns than the magic roundabout in Swindon. I honestly had absolutely no idea about the way things were going to go until the last chapter! This thriller was certainly thrilling! Taylor had so many layers, and was super well written. I loved the juxtaposition of chapters being written between the past and the present, with different characters experiences and point of view. Lucy may be damaged, but I certainly felt for her! Melody is a wonderful friend, truly wonderful, and Evie experiences an absolute avalanche of emotions and information throughout the course of this story! I don’t want to let any spoilers out, as this book isn’t out until the 16th of July, but I thoroughly recommend picking up a copy!! Super grateful to Netgalley and Storm publishing for letting me have an ARC of this, and very excited to read Lara’s future novels! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"Mia shouted - something that had never happened before. 'Do not lie to me! Do not lie!'
Feeling reckless, Evie snapped back: 'Why not, Mama? Why not? You lie to me!'"

This domestic thriller has an intricate plot full of secrets and lies. After Evie's mother dies in Mexico, she discovers among her possessions a cache of newspaper articles about murder(s) in the wealthy neighbourhood of Little Venice in London in 1999 (when she herself was three years old, too young to remember much). The story interweaves chapters in the present and past, together with transcripts of police interviews.

The tone was more serious than I expected from the title/cover - the book is more than just a fun, twisty ride. The characters and their anxieties and griefs felt real. There was a sprinkling of great lines and vivid conversations throughout, which showed off Lara Finch's talent as a writer, and made me think she is an author I'll look out for in the future.

A random note is that in chapter 52 (in the 1999 timeline) it says: "Teenager stays in the waiting area. She's texting someone." My memory of the 1990s is that few young people had mobile phones yet - this didn't feel quite right for the era, especially after the pitch-perfect Mr Blobby reference.

Many thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy.

Lucy is a young, overwhelmed mother. Her husband is not her strongest supporter.
Meeting Taylor seems like a godsend. Lucy has an adult to talk to who is a great friend, and her daughter Evie has a fantastic nanny!
Is Taylor too good to be true????
This story is filled with toxicity and manipulation.The twist at the end is great!
What the Nanny Said follows two timelines and multiple
Roy's.
Things begin a bit slow, but the pace picks up quickly.

just finished What the Nanny Said and my brain is still spinning 😵‍💫 this is one of those twisty domestic thrillers where you don’t know who to trust—and everyone has something to hide.

the nanny’s gone, the family’s hiding secrets, and the neighborhood is full of whispers. it gave serious behind-closed-doors vibes and kept the tension high the whole time.

fast-paced, drama-filled, and perfect if you like thrillers with a side of suburban secrets 👀

I’ve just finished “what the nanny said” by Laura Finch which will be released on the 16th of July.

This book being right up my alley Genre wise; thriller / mystery and true crime. The last one I don’t really get since it isn’t based on true events but still, this book was a page turner!

Lucy is a stay-at-home mom, taking care of two-year-old daughter Evie in a very luxurious home with the most extravagant communal gardens. That’s where she meets Taylor, a young woman and very easy to talk to. It’s like they’ve known each other for a very long time.

Lucy’s home live isn’t really something to write home about, Sam, her husband is a journalist for BBC and works and travels a lot. He likes to be in the Spotlight so when he’s home there’s almost always a work colleague with him, friends… Live can get lonely for Lucy.

With her and Taylor becoming fast friends and Taylor egging her on to go back to work and find her worth again, that being in family law: Taylor pitches the idea of becoming Evie’s nanny on Lucy’s work days, when everything is set in stone and Lucy has gone back to work, things seem to escalate pretty quick.

Lucy is quite the alcoholic and uses Valium to zone out. When Sam finds a stash of Valium and other pretty heavy medication, he draws a line. Surely, she isn’t fit and capable to safely care for their daughter? He asks her to leave, without Evie.

Within a short timespan Sam seems to be head over heels for Taylor who is manipulating him but he can’t see it. Things just keep escalating until one winds up dead and two seem to have vanished of the face of the earth.

The storyline above takes place in the year 1999, but there is also a present timeline happening where Evie is an adult.

When visiting her mom something terrible happens, Evie’s mom Mia complains of a headache and heads to bed for a lie-down. Not much later Evie hears a shrill scream and runs to her mother’s bedroom, but she’s to late. Her mom died of a severe stroke. Overcome by grief and sorting some stuff out, Evie finds a box with old article clippings of a murder that has taken place in 1999.

The article talks about a nanny who has been interviewed claiming she was there when it happened. The 3-year-old girl has vanished with what looks like one of her parents and the other has been murdered. Evie does the math; the little girl was named Evie as well and has the same date of birth. Vanished around the time that Evie moved to New Mexico with her mother Mia. Her mother never wanted to talk about Evie’s father or their time in London.

The only thing she can remember her mother saying to someone was ‘that was in my Melody era’ Melody being Lucy’s best friend… Was Mia ever her mother? She wants answers, so she’s going to London to find out what happened. Who is Mia really? And what happened to her father? Does she have living relatives?

Definitely a ⭐⭐⭐⭐,5 read!

Every now and then you encounter a book that just sings to you. For me this is it, a psychological thriller it's told from different viewpoints and is as captivating as it is emotional. Really involves you in the narrative, it's exactly what I wanted from a novel.

Initially promising to be a compelling psychological thriller, this quickly turned into a "he said/she said" drama and before long I had a pretty good handle on where it was headed. Which is not usual for me. I found the nanny just as annoying as the detectives did.