The Perfect Nanny would not exist if Myriam and Paul Massé had just bought themselves some nanny cams from the French Home Depot.
I’m serious, though I didn’t have this realization until I was more than halfway done with the book. I So much trauma could have been prevented in this psychological thriller if these parents had been a little more invested in their children’s safety,
But, that’s part of the problem in The Perfect Nanny, The attitude of the parents. The obsession of the nanny. Both sides of this story work together to create the victims — the two innocent children who are gruesomely murdered by their doting nanny.
What’s The Perfect Nanny about?
In The Perfect Nanny, author Leila Slimani gives the reader a look into contemporary, harried Parisian life — which, I was surprised to discover, is similar to contemporary, harried American life. Two young parents, Myriam and Paul Massé, both want to pursue their demanding careers, but they need someone to take care of their children. Daycares aren’t a feasible option, and neither is one parent quitting their job.
After numerous interviews, they hire their nanny, Louise. Although her duties are at first relegated only to the children, Louise soon becomes enmeshed in Massé family life, to the point where parents Myriam and Paul can’t imagine living their lives without her. And, that’s where the trouble begins.
The Hand that Rocks the Cradle…
How do you not see a monster in your midst? This question comes up all too often in literature. There are tons of stories out there about spouses who are ignorant of what their other halves are doing — money laundering, tax evasion, and, in the more severe and unsettling cases, secret polygamy, rape, and murder. Books like You Should Have Known and Our House come immediately to mind.
However, this theme is less frequently applied to relationships involving children. Probably because the negative outcome is too hard to contemplate. But, Slimani fearlessly embraces this idea, beginning the The Perfect Nanny with the vivid aftermath of Louise’s fatal attack on her charges.
The opening scene is guttural, emotional, and filled with anguish. Most importantly, it’s a great hook. You just have to keep reading and find out about this horrible nanny. About this woman who couldn’t have been anything but a complete psycho from the very beginning. Right?
Is the blame entirely on Nanny Louise, or are parents Paul and Myriam guilty, too?
You really want to give Nanny Louise the benefit of the doubt as you discover more about her. Keep in mind, The Perfect Nanny isn’t a “whodunit” mystery. It’s never in question that she’s a murderer.
But, as you are read on about the children, and as you witness the dynamic between them, their parents, and Louise, you find yourself forgetting the heinous crime Louise commits in the very first pages. The nanny tugs at your sympathy with her slight, sickly figure, her difficult past, and her lonely present-day life. You want so much for Louise to be “misunderstood” instead of psychotic.
Let’s talk about Myriam and Paul for a minute. While it’s easy to classify them as “negligent parents,” I sympathize with them. Working full-time and raising kids is a difficult, demanding life. It leaves little time for oneself, let alone the tiny humans you’re trying to raise. I don’t begrudge Myriam and Paul for hiring a nanny, or for letting that nanny’s role become a little more prominent in their lives.
After all, if Louise weren’t crazy, her over-involvement might have been fine.
What I do fault Myriam and Paul for is ignoring the signs. There are so many signs throughout The Perfect Nanny that Louise is clearly unbalanced. There’s instances in which she appears “off,” at best, and downright insane in others. The reader is privy to many more of Louise’s oddities because of the narration, but several important incidents occur in full view of the parents.
Myriam and Paul ultimately choose to overlook Louise’s increasingly disturbing behavior, mainly to uphold the convenience of their lifestyle. While Myriam and Paul are aware that their nanny has become indispensable to them, they’re completely ignorant of the fact that that Louise becomes completely obsessed with the Massé family.
Reader’s tip:
Once you’ve finished The Perfect Nanny, go back and re-read the opening chapter. Experience again the passages describing how the children’s bodies were found, and how the little girl must have struggled against her attacker. Take in once more how Myriam reacted when she walked in to find her children brutally murdered, after leaving work early to spend time with them.
And, knowing all that you now know about Louise, ask yourself — would you have done anything differently from Myriam and Paul, had you seen the warning signs they did about the woman taking care of their children?
Should you read The Perfect Nanny?
There are lots of mixed opinions about The Perfect Nanny, but I loved it and think you should read it. It’s an intriguing but deeply unsettling cautionary tale about letting strangers into your home, about trusting people against your better instincts, and, ultimately, about becoming complacent in your own life.
It’s also a great argument for installing nanny cams in your home.
I’ve also heard that HBO and Nicole Kidman are developing a film adaptation of The Perfect Nanny. I’m super excited to see this book come to life. Kidman was fantastic in the film adaptations of the previously mentioned You Should Have Known (The Undoing) and Big Little Lies, both of which cover similar themes as Slimani’s book.
What’s the book-inspired recipe for The Perfect Nanny?
The book-inspired recipe for The Perfect Nanny is Moroccan Chicken B’stilla Pie!
I liked this book, but agree with you that if the parents were paying attention, they could have noticed things were not right much earlier. I was surprised to see this on the New York Times 10 best of 2018 list! It was good, but not sure I would have called it one of the 10 best.
This book sounds amazing. I am completely intrigued. I just went to add the title to my Goodreads, and holy recognition from everyone too. I love books that analyze family and the core of who/what we are and aren’t. In modern times, I feel like a book like this (without having read it) plays into our biggest fears. It seems like a trust no one world, take all the precautions, and then miss what is right in front of you. Creepy creepy!
The book was definitely intriguing; the questions it makes you ask yourself are so thought-provoking. You also look a bit askance at everyone in your life after you read it, lol. Like, “Who are you REALLY?? Can I trust you???” 😉