Love Reads!

By Holly Peterson

June 2007

The Dial Press

ISBN 10: 0385340400

ISBN 13: 978-0385340403

In Manny the story is exactly what it sounds like right after reading the title; its about someone employing a male nanny.

Jamie Whitfield is thirty-something television news show producer living in Manhattan. As is usually the case when it comes to some chick lit she, along with her husband own a sizable apartment in as she calls it “the grid” more often called the Upper East Side. She thinks herself to be beyond the whole scene however doing the bare minimum required to fit in. She unlike many of her peers tries her best to make herself a part of children’s lives. She has to this point has been fairly successful balancing both that and work, but has recently discovered, at least when it comes to her son Dylan, there is only so much she herself can do.

Her husband Phillip spends almost no time at home, let alone with the children and because of this Dylan has never had a strong positive male influence in his life. This lack of bonding has made Dylan over the years very introverted. After trying to talk this through with her husband having gotten nowhere she decides to talk it over with some friends. They quickly tell her about the finer points of having what is called a “Manny” or male nanny. A Manny they say unlike their female counterparts do not do laundry or cleaning, instead they spend time with the children assimilating themselves as the male role model that has been absent. Taking the children to sports events, the park and most importantly be there to listen to the problems that may not be told to the parents because either they do not have time, or are not “cool” enough.

After some searching Jamie is quickly realizing she may have to throw in the towel as it is harder then she imagined to find someone to fill that role. Thankfully though she is served a miracle in the form of Peter a man in his late 20s trying to make ends meet while he develops computer software that provides homework help. He becomes more then just the hired help as time progresses.

This book is too utterly predictable and follows too long of a time line for the inevitable end result. The characters were engaging which is why I was disappointed the story played out as it did. Unfortunately with this book, all you need to do is read the title and your pretty much done.

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