A Review of a New Kind of Chick-Lit - 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 weaker copycat, it might bring a smile or two to moms who find the summer months their biggest dread as schools close!Jamie Whitfield is a part-time working mother of three children ranging from two to nine years old. Her job as a busy news producer as well as being part of the Manhattan Mom's scene, with a successful attorney husband who is absent a great deal and let's just say, not a "hands-on helper", has Jamie at the end of her rope. Jamie, who is a transplanted Midwesterner, finds the adjustment to the New York scene a consta
nt battle. With her eldest, nine-year-old Dylan, showing more and more signs of withdrawal to the point of being motionless at times, Jamie thinks a male role model would do him some good. Husband Phillip, concerned with supporting his family in the style he thinks they need and are accustomed to where his income of more than a million dollars annually just gets them by, CERTAINLY can't give up his time to sit with Dylan and see what makes him tick. As a workaholic himself, Phillip can't imagine someone, especially his own son, having problems that would result in anything not productive. Phillip does give us a glimpse of the man Jamie fell in love with and who deep down loves his children every once in a while, but the times are too few and far between.It is at this point, as things with Dylan get worse, that Jamie decides that a male role model, rather than a nanny, would be the answer. So she seeks out a "manny". Being in this class of privileged people where buying somet
hing can surely solve anyone's problems, Jamie is optimistic that finding the right manny will solve her problems.And so, we meet Peter Bailey. He is 29 years old and looking for funding for his software business. Peter seems to like children and is kind and very intelligent. It also doesn't hurt that he is very good looking! The fact that Peter is attentive to Jamie as well as he appreciates and respects her, are all things in Peter's favor. So, Jamie hires Peter and the "nanny of the male persuasion" starts his job!One doesn't have to be a genius to anticipate that Jamie and Peter will become attracted to each other. That along with subplots concerning Jamie's hot news report she is working on involving an affair of a prominent congressman, and the way the rich are living their superficial lives, moves the story line along as would be expected. Some complications can only help add to the rather predictable plot. The story of course is fictional and rather cliché as
it talks about how people in these situations can get into trouble when letting the wrong priorities take over their lives.So will the manny be Jamie's answer to not only Dylan, but also her unfulfilling marriage? Will we find that Jamie can find happiness with a real man whether he has money or not? That is something you do have to read to find out about!

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