Nanny Confidential
By Philippa Christian. Allen and Unwin. $24.99.
What ties these three books together is that the authors all have real-life experience which has shaped their books. Christian has worked as a nanny for the world's rich and famous and on every page you're left wondering who is who and just how much of the action is based in reality. Lindsay moves from small town to Melbourne and word soon gets out amongst the rich and famous that she's a girl who can handle not only children but knows how to keep a secret or two. Soon she's living in LA, looking after the six daughters of a movie director Cameron Appleby and his soap star wife Alysha. The main reason to stick with this book is the idea that most of it is probably true, but you'll warm to Lindsay and more surprisingly Alysha.
Fly In, Fly Out
By Georgina Penney. Michael Joseph. $29.99.
Penney has travelled the world living as an expat with her husband who works in the oil industry. The twist here is that the FIFO worker is "feisty oil rig engineer tomboy" Jo Blaine, who's trying to balance work in her blokey world and being a little more girly back at home. Penney has penned a couple of romance e-books and her style will appeal to readers who like a bit of sauciness in between plot development. There are also plenty of humorous moments thrown in amongst discussion of serious issues. An enjoyable read.
Faking It
By Gabrielle Tozer. HarperCollins. $16.99.
Tozer, a University of Canberra graduate, has worked at several magazines including Dolly, Girlfriend and Bride to Be. In her first novel The Intern, we were introduced to Josie Brown, who bumbled her way through an internship at coveted fashion magazine Sash. Think The Devil Wears Prada set in Sydney, with all the gossip and sass and inside knowledge. Now Sash is defunct and the future's online (another harsh reality) Josie has landed a job as a junior writer with the website indi but, again, things are going from bad to worse. There's a launch to be made, friends and flatmates to deal with, and Josie is as fun as ever. We like the way Tozer writes. She doesn't take herself too seriously and that's what makes her books a great read.
