The Babysitter had me very intrigued at the beginning of the novel. I actually thought that it would be a book I wouldn’t be able to put down, but I was very ready for it to be completed! I also thought this was supposed to have an Eighties Slasher vibe, and I didn’t get that impression whatsoever. The suspense was underwhelming.
At the start of the novel the time period is in the past. A babysitter named Jamie is babysitting for a couple’s twins, but she really wants to go to a party that a boy she really likes invited her to. She barters with her sister Emma to babysit in her place. Even for a little while. Emma finally acquiesces to Jamie’s pleads. However, neither of the sisters could foresee what horror the night would hold!
The remainder of the book takes place 20 years later. Jamie left town, had a child named Harley, and now must return to River Glen. Her sister Emma needs her aid, and Emma has not been quite the same since the fateful night 20 years prior.
As Jamie and Harley up and move to River Glen Harley seems to take to the school like a fish to water. She makes friends quickly, and figures out everyone’s angle and role at the school as well.
At a school party a simple prank sends many parents reeling! Harley starts to have feelings for one of the boys, and her friend Marissa does as well. However, following the seemingly harmless prank some strange occurrences begin to happen echoing the night 20 years ago. Is there a connection between the attack on The Babysitter 20 years ago, and the new attacks that are taking place?
I know, my short synopsis of the novel sounds rather spectacular. At least I believe it does. I had very high hopes for The Babysitter, and I feel like it fell extremely short. I was very upset for the lack of suspense that all the blurbs about the novel had received. Above all, I was severely dismayed that it was nothing like an eighties slasher in my opinion.
First, Nancy Bush is a very talented author. She writes very exquisitely, and uses very intelligent vocabulary. I really appreciated this aspect of the book. However, I felt as though there was a lot of filler in the novel. Not descriptive, or character building. One aspect that really annoyed me was the gossip women, and how much of the middle of the book that took up. It felt like reading an episode of a real housewives reality TV show. For the book length being 460 pages I felt it could have been about half of that.
Second, the book starts out extremely strong. I was completely hooked in the beginning. However, as mentioned, the middle (and largest) portion of the book was dedicated to a lot of nonsensical filler. Although, I do feel that Nancy kept just enough mystery going to help me get through the book.
Lastly, I do feel that Bush redeemed herself toward that last portion of the book. I did pretty much figure out what was going to happen, and there really was not much shock value. Nonetheless, there were a few twists that were clever, and executed very nicely.
Overall, I give The Babysitter by Nancy Bush 3 stars out of 5 stars. The novel was alright, but I felt like much of the book was forced writing. Possibly to hit a deadline to publish (hints the filler). However, I feel that The Babysitter would make a fantastic LifeTime Movie! If you love LMN movies you would probably love this book! Personally, I felt that the book was a bit lengthy, and not quite my style. I would however recommend this to many fellow readers that I know!
At the start of the novel the time period is in the past. A babysitter named Jamie is babysitting for a couple’s twins, but she really wants to go to a party that a boy she really likes invited her to. She barters with her sister Emma to babysit in her place. Even for a little while. Emma finally acquiesces to Jamie’s pleads. However, neither of the sisters could foresee what horror the night would hold!
The remainder of the book takes place 20 years later. Jamie left town, had a child named Harley, and now must return to River Glen. Her sister Emma needs her aid, and Emma has not been quite the same since the fateful night 20 years prior.
As Jamie and Harley up and move to River Glen Harley seems to take to the school like a fish to water. She makes friends quickly, and figures out everyone’s angle and role at the school as well.
At a school party a simple prank sends many parents reeling! Harley starts to have feelings for one of the boys, and her friend Marissa does as well. However, following the seemingly harmless prank some strange occurrences begin to happen echoing the night 20 years ago. Is there a connection between the attack on The Babysitter 20 years ago, and the new attacks that are taking place?
I know, my short synopsis of the novel sounds rather spectacular. At least I believe it does. I had very high hopes for The Babysitter, and I feel like it fell extremely short. I was very upset for the lack of suspense that all the blurbs about the novel had received. Above all, I was severely dismayed that it was nothing like an eighties slasher in my opinion.
First, Nancy Bush is a very talented author. She writes very exquisitely, and uses very intelligent vocabulary. I really appreciated this aspect of the book. However, I felt as though there was a lot of filler in the novel. Not descriptive, or character building. One aspect that really annoyed me was the gossip women, and how much of the middle of the book that took up. It felt like reading an episode of a real housewives reality TV show. For the book length being 460 pages I felt it could have been about half of that.
Second, the book starts out extremely strong. I was completely hooked in the beginning. However, as mentioned, the middle (and largest) portion of the book was dedicated to a lot of nonsensical filler. Although, I do feel that Nancy kept just enough mystery going to help me get through the book.
Lastly, I do feel that Bush redeemed herself toward that last portion of the book. I did pretty much figure out what was going to happen, and there really was not much shock value. Nonetheless, there were a few twists that were clever, and executed very nicely.
Overall, I give The Babysitter by Nancy Bush 3 stars out of 5 stars. The novel was alright, but I felt like much of the book was forced writing. Possibly to hit a deadline to publish (hints the filler). However, I feel that The Babysitter would make a fantastic LifeTime Movie! If you love LMN movies you would probably love this book! Personally, I felt that the book was a bit lengthy, and not quite my style. I would however recommend this to many fellow readers that I know!