Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau was a fantastic novel that takes place in the 1970s. I loved all the mentions of the details of the era, it was fun to escape cell phones and modern technology within the pages of this book.

Fourteen year old Mary Jane leads a quiet and simple life. She goes to school, church and is close to her mother. She’s a quiet girl who has led a sheltered life until she starts a summer job as a nanny for the daughter of a psychiatrist.

At this new household, Mary Jane sees an another world. The house is messy and cluttered, a vast contrast to the order of Mary Janes’s home. Throughout the summer, the doctor treats a rock star who moves into the house and discovers Mary Jane has an incredible singing voice. She slowly breaks out of her shell and after that summer, life will never be the same.

Take a look:

In 1970s Baltimore, fourteen-year-old Mary Jane loves cooking with her mother, singing in her church choir, and enjoying her family’s subscription to the Broadway Showtunes of the Month record club. Shy, quiet, and bookish, she’s glad when she lands a summer job as a nanny for the daughter of a local doctor. A respectable job, Mary Jane’s mother says. In a respectable house.

The house may look respectable on the outside, but inside it’s a literal and figurative mess: clutter on every surface, Impeachment: Now More Than Ever bumper stickers on the doors, cereal and takeout for dinner. And even more troublesome (were Mary Jane’s mother to know, which she does not): the doctor is a psychiatrist who has cleared his summer for one important job—helping a famous rock star dry out. A week after Mary Jane starts, the rock star and his movie star wife move in.

Over the course of the summer, Mary Jane introduces her new household to crisply ironed clothes and a family dinner schedule, and has a front-row seat to a liberal world of sex, drugs, and rock and roll (not to mention group therapy). Caught between the lifestyle she’s always known and the future she’s only just realized is possible, Mary Jane will arrive at September with a new idea about what she wants out of life, and what kind of person she’s going to be.

This YA adult book was really enjoyable. It was such a pleasant escape from my typical books, and I highly recommend it. Look for it on May 11!

Mary Jane was a fun read. Different than I expected, but much enjoyed. I liked that the protagonist was not given to belittling her own family after being exposed to a family so different and sophisticated. High marks.

It’s 1975 and 14-year old sweet and naïve Mary Jane has landed a job nannying for a new family down the street for a doctor’s family. Except the doctor is actually a psychiatrist who works out of his office in the garage and happens to be Jewish. When the doctor takes on a client who happens to be a famous rock star battling addiction on a “live-in” basis, the rock star and his famous actress wife both move into the house for the summer---swearing Mary Jane to secrecy due to doctor-patient “confidentiality.” Of course, this is all fine with Mary Jane since if her parents ever found out she was in a house with “hippies, druggies, and Jews,” she’d likely be grounded for all of her high school years to come! This book was a delight to read---it tugged on my heartstrings and made me smile all at the same time. I could feel Mary Jane’s confusion, her trepidation, her desire to want more from her life once she realizes there’s more to be had. Such a great book---5 isn’t enough stars!

Special Note: Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars. I received an ARC for this book, and I was excited to read it because it was being promoted as a similar read to Daisy Jones and the Six. From the cover and the description, I thought this book would be about falling in love with music and figuring out who you are. Instead, the book has more of a YA feel and focuses more on the theme of "finding your voice."

First, what I liked. The book was interesting and the pacing was perfect. I read the whole book fairly quickly. I was engaged in the story and excited to pick the book back up to find out what happened next. I liked how Mary Jane grew in confidence and understanding of the world around her as the book progressed.

However, I would not consider this book an adult book. The main character is 14 and the narrative voice was naïve and sheltered. The book read more like a YA book to me. And yes, the adults in the house where Mary Jane works talk about drugs and sex, but most of Mary Jane's world is shopping, making meals, and playing with Izzy. The more serious issues in the book are not explored in depth, and the ending wraps up everything too neatly for an adult book.

I also felt the book did not really explore music or the music industry as much as the comparisons to Daisy Jones and the Six or Almost Famous in the book description might suggest. There is music in the story but mainly because they all like to sing. The main focus of the book is on a 14 year old babysitter learning more about the world.

Overall, I would recommend this book to fans of coming of age stories. I think the false marketing of the book made me expect one type of story and caused some disappointment when I read the book. However, I did like this book and I would recommend it to other readers with a caution that this is NOT like Daisy Jones and the Six. Don't be fooled by the record on the cover.

This was slice of life historical fiction at it’s best. Mary Jane tells the story of a summer in the mid-1970s when the 14-year-old title character came of age while working as a nanny for a household that was much more liberal than the one she grew up in. It’s a soft yet highly engaging story full of music, the love of chosen family, and the thoughts and worries of a 14-year-old who isn’t quite a child but not yet one of the adults either.

I read this book in a day and would recommend it to anyone who likes the music and cultural complexities of the 1970s, has thought that their parents—while not necessarily wrong—don’t always know best, or who believes that chosen family is as important in determining who we become as our biological ones.

Nanny books seem to be all the rage these days. As someone who worked as a nanny for a large part of my “youth”, I’m pretty critical of this subgenre. This certainly wasn’t bad, but I didn’t think it was very well written. Many of the character relationships seemed unrealistic.

Mary Jane by Jessica Blah Mary Jane is a teenager that is a Nanny for a little girl over one summer. There is candy necklaces, Starsky and Hutch and Rhinestone Cowboy.

I really, really enjoyed this book. Pleasure reading at its best. The book features a teenage girl living in a typical, conservative household in Baltimore in the mid 1970s. When she is hired as a babysitter for the child of a much more free thinking couple, her world opens up. When a rock star and his movie star wife also move in, she really gets an education and ultimately finds herself.

Highly recommended for those looking for a well written novel that doesn't scare you or bring up distressing subjects you're looking to escape. The novel beautifully plotted and includes a truly jaw dropping (and funny) plot twist. The characters are utterly charming. I hope this will be a hit!

I loved every page of this book. Mary Jane is such a wonderful character to get to know through the story, watching her learn and mature and become the person she wants to be was delightful. Mary Jane babysits for a family where the father, a psychiatrist, is helping a famous rock star with his drug addiction. Mary Jane learns to love everyone in this quirky household and learns a lot about herself. The book is filled humor, insight, and a whole lot of love. I highly recommend it.

Is it possible to come of age in a mere summer? For fourteen-year-old Mary Jane, the answer is a resounding yes.

The year is 1970, the place is Baltimore.

Mary Jane Dillard is a teenager whose life is filled with singing in her church choir, cooking with her mom every day, and listening to show tunes. Outspoken and worldly, she is not. When asked to be a nanny for another family for the summer, her parents agree. After all, the home is respectable, what could go wrong?

The Cones however are nothing like the Dillards nor do they fit into any box. Love is strewn about freely, something Mary Jane has never seen as she has never been told nor said I love you to anyone. When Dr. Cone, who is a Psychiatrist, takes on a special client and his wife for the summer, Mary Jane’s life becomes even more interesting. Together, this makeshift family bonds together, with Mary Jane becoming the central character.

It is through this experience that Mary Jane stands up for herself and learns who she wants to be. Mary Jane is a gem: strong, smart, and oh so sweet. From the start, I was immediately swept up in her story. Mary Jane’s relationship with Izzy Cone stole my heart as did her relationship with the entire Cone family who treated her like a daughter. That said, not every relationship in this novel is picture-perfect, which may be a testament to the time frame during which the novel took place or simply in the way the characters are written. All in all, however, “Mary Jane” is an absorbing, fantastical read which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Custom House, and Jessica Anya Blau for the arc.

Published on NetGalley and Goodreads.

Review also published to Blog: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend.com/

This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2021 as it was marketed as Daisy Jones and the Six meets Almost Famous. This book does not have anything to do with either of those two things aside from the time period. I was under the impression that it would have a heavy music focus, and although there is a musician in the novel and a short scene at the end in a record store (those being the BIGGEST incidences), I would not say that it does not encompass the novel in any way, shape or form, other than playing a few records. This is a marketing error in my opinion. However, there were plenty of positives to pull from this novel. It was a nice coming-of-age story (which you could relate to Almost Famous – but many others as well), where Mary Jane grows up and sees that the world view she has been pigeon-holed in her entire life is not the best one, the limitation, or the experiences of others. That it is okay to not believe what your parents believe and having those difficult conversations to express yourself is tough, but sometimes necessary. The culture of the 70s was accurately described, but also painful, and still relevant today, with themes of racism and judgment of other populations spread throughout the novel.

Rounded up to 3.5 Stars. The message of the novel was presented well, but the synopsis was definitely a misdirection.

When Mary Jane takes a summer nannying job with the Cones, she is exposed to a different way of living. Their liberal and free ways couldn’t be any different than her country club, Presbyterian church attending household.

When I saw this took place in Baltimore in the 70’s I knew I had to read it! I immediately thought of Hairspray, although that was the sixties. This book was such a pleasure to read. Recognizing all the Baltimore neighborhoods, in a different era, was fun. Mary Jane is quite mature in many ways, but very naive in others. It was great watching her grow and learn from meeting a family so unlike her own, and broadening her experiences. I think this time era can be noted for the massive discrepancy in values between the young adults and their parents; growing up in the fifties and seventies were so different. While Mary Jane’s parents made me shake with frustration and rage, I still enjoyed reading about them and how some parents were in these days. I loved that this book had a lot of heart and Mary Jane learned and grow without any major trauma or tragedy.

“We’d learned about the Holocaust in school, just like we’d learned about the civil rights movement. What we’d never learned was that sometimes the people who kept those ideas live were the people you lived with.”

“My mother entered my head. Not in Roland Park, she often said, as if all the ills of the world were contained in a cloud that just refused to hover over this little nook of Northern Baltimore. But there I was, in Roland Park, and a big, heavy, shattered glass storm had landed.”

Mary Jane comes out 5/11

Mary Jane tells the story of 14-year-old Mary Jane, a quiet girl from a quiet neighborhood, who takes a summer babysitting job with a family who is much different than her own. I loved this coming-of-age story set in 1970s Baltimore.

This is being marketed as Almost Famous meets Daisy Jones and the Six, but I think a more accurate description is a Almost Famous meets a Judy Blume novel. Because it takes place in 1975 and features a celebrity musicians, Mary Jane shares some similar vibes with Daisy Jones. However, the theme and overall tone of the book is unlike Daisy Jones and the Six.

Mary Jane is about a fairly sheltered girl who typically spends her summers drinking iced tea with her parents at their country club. This summer, she is nannying for the mysterious Cone family, who have two celebrity musicians staying with them for the summer. At her job, Mary Jane becomes privy to all kinds of things she has never experienced: from eating takeout for dinner every night to open discussions about drug addiction.

Blau paints a nuanced portrait of a not-too-rebellious teenager wishing to push the envelope (just a bit). I especially appreciated that Blau did not paint Mary Jane’s relationship with her parents in a negative light. Mary Jane wishes for some room to grow, but she does not venture into completely disrespecting her parent’s views and fully recognizes fortunate childhood she has been given.

Read if you:
- are interested in the 1970s
- like coming-of-age stories
- were a ~slightly~ rebellious teen
- like stories that feature music prominently

My rating: 4 stars

Thank you to William Morrow and Custom House Books and NetGalley for this ARC! I will be posting this review to my blog on the publication date.

Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau was a fun romp with colorful characters showcasing the personal growth of a young woman in her search for identity. For me, this novel did not achieve the anarchy or character revelations expected from the setup but I found this novel engaging and thought-provoking nonetheless. How do we define ourselves? How does our perspective shift regarding our upbringing? And how do we calibrate and redefine our own path? A very engaging read and one I would recommend.

🌟🌟🌟🌟 I love a novel with a good soundtrack. You could just hear the 70s rock, funk, folk, gospel and blues as you read. Chapter 11 has all the recommends, so I threw together a spotify playlist for those of you who like music while you read.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7IuQd5vantPXW2g0zJy0JP?si=ymwzGQbaQBS_yp0bdjBL_Q

I had fun reading this novel. Mary Jane is a coming of age story set in 1970s Baltimore. What makes it unique is Mary Jane's opportunity to rebel isn't a rebellion into lawlessness. She finds a balance to what she has been taught by her conservative mother vs what she has learned from a more contemporary, free spirited family. Thank you @netgalley @williammorrowbooks @customhousebooks for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

#MaryJane #NetGalley #bookrecommendations #bookblogging #booklover #bookreview #bibliophile #bookaddict #bookstagram #booktherapy #bookjournal

I did not think I would like reading this book - it is an adult book from a teenagers perspective. But the characters were interesting and likable. I would read from this author again.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book. I'll be posting my review on Goodreads and Amazon

This was my favorite book I read in 2020. I believe I had a grin on my face during the whole book. I’ve told so many people that it’s a must read!

Mary Jane takes a babysitting job for the Cone family’s daughter Izzy, for the summer. The Cone’s are new to the Baltimore suburb. Mary Jane’s parents are very regimented in all they do. They provide almost everything a child needs - food, shelter and clothing. But the thing missing is a connection with her parents. Once she starts her job, she sees how other families have fun and loving connections. She bring the structure to the Cone house that is lacking and in turn the Cone’s take Mary Jane on a twisting, turning, exciting summer of 1975.

It’s summer in 1970s Baltimore, and fourteen year old Mary Jane snags a job nannying for a local doctor’s daughter, Izzy. Mary Jane’s straight-laced Christian parents are thrilled. This is a good job - a respectable job.

Mary Jane is shocked when the doctor’s wife greets her on her first day in a nearly see-through top, Izzy, her five-year-old charge, is in nothing but a diaper, and the house is a gigantic mess. What’s more, Mary Jane learns that the doctor isn’t a medical doctor (as her parents presumed), but in fact, a psychiatrist who is helping a rock star dry out. What’s more - this rockstar and his wife are coming to live with them for the summer next week.

It’s safe to say that this summer is going to be slightly different than the one that her parents had in mind, and Mary Jane is here for it.

Mary Jane is an exquisite love letter to found family, love, music, and that one sum er when you discover that your parents aren’t always right. It pulled at my heart and I cannot recommend it enough. Read this book - preferably in your teenage bedroom blasting a record that sets you free.

Pairing Recommendation:
🍽: Oven-baked macaroni and cheese
🍸: Lemonade
🎶: Sparks - The Who

I couldn't get enough of this book. I thought it was a great coming of age story. Mary Jane's life changes when she starts nannying for a family in her neighborhood. Coming from a strict Christian Stepfordy household in 1970's Baltimore, this new family is completely different from her own. I enjoyed her reactions to things and the stark difference between her home life and theirs. The characters we all unique and exciting. Thank you, NetGalley!