I know so many comparisons will be made between this book and Daisy Jones, but thought this one was better than Daisy Jones. It somehow took me back to my childhood. I think in some ways I was a bit like Mary Jane. I remember going to some friend's houses and you realize that some people live really different than you do. I don't know if kids experience that these days. Like Mary Jane, I would have taken in all the groovy, decadent, cool, risque experiences and never tell my mother! Reading this story I felt like a voyeur in the best way! It came across as "watching" a movie. Will someone option this , please? It was wonderful to see Mary Jane grow up in the pages of the story. She helped the family she worked with as much as they helped her. Total coming of age. #MaryJane #NetGalley

When I saw that this book was set in Baltimore in the 1970s, that's all I needed to know to give it a try. Told from the perspective of 14-year-old Mary Jane, the story takes place over the course of the summer of 1975 when Mary Jane is hired to babysit for a local psychiatrist's daughter, the wonderfully exuberant Izzy. The psychiatrist has cleared his schedule to focus on a single client, a famous rock star, who is trying to dry out. Soon after she begins the job, the famous rock star (Jimmy) and his glamorous movie star wife (Sheba) move in and Mary Jane is exposed to a household that is wildly different from her traditional upbringing.

I had to suspend belief a bit that the truth about the chaotic Cone household and their secret guests was kept from Mary Jane's mother for so long. She seemed wayyyyyyy too much of a micro-manager to not have picked up and acted on something sooner than she did. I had a hard time believing that she would not have insisted on meeting the Cones in person before the beach trip but I suppose that would not have worked for the plot if she had.

I enjoyed spending the summer with Mary Jane nonetheless and seeing how the babysitting job helped her blossom and how she helped the Cone family, Jimmy, and Sheba. While I wouldn't say this was the most realistic coming-of-age story that I've read, I did enjoy the novel and found it satisfying. If you are looking for a feel good read, I would recommend giving this one a try.

This review is based on the NetGalley copy that I received courtesy of William Morrow and the Book Club Girl Early Reads program. Many thanks for the chance to read this delightful novel!

QOTD: what’s a movie you’ve seen a ton of times and don’t get sick of?

For me, Almost Famous will NEVER get old. There’s a handful of other films like that for me, but Almost Famous is top of the list.

BOOK REVIEW:
Mary Jane by @jessicaanyablau was sort of like Almost Famous meets Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret by Judy Blume. It took me less than two days to read. That’s high praise and I think you all should read it.

That’s it. That’s the review.

Thank you @netgalley for access to this ebook.

#maryjane #maryjanebook #jessicaanyablau #almostfamous #areyoutheregoditsmemargaret #minibookreview #bookreview #bookthoughts #bookrecommendations #bookstagram #bookblog #bookblogger #instabooks #booksoutside #bookspotlight #kindle #netgalley #latergram #bookpost #bookfeature

Fourteen-year-old Mary Jane's job as a summer nanny breaks open her sheltered, conservative world to one where people curse, keep a messy house, and buy to-go food rather than home cook everything. When a famous couple arrive to be treated by the psychiatrist father of the home, Mary Jane sees herself the way her new family does, and she likes it. The story is a fun summer tale set in the 70s, and while the occurrences make up an adult novel, the viewpoint of the young narrator makes for a delightful, coming of age read.

I was in High School during the 70’s, which made this book so much more enjoyable for me. It was a fun light read. It is a light hearted coming of age story. I could not put it down.

Thank you @NetGalley, @CustomHouse and @JessicaAnyaBlau for the advance readers copy for my honest review.

Great summer read….a true coming of age of a young 14 year old girl who gets a summer job with a family who is the complete opposite of hers. I love the main character but the supporting characters all have strong roles in determining who this young girl will be as she grows up. Although this is a light entertaining book which at times is funny but serious at the same time, I could not put it down.

A coming-of-age story with a likeable narrator but ultimately was too unrealistic for me in that Mary Jane became the muse for a super famous couple and her mother's complete change of attitude. Also, it was obvious we were supposed to find the Cone's family to be the "better" family but they also were not an ideal family. They were perfectly fine with passing off the child care and housekeeping to a 14 -year-old.
Thank you to Netgalley for the free copy.

I loved this book!!! Being around the same age that Mary Jane was in the 70's made it so much fun for me to read. It was funny, poignant and a great coming of age story. This was the best book I read all summer.

This may be my favorite read of 2021… it’s the 1970s in Baltimore and 14 year-old Mary Jane is caught between her strict, conservative parents and the free-spirited family she nannies for. Over the summer, Mary Jane helps the Cone family gain structure- not an easy job as Dr. Cone has just taken on a famous musician and his wife as his new live-in clients. The Cones introduce Mary Jane to the world of sex, drugs, rock n roll and give her the confidence to figure out exactly who she wants to be. Jessica Anya Blau completely transports readers to the 1970s and inside the mind of Mary Jane. I thought this book was so heartwarming and transformative; it was fun and the storytelling was masterful. A true ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and a strong contender for my favorite book of the year.

This book gave me such a feel-good feeling! Not that it didn't deal with serious topics like drug addiction, relationships, and racism. The most impactful aspect of this book was discovering and loving yourself and the impact your family can have on your self-worth.

Mary Jane is a young teen from a prim and proper family in the 1970s. Her days are extremely predictable. She's basically her mother's assistant, helping with dinner and housework, and learning how to be a good housewife all the while. This summer though she's gotten a summer job - a nanny for a local family with a five-year-old little girl named Izzy. Just walking into the Cones' house for the first time is a culture shock for Mary Jane. The house is chaos embodied. She can't figure out who is in charge here. Mrs. Cone doesn't make dinner, she's not even easy to find when it's time for a meal - who feeds Izzy? Dr. Cone is just as absent-minded but most of the day he is working out in his garage-turned-office as a psychiatrist.

Mary Jane starts to bring some order and organization to the Cone house but learns that being messy isn't such a big sin. This summer Dr. Cone has cleared his whole schedule to host a rock star and his movie star wife while the rocker tries to get sober. When Mary Jane walks up the day they arrive she is star struck as she realizes the movie star wife is none other than one of her favorite singers and actresses - Sheba! From there Mary Jane's summer is a dream come true as she finally feels acceptance and love in a way she never has before.

This book is full of a young girl coming into adulthood and facing hard truths about her own family, prejudice, and the reality of addiction. I was just as enamored as Mary Jane herself with this story. I love the growth that Mary Jane has and the way she helps the Cones, Jimmy, and Sheba just as much as they help her. This was a really great coming-of-age story that was a true pleasure to read.

4.5 Stars

It's the 1970s and Mary Jane is 14 years old and about to have the best summer of her life. She lives a very organized and regimented life. She goes to church every Sunday and helps her mom keep a tidy home. Every night she helps make dinner so it's on the table for her dad, who barely gives her the time of day. Until she meets the Cones family she was happy with her quiet and introverted life.

Mary Jane is hired by a local family for the summer. Dr. and Mrs. Cones have a daughter who needs looking after. She arrives on her first day and is instantly charmed by Izzy, a wild child redhead who is inquisitive and adorable. The house is a bit of a mess with clutter on the tables and spoiled food in the refrigerator. Mary Jane soon learns that Dr. Cones has taken the summer to focus on only one special client. Mary Jane is sworn to secrecy as two very well known celebrities move into the house. The Cones' house is soon filled with laughter, music, and love. Mary Jane starts to discover more about her self than she ever thought possible and she loves who she is becoming.

I absolutely loved this book!! I was so invested in every single character and fell in love with the whole family. I kept wanting to come back to this book, I could have read it in one sitting. I loved the relationship between Izzy and Mary Jane and how Mary Jane helped to bring some order to the house while still embracing the chaos. I highly recommend this coming of age story!

Mary Jane is an interesting book about a teenager in the 1970s. She nannies for a family that is very different than her family. They are hiding a rock star and movie star. The story is interesting but didn't draw me in too much. I found the story unique and enjoyed reading about Mary Jane dealing with new situations.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Jessica Anya Blau and Caitlin Kinnunen and enjoyed the narration.

Thank you Custom House, Harper Audio and NetGalley for Mary Jane.

I loved this book! This is a unique and totally warm, funny, and smart coming of age story...both for the main character, 14 year-old Mary Jane, many of the adults surrounding her and also, to a certain extent, America. The story is set in 1970 upper class suburban Baltimore. It is a world of white, waspish, country club members. Your position in society and getting your children into the right schools is all consuming. Life is structured and predictable. This is Mary Jane's world until she takes a job as a summer nanny for a precocious five year old Izzy and her family. That summer is life changing and one she will remember her entire life. Dr. Cone and his wife, Bonnie, don't belong to the country club (they couldn't even if they wanted to because they are....Jewish) Bonnie doesn't cook or clean and rarely wears a bra. They have anatomically correct coloring books and the entire family hugs and talks (openly) and they exude a kind of joy that Mary Jane has never seen before. When a famous couple spends the summer at the house because Dr. Cone is treating the reluctant rock star husband....well life just gets even more crazy. Mary Jane is enveloped in a world she didn't even know existed...and she likes it. Well written and full of nostalgic images for someone who grew up at about this same time, this is an easy to relate-to story, filled with laughter, tears and a big smile as the reader sees all of the transformations and close the book after the last page. Fun. Fun. Fun.

“It was like they were in a different Roland Park where people weren’t keeping track of each other. Where people were doing just what they wanted without concern as to how it was seen,”

Mary Jane is a sheltered 14 year old who takes a job as a summer nanny for Dr. and Mrs. Cone’s daughter Izzy. The Cone’s have a very differently lifestyle than Mary Jane’s family. Mary Jane’s home is neat, orderly, and very stoic. The Cone’s house is chaotic, loud and full of love and affection. During the summer, Mary Jane brings order and routine while learning to let go and have fun.

I absolutely loved this book! The characters were well developed and so relatable. I could not read this sweet story fast enough.

Thank you to Jessica Anya Blau, the publisher, #WilliamMarrow & Custom House, and #NetGalley for #MaryJane.

Wow! I can't believe I waited so long to read this. Mary Jane is a wonderful coming of age story about a 14 year old girl in the 1970s who takes a job as a summer nanny for an eccentric family in her neighborhood. Mary Jane is raised in a strict, conservative, church-going family who has very traditional views of the role of family members. She is taught traditional female household duties by her mother. When she meets the Cone family, it is a bit of a culture shock for her. She rises to the challenge of not only caring for the young daughter of the Cones but also the whole family. She cooks and cleans all while teaching young Izzy Cone how to do all these things. When a famous actress and her rock star husband move in to the Cone residence, Mary Jane is exposed to how free life can be and she begins to realize there is more to life than that of a housewife.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was entertaining, funny, and full of personal growth for all characters involved. I read this book while on vacation and I am so glad I saved it for then. It is a perfect summer beach/vacation read. I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a light read that grabs you from the first few pages.

I did manage to listen to a portion of the audiobook of Mary Jane. The narrator, Caitlin Kinnunen, gives the prefect voice to Mary Jane. She has a very lovely singing voice as well. I highly recommend this version as a companion to the book. It brings everything to life.

Thank you to the publisher, #WilliamMarrow & Custom House, and #NetGalley for allowing me to read this amazing book.

This book was awesome! I love the characters especially Mary Jane. I was hoping she would gain the confidence to speak up for herself and to her mother and she did. Such a heart warming story! I couldn’t put this book down. Thank you for the advanced copy. I am telling my book club about so they go buy it!

This was a delightful book about a young nanny in the 1970's and how different her home life was from her nanny life.
Mary Jane is hired to care for Izzy Cone for the summer. She quickly learns that not all people live in a spotless house and have home cooked dinners that mom makes on a daily basis. Mary Jane jumps in to the vacant role of mother of the house to care for this family and their live in summer guests.
This is a book of many layers and was a delight to read. I didn't want it to end.

Mary Jane spends the summer learning about who she wants to be as a person and eventually is able to share this new side of herself with her mother after her job abruptly ends when her photo appears in the newspaper.

Mary Jane is a coming of age story about a girl getting exposed to the world outside of her parents’ tightly controlled environment. What she finds at first horrifies, and then mystifies her.

This book has an ensemble cast and I liked nearly everyone. Izzy was my favorite. This book takes you along as Mary Jane grows and learns to see the world in new ways. She is influenced by those around her, and becomes a different person at the end.

I’m not sure why this book is compared to Daisy Jones at all, but still a fun reading experience!

Mary Jane is a sheltered fourteen-year-old growing up in 1970’s Baltimore. She lives with her parents, helps her mother with the cooking, sings show tunes with her mother and sings in the church choir. With her mother’s permission, Mary Jane takes a summer position as a nanny to a doctor’s family. The family is new to the neighborhood so there isn’t much know about them but the father being a doctor makes it acceptable to Mary Jane’s mother. Inside the Cohn home, Mary Jane finds a life completely different from her own. Dr. Cohn is treating a rock star for his addiction so he and his wife (a famous actress) are staying in the home also. Mary Jane blossoms over the summer. She finds the courage to show her new self to her mother when the summer ends.
I love this book. I hated to have to put it down. I’m going to be looking for more books by this author.

So... I loved this book. Everything from the setting, storyline, main character, I just thought it was amazing. I thought it was the prefect read for the summer and I found myself to have really enjoyed it. I also liked the mix of heavier topics and lighter topics. Because of this I feel like there was a balance where it had substance, but it didn't feel too heavy as a read. I thought that the story as well as the characters were unique, and I honestly loved the messages that even the least picturesque houses can be the greatest homes. I just love the fact that it was a unique story and I think the ending was great. I overall just found this to be a great read and one that I will be purchasing my own personal copy of.