This book is ludicrous with multiple unrelated plots eventually converging on a perverse ring of horrible people who trap young women who have been lured into their web as au pairs for their daughters and having their way with them, and also sold to the highest bidder, after which the young women are murdered. I read the whole thing because I was so incredulous but frankly it was not worth my time.

I received this book as an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley.

I unfortunately DNF'd this book around 45% in. The concept was very intriguing for me, a young Au Pair goes missing, presumed drowned in the sea, and another Au Pair comes in to take her place shortly after. The book is told from dual POV, in the past from the original Au Pair and in the present from the new one. Unfortunately I found the pacing quite awkward and the story itself was a little hard to get into. I also didn't connect with the majority of the characters as I found them quite unlikeable, especially after all the victim blaming. I think the concept of this book was very interesting but the execution just did not connect with me.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of The Au Pair by Jane Renshaw. This is a thriller about an Au Pair who goes missing when nannying abroad for the summer and is presumed dead… although some people think there is more to the story. We follow a past-present timeline; the past being when Alice first goes to nanny for the family and the present being when a woman who thinks the family covered something up becomes the replacement Au Pair. I enjoyed the premise of the book and the storyline but the victim blaming was honestly enraging to read. Telling an 18 year old who has just been assaulted by a 36 year old to stop dressing provocatively and leading him on is ridiculous. There is a lot of victim blaming with sexual assault in this book and that’s something I didn’t want to read about.
The overuse of exclamation marks in Alice’s point of view - which I assume was used to try and make her seem young and naïve - made it seem like I was reading a diary instead of a thriller.

Started promising but dragged along I just couldn't harness the rhythm of the story. A brilliant idea but didn't like the pace. Thank you netgalley for arc.

The novel centers around a young woman named Alice who, after being denied the opportunity to travel with her friends, secretly applies for an au pair position in Scotland. Born to a teenage mother who couldn't care for her, Alice's adoptive parents are quite overprotective. After taking money from her father's church, she runs away to work at a castle-like house in the Scottish countryside, owned by Ken and Caro, who live there with their three daughters and Ken's flirtatious brother, Gary.

The story alternates between Alice's experiences and a later period when she goes missing, feared dead. Melanie, who replaces Alice as an au pair and is actually her birth mother, is investigating her disappearance. Despite some awkward storytelling around Melanie's connection to Alice, her love for her daughter is evident. The narrative unfolds with twists and turns surrounding Ken, Caro, Alice, and Melanie, generating suspense. However, the story's characters occasionally fluctuate between being kind and downright evil, and some subplots feel underdeveloped. Overall, the book held my interest, and I found myself rooting for Alice and Melanie. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for this review.

Found this book a bit slow to get into however it picked the pace up and I couldn’t put it down. Very addictive, full of twist and turns.. highly recommend this book.

Alice Snyder take a job as an au pair for the Davidson family in Scotland, they seem like a normal family on the outside. A month after Alice arrives to the family's remote lodge she disappears, a few days later her job is being advertised. Melanie the new au pair arrives and notices scratch marks on the bedroom floor did Alice try to barricade herself in was she afraid of the family?.

This thriller was addictive - I couldn’t put it down! I enjoyed the differing points of view and felt they added to the character development. My only suggestion would be to add trigger warnings.

This new novel in the au pair in jeopardy theme, is set in Scotland where a young woman has run away from home to explore the world. Alice applied for a summer au pair position in Scotland after her parents refuse to let her go on a trip to Europe with friends. Alice is 18 and was born in Scotland to a 16 year old mother who couldn't care for her. Her adoptive parents moved to the United States and are over protective of their daughter. After applying for the job in secret, Alice took money from her father's church and ran away to work at this castle- like house deep in the Scottish countryside. The house is owned by a couple named Ken and Caro who live with their three daughters and also Ken's brother Gary who looks like a pirate and is very flirty with Alice.

The novel goes back and forth between Alice's story and a later time period when Alice is missing, her clothes found on a rock near the ocean. She is feared dead and a woman named Melanie replaces Alice as au pair to Christina, Isabel and Tess. Melanie is using a fake name because she is not really an au pair but is the birth mother of Alice and investigating her disappearance. I thought the explanation of how Melanie was connected to Alice was handled in an awkward way but I liked the character and her love for the daughter she was not allowed to raise.

There were some twists and turns as we discover what is going on with Ken and Caro and how the fates of Alice and Melanie between intertwined. I thought the book held my interest and had a fair amount of suspense especially toward the end but I thought the story could have been plotted out in a less confusing way as he characters veered between being nice and helpful and full out evil. The subplots with Alice's parents and some kids from the village was a bit underdeveloped but I did like the story and was rooting for Alice and Melanie. Thank You to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC in exchange for a review.

This was a bit of a slow burner but once it got going wow what a excellent read a really enjoyed it. This thriller was full of suspense told from two different perspectives which helps build up that suspense right to the very end. I can’t wait to recommend this gripping thriller to everyone fantastic read. Thanks to netgallery and the publisher for my advanced copy.

The book started off slow and just didn't pick up.

I had a hard time connecting with the characters and the story just fell flat for me.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review

A terrific slow burn thriller which ramps up to a very dark, twisty climax. This book incorporates some complex relationships, too, and highlights the lasting impact of family connection and how trauma binds us. It’s well written and the author does an amazing job in taking the reader into the heart of Scotland.

I loved this from the beginning! The plot was great and had me hooked ! I’m a dual pov kinda girl and I loved that the second pov wasn’t a cop/journalist it felt unique and something that I haven’t read much of at all!
Highly recommend this book!! It’s a solid 4⭐️

This book has me SHOOK. I consistently had chills running up my spine while reading it. *Literary Chef’s Kiss* to the plot, Jane Renshaw’s writing just created such a creepy atmosphere. This is just one of those books that’ll sit with you for a while after you finish. Highly Recommend!

The plot was interesting and grabbed my attention right away. It was well written, good paced and I liked the short chapters. The book alternates between two storylines and the characters were well-developed. It was a great atmospheric thriller. The story does deal with sensitive topics and should have trigger warnings. Thank you to Netgalley and Inkubator Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

From the first page, Jane Renshaw's 'The Au Pair' had me in its unyielding grip, sending shivers down my spine and keeping me up into the small hours. The characters were so vividly portrayed that I found myself deeply invested in their fates, and Renshaw's writing was so masterful that I remained in the dark, guessing until the very end. This bone-chilling thriller is an unforgettable read, leaving me yearning for more stars to award. It's the kind of story that lingers, haunting my thoughts, and I'm already hoping for a cinematic adaptation. Renshaw's work is nothing short of exceptional, and 'The Au Pair' is a testament to her storytelling prowess.

American student Alice Synder was excited to be spending the summer in Scotland, working as an au pair for the Davidson family at their remote lodge. But one month after she arrived, Alice disappeared without trace. Now the new au pair, Melanie, has arrived - and soon notices that the Davidsons are a bit odd. There's the strange comings and goings at night, the creepy paying guests, and sinister uncle Gray who makes her flesh crawl.

Why does anyone want to go and work somewhere that's remote? Yes, come to Scotland, but get a job in a town or city. - even though the remote scenery is beautiful.

Not long after Alice arrived in Scotland to work ad an au pair for the Davidsons, she disappeared without trace. Melanie soon replaces Alice, and it's not long before she notices the Davidsons are a little strange. She also realises something terrible is going on. The story is told from Alice and Donna's (Melanie) perspectives. This is a well-written and thought out plot. The characters are well-developed. This was my first read by the author, but it won't be my last.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #InkubatorBooks and the author #JaneRenshaw for my ARC of #TheAuPair in exchange for an honest review.

I have to admit, I really wasn't sure about The Au Pair during the first couple of chapters. The descriptions of the surroundings,, clothing, etc felt a wee bit too in depth, or maybe it was just Alice that I wasn't keen on! I read on as I was intrigued to see what happened to Alice &, from about 50% onwards, I couldn't put the book down!

The story is told from two perspectives - Alice (18 year old au pair that has gone missing) & Melanie (aka Donna - the replacement au pair that is very interested in finding out what happened to Alice). I enjoy reading stories that work their way up to an event happening, knowing you're getting closer to finding out the truth!! I guessed quite early on what happened but it was still a decent read!

It was a wee bit creepy - one to be read in the daylight if you're a wimp like me, haha! I enjoyed the suspense!

I feel that there should be trigger warnings for this novel though as it can be a wee bit dark and potentially triggering for people that have suffered SA.

Thank you to Netgalley & Inkubator Books for allowing me to read this ARC!

Overall, I would rate this 3 stars - I wasn't a huge fan of the writing at times but it didn't detract from the story!

I wasn’t a fan at first but couldn’t put it down by about halfway through. I can’t quite put my finger on it but there was something about the author’s writing that I didn’t like. I tried to really think about it but unfortunately don’t have a solid explanation. The plot was great though and I loved the ending. I would absolutely go see a movie based on this book.

It is always great to read a book that not only keeps me gripped but manages to show me a twist that I was not expecting!