The Manny
The Manny: A Glimpse into Upper East Side Life
What’s a Park Avenue working mom to do when her son desperately needs a male role model, but her husband is always too busy working? If you’re the gutsy heroine of Holly Peterson’s sharp and witty comedy of manners, you do what every other woman in your elite neighborhood does—you hire a “manny.”
Jamie Whitfield, once a middle-class girl from Middle America, is now living in “the Grid,” Manhattan’s wealthiest and most exclusive area. The once unfamiliar world of high society has become her new normal. Surrounded by big money, bigger egos, and the daily pressures of maintaining her elite status, Jamie has the life many women would envy: a stunning apartment, a personal staff to help with her three children, and a high-powered attorney husband. But there’s one glaring issue that money can’t solve: her son Dylan needs a father figure, and her husband, who is always wrapped up in his work, is never around to provide it.
Jamie had no idea what to do. But then, like a lightbulb moment, she discovers what the ultra-rich already know—there’s a hired hand for everything. Enter Peter Bailey, the “manny.”
At first, the concept of hiring a man to be a role model for her son feels ludicrous. Who needs a nanny—let alone a male one? But when Peter arrives, all calm, cool, and competent, Jamie’s skepticism begins to waver. His grounded nature and surprising warmth are a stark contrast to the over-the-top personalities and pretensions that surround her. Soon, Jamie can’t help but find herself charmed by this down-to-earth man who seems to offer exactly what her son Dylan needs—a calm and caring figure who will listen, guide, and provide a steadying hand.
As Jamie’s own career as a news producer begins to skyrocket, thanks to her involvement in a political scandal, things at home become more complicated. Her husband, once an attentive partner, now spends more time at the office, becoming increasingly distant. What began as a partnership built on shared goals and dreams now feels more like two separate lives running in parallel.
Through this all, Peter becomes the grounding force that Jamie never realized she needed. He not only becomes a role model for her son but also provides Jamie with a much-needed sense of stability. As she navigates the chaos of her high-powered career, the challenges of raising three children, and the slow unraveling of her marriage, Peter reminds her of who she used to be before the wealth, the fame, and the high-society pressures took over.
Despite her initial resistance to the idea of relying on a manny, Jamie soon discovers that Peter brings out the best in her, revealing aspects of her personality she had long buried beneath the glitter and gloss of her glamorous world. He helps her reconnect with the simpler, more authentic side of herself—a side that has long been overshadowed by the demands of her career and the expectations of her elite social circle.
But here’s the big question: will Peter’s presence help Jamie find the stability she’s been missing, or will he turn her world upside down in ways she never expected? As the story unfolds, Jamie finds herself increasingly torn between her high-powered, ambitious life and the grounding influence Peter offers. His arrival forces her to confront not just her feelings toward him, but her relationship with her husband and her children—and ultimately, her own identity.
What People Are Saying:
“Holly Peterson has an incredible eye for capturing the quirks, flaws, and extravagance of New York’s upper crust. She knows her stuff and writes with authority.” —Dominick Dunne, author of A Season in Purgatory
“Smart, sharp, and a lot of fun to read.” —Christopher Buckley, author of Thank You for Smoking
“With her keen understanding of the wealthy and her razor-sharp wit, Holly Peterson delivers the funniest, sexiest story set in New York’s elite since The Bonfire of the Vanities.” —Tina Brown, author of The Diana Chronicles
“Money, Manners, and Mannys! This debut is a pitch-perfect satire of life among the silly-rich. It’s hilarious, touching, and impossible to put down. Everyone needs a manny after reading this!” —Plum Sykes, author of Bergdorf Blondes
“I devoured The Manny in one sitting. It’s full of juicy, jaw-dropping details about life in Manhattan’s richest circles. It even made me want to hire a male nanny—for me!” —Sophie Kinsella, author of Shopaholic & Baby
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