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Book Review: The Au Pair | Emma Rous

January 8, 2019 /

Even deeply buried secrets have a way of coming out. It takes only a small thread of information to unravel a tightly woven web of lies. And when we find those threads, it’s pretty hard not to pull them. But what if the truth is worse than the lie? That’s always the problem with secrets–once a secret comes to light, it can’t be reburied…

In the stunning debut novel by writer Emma Rous, an old photograph leads to the discovery of a terrible secret. With a sense of mysticism and lore, a seaside estate with a dark past, and dual timelines, The Au Pair is truly captivating. I couldn’t put it down!

About the Book

In a sprawling estate named Summerbourne on the Norfolk coast, Seraphine Mayes and her twin brother Danny were born in the middle of July. The Summerbourne summer born twins, they were called. Within hours of their birth, their mother threw herself from the cliffs, the au pair fled, and the village thrilled with whispers of dark cloaks, changelings, sprites, and the aloof couple who drew a young nanny into their inner circle.

Now an adult, Seraphine mourns the recent death of her father. While going through his belongings, she uncovers an old family photograph that raises disturbing questions. It was taken on the day the twins were born, and in the photo, their mother, surrounded by her husband and her young son, is beautifully dressed, smiling serenely, and holding just one baby. Her brothers tell her to drop it, but Seraphine has questions and she needs answers.

Who is the child in the photo? Why is there only one twin? And most importantly, what really happened that day?

One person still living knows the truth, if only Seraphine can find her.

Reflection

This book had a bit of a gothic feel mixed with domestic noir and a splash of folklore. The names of the two houses alone have an atmospheric vibe—Summerbourne and Winterbourne. Winterbourne is the much-needed escape from Summerbourne, where a darkness and loneliness seems to plague the yellow-bricked escape.

Twins never survive at Summerbourne, states an old curse. The villagers love to talk about Summerbourne because of the wealth, society, and tragedy plaguing the family homestead. Amidst whispering of changelings, babies replaced by sprites, and more sinister stories, Seraphine and her twin Danny managed to survive when their mother did not. There’s the sense that perhaps she was the sacrifice for the Summerbourne twins to finally survive.

I loved the town stories and the characters in the village. I could so vividly picture all of the settings in this book. Rous has a way with descriptive language that really builds an atmosphere to the story. I felt the swirling mist upon the cliff, and the heat of a summer day. The perfect place for a child to grow up, if it weren’t for the stories…

Seraphine was a completely fascinating character. She never felt like she fit in her family. She didn’t have the easy charm of her brothers, or the same sociability. Seraphine was always happiest home at Summerbourne with her brothers, away from the stories told about town. These very differences that make Seraphine feel isolated also lead to her allure. Seraphine doesn’t think about things the way her brothers do, and that’s why she can’t drop it when she finds the photograph.

Every other chapter is narrated by the mysterious au pair, Laura, back in the year before the twins were born. Laura is a bit withdrawn, but incredible as an au pair to Edwin. But as time went on, everything became twisted. Laura becomes more and more embedded in Summerbourne. Isolated from her friends and family for the year, Laura is the one who holds the secret to what happened that day…

As the clues start to be uncovered, this book is nearly impossible to set aside. I found myself thinking about the mystery while falling asleep, turning over possibilities. I completely loved the entire novel—and I loved the way it haunted my thoughts when I put it away. Rous has an incredible talent, and I’ll read anything she publishes next.

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