Customer Reviews

Must Love Black

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I feel like this book was missing about 3 chapters. The ending was abrupt and there was no real plot or conflict in the book. Phillipa spends the summer as a nanny at a spa on the Maine coast. One of the requirements was "must love black." The two twins she takes care of are a little strange, but nothing out of the ordinary happens with them. There is an appearance of a ghost that leads no where and some slight romantic tension that gets explained away in one sentence. Interesting premise but it went nowhere. Weird.

Phillipa takes off in the middle of her dad's wedding to pastel-loving Krystal, in order to head off to her summer job - being a nanny who "loves black" to ten-year-old twin girls at a luxurious but creepy spa in Maine. The spa has all the latest amenities, including a hot gardener named Geoff, a bossy, a ghost-obsessed business-women named Lady Buena Verde, an absent-minded father, and a prissy assistant, Laurie, who may or may not be dating Geoff. However, the twins and their new nanny are not to be seen or heard by guests, despite orders for Phillipa to make the twins have "fun" so that they can get over their mother's death. Phillipa is still grieving her own mother's death, but she's ready to take on the challenge.

So... sound kind of crappy? That's because it is! This is a relatively harmless fluff-book, but the writing is weak, the characters don't develop, the ending is abrupt, and a major plot-point - Phillipa getting over her mother's death - just gets dropped. She starts out still mourning her mother (and it's been several years since she died in a car wreck that it's hinted was caused by Phillipa's cat... WTH?) and hating the idea of having fun. But she throws herself into forcing the twins to have fun, like going to the arcade, swimming, or hanging out in the butterfly garden. A few ghosts appear in the story with absolutely no consequence, even after one of them tries to kill Phillipa. There are hints that Lady Buena Verde could help her contact these spirits, but absolutely nothing comes of it.

The romance complication between Geoff and Laurie is explained away in one sentence and he'll probably be visiting Phillipa after the summer, who I guess will be going back to her unhappy life with her dad and new stepmother. These are the classic YA adults who hardly care that their teenage daughter will be spending the summer in a strange mansion as a nanny, or that she takes off in the middle of their wedding, after throwing away her bridesmaid dress.

You'd think that maybe the positive of this book is that it's a light, quick read... and it is. But the language is so dated, I have a hard time imagining teens would want to read it. There are references to Dragnet in this... Dragnet! Which last aired in 1959. Very relevant to today's teens. There are just so many good books out there, there's not much a reason to waste your time on this.

Philippa's father has just remarried. To avoid her father's and his new wife's sickening honeymoon, Phillipa takes a summer job as a nanny with an odd specification: must love black (which she totally does). When she gets to the client's residence, it turns out to be a very fancy spa called Chrysalis Cliff. Her charges are two 10 year old twins (named Rienne and Triste) who are intelligent, overly sensible, and share Phillipa's love for black. At the spa, Phillipa and the girls have very little area to roam around in and the girls' father is a workaholic. Will Phillipa get the girls to have a little fun and reconnect with their father? Is there a point at all to this book? No.

Phillipa immediately struck me as an ungrateful, whiny teenager. I'm willing to concede that it's because I can't really relate to her or because I'm not a teenager anymore. (I ran into the same problem with Shilo, the supposed protagonist of Repo! the Genetic Opera.) However, leaving in the middle of your father's wedding reception without saying goodbye before being away for an entire summer is just plain rude in my book. Her behavior was more tolerable when she started working (mostly because she wanted to keep her job), but I don't think she changed her attitude significantly. I really liked the quirky little twins, Triste and Rienne, with their solemn natures and sensible ways. They reminded me of little Edward Gorey type characters. They were the most enjoyable part of the book for me.

I felt that this book was incredibly incomplete. There were huge chunks of plot missing. Since the spa was called Chrysalis Cliff, I figured Phillipa would have some sort of change: a mental or emotional or physical change of some sort. I was wrong. There was a a couple incidences with a possible ghost following and interacting with Phillipa, but again, there was no follow through. It really didn't need to be there at all and just made the book kind of confusing. The end was missing at least a chapter. Very few of the problems were solved: Phillipa still has to return to her "evil" stepmother with the same mentality she had at the beginning of the novel. Lady BV, the father's partner who doesn't seem to like the children very much, remains unchanged and still works against the children, although her influence is a bit diminished. The romantic plot line was resolved in about a sentence. How hard is it to ask a guy if he's dating someone? Not that hard! This is what the problem with relationship between Phillipa and Geoff boiled down to. The writing just didn't flow very well.

The concept of the novel was interesting and had a lot of potential, but turned out to fall flat. I liked some of the story, but the holes and failed expectations overpowered the aspects that I liked. I only took about a day to read this, but I would recommend using that time to read something a little more coherent.

"Nanny for 10-yr-old twins. Maine coast. Own room & generous salary. MUST LOVE BLACK."

This is the ad that started it all for Philippa Munson. When her father decides to remarry, Philippa decides there is no way she can be the third wheel on the honeymoon cruise that her dad and Krystal plan on taking. So she responds to the job posting for the nanny position.

She arrives at Chrysalis Cliff on a foggy night. She is impressed with the place and the room that she will have for the summer. Her first night though, as she lies quietly trying to sleep, she is convinced that she is visited by a ghost at her window. Refusing to freak out about the encounter, she puts it out of her mind.

She meets her two charges, Triste and Rienne, only to learn that it was the two of them that posted the help-wanted ad. It was the "must love black" that spurred Philippa to apply. Philippa is a Goth girl with a black wardrobe. The twins are instantly drawn to Philippa, commenting that she's a keeper. The twins are both pensive and reserved children. Their father has hopes that Philippa will be able to incorporate "fun" into their days. Their mother has died and their father is tied up with the daily operations of the spa that is at Chrysalis Cliff.

Philippa learns early on that the children are to be neither seen nor heard by the guests. The beautiful grounds are virtually off-limits because they could encounter one of the patrons. But Philippa slowly bends the rules, using the pool during the day, as well as convincing the girls to get a pet. But the girls are far from conventional, and the pet they choose is a goat.

MUST LOVE BLACK is a quick story of Philippa's adventures as a nanny for the summer. Philippa tries to bring the children and their father together, noticing early on that the attention of their father is what they most crave. Through the help of the gardener, Geoff, Philippa subtly brings changes to Chrysalis Cliff. The summer doesn't turn out the way Philippa originally planned, but it just might exceed her expectations.

Reviewed by: Jaglvr

Most girls would be deterred by the words "must love black" in a nanny's job description, but not Phillipa. She hardly bats an eyelash at the requirement (truth be told, it fits her perfectly), is only slightly perplexed by the mysterious and slightly foreboding mansion she's to live in all summer. But she's determined to stick it out, despite Geoff the hot gardener's warnings that her charges--ten year old twins--are far from normal. But not even two of the world's oddest girls or traces of ghosts could scare Phillipa away--at least not where Geoff in concerned.

Must Love Black is a light and easy read with some supernatural elements and a dash of serious issues, like the death of a parent. Despite the cover's implications, Must Love Black is less of a supernatural and dark read, and more a story of one girl's road to acceptance of her father's new wife and her life after her mother passed away through her work in helping her charges connect with their father in their own unique way. Interspersed is a light romance with witty encounters that's sure to bring a smile to your face, with mentions and hints of ghostly presences. Must Love Black is a great read if you are looking for something uplifting, and quick.

Meh. Yeah, that's pretty much it. Meh.

First, I wasn't totally convinced this chick was actually goth as goth takes more than dressing in black and liking black rainbows. She seemed like kind of a superficial goth; someone that dresses in black and pouts all the time at other people's happiness but put a set of abs you can bounce a quarter off of in front of her and she goes gaga. Totally not goth.

And what's with the twins?

Seriously, was red rum involved? I haven't even seen The Shining and I couldn't stop thinking about these guys while reading this book. I mean, what does a set of ten-year-olds have to be morose about? Yeah, their mother fell off a cliff (is it bad that I'm trying not to laugh at that? I mean, who accidentally falls off a cliff?) but they were lacking sunshine even before then. Apparently mummy was a The Cure listener before she took a dive. So what's their deal?

I just felt it was all rather contrived. The goth part anyway. And I was fully disappointed about the ghost part. How lacking that was. Don't go into this book thinking you'll be getting anything on the supernatural side because it's so finite that if you blink, you'll miss it. Why even mention ghosts at all? It holds absolutely no bearing on the plot.

Mostly it's about Philippa trying to get the twins' father to stop being a workaholic and start paying more attention to them all the while trying to figure out how involved the gardener and the pink chick really were. It's pretty lacking on anything exciting and, really, it's overall pretty mundane. The part with Geoff was interesting enough but definitely not enough to hold the entire story together.

The ending was pretty rushed as well. One turn of the page and everything's all dandy. The girls have their daddy back and the Geoff issue is settled and everyone lives a happily summer after. That's it? Boo.

So yeah, Philippa's really not as goth as she likes to think she is, the twins need to be exorcised, Daddy and Lady BV need a laxative and Geoff should just put his shirt back on. Overall, this book's pretty forgettable. It's something different against everything else that's out there with the premise but in terms of plot, it leaves something to be desired. I'd recommend reading this only if you have nothing else to do.

Philippa's happy to be escaping her father's honeymoon this summer. Instead she'll be working as a nanny for 10 year old twin girls in Maine. She leaves right after the wedding ceremony, before the cake cutting, and before saying goodbye to her father.

She's whisked away in a limo to the house/spa where she will spend the next three months. Her limo driver moonlights as the gardener. He's such a hottie that Philippa can see her summer improving already.

When she gets to the house, she realizes that she has more in common with her charges that she realized. First of all, they love black and her entire wardrobe contains nothing but black clothes. Secondly they've lost their mother in an accident, just like Philippa. No one talks about their mother's, but Philippa feels a bond and understanding better than their previous nannies.

Her biggest challenge is to get the twins to have fun and relax, as they have a strict schedule of lessons and computer time. Philippa takes great pains to make cracks in the serious natures, even if it means taking on other members of the staff.

My Thoughts: This book was enchanting and sweet. It pulled at your heartstrings (and I'm not talking about the romance aspect). I loved the twins need for someone to understand them and how they wrote the nanny advertisement to fit their needs.

I really liked this book- right up to the last chapter. It started good, and i liked the middle, but it had the worst ending ever! She doesn't figure out if the ghosts were real. We don't know what happens between her and Geoff. The tension between her and her father isn't ended. We don't even figure out if the twins reconnect with their father, well, we almost do, but then the book ENDS!! I loved the beginning and middle, but the ending is horribly abrupt!

One of my friends let me borrow this book to read. I was instantly intrigued by the cover of the book and the title. Then after reading the plot summary on the back, I decided this was definitely a book I wanted to read.

For the most part, I found the book interesting. I really enjoyed the characters -- the main character Phillipa, the twins Rienne and Triste, and the "hot gardener" Geoff. It was definitely a quick read, which is always nice. I figured with both Phillipa and the twins' mothers having passed on, they would be able to relate on that level.

Despite all of these good qualities, the book still could have been better. Like a lot of the reviews on here I have to agree that it did seem incomplete. The main plot never has a conclusion. A couple of more subplots are started but never completed either, and the one subplot that is concluded has a very abrupt ending.

Would I recommend reading this? If you want to get immersed in some interesting characters then yes. You may feel a bit unsatisfied by the ending, though.

Please note-This review has spoilers.

What I liked: One of the maine themes of this book is reflections. The title is mirrored throughout the story with lines such as, "...people who liked black didn't like being told that they handn't quite gotten the hang of something yet." And "I was a nanny who loved black."

Rienne and Triste, the twins that Phillipa is hired to take care of, have lost their mother and their father has thrown himself into his work. Phillipa also lost her mother when she was younger and feels disconnected from her own father. Since she can relate, her goal for the summer is not just to take care of her charges, but to also bring them closer to their father. Another reflection is that the chapters all start with quotes from her mother's book, and it is soon apparent that it is a period piece about a nanny.

Phillipa, or Pippa, as the twins call her, has a lot of humor and I enjoyed her voice. She is a typical teen in that she feels that no one gets her. I even remember thinking that as a teenager. (Okay, I admit that sometimes I still think that.) Pippa also knows that she shouldn't do or say things but does so anyway in order to reach a goal. I do like that she keeps trying and that she finds more diplomatic ways to do things in order to reach these goals.

And what summer job wouldn't be complete without the love interest? Geoff is the gardener at the place where she works and she is trying to figure him out. In the beginning she is tongue tied and awkward around him. But toward the end of her stay, she is able to look him in the eye and be honest with her feelings. The whole summer is about her gaining confidence as she sees her plans for the twins come to fruition.

There was also some symbolism that was interesting. On the very first page Pippa wonders if there is such a thing as a black butterfly (and is disappointed that there isn't). Later in the story when she helps the girls take pictures of butterflies they find a gray one called a Mourning Cloak. It comes into play a few times in the story as well. One time it seems to remind Pippa that there is a middle road to take during a confrontation. (Gray as opposed to black and white.) The other time was when the Mourning Cloak seems to lead Pippa to the twins when the household can't find them.

What I didn't like: I think that the author could have gone a little deeper and opened up some scenes. There was one scene when they were using the Ouija board, but I think it could have been more dramatic. Even the decision to use the Ouija board could have been more so.

Also, a major incident that could have been opened up was when Pippa told Geoff and the twins about her mother's car accident. It could have been a powerful, touching scene, but in my opinion it was sort of skimmed over.

I was also hoping the supernatural aspect was going to be developed more, but it never quite got there for me. The spooky incidents left me with questions. For example, when Pippa first arrives, there are tables in the game room, one with a Ouija board and one with tarot cards displayed. But the only time this was utilized was when they used the Ouija board as mentioned above. Pippa thinks she has a ghostly encounter the first night at her new job. There is a legend about a sea captain's wife who haunts the place. In fact, the twins think her ghost was responsible for their mother's death. Pippa, follows something through the woods one evening and almost has a deadly encounter, but with all these tidbits, nothing really ever comes of these ghostly encounters.

I also thought that Pippa would become more accepting of her father's marriage as she sees the twins and their father grow closer, but this didn't happen either in the book.

I give this book 4/5 stars. Even though I think it could have been more dramatic, Must Love Black is a book worth reading and I feel YAs would really enjoy it. It could definitely be the source of some great discussions.