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Help!! Book title! It’s driving me insane…

45 replies

MommaDuck · 07/07/2021 16:53

So I’ll preface this by saying this is going to be so vague and I’m not sure anyone will be able to help, however I need to try something. And… I’ve seen you mumsnetters pull it out the bag with only minuscule details in the past.

For years I have remembered reading a book, but I cannot remember for the life of me, what the book is called and if I am now making the story up in my head. I used to rent lots of books from the library when I was younger and I am not sure if this is a real book or if I am merging different stories lines… but here it goes….
Basic plot line (I think!!)… husband and wife have baby, wife is really struggling postnatally, there may be a Nanny or cleaner (I think a Nanny) that comes to support. Wife is made out to be crazy and hallucinating…. Wife goes into a psychiatric unit… husband and Nanny were actually having an affair and made her believe she was ‘crazy’. She starts a new life alone.
I just have vivid images of the book like I can imagine her standing in the front room window looking out, maybe even a dinner party where friends thought she was ‘crazy’ and walking along the streets of maybe London??

Anyway I appreciate this may be far fetched but if anyone has anything at all…you’ll stop years of me pondering and searching for said book!

OP posts:
Royalbloo · 07/07/2021 16:57

Not the girl on the train? That's quite similar...

10storeylovesong · 07/07/2021 16:59

Ah I think I've read this. Does she write letters to a poet?

QuestionableMouse · 07/07/2021 17:01

The hand that rocks the cradle?

SophieB100 · 07/07/2021 17:04

The Nanny by Tess Stimson?

MommaDuck · 07/07/2021 17:19

Nope not any of those mentioned so far! I’ve googled every combination of words I can think in terms of the details I remember. @10storeylovesong I don’t remember this bit- but anything is a possibility, considering I don’t remember much. It’s bothered me for a long long time now. Occasionally I indulge it and spend a few hours googling then give up for a few months and start again! Madness I know.

OP posts:
Ellz67 · 07/07/2021 17:23

The cradle snatcher?

Mildmanneredmum · 07/07/2021 17:31

Mary Poppins?

HoldingTheDoor · 07/07/2021 17:34

It doesn't match exactly but The Little House by Philippa Gregory?

FunTimes2020 · 07/07/2021 17:36

@Mildmanneredmum

Mary Poppins?
What?????
Shoppingwithmother · 07/07/2021 17:37

The Crimson Petal and The White?

I only saw the TV adaptation though. The nanny type person is actually a prostitute.

Shoppingwithmother · 07/07/2021 17:39

I mean as well as helping with the children… he meets her via her job as a prostitute.

CowsEatingAtNight · 07/07/2021 17:42

@Mildmanneredmum

Mary Poppins?
Grin Grin
Aliceinunderland · 07/07/2021 17:44

Was she trying to remember what happened to the baby whilst in the hospital?

PleaseReferToMeAsBritneySpears · 07/07/2021 17:45

What you describe sounded similar to this that I read a couple of years ago.

The Child Next Door: An unputdownable psychological thriller with a brilliant twist https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1786813823/ref=cmswwrcppapiglttfabcBDQR74XC1QMK80STEDR9??encoding=UTF8&psc=1

pinkpixie83 · 07/07/2021 17:45

The memory keepers daughter?

somethingischasingme · 07/07/2021 17:46

I've read that! Doesn't she go to the gym or something with her mil, and she pretends the baby isn't hers to make them think she's going mad again ...? So she can escape?? Oh now I'm confusing myself...

PaniniHead · 07/07/2021 17:47

Jane Green- Saving Grace?

10storeylovesong · 07/07/2021 17:47

I read something similar. Husband and wife went to a house in the country. There's a vivid scene where she is stood in the dining roomwindow looking out down a long driveway, with the neighbours children playing on it. The neighbours lived upstairs and were trying to make her seem crazy and husband believed her. Then I remember a scene where she goes into a city and is wandering along on her own.

10storeylovesong · 07/07/2021 17:48

Believed them

sueelleker · 07/07/2021 17:49

You might have better luck asking on a book-search website; here's 3 useful ones.
www.reddit.com/r/whatsthatbook/new/
www.librarything.com/ngroups/724/Name-that-Book
www.goodreads.com/group/show/185-what-s-the-name-of-that-book

MommaDuck · 07/07/2021 18:01

@sueelleker thank you, I shall post on these

@10storeylovesong I don’t recall the neighbours, but I do recall stating out of a window and that being a vivid part of the book and the city wandering. Soooo frustrating!

I promise I am googling and reading the plot lines for all of the suggestions thus far… but no luck as of yet. I have faith in the people of MN!

OP posts:
MommaDuck · 07/07/2021 18:02

@somethingischasingme at first when I read your comment it didn’t resonate. Now I’ve convinced myself that this is part of it. I’m now wondering if I have strung together a load of storylines Grin

OP posts:
somethingischasingme · 07/07/2021 18:06

Little Face by Sophie Hannah?

Scoobygang7 · 07/07/2021 18:22

Tully? I don't know if it was based on a book though
www.imdb.com/title/tt5610554/

RebeccaNoodles · 07/07/2021 18:29

I've read that too. Is it possible she has post part psychosis and one of the symptoms is itching?? If so it might be by Douglas Kennedy but I'm not sure of title.
Or Little Face sounds possible too!

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