DO TRY TO SPEAK AS WE DO

A beguiling first novel wryly details the great divide between Brits and Americans—in everything from cussing to bathing—as a young American recalls her time as an au pair and the lessons she learned about life and love.

When she loses her job with a San Francisco ad agency and calls off her wedding to Ted, Melissa, feeling she’s so far failed at everything, decides to work in England, but the only work she can get is working as an au pair. She accepts a job with Mrs. Haig-Ereildoun, whose husband is an MP for a district in Scotland, and heads to London. The couple have three children—eleven-year-old Pru, nine-year-old Trevor, and three-year-old Claire, who is deaf (one of Melissa’s many jobs is to teach Claire to speak). Shortly after her arrival at the London house, a grim, shabby place, the family heads up to Troonafchan in Scotland, which is even more bleak and cold. Hot water is rationed—Melissa has to share bath water with the children—and the sun never seems to shine. On the way up to Scotland, the family drops in at Phillingsford, Mrs. Haig-Ereildoun’s family home, a place rich in history, comfort, and servants. There, Melissa meets Nanny, now retired, who soon befriends and counsels her. Back in London, Melissa, who loves food, gains weight, and is increasingly unsure she wants to marry Ted, especially after she’s met handsome scientist Simon. Though she loves the children, and admires Mr. Haig-Ereildoun, she is terrified of his wife, who makes her work long hours, and rants if she serves the children such American food as hamburgers or sandwiches, or uses American expressions. At the end six months, Melissa, a deliciously witty but fair observer, with prospects of a new job and love and tired of life downstairs, hands in her notice.

A sweet charmer, and a promising debut.