The Pleasing Hour

This book dives deep into the life of an au pair and the family she works for in Paris. Rosie, the au pair, is just out of high school, and begins her job not long after giving birth to a baby and giving him to her sister to raise. She cares for the Parisian family and becomes close to the children while she is processing (and often avoiding processing) the heartache of losing her child. At the same time she witnesses and slowly begins to understand how painful events in the lives of the parents in the Parisian family have shaped them and their relationships. The book skips between two different times, during and after Rosie's time in Paris. While it is clear that Rosie has changed during these time periods, the factors that shape her transformation and growth are only slowly revealed. The writing allows a for a deep connection to Rosie's character and her evolution.