Mirella and Howard are floundering. Two careers, two troubled children, a dilapidated colonial house outside Boston. The exploding laundry, the dog getting into the trash again. Then along comes Randi, a dream of a nanny, who cooks, cleans and makesher own Play-Doh. Not only does she win over the children, the whole neighbourhood approves of her. But is Randi as wonderful as she seems? And what about Mirella and Howard's marriage - why does it suddenly seem to be unravelling? In this funny, sad, haunting novel, Suzanne Berne exposes the myth of the perfect domestic life.