Mary Jane, a sheltered teenager with controlling parents, has the summer of a lifetime when she nannies for a family who’s secretly hosting a glamorous rockstar and movie star couple. She experiences attention, affection, and freedom for the first time, and becomes completely enamored with her newfound family. Throughout the summer, Mary Jane discovers a new way of living and a new version of herself. 

Reading Mary Jane immersed me in the 1970’s (a fun trip indeed!) as well as evoked the feeling of being a teenager on shaky ground. This is a character-driven story, largely following Mary Jane’s interactions with the family she nannies for and the famous couple. For better or worse, the four adults treated her like a fellow adult, which both empowered her to grow into her own (and fostered a more accepting world view within her) while also exposing her to some serious stuff for a 14-year-old. If you’re looking for a book club pick, this would be an interesting topic to discuss.

A few aspects reminded me of Almost Famous, namely the 1970’s backdrop and the premise of a young, lonely teenager getting noticed by a larger-than-life personality who pulls them into the fold. That said, Mary Jane ends on a happier note.