Date: August 14, 2025
Author: Jessica Anya Blau
Title: Mary Jane
Oh my goodNESS! You should definitely read this book!
The summer of 1975 was to be the time of Mary Jane’s life. Taking a nanny job to the daughter of a psychiatrist and his flamboyant wife was just what Mary Jane needed to save up a little cash and keep away the tedium of a summer with her mother.
While getting settled into her new job, her employer, Dr Cone broached the subject of a new patient he was taking on for the summer. Cancelling all other appointments and sprucing up the guest room and in moved Jimmy and Sheba. Their house in quiet Roland Park would never be the same.
Neither Mary Jane nor Mrs. and Dr. cone could have ever prepared for the whirlwind that was Jimmy and Sheba. Jimmy, a lead singer of the hit band, Rushing Waters and his wife, the superstar, Sheba, were taking a hiatus in an attempt to get Jimmy off the heroin.
Would nosy neighbors be enough to throw a wrench in their summer plans? And what if Mary Jane got caught up in her lies to her mother? Letting her think Mrs. Cone had cancer and that was why she was needed so much outside of her regularly scheduled nanny-ing times.
This would turn out to be the summer Mary Jane began to learn who she really was while learning what family really means.
I must also add that as I read this, I envisioned this story as a musical set to paper. You gotta take a listen for yourself.