Many critics found The Nanny Diaries to be a humorous yet thought-provoking look at the life of the wealthy inhabitants of Park Avenue through the eyes of an educated, put-upon nanny. Echoing the sentiments of a number of critics, Cassandra Jardine of the Daily Telegraph called it "The Bonfire of the Vanities crossed with Bridget Jones's Diary—a funny, but shocking view of privilege and idleness." Writing in USA Today, Deidre Donahue saw the book in the same vein, noting that "Although The Nanny Diaries is screamingly funny, it's also painfully sad. A very effective combination." Carole Goldberg of the Grand Rapids Press found the product of two authors' labor worked well, commenting "The writing is remarkably smooth for a collaboration, the humor is sharper than a stiletto heel, and the outrage is palpable."

Specific characters, the way they were drawn, and their effectiveness garnered much...