Charged with erotic intensity. . . . Toma draws his world with Cheeverian nuance and flair; hes deeply insightful about the new American culture of watchersbut to me his greatest skill is his ability to summon pure terror. George Dawes Green, author of The Cavemans Valentine, The Juror, and RavensLook at Us is a scrupulous dissection of a contemporary marriage in mortal peril. Its also a wild ride of a novel, gorgeously written, by turns comic, lyrical, elegiac, disturbing, and profound. I couldnt put it down until the startling conclusion. Valerie Martin, author of Property and I Give It to YouMartin, a market analyst, and Lily, a corporate attorney, have a life that many would envythey share an expensive New York apartment with their twin toddlers, sample the delicacies of Manhattans finest restaurants, and take Caribbean vacations. But when the couples nanny announces her imminent departure, they panic: how will they ever find a replacement capable of managing their spirited boys? Enter Maeve, a young Irish émigré. Neither of them imagines how indispensable she will become, either to the household or to their marriage. As the familys domestic bliss takes an unexpected turn, a different type of intimacy evolves, leading to an explosive finale.A captivating, trenchant portrait of class and sexual dynamics, Look at Us reveals just how fragile our social arrangements really are.T. L. Toma lives with his wife in Portland, Texas.