The Pleasing Hour is the mesmerizing debut novel by Lily King—a profoundly moving tale woven with threads of family dynamics, betrayal, and the innocence of youth. The story follows Rosie, a young woman grappling with a heart-wrenching personal loss, who travels to France to work as an au pair for the enigmatic Tivot family. Rosie’s journey is filled with complex relationships, particularly with Nicole, the sophisticated yet distant matriarch whose chilling charm both intrigues and unsettles her. As Rosie navigates the Tivot household's tangled emotions, she is eventually tasked with caring for Nicole’s elderly guardian. Through this connection, Rosie unravels long-hidden family secrets shaped by war, deception, and lingering tragedy.