The Mafia Nanny by Violet Matter is the webtoon that you should be reading. Published over on the platform Webtoon, it tells the story of Davina, an elite nanny. She finds herself embroiled in a dangerous game when she ends up working for Gabriel Angelini, a mob boss who is connected to the criminal family who destroyed her life. As the story goes on, and Davina digs into Gabriel’s life, she begins to understand that this is more than a job to her. She cares for this family. She cares for Gabriel and she cares for her charge Mikey. But most importantly, this webtoon doesn’t fall into cookie-cutter territory while still giving found family. It’s funny, heartfelt, and the right amount of sexy thanks to the art by sh00.
Still not convinced about reading The Mafia Nanny? Don’t worry. We’ve got five reasons why you should be reading!
1. The bada** nanny
Davina is not like any other nanny you’ve seen before. She’s there to take care of her charge, whether it be keeping him entertained and educated. But she’s also there to save him from a kidnapping from opposing mafias that want to take the father Gabriel down. She is highly skilled at taking her opponents down and the way that the comic does it is in a smooth and seamless way that shows her strength but also intellect when it comes to determining how she’s going to save the day. There’s also the fact that she is kind, funny, and will not put changing who she is up for discussion, even if it means getting her revenge or figuring out what happened to her family.
2. The hunky mafia boss
Usually big buff guys aren’t my thing, but there’s something different about Gabriel. It might be the speedo or the way that he leans into Davina’s space in those suits. But I think the main culprit is that he loves his son Mikey to the moon and back and he’s got a sense of humor. His love for Mikey is the reason why he hires Davina and I love that he sets aside time that is just for him and Mikey. The sense of humor covered under layers of having to remain stoic in the face of people that want to take him down, is also really surprising and alluring. Trust me that he’s got layers and he isn’t just the bad boy of the story that you’re supposed to drool over.
3. Father like son
Mikey and Gabriel are absolutely adorable. Their bond, from the very start, shows that they are ride or die for each other but also that they appreciate the small things together. Mikey wants to support his dad no matter what. And Gabriel, the more that you read, the more you realize he wants his son to be more than him. It’s made all the better by the fact that Mikey has an infusion of what I’ve always loved about Wednesday Addams. I’m talking about her dark and dour attitude about certain things in her life and how she intimidates her enemies. Mikey has that. But he’s also a sweet little angel who loves pool time, art, and his duck plushie. And you best believe that Gabriel indulges him.
4. The romance of it all
Mafia romances are something that I’ve never dipped my toes into. But if there’s anything that The Mafia Nanny has done it’s make me curious about what is happening in those books. Because the relationship between Davina and Gabriel has so much mystery behind it but it’s also a wonderful slow burn with small moments that build up on their chemistry and bond as people. I will admit that in the beginning I was concerned because he is her boss and in a position of power over Davina. But that quickly evaporated because Davina doesn’t back down for anybody. And it’s not in the way that we’ve seen it before with the “I’m not like other girls” kind of girl. Davina is soft, analytical, gentle, cutthroat, and true to herself when it comes to her power. That makes the romance more leveled and more attractive.
5. The bond between nanny and child
While I love the relationship between Davina and Gabriel, I think my favorite is the relationship between Davina and Mikey. It doesn’t immediately fall into this tropey area where Davina feels like this is her child and she must defend him no matter what. Just because she’s a woman doesn’t mean that she automatically goes “maternal instinct” with Mikey. He is her charge and she cares for his well-being because this is her job and she’s a good person. And she is so masterful at allowing him to be a kid and joining in on the things that he loves. You see Mikey flourish with Davina and the more time they spend together, the crazier the hijinks get between them. There’s also the trust that is growing between them. Because she’s not there to replace his mom. She’s there to protect him and make sure he grows up a happy and healthy kid.
The Mafia Nanny is currently available on Webtoon with new episodes every Tuesday.