Child care agency · Worcester, MA · reviewed since 2019
iHow the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%67+36.5Reliability 24%22+5.3Value 14%75+10.6Replies to reviews 7%100+7.1Craft & service penalty79−2.1Momentum penalty0−10Experts Score= 47Grade C: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews.47SCORE
CGradeiLetter from the Experts Score: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39, F = under 20.
#22 of 22 nanny servicesiPosition by Experts Score among all companies we track in this category. · better than 0%
4.7★★★★★195 Google reviews · 9 photos
91%five-star reviews
1.33★last 12 monthsiAverage stars on reviews from the last 12 months only.
17.9%1–2★ in 2 yearsiShare of 1–2★ reviews in the last 24 months — or the 20 newest reviews when the company had fewer than 20 in that time.
Jovie Boston offers in-home childcare, including nannies and backup sitters, with parents frequently praising caregivers for punctuality, engagement, and communication. However, recurring criticism focuses on the agency's inability to reach staff by phone during emergencies and failures to honor specific caregiver requests or provide timely replacements. Reviewers note that while individual providers are often reliable, the agency's coordination processes and backup care availability can be inconsistent.
Google rating: 4.7 out of 5 from 195 reviews (91% five-star).
Reviews on this page: 195 Google reviews (162 with written comments, 1 with photos).
Owner responses: the business replied to 93% of reviews.
Most recent review: October 28, 2026.
Service: Nanny Service serving Worcester, Massachusetts.
Data from Google, last updated November 2, 2026.
Score profile vs other nanny services
Score per factor (100 = best)iEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (star average, share of 1–2★ reviews, price verdicts…); standing within the category can only raise it, never lower it.. Strongest: replies to reviews and craft & service; weakest: momentum.
Jovie BostonNanny Services median0 = centre, 100 = best
SatisfactioniSatisfaction · 54% of the scoreRecency-weighted star average (2-year half-life), shrunk toward the category mean by review volume; the company’s own lifetime average as the prior; absolute: 4.0★ = 0, 5★ = 100.Jovie Boston: 67/100 on this factor. Category median: 85.B
67
ReliabilityiReliability · 24% of the scoreHow rarely jobs go badly: share of 1–2★ reviews — 60% the last 24 months (or the 20 newest if fewer), 40% all-time; 0% = 100, 15%+ = 0; the category percentile can only raise it.Jovie Boston: 22/100 on this factor. Category median: 78.D
22
Craft & serviceiCraft & service · penalty only, up to −10 pointsGoogle review highlights: Quality, Professionalism, Responsiveness, Punctuality — how rarely reviewers flag them as a negative, per review since highlights began; 0% = 100, 5%+ = 0. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in — clean highlights are the norm, not a bonus.Jovie Boston: 79/100 on this factor. Category median: 97.B
79
ValueiValue · 14% of the scoreCustomers’ own price verdicts (Great / Reasonable vs Overpriced) and Value highlights; 65% absolute (all “reasonable” ≈ 80, “great” = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.Jovie Boston: 75/100 on this factor. Category median: 89.B
75
MomentumiMomentum · penalty only, up to −10 pointsPenalises only a real slide: last-12-month average below lifetime (−0.5★ = 0). Still 4.8★+ over the last year, or steady/improving = 100. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in.Jovie Boston: 0/100 on this factor. Category median: 100.F
0
Replies to reviewsiReplies to reviews · 7% of the scoreHow often the owner publicly replies to reviews under 5★ (1–4★). Needs 3+ such reviews, otherwise not counted; 65% absolute (80%+ replied = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.Jovie Boston: 100/100 on this factor. Category median: 91.A
100
Bar = this company · dark tick = category median.
Star ratings
195 Google reviews we collected
4.7of 5
5 stars17891%
4 stars11%
3 stars00%
2 stars32%
1 star137%
Praise vs complaints
Phrases our text analysis found in 162 written reviews
95%praise
Praise19695%
Complaints115%
Topic share
How often each topic comes up in the written reviews
7topics
Staff & attitude7034%
Speed & response4421%
Would recommend3517%
Quality & results2311%
Communication168%
Honesty & trust168%
Price & value31%
What customers talk about
We read 162 written reviews and marked every phrase about these topics. The same colors are highlighted in the reviews.
“She was punctual, sweet, and a great communicator for the 2 weeks she helped us.”
“It is very unprofessional and neglectful to leave a situation where a baby needs alternative emergency care unaddressed.”
“She did everything I asked her to do and did it on time.”
“Now that person has no show and we called Jovie Boston.”
“She’s truly a gem, and we can’t recommend her highly enough.”
“She was a dream and I cannot recommend her enough!”
“Working with Jovie has been a wonderful experience for mysef and my two children (ages 6.”
“…at the reservation time and when I called Jovie, they said the nanny didn't work at the company anymore.…”
“She was excellent at communicating and keeping me up-to-date the whole time.”
“Very helpful, patient, and genuinely interested in our child.”
“To be fair, I gave Jovie one hour to respond before BH secured an auto-accept center (which is another story).”
People customers mention
Gideon6 reviews
Angel4 reviews
Cora3 reviews
Patricia3 reviews
Horizons3 reviews
Nannies3 reviews
praise complaint · found by our text analysis, Google review wording unchanged.
Recent reviews
LLauraLocal Guide · 30 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · a month ago★
Jovie Boston is great until the unexpected hits. I was matched to a babysitter who I booked to watch my baby until 6pm. At 2pm that same day, the babysitter said she would need to leave at 4:30pm unexpectedly. I immediately called Jovie Boston to figure out who could replace her. No one answered the phone, and no…
MMaura1 reviewiTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · 2 months ago★
We had some good experiences early on with providers from this agency through back up care. However today a provider did not show up or contact us that they would be unable to come (some excuse about an ankle being hurt....still could have used a text or call from them or Jovie that never came). Left scrambling all…
JJosie3 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · a year ago★★★★★
Romira was an excellent nanny for my 6 month old baby! She was punctual, sweet, and a great communicator for the 2 weeks she helped us. You will be lucky to have her care for your child.
AAppyLocal Guide · 24 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · a year ago★★★★★
We had Romira R today at our home, and she was awesome. Very helpful, patient, and genuinely interested in our child. We would love to have her back again.
YYuliyaLocal Guide · 14 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · a year ago★★★★★
Giselle is a fantastic childcare provider. She is genuinely a baby whisperer. In one week of sitting for us, she was able to accomplish all of the pain points I have been struggling to achieve such as having my child eat cucumbers, wear a headband for more than three seconds, go to sleep without a pacifier, and most…
LLeo5 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · a year ago★★★★★
Romira R. Was great and I was so happy and save I left my daughter Leah with her. She is amazing.
Overall, we’ve consistently had great experiences with Jovie’s caregivers. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the agency itself, particularly when it comes to coordinating backup care and honoring requests for specific caregivers.
On multiple occasions, we’ve needed to rebook care for the following day and have specifically requested the same caregiver, who has confirmed in person that they are available and not booked. Despite this, Jovie has immediately assigned us someone entirely different.
For families with young children, consistency and familiarity are incredibly important, especially when a child is sick. Having someone they already know and trust makes a significant difference.
This has happened to us more than five times, and it’s incredibly frustrating because it seems like such a straightforward issue to resolve. The caregivers themselves are wonderful, but the agency’s inability to coordinate something as simple as a returning, available caregiver is a major gap in service.
For a company providing childcare, prioritizing continuity of care should be fundamental, not an exception. Jovie really needs to improve this aspect of its service.
Response from the owner · 3 days ago
Hi Erin,
Thank you for taking the time to share this, and for the kind words about our caregivers. We are so glad they have made a difference for your family.
We are sorry we fell short on the part that matters most when your child is sick: seeing a familiar, trusted face. You are right that continuity of care should be a priority, and it is frustrating when a caregiver you know is available and the request does not carry through. That is not the experience we want any family to have.
We are looking closely at how we handle requests for a specific caregiver, especially next-day bookings. In the meantime, the fastest way to make sure your request is handled is to email our team directly at [email protected]. We will coordinate with the caregiver and get your care booked correctly.
Thank you for trusting us with your family, and for helping us do better.
L
Laura S.Local Guide · 30 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Laura has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Jovie Boston is great until the unexpected hits. I was matched to a babysitter who I booked to watch my baby until 6pm. At 2pm that same day, the babysitter said she would need to leave at 4:30pm unexpectedly. I immediately called Jovie Boston to figure out who could replace her. No one answered the phone, and no one has responded to the voicemail I left nearly 24 hours later. It is very unprofessional and neglectful to leave a situation where a baby needs alternative emergency care unaddressed.
Response from the owner · a month ago
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We are truly sorry for the disruption and stress this situation caused your family.
When our caregiver had an unexpected emergency regarding afterschool pickup for her own child, she had to depart at 4:30 PM rather than 6:30 PM. As soon as we were notified, our scheduling team actively reached out to our network to find a replacement for those remaining two hours. Unfortunately, due to the short notice, no alternative coverage was available. We communicated this update directly to Destiny to relay to you.
Destiny is an exceptional caregiver, and while last minute emergencies are rare, we completely understand how difficult it is to be left without coverage. We also regret the delay in responding to your voicemail while our team was focused on sourcing a replacement.
We take reliable care seriously and are currently reviewing our escalation and communication protocols to ensure families receive faster direct updates whenever unexpected changes occur. We appreciate your feedback and are sorry that her personal circumstance made you feel we deserve a 1 star review.
M
Maura McLaughlin1 reviewiTotal number of Google reviews Maura has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
We had some good experiences early on with providers from this agency through back up care. However today a provider did not show up or contact us that they would be unable to come (some excuse about an ankle being hurt....still could have used a text or call from them or Jovie that never came). Left scrambling all day trying to work and care for our child. Jovie was not available to take our calls when we tried to reach them...only an answering machine with no live person. We have still not received direct contact from the agency with an apology or any other information about this incident. UPDATE! Finally received a text from the caregiver who could not make it at 1:09 pm (3 hours after they were supposed to be here)
Response from the owner · 3 days ago
Hi Maura,
Thank you for sharing this, and we are sorry. Being left without care while you are trying to work, and not being able to reach a person at our office, is exactly the kind of day we work to prevent. You should have heard from us right away, and we are sorry we did not reach out to you sooner.
We are reviewing how we communicate with families when a caregiver is unable to make a shift, and how quickly families can reach our team. Your feedback is a clear reminder of why that matters.
We would welcome the chance to make this right. Please email our team at [email protected] and we will follow up with you directly.
J
Josie H3 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Josie has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Romira was an excellent nanny for my 6 month old baby! She was punctual, sweet, and a great communicator for the 2 weeks she helped us. You will be lucky to have her care for your child.
Response from the owner · a year ago
Thank you for this fantastic review. Wr can’t wait to share this with Romira!!
A
AppyLocal Guide · 24 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Appy has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
We had Romira R today at our home, and she was awesome. Very helpful, patient, and genuinely interested in our child. We would love to have her back again.
Response from the owner · 3 days ago
Hi Appy,
Thank you for such a kind review. We are delighted that Romira was a great fit for your family, and we will be sure to share your words with her. Patient, helpful, and truly interested in your child is what we hope every family experiences.
If you would like to request her again, email our team at [email protected] and we will do our best to coordinate with her and get your care booked.
The Jovie Boston Team
Y
YuliyaLocal Guide · 14 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Yuliya has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Giselle is a fantastic childcare provider. She is genuinely a baby whisperer. In one week of sitting for us, she was able to accomplish all of the pain points I have been struggling to achieve such as having my child eat cucumbers, wear a headband for more than three seconds, go to sleep without a pacifier, and most importantly, use the potty to pee and poo. She was able to potty train my baby in 1 week!
She has a calm and steady way about her that my child really responded to and complied with easily. She did everything I asked her to do and did it on time. She was excellent at communicating and keeping me up-to-date the whole time. She even sent me photos of sweet moments so I felt included.
She is the best sitter we’ve ever had through Jovie!
L
Leo Mosquera5 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Leo has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
This is the second time a caregiver for back up care provided by Jovie has not shown up and not given advance notice, causing me to miss work. Additionally, if you don’t select for back up care by 3pm the day before no one will match and you will be left without care. When you call, no one picks up. This is not a reliable service.
Response from the owner · a year ago
We appreciate you bringing this to our attention through your review. We apologize for the frustration caused by the cancellation. We received your reservation request at 1:40 yesterday. However, a staff member's situation required us to cancel the booking at 2:42 PM yesterday. We have also confirmed with BH we are not your only provider and others have cancelled your care. This is our one and only booking with your family.
We regret that Bright Horizons was unable to provide alternative backup care for your family on this busy day. We are actively working to improve our scheduling and communication to prevent last-minute cancellations.
To avoid similar situations in the future, we will remove Jovie Boston as a backup care provider for your family. We are committed to providing reliable service and are sorry we missed the mark.
M
Mandy Hylant8 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Mandy has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
We feel so lucky to have found Cora through Jovie Boston. From the moment she met our son, they had an instant connection—which, as any parent knows, is incredibly rare and special. Cora is hands-on, attentive, and truly engaged, whether they’re playing, reading, or exploring. As busy parents, we have complete peace of mind when Cora is with our son. Knowing he’s safe, happy, and in such good hands allows us to be fully present wherever we are. She’s truly a gem, and we can’t recommend her highly enough.
Response from the owner · a year ago
Thank you for this wonderful review of Cora!!
T
Theresa Hare3 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Theresa has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Working with Jovie has been a wonderful experience for mysef and my two children (ages 6.5 and 3.5). We have a Nanny for afterschool and my daughter is so happy to get to spend time with her. She is very reliable and a great person. They have fun but also practice reading, writting, math. In addition, the replacement services Jovie provided when our Nanny was sick was amazing. We did not have to worry about coverage while she got better. Highly reccomend!
Response from the owner · a year ago
Thank you for this wonderful review Theresa; we love servicing your family!
