This was an easy read but not an easy subject - not enjoyable but very compelling. This debut about a pregnant young mother-of-two, who leaves her husband after coercive control and insiduous abuse, which she finds hard to explain, is well written and tells a Cathy Come Home-type story for our times. It's written with great empathy, and I found myself rooting for Ciara from the outset. It's hard to understand, if you've never been in that position, how relationships like hers reach the point of no return and why she hasn't done something about it before. It's told with tenderness and poignancy and sheds a light on the terrible situations facing women like Ciara and their seemingly powerless struggles for help and support, not least in finding a safe home for themselves and their children.
There were clunky moments for me, in some of the husband's dialogue and behaviour and a metaphor with a rescued bird which seemed forced.
However, it's a novel well worth reading and, set in a Dublin which so many visitors know as a lively tourist-destination, would make a cracking TV serial. Three stars might seem low but it's a fair rating for me. I'm glad I read the book and thank NetGalley and the publishers for a pre-publication copy.

I first heard about this book on social media and my interest was piqued. Nesting to me was one of those books that hooked me right from the very beginning. It’s difficult to say too much without giving away spoilers but it was a complete eye opener to me and thankfully I am one of the lucky ones who has never had to experience like what Ciara suffered as she tried to break away from her husband. Sadly although this is a work of fiction this does happen to many women and men all over the world. This for me was an easy read but it really struck a chord with me the suffering the women in the book endured at times.

With thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

This debut is tremendous - heartbreaking, hopeful, with the ring of truth about it and no whiff of sentimentality.

It depicts a year in the life Ciara, a young wife and mother living in Dublin trying to break away from a coercive, controlling husband who is clever enough never to use physical violence but who keeps her in a constantly terrified state in other ways. Roisin O'Donnell perfectly captures how insidious coercive control is, how perpetrators present as God's gift then incrementally change, cutting off their victim's social circle and access to money, and getting in their head to make them feel they are going mad.

As with so many real life cases, Ciara has left once already and came back. She has a 2-year-old and a 4-year-old daughter, and is in the early days of a third pregnancy that may have come about as a result of marital rape. One evening, something snaps and she bundles the girls into a car and just drives away. And now the trouble starts, as Ciara comes up against the Irish social care and housing provision system which is stretched to breaking point. She is provided with temporary hotel accommodation which is completely inadequate for two small children, but on that corridor she finds friends, support and a level of kindness and solidarity that give her the strength, this time, to continue down this path as her husband Ryan tries everything to make her come back. To paraphrase something she is told late in the novel once she finally contacts a women's shelter - leaving is the easy part, it's staying away that is difficult.

The tone here is pitch perfect, the writing style perfectly suited to Ciara's mental processes, showing rather than telling us about her journey to finding herself again after all Ryan's efforts to erode her personality. This is not an easy story to read but I was riveted, suffused with hatred for Ryan and his unspeakable parents, moved by the support she finds from family and strangers, and in tears more than once at the harsh realities depicted here. This is an important and beautifully written book and I will be recommending it far and wide.

This was a heartbreaking read which I found extremely tough and very emotional. I cried at several points in the story. It's a brilliant evocation of the fear and constant struggle of a coercive relationship. At several points I wanted to jump in and save her. The writing is extremely realistic. It isn't as bleak as I've made it seem though, some beautiful writing and the joy found in everyday relationships and children are well done.

I raced through this in a couple of days and I know I will think about it for a long time.

Highly recommended

The trauma of leaving home, pregnant with two small children is what creates the tension from the start. Anyone old enough to remember the gritty 60s drama “Cathy come home”, will feel for her. Things have moved on from then though, and this time the abuse is not visible, and society recognises emotional abuse in the home, and what is hinted at throughout that the power game involves sex too. The overcrowding of the support system is highlighted by the difficulties of finding shelter, but she finds mostly warmth and friendship in the people she meets in temporary housing, that is a hotel. Leaving is one thing, but staying away is another, and her doubts about her decision and herself are preyed upon by the husband who seeks to control her. He won’t let go easily, and her love for her children is so strong she is tormented by the fear of letting him care for them alone. He is extremely volatile, and his temper will get the better of him. Throughout the book there is a tension and a fear for the worst, but we somehow know that she has the strength to get through this.

This was a well-written novel about a woman navigating life after leaving an emotionally abusive relationship. The writing was thoughtful, and there were moments that really stood out, but overall, the story felt a bit slow and uneventful for me. While I appreciated the themes and some of the character development, it didn’t fully hold my attention. A solid read, but not particularly memorable.

A very powerful well written novel about coercive control. The book is set in Ireland during the housing crisis and is about a pregnant woman who runs away from her controlling husband taking her two small daughters with her. The abuse is not physical and Ciara constantly questions the decision she has made to take her children from their home to live in a hotel for the homeless with no access to decent food. Ryan is never far away still controlling Ciara and banning her from taking her children out of Ireland to her family in England. It is not an easy read but we see Ciara growing stronger and the book ends on a hopeful note. Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for a honest review.

This wasn't an easy read in any way. My heart is broken from this sad sad story. My heart was genuinely in my mouth readnng this book. Powerful, raw and emotional.

Nesting tells the story of Ciara, a mother in Dublin who is trying her best to escape an abusive relationship. This was such a tense read at times, and I thought it dealt with its subject matter so well. My only (minor) complaint is that sometimes the writing is a bit repetitive: so many short sentences (too many for me), a lot of the scenes constructed in a way that felt quite samey. But overall I would recommend; although it's defos not an easy read, it's a worthwhile one!

Nesting is a raw and powerful read that dives deep into emotional (domestic abuse), the housing crisis, and the journey of self-discovery, strenght and growth. For me, Ciara’s story struck a chord, as it mirrors some of my own experiences and challenges.

Ciara’s life is upended by the emotional abuse she suffers in a toxic relationship, and the novel doesn’t shy away from the devastating effects this has on her sense of self and security. But what makes this truly special is how it shows Ciara’s resilience and strength as she begins to rebuild her life piece by piece.

The writing is vivid and unflinching, and it captures the heavy reality of these issues without losing sight of hope. I found myself rooting for Ciara at every step, as she discovers not just her own power but also what she truly deserves in life.

Overall, it is an emotional, thought-provoking story. It’s about surviving, thriving, and finding your voice in a world that doesn’t always make it easy. This book stayed with me long after I turned the last page, and I can’t recommend it enough.

Roisín O’Donnell’s debut novel Nesting is almost unbearably tense, so gut-roiling that I was torn between sticking it in the (metaphorical) freezer and wanting to gulp it down in one sitting.

Early in the novel, our protagonist Ciara sees a pamphlet advertising “Escape the pressures of everyday life at the Hotel Eden”. This far-from-paradise location is where she and her two smallies are surviving. I’m sure Ciara would settle for a humdrum life in a heartbeat, for she is trying to escape a marriage founded on coercive control.

Why are they in a hotel, on a floor set aside for the ‘homeless’? Well, Ireland’s housing crisis means there is nowhere for them to go. Ciara’s family are in the UK, and Ryan has ensured a block be put on the girls’ passports, plus his controlling ways have cut Ciara off from all her friends. She is also entirely financially dependent on him as he talked her into forgoing work outside the home, doling out just enough money for the messages, leaving her precious little means to escape this nightmarish situation.

What follows, then, is a nightmarish attempt to navigate the housing system—a series of cramped waiting rooms, complex forms, and unanswered phone calls, all while attempting to sustain a two and four year old, whatever else is going on; they need to be fed, washed, and entertained. Mammyhood does not stop.

Intertwined, in a stream-of-consciousness style, we glimpse flashbacks from Ciara and Ryan’s relationship, revealing just what she is trying to flee. O’Donnell does an excellent job of tracking Ryan’s moods; he can transition from charming romancer to menacing manipulator with chameleon ease.

Adding to the tension, the absence of physical violence complicates Ciara’s plight. It makes it even more challenging for her to communicate the urgency of her situation to the authorities and leads her to question her own reality through the lens of Ryan’s insidious gaslighting.

With each page, the stakes rise, pulling you deeper into their world. Prepare for an emotional rollercoaster filled with raw, unsettling realities. Nesting deserves to be a bestseller!

Many thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy via NetGalley. As always, this is an honest review.

A book that is both terribly sad but yet uplifting. Set in Ireland we follow the story of Ciaran and her young children as they fight a system that is unable to cope with either homelessness or domestic abuse. Were in not for the support of friends made in room 124 - a hotel for the homeless - and the unwavering love of Ciaran's family back in England her search for justice would undoubtedly have ended in failure.
The insight into how the homeless face rejection and lack of empathy from both society and its institutions are vividly described, as is the sheer stamina and courage shown by Ciara as she faces them down. Every one of the characters is beautifully portrayed by Roisin O'Donnell and the novel is perfectly paced.
"Nesting" will draw you deep into Ciaran's psyche and you shall share her feelings of terror as well as her few fleeting moments of happiness. A beautifully crafted and authentic portrayal of a, regrettably, all too common situation. Definitely a 5 star read.

When I got the confirmation email last week that I was approved for this book I wanted to blow off all my study and work and just delve right in! Instead I not so patiently waited until I finished one of my two exams and decided this was my reward and what a reward it was!

When the opening chapters mention the main character Ciara taking a pregnancy test in the bathrooms in Blanchardstown shopping centre, I knew we were in for a rough ride. We follow the twists and turns of Ciara’s motherhood journey, through the manic cleaning, the dread, the coercion and control, pilfered notes, nighttime expectations and how this idea of Nesting wasn’t about preparing for the impending arrival but rather her departure.

Based in the backdrop of the Repeal 8th Referendum in May 2018 along with the Housing Crisis Nesting deals with the complex issues of the day, of motherhood, body autonomy, choice and how abuse isn’t always physical. We see the realistic representation of the hotelisation of the housing crisis, the curfews, the malnutrition, the back entrances, the viewings and discrimination to the HAP scheme.

This was such a powerful, eye opening and stigma breaking read. These are the true stories of our day and thanks to Roisin for capturing it.
Nesting is due out 30th January and I want to thank Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for letting me get access to this early copy.

Not an easy read but a powerful, emotional and hopeful read all the same. Highlights issues of emotional abuse and coercive control and set against the background of the housing crisis in Ireland.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book

Ciara is in an emotionally abusive marriage. She needs to get herself and children away from her husband Ryan. Her only family live in Sheffield, whilst they are in Ireland..
They find themselves homeless and living in a basic hotel; where Ciara makes new friends, who intern help her move forward.
This book, I believe portrays a true account of what life is like in a emotionally abuse marriage. There are no physical signs for others to see, only word of mouth.
Will Ciara be able to fight off Ryan and his toxic parents or will she be forced back to the famy home?

Nesting is a debut novel and a chilling read about insidious psychological domestic violence.

From the opening pages setting the scene of a standard family day out, we quickly discover the clues that it’s not as relaxed as it first appears. Ciara is walking on eggshells to appease her husband Ryan, permanently assessing his moods and adjusting her behaviour accordingly. She plans everything to the smallest detail knowing that Ryan will ask her questions about where she’s been or who she’s spoken to. She knows from bitter experience that there will be consequences if he’s not happy with the response.

We quickly find out that Ciara and her two young daughters have tried to leave Ryan before but returned to the family home for a fresh start. She regrets this move more than she can ever say and when she finds out that she’s pregnant with her third child, she knows she has to leave.

She leaves Ryan in a hurry, grabbing what she can before she’s discovered. She doesn’t have a plan, she’s so beaten down by her life experiences over the last few years. She approaches the council for help, and is offered temporary accommodation in a hotel, where the homeless families are hidden from the paying guests. The family come up against bureaucratic systems and severe lack of housing. In the meantime, she is taking the girls to see their father regularly; he’s sweetness and light now that Ciara has stood up for herself and it’s chilling to hear how charming he can be when he wants to.

As time passes, there’s a permanent anxiety that Ryan will win and Ciara will go back to him, he is so convincing and so sure that he is right. His own family and friends back him too, telling Ciara that he’s right and she’s lucky to have him.

The story is expertly written and powerfully told. It’s a small insight into how easy it is for women to lose everything and have to start again whilst still carrying the domestic burden of child care, house hunting and working.

A really compelling debut novel about a woman trying to escape from an abusive marriage in the midst of the Irish housing crisis. Ciara is a sympathetic and believable figure, left isolated after deciding to leave her husband, isolated from her former friends and with her family based in England . We are drawn into the frustrating and soul-destroying process of trying to find somewhere to live, and see that leaving an abusive, controlling partner is not about making a single, final decision but involves a never-ending series of calculations, negotiations and compromises, as Ciara tries to establish a safe home for herself and her children.

Nesting by Roisin O'Donnell

4.5 stars.
A debut, that is far from an easy read at times, and yet such a beautiful one which I struggled to put down. It’s centred very much on Ciara, a young Irish woman and mother whom cherishes her children above all else, and yet is trapped in a coercive, abusive marriage. The book is about her difficult escape, and portrays the hard truths of why so many women simply do not successfully leave. That old adage question addressed to women in such marriages - ‘Why don’t you just leave?’ is very much addressed here. It also acutely details the Irish housing crisis, where whole families are forced to ‘live’ in barely acceptable single hotel rooms because of the acute shortage of rental properties. This is a book that I will be recommending to many.

Thank you NetGallery, Simon & Schuster, and of course to Roisin O'Donnell for an ARC.

Ciara has two young children with her husband Ryan and discovers she's expecting a third. Ryan is emotionally abusive and while Ciara finds it hard to pinpoint the abuse (justifying that it isn't physical) she decides that she has to leave. Ciara doesn't have family living close to her so has to seek homeless accommodation in a Dublin hotel while resisting the manipulative bombardment of messages from Ryan. I thought this book was completely gripping. It shines a light on different kinds of abuse and how difficult it is for women to leave. This is a really important book that I would thoroughly recommend.

A difficult read that throws light on some uncomfortable truths so often hidden in the lives around us. Domestic psychological abuse coupled with the realities of homelessness and its effect on families are sensitively depicted. But although the story has its bleakest moments, there is still an underlying theme of how love and friendship can ultimately endure.