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.

An absolutely fantastic book that handled the subject of domestic abuse incredibly well. Domestic abuse can be a difficult subject to get right but this author was spot on. I read this book in one evening, there was no putting it down once I started. If I could give more than five stars I would.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for my honest and unbiased opinion.

After 5 years of marriage Ciara grabs her 2 young daughters and a bunch of washing off the drying line and leaves her husband. Rory is using every method in the book to get her to come back. Navigating through the Irish housing crisis, having no money, no job, and not having family in the country, Ciara is doing her best to find the bones of starting a new life.

Roisin's debut novel depicts how long it can take for a woman to leave an abusive (physically or emotionally) relationship, coupled with the struggles, doubts and concerns that come with it. It makes an uncomfortable but necessary read. I can see many women identifying with Ciara's story. I do hope that those women will get all the support they need and starting anew.

I can't help but think that this book will bring attention to toxic relationships, courageous women leaving said relationships, the housing crisis and the need for support. Nesting is possibly one of the most important books of the year.

This is an incredibly hard hitting novel of psychological domestic abuse which follows the life of Ciara and her children. What started out as what seemed like the perfect relationship very soon became something else. Ciara is very much controlled by her husband in every way possible. If she does anything he isn’t happy with she has to suffer his silences or his vitriol.

The story follows Ciara leaving Ryan and the life she has to live if she wants to gain her independence back. I went through a whole host of emotions reading this, anger, heartache, sickness and hope to name a few.


This book is one I think should be read by everyone. No one knows what goes on in any marriage apart from the husband and wife!

Another great Irish writer who very masterfully tells the story of Ciara who with her children makes a split-decision one day to leave her husband Ryan. She bundles as much as she can into her car and finds herself with a little savings, homeless with the only accommodation available to her a room in a hotel.

This is a story about what goes on behind closed doors, Ciara’s husband is on the face of it hard working and charming but he’s a man who uses emotional abuse to
control her. She’s isolated from friends and family, has little money of her own and is subject to his demands at any point. Their daughters Sophie and Ella are young and find this move into the hotel a bit of an adventure. There they meet other families in similar circumstances and slowly friendships are formed and support is there for Ciara.

The struggles Ciara finds are so well described, she’s isolated from her own family in England and Ryan’s continual texts threatening her makes the struggle to stay away ever more difficult. She needs all her strength to continue as she faces difficulties in employment, housing and legal conditions placed on her.

It’s a tense, yet hopeful read. Ryan is a very believable, awful character and his actions made some of the story quite harrowing. I really enjoyed this one, there maybe triggers for some readers as it’s not an easy read but so well written and paced perfectly.

Thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster and the author for an e-arc copy of this one.

I devoured this book in a day couldn’t stop thinking about Ciara and her dilemma… this booked gripped me with the realness of the characters and situations. Pregnant with her third child Ciara is in a marriage with her controlling husband Ryan finally realising enough is enough she leaves with her two daughters and then the struggles begin . Unable to leave Ireland to go to her mother in the UK as Ryan has stopped her taking the children out the country she finds herself in temporary accommodation… daily receiving threatening gaslighting messages from Ryan she wades her way through the system. An eye opening book which I highly rate

Wow. This is an unsettling, exquisitely written book - a literary page turner. My heart broke for Ciara on every page.

I've a catalogue of characters that have stayed with me long after finishing their story. Ciara is now one of them.

We're only a couple weeks into the year and I can safely say this book will no doubt be in my top books of the year come December and I'm pretty confident it will be topping most readers lists.

It is truly remarkable. I could not put this down. Ciara and her children and their story had me glued to the pages and quite frankly had me so worried. This is a timely novel considering the housing crisis in Ireland. It gave an honest and frank insight into what it's like for so many living in emergency accommodation. It also highlighted domestic abuse and how it can come in all shapes and forms and how it doesn't always leave visible marks. I don't think I've hated a character as much as I hated Ryan, he made my blood boil. I couldn't sleep after reading I was so wound up and angry! Ugh he was despicable. All the characters came to life on these pages and felt like real people. A sign of a talented writer.

This book is hard to read, it's emotive and compelling but there's kindness and hope and so much courage.

Deserves a million stars and more.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review

I’m struggling to recall a character in a book I’ve hated as much as I hate Ryan in Nesting, or a character for whom my heart ached and my anxiety soared as much as it did for Ciara, the protagonist in this sensational debut novel by Irish writer Róisín O’Donnell.

I found myself recoiling in horror as some of the scenes in this book. A more tense, compelling and emotional read you will struggle to find.

Ciara is a stay at home mum (and qualified teacher) of two children. She’s from Sheffield but living in Dublin,
married to Ryan, a handsome man from Monaghan who swept her off her feet before revealing his true character as a controlling, sanctimonious, narcissistic abuser.

At breaking point, Ciara bravely makes the decision to leave Ryan one afternoon, taking their two children with her, and it’s the story of her life from this day on, told in an urgent, stream of consciousness-style narrative that is simply unputdownable. I would have read this book in one sitting had time allowed. I read it over two evenings furiously turning pages.

What makes this book such a difficult read is the reality that it is based in - Ireland’s ongoing housing crisis, where in the absence of alternatives arising from successive governments’ failed housing policy, homeless families are accommodated in hotels, sometimes for years. This book will make you so angry and break your heart too, knowing there are many families in Ireland living in these same conditions, with little hope of securing a place they can call home.

My first five star read of 2025, Nesting has universal appeal but will hit Irish readers especially hard. Unputdownable, compassionate, important, brilliant. 5/5⭐️

Many thanks to Scribner Books and publicist Gill
Hess for the gifted arc. As always this is an honest review.

Tw: coercive control, psychological abuse