Wow. What a fantastic, beautifully written, thought provoking book. It is an incredibly important depiction of controlling and coercive behaviour within relationships and marriages, as well as showing how strong victims of abuse are. It was the perfect balance between raw and emotional and hopeful. I can’t believe this is a debut novel and can’t wait to read what else Roisin O’Donnell writes!

A wonderful story which really makes you think about it all. Really heartfelt and it being quite a long book I really got into it. I was so immersed in it that now I've finished it incant stop thinking about it. That's the type of book I love. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

This book is just so special. One of those rare books that comes along and just grips you. So real and raw and I was holding my breath through alot of the story . I really didn't want this amazing story to end.

I think everybody should read this powerful drama. It takes you on an emotional rollercoaster, following a woman who is trying to escape her abusive husband with her two young children. Beautifully written and so evocative, you could feel her fears. An emotional read.

The debut novel by an author already well known for her short stories (one of which won the individual Short Story of the Year at the An Post Irish Book awards) and her short story collection (longlisted for the Edge Hill Short Story Prize)

At 400 pages this does not at first glance seem like the novel of a short story writer, but compared to many debut novels there is a focus to the book (not one of those debuts where the author dumps every idea they have ever had for a story) and also an immersive almost visceral quality to the text, both of which I suspect draw on her short story skills even if spread over a much much larger canvas.

The story – set in 2018 - really draws on two areas:

Melanie Nowocki’s work on the Hotelisation of the Housing Crisis and specifically the way in which the Dublin local authorities turned to hotels as temporary (but in practice also long term) housing provision for homeless families

Don Hennessy’s writing on the abuse of women by their male partners – including her book “How He Gets Inside Her Head”

Ciara opens the book living in Dublin with her husband Ryan – superficially (to external observers) a near perfect husband but who has subjected her throughout their marriage to a litany of controlling and abusive (emotional and psychological but also physical) behaviour – so much so that at one stage she left him and returned to her mother and sister (in Sheffield).

Now with a two and four year old and realising she is pregnant again she decides to leave once more – but with her husband having put a block on her children’s passports so stopping her going back to her Mum, and with her having almost no funds (Ryan also controlling all the money) she in desperation ends up in accommodation in a hotel – having to recheck in every night and under the threat that she may be thrown out at any time.

To try and raise some funds she starts teaching English to foreign students (having been told by Ryan that her lack of Irish means she cannot actually teach in a primary school)

Later she starts to teach English to one of the workers at the hotel – the two bonding over the fact she, prior to her relationship with Ryan, once taught English close to his home town in Brazil – and the two strike up a tentative friendship. She is also supported by some of the other temporarily homed occupants of her floor in the hotel.

But much of the book is about the campaign Ryan wages to get her to return – threats, wheedling, manipulation of the children, a bizarre incident when he “rescues” some crow nestlings (this then becoming a recurring motif through the novel allowing lots of analogies and alluding also to the book’s title), the use of his family, manipulation of the children and legal action.

And this is what makes the book so engrossing – it is hard not to feel a deep loathing for Ryan and a huge anxiety for Ciara whose situation is never really much better than hopeless, particularly when she has her baby boy.

Overall I thought this was an excellent debut – and would not be surprised to see it featuring on prize lists.

I just opened the first line and its unreadable. I'm sorry but I hate books that are written so badly like this.

‘Nesting’ is an extraordinary and heart-wrenching debut novel that explores the complexities of emotional abuse, resilience, and the pursuit of safety in a world where support systems often feel out of reach.

At the centre of the story is Ciara, a pregnant woman with two young daughters, who finds herself fleeing from her emotionally abusive husband, Ryan. As she navigates the harsh realities of a housing crisis, a lack of financial support, and the uncertainty of the future, Roisín O'Donnell masterfully captures Ciara's internal struggles and the external challenges she faces.

The writing is deeply evocative and packed with tension, ensuring that readers feel the weight of each decision Ciara makes. From the very beginning, the reader is pulled into Ciara’s world — where emotional abuse isn't always obvious, and the line between love and manipulation becomes painfully blurred. The tension between Ciara’s conflicting feelings for Ryan — who alternates between cruelty and charm — creates a visceral sense of confusion and fear, something O'Donnell portrays with remarkable sensitivity.

The novel doesn’t just focus on Ciara’s personal journey, though. It expands to show the shared experiences of those around her, shining a light on the systemic nature of abuse. As Ciara connects with others in her temporary hotel room — women who have faced similar struggles — the novel presents a poignant, sometimes sobering portrayal of the prevalence of emotional and domestic abuse. These women offer her both compassion and strength, providing a sense of solidarity amid the chaos, even as their own stories reflect the scars of a society that often leaves people like Ciara behind.

O'Donnell’s portrayal of the fear, isolation, and vulnerability that come with abuse is both intimate and unflinching, yet there is also an undercurrent of hope throughout. Ciara’s growth as a character is both inspiring and deeply relatable. As she fights to build a better future for her children, her resilience becomes a source of quiet power that sustains the reader through some of the most painful moments of the story.

This book is not an easy read. It grips you with its raw honesty, and you will find yourself holding your breath alongside Ciara as she makes her way through the emotional minefield of leaving her husband and seeking refuge. The stakes are high, and O'Donnell captures the harsh reality of these women’s lives with such precision that it’s impossible not to feel moved, angry, and ultimately hopeful.

In short, ‘Nesting’ is an unforgettable novel — breathtaking, devastating, and redemptive. It’s a must-read for anyone who is interested in stories about resilience, love, and the courage it takes to start over. O'Donnell’s ability to intertwine personal and societal struggles makes this debut stand out as both an emotional journey and a social commentary. Prepare to be emotionally invested from beginning to end, and to think about Ciara’s story long after you’ve turned the final page.

With thanks to NetGalley and Scribner UK for the advanced copy of the book.

A debut novel that has an emotional hit, especially as I know someone who suffered in a coercive relationship and even though free now, still suffers with mental health. Ciara has been a victim of coercive control throughout her marriage, not able to see family or friends, not able to work as Ryan always had very good reason why she should not do these things. With two young children and another on the way, she decides that she needs to leave. Ryan’s abuse is not physical but she does wonder if one day it might be. Caught up in the Irish housing crisis, she finds herself in a hotel room with her two daughters and this book is her struggle to be free of Ryan because he is never going to let her go. Demands to see his daughters, pleas to her about how much he loves her, everything to grind her down. As a reader you are so angry on her behalf adnthere are moments when you scream at the book ‘No, don’t let him!’ An emotional read at times but what shines through is Ciara’s love for her daughters and her desire to protect them at all times. There is nothing like a mother’s love. An excellent read.

This story is not a comfortable read. Ciara has a controlling, manipulative husband who seems a nice, caring bloke to the rest of the world. He's kind and thoughtful - as long as Ciarais behaving exactly as he wants. But he keeps changing the goal posts and then blaming her when he gets angry.
Until one day, she can take no more and walks out, taking the children with her. We chart her journey to escaping from Ryan's control and the trials that she has to go through.
A roller coaster of emotions as you will Ciara to make it. Fab debut novel.

This is a slow dark read, and not an easy read. Ciara has left her husband, taking her two young daughters, she packs what she can into her car. She knows her husband Ryan will be mad when she doesn’t return, he is verbally abusive, manipulative and controlling, he has isolated Ciara from her family and friends.
This story illustrates the struggles of a single mum trying to get social housing during a housing crisis in Ireland. She is allocated a room in a ‘hotel’ as emergency accommodation, one room for herself and her two girls, she has also just discovered she is pregnant.
Ciara has no job, very little money but she finds the strength and determination to keep going, leaving her husband was difficult, staying away is even more difficult and she questions her choices. Ryan is relentless in pursuit of her and takes her to court to fight for custody and access to his children. They are still living in the hotel when her baby son is born, she is now struggling with a new born, breast feeding and exhausted
This is an emotionally charged raw read, the reader can feel Ciara’s hopelessness at times, but Ciara discovers strength, she makes new friends, they are a mismatched group, but they become a family, helping and supporting one another, enabling Ciara to rebuild her life, in a new home with her children. This book reminds us that there is always hope and a mother will always find away to provide for her children.
Many thanks to Net galley and Simon and Schuster for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.

To say I enjoyed this book feels wrong given the subject matter but that aside it is a fantastic, beautifully written book. I can't believe it is a debut novel. It deals with issues I have no personal experience of - coercive control, emotional abuse, homelessness, but certainly gave me some insight into the despair that comes with them. Ciara the main character seems so real. Her feelings of despair and hope and love for her kids just jump off the page at you. A very sad, heartbreaking yet hopeful book that I would happily recommend to anyone.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

A great debut. The beginning was a little slow but the plot is interesting and centres around a controlling relationship. I found myself routing for Claire but despaired at many of the choices she initially made. It was so sad but had a great ending. I reallyy felt immersed in th book.

What a memorable, thought provoking, tearjerking novel. It covers marital relationships that go horribly wrong and end in numerous forms of abuse. Clara decides to try and leave her husband- not the first time she has done so, but ends up homeless. I felt on edge wondering how the situation would turn out and hoping Ciara and her children would be okay.

4.5!! What a great debut novel to hit the bookshelves in 2025! I wasn’t sure what to expect exactly going into it, but from the first few pages I was invested. We meet Ciara, a woman who has lost her identity, raising two small children (and eventually a third) under the coercive control of her husband Ryan. She gains the courage to leave him but having no money, no accommodation and unsure of how she is going to survive, we see through Ciara’s story how hard it is to leave, but even harder to stay away.

Nesting is a novel that will fill you with rage, from the first few pages it was clear how horrid Ryan was, and for a debut novel the author showed this fantastically without graphic descriptions of abuse. I thought the author showed how someone can become isolated and the realities of living with domestic abuse and coercion very well. How someone can be conditioned to think that no one will believe them, that they’re the problem and there’s no way that they could be better out of the situation.

One thing that was clear was how much Ciara loved and protected her children. The descriptions of living in emergency accommodation broke my heart (it felt like the author had put a lot of research into the book) but at the same time the feeling of community and friendliness from people in the hardest situations was amazing. The courage, strength and resilience of anyone who is in this situation is incomprehensible and we must continue to support those that have the courage to speak out.

It feels like Nesting is already being recognised for how brilliant of a read it is but if you haven’t seen it yet definitely get it on your list for 2025.

A beautifully written book with a gritty story. The characters were well thought out and relatable, and the plot kept me engaged until the last page, sad in parts but engrossing. I really liked it.

This book starts slowly, setting the scene with a good relationship turned bad.
At this point the reader needs to fasten their safety belt for a roller coaster ride.
It looks like it will end badly, then there is light at the end of the tunnel, then it turns bad again.
How will it end?
Excellent scenario, excellent characters (not all good), excellent storyline.
I loved it.
My thanks to the author for the hours of enjoyment that the book has brought me, I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is not an easy read. I had a visceral reaction to it to the point where my feet were kicking the table and my fists clenching. I'm just giving you the heads up.

Nesting follows the story of Ciara and her children - Sophie, Ella and (eventually) baby Noah. Ciara has been subjected to coercive control by husband Ryan from early on in their marriage and despite leaving once she has always been persuaded by him that her place is with him. But this time she's not going back even though it means an uncertain existence for herself and her children.

Nesting is one of those books that I have nothing in common with, having been lucky enough to be married to a truly wonderful man for 27 years. However I am a woman and the feeling of outrage at Ciara's situation, as I read this book, was almost overwhelming at times.

I have no personal experience of coercive control but Ciara's story affected me deeply. Following her story through all it's disturbing phases was quite shocking but I also thought it an important and interesting read. Perhaps it will help others to recognise the same signs or perhaps it would encourage a person being subjected to coercive control to get away.

Excellent. Highly recommended. I should note that GR has this down for being published in February but Amazon says 30th January.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the advance review copy.

This is about escaping a controlling relationship, with young children and finding a safe place to stay. It is a thought provoking read about one woman's determination to survive and provide a better life for her children. It may inspire other women to take that first step to safety, which takes enormous courage and strength of character. Set in Ireland, not an easy read but thought provoking. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

I absolutely loved this. It’s beautifully written and so real. A stunning debut.
It’s a moving and inspirational story of emotional abuse and coercion as a mother tries to leave her marriage and protect her children.
It’s tense, emotional and heartbreakingly uplifting. The writing is so captivating. I couldn’t put this book down. I was totally engrossed.
I love the authors writing style. She really captures the struggles and fear of Ciara brilliantly. You truly feel every one of her highs and lows. The characters are all believable and Ciara is a great character who you really root for. The story is so genuine and raw.
Overall, a compelling though provoking read which will stay with you.
This is definitely one of my favourite reads of 2024.
Highly recommend.
I can’t wait to see what @roisinodonnellwriter brings us next.
With thanks to #NetGallery @simonschusteruk @simonschusterpr for an arc of #Nesting in exchange for a honest review.
Book publishes 30 January 2025.

A broken marriage, a housing crisis in Dublin, two small girls. Tough choices, strength and hope lead Ciara towards a new life.