An all too familiar situation for a woman to find herself in, wanting to leave a coercive relationship but how does she do that when family is a long way away.
The portrayal of what a life, with 2 children, is like when living in a hotel room.
It is an uncomfortable and depressing read, I think that is because it feels so accurate.

I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Roisín O'Donnell offers a poignant and gripping portrayal of Ireland's housing crisis through the eyes of a young mother, Ciara. With two children and another on the way, Ciara is forced to flee her abusive husband, who refuses to let her stay in their home unless it's on his terms and denies her any financial support.

Finding herself with no other option, Ciara moves into a hotel room provided by social housing. This situation, as she discovers, is all too common for many families struggling to find stable housing. O'Donnell's narrative is both engulfing and emotional, shedding light on the harsh realities faced by those in similar circumstances.

The novel's strength lies in its ability to make the housing crisis deeply personal and relatable. Through Ciara's story, readers gain a profound understanding of the challenges and injustices that many people endure. The writing is powerful and evocative, making "Nesting" a compelling read that stays with you long after you've turned the last page.

Wow! This was excellent, and so good I read it over 2 short evenings. We follow Ciara, who is pregnant and who has just left her abusive husband Ryan, taking her two daughters Ella and Sophie, as she tries to move away from him and rebuild her life.

People often ask why an abused woman "didn't just leave" and that was a good illustration of just why: no money, no housing, landlords won't take a single mum on benefits, no support, and the constant fear. Ryan was not a particularly deep character - after 400 pages I am still unsure what exactly was his job, we don't know much about him, but he is a shadow throughout the whole book, his texts and questions appearing every few pages, a not-so-distant threat.

I think at times the secondary characters felt unnecessary and a bit tokenist, but overall I liked the tone - it read a bit like a thriller - and the anxiety I felt reading this novel.

A compelling and heartbreaking read. The author tackled the subject matter so well and shone a light on the plight of families in need who are running from those who should be protecting them. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance reader copy.

Beautifully crafted and incredibly touching, this is a book about a woman desperately struggling for independence from her emotionally abusive husband. Really well-written, with great character development.

Thank you to the publishers and to NetGalley for my review copy.

Nesting follows Ciara as she tries to leave an abusive marriage and protect herself and her children. This book hooked me right from the start and honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever read anything like this. I found it really compelling and addictive to read, the story is told so well and I really felt for Ciara and wanted to reach through my kindle and give her a hug. A really powerful, emotional, yet inspiring read.

Ah but this broke my heart over and over again. Compelling to read, enlightening if devastating. Accessible prose, I flew through it. I was left a little unsatisfied by the end.

Thank you to the author and publishers for this arc.

When a book is so well written that it reads like a true life story and the struggles that someone goes through,it’s hard to say how much I enjoyed it. It was as if Ciara was an actual person and this is because her story is a true reflection of what many people are experiencing everyday in many towns and cities.

This is a hard hitting story about coercion and verbal manipulation and a woman’s struggle to get away from her husband with her 2 young daughters and a baby on the way. Ciara’s story and the fact that she has been placed in a hotel room and having to report in daily, so she does not lose the room is not uncommon. Beautifully written and this book and Ciara’s story will stay with me for a while.

A powerful hard hitting story. Women have to be incredibly brave to leave an abusive relationship, especially when they have children. This tells such story. The heartbreak of making yourself homeless to living in temporary accommodation in a hotel. Well researched.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the advance copy of this book.

I did mostly enjoy this. It felt like a sort of book version of the film "I Daniel Blake" in how realistic it was. That said, some parts of it were almost too realistic? Like just an account of what happened, not so much a story as a list. It was also stressful as I have a friend who has a partner very similar to Ryan and we're all waiting on tenterhooks for the day she finally leaves him and finds joy in life again. When this is published I'd actually love for her to read it, see that even though it's a difficult and horrible process, it is possible and there is always help available.

Thank you for the ARC :)

Couldn’t put this one down. Nesting is a powerful novel.The writing is outstanding and the plot hard hitting. The author takes us on a heart-breaking journey into the difficult subject of domestic non-violent abuse. Ciara’s husband Ryan might seem like the perfect husband to others, but inside the marriage he is controlling, manipulative, and relentless in his mental abuse of Ciara.

While taking place in Ireland, Ciara’s situation is very real and experienced by women everywhere, daily. Her resilience and courage is heart-rending. This story will linger for days, if not weeks after reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster UK for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

*4.5 stars*

On a beautiful Spring afternoon in Dublin, Ciara Fay makes a decision, a spur of the moment thing, but actually one that’s been a long time coming - she frantically grabs clothes straight from the washing line, straps her two young daughters, Sophie and Ella into the car, and drives away from her home and husband, Ryan. She has no idea what she’s going to do or where she’s even going, but the need to escape Ryan is overwhelming, not just for herself but for her daughters too.

On the face of it, Ryan Fay appears to be Mr charming himself, but behind closed doors he uses emotional abuse to control and cause utter fear- he has isolated Ciara from family and friends and she can take no more. This won’t be the last she hears from Ryan though, because he’s relentless in his pursuit of her, demanding that she returns, telling her what a bad mother she is.

With very little savings and no job, Ciara’s future looks very bleak and she becomes one of the many who rely on emergency accommodation, living in a ‘hotel’ with others in the same position, where somewhere they can call home is something they can only dream of.

Set against the backdrop of the housing crisis in Ireland, this is tense and emotionally charged, and relates just how hard it is to escape a controlling relationship and at the same time find the courage and strength to make a new life out of the tatters of a marriage - because leaving is one thing, but staying away takes enormous strength. A heart wrenching but hopeful read, and I loved it.

Nesting, the debut novel by Roisin O'Donnell, is an accomplished work, which makes it surprising that it is a debut. This is a writer that feels at the top of her game. It is all too-true fictional story of a woman and her children attempting to escape a non-physical but nevertheless abusive relationship. I have been a child in such a relationship, and I can see how accurately O'Donnell has portrayed this. Not a word is wasted. This is the type of novel that will leave you feeling breathless, make you care deeply about it's characters and situations, and move you totally by the end. It could easily have been sensationalist, or manipulate in it's use of emotion, but O'Donnell keeps tight control of the work. This is highly recommended and I fully expect to see it on some awards lists by the end of the year (2025). I am also very keen to read what she does next.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.

The agony of having no money and nowhere to turn, as well as Ciara's decision to leave her abusive husband, are the subjects of this nerve-racking, suspenseful novel. This is a tale of optimism and how, after years of being afraid to do anything that would irritate her spouse, a life can be transformed and new friendships can be formed. Strong and endearing, the writing is incredible, and it will stay with me for a long time.

From the first page, Nesting is addictive.

Ciara's story is not an uncommon one, but it is a story so often hidden out of shame and guilt.

Roisin O'Donnell has written a powerful novel that explores emotional and psychological abuse within intimate relationships. Set against tge backdrop of the housing crisis in Ireland, the situation becomes even more desperate. There is a panicked, claustrophobic energy that permeates this novel and will have you staying up late to find out what becomes of Ciara and her children.

I highly recommend 'Nesting'.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

Nesting by Roisin O’Donnell

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A truly inspiring book. More than a “story” - I also learned so much about emotional abuse and the scale and hideous reality of homelessness when you have a family. The sheer scale of the issue blew me away. But this is not a sad story, though at times I felt both sad and angry, it’s an uplifting tale of triumph over adversity, love, and the unexpected kindness of others.
Thanks to the author, publisher and to netgalley for providing me with this advance digital copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

What a fantastic read. Ciara's story is absolutely heartbreaking but it is a must read for everyone out there who has been through this,the struggles she encounters as she tries to protect and care for her children and keep them safe but all the time thinking it must be her fault as her cohesive husband continues to make her life a nightmare. With the help of friends and family will she eventually get the strength to finally break the cycle and find some healing for herself and her family. I was in tears reading this book but think it gives a very important message and highly recommend it

A heart breaking and emotionally charged story that had me racing through the pages with my heart in my mouth. A story of domestic abuse and coercion that is extremely well told. On a bright sunny afternoon in Dublin Ciara Fay makes a difficult but necessary decision that will change her and her young family’s life forever. She walks out on a life of torment into the unknown with just a bag of clothes and very little money to start over. This is an important story and I could not stop thinking about the characters. What it takes for a women walk out of a relationship with two small children without any means of support and a more important question is what it takes for women to stay in an abusive relationship. The author captures the the fear and terror of Ciara and the real struggle of staying or leaving. A heartbreaking story but a very real look at what it takes to navigate the system and the desperation of a mother to protect her children. A book that will stay with me a long time. The question of “ Why do women stay in an abusive relationship” is heartbreakingly answered here. This would make a terrific book club read.
My thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Nesting is a heart and gut wrenching debut from the short story prizewinning Roisin O’Donnell. It takes the reader on a rollercoaster ride as mum of two, with another of the way, Ciara makes the incredibly tough decision to leave her coercive husband. With very little money and equally little help Ciara tries everything she can to leave Ryan but he seems to thwart her every move. With her only family over in the UK in Sheffield Ciara has limited options. This is at times a difficult read but it’s impossible not to will Ciara and the kids to find a better life. Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the eARC.

Nesting is a compelling and emotionally charged book that explores the difficult realities of escaping domestic abuse and the challenges of starting over. Set in Dublin, it follows Ciara Fay, a woman who, in a moment of desperation, decides to leave her mentally abusive husband, Ryan, and take her two young daughters with her. What begins as an attempt to find safety and freedom soon turns into a daunting struggle, as Ciara faces a broken housing system, dwindling resources, and the emotional toll of her decision.

The strength of this book lies in its portrayal of Ciara, a character full of courage and resilience. From the very first page, I was rooting for her as she navigated the immense difficulties of fleeing an unsafe home. The story vividly depicts her battles—not just with external forces like housing and finances, but also with her inner demons as she tries to protect her children and create a new life for them.

The book brings to light the painful complexities of domestic abuse, shedding light on how hard it can be to leave, especially when starting afresh with little money and nowhere to go. Ciara’s journey resonates on many levels, making the reader feel her anxiety, frustration, and fierce love for her daughters. The struggles she faces are not just physical but emotional, as Ryan relentlessly tries to pull her back, showing just how difficult it is to break free from an abusive relationship.

Nesting is a powerful story of survival, courage, and the strength of a mother’s love. It will evoke a range of emotions in every reader—anger, sadness, hope—but most of all, it will inspire. This is a book that will give strength to those who are struggling and waiting for a sign to find their way out of a dark situation.

Read more at The Secret Bookreview.