So many thoughts ran through my mind as I read @catnassidy’s NESTLINGS. Most prominent was that I wish it had been published earlier in the month because it’s such a good horror book for the month of October!

Ana and Reid are struggling with their new life as parents but their winning the affordable housing lottery for The Deptford in NYC is a dream come true! Ana is trying to come to terms with her loss of independence not only as a first time mom but as newly paralyzed due to a misfortune during labor. Reid is juggling a job he hates, being an even more hands on dad than expected, and a postpartum wife. Together they try to be the happy family they always thought they would be.

Ok, I don’t know why I keep reading books that trigger my postpartum lol. Ana was such a strong character, though. Yes, she had her faults, however her being paralyzed but still taking care of the baby is amazing - not to trivialize her struggles tho. Especially because she is new to both life changes! There is that one horrible night that they don’t talk about which is understandable but only for Reid to throw it in her face later on - that really irritated me. In fact, he was really annoying by that point. I struggle to not fall into the whole “Reid was such a helpful dad!” because he’s just as much of a parent as Ana and SHOULD be helpful, esp given his wife’s condition. But it just shows just how low our expectations are for men. And for him to constantly forget to get what she needs from Home Depot, not telling her his career change, and act like he needed to constantly go out as if SHE literally wasn’t a prisoner?

Oh and the horror of what’s going on in the building just added to the tense atmosphere. It’s funny how I am more worked up over the marriage than the actual monsters of the book but that’s how well I feel the author wrote the family dynamics 😅. I can’t ignore the fact that there were scenes that were terrifying. Esp when they described the creatures that roamed the building.

Loved it! This felt like old school horror. Really good book and I would recommend others to read and enjoy this one.

Thank you Netgalley and to the publisher.

"Nestlings" by Nat Cassidy is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into the dark side of a seemingly perfect new beginning. After a traumatic birth leaves Ana paralyzed and struggling, her family's fortune changes when they win an apartment in the prestigious Deptford building. This should be their dream come true—luxurious living with breathtaking views—but instead, it soon becomes a nightmare.

Ana’s growing paranoia and the disturbing events that unfold in their new home, including inexplicable needle-like bite marks on their baby, add a chilling layer of suspense. Reid’s initial dismissal of Ana’s fears contrasts sharply with the increasingly unsettling occurrences, creating a tension-filled narrative. Cassidy skillfully intertwines themes of psychological torment and supernatural horror, keeping readers on edge as the true nature of the Deptford’s dark secrets slowly comes to light. The plot’s twists and revelations build to a haunting climax, making "Nestlings" a compelling and eerie read.

This was such an atmospheric, unsettling, and eerie book. Loved every minute of it, and Nat Cassidy'd work will now be at the top of my reading list in the future.
The creeping dread, the vivid imagery... masterfully written psychological horror blended with the classic haunted house supernatural vibes. Not many authors can induce such an intensely unsettling backdrop. It's all feelings/vibes for me, and this book KILLED it. I can concur with others that have said this feels reminiscent of Rosemary's Baby, in the best way.

Nestlings is so much more than I thought it was. I was interested but wary to begin with and came out of this book feeling as shell shocked as the main characters. Nat Cassidy's writing is propulsive and highly engaging. I could not put this down until I was done and it did just once make me late to work because of that.

"Nestlings" by Nat Cassidy is a chilling horror novel that combines supernatural elements with a deeply unsettling atmosphere. The story centers on a couple who move into a seemingly perfect apartment, only to find that something sinister lurks within its walls.

Cassidy does an excellent job of building suspense and creeping dread. The writing is vivid and immersive, making you feel the eerie presence that the characters experience. The couple’s descent into fear and paranoia is portrayed with a lot of emotional depth, making you genuinely care about their fate.

The novel's blend of horror and psychological tension is gripping, and Cassidy's knack for creating spooky settings really shines. However, some parts of the plot feel a bit familiar if you’re a seasoned horror fan, but Cassidy’s execution keeps it engaging.

Overall, "Nestlings" is a great pick if you’re looking for a spine-tingling read that will keep you up at night. It’s well-written, atmospheric, and perfect for fans of supernatural horror.

Cassandra Campbell did a great job with the audio, giving life to each character and the horrors that follow.

A lottery pick they never thought they’d win, Ana and Reid just won a spot at the Deptford. The affordable apartment seems too good to be true, and even after the birth of their first child left Ana paralyzed from the waist down, they decide to accept, regardless of the single elevator and high floor. Moving isn’t easy on anyone, but harbored resentments, a nearly one year old, and perhaps some evilness, all culminate into one wicked transition.

For me, with the old building, the famous, richer inhabitants, and the down-on-their-luck newbies, this had reminiscent notes of Sager’s Lock Every Door. And while I have not read Salem’s Lot or Rosemary’s Baby (yet), I can tell that those comparison titles are where Cassidy imbues his horror elements over Sager’s thriller feels. And I really enjoyed how the author bleeds anxiety and paranoia into his characters differently. Ana takes on the more literal approach, with her suspecting something is wrong and trying to get away. And then Reid is the slower, irritability that permeates over time. His job, his wife, his friends, the littlest things start to tip him over, and I feel like the author handles that very well.

This sort of slow burn infestation of fear works really well for this novel. Reid just wants to provide and do what’s best for his family. A few things going terrible wrong? Well that can just be chalked up to the moving stress, can’t it?

While trying to stay as spoiler free as possible, the twist in the end with how each parent differed, did surprise me in the best way and I’m glad I rooted for who I did. Old buildings and history are the heart of NYC, just make sure the ones you move to don’t have a literal heart…

You might enjoy this if you like
-Creepy old people
-Rosemary’s baby
-Buildings with a dark history

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

This was a fun read. It gives big Rosemary’s Baby vibes but with somewhat of a twist.

Overall the plot moves kind of slow, but its pretty eerie and mysterious which kept me engaged. There were enough ~weird happenings~ to make it a tense read that keeps pulling you back. It does take awhile for thing to happen, but when they do... 👀

And then the ending? Way out of left field and I loved it. Made the whole story worth It. A totally unique and creepy read.

The “real life” problems in this gave it such an edge. Felt like a literary fiction blended with horror which was perfect!

I was initially hesitant once I saw the inspiration mashup, but I absolutely shouldn’t be.

May Cassidy does it again in this horror that had me hooked from the first chapter.

This story was incredibly well thought out and was a total page turner. I will absolutely be getting a physical copy to add to my library.

The creepy tiny of the book easily sets the reader up for never ending unease. If this book and this author aren’t on your shelf, I would absolutely recommend changing that.

This is such an engrossing horror novel. The setting is unique and haunting, and the numerous perspectives are all equally compelling, adding up to a novel of enormous atmosphere and empathy. Monstrously impressive in its ambition, scope and execution. Nat Cassidy is one to treasure—and fear!

I'm so late on this, but Nestlings by Nat Cassidy was incredible. It is rare that I read a novel that actually scares me (the last one being Hidden Pictures) and makes me want to stop reading in the dark before bedtime, but this was one of them. Rosemary's Baby is one of my favorite films, so the plot - husband, wife and baby relocate to a posh but mysterious apartment building in New York City, chaos unfolds - was an easy sell for me. I would tell my husband the latest happenings at the Deptford on our nightly dog walks and he said that my secondhand accounting was giving him the chills. What more do you need to know? A must read for horror fans, already one of my top reads so far this year. Five stars!

This is how you do a horror book. Every part of this book was intriguing, and perfectly executed. The details and storytelling abilities of the author allows you to really capture each scene and moment, you feel like you are in the moment and the fear and unnerving feeling is there and honestly this is one of the better horror books I have read I'm a long time!

This book genuinely gave me the ickies which doesn't happen often for me; the descriptions are written so well and provide a vivid picture. That fucking smiling concierge will haunt me forever 😳

Having also read Mary, it is clear that Nat Cassidy is an incredibly thoughtful writer who does his research and I'm finding that his afterwords are absolutely worth reading, as much as the book themselves. Honestly, as soon as I heard that he had another book coming out, I pre-ordered it right away...not even knowing what it's about. I didn't care because I had a feeling it would be a kick ass story and I was right!

While I'd say this is a stronger read than Cassidy's debut Mary, I ultimately found Nestlings lacking the right balance of atmosphere and domesticity. The bug stuff was fine, and a bit gross, but nothing ever scared me. Perhaps Nat Cassidy just isn't for me.

Ahoy there mateys! I started this in October 2023 and thought I would finish it quickly.  This book is short and yet it stalled at 30%.  I really wanted to know about the creepy New York City apartment building.  What I got instead were unpleasant characters and a plodding plot.  The mother hated her baby because the birth paralyzed her.  I get why she struggled but her voice was unpleasant.  The husband was worse.  I did ruin the ending for meself on purpose.  Yup glad I didn't finish this.  Arrr!

Thank you Netgalley, author, and the publishers for allowing me the opportunity to read this e-arc. I look forward to reading more.

Nestlings is a masterpiece of literary motherhood horror. Ana and Reid win the apartment rental lottery and score a reduced-price apartment in the Deptford, a prestigious and exclusive New York building. But right away, things aren’t as idyllic and serene as they’d hoped. Their one-year-old baby, Charlie, cries incessantly. Ana has been in a wheelchair ever since her daughter’s birth, and she struggles with the apartment’s accessibility.

The author’s writing style is unparalleled, and I was hooked right from the very first pages. The story takes its time, leisurely weaving a story full of tension and grotesque metaphor, masterfully blending real-world struggles, like paying bills and navigating a new disability, with paranormal horror. The plot is slow, but the narrative is rife with a rich history for the Deptford, backstory for the characters, and eerie imagery.

The book is broken up into parts, with chapter titles and breaks in the chapters, which gives little sneak peaks in the horrors to come.

The entire narrative is told in the third person, and we get multiple characters’ POVs throughout. I didn’t particularly like Reid, the husband, as he makes some poor choices, and I never managed to connect with him. Ana, on the other hand, is a far more compelling character. She’s a mother, but she resents her child for the hardship she’s brought on her. She wanted to move to the Deptford, if only while yearning for a lifestyle that had always been just out of reach, but she has doubts and regrets almost instantly after moving in. Something is very, very wrong with the Deptford and its residents. I adore stories that present a place as its own character, and the Deptford, with its breathing walls and organic warmth, fails to disappoint.

All in all, I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for an atmospheric motherhood horror that’s equal parts psychological warfare and creature feature.

A masterclass in new age vampirism. Nat Cassidy not only managed to absolutely terrify me with their King-esque vampirian monsters but also was able to craft an incredibly powerful story about the Jewish-American experience, loss, and disability all while wrapping it up in a beautiful heart wrenching little postpartum journey of motherhood. I have also never had a reader who has made me hate a man more in my life. Love that. I also can ONLY see the baby’s looking like the baby’s in Dead Space. So… that’s Terrifying… Nat is a true horror craftsman and I can not wait to see what he does next.

As always, shout out to NetGalley for providing me with this e-arc. I am a little late to the game but I am happy I finally got around to reading this one. After reading Mary by Nat Cassidy, I knew I had to get my hands on Nestlings. Mary was one of my favourite reads from 2023 so I had high hopes, and I will say I was slightly disappointed in Nestlings. It wasn't bad! Trust me, it is still worth a read but I didn't really enjoy the pacing (personal preference). The story itself was everything I look for in horror/thriller though. It was very creepy and had a great story line about human experience. I would definitely recommend this book.