Let’s talk about this new horror novel by @catnassidy. Y’all it is truly terrifying and I probably will have nightmares about this book, which is an absolute compliment! Basically all you need to know going into this one is that a young family moves into a NYC high rise apartment building and weird things begin happening. Cassidy does start the book with trigger warnings, which I love. If you love terrifying horror, I highly recommend going ahead and pre-ordering this one, especially in audiobook form. In my opinion, I think the audiobook made this story even more horrifying!

Thank you @macmillan.audio and @netgalley for allowing me to listen to this audiobook ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.

(I have also shared this review on the Barnes & Noble website)

Well I stepped out of my comfort zone for this one and I did enjoy it. It was horrific (in a good way) I was able to listen to this on audio, and the narrator was fantastic. I was on the edge of my seat the whole story and I didn’t see the ending coming. My only gripe was that it was a little on the long side. 3.5 stars rounded to 4

This one wasn't for me, I didn't find the story and storytelling engaging. The narrator did great though.

This was a nice, spooky season book. Great way to start off my fall reading. The characters were great, and I loved how the building felt like a character in and of itself. I enjoyed the new take on an old beastie, and I appreciated getting to hear about another culture's views of said beastie. The writing was very creepy, and I was constantly thinking, "What the heck is going on here?" which I appreciate in this type of book. Even when the big reveal was made, I felt like there was still a great deal of intrigue wondering how it would all work out in the end. Very enjoyable spooky season read!

I will admit, I went into this book 100% blind. I was expecting something odd, a little quirky. And the first 20% I kind felt meh, about it. But oh man… so glad I kept going. The narrator is 100% top tier. And gah I couldn’t finish this book fast enough! I had to knowC what was happening, why, and who! Amazing read and the perfect season for it.

4.75⭐️ MY GOD. Nat Cassidy, you’ve outdone yourself. “Nestlings” is incredible. I am so grateful I got the opportunity to read this early. This book grips the reader from start to finish, and I simply could not put it down. The characters are just incredible, they remind me a lot of Stephen King’s in the sense of development (but with the pacing of newer thrillers). Honestly, if you liked/loved Riley Sager’s “Lock every door” and you’re wanting something with more bite, and a more complex story, you will love “Nestlings”. Bonus points from the Afterword from the author. Is was honest + vulnerable and has me a little weepy. I would rec this book to ANYONE who is even mildly considering tiptoeing into horror (as I am rn) or anyone who is a horror enthusiast already.

Let me preface this review with some truths - I am a huge fan of Nat Cassidy after reading his debut novel Mary, which I encourage everyone to read. Seeing his sophomore book on Netgalley, I couldn’t hit the request button fast enough.

That second novel is the one which often tells readers if the first great one was just a fluke, or if we have a tremendous new writer.

We have a tremendous new writer.

Second truth - I sometimes take notes on my arcs if I worry I will not recall my feelings to add to the reviews. Not often, but when the writing is compelling, my brain is thinking about the review throughout the reading process.

I have pages of notes on Nestlings.

So, as the book was nearing the end, I knew the review would just spill out of me, and how I wanted it to land.

Then it ended and the author recorded an afterward. Unless it’s an author interview, I tend to skip these but hey, it’s Nat Cassidy. If he’s writing it, I’m not skipping it.

Cassidy himself recorded the afterward and I had tears streaming down my face. He even questioned if he wanted to share this part, and it was moving. He was writing to me. The guts of life exposed.

As a lifelong reader and lover of horror, I believe Cassidy to be the next generation’s horror touch stone. He was influenced by the greats and gives generous nods to the early works he read and loved. Nestlings is reminiscent of the masters like Levin, King and Tryon and will also stand the tests of time as do their novels.

I could go on and on but my one overriding thought while listening to Nestlings involved the author himself. I am nearing 60 and grew up on Stephen King. I cleared the library shelves of every one of his novels in my youth, and still return to many on a regular basis. As both King and I have aged, I’ve often feared what my world will look like some day in the future should he pass before me. There will be a loss in my heart because he made me a constant reader.

Cassidy has the talent to carry this genre. 30 years from now some elderly reader will fondly recall all the books written by Cassidy and loved by millions.

Read Nestlings.

Had I known what type of horror was at the heart of this mystery, I might not have read it because it’s been done before. A lot. But this take is very original and that makes it worth the read. In any case, the creatures don’t feature prominently, while a sense of dread builds slowly. The Deptford Apartments are described in all their creepy glory, its architecture real and horrific. When the monsters are revealed, it is not anything I had read before, so kudos for the originality. The psychology of the characters is also well defined. You can feel the exhaustion of the sleep-deprived parents. I enjoyed Cassandra Campbell’s narration, with distinctive voices for all the characters, even the ones that only appear briefly. Ana and Reid are not very likable (in the afterword, the author says that it was on purpose), so I wasn’t really rooting for them. Still, I was invested in the story and wanted to know what was going to happen next. Ana is so well written that I thought that the author was a woman and was surprised as to how a man could get her insecurities so well. The constant challenges of being in a wheelchair add to the precariousness of her situation and made me think how many things we take for granted (including going to the kitchen for paper towels to clean up a mess - that really resonated with me). I was also not a fan of the actively political content in part of the novel with the addition of a cartoonish character that didn’t really add much to the story, other than as a motivation to leave their original dwellings. I can’t say that I enjoyed this novel, considering how disturbing it is, but I think it is brilliant horror.
I chose to listen to this audiobook and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#Macmillan Audio!

Summary:

Ana and Reid needed a lucky break.

The horrifically complicated birth of their first child has left Ana paralyzed, bitter, and struggling: with mobility, with her relationship with Reid, with resentment for her baby. That's about to change with the words any New Yorker would love to hear—affordable housing lottery.

They've won an apartment in the Deptford, one of Manhattan's most revered buildings with beautiful vistas of Central Park and stunning architecture.

Reid dismisses disturbing events and Ana’s deep unease and paranoia as the price of living in New York—people are odd—but he can't explain the needle-like bite marks on the baby.


My Thoughts: This is my second book by Nat. I LOVED it! This books was bingeworthy. Nat has become an auto read author for me.

Without question one of the best books I've ever read. I really loved this book and I will absolutely be buying myself a physical copy. This was my first Nat Cassidy book and I plan to read "Mary" next month because of how obsessed with this book I am. I will be posting a video review for this book on my TikTok soon @kurryreads

5 stars!! Seriously one of the best books I’ve read all year. It’s the perfect fall read for any horror fan. I can’t wait to read this authors previous work. Definitely a new favorite. The audiobook narrator was also really good and it was easy to follow. Thank you for the arc

Like Rosemary's baby but if Rosemary was postpartum and in a wheelchair.

The subject matter of this one is dark and sinister. I am impressed at the author's ability to write from the perspective of a mother the way that he does.

The narrator was great, I enjoyed the audio. This story is very disturbing, and I like the author's writing. However, I think the subject matter of postpartum isn't my favorite to read.

3.5/5 stars

OMG. I owe all of my appreciation to Macmillan Audio, Tor Nightfire, Nat Cassidy, and Netgalley for digital and audio access before this wickedly delicious treat hits shelves on October 31, 2023 -- the perfect Halloween fright.

This is my first Nat Cassidy book, but it definitely won't be my last for obvious reasons.

Ana and her husband, Reid, are relatively new parents. After a devasting labor & delivery-related injury, Ana is paralyzed from the waist down and even more disconnected from her baby girl, Charlie. This family can't seem to catch a break. That is until they win the affordable housing lottery in a gorgeous and historic apartment building draped with gargoyles, buttresses, and a whole bunch of secret rooms deemed for selective entry.

Charlie simply won't start crying and can't seem to sleep through the night, leaving Ana restless and resenting her baby, feeding into her post-partum depression. But it's not long until something eerie knocks on Charlie's window to quiet her screams, transforming her into something else entirely with an appetite for sugar and blood!

Ana begins to spiral further into her state of insanity while Reid loses his job and begins to work for his building's tenants in some cryptic manner. It's only a matter of time until the truth comes out about this building's monstrous origins, and this tiny family will likely be unable to make it work.

Thank you NetGalley, publisher, and author for this audio ARC. This book hit all the attributes I love! I did not want this story to end and would highly recommend this book. The authors note at the end was the cherry on top! Definitely add this to your list!

after a year of tragedy, Ana and Reid get incredible news. They’ve won a lottery that will allow them to live in one of the most infamous apartment buildings in New York City, at a rate that they can afford. The building is not without challenge; after a complication during the delivery of her child, Ana is confined to a wheelchair, and the apartment is on one of the upper most floors in the building. Still, the couple moves into the new apartment with their infant daughter in tow. It seems that babies are very important to the Deptford and it’s residents, who seem to be very reclusive. Tensions between the couple are already high, but when Reid loses his job and takes a new job with a a strangely youthful old woman, things take a turn for the worse. If you have a weak stomach, there may be a few parts of this book that aren’t for you. But if you are looking for a sly, smart, thriller, look no further. And I would encourage everyone to either listen to read the authors afterward at the end of the story, it will make the book that much sweeter.