4.5 stars

This was such a fantastic, heart wrenching & hopeful read. I spent the entirety of this book holding my breath and my heart in my throat. I want to say that I will recommend this book to everyone because of how thoroughly I enjoyed it, however, it could be triggering to some - so please go into this book lightly knowing its topic is emotional abuse (coercive control).

Nesting follows Ciara & her children (Sophie, Ella & eventually Noah) in leaving a highly emotional abusive (coercive control) relationship with her husband Ryan. Although having left once before, Clara is adamant that this time is for good even if that means an uncertain further for herself and kids.

We watch this story unfold in amongst the housing crisis in Ireland. To say that this book was emotionally charging isn’t enough. Roisín really depicts just how complex it is to escape from an emotionally abusive relationship that has you so completely and utterly isolated, lacking in confidence and just so terrified for not only your own life but in this case for Ciara’s children. However, the strength and courage shown of what it takes to leave and rise above is nothing short of remarkable.

Nesting will be released 29 January 2025.
*thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review*

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Roisin O’Donnell’s absolutely stunning debut novel - Nesting.

A deeply moving and impactful read about the lasting effects of emotional and psychological abuse. A story of the incredible resilience and strength of a mother to protect her children and to leave an awful situation against all odds. This book reminds me of just how powerful fiction can be - becoming more empathetic by putting yourself in someone else’s shoes. Learning a new perspective and understanding ways we might be able to help those such as Ciara. The questions we should keep asking…

Nesting reflects not only on the terrors of abuse, but also social issues such as homelessness, welfare and a system where those most vulnerable slip through the cracks. A thought provoking novel that gets right to the heart of motherhood, hope and love above all else.

I cried, I felt real genuine rage, I laughed. I felt so deeply for Ciara and her children. Nesting is unputdownable, you’ll just HAVE to know how Ciara’s story unfolds. I would absolutely recommend to anyone who likes emotionally charged literary fiction, as well as those drawn towards Irish authors and stories.

Wonderful novel (reads like a memoir), beautifully written and while very disturbing, rightly so. A story of emotional abuse in a marriage and the strength and resilience a mother needs to survive it and escape it. The unfairness of becoming homeless and reliant on state (Irish) aid, and the importance of friends and family and always the love of one's children. As the author says, this is a book for all the women and children homeless tonight (far far too many) but also for all those people— women, men, everyone—who ask that question, 'Why didn't you just leave?' Here is the answer and hopefully a guide to how, in future, we can think and act differently when we have the chance, whether as someone who finds themselves in this terrifying position, or as a friend, family or simply someone who can be supportive somehow, It also has a perfect title! Thank you to the author for writing this and the publisher and NetGalley for an advance digital ARC in return for an honest review.

Whilst I found this to be utterly heart wrenching, this book is written so beautifully and with such tender poignancy, it comes with my highest recommendation. I became totally invested in Ciara’s story, it felt so real, raw and emotional. I was praying for her and the children to find the happy and peaceful life they sought. A powerful, important read, showing how extremely hard it can be to leave an abusive relationship. An amazing debut!

5⭐️’s

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.

Ciara is trapped in what seems a loveless marriage to Ryan. Her family are horrified and sad that she won’t leave him permanently. Ryan is both coercively and sexually abusing Ciara and he has no insight into his violent behavior. Ciara is a shell of the woman she used to be. Ciara has now become frightened for her 2 small children and she finds herself pregnant for a third time. She decides to leave and finds herself homeless in Dublin because her husband will not give her permission for the children to leave Ireland to stay with her family. After Ciara leaves the family home Ryan won’t leave Ciara alone and at times the tension and danger for her and her children is unbearable.

This is a story of a woman reaching rock bottom and the writing is magnificent because you can feel Ciara’s pain every step of the way because it’s very hard for Ciara to actually explain the coercive control Ryan has over her.
This book gives one a good insight into how women who leave their abusive husbands are treated by both the judicial and social welfare systems .This book will keep you thinking long after you have finished reading it. But there is hope and Ciara works very hard to find it. This was the best book I have read this year and highly recommend it. However it should come with a warning for vulnerable women who maybe find themselves in this situation 5 stars all the way.

‘Nesting’ is a touching and at times sorrowful read that will stay with you long after you have closed the book. A beautifully written debut that follows the story of pregnant Ciara as she flees her emotionally abusive husband with their two girls in tow. Set during a housing crisis and with no financial support Ciara finds herself placed in a hotel room while awaiting aid.

O’Donnell does an amazing job at portraying the fear and hopelessness, the sense of isolation experienced by many people who have dealt with abuse at the hands of their loved ones. The impact, not only for Ciara, but for her children as well.

The character growth throughout the story was perfect. Ciara’s resilience as she struggles to create a better life for her and her kids while dealing with manipulation from her husband. Her love for her children and the lengths she would go to keep them safe.

From the moment I started reading I couldn’t put the book down, I had to know how the story ended.

Thank you, Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC.

This book is the definition of "can't put it down". I was so invested in the characters and their story and I couldn't stop reading until I found out what happened to them.

Nesting is a book about domestic abuse, Ireland's housing crisis and the lengths that mothers will go to to create a secure environment for their children.

Parts of the book broke my heart, but the story remained hopeful in the face of hopelessness. I absolutely loved it and will read anything that the author writes.

Nesting is a story about Ciara, a mother of two children (soon to be three) who leaves her home and husband because it’s unsafe. She grabs what she can and goes into the emergency housing system. The story follows her navigating the system, and how impossible it can be, even when you have a support system behind you.

This isn’t the first book of this kind to be written, but I still really enjoyed it.

I enjoyed the concept but simply not for me. I didn’t connect with the characters and I think they, and the story telling was lacking depth.

Nesting is a first novel by Roisin O’Donnell, who has written a stunningly good book about coercive control, manipulation and trauma.
Ciara, a Dublin mum, leaves her marriage for the second time after years of abuse. She has two young girls aged four and two, and has just found out she is pregnant with a third child. While her volatile husband is away from their family home, Ciara packs what she can fit into her small car and goes to a Government housing organisation for assistance. What follows is an overlong stay in a hotel room, the only option available in a society overwhelmed by homelessness.

We follow Ciara through a year of trying to make a home for her family within the shabby hotel room walls, making friends with other people and staff at the hotel. We also meet her supportive mother and sister, both living in England.
Roisin O’Donnell has written an extraordinary and engrossing story of a family in chaos. The book is written in a fast paced, emotionally suspenseful but not overly sentimental style. I could sense both the anxiety and fear in Ciara’s mind as the tension increased in each chapter of the story.

The author has skilfully portrayed the impact of events on each of the characters in the book. The story is tense and gut wrenching, but also encompasses hope, love, resilience and healing.

I was fully immersed in the narrative. This is a compelling story, and I would unconditionally recommend the book to all readers who enjoy modern contemporary fiction.

Nesting is a raw and poignant exploration of the psychological and emotional toll of coercive control in intimate relationships. Set in gorgeous Ireland, the novel follows Ciara, a woman caught in the suffocating grip of her abusive husband, Ryan. Her story is one of unimaginable sacrifice, emotional erosion, and a desperate hope for freedom.

Ciara, once a vibrant and independent teacher who loved to travel, has given up everything—her career, her autonomy, her friendships, and her financial independence—under the unrelenting control of her husband Ryan. Despite the extreme manipulation and emotional abuse she endures, Ciara continues to minimize her suffering, often rationalising the abuse by telling herself that it’s "not as bad as it could be" because it isn’t physical (I honestly found this narrative gut wrenching to read). This quiet internalised justification mirrors the insufferable reality many women in abusive relationships face: the shame and confusion that often comes with emotional abuse, which can be harder to recognise and harder still to escape.

What made Nesting so powerful to me is how it portrays the complexity of motherhood under such circumstances. Ciara’s love for her children is loud and jubilant, and it’s this love that ultimately drives her to consider a way out—though the path is fraught with obstacles. Ciara’s desire for a better life for her children becomes the lens through which she views the world, yet the very system that should protect them—the law, society, the housing market—seems stacked against her.

I adored Roisin's depiction of the solidarity between unfairly marginalised women who endure similar struggles. The way women in Ciara’s community share whispered support and lend quiet strength to one another speaks to the resilience and solidarity that often emerges in the face of adversity. This theme of camaraderie deeply moved me and reveals the ways in which women can reclaim their voices, even when the world around them is pushing them down. Cathy was Ciara's beautiful guardian angel, I loved her character.

Nesting doesn’t just focus on the horrors of abusive relationships; it also delves into the often-unseen battles women face in trying to regain their freedom (especially amongst the societal backdrop of economic strain). The process of reclaiming control over one's life, securing financial independence, and protecting one's children is not a clear-cut journey—it’s riddled with setbacks, unbearable choices, and moments of despair.

Nesting is an important read, not only for its depiction of abusive relationships and the devastating long term effects of coercive control, but also for its examination of the social and economic structures that enable such control to thrive. Roisin crafts a complex, empathetic narrative that is both a call to action and a testament to the quiet strength of women in crisis.

Thank you to Netgalley, Roisin and the publisher for an ARC of this beautiful book!

A brilliant read. I couldn’t put it down. It was like a latter day version of Black and Blue. In fact in this case the domestic violence involved coercive control .

Ciara is from Sheffield ( mum originally from Derry) living in Dublin. Ryan is her husband who engages in coercive control and also occasionally sexually assaults her when she’s asleep. She has two little girls. She finally develops the courage to leave Ryan.

She is pregnant. She decides to fly to England to be with her mum and sister. Sly Ryan has the Gardai stop her at the departure gate at Dublin airport as she has her kids with her.

She has nowhere to live, spends a night sleeping in her car in the Dublin mountains, and then has to live in a grotty hotel room for many months. During this time, Ryan continues to manipulate and gaslight her. His mother joins in. Her mum and sister try to help her but her fear of Ryan is overwhelming, which prevents them from being of any real help.

Ciara becomes increasingly isolated. Ryan gets a lawyer, paid for by his parents, to attempt to obtain custody of the children. Ciara finally seeks Legal Aid. Ryan gets access to the kids that includes one overnight with them a fortnight, which scares Ciara as she knows how unstable he is.

Ciara does the best she can and befriends Cathy, another mum with kids, at the hotel. Ryan pays no maintenance for the kids and is smug about keeping Ciara in penury.

There is a lot of suspense in this story as we wonder whether Ciara will prevail or else just become another domestic violence murder statistic.

It is a beautifully written story that delves into how scummy controlling men like Ryan eat into the minds of women like Ciara and convince them that they are nothing, albeit Ciara having an honours English degree.

As someone who has acted on so many VRO applications for DV survivors, the detail in this story rings very true to me.

Ciara needs to show incredible resilience to overcome Ryan’s vicious nastiness towards her.

This is a very well written story that shows how hard it is for women (especially those with children) to leave a DV relationship.

I highly recommend this powerful book to others. Many thanks to Netgalley for an ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers.

Ciara is a character you can't help but root for from the very beginning. I felt every one of her highs and lows, and I truly understood everything she was going through due to my own experience. This story evoked so many emotions in me that I wanted to scream! Roisin O’Donnell has crafted a novel that many women will be able to relate to. I read this book so quickly that I couldn't put it down.