*Many thanks to Roisin O'Donnel, Hatchette Audio, and NetGalley for a free audiobook in exchange for my honest review.*
Domestic violence covered under subtle appearances is the main theme of the novel, well-developed and giving insight into what lies hidden from the eyes of the outsiders. Ciara Fay makes a decision to leave her marriage built on appearances, and what she faces is not what she expected. And she is not alone, she has small children with her, which makes her flight much, much tougher.
The most interesting part of the book is Ms O'Donnel's efforts to depict a woman's loneliness and helplessness and holes in the social system which is supposed to reach out to women like Ciara.

This was fine. Some books it’s really hard to review - I can see why this worked well for some people but I just didn’t ever feel fully connected to Ciara.

An audiobook that will make you laugh and then cry - sometimes in the same paragraph.

You might think that only thrillers make you turn the pages at breakneck speed, however you would be wrong. This wonderful story kept me entranced throughout. I could not wait to hear how Ciara's life would pan out.

Ciara is a courageous woman with two young girls, aged two and four. One ordinary afternoon, while out in the garden with her girls, she tears the clothing from the washing line, throws them into garbage bags, and she and girls run for her car. Ciara is escaping a marriage in which she is emotionally abused on a regular basis. Her controlling husband, Ryan, thinks he is a great husband as he never actually physically harms her.

What follows is "Nesting". Ciara valiantly struggling to make a home for her two girls. Also, Ciara is newly pregnant, so finding a place to live is imperative. With no income, she is forced to navigate social services, care for her girls, and hopefully... find a job. What made her such an admirable character is the fact that despite her plight, she never lets her desperation show with her children. She is stalwart and supportive to them at a time when she is falling apart inside. Every day they survive is a victory that the reader shares.

Her everyday triumphs and failures keep the listener/reader tense. The overloaded social housing system places Ciara and her family in a hotel room. The hotel has one floor for people like her - people who do not have housing, whose families (and often their spirits) are broken. It is here, in this single hotel room that Ciara tries to raise her children, and make a life for herself. It is to this hotel room that she celebrates Christmas. Her powerless position makes her vulnerable. Meanwhile Ryan, her husband, begins a relentless campaign to have her move back into the family home. He uses every wily trick in his arsenal, using emotional manipulation, gas-lighting, and his own mother's coercion to bring his family home. At all times Ciara is questioning her own actions. Is she doing the right thing by her girls? Should she go back for their sakes? He undermines her every move and thought. He personifies coercive control.

Heart-achingly realistic, this novel will tug at your heartstrings, make you cheer at Ciara's successes, worry over her failures, and share her frustration at a life that has turned so unfair. Ciara's courage and determination will astound you, leaving you hopeful and uplifted. Along the way she meets many new friends, has her baby, and ultimately finds a 'nest' that can ease her desperation - and then Ryan rears his head - again...

The narrator, Louisa Harland, was born in Dublin. Her authentic accent and melodious voice adds heft to the life of Ciara Fay.

"Nesting" is a novel that will remain in my mind for years to come. An outstanding and unforgettable debut, brilliantly written with empathy and understanding. Highly, highly, recommended!

Nesting by Roisin O'Donnell is probably the best book I've read all year. Exploring an abusive relationship, O'Donnell making the choice to have no violence in the relationship really did allow you to empathise with Ciara's confused state. Ciara's family support, the state of the Irish housing crisis and the social welfare available to Ciara and her 2 children are on display, as well as the complexities of being pregnant add to the situation.

This is a book that quite simply does what you expects, but does it really well - you've probably read a book like this before, but I doubt you've read one quite as good as this. I cannot believe this is a debut novel too, Roisin O'Donnell is the master of her craft, making everything look really simple, while communicating quite a lot, and crafting the emotions and trust in the reader perfectly.

I always like to give thanks for the privledge of reading an ARC - but today I want to give thanks to the pleasure of reading it too.

Link to my review on youtube - https://youtube.com/shorts/kP8LUsaEzvk?feature=share

I liked this one, though it was rather long and a bit dark. The narrator is a little mumbly for me, but played Ciara quite well. The author did a superb job painting the characters. From Ryan and Ciara to the folks she meets during her hotel stay, you feel like you could reach out and touch (or throttle) them. Being a mom of young children is tricky in itself. You tend to lose who you are for a bit. Ciara struggles with this and battles with herself about doing the right thing. Very well done.

Nesting by Roisin O'Donnell is a gripping and heartfelt story about a woman's desperate escape from an abusive husband to protect her children and build a new life. Ciara Fay endures daily emotional and verbal abuse, isolated from family and friends by her controlling husband, Ryan, who outwardly appears as a perfect husband and father. With no plan and little money, Ciara makes a daring escape with her children, only to face further obstacles: legal blocks on her children's passports prevent her from fleeing Ireland, and the broken housing system leaves them homeless, sleeping in their car before finding temporary shelter in an emergency hotel room. Unlike other books of this genre, Nesting is not a fast-moving page-turner. Instead, the reader experiences the day to day insecurities of a family starting over, often with one step forward and two steps back.
An excellent choice for book clubs and discussion groups.

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

Personally bounced off this one because of the narration of the children's voices, but this is still a recommended purchase for collections where heavier women's fiction is popular.

First, many thanks to Algonquin and NetGalley for allowing me an advanced, complementary audiobook. I have to agree with all the readers out there--this is definitely a 5 star novel. The audiobook was a performance and well-done. The Irish accent not so thick that I couldn't understand it. I raced through this. I listened while I was doing housework and driving; I even took the dog for longer walks. This is a book that reads very true about emotional abuse in a marriage. Ryan does not allow Ciara to work outside the home (even though she had a degree to teach), she is isolated from friends and family, she is given the exact amount of money needed to go shopping and belittled constantly. Ciara lives in fear of setting Ryan off. At the same time, she tells herself that he is not beating her up, that she and the children have a home. She asks herself would leaving be better for the kids? She worries that other people looking in, would say. This is a very emotional read and may be a trigger for those who have been through this--but it may also be a confirmation to someone that might need to be leaving an abusive marriage. I found myself pulling for Ciara as she set out to change her and her children's life. I admired her fortitude and cried through her many hiccups along the way.

A really incredible book that will stay with me for a long time. I would highly reccomend the audio as the narrator's accents for herself as well as the kids and Diego really brought the story to life. So impactful, devastating and hopeful. I loved it.

This novel reads like a memoir, because it is so similar to many stories of women trying to be free of abusive relationships.

This woman faces emotional, financial, sexual abuse. She has become a shell of herself, with her life revolving around keeping her husband as stable as possible, and her children safe. One day she had enough, she grabbed clothes off the clothesline, took her kids and left. The novel follows her story of survival as she finds a way to make money, navigates the difficult housing crisis for those in need, and having to anticipate and decipher her husband's moves as he does all he can to regain control over her and gain full custody.

It's heart wrenching, yet beautiful. Women are so strong when it comes to protecting our children.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Nesting is a beautifully written and audio narrated work of what it takes to leave an abusive relationship and what it takes to stay gone especially when there are children involved. It is not an easy read but I had so much comfort in it after some of my own life experiences. Sometimes we just need to know we're not the only one who's felt this way. This book helps you feel unalone.

On a bright spring afternoon, Ciara Fay makes a split-second decision that will change everything. Grabbing an armful of clothes off the clothesline, she straps her two young daughters into her car and drives away. Head spinning, all she knows for certain is that home is no longer safe—and that this time, when she leaves, she must stay away. Her husband Ryan seems like a good guy on the surface, but he's actually super controlling and constantly gas lights her.

The story takes off from here and tells of Ciara's struggles to get away from Ryan and start a new life without him. At times, I felt the tension and uneasiness for her and the kids. Other times, I was quite bored and felt like the story dragged on. I considered DNFing a few times, but I just increased the audiobook speed and finished. I also did not like the whiny voices of the kids, drove me crazy after awhile.

Overall, the writing seemed good, I just didn't fully connect to the story and found it not really to my taste. I may be in the minority here because it seems to be getting really great early reviews. If you like literary fiction, maybe give this one a try.

Thank you to @netgalley, @algonquinbooks and @hachetteaudio for this advance listener's copy in exchange for my honest review.

Happy Publication Day!

5+ stars!

2025 Favourites List! 🏆

A mothers determination to protect her children.

A heart-wrenching, eye-opening, contemplative, heavy, unforgettable story.

A mother makes a split second decision to take her young daughters and flee her abusive marriage. With no family close by to help, she finds refuge in a hotel organized through the broken housing system in Dublin. Her husband bombards her with his endless demands for her return, all while she battles her own guilt and self doubt.

I had an immediate, intense connection to the main character. Her vulnerability as a wife, mother and woman was heartbreaking. She struggles to find her own sense of identity which has been attacked, manipulated, cut down and buried by her spouses abusive behaviour. Reaching the point of desperation, she finds the strength and determination to leave to protect her children and herself, even though the future is uncertain. I felt for her with every bone in my body.

This author explores motherhood in a raw and vulnerable way that makes the reader sympathize with the characters situation. The sense of desperation and loss was palpable and gut wrenching. The overrun government housing assistance system explored the endless struggles those in need face on a daily, weekly and monthly basis full of check ins, paperwork and constant judgement and limitations.

This was a heavy and dark story but there were glimmers of hope scattered throughout that helped to propel the main character forward and keep focused on improving the family life for her children. Self doubt is a major theme explored and one many people face in these desperate and uneasy circumstances.

Support systems are key, but not everyone has this and finding outside support isn’t as smooth a process as it should be. Friendships made in these dark circumstances can often become lifelines of support and comfort.

I adored everything about this multi-layered, thought-provoking novel. This won’t be for everyone, as the story is a slow burn, emotionally exhausting, haunting and heartbreaking reading experience. It is one that I feel will be most impactful for mothers who will certainly find themselves putting themselves in this main characters situation and contemplating how they would cope.

⚠️ there are plenty of trigger warnings in this story, so please review those before reading this.

Audio rating: 5+ stars! I adored this audio narrator! She greatly enhanced my overall connection to this story and the main character in particular. Her narrative pauses and expressions were done to perfection. There are times when she is contemplating thoughts and situations and these inner narratives were heartfelt and emotional. The audio narratives changed for the children’s voices and during phone calls that echoed distantly, which enhanced the overall audio listening experience. This will be an All Time Favourite audiobook for me! I HIGHLY recommend the audiobook.

Thank you to the publisher for my gifted reading copy and audio copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

This was a moving, heartfelt and at times heartbreaking debut that sees a pregnant Irish mother of two young children finding the strength to leave her abusive husband and try to forge a new life for herself and her children in Dublin. Ciara Fay is such a relatable character! I couldn't help rooting for and cheering on her strength as she struggles to find housing as a single mother, battles her ex for custody and fights the the urges to give in and go back to a bad situation. Great on audio and highly recommended! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review! I look forward to reading more from this author in the future!!

At some points, I have to say, this was very difficult to get through…

Imagine you’re a young Mom, living in Dublin with two little girls and a new baby on the way. Now, imagine that your husband is EXCELLENT at GASLIGHTING you…
every…waking….moment…of…your…life. 😮😮😮

Meet Ciara. She was a college student, training to be a teacher when she met Ryan. It was a whirlwind romance…and she thought she was in love. And then there was a pregnancy…and a quick wedding…
No more plans of teaching. No more dreams. Everything basically wiped out in a flash…. And then the mental abuse began….
And the little digs… And the fact that he dragged her family into their fights…etc, etc….

And it only gets worse from here…
And … she now has two little ones to worry about and protect.

Can she escape? Can she make a plan?

He controls everything… including the money.

Her family wants nothing more than for her to get away. To be happy! For her kids to be happy… and safe!!
But they live so far away… and they can’t really help her.

And so she makes a plan…. And, makes a move….

But it seems like everything and everyone is working against her.
Can she ever get away? Where will she go?
And he keeps trying to reel her back in to come home….

This one was a cyclone of emotions for me. Angry. Sad. Disheartened. Furious. And then…as she speaks of and interacts with her girls…elated, hopeful, happy…and sad all over again.

**** IF YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND IT UPSET YOU…PLEASE STEER CLEAR. IT’S A LOT! ****

If in fact, you can handle it, please consider giving this one a try. It was definitely eye-opening…to say the least.

And the justice system… just scary. 🫣

And let me just say, it’s a bit crazy to think that this could ACTUALLY happen…and yet it does…all the time. 😢

4 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 for me, happily rounded up to 5!

#Nesting by #RoisinODonnell and narrated beautifully by #LouisaHarland.

**** Not yet released****. Coming out on February 18! So, look 👀 for it then!!

Thanks so much to #NetGalley, #HachetteAudio and #AlgonquinBooks for an ARC of the audiobook!

Thanks so much for checking out my review!!
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If you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if YOU read it!! 📚⭐️

I received an ALC for Nesting by Roisin O'Donnell narrated by Louisa Harland and it was an excellent listening experience. I won't bury the lead here - I am giving this book 4.5 stars. The narration is excellent. Our main character, Ciara, is tired. She lives in a home with her husband and two young girls. She is responsible for the home and the raising of the kids while her husband, Ryan, works. One day, without any planning, she has had enough, and she grabs her two girls and she leaves. She doesn't feel it is safe to stay. It is not at first clear, how desperate she feels, but through the narrator, we know how tired she is. The story comes together steadily, and you learn why she had to leave. It is often this way for women who are emotionally and psychologically battered but not physically harmed. They don't want to talk about the emotional abuse because they don't think people will understand and they are embarrassed to be in this position. Ciara's situation is desperate because she does not have any money, she can't ask her family for money and her husband has long since separated her from her friends. My heart broke reading this story. Ciara really needs to find her own way and find her strength to forge a new path for her and her children. This is beautifully written and I highly recommend. Thank you to Net Galley and Hachette Audio for my advance listener copy. This book is being released on February 18, 2025. Highly recommend.

Ciara Fay grabs her two young daughters, her car keys and a handful of clothing. She’s leaving her husband, Ryan, and this time she’s staying away for good. Ciara’s family is in England and after she married Ryan her world in Dublin became very small. She constantly walks on egg shells around her husband, afraid of what will set him off. It’s hard for her to explain the abuse and gaslighting because it is not physical. On top of that, she’s pregnant with her third child.

This lyrical, character-driven novel follows Ciara as she attempts to separate herself from Ryan and begin a life on her own terms. Louisa Harland’s narration brings with it the heaviness of asserting independence after years of control. If you enjoy character driven novels, this one is for you. I was totally invested in the story.

Thank you to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for this advance listening copy.

Ciara lives a seemingly perfect life as a stay-at-home mum with a handsome and charming husband and two little girls in Dublin. Ciara loves her children more than anything, and when she finds out she's pregnant with her 3rd baby, makes a huge decision - to take her girls and run away from her husband and "perfect" home. However, Ciara has no money or savings of her own, because her husband gaslit her into thinking she couldn't work and he policed all finances and money in the household. Ciara can't have a conversation with her husband without him either love-bombing or calling her a selfish and awful mother who ruined his life. Though he hasn't been physically violent, Ciara is scared of her husband, and her decision to leave takes her on an emotional journey through social assistance programs, the custody court, found family, and discovering her definition of "home" in a incredibly difficult situation.  
 
O’Donnell expertly weaves Ciara’s delicate mental gymnastics of trying to rationalize her husband's behaviour, her fears, her love for her babies, her ambition to make it on her own, her love for her sister and her own single mum. Ciara’s characterization is immaculate and so believable. Gorgeous symbology throughout. This story was emotional and beautiful and I loved it.

I have been seeing such great advance reviews for Nesting and they are very deserved. Fantastic read!

Such a lovely flow to the words written. There was something very heartbreaking about Ciara's continued lack of confidence in her choices to escape Ryan's abuse, in how she couldn't quite fully commit to breaking away. Listening to her inner monologue was an insight into the trauma of abuse that is mental vs physical. The fear and impact on her children vs the continued suffering if she stayed.

I loved the parallels between Ciara and Chase the crow, both kept leashed and under Ryan's control in different ways.

Thank you to NetGalley, Algonquin Books, Hachette Audio, and Roisín O'Donnell for the opportunity to listen to an arc of NESTING.

A slice-of-life story following a mother who is abused by her husband, and the results of her deciding to leave him for herself, her daughters, and her unborn baby. This novel dives into the complexities of abuse and how it is perceived by family, friends, authorities, etc., as well as the long terms affects and the cyclical nature of abuse. It's a beautiful and heartbreaking story, one that is so important to tell as so many people (sadly) can relate to it. It also outlines societal achievements AND downfalls in terms of support and care specifically for women in domestic abuse situations.

There were moments where the mundanity of their day-to-day dragged a bit for me, which ended up making it a little harder for me to stay engaged and relate to the main character. However, the story was still told beautifully, especially when it came to the continuous imagery of birds as an analogy for what the main character was experiencing.

The audiobook itself was fantastic, a great narrator paired with well-mixed audio effects made the story immersive. I would recommend this to those who are interested in this type of story and/or have even experienced this and are looking for a story to relate to.

This title will be released on 2/18/25!