Thank you Hachette Audio, #partner for the ALC of Nesting in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Published: February 18, 2025
Summary:
On a bright spring afternoon in Dublin, Ciara Fay makes a split-second decision that will change everything. Grabbing an armful of clothes from the washing line, Ciara 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.
This was meant to be an escape. But with dwindling savings, no job, and her family across the sea, Ciara finds herself adrift, facing a broken housing system and the voice of her own demons. As summer passes and winter closes in, she must navigate raising her children in a hotel room, searching for a new home and dealing with her husband Ryan’s relentless campaign to get her to come back—because leaving is one thing, but staying away is another.
My thoughts:
I seem to be on a roll with powerful, thought-provoking reads that just happen to be debuts. I am not even sure how I came upon this on, but I’m so glad I did and even though I listened to it, I’ll definitely be grabbing a hard-copy for my shelf…this is one I need to have!
Ciara Fay is the type of character I won’t be forgetting anytime soon. She’s a young mother, trapped in a toxic marriage, trying her hardest to get out and find a better place to raise her children. She not only takes on her abusive husband but the housing system as well, which seems to be working against her at every step.
This is the type of book that packs such an emotional punch. I felt such a range of emotions, often within a short period. O’Donnell’s prose is both lyrical and raw, reminding me very much of Louise Kennedy, another Irish author I am fond of. I felt the despair & even hope that Ciara felt throughout this book as she fought for herself and her children, the suspense and tension so palpable and it kept me fully engaged not knowing how things would turn out.
This is a book I will be singing the praises of and recommending to everyone. It really shines a light on so many important issues and would make for a great bookclub pick, provided everyone is comfortable discussing such heavy topics.
Audio thoughts:
The audio is brilliantly narrated by Louisa Harland. Her accents for the characters, the way the voiced the children’s characters, the emotions she infused into her voice, all made for an excellent listening experience.
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