#BookReview of #Nesting by Roisín O’Donnell

‘An extraordinary and urgent debut by a prize-winning Irish writer,
NESTING introduces an unforgettable new voice in fiction.‘

[ About Nesting ]

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.

What will it take for Ciara to rebuild her life? Can she ever truly break away from Ryan’s control – and what will be the cost?

[ My Review ]

Nesting by Roisín O’Donnell published January 30th 2025 with Scribner and is described as ‘tense, beautiful, and underpinned by an unassailable love, hope and resilience, this is the story of one woman’s bid to start over.’

An instant bestseller Nesting is a heart-breaking yet powerful tale, one that will remain in the mind of all readers long after the final page is turned. Ciara is married with two little girls and struggling to stay afloat. Born in the UK and now settled in Dublin she lives her life on the edge in fear of her husband Ryan who has now become her tormentor. Before meeting Ryan, Ciara lived an exuberant life, travelling the world teaching English and exploring other places and cultures. After meeting Ryan Ciara doesn’t recognise herself anymore. Now surviving a very lonely existence, her two little girls are the only reason she gets out of bed every day.

She has attempted to leave Ryan in the past but his coercive personality persuaded her back and now she feels helpless and alone. But, one day, on a whim, she bundles her girls into the car, bringing a few basic items and drives off. Unsure of where to go, a part of her naively thinks that the welfare system will be understanding and will assist her but the eye-opening truth is soon revealed to Ciara when she faces an insurmountable battle to just about survive.

Living in the close confines of a hotel room while trying to get work, with Ryan breathing down her neck is too much for Ciara and, at time, she feels the draw of home. Perhaps she misjudged Ryan. Perhaps they could make it work again. Perhaps, just maybe, it was all her fault. All these thoughts mingle in her brain as she tries to circumnavigate the housing and welfare system while keeping her children safe and fed but the guilt is relentless. What kind of mother is she? Who would leave a home and live, out of choice, in a hotel room? Confused, exhausted and traumatised Ciara battles through multiple obstacles but can she really escape this man, the father of her children?

Nesting is a deeply emotional and affecting novel that exposes a world that many of us will hopefully never experience. There is a real sense of authenticity flowing through the book as Ciara’s tale unravels. Her anguish and her feelings of inadequacy are heartwrenching, leaving the reader frustrated at how a system can be so broken and diminish a person to such a level. An astounding debut Roisín O’Donnell’s writing is potent and extremely vivid. A story of hope and resilience, depicting the purest of love between a mother and her children, Nesting is a beautiful and magnetic debut.

[ Bio ]

Roisín O’Donnell is an award-winning Irish author. She won the prize for Short Story of the Year at the An Post Irish Book Awards in 2018, and was shortlisted for the same prize in 2022. She is the author of the story collection Wild Quiet, which was longlisted for the Edge Hill Short Story Prize and shortlisted for the Kate O’Brien Award. Her short fiction has featured in The Stinging Fly, The Tangerine, the Irish Times and many other places. Other stories have been selected for major anthologies such as The Long Gaze Back, and have featured on RTÉ Radio. Nesting is her first novel. She lives near Dublin with her two children.

A BBC RADIO 4 BOOK AT BEDTIME
THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES AND IRISH TIMES BESTSELLER
LONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN’S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2025
A BBC RADIO 2 BOOK CLUB PICK
AN OBSERVER BEST DEBUT NOVELIST OF 2025