Nesting cover art

Nesting

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Nesting

By: Roisin O'Donnell
Narrated by: Louisa Harland
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About this listen

 This audiobook is narrated by Louisa Harland, star of Derry Girls and Renegade Nell.

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

'Tense, forensically realistic and compulsively readable. A real achievement' SUNDAY TIMES

‘Here is a novelist who has powerful news to tell, and an impressive range of narrative gifts with which to tell it’ IRISH TIMES

‘Should become essential reading for all. Nesting​ is a novel that truly matters’ SUNDAY INDEPENDENT

'A moving portrait of life inside the housing system and the courage it takes to try to build a home in society’s cracks'​ GUARDIAN
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An extraordinary and urgent debut by a prize-winning Irish writer, NESTING introduces an unforgettable new voice in fiction.

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?

Tense, beautiful, and underpinned by an unassailable love, hope and resilience, this is the story of one woman’s bid to start over.
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‘Brand-new, urgent and hugely satisfying’ RODDY DOYLE

'As emotionally charged as it is brutally real. The writing is flawless. I was profoundly moved’ ELAINE FEENEY

‘Will make your blood boil and your heart soar. This is an important novel' CLAIRE KILROY

‘Gorgeous, maddening, thrilling and compassionate’ SHEILA ARMSTRONG©2025 Roisin O'Donnell (P)2025 Simon & Schuster, UK Editors Select Family Life Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Political World Literature Heartfelt Inspiring Thought-Provoking

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All stars
Most relevant  
Heart wrenching story - moments of such sweetness throw into stark contrast the menacing threat of the controlling and coercive husband and the seemingly insurmountable challenges Ciara and her children face. Couldn’t stop listening and the narration was faultless.

Compelling

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Once I started Nesting I couldn’t stop. A fantastic, raw book about a woman’s struggle with coercive control. Amid the brutality of Ciara’s situation, the layers of bureaucracy was the beauty of people and a society that cared, wrapped in nature that unflinching continued one season at a time.

Absolutely Fantastic

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I loved the way the book drew me into the story from page one.
The narrator was perfect for this story and so easy to listen to. Looking forward to anything else written by this author.

Couldn’t put the book down

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Couldn’t put this down - a brilliantly written account handling such a sensitive subject with grace and eloquence. I felt everything Ciara felt.

Gripping from start to finish

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Really well written, captures the emotions and story so well. Found the narration jarring at times despite the gorgeous voice - the “children’s” voices were odd - so much so that there were a few times I thought maybe I’d switch to reading instead of listening. Glad I saw it through though, would recommend

Compelling story, brilliantly written

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I found the child voice very irritating while I suspect it was deliberate made for very annoying listening along the lowering of volume for phone call both took far more away then they added to narration

Irritations

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A harrowing tale that rings so very true. Beautifully told and stays with you. This one is well worth reading.

Powerful

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The perspective of this book is so realistic, you understand the pain , the mental exhaustions and the effort to break the cycle

Excellent

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Loved the story and narration, resonant & emotive. The only negative was the narration and acting out of the children’s voices - sounding like young annoying cartoon characters.

So Authentic For What Could Be A Real Life Experience

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This book is every mother’s worse nightmare. A monster of a husband and being hit with a wall at every turn. This book is so fantastic your heart beats like a thriller and at times you get so frustrated with Ciara who is just doing the best job she can. This is a woman who has been forced beyond the brink.

Mother

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