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curlydanreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Antisemitism, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
blacksphinx's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
When it was pitched to me as "Rosemary's Baby meets Salem's Lot in New York City", I was interested. When I listened to Nat Cassidy talk about this book and he said it was, in part, a Jewish vampire story, I was sold. It more than delivered on those promises with a building that feels alive, some of the most horrific body horror I've ever read, and an extremely satisfying series of Chekov's guns going off at the end.
Please publishers, give us more disabled protagonists and more Jewish horror!
Please publishers, give us more disabled protagonists and more Jewish horror!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Death, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Vomit, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Grief, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Death of parent
This book in takes in New York City after the start of the pandemic; characters only take minimal precautions against covid.lattelibrarian's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Holy shit. HOW is Nat Cassidy SUCH a good writer?? From the get-go I was squeamish. I mean, there's bugs. Lots of 'em. There's also gargoyles, vampires, and insectile appendages, so really, there's no shortage of grossness. Still, even with the gross factor, this book is incredible.
Our new parents finally win the housing lottery to live in the most coveted building in New York City. But there's little known about it, and delivery workers refuse to enter it. Regardless, it's enviable. Even if it feels a little...off.
On top of being a new mother, Ana is recently disabled due to her labor. She struggles to cope and is frequently barraged by the ableism she faces. Reid, her husband, refuses to admit that he hated taking care of both his newborn and his wife and is so incredibly relieved that both parties are doing much better. Reid thinks that the Deptford is the chance of a lifetime. Ana is more pessimistic, though she'd argue it's simply realism. Still, it feels a little...off.
These characters are memorable and their flaws are integral to the book and equally integral to their successes and failures. This couple is far from perfect, and the differences between their internal lives and what they share are vast.
Included within the horror is bugs, motherhood, blood, vomit, more bugs, antisemitism, and a cast of characters who are as fun as they are terrible. Love this book.
Our new parents finally win the housing lottery to live in the most coveted building in New York City. But there's little known about it, and delivery workers refuse to enter it. Regardless, it's enviable. Even if it feels a little...off.
On top of being a new mother, Ana is recently disabled due to her labor. She struggles to cope and is frequently barraged by the ableism she faces. Reid, her husband, refuses to admit that he hated taking care of both his newborn and his wife and is so incredibly relieved that both parties are doing much better. Reid thinks that the Deptford is the chance of a lifetime. Ana is more pessimistic, though she'd argue it's simply realism. Still, it feels a little...off.
These characters are memorable and their flaws are integral to the book and equally integral to their successes and failures. This couple is far from perfect, and the differences between their internal lives and what they share are vast.
Included within the horror is bugs, motherhood, blood, vomit, more bugs, antisemitism, and a cast of characters who are as fun as they are terrible. Love this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Body horror, Antisemitism, and Medical trauma
Minor: Confinement, Racial slurs, and Suicidal thoughts
aparker89's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infertility, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
horriblestgremlin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Gore, Racism, Sexism, Vomit, Antisemitism, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
bookdragon217's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"What does it mean to be a mother? But that was the trick. There was no one meaning."
Reading Nestlings by Nat Cassidy was such an amazing experience. There were moments when I was scared to death and triggered by some of my biggest fears but the payout was so worth it. Cassidy managed to play on the readers' fears with the horror aspects while at the same time delivering such depth and substance. So many of these moments will live rent-free in my brain and still give me the creeps. I don't know about y'all, but creepy babies, bugs, gargoyles, and old, tall buildings with loads of secrets give me so much anxiety. When I finished this one, I literally exhaled and said, "Wow! This book was great!"
The best part of this one was how Cassidy was able to weave in important themes to a NYC horror story without making it feel super heavy. The sweet spot was in the balance for sure. He showcased the horrors of the predatory housing system in NYC, the trauma of bed bug infestations, and the economic inequalities, especially in the healthcare system. I love how he explored Jewish identity and religiousness and wasn't afraid to challenge some longstanding beliefs or "curses." I could tell a lot of research and thought went into the representation of disability, motherhood, post-birth trauma and post-partum depression. It was handled with care and felt very personal. He really makes the reader take a deeper dive into ableism, grief from becoming disabled and parenthood based on one's own experiences with their parents. There was just so much to love about this one.
If you love horror stories that are going to fill you with dread, make you feel uneasy in your own home and make your skin crawl then run and grab yourself a copy. Turn off the lights, light a candle, get a warm blanket and hot drink, and enjoy the ride. This is one of the best horror books I've read this year. Nat Cassidy is an official auto-buy author from now on. I've gotten to meet Cassidy on three occasions and he is such a genuinely nice person.
#Nestlings #NatCassidy #horror #bookstagram #bookish #books
#reading #bookrecommendation #bookreviews #bookphotography #horrorbooks #nyc #bookworm #jewish
Reading Nestlings by Nat Cassidy was such an amazing experience. There were moments when I was scared to death and triggered by some of my biggest fears but the payout was so worth it. Cassidy managed to play on the readers' fears with the horror aspects while at the same time delivering such depth and substance. So many of these moments will live rent-free in my brain and still give me the creeps. I don't know about y'all, but creepy babies, bugs, gargoyles, and old, tall buildings with loads of secrets give me so much anxiety. When I finished this one, I literally exhaled and said, "Wow! This book was great!"
The best part of this one was how Cassidy was able to weave in important themes to a NYC horror story without making it feel super heavy. The sweet spot was in the balance for sure. He showcased the horrors of the predatory housing system in NYC, the trauma of bed bug infestations, and the economic inequalities, especially in the healthcare system. I love how he explored Jewish identity and religiousness and wasn't afraid to challenge some longstanding beliefs or "curses." I could tell a lot of research and thought went into the representation of disability, motherhood, post-birth trauma and post-partum depression. It was handled with care and felt very personal. He really makes the reader take a deeper dive into ableism, grief from becoming disabled and parenthood based on one's own experiences with their parents. There was just so much to love about this one.
If you love horror stories that are going to fill you with dread, make you feel uneasy in your own home and make your skin crawl then run and grab yourself a copy. Turn off the lights, light a candle, get a warm blanket and hot drink, and enjoy the ride. This is one of the best horror books I've read this year. Nat Cassidy is an official auto-buy author from now on. I've gotten to meet Cassidy on three occasions and he is such a genuinely nice person.
#Nestlings #NatCassidy #horror #bookstagram #bookish #books
#reading #bookrecommendation #bookreviews #bookphotography #horrorbooks #nyc #bookworm #jewish
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Body horror, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, and Classism
Minor: Alcoholism and Sexism
minimicropup's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Eerie. Apprehensive. Brave.
🇺🇸 Set in a gothic-style Art Deco apartment across from Central Park in New York, USA
POV: Told in third-person narration, we mainly follow a married couple grappling with the challenges of new parenthood and post-birth trauma.
Mood Reading Match Up:
-Infusions of grown-up Goosebumps vibes set against a gothic Manhattan backdrop.
-Integrating folklore horror and mythological creatures into urban life
-Strong, complex character studies (including the monsters) with gradually evolving atmospheric plots
-Exploring themes and social commentary on luck, heritage, Jewish identity, the rawness of parenthood, birth trauma, and struggling with new parent identities.
—
🐺 Growls, Howls, and Tail Wags 🐕
✏️ Writing: The writing style is direct and to the point, immediately drawing me in.
🫥 Characters: The narrative provides a ‘fly on the wall’ perspective, mainly from Ana and Reid’s points of view, but also includes other characters when relevant.
🗺️ Worldbuilding: The setting in Manhattan feels authentic and immersive, with sensory details that create a parallel universe feel. The lore around the building adds an extra layer of intrigue.
🔥 Fuel: Suspense is masterfully built through scenes that lack context, keeping me guessing and engaged.
🐇 Pacing: The pacing is well-executed, maintaining momentum even through intense scenes.
🎬 Scenes: The novel has a cinematic quality, I want a movie/mini-series adaptation!
💭 Random Thoughts: The portrayal of a parent struggling with bonding and resentment towards their child is handled with depth and realism, exploring the complexities and often unspoken aspects of parenthood. I love how this veers away from the typical mother-child bond, momma bear worship.
—
Content Heads-Up: Medical (birth injury). Disability (inaccessibility, paralysis). Ableism. Covid-19 (recall). Racist character (antisemitism). Anxiety, panic attacks (experienced, triggered). Toxic parent. Sexual content (consenting, relationship). Post-partum depression (recalled, insinuated). Unemployment. Suicidal thoughts, attempt. Sleep deprivation. Loss of a parent (recall, grief). Body horror (mutation, feeding, body fluids).
Rep includes: Jewish American, differently-abled (wheelchair mobility) and White characters, delving into their experiences and traditions.
Format: Library Digital via Libby.
🤩 This was one of my Favourite Books of 2023
“Reviews are my musings 💖 powered by puppy snuggles 🐶 refined by my AI Bestie ✨”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Medical trauma
Moderate: Body horror, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, and Antisemitism
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic
grey_jayne's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Nestlings is a page turning blast! I've been enjoying Jewish horror films and I'm glad to report that this was a great Jewish horror book. And there's quality disability representation.
The Chapters all have numerical chapters within them, a clear indicator that Stephen King is a strong influence here. Cassidy's writing flows in that vintage King way too without the problematic voice of much of King's work.
It was a lot of fun and many people are calling Nestlings the best horror book of 2023 so definitely check it out.
The Chapters all have numerical chapters within them, a clear indicator that Stephen King is a strong influence here. Cassidy's writing flows in that vintage King way too without the problematic voice of much of King's work.
It was a lot of fun and many people are calling Nestlings the best horror book of 2023 so definitely check it out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Body horror
Moderate: Racism and Antisemitism
opossum_readz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Antisemitism, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Pregnancy
Postpartum depression, infanticidebookedbymadeline's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
4.5
Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing for the eARC!
First let me preface by saying I loved that there’s content warnings at the beginning of the book, I think it’s something all authors should do! Now onto the review.
First let me preface by saying I loved that there’s content warnings at the beginning of the book, I think it’s something all authors should do! Now onto the review.
The book is told through switching POVs between Ana and Reid mostly, but occasionally we get POVs from some minor characters. I was immediately pulled in and didn’t want to put this one down! The writing is atmospheric with Very tense, eerie vibes. I had goosebumps, felt like I was being watched and general creepy crawlies while reading (do not recommend reading at night right before bed) 🫣
It slowed a bit in the middle but overall the pacing was well done! The character development was also fantastic, I really liked Ana and watching her grow throughout the novel. Although both MCs were well written, Ana was so complex and had great depth to her 😍
This novel is incredibly written in its exploration of grief and motherhood. The topics of postpartum, disability, and infertility were well written/handled with care! I can’t speak for the disability community but the infertility rep made me feel so seen.
This novel is incredibly written in its exploration of grief and motherhood. The topics of postpartum, disability, and infertility were well written/handled with care! I can’t speak for the disability community but the infertility rep made me feel so seen.
I loved the acknowledgements as well! I’ve never been so moved by an authors note 💗
Nestlings is a unique horror novel in terms of the plot and adding to some horror lore with a new twist. If you like horror novels or movies/shows, I’d highly recommend! Nestlings is marketed as Salem’s Lot meets Rosemary’s Baby, but it also gave me Midnight Mass vibes 👻 I’ll definitely be checking out more of Cassidy’s horror novels!
Rep: Jewish MCs and author, paraplegia FMC, infertility rep
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Infertility, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Ableism, Racism, Sexism, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting