Read With Us: Nesting

We announced our Spring Read With Us book a couple of weeks ago, and by now I hope you're all on your library wait lists and moving up in the queues. We'll be writing promotional posts designed to provide you with some reasons why we hope you'll want to read the book, and it's my turn today. Just as a reminder, we're going to be reading Nesting by Roisín O’Donnell.

We chose the book mainly because it was on the Women's Prize for Fiction Longlist. None of us had read it when we made the choice, but I was lucky enough to get a copy from my library within a couple of days. I raced through it and found it both gripping and emotionally powerful. I personally think that Nesting is an unforgettable choice.

The book follows Ciara Fay, a Dublin woman on the brink of reclaiming her freedom after enduring years of psychological and emotional abuse from her husband. As she plans her escape, Ciara must navigate fear, manipulation, and dig deep to find her own hard-won resilience. O'Donnell’s storytelling is unflinching yet deeply compassionate, capturing the silent battles so many endure behind closed doors.

For book groups like ours, Nesting offers a rare opportunity to open up meaningful conversations around topics often left unspoken:

• Emotional Abuse and Coercive Control: How does emotional abuse differ from physical abuse? What are the invisible scars it leaves behind?

• Resilience and Renewal: Ciara's journey is not just about survival—it’s about reclaiming agency, identity, and hope.

• Psychological Tension: O'Donnell masterfully builds an atmosphere of suspense, making Ciara’s internal world as compelling as the multitude of external obstacles she faces.

• The Power of Language and Silence: The novel’s careful attention to what is said—and what is left unsaid—invites readers to reflect on the dynamics of communication in toxic relationships.

Nesting is a beautifully written, emotionally charged novel that will stay with readers long after the last page. It’s a perfect catalyst for discussions about strength, fear, liberation, and healing—offering not only empathy, but insight and hope.

Kym, Carole, and I will be talking about the book, giving additional information, and doing promotional posts through May. Discussion day for Nesting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 10, 2025 at 7:00 pm Eastern time, so mark your calendars. We'll ask questions on our blogs that day and then host the always fun, educational, and entertaining Zoom discussion.

Nesting is an important and powerful book. I do hope you'll Read With Us and prepare for an intense, rewarding discussion.