Reviews with content warning for Gore - Someone You Can Build a Nest In

This might be my new favorite book. Somehow combines wholesomeness and body horror into a package written with an incredible amount of compassion for the characters. Finished this in a day.

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lets_b_libros's review against another edition

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adventurous dark medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Wow, just WOW. Where to even start— this needs to be THE new blueprint for monster romance.

I loved seeing the story through the eyes of a monster that has good intentions but inhuman morals… From the start, when

Shesheshen assumed the gory death of her “father” was an act of love on his part... That she saw no other possibility than being a creature born out of selfless love… AGGHHHHH.

That immediately had me hooked. I had to know how a being whose perspective on human life was so skewed could eventually fall in love with a human herself.

And the book just got better and better, with such a satisfying and wholesome ending. The best book I’ve read all year, best wlw book I’ve read in a WHILE.

If anyone knows of any books that are anything similar, message me!!

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qludwig's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny 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? It's complicated

5.0

I loved this book! I want to say everyone needs to read this book but it is also very much not a book for everyone.
This is the most beautifully f***ed up book I’ve read in the best possible way.
This is a book very much for all the queers/neurodivergents who have in one way or another been made to feel other from a society that deems itself normal. It’s a book about healing after trauma and finding love. It is also a book about eating your abusive in-laws! Because sometimes to heal from trauma you just need to eat the source of said trauma!
It’s darkly funny, it’s swooningly romantic, and so heartfelt.
It was a very short read and in someways read more like a very long short story then an in dept fantasy novel. The character and the action of the moment was the focus and there was little attention given to wider political and worldbuilding idea, though they were well developed it felt just not a central focus. But I think the story worked better for it as it was such a beautiful character study.
Also great low key queer, ace, non-binary and plus sized representation! Like they are all just treated as normal parts of characters which I love!
In short I would let Shesheshen have my whole entire mammalian heart if she wanted it!

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bellthebiscuit's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious 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

4.5

This book is going to live rent free in my head for the next while

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tisjenna's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-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

4.25

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blewballoon's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny tense medium-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? Yes

5.0

This is one of my favorite books of all time, for sure. This story is funny, heartbreaking, uplifting, and it's all from the perspective of a creature that is essentially an amorphous blob that eats people to sustain itself. This is the kind of book that my little goth girl heart could have only dreamed of. I'm grateful to the author for putting this out into the world and covering complicated concepts with such nuance and care. Thank you for writing a book that feels like it was made for me. The audiobook was excellent, but I will be getting a physical copy to hold close to my heart as soon as possible.

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annaavian's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-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? Yes

3.0

This is a peculiar and unconventional story that takes readers into a bizarre world filled with dark humor and unsettling scenarios. From the outset, it's clear this book isn't your typical read; it's weird, gory, and unlike anything I've encountered before.

The story is narrated from the perspective of Shesheshen, a monster who provides a fascinating viewpoint on human behavior and emotions. Wiswell excels in portraying the monster's observations with wit and insight, highlighting human peculiarities through an alien lens. This narrative approach is undoubtedly one of the novel's strongest aspects, offering a fresh and engaging take on the typical monster-human encounter trope.

However, while the concept and narrative voice are intriguing, the execution falls short in several areas. The characters, for the most part, come across as one-dimensional or downright unpleasant. The romance between Shesheshen and Homily lacks believability and depth, which undermines a significant part of the plot. Homily, in particular, feels underdeveloped and fails to evolve beyond her initial submissive portrayal, making it difficult to fully invest in her character arc.

As the novel progresses, the plot becomes increasingly disjointed and erratic. The introduction is captivating, setting up an intriguing premise with Shesheshen's discovery of humans and his interactions with Homily. However, the story loses its footing as it delves into the romantic subplot and Homily's family dynamics. The narrative logic begins to unravel, culminating in a disappointing plot twist regarding Homily's mother that feels forced and out of place.

Despite its flaws, "Someone You Can Build a Nest In" offers moments of dark humor and clever social commentary, particularly in its exploration of monster ethics and human relationships. Wiswell's ability to craft a unique perspective and inject humor into grim scenarios is commendable. However, the novel's inconsistent pacing, underdeveloped characters, and questionable plot choices ultimately detract from its overall impact.

Overall, "Someone You Can Build a Nest In" is an unconventional read that may appeal to those seeking a fresh take on the monster genre. While it has its strengths in narrative creativity and thematic exploration, it struggles with character depth, repetitiveness and narrative coherence. Readers should approach this book with an open mind, prepared for a strange and occasionally frustrating journey through the eyes of an unlikely narrator.

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mindsplinters's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful 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

Thanks to NetGalley and DAW for an Advanced Reader Copy - pub date 4/2/2024. Just as the tagline says - Shesheshen has made a mistake fatal to all monsters: she's fallen in love. So, yes, this is a romance but it is so very much more. Wiswell takes any preconceptions you might have going into something so neatly described as "a love story told from the point of view of the monster" and chucks them out the window. This is not Angel and Buffy (or even Spike). This is messy and primal and the stuff of the original dark fairy tales but gone even deeper into the forest. This is also a book about how very human monsters can be and how very monstrous humans can be.

Which sounds a bit pretentious but we all know it is true.

Shesheshen starts the book as that primal, gelatinous lump of sleepy shape-shifting monster that you find under your bed but she grows and develops into so much more. Her arc towards better self-understanding (of her nature, her desires, her needs) is truly impressive. At no point did I felt like I was getting off easy. I was with her in her mind and trudging through both her own layers and those of the humans around her. As she became aware of the difference in humans, in caring about or for others, in how human civilization can work and not work - so did I. It felt utterly naturally despite the alien gloss and knowing that, yes, this is a monster's head we are riding in. Sometimes it takes an outsider to really see the world and upset the status quo and Wiswell gives that to us with Shesheshen who, as she upsets herself, also upends the world around her.

Then there is the human who started the confusion, the love interest who is so much more than that. Homily has her own powerful character arc independent of but still entwined with Shesheshen's. We see her through the monster's eyes and what we see is sweet and kind and giving and attractive. It is only as the story unfolds that we (and Shesheshen) discover that there is more to her, that sometimes behaviors are learned in painful ways. Homily will break your heart in about twelve dozen ways and then she will offer to fix it because that is who she is. The perfect nest and yet... Shouldn't a relationship be consensual?

Speaking of consensual, Homily's family? Are not. Let's just say that there are a lot of types of monsters in the world and not all of them have supernatural powers. Be prepared to hate with the fire of a thousand suns.

Lines that made me put down the book and stare into space, questioning EVERYTHING...
- Underlook had made a mess in their celebration of her death, and then used their fear of her still being alive as an excuse to not clean up after themselves. That lack of accountability was typical to humans.
-Romance was awful. She couldn't even do something as simple as murdering rude people anymore.
-You could not excrete memories. They could not be surgically removed. It was unjust.
-It was easier to comfort than argue. Arguing was the hardest version of talking. You could have reasonable points and try to show as much empathy as possible and lose miserably.
-There was no deception to keep her safe from whatever Homily thought of her. If she wanted to be in love, then she had to grow used to it.

And a lot more. Damn, this book was amazing. I'm going to have to go and buy it now. Drat.

Warning : As you might have guessed, this book is pretty full of heavy themes and fairly graphic descriptions of violence, gore, and mental/emotional/physical abuse. Tread gently and be kind to yourself as you go but I hope and believe that, if you read it, it will be worth every bit of your effort.

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