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pm_me_book_recs's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Death, Excrement, Gore, Child death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Gaslighting, Body horror, Physical abuse, Animal cruelty, and Violence
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Classism
kitsuneheart's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Cross-cultural relationships rely on clear communication and not making assumptions. Shesheshen, a blob monster, learns this when she realizes her new human girlfriend, Homily, doesn’t consider laying your eggs in your partner so they may be eaten alive by your young…to be the logical goal of dating.
Somehow, as a reader, I’m with Shesheshen on this. Infest me, Mommy.
This is definitely a pick for queer readers with family trauma. Despite this book being about a ravenous blob-monster on the run, so much of the real drama and interest is about Homily’s ruthless family, and how they have left scars on her past.
It’s also a rather asexual romance, where the asexuality is not a point of tension, which I really appreciate.
Somehow, I found this book almost cozy. The horror definitely comes through in the end, but I was so much more invested in Homily and Shesheshen’s romance and latching onto their every scrap of domestic bliss. I loved the end, and felt quite satisfied. There doesn’t need to be more. It’s just…nice. Very nice.
Advanced reader copy provided by the publisher.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Violence, Bullying, Blood, Body horror, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Body shaming, Death, Gaslighting, Murder, and Physical abuse
Minor: Acephobia/Arophobia, Animal cruelty, and Death of parent
kaiyakaiyo's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
this was so fun and sad and unique and gory and strange and sweet and heartwarming and gut wrenching and whimsical and… you get the gist, I LOVED this.
heavier subject matter than I expected, but I think it balances well with the comedy and gore. this gave me the same “I’ve never read anything like this before” feeling as Walking Practice; I’m so pleased to have found another book for that mental shelf
I’d write forever if I had to say all the reasons I liked this, so I’ll leave it at: 5 stars, favorite shelf, so fresh and so so hard to put down.
heavier subject matter than I expected, but I think it balances well with the comedy and gore. this gave me the same “I’ve never read anything like this before” feeling as Walking Practice; I’m so pleased to have found another book for that mental shelf
I’d write forever if I had to say all the reasons I liked this, so I’ll leave it at: 5 stars, favorite shelf, so fresh and so so hard to put down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Child death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Blood, Body horror, and Murder
Moderate: Vomit, Grief, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Animal death, Physical abuse, and Animal cruelty
bookboxbabe's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
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
this is the weirdest book i’ve ever read but i think i liked it?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Body horror, Murder, Gore, Animal cruelty, and Blood
keen's review against another edition
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Violence, Domestic abuse, and Body horror
Moderate: Physical abuse, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, and Child death
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
doodletaco's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Blood, Body horror, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Gore, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Vomit and Excrement
lets_b_libros's review against another edition
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, whenShesheshen 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!!
I loved seeing the story through the eyes of a monster that has good intentions but inhuman morals… From the start, when
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!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Child death, Body horror, Blood, Emotional abuse, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Gaslighting, Homophobia, and Animal death
Minor: War
blewballoon's review against another edition
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Body horror, Blood, and Gore
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Abandonment
annaavian's review against another edition
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Abandonment, Physical abuse, Animal cruelty, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, and Lesbophobia
katnortonwriter's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.25
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this madcap story as an ARC.
This book is weird, gross, and darkly funny love story. If it had been *just* that, I would have had a good time, but there’s a sprinkling of serious psychology in here as well. Homily’s relationship with her family is pretty messed up, and I think will have elements that a lot of survivors of abuse will recognize.
Explain to me why I got choked up about the romantic overtures of a flesh-eating goo monster? Probably because I found Shesheshen’s social anxiety pretty relatable. As someone who’s queer and neurodivergent, I empathized with “the wyrm.” I think a lot of readers will.
Also: Laurent is a small part of this book but I loved his weird little brain. Wiswell has a weird brain and I liked getting to experience his thoughts in book-form.
This book is weird, gross, and darkly funny love story. If it had been *just* that, I would have had a good time, but there’s a sprinkling of serious psychology in here as well. Homily’s relationship with her family is pretty messed up, and I think will have elements that a lot of survivors of abuse will recognize.
Explain to me why I got choked up about the romantic overtures of a flesh-eating goo monster? Probably because I found Shesheshen’s social anxiety pretty relatable. As someone who’s queer and neurodivergent, I empathized with “the wyrm.” I think a lot of readers will.
Also: Laurent is a small part of this book but I loved his weird little brain. Wiswell has a weird brain and I liked getting to experience his thoughts in book-form.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Violence, and Body horror