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A review by deedireads
Someone You Can Build a Nest In (B&N Exclusive Edition) by John Wiswell
dark
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
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Well, I did not expect this novel — about a (female) blob monster who falls in love with a (human) woman and decides she wants to lay her eggs in her body, after which her offspring would devour her from the inside out — to be one of my favorite reads of the year. And yet! What fun this was!
Some have called this “cozy horror,” and while I am not so sure about the cozy label (the stakes are high and there’s a lot of trauma here), this book has a feel-good vibe that I really enjoyed. For example, Shesheshen (the monster MC) has a big blue pet bear named Blueberry. So while yes, the fact that Shesheshen is a big blob who can form body parts out of whatever creature she’s eaten technically puts this in “body horror” territory, don’t let that scare you away if horror/body horror isn’t usually your thing. It was much more silly than gross, IMO.
Beyond the fun premise and overall good vibes, I had a ton of fun with the plot — he even got me with the twist. It’s also great ace representation and is full of characters actively helping one another heal from abuse and trauma (which, okay, maybe is a little unrealistic for a monster who is only just learning what it means to love, but WHO CARES). Finally, you should know that this one works great on audio, as the world-building is minimal, we only have one POV, and it takes place in an linear timeline.
I would be happy for this to win the Hugo tomorrow!
Well, I did not expect this novel — about a (female) blob monster who falls in love with a (human) woman and decides she wants to lay her eggs in her body, after which her offspring would devour her from the inside out — to be one of my favorite reads of the year. And yet! What fun this was!
Some have called this “cozy horror,” and while I am not so sure about the cozy label (the stakes are high and there’s a lot of trauma here), this book has a feel-good vibe that I really enjoyed. For example, Shesheshen (the monster MC) has a big blue pet bear named Blueberry. So while yes, the fact that Shesheshen is a big blob who can form body parts out of whatever creature she’s eaten technically puts this in “body horror” territory, don’t let that scare you away if horror/body horror isn’t usually your thing. It was much more silly than gross, IMO.
Beyond the fun premise and overall good vibes, I had a ton of fun with the plot — he even got me with the twist. It’s also great ace representation and is full of characters actively helping one another heal from abuse and trauma (which, okay, maybe is a little unrealistic for a monster who is only just learning what it means to love, but WHO CARES). Finally, you should know that this one works great on audio, as the world-building is minimal, we only have one POV, and it takes place in an linear timeline.
I would be happy for this to win the Hugo tomorrow!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Body horror
Minor: Animal cruelty, Death of parent