What do you think?
Rate this book
Nestlings
Nat Cassidy is at his razor-sharp best again with his horror novel Nestlings, which harnesses the creeping paranoia of Rosemary's Baby and the urban horror of 'Salem's Lot, set in an exclusive New York City residential building.
Ana and Reid need a break. The horrifically complicated birth of their first child has left Ana paralyzed, bitter, and struggling―with mobility, with her relationship with Reid, with resentment for her baby. Reid dismisses disturbing events and Ana’s deep unease and paranoia, but he can't explain the needle-like bite marks on their baby.
Ana and Reid need a break. The horrifically complicated birth of their first child has left Ana paralyzed, bitter, and struggling―with mobility, with her relationship with Reid, with resentment for her baby. Reid dismisses disturbing events and Ana’s deep unease and paranoia, but he can't explain the needle-like bite marks on their baby.
293 pages, Paperback
First published October 31, 2023
1998 people are currently reading
62489 people want to read
About the author
Nat Cassidy
19 books4,813 followersNAT CASSIDY is a national bestselling and Bram Stoker Award-nominated author whose acclaimed works include Mary ("One of the Best Horror Novels of All Time" - Audible), Nestlings, and Rest Stop. Esquire described him as one "of the best horror writers of this generation" and among the writers "shaping horror's next golden age." His award-winning plays have been produced across the country, including Off-Broadway and the Kennedy Center. You've also maybe seen Nat guest-starring on shows such as Law & Order: SVU, Blue Bloods, Bull, Quantico, FBI, and many others ... but that's a topic for a different bio. His newest novel, When the Wolf Comes Home, hit shelves in April 2025 and was called "a classic" by Stephen King. He lives in New York City with his wife.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,748 reviews
April 17, 2023
I'm so excited for you all to read this book. Like the official summary says, this one is a little bit ROSEMARY'S BABY and a little bit 'SALEM'S LOT (and to those influences I'd also say a little THE SHINING, a little THE CHANGELING, a little AUDREY'S DOOR, a little NIGHTBITCH, a little BABY TEETH, a little THE TRIBE).
As with MARY, it's a very personal story, and I wrote an Afterword that goes into detail about where it came from, all the various themes that were at play while writing it, etc. Unlike MARY, this isn't a story I've been carrying with me for a long time. Quite the opposite--in many ways this book is explicitly about the past couple years.
I wanted to write about New York City, my adoptive home, and how it's changed during the pandemic. I also wanted to write about my own Judaism and the simmering atmosphere of antisemitism we've found ourselves in lately. The book is also about disability, about paraplegia and postpartum depression and identity and parenthood and, because it’s still a horror novel, Manhattan real estate.
More than anything, it's a book about change, about trying to find your home, and about ... well, you'll see. But I think it's really gonna scare your socks off your butt and I'm so grateful for your time and interest, you beautiful Goodreaders, you.
(Also, if you'd like to see a whole bunch of the books that helped influence NESTLINGS, look for my "NESTLINGS Influences" bookshelf label!)
As with MARY, it's a very personal story, and I wrote an Afterword that goes into detail about where it came from, all the various themes that were at play while writing it, etc. Unlike MARY, this isn't a story I've been carrying with me for a long time. Quite the opposite--in many ways this book is explicitly about the past couple years.
I wanted to write about New York City, my adoptive home, and how it's changed during the pandemic. I also wanted to write about my own Judaism and the simmering atmosphere of antisemitism we've found ourselves in lately. The book is also about disability, about paraplegia and postpartum depression and identity and parenthood and, because it’s still a horror novel, Manhattan real estate.
More than anything, it's a book about change, about trying to find your home, and about ... well, you'll see. But I think it's really gonna scare your socks off your butt and I'm so grateful for your time and interest, you beautiful Goodreaders, you.
(Also, if you'd like to see a whole bunch of the books that helped influence NESTLINGS, look for my "NESTLINGS Influences" bookshelf label!)
August 9, 2024
In Nat Cassidy we trust 🫡
FRTC
FRTC
October 14, 2023
Gripping, shocking, creepy, and so hard to put down!!!! I was intrigued by the synopsis of the book and was completely blown away when I gave it a listen! I had a hard time putting this book aside as I was completely sucked in and fully invested in the well thought out page turner!
Ana and Reid have been under a lot of stress and life changes lately. Ana is wheelchair bound after the birth to their daughter, Charlie. Reid has taken on the role of caretaker for both his wife and his baby. They are over the moon when they win an apartment in the luxurious Deptford building. It boasts stunning architecture with views of Central Park. It is a dream location and comes at a great time in their lives. Sure, the other residents are a little odd, a little eccentric and a little mysterious, but you can't beat the views or the affordable housing.
Moving is hard enough.......
WOWZA! This is horror at its best. I loved the tension, the dread, the unease, the mounting sense that something isn't quite right, and the creepy tone of the book. I love books that have hair standing up on the back of my neck! Plus, the atmosphere! The Deptford is the perfect stage for this modern horror story that has an old time feel to it.
If you are looking to be amazed, spooked, shocked, and entertained then look no further!!! Seriously, it's that good! This book is well written, has vivid descriptions that put me right there in the action, and is perfectly paced. Nestlings played out like a movie in my mind which made sense as the author has a vast experience in the entertainment industry.
I listened to the audiobook and loved the narration! Very well done. The author's very personal and moving note is also a must.
Well written, shocking, gripping, entertaining and hard to put down!!! If Nat Cassidy is not on your radar, he needs to be!
4.5 stars
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Ana and Reid have been under a lot of stress and life changes lately. Ana is wheelchair bound after the birth to their daughter, Charlie. Reid has taken on the role of caretaker for both his wife and his baby. They are over the moon when they win an apartment in the luxurious Deptford building. It boasts stunning architecture with views of Central Park. It is a dream location and comes at a great time in their lives. Sure, the other residents are a little odd, a little eccentric and a little mysterious, but you can't beat the views or the affordable housing.
Moving is hard enough.......
WOWZA! This is horror at its best. I loved the tension, the dread, the unease, the mounting sense that something isn't quite right, and the creepy tone of the book. I love books that have hair standing up on the back of my neck! Plus, the atmosphere! The Deptford is the perfect stage for this modern horror story that has an old time feel to it.
If you are looking to be amazed, spooked, shocked, and entertained then look no further!!! Seriously, it's that good! This book is well written, has vivid descriptions that put me right there in the action, and is perfectly paced. Nestlings played out like a movie in my mind which made sense as the author has a vast experience in the entertainment industry.
I listened to the audiobook and loved the narration! Very well done. The author's very personal and moving note is also a must.
Well written, shocking, gripping, entertaining and hard to put down!!! If Nat Cassidy is not on your radar, he needs to be!
4.5 stars
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
August 25, 2024
‘I think Healing begins when you finally recognize there is no moving on. Only moving forward. You don’t actually leave anything behind. You carry it with you.’
Nestlings by Nat Cassidy is a chilling dive into the world of urban horror, where the familiar becomes terrifying, and your new dream apartment might just be your worst nightmare. Cassidy crafts a story that feels like a slow, creeping shadow, subtle at first, but soon, you’re fully enveloped in the darkness.
The story follows Ana and Reid, a couple trying to start over after a tragic event. They move into a historic, rent controlled New York City apartment that seems too good to be true. What starts as a promising new chapter quickly turns into a nightmare as they begin to encounter strange neighbours, odd noises, and an overwhelming sense that something is terribly wrong.
Cassidy excels at building tension. The atmosphere of the apartment, with its claustrophobic hallways and eerie history, becomes a character in itself. The horror is both psychological and supernatural, keeping you guessing as to what exactly is haunting Ana and Reid. Is it all in their heads, or is there something truly sinister at play?
The novel also explores themes of grief and trauma, adding depth to the horror elements. Ana’s struggles with her past are interwoven with the unfolding terror, making the story not just about what’s lurking in the dark, but also about the monsters we carry within us.
If you’re a fan of slow burn horror with a heavy dose of psychological dread, Nestlings is worth a read. It’s the kind of book that makes you look twice at the corners of your own home and question what might be hiding in the shadows. Just be prepared to sleep with the lights on.
I Highly Recommend.
Nestlings by Nat Cassidy is a chilling dive into the world of urban horror, where the familiar becomes terrifying, and your new dream apartment might just be your worst nightmare. Cassidy crafts a story that feels like a slow, creeping shadow, subtle at first, but soon, you’re fully enveloped in the darkness.
The story follows Ana and Reid, a couple trying to start over after a tragic event. They move into a historic, rent controlled New York City apartment that seems too good to be true. What starts as a promising new chapter quickly turns into a nightmare as they begin to encounter strange neighbours, odd noises, and an overwhelming sense that something is terribly wrong.
Cassidy excels at building tension. The atmosphere of the apartment, with its claustrophobic hallways and eerie history, becomes a character in itself. The horror is both psychological and supernatural, keeping you guessing as to what exactly is haunting Ana and Reid. Is it all in their heads, or is there something truly sinister at play?
The novel also explores themes of grief and trauma, adding depth to the horror elements. Ana’s struggles with her past are interwoven with the unfolding terror, making the story not just about what’s lurking in the dark, but also about the monsters we carry within us.
If you’re a fan of slow burn horror with a heavy dose of psychological dread, Nestlings is worth a read. It’s the kind of book that makes you look twice at the corners of your own home and question what might be hiding in the shadows. Just be prepared to sleep with the lights on.
I Highly Recommend.
October 1, 2024
This is the last Tor Nightfire I request. We clearly do not vibe. I was promised Rosemary's Baby, and that's not what I'm getting. I feel bad that I feel zero sympathy for Ana, but it is what it is. Surprise, surprise. Reid is dumb. Are the monsters the only interesting characters?
🎧 Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio
🎧 Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio
September 18, 2023
REVIEW TO COME
March 24, 2025
Gargoyles are cool because they were originally designed to convey water away from a building, but now they only exist to convey menace.
Speaking of conveyed menace, let’s talk about this book. This was a terrifying ride. With Nestlings, Cassidy somehow manages to grab several tropes by the skin flaps on their soggy necks, and twist them into an unrecognizably horrifying shape. I loved this book.
Themes…
The crushing weight of being a new parent, and the disconcerting resentment that often rears its ugly head and becomes repressed. Attempting to recapture what once was through manufactured circumstance.
Character Work…
Ana and Reid were relatable, although I wish they would have just talked to each other about some of this stuff, but maybe that’s why they were relatable.
The creatures in this book were the real stars though. They were some of the most disturbing beings I’ve read about in a long time. Gruesome and graphic. Loved it.
Prose…
Cassidy is a very good author, no doubt. It wasn’t masterfully eloquent, or elevated linguistically, but let’s be honest, that’s not what type of book this is. His use of language was incredibly effective to keep the reader constantly wanting more.
Pace…
It felt well-paced, and it never lulled, although I couldn’t figure out why it took me three days to get through a 300 page book. That might just be a personal issue though.
Speaking of conveyed menace, let’s talk about this book. This was a terrifying ride. With Nestlings, Cassidy somehow manages to grab several tropes by the skin flaps on their soggy necks, and twist them into an unrecognizably horrifying shape. I loved this book.
Themes…
The crushing weight of being a new parent, and the disconcerting resentment that often rears its ugly head and becomes repressed. Attempting to recapture what once was through manufactured circumstance.
Character Work…
Ana and Reid were relatable, although I wish they would have just talked to each other about some of this stuff, but maybe that’s why they were relatable.
The creatures in this book were the real stars though. They were some of the most disturbing beings I’ve read about in a long time. Gruesome and graphic. Loved it.
Prose…
Cassidy is a very good author, no doubt. It wasn’t masterfully eloquent, or elevated linguistically, but let’s be honest, that’s not what type of book this is. His use of language was incredibly effective to keep the reader constantly wanting more.
Pace…
It felt well-paced, and it never lulled, although I couldn’t figure out why it took me three days to get through a 300 page book. That might just be a personal issue though.
February 19, 2024
I plan to dedicate my life to science, so that I may be the first to invent time travel, go back & stop myself from reading this
September 17, 2024
It Has its Good Moments.
Ana and Reid and baby Charlie are moving into a luxury apartment home. They won the house in a lottery.
Ana thinks the timing is terrible. She is paralyzed from giving birth to Charlie. After all the trouble she’s been going through to have a baby.
And she doesn’t want to be a complainer, but something is wrong with the house. Even Charlie has been able to feel it. She is screaming every night.
Reid is clueless about everything. Nothing appears to awaken him from his own sleep. He is not
bothered about anything concerning the apartment. The fact is he has no idea of what is going on.
It’s going on four stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ana and Reid and baby Charlie are moving into a luxury apartment home. They won the house in a lottery.
Ana thinks the timing is terrible. She is paralyzed from giving birth to Charlie. After all the trouble she’s been going through to have a baby.
And she doesn’t want to be a complainer, but something is wrong with the house. Even Charlie has been able to feel it. She is screaming every night.
Reid is clueless about everything. Nothing appears to awaken him from his own sleep. He is not
bothered about anything concerning the apartment. The fact is he has no idea of what is going on.
It’s going on four stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 30, 2023
Moving into a new place has always held a scary kind of fascination for me. I'm not an animist, but when it comes to new apartments, especially ones I saw and (hopefully) chose for myself (and wasn't forced to rent because I got nothing else) I believe in some kind of interaction between your new place and you and I usually feel super vulnerable in those first days before the place becomes your place. That vulnerability triggers all kinds of crazy thoughts, energies, sleepless nights, dreams – it's a phase of unrest and, for the lack of a better word in English, “unheimlichkeit”, which translates to eeriness, but is derived from the stem word “heim” which means “home” and “unheimlich” to“unhomely” etc.
It is this feeling that makes me appreciate the use of this trope in horror fiction, the peak being Ira Levin's Rosemary's Baby, which combines said angst with cults and misogynistic manipulation, creating a progressively threatening and paranoiac atmosphere resulting in devastating surrender. Exactly that atmosphere is something Nat Cassidy succeeds in capturing in his latest novel Nestlings, which strongly echoes Levin's masterpiece.
A young couple with baby miraculously find a great housing opportunity in New York City, she trying to recover from the aftereffects of the complications of birth, which left her paralyzed, and him slowly discovering a new world his neighbors in this gorgeous yet mysterious new building are letting him in on.
Cassidy's writing appeals to me – in this second book I've read by him, Mary being the first, I again thought that the characters he creates are his forte. Even though couples with children and the difficulties of parenthood isn't really my world, I was interested in what would happen to Ana and Reid and the story takes the reader towards an ending which is unexpected and makes you ponder. The supernatural element used here, even though Salem's Lot is being name dropped in the blurb, not your usual vampire and includes interesting notions from Judaism, refreshing the trope infinitely, creating its own myth.
My thanks to Libra FM via Otherland Bookshop for providing me an ALC.
It is this feeling that makes me appreciate the use of this trope in horror fiction, the peak being Ira Levin's Rosemary's Baby, which combines said angst with cults and misogynistic manipulation, creating a progressively threatening and paranoiac atmosphere resulting in devastating surrender. Exactly that atmosphere is something Nat Cassidy succeeds in capturing in his latest novel Nestlings, which strongly echoes Levin's masterpiece.
A young couple with baby miraculously find a great housing opportunity in New York City, she trying to recover from the aftereffects of the complications of birth, which left her paralyzed, and him slowly discovering a new world his neighbors in this gorgeous yet mysterious new building are letting him in on.
Cassidy's writing appeals to me – in this second book I've read by him, Mary being the first, I again thought that the characters he creates are his forte. Even though couples with children and the difficulties of parenthood isn't really my world, I was interested in what would happen to Ana and Reid and the story takes the reader towards an ending which is unexpected and makes you ponder. The supernatural element used here, even though Salem's Lot is being name dropped in the blurb, not your usual vampire and includes interesting notions from Judaism, refreshing the trope infinitely, creating its own myth.
My thanks to Libra FM via Otherland Bookshop for providing me an ALC.
June 4, 2024
We have had plenty of warnings about gargoyles over the years. Tales From The Darkside, Gremlins 2, and even The Hunchback of Notre Dame, to name a few. While these gothic-style architectural elements might speak to your personal design aesthetic, just make sure they were placed on the building to ward off the right folks. The second these stoic water spewing stone creatures were seen by Ana and Reid (a young family who moved into a historical Manhattan apartment that adorned them.) I knew something sinister was on the horizon.
First things first. The book’s selling point mentions similarities between Salem’s Lot and Rosemary’s Baby. I’d caution anyone using the blurb to pick this one up. With that being said, it does offer a more “modern” take on the sensibilities found in the inspired books, but IMHO, I’d recommend reading those two masterpieces before tackling this one.
What’s it about? Well, a young family wins a placement lottery for an old, historic apartment on the upper west side of New York. The couple has a newborn and must juggle creative jobs, friends, strange inhabitants, and other things that go bump in the night. It basically follows the plot of Ghostbusters 2. Replace Vigo with a similar antagonist, replace the ghost in the window with a different kind of baby snatcher, replace bathtub monsters with other similar entities, and replace Yanoish with another creepy “human” type helper, etc.
The book delves into themes such as postpartum depression, identity crisis, anxiety, recovering from a disability, relationship woes, and being overworked.
The characterizations grafted onto these themes, while traumatic, never really picked up steam for me. They were sort of used as fade-to-black moments at the end of each chapter. The problem is, those curtain closing moments, if explored, would have been much more fun and engaging. The flow just seemed a bit off to me. Also, it's really hard to root for either of the MC’s. They both have personalities that go from zero to a hundred in a split second and neither of them have any meaningful conversations, which left me scratching my head quite a bit. When the going gets tough, and certain elements are revealed, it’s just sort of accepted and the chapters fade. I wish more care would have been put into the characters and not steam rolled ahead with the plot. Clarity is not needed, but a little bit of heart goes a long way.
I guess this sounds like I did not enjoy it, but I did like some elements. It’s just getting harder for “modern” horror tales to appease my inner horror spirit these days. I enjoy a good nature vs. nurture story just like the next person, but this tale just does not add much to the convo. However, even though some elements may be plucked from your favorite horror stories or movies, it still manages to send a shiver or two down the spine. I’m looking at you, relator.
The last third is sort of “info-dumpy” and pretty much aligns with your preconceived notions. It’s not a stretch to say the ending was inspired by The Shining.
🎵| Soundtrack |🎵
❖ Van Morrison – Into The Mystic
❖ Grabbitz – Here With You Now
❖ Lo-Pro - Oblivion
❖ Blindside – About A Burning Fire
⭐ | Rating | ⭐
❖ 3 out of 5 ❖
First things first. The book’s selling point mentions similarities between Salem’s Lot and Rosemary’s Baby. I’d caution anyone using the blurb to pick this one up. With that being said, it does offer a more “modern” take on the sensibilities found in the inspired books, but IMHO, I’d recommend reading those two masterpieces before tackling this one.
What’s it about? Well, a young family wins a placement lottery for an old, historic apartment on the upper west side of New York. The couple has a newborn and must juggle creative jobs, friends, strange inhabitants, and other things that go bump in the night. It basically follows the plot of Ghostbusters 2. Replace Vigo with a similar antagonist, replace the ghost in the window with a different kind of baby snatcher, replace bathtub monsters with other similar entities, and replace Yanoish with another creepy “human” type helper, etc.
The book delves into themes such as postpartum depression, identity crisis, anxiety, recovering from a disability, relationship woes, and being overworked.
The characterizations grafted onto these themes, while traumatic, never really picked up steam for me. They were sort of used as fade-to-black moments at the end of each chapter. The problem is, those curtain closing moments, if explored, would have been much more fun and engaging. The flow just seemed a bit off to me. Also, it's really hard to root for either of the MC’s. They both have personalities that go from zero to a hundred in a split second and neither of them have any meaningful conversations, which left me scratching my head quite a bit. When the going gets tough, and certain elements are revealed, it’s just sort of accepted and the chapters fade. I wish more care would have been put into the characters and not steam rolled ahead with the plot. Clarity is not needed, but a little bit of heart goes a long way.
I guess this sounds like I did not enjoy it, but I did like some elements. It’s just getting harder for “modern” horror tales to appease my inner horror spirit these days. I enjoy a good nature vs. nurture story just like the next person, but this tale just does not add much to the convo. However, even though some elements may be plucked from your favorite horror stories or movies, it still manages to send a shiver or two down the spine. I’m looking at you, relator.
The last third is sort of “info-dumpy” and pretty much aligns with your preconceived notions. It’s not a stretch to say the ending was inspired by The Shining.
🎵| Soundtrack |🎵
❖ Van Morrison – Into The Mystic
❖ Grabbitz – Here With You Now
❖ Lo-Pro - Oblivion
❖ Blindside – About A Burning Fire
⭐ | Rating | ⭐
❖ 3 out of 5 ❖
September 6, 2024
Having really enjoyed Mary, by the same author, this was an unexpected flop for me. I really like the take this author puts on classic horror stories. So I'll continue to pick up their books. This one just didn't work in any way for me.
I learned, after reading, that this book is meant to be a retelling or reimagining of Rosemary's baby. Admittedly, I've never read the book or watched the film(s) for Rosemary's Baby. Maybe there is much to be gleamed from that material?
Without that knowledge, I felt it drew heavily from Lock Ever Door by Riley Sager. Especially with the gargoyles and NYC setting and mysterious but somehow also legendary vibes. But I've since been told that book is also a Rosemary's Baby reincarnate. So, who's to say?
[VERY MILD SPOILERS COMMENCES...]
What I can say, with no care to what it may or not be in-homage-too, is this...
1. What point did Frank serve? What singular point did he lend to the story?? Na Da.
2. Only one book has any recorded evidence of the buildings history? But, somehow, every single delivery driver in all of New York City knows it's bad news and refuses to enter? But our main characters have never heard a single ill-word/thought/superstition about the place? Um...?
3. Very heavy-handed. No subtlety. I knew every twist well before it happened.
4. Reid can suck a d*ck, then choke and die on it. What a useless sack of man-meat. A poor-man-with-a-guitar-and-a-dream just trying to show the world that scrawny white men deserve recognition too?? Noooooo, I'm full up, thank you!
5. I respect that Jewish take on vampires. But I wish it had been more focused on and further executed. I respect this author. Especially because of the work they did in Mary. But this just didn't hit the mark in any of the ways I had anticipated.
So sorry to break anyone's hearts. I will be picking up anything this author comes out with next. Because Mary was such an eye opening horror-read for me. Nestlings just flopped catastrophically for me, sad to say.
I learned, after reading, that this book is meant to be a retelling or reimagining of Rosemary's baby. Admittedly, I've never read the book or watched the film(s) for Rosemary's Baby. Maybe there is much to be gleamed from that material?
Without that knowledge, I felt it drew heavily from Lock Ever Door by Riley Sager. Especially with the gargoyles and NYC setting and mysterious but somehow also legendary vibes. But I've since been told that book is also a Rosemary's Baby reincarnate. So, who's to say?
[VERY MILD SPOILERS COMMENCES...]
What I can say, with no care to what it may or not be in-homage-too, is this...
1. What point did Frank serve? What singular point did he lend to the story?? Na Da.
2. Only one book has any recorded evidence of the buildings history? But, somehow, every single delivery driver in all of New York City knows it's bad news and refuses to enter? But our main characters have never heard a single ill-word/thought/superstition about the place? Um...?
3. Very heavy-handed. No subtlety. I knew every twist well before it happened.
4. Reid can suck a d*ck, then choke and die on it. What a useless sack of man-meat. A poor-man-with-a-guitar-and-a-dream just trying to show the world that scrawny white men deserve recognition too?? Noooooo, I'm full up, thank you!
5. I respect that Jewish take on vampires. But I wish it had been more focused on and further executed. I respect this author. Especially because of the work they did in Mary. But this just didn't hit the mark in any of the ways I had anticipated.
So sorry to break anyone's hearts. I will be picking up anything this author comes out with next. Because Mary was such an eye opening horror-read for me. Nestlings just flopped catastrophically for me, sad to say.
November 15, 2023
All the stars for this. I can't believe Nat Cassidy is a new author. Already his books are this good and it's only gonna get better. His writing is empathetic and so thoughtful. I don't think I've ever been keen on reading acknowledgements and author's note this much😅 I got teary eyed. As someone with chronic pain, I appreciated the thoughts he put into writing a disabled character.
December 25, 2025
Dear Mr. Cassidy,
I'm terribly sorry that I wanted to write you off after only reading "Rest Stop". I clearly wasn't familiar with your game. I've now read two of your full-length novels and both of them were bangers. I admire how you make your own thing out of popular horror themes and how your stories are both batshit crazy and gory and emotional in a very personal way. I now see the vision. I will make up for my previous wrongdoings by buying and reading every single one of your future books.
Love you, bye. ♥︎
I'm terribly sorry that I wanted to write you off after only reading "Rest Stop". I clearly wasn't familiar with your game. I've now read two of your full-length novels and both of them were bangers. I admire how you make your own thing out of popular horror themes and how your stories are both batshit crazy and gory and emotional in a very personal way. I now see the vision. I will make up for my previous wrongdoings by buying and reading every single one of your future books.
Love you, bye. ♥︎
October 1, 2025
One of the strangest books I’ve ever read and yet I loved it so much… 4.5⭐️
May 21, 2024
Nat Cassidy is a master of modern horror, Nestlings is a masterpiece. Once I started it, I’m glad I held off until I had a free day so I could devour the rest in one sitting. There are hints of Rosemary’s Baby, references to Salem’s Lot, but it is entirely a creepy story of its own. It is a story of parenthood, postpartum depression, and disability in and amongst the horror elements. The mystery builds up slowly but with plenty of truly horrific moments thrown in along the way to keep the reader engaged. This quote from, award winning writer, Ramsey Campbell aptly sums up my feelings: "Nat Cassidy is a master of creeping fear, of urban unease, of uncanny dread, and of outright horror. Nestlings is a triumph and a vision you won't soon forget."
A young couple are met with tragedy after the birth of their baby daughter, Charlie. Ana has been left paralysed from the waist down after complications from the birth. This has impacted her feelings towards her child as she mourns the life she had before losing the use of her legs. She loves Charlie, but postpartum depression is setting in. Her relationship with her husband Reid is also rocky. But he has some good news! They have been accepted for an apartment in a revered Manhattan building, the Deptford. Could this be the fresh start this family need? As soon as they move in, Ana has unsettling doubts and a creeping sense of paranoia. Something feels off, not only with the building, but with her own child….
5 Stars and have added to my favourites shelf!
A young couple are met with tragedy after the birth of their baby daughter, Charlie. Ana has been left paralysed from the waist down after complications from the birth. This has impacted her feelings towards her child as she mourns the life she had before losing the use of her legs. She loves Charlie, but postpartum depression is setting in. Her relationship with her husband Reid is also rocky. But he has some good news! They have been accepted for an apartment in a revered Manhattan building, the Deptford. Could this be the fresh start this family need? As soon as they move in, Ana has unsettling doubts and a creeping sense of paranoia. Something feels off, not only with the building, but with her own child….
5 Stars and have added to my favourites shelf!
August 31, 2024
Just wow. What a rush. Nat Cassidy is a phenom.
October 5, 2023
Nat Cassidy's newest horror novel, NESTLINGS, is the best modern horror novel I've ever read in my life. Hear me out before you clap back, but I'm so excited for horror fans to read this book.
When Ana and her husband Reid win the NYC housing lottery, they're given the opportunity to move to the luxurious Deptford—a beautiful pre-war luxury apartment building with beautiful views of Central Park. Ana and Reid need this opportunity as they've been struggling with their own trauma recently. Ana has recently given birth after many failed attempts to their daughter Charlie. After giving birth, Ana was left paralyzed and is wheelchair bound and has resentment toward her husband and daughter due to her immobility. This new apartment is a fresh start for this family. However, when they move into the Deptford, Ana and Reid begin to notice that its residents are very peculiar in more ways than one. Things just aren't making sense, especially when they start noticing needle-like bite marks on their daughter.
THIS BOOK IS INCREDIBLE. A horror masterpiece—I said what I said! This story has it all: family drama, horror, psychological thriller, and suspense; and it's done so well and organically. I loved every character, the Greene family (Ana, Reid, Charlie) and all of the Deptford's unique residents. This book dives into many different types of storylines, but has many triggers, including parental trauma, child endangerment and abuse, postpartum depression, suicide ideation, ableism, antisemitism, racism, and sexism. That being said, they're necessary for the messaging that happens in this book. Also to note, this book has major Jewish representation, which I haven't seen in much modern horror lately (I can't say more, but IYKYK by the end what I mean). I really hope Nat ventures back into this universe in some capacity because my only regret is that it's over. Nat Cassidy, you are a genius.
When Ana and her husband Reid win the NYC housing lottery, they're given the opportunity to move to the luxurious Deptford—a beautiful pre-war luxury apartment building with beautiful views of Central Park. Ana and Reid need this opportunity as they've been struggling with their own trauma recently. Ana has recently given birth after many failed attempts to their daughter Charlie. After giving birth, Ana was left paralyzed and is wheelchair bound and has resentment toward her husband and daughter due to her immobility. This new apartment is a fresh start for this family. However, when they move into the Deptford, Ana and Reid begin to notice that its residents are very peculiar in more ways than one. Things just aren't making sense, especially when they start noticing needle-like bite marks on their daughter.
THIS BOOK IS INCREDIBLE. A horror masterpiece—I said what I said! This story has it all: family drama, horror, psychological thriller, and suspense; and it's done so well and organically. I loved every character, the Greene family (Ana, Reid, Charlie) and all of the Deptford's unique residents. This book dives into many different types of storylines, but has many triggers, including parental trauma, child endangerment and abuse, postpartum depression, suicide ideation, ableism, antisemitism, racism, and sexism. That being said, they're necessary for the messaging that happens in this book. Also to note, this book has major Jewish representation, which I haven't seen in much modern horror lately (I can't say more, but IYKYK by the end what I mean). I really hope Nat ventures back into this universe in some capacity because my only regret is that it's over. Nat Cassidy, you are a genius.
September 28, 2024
2.75⭐️
For the love of god, just GO TO HOME DEPOT
For the love of god, just GO TO HOME DEPOT
November 4, 2023
Great idea, but not a fan of the pacing
I had recently finished reading another novel with a similar tone to "Rosemary's Baby" and loved it. Naturally, I was eager to dive into another one with a similar vibe. I found the concept and overall story intriguing. It even reminded me of American Horror Story: Hotel. However, the apartment residents weren't as fleshed out as I would have liked. Also, the pacing was off. The first half felt slow, while the second half felt a bit chaotic. This dampened my overall enjoyment of the book. Overall, an okay read.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Nat Cassidy, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
I had recently finished reading another novel with a similar tone to "Rosemary's Baby" and loved it. Naturally, I was eager to dive into another one with a similar vibe. I found the concept and overall story intriguing. It even reminded me of American Horror Story: Hotel. However, the apartment residents weren't as fleshed out as I would have liked. Also, the pacing was off. The first half felt slow, while the second half felt a bit chaotic. This dampened my overall enjoyment of the book. Overall, an okay read.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Nat Cassidy, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
July 9, 2024
Rosemary's Baby meets Salem's Lot is a perfect description of this book. 🧛♂️
Reid and Ana just had a baby in which Ana became paralyzed during the birth. They live in a small apartment in Brooklyn with a racist landlord in which they would love to escape.
Luck appears to be on their side when they are notified they won the lottery for a penthouse in The Deptford, a grand old building in downtown Manhattan.
As soon as they look at their new apartment Ana has reservations. Something about this place just doesn't feel right. Feels too good to be true. Feels like they don't belong here.
And she's right.
Let the horrors begin!
I loved Nat Cassidy's debut horror novel, Mary: An Awakening of Terror, and he has yet again impressed me with his venture into the world of vampires with his latest novel, Nestlings. I thought he did an exceptional job with Ana's character and how a once athletic woman is now learning to navigate the world in a wheelchair. With a baby. It's obvious she's very depressed but her husband refuses to give into the negativity and only wants happiness for all of them. But at what price does one find happiness?
If you like things that creep, crawl, slither, and bite then this is a book to toss on your nightstand. Sweet dreams! 🕷4 stars!
Thanks to Overdrive for the loan.
Reid and Ana just had a baby in which Ana became paralyzed during the birth. They live in a small apartment in Brooklyn with a racist landlord in which they would love to escape.
Luck appears to be on their side when they are notified they won the lottery for a penthouse in The Deptford, a grand old building in downtown Manhattan.
As soon as they look at their new apartment Ana has reservations. Something about this place just doesn't feel right. Feels too good to be true. Feels like they don't belong here.
And she's right.
Let the horrors begin!
I loved Nat Cassidy's debut horror novel, Mary: An Awakening of Terror, and he has yet again impressed me with his venture into the world of vampires with his latest novel, Nestlings. I thought he did an exceptional job with Ana's character and how a once athletic woman is now learning to navigate the world in a wheelchair. With a baby. It's obvious she's very depressed but her husband refuses to give into the negativity and only wants happiness for all of them. But at what price does one find happiness?
If you like things that creep, crawl, slither, and bite then this is a book to toss on your nightstand. Sweet dreams! 🕷4 stars!
Thanks to Overdrive for the loan.
June 26, 2025
I’m reading everything this author has written 😁
November 11, 2025
…what in the world did I just read 😂
Read for my Halloween Horror reading vlog: https://youtu.be/Lgu4XOoLWGk
Written review to come!
You can find me on...
Youtube | Instagram | TikTok
You can join our book club over on Patreon...
PBB Book Club
Read for my Halloween Horror reading vlog: https://youtu.be/Lgu4XOoLWGk
Written review to come!
You can find me on...
Youtube | Instagram | TikTok
You can join our book club over on Patreon...
PBB Book Club
October 30, 2025
Original ARC review: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTMXvH48R/
Reread: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTMXv6we1/
Reread: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTMXv6we1/
December 28, 2023
Not only did I not find this scary, but the main characters are insufferable. That’s all I have to say on this.
February 17, 2024
There is far too much I want to say about why I disliked this book, but I only have the energy to list a few things off the top of my head.
1. The person who survived the highest fall without a parachute was Vesna Vulović, a Yugoslavian flight attendant. She was not Russian. This is so easily Googleable.
2. German is, in fact, not an “Eastern European language”.
3. The friend (WHY was the Georgia O’Keeffe thing even part of the character? also yet another book that ignores O’Keeffe’s commentary on her work) literally goes missing and no one cares or really mentions her in any meaningful way again? Lol
4. The former landlord… what was the point? I know the author mentions having a landlord from hell in his actual life in the afterword, but that doesn’t mean he needed to be in this story. I hate bigots as much as the next person, but god, it just read like a vent session.
5. The characters were unbearable (especially Reid) and I don’t think the women in this book were written well.
1. The person who survived the highest fall without a parachute was Vesna Vulović, a Yugoslavian flight attendant. She was not Russian. This is so easily Googleable.
2. German is, in fact, not an “Eastern European language”.
3. The friend (WHY was the Georgia O’Keeffe thing even part of the character? also yet another book that ignores O’Keeffe’s commentary on her work) literally goes missing and no one cares or really mentions her in any meaningful way again? Lol
4. The former landlord… what was the point? I know the author mentions having a landlord from hell in his actual life in the afterword, but that doesn’t mean he needed to be in this story. I hate bigots as much as the next person, but god, it just read like a vent session.
5. The characters were unbearable (especially Reid) and I don’t think the women in this book were written well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2025
My parents died in 2020 and 2021, respectively. I immediately went into what psychology calls "complicated grief," and I was stuck there probably until this year. Part of it was that they died under very unjust circumstances. I probably only started coming out of it this year. Reading the author's note at the end, I couldn't understand how much one person could suffer like that. Knowing how hard it was for me, it was impossible for to imagine even more grief. It sounds unbearable to me, and yet the author survived it and wrote this book! He made the parallels between the book and his life clear in his note. This was something I appreciated.
The book was weird and good as far as horror goes. It's the kind that would make a good movie, the kind that is eerie and keeps me guessing as to what is actually real. What I liked most about it was the open truth of human nature outside of the main characters - how we are truly ugly and awful to each other.
You know how bullies often put other people down to make themselves feel better? Well, I think this book does an excellent job of showing how we are all guilty of doing that - judging other people in comparison to ourselves and our moral compasses, just so we can feel better about our own life choices. It makes me really hate a lot of people out there, but I know I do that too, even if I really hate admitting it.
I probably judge others about how they spend their money, how they raise their children, how they yoyo diet, how they fail to cover their mouths when sneezing, how they do anything that I think is even a little bit disagreeable or otherwise morally questionable. I hope I do it a little less each day, and I hope that when I screw up, I can learn from it. I hope. But where are my blindsides? If I was confronted with someone in a wheelchair with postpartum and a chip on their shoulder, how would I react or approach them, or would I even try? What would my inner dialogue be? And that's what's so great about this book to me. It's less about the content and more about what it makes me ponder.
The content of the book is probably worth a four, but because of how it makes me self-reflect, I bump it up to a 5.
Oh, and I just realized Nat Cassidy also wrote Mary, which I loved! I really need to find more of his books next year!!
PS, diatomaceous earth is amazing stuff!!!! So many uses, and yes, as gross as it sounds, people eat it for health purposes. I used it to get rid of a caterpillar infestation at an apartment several years ago. My brother told me about it and told me his friend also took it to lower his blood pressure! These days, I have drying mats made out of them that I use for my dishes and for the bath/shower. Truly incredible how multifunctional it is. Give it a try 🙃
The book was weird and good as far as horror goes. It's the kind that would make a good movie, the kind that is eerie and keeps me guessing as to what is actually real. What I liked most about it was the open truth of human nature outside of the main characters - how we are truly ugly and awful to each other.
You know how bullies often put other people down to make themselves feel better? Well, I think this book does an excellent job of showing how we are all guilty of doing that - judging other people in comparison to ourselves and our moral compasses, just so we can feel better about our own life choices. It makes me really hate a lot of people out there, but I know I do that too, even if I really hate admitting it.
I probably judge others about how they spend their money, how they raise their children, how they yoyo diet, how they fail to cover their mouths when sneezing, how they do anything that I think is even a little bit disagreeable or otherwise morally questionable. I hope I do it a little less each day, and I hope that when I screw up, I can learn from it. I hope. But where are my blindsides? If I was confronted with someone in a wheelchair with postpartum and a chip on their shoulder, how would I react or approach them, or would I even try? What would my inner dialogue be? And that's what's so great about this book to me. It's less about the content and more about what it makes me ponder.
The content of the book is probably worth a four, but because of how it makes me self-reflect, I bump it up to a 5.
Oh, and I just realized Nat Cassidy also wrote Mary, which I loved! I really need to find more of his books next year!!
PS, diatomaceous earth is amazing stuff!!!! So many uses, and yes, as gross as it sounds, people eat it for health purposes. I used it to get rid of a caterpillar infestation at an apartment several years ago. My brother told me about it and told me his friend also took it to lower his blood pressure! These days, I have drying mats made out of them that I use for my dishes and for the bath/shower. Truly incredible how multifunctional it is. Give it a try 🙃
December 10, 2025
Nat Cassidy is so flipping good
December 28, 2023
Nat Cassidy definitely knows how to spin a good horror yarn. The last third of this book was really excellent, and this would have been a four star read for me if I found at least one of the main characters sympathetic. As it is, I found both Reid and Ana to be unpleasant individuals (Reid much more so). So, I was ultimately uninvested in their fates which really detracts from the tension in a story like this. I definitely didn't like Nestlings as much as I liked Mary, but I also really look forward to seeing what Cassidy comes up with next.
February 3, 2025
An exciting, gross interpretation of vampire mythology that is built upon the fears and anxieties of having a new baby and then multiplied by the numerous physical and mental issues that spring from sudden disability. Does that sound like a lot? Because it isn’t. Cassidy manages to play with all those ideas and more in this distinctly New York story that doesn’t shy away from rough edges and taboo emotions.
The characters take center stage here, with both of our leads feeling painfully genuine and relatable. They both go on journeys through this story, and the third character, their relationship, transforms as a result. To see both of them meet the (supernatural?) influences of their new apartment in different ways, and how those reactions affected their character trajectory, was really well-handled. Cassidy displays incisive journeys into family dynamics in the face of grief after grief after grief. In the same regard the world-building was effective. Setting it in NYC during the Covid pandemic was a specific choice, and that already created an atmosphere and vibe, it provided an easy shorthand. But the world of their apartment building, the worlds the characters wrapped themselves in, those were also meticulous, moving things that played an important part in the experience. The ideas it is playing with, all of which circle around grief as a nucleus but vary widely, feel appropriate and exciting in this context, and none overly didactic or heavy-handed. (There is one quite heavy-handed ancillary character that borders caricature territory… but at the same time I have met my share of people like him, so the caricature is probably more what dark parts of themselves people feel comfortable nurturing and displaying these days). The ideas vary from disability and its emotional burden for the disabled and their caregivers, postpartum depression, financial instability, antisemitism, and more. Cassidy isn’t trying to preach in any way, these are just very real things that are affecting our characters and become really interesting avenues for exploration, highlighted and exacerbated by the horror of the novel.
I am torn on the writing and pacing, a little. The chapters are all relatively short, and each chapter is further broken down into sections, some of which are only a few paragraphs long. This results in a very quick reading experience, constantly pulling the reader along, and I appreciated that. However, it was competing with a relatively slow first half. Cassidy provides a few stingers at the end of chapters to remind us that this is a horror novel, but the first half still feels like it is either a little puffed out and could be trimmed or it is missing something. This is because we understand the vibes of the new apartment and how it affects the family pretty quickly, the dark and seriously unaccommodating atmosphere is established relatively quickly, and in the amount of time given to flesh out the characters’ new trajectories not a whole lot happens that the reader wouldn’t intuit early on, in part because Cassidy does such a good job of building up these characters. The writing style, which is to say direct prose moving between the two main characters seamlessly while giving us just enough insights into their inner dialogues to help really make these characters feel real, short sentences, and convincing dialogue, all contained in the short chapter structure I mention above, works well for the story, it made sure I was never bored. But it didn’t hide that maybe a little a little more could have happened to increase tensions even more in that first half. The back half definitely makes up for it, though, with wonderful action scenes and great, all-encompassing horror. The other thing that felt like rough edges that could have used a little more sanding were that there were a couple of ancillary characters we meet that play important roles in the plot, and that was telegraphed in a pretty apparent and what felt like clumsy way. It didn’t take away from the narrative or how they fit into the resolution, but when they came up earlier in the novel it felt like arrows pointing at the characters saying, “remember this thing right here,” and it didn’t have to be that way. I liked the characters, and I like the way they fit in the big picture, I just don’t think they were introduced or utilized as smoothly as they could have.
Still, though, no real complaints. Cassidy is looking at family/relationship and grief in a really intimate way, and he is using a fresh and imaginative approach to vampires to do it. He has relatable characters and strong world-building combined with tight writing and a satisfying narrative. I didn’t want to put it down once I started, and whenever I did put it down it left me with more to think about than I had in my head when I picked it up.
(Rounded up from 3.5)
The characters take center stage here, with both of our leads feeling painfully genuine and relatable. They both go on journeys through this story, and the third character, their relationship, transforms as a result. To see both of them meet the (supernatural?) influences of their new apartment in different ways, and how those reactions affected their character trajectory, was really well-handled. Cassidy displays incisive journeys into family dynamics in the face of grief after grief after grief. In the same regard the world-building was effective. Setting it in NYC during the Covid pandemic was a specific choice, and that already created an atmosphere and vibe, it provided an easy shorthand. But the world of their apartment building, the worlds the characters wrapped themselves in, those were also meticulous, moving things that played an important part in the experience. The ideas it is playing with, all of which circle around grief as a nucleus but vary widely, feel appropriate and exciting in this context, and none overly didactic or heavy-handed. (There is one quite heavy-handed ancillary character that borders caricature territory… but at the same time I have met my share of people like him, so the caricature is probably more what dark parts of themselves people feel comfortable nurturing and displaying these days). The ideas vary from disability and its emotional burden for the disabled and their caregivers, postpartum depression, financial instability, antisemitism, and more. Cassidy isn’t trying to preach in any way, these are just very real things that are affecting our characters and become really interesting avenues for exploration, highlighted and exacerbated by the horror of the novel.
I am torn on the writing and pacing, a little. The chapters are all relatively short, and each chapter is further broken down into sections, some of which are only a few paragraphs long. This results in a very quick reading experience, constantly pulling the reader along, and I appreciated that. However, it was competing with a relatively slow first half. Cassidy provides a few stingers at the end of chapters to remind us that this is a horror novel, but the first half still feels like it is either a little puffed out and could be trimmed or it is missing something. This is because we understand the vibes of the new apartment and how it affects the family pretty quickly, the dark and seriously unaccommodating atmosphere is established relatively quickly, and in the amount of time given to flesh out the characters’ new trajectories not a whole lot happens that the reader wouldn’t intuit early on, in part because Cassidy does such a good job of building up these characters. The writing style, which is to say direct prose moving between the two main characters seamlessly while giving us just enough insights into their inner dialogues to help really make these characters feel real, short sentences, and convincing dialogue, all contained in the short chapter structure I mention above, works well for the story, it made sure I was never bored. But it didn’t hide that maybe a little a little more could have happened to increase tensions even more in that first half. The back half definitely makes up for it, though, with wonderful action scenes and great, all-encompassing horror. The other thing that felt like rough edges that could have used a little more sanding were that there were a couple of ancillary characters we meet that play important roles in the plot, and that was telegraphed in a pretty apparent and what felt like clumsy way. It didn’t take away from the narrative or how they fit into the resolution, but when they came up earlier in the novel it felt like arrows pointing at the characters saying, “remember this thing right here,” and it didn’t have to be that way. I liked the characters, and I like the way they fit in the big picture, I just don’t think they were introduced or utilized as smoothly as they could have.
Still, though, no real complaints. Cassidy is looking at family/relationship and grief in a really intimate way, and he is using a fresh and imaginative approach to vampires to do it. He has relatable characters and strong world-building combined with tight writing and a satisfying narrative. I didn’t want to put it down once I started, and whenever I did put it down it left me with more to think about than I had in my head when I picked it up.
(Rounded up from 3.5)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,748 reviews