Started out great, but really went on for too long. Was a struggle to complete. Probably could have taken some parts of the story out and still would have had the same effect

DNF 50%

It's a very slow version of Jane Eyre and simply could not keep my attention. Just wasn't for me.

I couldn't get enough of CJ Cooke's writing. She is an absolute master of a gothic thriller. I was engrossed in the book from the beginning and couldn't put it down.

The plot was nothing short of an amazing ride down the trail of a gothic movie that should be made immediately. This definitely cemented my love for CJ Cooke's writing!

Solid entry into the "British Girls in Trouble" genre. Modern day gothic feel. the story moved along and was unique enough to give it a try.

Happy pub day to C.J. Cooke @cjcooke_author and The Nesting. I absolutely loved I Know My Name, and so I am incredibly excited to dig into this one!

The woods are creeping in on a nanny and two young girls in this chilling modern Gothic thriller.

Architect Tom Faraday is determined to finish the high-concept, environmentally friendly home he’s building in Norway—in the same place where he lost his wife, Aurelia, to suicide. It was their dream house, and he wants to honor her with it.

Lexi Ellis takes a job as his nanny and immediately falls in love with his two young daughters, especially Gaia. But something feels off in the isolated house nestled in the forest along the fjord. Lexi sees mysterious muddy footprints inside the home. Aurelia’s diary appears in Lexi’s room one day. And Gaia keeps telling her about seeing the terrifying Sad Lady. . . .

Soon Lexi suspects that Aurelia didn’t kill herself and that they are all in danger from something far more sinister lurking around them.

Doesn’t this sound like the perfect creepy fall thriller? Thanks to Berkley Pub @berkleypub and NetGalley @netgalley for my advance copy!

This book was the perfect amount of creepy and atmospheric. The character development was decent and mostly believable, however a few odd things stood out. The supernatural/mythical element was something I haven't previously read about and I enjoyed it. The only thing that kept me from giving it 5 stars was the one bit that I felt was unresolved toward the end that had to do with the house build. I will look for more by the author.

Despite trying multiple times, I just couldn't get into this book. I found the characters dull and flat, lacking complexities. The plot holes and implausibility drove me nuts.

I'm choosing not to finish this one, and I won't be leaving a review anywhere.

This book instantly grabbed my attention with Lexi’s attempted suicide. I enjoyed the relationship between Lexi “Sophie” and the children, but grew tired and annoyed by Clive and Derry. Also, I found the backstory on Maren kind of...out there. The author does a great job of including Norwegian myths and folktales into the story in order to hint that a supernatural power may be involved in the many accidents that surround the family and property. All in all, this was a decent read!

Cooke can definitely tell a hypnotic story. Loved curling up with my cozy blanket and reading this book. Loved the plot, enjoyed the characters, and appreciated the overall pace of the story.

Creepy and completely twisted! I really enjoyed this thriller and will be recommending it to my friends and family

I was a little nervous about reading this book because I'm not a great fan of the supernatural. However, the story kept me going and the supernatural elements were very subtle. The setting is a remote location in Norway where Lexi pretending to be Sophie takes a job as a nanny for two young girls who have just lost their mother to suicide. The book touches on self-harming, depression, post-natal depression and the relationship between humans and nature. Kept me gripped until the end.

The Nesting is a dark, twisted psychological thriller with ties to Nordic fairy tales. Set in rural Norway, the Gothic setting is atmospheric and suspenseful. These kinds of stories are typically not fast-paced. Rather, the reader is immersed in the setting and slowly introduced to the characters and their motivations. The author did an excellent job maintaining a creepy vibe from beginning to end and offered the reader plenty red herrings.

A very good book and very creepy! I picked it up and read it in one day! Yes it is a very good read!

THE NESTING is a dark and twisty psychological thriller. The way Cooke unravels the story is both compelling and shocking. I loved how the layers of the truth are peeled back as well as how the characters are developed. C.J. Cooke is a must-watch author for me.

This was an enjoyable thriller! I liked the Nordic fairy tales! The writing was well-written! However, there were many plot holes that did not get solved. Still, if you are willing to overlook books with no resolution, this is still an entertaining read!

At first I thought his didnt really work for me. But then I gave it a second chance and am I glad I did.

Really great story. I love when books go back and forth in time and this did it very well. Love the paranormal aspect.
I'm so glad I reread it.

Thanks #Netgalley and Berkeley Publishing for this Arc.

After a slower start, I really enjoyed this mysterious story set in Norway. The main character "Sophie" struggled in all areas: her work, personal life, family. She sees a strange opportunity to improve her situation and jumps on it.

This dark thriller has just the right amount of suspense and unpredictability to create a great story. I definitely enjoyed and would recommend!

*Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for this free book in exchange for my honest review.

I really loved this book and how suspenseful and eerie it felt. I greatly enjoy books with creepy vibes from beginning to end and this does a great job of that. I can also see this being made into a fantastic movie adaptation!

You had me at *nanny in a remote, creepy house with a mysterious employer*



3/5 stars



The Nesting has some weaknesses of logic and plot, but it thoroughly makes up for it in atmosphere. There are multiple red herrings and I'm not sure how I feel about them. They might also just be sidelines that fizzled out a bit.



This book is a solid 3 stars for sheer creepiness and entertainment value. The Norwegian setting is a huge bonus for me because Scandinavia ups the atmospheric score quite a bit. If I can know without the book even telling me that it is already dark outside at 3pm, I'm all about it.



We get an unreliable narrator, but for most of the book we can't be quite sure if she's imagining some or all of what is happening. Other characters certainly seem to be having odd experiences too. Do we have unreliable secondary characters as well? Or do we have an ancient Norwegian spirit haunting the premises? Or the ghost of a dead wife? Lexi finds herself surrounded by people who teem with secrets, some well hidden and others poorly so. Is a human being responsible for those bumps in the night? Better read it and find out.



I got my ebook for free from NetGalley for review purposes.

If I am lucky, once or twice a year, I read an amazing book that pulls me in like few do and The Nesting by C.J. Cooke is one of them! I love the Nordic folklore woven into this story. The characters have well rounded personalities and the storyline is both haunting and beautiful.

I love how the story flips between the past and present with the perfect flow. I was sad when I came to the end of this book because I wasn't ready for it to end. I rarely ever give a book a 5 star review, this is one if the rare ones and I look forward to reading more from this author.

It is a must read and a book I will highly recommend to others. Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC, as always, I only give honest reviews.

Happy reading!