I’ve said this once and I’ll say it again: I LOVE NAT CASSIDY. I seriously love every single one of his books and this is no exception. This one starts with a bang and is an adrenaline filled ride until the end. Our FMC, Jess, and the little boy have such an amazing bond that you can’t help but root for them. The boy’s dad is terrifying and the chase has you flying through the pages. I literally couldn’t put it down. There’s action, gore and a hell of a lot of heart. So definitely pick this one up and then slide into the DMs so we can yap all things Nat

This was my first read from Nat Cassidy, and it definitely piqued my interest to check out his earlier work.

The story kicks off with chaotic opening that pulled me in immediately. Jess, a struggling actress, finds a runaway kid in the bushes outside her apartment, and from there it’s a nonstop sprint from one violent, surreal encounter to the next.

The first half was packed with tension and action, while the second half slowed down a bit but still kept me invested. The audiobook was especially well done—immersive and atmospheric, with vivid descriptions that made the horror really land. Some parts leaned into ambiguity, especially toward the end, and while I wasn’t always totally sure what was happening, I kind of liked that. It worked with the strange, unsettling tone.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the audio ARC.

I recently read When the Wolf Comes Home and really enjoyed this book! I rated it 4.75🌟🌟🌟🌟✨! This book was an emotional rollercoaster, made me want to scream at times and cry at others. Would definitely recommend picking this up if you haven’t already!

We follow Jess as she try’s to help a five year old boy flee from his monster of a father, but not everything is how it seems. 🐺🩸🖤

This one will definitely be getting a reread from me in the future!

Huge thank you to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for an advanced copy! This book published on April 22, 2025!

I chose this audiobook for one of my Macmillan Audio influencer program options recently because I'd like to listen to Helen Laser narrate my own life, and I'm really glad I did because Nat Cassidy has intrigued me with this one. Part road trip/runaway novel, part Grimm's tale, WHEN THE WOLF COMES HOME is a haunting story about childhood fears, trauma, and grief. It absolutely delivers on the horror front — I found myself saying "ew!" a number of times. And Cassidy provided a surprisingly emotional finale, both in the story itself and the lovely afterword.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the ARC!

Nat Cassidy, you did it again! I loved the blend of fairytales and trauma, weaving a creepy tale of a woman just trying to make it and a boy who just wants to feel safe. I loved how the story had to play out based on the rules of children, not adults, because it was all dependent on how the child feels. And in true Cassidy fashion, the ending left me angry and frustrated. Will definitely be rereading soon.

I absolutely loved this book and audio! The narrator did an amazing job making us feel the emotions of anxiety, sadness, pain, worry. What added such a great detail to the story was having the author read the letter. It was an easy read and kept me engaged the entire time! Cannot recommend this book enough!

*When the Wolf Comes Home* is a masterfully written and brilliantly narrated audiobook that sinks its teeth into you from the very first chapter and refuses to let go. Nat Cassidy once again proves his genius for blending psychological horror with raw emotional depth, creating a story that is as terrifying as it is deeply human. The audiobook performance is exceptional—evocative, well-paced, and perfectly matched to Cassidy’s haunting prose. The narrator captures the emotional complexity of the characters and the rising tension of the plot with gripping precision. This isn’t just a horror story—it’s a profound exploration of grief, identity, and the monstrous things we carry within. Whether you’re a longtime fan of Cassidy or new to his work, *When the Wolf Comes Home* is an unforgettable listening experience that deserves every bit of praise. Highly recommended!

Aspiring actress and part-time diner waitress Jess *thought* the worst thing to happen to her that night would be the accidental needle poke whilst cleaning the bathroom. When she gets home, a young, distressed boy stumbles into her life and a series of chaotic events unfurl.

This was creative! I appreciated the way that Cassidy builds suspense and anxiety in this book—there’s a very menacing energy throughout, though the source shifts in clever ways at different points of the novel. Without dropping any major spoilers, I will say that the big twist was more of a slow burn and creeping revelation than a culminating dramatic moment.

The narrator was good at capturing the voices and age ranges of the characters. Things got a bit convoluted towards the end.

A unique thriller/horror story that all starts with a kind woman who helps a young child hiding in her bushes. They remain together for the book as they try to navigate and escape the problems that seem to be chasing them. Things are not as they appear and this book does a great job of keeping the reader guessing.

Labeled as horror, yes, but it's really quite mild and makes for a great thriller. It is a fast paced book that keeps the reader engaged.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the gifted ALC.

Narrator: 5/5


This is one of those weird reviews because I personally didn’t like this book at all, but I totally see why everyone else loves it. This book is written so well and very thoroughly thought out. I appreciate that in a book. Sadly I just never find an overly gory book or movie to be particularly scary. It always just feels distracting to me so that’s more of a personal preference. I also generally can’t stand kids in stories and this was definitely an example of being constantly frustrated by a kid in a story. I get the reasoning why the story circled the child’s story, but I just couldn’t get past how obnoxious he was.

I’ll definitely recommend this to my audience! I can see why everyone loves it, but it just turned out to not be my type of horror.

This book was amazing! And one of the most fun, gripping, heart pounding books I’ve read this year. Right from the start I was in! This book made me laugh and cry and I was rooting all the way for Jess and the little boy. I am so grateful I got the audiobook from NetGalley, because the narrator really put in the tone for the story. It was so emotional and stressful, I was hooked on every word. I’ve read some other books by this author and without fail , he’s amazed me once more.

4.5 stars!
Jess has had an awful day at work. She is on her way home when she spots a young boy hiding in the bushes, afraid of his father finding him. She takes him in, not realizing what she has just taken on as carnage begins to follow them wherever they escape to.

This is one of the best horror reads I have ever read. It was real and raw, and poignant in how it touched on how many things can be scary. It was so imaginative and it just felt really human to me. I love when a horror book has depth and this one definitely had that. It had some good twists and Jess was an awesome protagonist. I will be reading this author’s backlist and anything new that he comes out with. I loved the afterword with all of the insights from the author.

*4.5 stars*

This was a wild, tense ride. The ending was fantastic. As someone with anxiety this book was so relatable and simultaneously terrifying. Head the trigger warnings and go in knowing that this books is about fathers and relationships.

The narration was good, easy to listen to. The authors note at the end is interesting and it’s always nice when the author reads it themselves.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ALC of this work. All opinions in this review are my own.

Holy smokes, this is absolutely one the best and most well-written horror novels of the last five years that I've read. It was simultaneously so sharply and softly written. Every beat hit. The gruesome descriptions, the wild internal thoughts, and the utter believability of it all was really, really impressive. This is going to be a go-to recommendation for me.

This book is Nat Cassidy's third full-length novel and follows Jess as she and a young boy try to flee the various shadows trying to catch up with them. I don't want to describe too many plot details because there is a real joy here in just going along for the ride, because it is a wild one. But if you want a couple more enticing crumbs think The X-Files episode, "x-Cops" with a dash of Emma Donoghue's Room and topped with a big ol' dollop of originality.

It's also full of heart and care and blood and trauma and humor and so much more. Cassidy proved to me here he's a strong voice in the modern horror genre, and I'll be listening for more. And speaking of listening, Helen Laser and Cassidy knocked it out of the park with the audiobook narration.

Interesting plot, not a typical werewolf story as the cover and title may suggest. The author has a quirky writing style that I found fun to read. I found the book to have more suspense than horror.

When the Wolf Comes Home
Nat Cassidy
Macmillan Audio
Format: ARC from @macmillan.audio
#macaudio2025
5/ 5

Thank you @macmillan.audio for the ARC of this audiobook, this truly made my year!

If there is one thing I want to make painfully clear if you come across my review page, it is this: If you have not read Nat Cassidy, you need to get it together and do it like yesterday. His stories are another that I will highly recommend the audio book because he steps in for the foreword and afterword, explaining why he wrote in certain ways, his inspirations, and gives a lot of food for thought - as if we needed anymore after finishing the book. When the Wolf Comes Home is no exception. Cassidy’s newest book (out now) is a terrifying and hilarious take on the Big Bad Wolf. Jess, a young actress waiting for her big break finds a five year old boy hiding in the bushes outside of her apartment after a long (and stressful) shift at the diner. Thinking she was just going to get him some help and be back on her merry way, she actually becomes entangled in a horrifying game of cat and mouse with a creature that is just as violently real as it is supernatural.
One of the reasons I wanted to read this book was knowing Cassidy’s ability to make characters that are so real. He has a way of being able to get into each of their heads and thoughtfully considers how they would react in situations, making each move they make purposeful. No empty scenes or dialogue here. Everything flows well, and there were no points where I felt it was slow or became dull. I’ll be honest, I don’t know what else to say other than, this is a damn good book.
Tackling tons of heavy hitting topics including relationships with our parents, childhood trauma, the way children are treated in society vs what they are capable of, health fears, and of course, the supernatural, Cassidy was still able to make it palatable and even hilarious at times. This story really did prompt me to sit with uncomfortable thoughts at times and examine them through my own lens, my own experiences coloring them. I am a big fan of encouraging reading to see life through other perspectives, and Cassidy’s book does just that, and I think When The Wolf Comes Home is his most busy intersection of walks of life yet. Oh yeah, and it is seriously creepy.

Not what I was hoping for! I really liked the beginning, the first quarter or so. At that point, the book did a bit of a bait-and-switch and turned into something extremely Dean Koontz-ian. That's not TERRIBLE, I have certainly enjoyed some Koontz books in my time, but maybe downgraded from 4 stars to 3 stars.

But as things went on, I grew more and more exasperated by Jess's decision-making, and around 85% something happened that made me ENRAGED at her. What was her plan?!?! What did she think she could possibly do with this child? Why did she think he was worth potentially world-ending consequences after what he'd already put her through. I just really couldn't stand her by the end and was fed up with the choices she was making (This situation called for an unsentimental heroine who would kill this child early on rather than abet his killing spree. Sorry not sorry 🤷🏻‍♀️)

On the plus side, the audiobook narrator, Helen Laser, was fantastic! While I hated the book, none of that was due to the narration and I would certainly recommend the audio version if you are going to read this one. Perfect voice for this character.

This was like a Goosebump book but for adults. It started off slightly cheesy and then hours later I’m pacing my kitchen, asking myself, “What the hell is happening here? I have no idea but I’m kind of digging this.” There’s plot twists after plot twists. Numerous gut punches. And then it wraps up with mind bending revelation that I can’t stop thinking about.

I had no idea where this story was going and honestly that was part of the magic. The audiobook was wonderful. The narration kept me locked in even when I wasn’t sure what was happening. And let’s be real, for a solid bit at the beginning, I wasn’t. It starts with a kind of cheesy and over the top scene. But then it slowly unravels and reveals itself in the most unexpected ways.

And while this is technically horror, it’s also sneakily insightful. As someone who constantly worries and is anxious about everything this story hit hard. Not just with the creepy vibes but with the honesty about what it feels like to live inside a storm of your own thoughts. I honestly cannot stop thinking about it. Not necessarily the story but what it all means. About what it’s really saying beneath the words on the pages.

I’d love to say more but honestly this is one of those books that works best when you go in blind. Trust the weird. Let it simmer. And don’t be surprised if it leaves you staring at your ceiling re-evaluating your emotional baggage.

It takes a lot to genuinely scare me, but this book managed to do it! The story immediately had me hooked and continued the entire time. This author really knows how to be scary and make you feel all different emotions. The writing is spectacular and the narrator did an amazing job.

4.5★
When The Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy is a horror book best to go in blind so I won't go into it too much except for the vibes.

As someone who never read anything Nat Cassidy and knew nothing about the book besides what was written in the description, this was not what I expected. The best way to describe this books is bonkers (but in a fun and entertaining way not in a bad way.) There is so much body horror as well as psychological horror. It was fast paced and tense the whole time. There were themes of anxiety, fear, and family that I really needed to hear at this time in my life. This novel might be insane, but it was so much more than a creepy book. I will definitely be reading more of Nat Cassidy.

Also, the narrator was top tier! I have to listen to more of her narrations.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.