Nothing to fear but fear itself, unfortunately, fear in this book has teeth and a body count! I felt like I was being chased too while reading this. I was so locked into this story I ended plenty of phone calls just so I could get back to it. If you love horror reads with gore and suspense, and the growing sense of “oh no, this is worse than I thought”, then you guys are going to love this book!

Thank you so much for giving me an arc of this! This book was spectacular. It was emotional, terrifying. I cried and I was also terrified. I will now side eye every Halloween mask. I did not expect the deep level of emotional trauma that this touched. It was just amazing. I loved the narrator also! And I also loved that Nat narrated the afterword himself as well.

Nat Cassidy has done it again! He was written such a fantastic book with the best references and metaphors available. After reading his book Nestlings, which i absolutely loved, I didn’t think it was possible for him to release another book better than that one and boy was I wrong. Nestlings was a 5 star read for me and I loved it, so when I tell you I loved When the wolf comes home I really really loved it. I absolutely love Nat Cassidy writing. His use of imaginary in his stories is excellent and it really makes the readers fully capture the essence of his message. This is a fast paced and thrilling book with some gore and a little humor and honestly the content warnings in the beginning of the book are excellent and all you really need to know before diving into this book. The narrator for this book did an excellent job and I love that Nat Cassidy is also a narrator ,he just did it so well! I highly recommend this book if you are a fan of Nat Cassidy already or maybe someone that has never read anything by him trust me this will not disappoint. Something I also love about Nat Cassidy is that he has a great foreword and acknowledgements at the end of his books and this one really explored his feelings behind the concept of shapeshifting and the reason why he wanted to write this book which I thought it was phenomenal. There are some great and heavy topics discussed In this book and the way the characters navigated the obstacles they encountered was fascinating and truly refreshing. Although this is a fictional story there was so much I took from this book and I do believe that the overall theme of fear was very well executed. Nat Cassidy will continue to be a favorite author of mine and not to mention an auto buy author I will buy everything he puts out and will be purchasing a physical copy of this book as it is now my favorite of all his works. I can’t wait to see what he has In store for us next.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced readers audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I have no idea what is happening in this book but I'm so here for it! This modern day horror, thriller is not for the weak. The writing is fantastic and funny. Even the trigger warning at the beginning made me chuckle.

What is fear? What is real? The horrors that lie within. No one is spared when the wolf comes home.

The audio of this book is superb. Do yourself a favor and listen to this book. The narrator is 👌

Thank you @netgalley and @mcmillanaudio for a copy of this title. All my reviews are my own.

This book is so amazingly traumatic with all the feels. I sobbed for about fifteen minutes after. I still need to collect my thoughts for this entirely but just know you need to read this.

Phew, this is one horror novel I would not recommend reading in the middle of the night with the lights off! The audiobook is phenomenal and immersive, which only makes it scarier. It’s truly an exploration of fear at its core, and done beautifully.

This book starts off with a bang and doesn’t slow down. It’s also completely unpredictable, which is the reason I am not expanding on the plotline (you’ve just gotta read it).

I became totally emotionally invested in the characters, which only added to the psychological terror I felt reading it. Jess, the FMC, is easily one of my favorite protagonists I’ve come across in a long time. She’s fierce, brave, and crazy smart. The characters were also immensely witty and there were some laugh-out-loud moments that I wasn’t anticipating!

This is one of those books that I know is going to stick with me for a long time. I already want to reread it, which is something I never do! Need your next horror fix? This is it.

Big thank to Macmillan Audio for the gifted ALC!

When The Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy, narrated by Helen laser and the author himself. after a long night of being on her feet at her waitress job Jess pulls into her apartment building to see what looks like a neighbor’s disagreement and shock on shock a young boy staring at the chaos. Trying to do the right thing Jess, gets the young boy to safety just in time to see a monster attack the fighting neighbors right after her new young companion says “he’s here!” Jess, who is clearly very good at reading the room or actually the front yard decides it’s time to get the hell out of there. this is when every strange monster someone can conceive of either knows learns or is following Jess and the young boy who we know is kiddo. it even visits everyone who gives them help from Margaret her coworker to cookie her mom. Is Jess safe anywhere or is the monster they’ve been running from, been with them the whole time? you know an author is awesome when in the middle of horrible torture scenes he also tickles your funny bone and Nat Cassidy did that in spades. I listened to the audiobook and thought Helen laser although at first struck me as an odd narrator although really good but once she got to the scenes where she had to show real emotion she really proved what a great actor she is. When listening to the audiobook I had no clue that the male narrator was Nat Cassidy but OMG he was awesome as well. this was such a mind blowing mic drop story and I was just blown away I’m still picking pieces of myself up since finishing. when I was done with this book no lie I went and looked up the author and downloaded every book I could find written by him and you will see my reviews coming soon. I loved this book and as a fan of horror I cannot recommend it enough. There is way more to the story than what I put in this review just be prepared for unthinkable monsters and torture that begs belief. Especially cookies hand with the note in it. Love this book. #NetGalley, #McMillanAudio, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #WhenTheWolfComesHome, #NatCassidy, #HelenLaser,

ARC REVIEW (4/22/25): when the wolf comes homes by nat cassidy 🐺 after a violent, bloody encounter with the boy's father, she and the boy find themselves running for their lives.

what to expect:
🩸 fast paced action
👻 emotionally rooted
🖤 sprinkled with humor
🕸️ a road trip chase
🗝️ creature feature

this was my first nat cassidy and it was SO good. I’ll be thinking about that halloween mask scene for months! the sheer obscurity of it had me giggling. the horror tinged references were the cherry on top!

as soon as I finished reading, I immediately went back into the audio and RElistened to my favorite scenes- something I never do! hell, even the afterword was moving. a fascinating take on fear and the control it can have on your life.

when the wolf finally comes home, no one will be spared. thank you macmillan audio for an early copy! the audiobook was fantastically narrated by helen lazer & nat cassidy himself 🎧 5 shapeshifting stars!

Hands down one of the best horror novels I have read in a very long time. This is not my first book by this author, but it is probably my favorite.

When the Wolf Comes Home grapples with many complex topics all mixed in with one of the creepiest stories I have ever read. This book had my head spinning and my heart pounding and I loved every single minute of it.

When the Wolf Comes Home is an early and strong contender for my favorite horror book of the year. If 2024 was the year I wouldn't shut up about Bury Your Gays, then 2025 belongs to this one.

(Also, if you haven't read or listened to Bury Your Gays yet, please please please go do that.)

First up, I want to caution you against reading the publisher's description for this book if you can. One of the comp titles includes a massive spoiler. Instead, trust Cassidy’s own content warning at the start of the book. And I don’t just mean the list of nasty things to expect — I mean the explanation that this is a book about fear. Specifically, how fear can consume and drive us if we don’t face it in healthy ways.

He also cautions readers not to expect a happy ending. Fair warning.

So, what is the story? Diner waitress Jess is having a really bad night. She accidentally pricks her finger with a used hypodermic needle while cleaning the restroom. In her rush to get to the ER, she leaves her phone behind. Then she finds a little boy hiding in the bushes. And when his dad shows up… well, that’s when things go from bad to much worse.

What follows is a tense, surreal road trip for two unlikely allies. The horror set pieces they encounter are vivid, inventive, and deeply unsettling. If you have a child in your life, I think you'll connect with the little boy's fears. I, for one, have a two year old and can attest to the terror that Target during Halloween season can cause to the uninitiated.

Jess is a great protagonist. Her improv background gives her a unique toolkit for surviving this bizarre and dangerous situation. But what I really loved was the depiction of Jess's relationship with her mom, Cookie. Cookie is a delight, and her conversations with Jess often bring some comic relief to the book's tension.

The pacing here is perfect. No lulls, no fluff, just forward momentum. There's violence and gore, but nothing that made this scaredy cat too intimidated to keep on reading. Well. There is a scene involving a certain movie from the 80's that is not for kids, but that I definitely saw as a kid. That was honestly the most disturbing part for me since it tapped into some of my own childhood nightmares.

This is a deeply affecting read, and I think Cassidy nails his thesis. I alternated between reading and listening to the audiobook, which I highly recommend. Helen Laser is becoming one of my favorite narrators, and she brings so much emotional depth here. Cassidy also narrates a few passages himself, which adds a layer of intimacy that really works.

This book is already getting buzz, and I think it’s well deserved. You’ll be seeing it on a lot of best-of-the-year lists, and for good reason. This is capital-H Horror — harrowing and intense — but it’s also proof of what the genre can do at its best. It's not just scary. It's meaningful.

Thank you so much Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for this gifted audio, in exchange for an honest review! When the Wolf Comes Home is out on April 22, 2025! When the Wolf Comes Home was a 4.5/5 stars for me! This one was by far my favorite book by Cassidy. I absolutely love creepy kids and the kiddo in this one was pretty terrifying. I loved the characters in this one, they felt really raw. A lot of the plot reminded me of It by Stephen King, which I loved. The ending made me a bit mad, in a good way I think? It was the reason for the knock of a half a star. I really enjoyed this one overall!

First I would like to thank Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced listeners copy of this book.

I’m not even sure where to start with this book. It was fantastic. I loved The Nestlings last year and this one was just as good. It was so strange and out there in the best possible way. I had no idea what to expect with them book and it took so many unexpected turns.

It was gory and graphic and just wonderful. I loved the character development in this book. You don’t always get that with horror stories but this was so well done. The author was able to move the story and character development along without sacrificing one for the other.

This book starts out quick with the action and doesn’t let up throughout the entire thing. I loved the audiobook version of this book. Helen Laser is one of my favorites and this audiobook was no exception.

I’m still torn on the ending. It was messed up and kind of messed with my mind a little.

Overall, I rated it 4.5/5 stars rounded up to 5 for this review.

This is not my first Nat Cassidy book, and I think at this point he will become an auto-read for me. Wow. 5 easy stars for this one. The narrator was fantastic! And the story moved with such great pace. I was caught up in every moment of the story. Shocked and stunned and yes, sometimes confused but in the best way. It was scary and gory but worth it. I loved this!!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC audiobook!

This is an incredible ride! Nat Cassidy is a great storyteller and the narrator really helped bring this story to life. It's fast paced, it's gruesome, it's sprinkled with humor. It's easy to see why this is such an anticipated book to own.

When The Wolf Comes Home was a very fun and unique horror book. This book deals with good vs evil in a really unique and thought provoking way.

Jess is a struggling actress and on her way home she finds a 5 year old boy in the bushes near her apartment begging for her help. After a terrifying run in with the boys father they end up having to run for their life.

Over all I would recommend this book for fans of horror that like their books alittle on the weird side.

This was an arc gifted to me by the publisher but as always my reviews are honest and my own.

🖤 When the Wolves Come Home Review 🖤
Poor Jess… just when you think things couldn’t possibly get any worse, Nate Cassidy pulls you deeper into a storm of heartbreak and haunting twists. This story doesn’t just tug at your heartstrings—it tears them to shreds in the most beautiful, brutal way.

It all begins with one brave, selfless act—coming to the aid of a terrified child. That moment, simple yet powerful, marks the beginning of the end for Jess. From there, everything unravels. One by one, she loses everyone she’s ever loved, sacrificing everything to keep the boy safe from the clutches of his abusive father.

But safety is fleeting.

As Jess and the child flee their demons, the plot tightens with every page. Tension coils like a trap, and just when you think escape is within reach—they come face to face with their monsters once more.

Cassidy masterfully crafts a tale of resilience and terror. It’s a gut-wrenching, unforgettable journey that lingers long after the last page.

The audio was fantastic - the narrator switched to the kid’s voice seamlessly and it was perfectly creepy. I think if you like classic creature features & Stranger Things you would love this story. They're on the run the entire time...but the kid cannot be trusted. He creates new realities based on what he believes is real. Very cool concept. The ending was soooo good. The wolf is a metaphor. It's not about a wolf really. But it kind of is? Just read it and you'll understand.

This is a very fast paced thriller style horror with plenty of daddy issues and character development. I could see it playing out as a movie 💯

You MUST read/listen to the Afterward. It is incredible and honestly I might re read the book knowing what I know now. Like what. Obsessed. I will now be devouring the rest of Nat's books.

Nat Cassidy is such a great storyteller! I got this one thinking it was a werewolf story, which I was super excited about, because WEREWOLVES! But this was so much more than werewolves and shapeshifters! At the heart of it, this story is a compelling reflection of human nature at its awful core, and very reflective of society today. We all operate on the belief that we do things or act a certain way, not because we think they are right, but because we know they are right. But are they? Who’s to say what the definition of right is for another person? This story explores all of that in all of its glorious gory detail. Cassidy is an impeccable writer and very adept at putting the message in his story without you even realizing it. The characters were so, so good! But be careful getting close to these insanely good characters, because you never know who’s going to be a victim of the shapeshifter, or become one themselves. By the time you get to the end of this book, you’ll be asking yourself, “Who’s really the monster?”

Huge thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!

I've been really enjoying Nat Cassidy's work over the last couple years, so I was excited to hear about his latest release, When the Wolf Comes Home, which sounded like it would bring something to Cassidy's work--and it did just that! Nat Cassidy truly is one of the best horror writers on the scene right now due to his ability to craft stories that have both terrifying elements and thought-provoking, multi-faceted aspects that provide incredible depth to each story. I was immediately drawn into this story and was really captivated by the premise.

We begin by following a fairly typical story in LA featuring Jess, a young actress who is trying to book auditions and make her way, but hasn't quite had that big break yet. She currently works at a diner, which isn't really providing her all that much in the way of excitement or fulfillment. One night, she happens to come across a young boy just outside her apartment. With no idea who the boy is where his parents are, she decides to try to help him out--and quickly discovers that there is more to his story than just being lost than she thought. I don’t want to give too much away, so I’ll just say that once Jess and the boy realize they can’t stay in her apartment for a number of reasons, the two set off on a journey of their own. Along the way, Jess uncovers some truly shocking truths about the boy and how he ended up in his current situation.

I found Jess to be someone that I could easily connect with and relate to, and it was easy for me to become invested in her rather chaotic and unexpected journey in this book. Her reactions to the bizarre events happening around her felt pretty understandable given the truly extreme and just plain weird nature of them. I also appreciated that she had a bit of 'just go with it' vibe that felt entirely warranted, which I thought also showed that, as her core, she is someone with a pretty good heart who just wants to take care of herself and help those who need it.

I also really appreciated the book’s focus on fear as a theme, especially in how it affects the boy. But not only does When the Wolf Comes Home explore how fear literally affects the characters, it also dives deep into fear itself: what is it, what shapes our fears, what goes into fear, and what fear can drive us to do. The power of fear is real, and it's very present in this story. This book also goes to some pretty dark places and tackles some tough topics, which I thought Cassidy--as usual--tackled with nuance and care and did so wonderfully well.

People don't always expect horror books to be very emotionally moving or to explore deeper themes (which is odd, considering how often horror deals with grief, anger, trauma, etc...but I digress), but When the Wolf Comes home is genuinely a bit of a gut punch of a story. There's a lot of tragedy woven throughout the story, and the ending is also sure to bring out some emotions in readers as well. I thought it was the perfect conclusion to this story, even though it’s a difficult one, and I think it really drove home everything that had been explored in this book.

When the Wolf Comes Home is a hefty story packed into a focused and concise narrative, if that makes any sense. The topics explored are fairly ambitious, but they're handled in a very streamlined and complete way. I thought the pacing was excellently executed and it felt fast-paced at times, but not too rushed, and still plenty of time exploring the inner mind of our protagonist and everything going on around her. I don't think I found my interest wavering at all while reading this, and in fact I went through it pretty quickly because I just couldn't seem to put it down.

I listened to the audiobook version of this and thought the narrator did an excellent job! She captured the tone of the story and Jess' experiences perfectly. I also enjoyed Nat Cassidy's own appearance, and I highly recommend sticking around to hear (or read) his author's note at the end, as I felt it added a lot to the story and provided a wonderful glimpse into some of his inspirations.

When the Wolf Comes Home is quite a chaotic and tumultuous journey, but it's one that I was hooked on the entire time. I can't recommend it or Nat Cassidy's work enough!

From the start this was very intriguing. The audio was done very well. The way it started with the little boy and his dad being abusive was really sad, but it kept me interested in listening to see what was going to happen. Then the way the FMC took care of the boy was really sweet. This book was very creepy at times, had elements of the big bad wolf. I recommend listening to the audio, it was really good.