Cassidy has done it again! After Nestlings, I was prepared to be freaked the hell out but ended up UGLY CRYING about my parental trauma. This book was so many things and I loved every second. Heartbreaking, thrilling, hilarious, horror that felt imaginative and fresh despite being familiar, deeply introspective and overall a story that I can see myself revisiting often. I listened to this as an early audio arc and I really enjoyed the narrator, felt like she perfectly captured the tone of our main character, Jess.

A struggling actress/waitress, Jess is having a rough day already when she discovers a runaway 5 year old behind her apartment. His enraged father is not far behind so she takes the boy in hopes of finding him some semblance of safety. She realizes she is in way over her head upon discovering the boy has the power to transform his imagination into reality. He could be influenced by anything he sees at any time and is already in a very frightened state. Loved this kid so dang much, Cassidy truly captures the thought processes and idiosyncrasies of a 5 year old to a tee. Sometimes you read a book with a kid in it and you're just like ehhh, I'm not buying a kid would say that. Not the case here at all.

Jess is relatable as hell, with a witty dark sense of humor and a satisfying character arc. She is flawed but she's trying. The relationship between her and mother was everything because of all its subtle intricacies and tension. I love Nat Cassidy books so damn much because of how brilliantly he writes women. If you read a lot of horror books, you will find that is often not the case in the genre. But he just gets it. Auto-buy author 100%. Perfect balance of character development and plot. The pacing was fast but never rushed, a fantastical road trip filled with fears, hope and discovery all under the shadow of parental trauma and all its complexities. And don't even get me started on the author's note! Yeah, I cried, it wasn't cute. Everybody go read this ASAP!

i tired so hard to listen to this but just couldn't push myself to suffer through this.

thankful i got the audio arc

Despite my best efforts, I couldn't stick with the book. I listened up until 53% mark and decided there was no way the latter half would change my opinion. I don't think this author is for me but please don't let that discourage yo7 from giving it a try.

4 ⭐️ This was my first Nat Cassidy book and after reading it and the Afterword, which shouldn’t be skipped, I am moving his backlist up my TBR list. The afterword gave the book a whole new perspective for me as it is deeply personal for him and I just respect that so much.

As for this book, it was nothing like I expected from reading the blurb as I was expecting a typical werewolf book but it is so much more. I won’t go into many details as I think it would ruin your reading experience and it’s best to go into it with an open mind. This book is so good, while it is a horror book and has very graphic scenes of gore and death (check your trigger warnings), it is also extremely emotional and will really get you to think about how you look at fear and the world around you. The only reason I knocked off a star from my rating was because it naggingly reminded me of a Twilight Zone episode, later recreated by a Simpsons Tree House of Horror episode and it just didn’t sit right with me for some reason and caused me to lose a little of the emotional gut punch I think it should have delivered by the end. I loved the 80s call backs. I grew up in the 80s and 90s and watched TV and movies that were FAR too mature for me, and while I didn’t fear the movie this book references, I could see how that movie could instill fear into the mind of a child. I also felt the homages to other 80s horror books and movies, to me I saw a little Firestarter, Dean Koontz, Freddy Krueger and Tales from the Crypt vibes just pouring off this book.

Also, I listened to this book on audio and I think the narrator, Helen Laser, did a fantastic job bringing the story together and bringing Jess and Kiddo to life. This is a really fun journey that will have you in a roller coaster of feels, one minute you’re laughing, the next a little grossed out and horrified then another minute holding your breath in anticipation of what’s to come. I hope that if you pick this up and go for the audio, you enjoy it as much as I did.

My favorite thing about Nat Cassidy’s books is you never know what you’re going to get. Even if you read the synopsis for When The Wolf Comes Home (though I highly recommend going in blind), you won’t be prepared for where we go.

It’s nostalgic, sad, and raw. We get to revisit some iconic movies and media from childhood through a new lens that left me questioning how appropriate it really was for a kid. This book is a lot about trying to find yourself and learning, or trying, to put someone else before you.

There’s also a lot of grief, especially surrounding loosing someone you love. Mix in a tragic backstory and fun horror elements that can only be described as belonging in a few X-Files episodes, it’s a doozy of a book with a whole lot of heart.

However you read this, you can’t skip the author’s notes. Cassidy’s author notes have become some of my favorite to read because of the insight we get into his life and inspiration.

This little terror is out April 22nd 🖤

This book was a trip from beginning to end, and I was buckled in for the entire thing. It was very well written and the story was insane. I also felt that the narrator was fantastic!

This is my first Nat Cassidy book so I was really thankful for the arc- and the trigger warnings! They almost scared me off but I’m glad I stuck with it. The narration was great and the story had me hooked!

Nat Cassidy has once again secured his place in my mind as a horror God. This book made me feel all sorts of ways and the most of all being, completely psychologically terrified. While the book wasn't as "scary" to me exactly as Mary or Nestlings had me feeling, this one definitely made contemplate so much. Also, side note, the little bit of horrific nostalgia bit that would have completely made me need a change of pants if it happened in real life, had me giggling listening to it here and I loved that.

I knew from the first chapter of Mary Nat Cassidy was going to be a favorite author and with each book of his I read i am proven right. Mary is still my favorite of Cassidy's works but this one is a very close second. This book was fantastic.
I suffer from anxiety so this is definitely the book that I relate to the most. The constant soul crushing fear that everything is ending and the worst case scenario is enviable. The way all childhood fears get blown into these wide and terrifying nightmares also felt so very real.
I think overall this was Cassidy's most grounded work. I know that sounds funny ad this is a fantasy horror but it's definitely the most realistic of his books. I loved this book and couldn't put it down! I highly highly recommend it!

Excellent! I loved the story. Very Twilight Zone and reminiscent of one of my favorite episodes “It’s A Good Life.”

Great narration! One of my favorite narrators.

I loved the character of “Kiddo” such a sweet innocent kid with all of this power.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the gifted ALC!

This delivered on absolutely every front. Creepy, suspenseful, foreboding, thought provoking, and emotional. Nat Cassidy is firing on all cylinders with his latest.

While I was listening, I kept thinking it had all the elements I love most from Stephen King's novels. Where King has a tendency to struggle, Cassidy shines: the ending. I thought the conclusion of this book was STELLAR. So clever and incredibly thought provoking, with a big gut punch to boot. I will be thinking about this book often!

When the Wolf Comes Home pub date is April 22 - I had to pre-order a finished copy for my collection!

Okay, wow. I just finished When the Wolf Comes Home, on audiobook, and I honestly don’t know how I’m supposed to move on from this story. It’s one of the most beautiful stories I’ve read in the most creative, haunting, and uniquely twisted ways. It’s like someone stirred together horror, fantasy, psychological thriller, and suspense in just the right amounts, and the result? A binge-worthy masterpiece that I could NOT put down. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE AUDIOBOOK! *chef’s kiss* 🙌

When I first picked it up, I totally thought I was in for a werewolf tale. I mean—wolf is in the title. But this story threw me in a completely different direction. Yes, there’s a wolf, but the why and how behind it? Absolutely fascinating. I don’t want to spoil anything, but let’s just say the origin of the wolf element is something I did not see coming and I LOVED that.

Every single character in this book has layers. Like, peel-back-one-and-you’ll-find-three-more kind of layers. Just when you think you’ve figured someone out, nope. You turn the page, and uncover a new depth and a new surprise.

I never cry during an Afterward. But this one? It was emotionally impactful, raw, and just so… human. It made me want to immediately track down everything this author has ever written and buy it on the spot. Nat Cassidy is officially on my must-read-everything-he-writes list.

I’m already planning to recommend this to my book club. It’s the kind of story that just begs to be talked about. And trust me, once you read it, you’ll need someone to talk about it with.

If you’re into genre-bending stories that keep you on your toes, break your heart a little, and make you feel deeply? This one’s for you.

Thank you #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for the chance to listen to this early in exchange for an honest review!

When the Wolf Comes Home is a book about fear and all the ways it affects us.

Jessa's night working at the diner starts off poorly, and then it gets much, much worse. She comes home in a seriously worried state, only to find a runaway boy hiding in some bushes near her apartment. What is he hiding from? You'll have to read this to find out!

I am in love with Nat Cassidy's writing and I loved Jessa, the main character, as much as someone can love a figment of another's imagination. I loved her bravery, her smarts and her drive to protect this strange young boy. Jessa sacrifices a lot without a second thought just to protect him-sometimes I wondered if she was making the right choices-and sometimes she wondered the same. I liked that Jess used improv comedy to help her prevail over her fears, and it also gave her the ability to think on her feet. There are all kinds of scary things in this world, both real and imagined, and if we do not face them, how will things ever change?

Helen Laser did a terrific job as narrator and it must have been difficult for her at times, due to the subject matter. She pulled it off with aplomb, and I plan to see what else she has narrated, she was that good. The author himself provides some trigger warnings in the front matter of this audio, and then he does an afterword as well. In fact, I think Nat Cassidy provides an afterword in his other audios too. I enjoy them and they make me feel like I'm getting a peek inside his sometimes warped mind.

Overall, this is a werewolf book like no other. I know people say that all the time, but in this case, it's really true. At times, I questioned whether this was even a werewolf story at all. I think it's up for debate. Feel free to seek me out when you're done and we'll discuss it! For now, I'm awarding all the stars. I loved you, Jessa Rae, and I love Nat Cassidy too.

Highly recommended!

*ARC from publisher

4.5 rounded up.

I truly loved this book. Horrific, funny, devastating. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I started it but it pulled me in immediately and I know I will think about it for a while.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an ALC.

When the Wolf Comes Home is a raw, emotionally charged horror novel that cuts deep. Nat Cassidy blends supernatural terror with personal trauma, turning anxiety into a living, breathing monster. The story wastes no time, dragging you into Jess’s nightmare as she and a mysterious child flee something unspeakable.

This isn’t just a scary story—it’s a reflection on fear, survival, and how childhood wounds grow into adult demons. The horror is relentless, but it’s the emotional honesty that lingers.

Helen Laser’s audiobook narration heightens the tension, making an already unforgettable story feel even more intimate and visceral.

Gripping, gutting, and weirdly healing—this one earns the hype.

Jess’s life changes drastically one night when she finds a five-year-old runaway hiding in her bushes. After an unexpected and unimaginable encounter with the boy’s father, they are forced to flee. She quickly discovers the boy can make his fears a reality, adding a whole new layer of terror to their chase.

Wow, what a fantastic book! This story had a lot of amazing elements I absolutely loved. For starters, I loved how fun the horror elements in this book were. Fear and imagination coming together and creating entertaining images of terror. The main character in this one was super funny, and I loved how this felt so natural, and not forced.

This book is a fantastic take on fear, trauma, flawed fatherhood, and parental responsibility. It explores the power of fear and how impactful belief can be, both for the good and bad. The ending held such a wonderful twist, and I also found myself tearing up from certain key parts of this book. While the story was very well developed, with flawless pacing, what gave this story the 5-star shine for me was Nat Cassidy’s afterward section. He delves into the ‘why’ behind the story and lets us see the personal touches his own father gave to this story. It honestly made me sob, so please do yourself a favor and don’t skip the afterward section of this book!

Overall, I loved this book. I can’t think of a single thing I would change. I am so thankful to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the approval to listen to this audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion. With the amazing narration of Helen Laser and Nat Cassidy himself, this book was such a wonderful experience. I highly recommend it!

"Oh yeah. I'm always scared of stuff. you get to be a certain age and they stop calling it scared and start calling it anxiety. But it's all the same."

"But there's also soft fear. Soft fear wraps around you like a blanket. It doesn't make you run, and that makes sense because where would you run to? Soft fear creeps in from everywhere. You don't even know you're feeling it sometimes. Until it's all you can feel."
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Jess runs into a terrified young boy hiding from his father and takes him in to help. What happens next is WILD! And it doesn’t stop the ENTIRE. TIME!

The sheer insanity of the situation made it impossible to predict, while the extreme danger kept the intensity HIGH. I had NO IDEA what craziness and carnage would happen next, and there’s a TON!

Nat Cassidy writes such vivid and graphic prose that I felt utterly immersed in this surreal mind trip! I particularly loved the hotel scene with the movie reference that clicked immediately because it DID terrify me as a kid! (IFKYK!) And the trip to Target! Wowza! TRUST ME folks...if you enjoy body horror, grief horror, existential horror and creature features...you NEED to read this ASAP! Yes, there are triggers and plenty of them, which Nat will tell you about himself if you do the audio. What hits the most are the nuances of fear and abandonment and the spotlight on dysfunctional father relationships. OUCH! I didn’t expect to be thrust so deeply into emotional territory. Nat is an expert at bringing to life unresolved feelings and exorcising them through an action packed, blood soaked, fever dream nightmare!

I definitely recommend the audiobook with the book for a complete cinematic experience. Helen Laser brings to life ALL the emotions with distinct voices and you don’t want to miss hearing Nat read his Afterword. It’s EVERYTHING.

Be prepared for surprises, gore, jaw dropping moments, ‘what in the world did I just read’ thoughts and maybe even tears. Snatch this one up quickly y’all! WHEN THE WOLF COMES HOME will stick with you long after you’ve finished!
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Thank you Tor Nightfire & Macmillan Audio for my free copies. All thoughts are mine.
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Potential spoiler content warnings below.




































⚠️Content warnings: language, abandonment, grief, violence, gun violence, gore, needle trauma, bugs, suicidal ideation, abuse, alcoholism, patent death, child trauma, child endangerment, child death & more

My favorite horror of 2025!

It's so satisfying when a book you've been building up in your head since you added it to your TBR lives up to the hype and then some. I loved this so much! Definitely the bleakest and most horrific from Nat Cassidy yet.

There's an incredible balance of levity and humor, gore and insane kills, and an impending feeling of dread, doom, and gloom. A lot of horror books for me are one and done but I will be rereading this multiple times for sure. I need to experience that heart break over and over again.

I'd also totally recommend reading this during Halloween, it's perfect for the season. Prepare for your deepest fears to be given life. I also experienced this book on audio and I'd definitely recommend it. The dual narration really adds to the story, particularly during the reading of the journal entries.

“No one will be spared when the wolf comes home.”

WOWOWOWOW.

Graphically horrifying and utterly moving, Nat Cassidy has created a masterpiece. This novel was truly a shape shifter in the best way. Fun & campy, dark & emotional all in one.

Fast-moving plot. Beautiful writing. At times quite emotional, with some deliciously gory horror scenes. Unique as fuck. Asks the reader to address how the horror of everyday can make monsters of us all & how we can move on from this knowledge.

“Maybe the true horror of the werewolf is that the change is never permanent.”

Thank you endlessly to Tor Nightfire for letting me read this early! Y’all pick this up on April 22nd, you won’t regret it.

Nat Cassidy's When the Wolf Comes Home is the kind of nightmare you actually want to get lost in - a creepy blend of psychological horror and dreamlike horror. I think I've found my new favorite sub-genre - "dream horror"?I'm obsessed.

The tension builds - slow, inevitable, and terrifying. I physically couldn't put it down! Under all the scares, there's real emotional depth that'll hit you right in the feels. I was freaked out and crying - what a combo..

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.