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Someone You Can Build a Nest In
Someone You Can Build a Nest In | John Wiswell
17 posts | 11 read | 1 reading | 8 to read
A Most-Anticipated Book of 2024: LitHub, Polygon, Apple, Goodreads ? "Wiswell raises the bar on the outcast as protagonist . . . the ultimate monster slayer story, if the monster is just a misunderstood creature searching for love. Kristi Chadwick, Library Journal (starred review) Discover this creepy, charming monster-slaying fantasy romancefrom the perspective of the monsterby Nebula Award-winning debut author John Wiswell Shesheshen has made a mistake fatal to all monsters: she's fallen in love. Shesheshen is a shapeshifter, who happily resides as an amorphous lump at the bottom of a ruined manor. When her rest is interrupted by hunters intent on murdering her, she constructs a body from the remains of past meals: a metal chain for a backbone, borrowed bones for limbs, and a bear trap as an extra mouth. However, the hunters chase Shesheshen out of her home and off a cliff. Badly hurt, shes found and nursed back to health by Homily, a warm-hearted human, who has mistaken Shesheshen as a fellow human. Homily is kind and nurturing and would make an excellent co-parent: an ideal place to lay Shesheshens eggs so their young could devour Homily from the inside out. But as they grow close, she realizes humans dont think about love that way. Shesheshen hates keeping her identity secret from Homily, but just as shes about to confess, Homily reveals why shes in the area: shes hunting a shapeshifting monster that supposedly cursed her family. Has Shesheshen seen it anywhere? Eating her girlfriend isnt an option. Shesheshen didnt curse anyone, but to give herself and Homily a chance at happiness, she has to figure out why Homilys twisted family thinks she did. As the hunt for the monster becomes increasingly deadly, Shesheshen must unearth the truth quickly, or soon both of their lives will be at risk. And the bigger challenge remains: surviving her toxic in-laws long enough to learn to build a life with, rather than in, the love of her life.
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peanutnine
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#ReadingBracket2024 Fiction Update
I'm months behind on reviews still but really enjoyed the #QueerBC buddy read pick for October. So unique and kept me on the edge of my seat
@PuddleJumper

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underground_bks
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Pickpick

Shapeshifting from gory horror to cozy fantasy and back again as quickly and inventively as its monstrous heroine changes form, this utterly unique story about found family, queer love (with Ace rep!), generational trauma, and modern parenting will make a nest in your heart if you‘re not careful! Recommended with no rationale for fans of T. Kingfisher, Tamsyn Muir, and Andrew Joseph White!

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Jari-chan
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Pickpick

At first, I thought this wouldn't be for me, and it took some time to get into it. But more and more I was intrigued. This book really is different. At least its protagonist is. Also loved the message of the book, the emotions and the funny parts of dating a... puddle? Oh, and also: ace rep! ❤ So yes, it turned out to be a really cool book.

@Puddlejumper #queerbc

PuddleJumper Nice to see some ace rep! 3w
BkClubCare I‘ve heard the audio is excellent 2w
29 likes1 stack add3 comments
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psalva
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Mehso-so

Finished this just in time for my local queer book club meeting tonight. I teetered back and forth between pick and so-so. Positives: I thought this was extremely creative in concept, and had a great plot twist, and some really chilling gore. Negatives: the pace dragged sometimes, some tone issues, and some really chilling gore 😂. Overall, I don‘t think this was entirely my cup of tea. Nonetheless, I‘m curious to follow the author‘s work.

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PuddleJumper
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This is the October buddy read for #QueerBC

It won by quite a lot! i think next time I might need to arrange heats or have less books suggested

This is not a book I've heard of, looks like it was published this year but it sounds super interesting!

psalva Oh cool! I‘m just finishing this up today for my local queer book club. I would love to follow and see what others think. Would you mind adding me to the tag? 2mo
PuddleJumper @psalva Sure thing 2mo
See All 9 Comments
BookmarkTavern My sister read this a little while ago and loved it! 2mo
Jari-chan I've never even heard about this book - now I'm curious 😅 2mo
PuddleJumper @BookmarkTavern Oo that's positive! 2mo
PuddleJumper @Jari-chan Same. My library is ordering this so I might not get it for October. I'll keep it on my TBR 2mo
CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian 7 weeks hold for the audiobook at my library, so I might get it by the end of October! 2mo
peanutnine I don't know if hoopla is the same across libraries, but the audiobook is available through hoopla for me. I'm intrigued by this one - it seems like a mix of horror/romance? Could be interesting 2mo
29 likes1 stack add9 comments
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Cortg
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Panpan

This was recommended to me by a colleague and though I do enjoy weird books from time to time, I just couldn‘t get into this one. It was like Beauty and the beast but the beast was a worm like monster disguised as a human who falls in love with a human whose awful family is hunting the monster. It just wasn‘t for me.

Cortg @dabbe So true! 😂 2mo
28 likes2 comments
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Nessavamusic
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Pickpick

This is a very strange but entertaining book. It is a horror romantic fantasy. Yup that best describes it. It definitely has horror - pretty gross moments actually, and a surprisingly sweet romance. Overall, I liked it. 4⭐️

With this I had another #bookspinbingo

willaful I've been saving this for, I hope, the scarathalon. Hope I don't find it too gory. 😬 3mo
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3mo
48 likes2 comments
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skywalker_Wannabe
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Pickpick

Probably one of the better books I have read in a while! Monster hates humans, wishes to be left alone. Humans can‘t mind their business and end up finding out when they poke around. Enter human who is different from the rest and monster falls in love. Classic storyline 🤣.

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thegirlwiththelibrarybag
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Pickpick

I loved this! Gonna be in my top reads for the year FOR SURE! Had a plot twist so good I said OOOOH out loud.

Shesheshen might be a monster but it‘s often the humans that showcase monstrous traits. Beautiful themes of love and connection together with grief, betrayal and generational trauma.

The audiobook was brilliant, Carmen Rose knocked it out of the park.

41 likes1 stack add
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psalva
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#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl
“Each year when Shesheshen hibernated, she dreamed of her childhood nest.”

The next read for my queer book club.

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skywalker_Wannabe
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Just finished this! Excellent read!

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thegirlwiththelibrarybag
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Libby really putting on the time pressure!!!

35 likes1 stack add
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NotCool
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Pickpick

Honestly, this is worth reading just for the title. That‘s a good title.
It‘s also a messy horror/rom-com/cozy fantasy/who done it, with a big heaping serving of generational trauma.

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JoyBlue
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Bailedbailed

Bailing (or *at least* putting a pin in) at 67%. I really tried, but I‘m just not enjoying it. Not good humor:gore ratio.

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sebrittainclark
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Pickpick

4.5/5

The monster Shesheshen is awoken early from her hibernation by monster hunters and forced to into a fight that leads her straight to Homily. Homily is a kind woman who helps Shesheshen recover from her wounds with secrets of her own.

This was is a fantasy horror told from the perspective of the monster, who learns monsters aren't the most monstrous thing in this world. It was full of twists that I really enjoyed.

51 likes4 stack adds
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sebrittainclark
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audiobook: Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell
ebook: Dreadful by Caitlin Rozakis

#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

ginaschultz Fraulein:Struggle for Identity by Jeffrey T. Leonards 8mo
36 likes1 comment
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sebrittainclark
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Each year when Shesheshen hibernated, she dreamed of her childhood nest.

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl