Someone You Can Build a Nest InSomeone You Can Build a Nest In
What it's about
Shesheshen is a shapeshifting monster who lives in a swamp and wears a human-ish body made of bones. When monster hunters attack her, she's rescued by Homily, a kind human woman, and falls in love. Unfortunately, Homily's family are the very hunters after her, and Shesheshen's kind reproduces by laying eggs inside a loved one.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Nebula Award and was a Hugo finalist. It's a funny, creepy, sweet romance told from the monster's point of view.
You'll love it if you liked
The Goblin Emperor
Uprooted
The Golem and the JinniGood to know
There's body horror and some gore, and Homily's family is abusive. It's surprisingly tender.
By the numbers
- Readers15 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics66 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller24 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz72 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #114 of the 233 romances we rank
- #211 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #260 of the 481 new books we rank
- #1496 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Dark, Uplifting, Gripping
If you like this, read next
Enchantra
One Dark Window
Bride
The Serpent and the Wings of Night
Haunting Adeline
AcheronExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Someone You Can Build a Nest In worth reading?
Yes. It won the Nebula Award and was a Hugo finalist. It ranks #1,496 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 68.3 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Someone You Can Build a Nest In about?
Shesheshen is a shapeshifting monster who lives in a swamp and wears a human-ish body made of bones. When monster hunters attack her, she's rescued by Homily, a kind human woman, and falls in love. Unfortunately, Homily's family are the very hunters after her, and Shesheshen's kind reproduces by laying eggs inside a loved one.
How long does it take to read Someone You Can Build a Nest In?
About 8 hours (320 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has Someone You Can Build a Nest In won?
Nebula Award winner (2024).
What should I read after Someone You Can Build a Nest In?
If you liked it, try The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison, Uprooted by Naomi Novik or The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker.