You’ve probably seen the phrase floating around social media or tucked away in the darker corners of horror bookstagram. Someone You Can Build a Nest In isn't just a catchy, slightly unsettling title. It’s the debut novel by John Wiswell, and honestly, it’s one of the weirdest, most surprisingly tender things to hit the "cozy horror" or "monster romance" scene in years.
People are obsessed. But why?
Usually, when we talk about monsters, we talk about them as the "other." They are the thing under the bed. They are the thing that eats us. Wiswell flips that script entirely by putting us inside the head—or rather, the gelatinous, bone-stealing mass—of Shesheshen. She isn't a human. She’s a shapeshifter who views humans primarily as a source of building materials. Specifically, she needs their bones to maintain her structural integrity. It sounds gruesome because, well, it is. But the book manages to be both a gross-out body horror feast and a genuine exploration of what it means to be perceived as "monstrous" by a society that values rigid norms.
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The Reality of Shesheshen and Her Strange World
Shesheshen doesn't have a heart. Or lungs. Or a face, unless she happens to have scavenged the right parts to mimic one.
In Someone You Can Build a Nest In, the "monster" isn't a metaphor that only shows up in the third act. It’s the protagonist. She spends a lot of time thinking about how uncomfortable human skin is. It’s itchy. It’s restrictive. For her, "building a nest" isn't a cute Pinterest project—it’s a survival mechanism involving the ribs and vertebrae of the deceased.
Then she meets Homily.
Homily is a human. She’s also kind, which is a problem for a monster who has spent her entire existence being hunted by "heroes." The core of the story revolves around Shesheshen trying to hide her true nature while falling for someone who is part of a family of professional monster hunters. It’s the ultimate "meet the parents" nightmare, except the parents want to turn you into a trophy and you’re currently using a stolen femur to keep your torso upright.
Why the "Cozy Horror" Tag is Tricky
Some readers go into this expecting a Hallmark movie with a few drops of blood. That's a mistake. Wiswell doesn't shy away from the visceral reality of being a shapeshifter. There are detailed descriptions of Shesheshen absorbing nutrients and shedding skins. It’s messy.
However, the "cozy" element comes from the emotional safety. Despite the gore, the relationship between Shesheshen and Homily is built on a foundation of mutual respect and neurodivergent-coded communication. Shesheshen’s internal monologue feels deeply relatable to anyone who has ever felt like they are "performing" being a person. She has to remember to blink. She has to remember to breathe. She has to simulate a personality. For many readers, this isn't just a monster story; it's a story about the exhaustion of masking in a world that wasn't built for you.
Disability and the Monstrous Body
One of the most profound aspects of Someone You Can Build a Nest In is how it handles the concept of disability and chronic pain. John Wiswell has been vocal in interviews and on his blog about his own experiences with disability, and those themes permeate every page of Shesheshen’s journey.
Shesheshen’s body is constantly in flux. She is often in pain. She is limited by her physical form and the environment around her. Unlike traditional monsters who are "perfect" predators, Shesheshen is vulnerable. She is fragile.
- She struggles with the physical toll of maintaining a human shape.
- The "hero" characters in the book view her body as something to be "fixed" or eradicated.
- Her relationship with Homily works because Homily accepts her physical limitations without trying to change them.
This nuance is what separates the book from generic horror. It’s an exploration of bodily autonomy. If you are someone you can build a nest in, you are essentially giving up your physical space for someone else. The title is a literal description of Shesheshen’s biology, but it’s also a metaphor for the vulnerability of love. You let someone in, and they see the messy, unpolished, "gross" parts of your internal structure.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Plot
People hear "monster romance" and expect The Shape of Water. This is different. Shesheshen isn't a sexy sea creature; she is, at various points, a puddle of goo or a mound of digestive juices.
The conflict isn't just about the hunt. It’s about the curse afflicting Homily’s family. The "Wyrm" that plagues their lineage is a symbol of generational trauma and the way families can consume one another from the inside out. While Shesheshen is literally building a nest out of bones, Homily’s family is metaphorically building their lives out of the destruction of others. It’s a sharp critique of the "heroic" archetype found in classic fantasy. In this world, the people hunting the monster are often far more terrifying than the monster herself.
The Impact of the "Nest" Metaphor
The idea of a "nest" implies safety. Home. Warmth.
But nests are also made of scraps. Twigs, mud, hair, and in this case, bones. It’s an additive process. Wiswell uses this to show that identity isn't something you’re born with; it’s something you build out of the experiences and people you encounter. Shesheshen’s "nest" is her body, but it’s also the life she starts to build with Homily.
It’s worth noting that the book has garnered significant acclaim, winning the 2024 Nebula Award for Best Novel. This isn't just a niche internet favorite; it’s a critically recognized piece of literature that has challenged how we think about the "creature feature" genre.
How to Approach the Book if You're New to the Genre
If you’re diving into Someone You Can Build a Nest In for the first time, toss your expectations out the window.
Don't look for a traditional hero. Don't look for a traditional villain.
Instead, look for the small moments of connection. Look for the way Shesheshen describes the taste of a good bone or the way Homily describes her love for her family despite their flaws. The book is dense with sensory detail. It’s "squelchy," as many reviewers put it. But underneath the squelch is a heartbeat.
Practical Insights for the Aspiring Reader
- Check your triggers: If you have a phobia of body horror, bones, or digestive processes, tread carefully. It’s descriptive.
- Look for the subtext: Pay attention to how Shesheshen describes her "masking." It’s a brilliant look at neurodivergence.
- Follow John Wiswell: He’s an active writer who often shares the "why" behind his stories. Knowing his background in short fiction (like the award-winning "Open House on Haunted Hill") helps you appreciate his specific brand of weirdness.
- Read it as a romance first: Despite the teeth and the goo, the emotional core is a very traditional "star-crossed lovers" trope.
Someone You Can Build a Nest In proves that the most "inhuman" characters can often tell the most human stories. It challenges the reader to find beauty in the grotesque and to recognize that being a monster is often just a matter of who is telling the story.
To get the most out of this reading experience, focus on the theme of radical acceptance. Ask yourself: what parts of myself do I hide to avoid being seen as a monster? Then, look at how Shesheshen slowly stops hiding. That’s where the real power of the story lies. Stop looking for the "scary" parts and start looking for the parts that feel like home. Because in the end, we’re all just trying to find a place—or a person—where we can finally stop masking and just be the weird, messy creatures we actually are.