Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for sending me a copy in exchange for a review.

I wanted to read this book because I was under the impression that the plot involved some sort of werewolf. I was sadly mistaken in that, but it became a completely different kind of horror that had me hooked - I was thinking about this while at work and found myself wanting to read it as soon as I had a moment to myself.

The gore, the imagery, the jump scares - all of this was 10/10. However, this isn't just a horror story; it's also about generational trauma, complicated relationships with parental figures, and the ugly parts that we hide from others but also ourselves. Jess was so real to me that I could easily picture her and everything she goes through. Absolutely mind blowing but not one to go into without looking up explicit trigger warnings.

When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy is the kind of book that doesn’t just get under your skin, it rips it off, shakes it around like a chew toy, and hands it back with a slobbery kiss.

Cassidy has written a horror novel that feels like a fever dream with teeth. At the heart of it is Jess, a down-on-her-luck actress who finds herself saddled with a traumatized runaway and, soon after, a trail of gore so outrageous it makes The Texas Chain Saw Massacre look like a quaint family picnic. The violence here isn’t just shocking, it’s surreal, grotesque, and darkly funny in the way only true nightmares can be. (Let’s just say I’ll never look at “family bonding time” the same way again.)

Jess is one of those characters you root for because she’s messy, flawed, and in way over her head, but that’s what makes her human. And as the story unravels, Cassidy masterfully balances splatter and soul, turning what could’ve been just another slash-and-dash into a gut-punch exploration of survival, performance, and what it means to face the monsters both outside your door and inside yourself.

By the end, I felt like I’d been through a meat grinder, emotionally devastated, deeply unsettled, and perversely entertained. Five stars, no hesitation. If you like your horror smart, brutal, and just a little bit funny in the way trauma sometimes is, When the Wolf Comes Home will devour you whole.

What a brilliant read! I found that the fantastical storyline and real storylines were equally tense, which is hard to do. I would liken this book to the works of Stephen King so fans or his creepy and quirky bold would like this modern spin.

I would re-read this book and seek more out from this author.

Thanks: Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5

This has to be one of the most original horror books I've read in years. The imagery and the conveyed message is top tier, it seems like a simple premise once you get to the crux of it, but Nat Cassidy continued to turn the whole story on it's head. There are two particular parts of this book that will live rent free in my head forever (IYKYK) and the unexpected happened more than once. It was clever, entertaining, immensely sad and melancholy. I bloody loved it!!

My first read by Nat Cassidy and it won’t be my last. A slow burn horror novel that builds the tenuous relationship between Jess and a runaway boy escaping and hiding from what initially appears to be a violent and murderous father. However, not all is as it seems as things get weirder and the body count gets higher. A tense and terrifying read that I couldn’t put down, one that actually gave me shivers - reigniting old fears; that Roger Rabbit scene was horrifying!

I've just read my favourite book of the year! A horror novel with heart and soul, gave me all the chills and all the feels!

Jessa finds a young boy outside her apartment and shortly after chaos ensues when the boy's father turns up and things get violent and gory!

Jessa then finds herself on the run with the young boy and things get wild!

Aside from the excellent writing, the gripping, adrenaline fueled plot and the truly scary moments, what I loved most about this book was the emotional side. The characters feel like real people with real relationships, you can tell a lot of feelings have gone into this book and that's what makes it stand out amongst others. Be prepared for tears, especially reading the author's afterword!

The concept was brilliant. I definitely recommend this book if you enjoy horror. It reminded me a bit of I Was A Teenage Slasher, another favourite horror novel of mine!

When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy is an intense, gripping horror-thriller that hooks you from the very first page. The story follows Jess, a struggling actress in Los Angeles, who finds a terrified little boy outside her home, only to have a terrifying, wolf-like creature break into her apartment soon after. What follows is a fast-paced, brutal fight for survival where the boy’s deepest fears become terrifyingly real.

What sets this book apart is how Cassidy balances gore and scares with genuine emotional depth. Jess and the boy’s bond is raw and touching, giving the story a surprising heart beneath all the chaos. The theme of fear feels almost alive here, shaping not only the creatures but the characters’ choices and relationships.

The writing is sharp, with short chapters that keep the tension tight and the pacing relentless. There are plenty of twists that keep you guessing, and the horror scenes are vivid and imaginative, sometimes downright shocking.

If you’re a fan of horror that’s as emotional as it is frightening, this book delivers. It’s brutal and sometimes disturbing, so definitely be ready for that, but it’s also a powerful story about trauma, protection, and the things we do to survive.

I’d give it 4.5 stars. Highly recommended for readers who want horror with heart.

It’s hard to put into words how much I enjoyed this book, it was a very welcome introduction to Nat Cassidy’s writing and I fully intend to dive into the back catalogue. When the Wolf Comes Home is an incredibly written blend of horror and emotional depth. The horror is visceral and terrifying at times and is masterfully balanced with the raw and emotionally charged story of survival and resilience in the face of overwhelming fear.
This is a propulsive book that is hard to put down, the main characters, Jess and ‘Kiddo’ are believable and flawed and their vulnerability and complex dynamic is guaranteed to make you feel for them. The profound relationship they build is beautiful and really captures the subtle nuances of human connection. The secondary characters we meet along the way, whether cruel or kind, serve to enrich the story and add to the complexity. I would recommend going into this story knowing as little about the plot as possible but overall this is a story about fear and perception, trauma and tenderness. I will continue to think about this book for a long time to come. (just watch out for those weasels)

With thanks to Titan Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this amazing book in exchange for an honest review.

This was insane!

It went in a totally different direction than I was anticipating, and ended up exceeding all my expectations. This is my first Nat Cassidy, I do have Mary on my shelves and now desperately want to get Nestlings.
I was sucked into this from page one! This was fantastically gory, gruesome, terrifying, heart-breaking and gut-wrenching. I sobbed during part of this, let me tell you. And the afterword, bringing the whole thing together, oh my heart!

I absolutely loved this, and it's definitely encouraged me to want to pick up more from Nat. This book gave me so much to think about. I truly related to Jess with her anxiety and overthinking. Constantly negatively thinking, and the way that Kiddo's situation makes you think outside the box with this. It's just a phenomenal read. I can't recommend this enough.

I went into this book totally blind, thinking it was just your typical werewolf story—and wow, was I wrong.

We follow Jess, who works at a diner but dreams of becoming an actress. One day, she stumbles upon a boy hiding in the bushes, clearly scared and trying to get away from his father. Then she sees the dad—and what he turns into. From that moment on, she knows she has to help the kid and get them both out of there.

This story pulls you right in. It’s dark, atmospheric, full of gore—but somehow still manages to be really sweet (yeah, I didn’t expect that either). You don’t just read about the characters’ emotions—you feel them. And the whole situation keeps you questioning everything.

Honestly, I think that’s why I took my time with it. I didn’t want it to end… or maybe I was just nervous to find out what happens to them.

Either way, this book has definitely earned a spot as one of my 2025 favorites.

It’s fast-paced, emotional, gory, and full of supernatural twists—all the stuff I love wrapped up in one story.

Would I recommend it? 100%, without a doubt.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this advanced reader's copy and the opportunity to this early. Review has been posted on Waterstones and Goodreads.

How do I explain how fantastic this book is in every way, from start to finish? It's funny, it's weird, it's heart-warming, it's terrifying for so many reasons, but mostly because it takes common horror tropes and dials them up 200%. At the core, I felt this book was very much about the duty we as a society owe children, particularly troubled children, and I thought Jess was a fantastic protagonist to be our vehicle through that. This was a seriously infuriating (in a good way) book and I'll be sure to recommend it to anyone who enjoys horror.

This is technically a werewolf book… but not really, and that’s exactly the point. Cassidy reshapes familiar horror tropes into something weirder, more emotional, and far more personal. There’s a monster and a lot of blood. The pacing rarely slows down.

Jess is a struggling actress scraping by in L.A. by waitressing and cleaning nasty bathrooms. She quickly ends up in an unpleasant situation involving a used needle, a strange boy hiding in the bushes, and a sudden burst of violent chaos. From there, she’s on the run - from a monstrous “wolf-bear-thing,” but also from grief, trauma, and a lifetime of messy emotional baggage. Jess is believable, and her choices feel real. Well, with a few exceptions, but I can’t spoil them.

The boy she rescues is no ordinary kid. His fears literally come to life. Which is as terrifying as it sounds. And it makes the story unique - the creature they’re running away from is more tied to grief and desperation than anything supernatural. That’s why many readers love it. Now, to me, some instances didn’t ring true. I also found Jess too emotionally messy to relate to, and that decreased my enjoyment a bit. But she’s smart, sometimes funny, and uses improv comedy tricks to survive monster attacks, so there’s that.

Not every twist lands perfectly, and some of the genre-mashing might throw readers off, but by the end, the payoff is worth it. If you’re into horror that does something different give it a shot.

As per usual, I spent a few days after finishing this novel to let my thoughts on it marinate before starting on my review. I was undecided on what to say in this review and then, all of a sudden, it didn’t matter anymore. Just before I started writing, Stephen King heartily recommended this book on social media: “terrific…. sink your teeth into a classic”. And now nothing I have to say will really matter: the King has spoken.

Struggling actress Jess is having a terrible night at her waitressing job. Her absentee father has just passed away and she could really use a break from cleaning disgusting toilets to make her rent payments. To top it all off, she’s accidentally pricked herself with a used hypodermic syringe whilst on clean-up duty. On her arrival home, she finds a shell-shocked 5 year old boy in the bushes outside her apartment, hiding from … something. Moments later, a naked man bangs on the door of her neighbour’s flat, demanding for help finding his missing son.
And then all hell breaks loose…

When The Wolf Comes Home arrives with a fanfare of positive soundbites from a complete who’s who of modern horror. King’s rave review echoes what I’ve heard elsewhere about this book, and herein lies my problem. I liked this book and yet…. I can’t help feeling that I’ve missed something here. It’s fine, it’s fun, it’s a very Stephen King-esque thriller. This was broadly my reading experience, up until the last third of the book which I felt elevated it to above a 3-star read. (Sidenote: the need to sum up my feelings on a book neatly with a rating out of 5 is one of my enduring frustrations with writing reviews).

Part of my ambivalence stems from this being a chase novel: for some reason, I can never connect to them as well as other types of narratives. The very nature of the thriller requires that the reader doesn’t ever really get a good understanding of the characters and their inner workings; the protagonists must always be on the run and under threat. For most of the book, Jess and the boy are running from the boy’s father. That’s the point of When The Wolf Comes Home: it’s about fear and the forms it can take, how it changes as you grow up, the lengths people go to avoid it and the power of confronting it. It’s also about the power of imagination.

For most of this novel, I felt that it was well-written and fun, but it didn’t spark anything exceptional. Not that that’s any kind of criticism. And then the last 3rd of the book took a weird turn and, for me, that’s where things really started getting going. I loved the last part of the novel and the final confrontation between the boy and his father.

“Nobody hides like tears, she realizes. We could learn a thing from them.”

Is this a werewolf novel? Kind of, sorta, maybe.

Is that a spoiler? Quite possibly. Sorry.

This book is going to be big (and it deserves to be). Horror fans will eat it up (and what big teeth we have!) and it’s crowded with references to other works of horror. There’s even a character named after Talking Scared podcast host Neil McRoberts. Still: I can’t reiterate enough that I wanted more of something from this book and I can’t quite put my finger on what and who am I to argue with horror royalty?

Nat Cassidy is a New York-based overachiever. Not content with his current career writing prose fiction, he’s also a successful actor and playwright. Honestly his CV is formidable and all signs are that he’s got plenty more works of horror fiction in him. The LineUp has described him as the Stephen King of TikTok. He also bookends this novel with an extremely affecting afterword which casts new poignance over the book and is well-worth reading afterwards the main action is over.

Thank you to Titan and Netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

When The Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy was published by Titan Books on 22nd April. (Sorry this review is overdue!)

A horror novel that starts with a bang and never lets up. Jess a struggling actress find a 5 year old boy outside her home. They end up on the run with the boys father, the FBI after them, but not is all it seems. Not your typical Werewolf novel but there is plenty of bloody scenes. Overall a throughly goid read. Thanks to Titan books and Netgalley for this review ARC.

You ever finish a book and just sit there, equal parts wrecked and thrilled, like you’ve been through a storm but you chose it, loved it, and would gladly walk back into it again? Yeah. That was me with 𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙤𝙡𝙛 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙃𝙤𝙢𝙚.

I absolutely love Nat Cassidy’s books. Every single one gets under my skin in the best way, but this one? This one tore through me. This one has claws! 𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙤𝙡𝙛 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙃𝙤𝙢𝙚 is a full-body howl. It’s grief-soaked, rage-fueled, and it has teeth. Sharp ones.

I don’t want to spoil a thing, because going in blind is part of the magic (and terror), but just know this: it’s not just a werewolf story. It’s a story about the monsters we carry, the ones we inherit, and the ones the world forces onto us. It’s about gender and pain and transformation and what it means to take your power back even if it terrifies you. ESPECIALLY if it terrifies you.

Cassidy writes like he’s pulling guts out of the page raw, honest, messy, but oh so precise!

If you like your horror with depth, with heart, with bite you need this one.

All the stars!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first Nat Cassidy book and I was not disappointed. This book entails a horror chase as the main character finds a 5 year old boy who is scared of his dad. This book was horror with an emotional value touching on facing fears and parental relationships through metaphors. This book was chaotic and no one was safe, having me on edge. The full book was
a wild ride it felt like Mad Max only in American with a car and Wolves. If you like horror I definitley recommend checking this one out and I will hopefully read more of
this author.

Dark, visceral, and hauntingly surreal, When the Wolf Comes Home sinks its teeth in from page one and refuses to let go. Nat Cassidy—no stranger to the unsettling—delivers a horror novel that feels like a fever dream soaked in blood, dread, and the relentless howl of something ancient coming to collect.

The story kicks off with Jess, a struggling actress barely holding her life together, discovering a five-year-old boy hiding outside her apartment. The moment she decides to help him, her life veers into a nightmare of primal violence and surreal terror. The boy’s father is no ordinary man—what follows is a deadly pursuit through back alleys, safe houses, and psychological hellscapes where the line between reality and myth blurs, and blood is never far behind.

Cassidy masterfully paces the narrative, blending brutal action with creeping horror and an undercurrent of tragic beauty. As Jess and the boy flee, they leave behind a trail of inexplicable carnage—acts that suggest something far more monstrous is at play than just a man chasing his son. There’s a mythic weight to the story, a folkloric rot that seeps in as Jess uncovers deeper truths, not only about the child but about herself.

The title isn’t just poetic—it’s a prophecy. The wolf is coming home, and Cassidy makes sure you feel it in your bones.

With razor-sharp prose, cinematic intensity, and an atmosphere thick with menace, When the Wolf Comes Home is part grim fairy tale, part survival thriller, and part psychological horror. It’s not just about running from monsters. It’s about what happens when the monsters catch up—and what they reveal about us when they do.

Amazing.

I almost didn’t want to pick up this book, because I really love my dad. Even when he’s not perfect, I am his biggest champion. So…this story was difficult. As a mother, it was painful because it raises so so many questions about the children we have and how we raise them to be good citizens of the world. And as someone with a lot of anxiety, it was terrifying in the most fun way: it made me think.

I love Jessa. I love Cookie.

The book starts off at a 100 and never slows down. Jessa meets “Kiddo” and decides to help him because Jessa is a good person. This isn’t really explored more, but as someone who would probably do the same, I didn’t question it.
The sheer panic I felt when Daddy comes to find Kiddo, had me hooked enough to finish the book in two sittings.

Seriously great characters.
What a truly great edition to the horror genre.

This is one of those books that I really wanted to love, and while there were definitely parts that worked for me, overall it fell a bit short.

I loved the concept behind how the werewolf is created. It was an unexpected twist, and the body horror elements felt fresh and genuinely unsettling, but I found myself wishing the whole book had a more consistent level of this throughout.

There were big chunks where it felt like it was just the two characters traveling from one location to another, over and over again. While it did have its moments, the pacing just didn’t work for me.

There’s definitely some great parts, and I can see why some readers love it, but for me, it didn’t quite come together the way I was hoping.