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Listen to Your Sister
A razor-sharp, breathlessly harrowing novel of siblings, the nightmares that haunt us, and the deep, powerful love that can tie a family together, perfect for fans of Grady Hendrix, Isabel Canas and T. Kingfisher.
Twenty-five-year-old Calla Williams is struggling since becoming guardian to her brother, Jamie. Calla is overwhelmed and tired of being the one who makes sacrifices to keep the family together. Jamie, full of good-natured sixteen-year-old recklessness, is usually off fighting for what matters to him or getting into mischief, often at the same time. Dre, their brother, promised he would help raise Jamie-but now the ink is dry on the paperwork and in classic middle-child fashion, he's off doing his own thing. And through it all, The Nightmare never stops haunting Calla: recurring images of her brothers dying that she is powerless to stop.
When Jamie's actions at a protest spiral out of control, the siblings must go on the run. Taking refuge in a remote cabin that looks like it belongs on a slasher movie poster rather than on an Airbnb listing, the siblings now face a new threat where their lives-and reality-hang in the balance. Their sister always warned them about her nightmares. They really should have listened.
Twenty-five-year-old Calla Williams is struggling since becoming guardian to her brother, Jamie. Calla is overwhelmed and tired of being the one who makes sacrifices to keep the family together. Jamie, full of good-natured sixteen-year-old recklessness, is usually off fighting for what matters to him or getting into mischief, often at the same time. Dre, their brother, promised he would help raise Jamie-but now the ink is dry on the paperwork and in classic middle-child fashion, he's off doing his own thing. And through it all, The Nightmare never stops haunting Calla: recurring images of her brothers dying that she is powerless to stop.
When Jamie's actions at a protest spiral out of control, the siblings must go on the run. Taking refuge in a remote cabin that looks like it belongs on a slasher movie poster rather than on an Airbnb listing, the siblings now face a new threat where their lives-and reality-hang in the balance. Their sister always warned them about her nightmares. They really should have listened.
352 pages, Paperback
First published February 4, 2025
576 people are currently reading
73738 people want to read
About the author
Neena Viel
3 books314 followersNeena is a horror writer who lives in a cabin in the Washingtonian woods with her husband. She has a canine assistant who fundamentally disrespects the creative process.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,632 reviews
September 4, 2024
I have read a lot of really weird books lately and Listen to Your Sister is right up there with the weirdest of them. That's not necessarily a bad thing – I'm pretty sure I enjoyed this one – but holy heck I'm not even sure what I just read. I went into it expecting more of a “creepy cabin in the woods” type story, but it turns out it's not really about the cabin – or the woods – at all.
It also deals with some pretty heavy subjects. Childhood trauma, reluctant sibling guardianship, abandonment, parentification of a child, death of a parent, guilt, missed life opportunities, and strained family ties are all topics that are addressed in this novel. The author does a wonderful job of showing how all of these repeated traumas can fracture a person and cause them to resent those that they love most.
At the same time, though, the Williams siblings obviously care a lot for each other and this isn't a story devoid of hope. Even when they're at odds with each other, Calla, Dre, and Jamie still have each other's backs. And they're a witty bunch. I absolutely would not call this a funny read, but it does have some pretty hilarious lines mixed in with all the more serious bits.
As for the plot … I dunno, you guys. I think this is a book that is best gone into mostly blind. It's a fever dream-y and unsettling tale that's as creepy as it is heartwarming. And it's very, very weird. But overall? It's certainly worth a read and perhaps one of the most original books I've read in a long time. This is apparently Neena Viel's debut novel and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next. 3.95 stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is February 4, 2025.
It also deals with some pretty heavy subjects. Childhood trauma, reluctant sibling guardianship, abandonment, parentification of a child, death of a parent, guilt, missed life opportunities, and strained family ties are all topics that are addressed in this novel. The author does a wonderful job of showing how all of these repeated traumas can fracture a person and cause them to resent those that they love most.
At the same time, though, the Williams siblings obviously care a lot for each other and this isn't a story devoid of hope. Even when they're at odds with each other, Calla, Dre, and Jamie still have each other's backs. And they're a witty bunch. I absolutely would not call this a funny read, but it does have some pretty hilarious lines mixed in with all the more serious bits.
As for the plot … I dunno, you guys. I think this is a book that is best gone into mostly blind. It's a fever dream-y and unsettling tale that's as creepy as it is heartwarming. And it's very, very weird. But overall? It's certainly worth a read and perhaps one of the most original books I've read in a long time. This is apparently Neena Viel's debut novel and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next. 3.95 stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is February 4, 2025.
May 6, 2025
someone tell my siblings.
first i have to say, contrary to my expectations, this book was extremely funny.
the other thing i really liked about this was the jordan peele-esque (synopsis comparison i actually agree with!) sociopolitical aspect to the horror.
those are two really big good things, but sadly they were my biggest pros.
if a horror story is going to be as over the top as the nightmarishness of this one, it's my personal preference to feel grounded in the reality outside of it. but the beginning of this (and the flashbacks to normalcy) felt wacky too, and it was hard to settle into this story.
bottom line: a goofy wacky out-there mostly-good time.
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
first i have to say, contrary to my expectations, this book was extremely funny.
the other thing i really liked about this was the jordan peele-esque (synopsis comparison i actually agree with!) sociopolitical aspect to the horror.
those are two really big good things, but sadly they were my biggest pros.
if a horror story is going to be as over the top as the nightmarishness of this one, it's my personal preference to feel grounded in the reality outside of it. but the beginning of this (and the flashbacks to normalcy) felt wacky too, and it was hard to settle into this story.
bottom line: a goofy wacky out-there mostly-good time.
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
August 10, 2025
Hold onto your reading glasses – Neena Viel's Listen to Your Sister is one wild ride that's part horror show, part family drama, and completely impossible to put down! Imagine taking the most dysfunctional family road trip imaginable and then dropping them into a nightmare realm where reality bends like a funhouse mirror.
Meet Calla Williams, a 25-year-old guardian who's basically juggling the impossible: keeping her teenage brothers Jamie and Dre from completely imploding while battling her own mind-bending nightmares. When a protest goes sideways, the siblings escape to a secluded cabin that turns out to be anything but a peaceful retreat. Spoiler alert: those creepy dreams? They're about to get very, very real.
Viel has this incredible knack for making horror feel intensely personal. The sibling dynamic is so spot-on it'll make you laugh, cringe, and maybe call your own siblings just to check they're okay. Calla's sardonic wit cuts through the mounting dread like a flashlight in the darkness, ensuring the book never becomes too heavy, even when things get seriously weird.
It's not just a horror novel – it's a story about family, survival, and those invisible threads that keep us connected even when everything else is falling apart. The way Viel blends supernatural terror with laugh-out-loud moments is nothing short of magic. One minute you're on the edge of your seat, the next you're chuckling at a perfectly timed sibling burn.
Listen to Your Sister is the kind of debut that makes you sit up and take notice. It's fresh, it's fearless, and it absolutely refuses to play by the usual horror rulebook. Viel has created a story that's as much about the monsters inside our heads as the ones lurking in the shadows.
If you're looking for a horror novel that'll make you feel, think, and occasionally snort with laughter, this is your book. Just maybe keep the lights on while reading – just in case.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for sharing this brililant debut's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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Meet Calla Williams, a 25-year-old guardian who's basically juggling the impossible: keeping her teenage brothers Jamie and Dre from completely imploding while battling her own mind-bending nightmares. When a protest goes sideways, the siblings escape to a secluded cabin that turns out to be anything but a peaceful retreat. Spoiler alert: those creepy dreams? They're about to get very, very real.
Viel has this incredible knack for making horror feel intensely personal. The sibling dynamic is so spot-on it'll make you laugh, cringe, and maybe call your own siblings just to check they're okay. Calla's sardonic wit cuts through the mounting dread like a flashlight in the darkness, ensuring the book never becomes too heavy, even when things get seriously weird.
It's not just a horror novel – it's a story about family, survival, and those invisible threads that keep us connected even when everything else is falling apart. The way Viel blends supernatural terror with laugh-out-loud moments is nothing short of magic. One minute you're on the edge of your seat, the next you're chuckling at a perfectly timed sibling burn.
Listen to Your Sister is the kind of debut that makes you sit up and take notice. It's fresh, it's fearless, and it absolutely refuses to play by the usual horror rulebook. Viel has created a story that's as much about the monsters inside our heads as the ones lurking in the shadows.
If you're looking for a horror novel that'll make you feel, think, and occasionally snort with laughter, this is your book. Just maybe keep the lights on while reading – just in case.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for sharing this brililant debut's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
medium.com
February 14, 2025
Absolutely incredible and batsh*t insane!!!
Listen To Your Sister was layered, emotional, visceral, and very, very weird. It follows three siblings with very dark pasts as they deal with a very unique kind of haunting, and are eventually forced to go on the run after a series of really terrible things happen.
I was so delightfully surprised at how crazy things got in this one! It almost bordered on like dark fantasy with how much of a fever dream things eventually became. Like, this might be the most baker.reads recommendations I’ve read so far 😂
I related to all of the main characters and how they struggled with their past, and i thought it was incredibly nuanced how the siblings relationship were portrayed- I don’t wanna say how bc of spoilers and bc I don’t wanna out myself too much 😅- but ohmygod I was tearing up because I just felt + related so much.
I’m honestly kind of shocked how low the reviews for this are and hope it finds its audience soon. Like on one hand, I kind of get it because it was incredibly weird and weird books like this don’t translate well for the average reader, BUTTTTT a lot of the negative reviews mention they don’t like the “political” aspects of the book. And like, okay, everyone is entitled to their own opinions but also like, why read diversely if you’re gonna be annoyed with the diverse aspects??? 🧐😅
Anyways, I absolutely loved this; it’s wacky, darkly funny, very violent (some of the injury details had me squirming in my seat), dark + emotional, and so much more.
I cannot recommend it enough, and it will be one that I include in recommendation videos for years to come.
Listen To Your Sister was layered, emotional, visceral, and very, very weird. It follows three siblings with very dark pasts as they deal with a very unique kind of haunting, and are eventually forced to go on the run after a series of really terrible things happen.
I was so delightfully surprised at how crazy things got in this one! It almost bordered on like dark fantasy with how much of a fever dream things eventually became. Like, this might be the most baker.reads recommendations I’ve read so far 😂
I related to all of the main characters and how they struggled with their past, and i thought it was incredibly nuanced how the siblings relationship were portrayed- I don’t wanna say how bc of spoilers and bc I don’t wanna out myself too much 😅- but ohmygod I was tearing up because I just felt + related so much.
I’m honestly kind of shocked how low the reviews for this are and hope it finds its audience soon. Like on one hand, I kind of get it because it was incredibly weird and weird books like this don’t translate well for the average reader, BUTTTTT a lot of the negative reviews mention they don’t like the “political” aspects of the book. And like, okay, everyone is entitled to their own opinions but also like, why read diversely if you’re gonna be annoyed with the diverse aspects??? 🧐😅
Anyways, I absolutely loved this; it’s wacky, darkly funny, very violent (some of the injury details had me squirming in my seat), dark + emotional, and so much more.
I cannot recommend it enough, and it will be one that I include in recommendation videos for years to come.
October 17, 2025
Listen to Your Sister follows three siblings: Calla, Dre and Jamie. They lost their father to an accident, and their mother wasn't able to properly care for them.
Calla legally became guardian for Jamie, the youngest, with Dre's promise that he would help her. Unfortunately, Dre, the middle-child, hasn't really followed through on those promises. He cares, but doesn't take it seriously enough.
Jamie, at 16, is a strong-willed and energetic teen, who is getting more difficult to parent by the day. He has many positive attributes, but Calla feels at wits end. She's only 25-years old, and has already sacrificed so much trying to keep this family together.
Her job is at risk, as she has had to miss so much time due to being called away after Jamie gets up to one mischief, or another. She's also finding it difficult to maintain any sort of healthy adult relationships.
After Jamie gets into serious trouble at a protest, the siblings must go on the run, taking refuge in a remote cabin. It's there that Calla's worst nightmares become reality.
No, seriously. Calla has been plagued by nightmares for years. Horrific dreams in which her brothers die because she's unable to protect them.
Also, in these dreams, the worst iterations of Calla come to life. Alternate versions of herself that embody the worst things people have said, or assumed, about her; the worst feelings they've made her feel. It's truly frightening stuff.
Now as Calla is pushed to the brink, by her brothers and their unstable circumstances, the things of nightmares are manifested into reality, and they're after the trio.
Will the siblings be able to come together, move past their past traumas and be able to defeat these nightmares, or will the nightmares win out, ruining them one-by-one?
Admittedly, this is much more Fever Dream than I tend to enjoy, but there was something about how raw and real these characters felt that had me by the throat. I ended up really being drawn into the dream-like qualities.
I loved the topics and themes that Viel explored and look forward to seeing what other Readers think. Speculative stories tend to drum up a wide range of opinions.
The audiobook is very good, with three narrators matching each of the MCs. I definitely recommend that format. It brought this story to life; a great production.
I was really so impressed with the character work. The siblings and their relationships were the star of this show for me. They had been through so much and I love how they related to one another. It's not all perfect, sunshine and rainbows, but you could feel the love and dedication.
I feel like this has some great Social Horror aspects as well, I just hope the right Readers end up picking it up. The cover is giving very Haunted House vibes, and while there is a creepy cabin, it's much more of a Literary Horror-feel than that cover may lead you to believe.
Regardless, I had a fantastic time with this one. It's hard-hitting and memorable. I'm really looking forward to seeing what this author comes up with in the future. I'm hoping for more along these lines.
Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin's Griffin and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. I would recommend this to Horror Readers.
This is very Feminine Rage with a Twist. We love that.
Calla legally became guardian for Jamie, the youngest, with Dre's promise that he would help her. Unfortunately, Dre, the middle-child, hasn't really followed through on those promises. He cares, but doesn't take it seriously enough.
Jamie, at 16, is a strong-willed and energetic teen, who is getting more difficult to parent by the day. He has many positive attributes, but Calla feels at wits end. She's only 25-years old, and has already sacrificed so much trying to keep this family together.
Her job is at risk, as she has had to miss so much time due to being called away after Jamie gets up to one mischief, or another. She's also finding it difficult to maintain any sort of healthy adult relationships.
After Jamie gets into serious trouble at a protest, the siblings must go on the run, taking refuge in a remote cabin. It's there that Calla's worst nightmares become reality.
No, seriously. Calla has been plagued by nightmares for years. Horrific dreams in which her brothers die because she's unable to protect them.
Also, in these dreams, the worst iterations of Calla come to life. Alternate versions of herself that embody the worst things people have said, or assumed, about her; the worst feelings they've made her feel. It's truly frightening stuff.
Now as Calla is pushed to the brink, by her brothers and their unstable circumstances, the things of nightmares are manifested into reality, and they're after the trio.
Will the siblings be able to come together, move past their past traumas and be able to defeat these nightmares, or will the nightmares win out, ruining them one-by-one?
Admittedly, this is much more Fever Dream than I tend to enjoy, but there was something about how raw and real these characters felt that had me by the throat. I ended up really being drawn into the dream-like qualities.
I loved the topics and themes that Viel explored and look forward to seeing what other Readers think. Speculative stories tend to drum up a wide range of opinions.
The audiobook is very good, with three narrators matching each of the MCs. I definitely recommend that format. It brought this story to life; a great production.
I was really so impressed with the character work. The siblings and their relationships were the star of this show for me. They had been through so much and I love how they related to one another. It's not all perfect, sunshine and rainbows, but you could feel the love and dedication.
I feel like this has some great Social Horror aspects as well, I just hope the right Readers end up picking it up. The cover is giving very Haunted House vibes, and while there is a creepy cabin, it's much more of a Literary Horror-feel than that cover may lead you to believe.
Regardless, I had a fantastic time with this one. It's hard-hitting and memorable. I'm really looking forward to seeing what this author comes up with in the future. I'm hoping for more along these lines.
Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin's Griffin and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. I would recommend this to Horror Readers.
This is very Feminine Rage with a Twist. We love that.
April 4, 2025
"Jamie's delight popped like the virginity of his ex-girlfriend at the Panda Express." .............'nough said.
April 4, 2025
Listen to Your Sister is a horror novel with guts—literally and emotionally. While it's filled with body horror, blood, and murder, at its core, this book is about sibling relationships and the trauma of parentification. Calla, the eldest sister, has become the legal guardian of her youngest brother, Jaime, and is essentially raising both of her younger brothers. What struck me most is how powerfully the book portrays the emotional toll of being forced into a parental role far too young—especially as a Black woman raising a Black teenage boy in a world that seems determined to destroy him. That theme comes up again and again, and it's devastating.
The sibling dynamics in this book are deeply complex, messy, and incredibly well done. Calla's resentment at being forced to sacrifice her own life, dreams, and freedom is palpable, and so is Jaime's frustration at being parented by his sister instead of his actual parents. There's so much love between them, but it's buried under years of pain, anger, and misunderstanding. And while the horror aspects take everything to the extreme, that extremity only reinforces the reality: Calla's life is a nightmare, and she's giving everything she has—literally—to try to keep her brothers alive in a world that doesn't care if they live or die.
I'm not even an older sibling—I'm the youngest in my family—and I still felt so viscerally what Calla was feeling. I felt her rage, her exhaustion, her fierce love, her frustration. She was such a fully realized character, and her emotional journey really hit me hard. The horror elements worked beautifully to heighten everything, and even though things got wild and confusing at times (especially listening to the audiobook—I had to rewind a few scenes just to keep up), the emotional through-line never wavered.
Despite the intense subject matter and the gore, the book also finds space for humour and tenderness. The characters felt so real, and the levity made everything more poignant, not less. It's a brutal, cathartic, and heartfelt story that tackles serious social issues—including the treatment of Black boys in America and the unfair expectations placed on eldest daughters—with unflinching honesty and emotional depth.
This was a very high 4-star read for me—probably 4.5 stars if I did half-stars. I'm really looking forward to reading more from this author. Listen to Your Sister has so much heart, so much to say, and it says it all with a screaming, bloody, beautiful fury. Highly recommend!
Reviewed in my February Wrap Up: https://youtu.be/B2YnQSk6LAc
Trigger/Content Warnings: blood, violence, murder, gore, gun violence, vomit, death and child death, car accident, fatal car crash, loss of parents, police brutality, drug use
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The sibling dynamics in this book are deeply complex, messy, and incredibly well done. Calla's resentment at being forced to sacrifice her own life, dreams, and freedom is palpable, and so is Jaime's frustration at being parented by his sister instead of his actual parents. There's so much love between them, but it's buried under years of pain, anger, and misunderstanding. And while the horror aspects take everything to the extreme, that extremity only reinforces the reality: Calla's life is a nightmare, and she's giving everything she has—literally—to try to keep her brothers alive in a world that doesn't care if they live or die.
I'm not even an older sibling—I'm the youngest in my family—and I still felt so viscerally what Calla was feeling. I felt her rage, her exhaustion, her fierce love, her frustration. She was such a fully realized character, and her emotional journey really hit me hard. The horror elements worked beautifully to heighten everything, and even though things got wild and confusing at times (especially listening to the audiobook—I had to rewind a few scenes just to keep up), the emotional through-line never wavered.
Despite the intense subject matter and the gore, the book also finds space for humour and tenderness. The characters felt so real, and the levity made everything more poignant, not less. It's a brutal, cathartic, and heartfelt story that tackles serious social issues—including the treatment of Black boys in America and the unfair expectations placed on eldest daughters—with unflinching honesty and emotional depth.
This was a very high 4-star read for me—probably 4.5 stars if I did half-stars. I'm really looking forward to reading more from this author. Listen to Your Sister has so much heart, so much to say, and it says it all with a screaming, bloody, beautiful fury. Highly recommend!
Reviewed in my February Wrap Up: https://youtu.be/B2YnQSk6LAc
Trigger/Content Warnings: blood, violence, murder, gore, gun violence, vomit, death and child death, car accident, fatal car crash, loss of parents, police brutality, drug use
You can find me on...
Youtube | Instagram | TikTok
You can join our book club over on Patreon...
PBB Book Club
January 30, 2025
3 Stars! 🌟 Huge thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC! 🖤
Okay, so Listen to Your Sister definitely had a lot going for it, but I didn’t totally vibe with it. The premise was SO intriguing! Siblings, a supernatural force, and lots of family drama? Yesss please! But unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite match the excitement I had going into it.
First off, let me say, the writing style was unique and creative, and at times, it had me hooked with its wit and dark humor. 🖤 Calla’s relationship with her brothers, Jamie and Dre, was really the heart of the story, and I loved how their bond was portrayed—such an interesting mix of love, sacrifice, and frustration. The pacing though? It was a struggle. The first half of the book dragged for me, and I almost DNFed it (but I’m glad I stuck with it because the last part got a lot more intense and thrilling!)
The horror element was intense, but honestly, I felt like I couldn’t always tell what was real and what was a nightmare. 😵 Calla’s visions made things super trippy, but sometimes I felt more confused than scared. And while the setting of the cabin was super creepy and added to the atmosphere, some of the later parts of the story got a little... chaotic? The monsters (both literal and metaphorical) had potential, but I didn’t fully connect with the plot twists or the resolutions.
Overall, it was a solid debut with some really powerful moments, especially in terms of character development and the family dynamics, but the confusing plot and slower pacing kept it from being a total winner for me. Still, if you're into atmospheric horror with family tension and dark vibes, this might work better for you! 👀
Would definitely recommend giving it a go if you enjoy complex, character-driven horror! 📚✨
Okay, so Listen to Your Sister definitely had a lot going for it, but I didn’t totally vibe with it. The premise was SO intriguing! Siblings, a supernatural force, and lots of family drama? Yesss please! But unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite match the excitement I had going into it.
First off, let me say, the writing style was unique and creative, and at times, it had me hooked with its wit and dark humor. 🖤 Calla’s relationship with her brothers, Jamie and Dre, was really the heart of the story, and I loved how their bond was portrayed—such an interesting mix of love, sacrifice, and frustration. The pacing though? It was a struggle. The first half of the book dragged for me, and I almost DNFed it (but I’m glad I stuck with it because the last part got a lot more intense and thrilling!)
The horror element was intense, but honestly, I felt like I couldn’t always tell what was real and what was a nightmare. 😵 Calla’s visions made things super trippy, but sometimes I felt more confused than scared. And while the setting of the cabin was super creepy and added to the atmosphere, some of the later parts of the story got a little... chaotic? The monsters (both literal and metaphorical) had potential, but I didn’t fully connect with the plot twists or the resolutions.
Overall, it was a solid debut with some really powerful moments, especially in terms of character development and the family dynamics, but the confusing plot and slower pacing kept it from being a total winner for me. Still, if you're into atmospheric horror with family tension and dark vibes, this might work better for you! 👀
Would definitely recommend giving it a go if you enjoy complex, character-driven horror! 📚✨
February 11, 2025
3.5
Title/Author: Listen to Your Sister by Neena Viel
Page Count: 352 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Format: Paperback (I read a physical arc)
Other Books I Enjoyed by This Author: Debut author!
Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/978125090...
Release Date: February 4th, 2024
General Genre: Horror, Thriller, Mystery/Crime, Social horrors, Humor
Sub-Genre/Themes: Speculative horror, family dynamics, siblings raising siblings, social justice, protests, "into the woods", supernatural thriller, remote cabin, sacrificial love
Writing Style: humorous, relatable, speculative
What You Need to Know: "Listen To Your Sister is a laugh-out-loud, deeply terrifying, and big-hearted speculative horror novel. Their sister always warned them about her nightmares. They really should have listened."
To me, speculative horror fiction includes paranormal/supernatural phenomena and weird tale elements.
My Reading Experience: Neena Viel’s Listen to Your Sister balances tension, horror, and humor, within the framework of an intimate Black narrative. The horror is an unknown; an external threat. But underneath that is the pain of family history and expectations that shape who we are.
Viel crafts a story where everyday mundane activities like parent/teacher conferences and the supernatural exist side by side.
The humor is an unexpected, welcomed addition to the seriousness of this family living on the edge. I was infuriated by Calla's brothers Jamie and Dre. I could relate to her frustrations and struggles trying to "manage" or "corral" her brother's behaviors. One brother going totally off the rails into disaster and the other brother is completely absorbed in his own life--unhelpful. To add to the stress and anxiety, Calla feels like she's failing, drowning, and close to just giving up. The horror and the tension are watching this family in crisis head off to a remote cabin in the woods as the answer to their problems.
What makes Listen to Your Sister so compelling is its refusal to be boxed in. It’s terrifying and hilarious, familiar yet strange. Viel’s writing style feels like a slippery thing through my fingers, I couldn't quite get my hands around it. I felt disoriented and a little lost but at the same time, I had an understanding that this was deliberate. I was not supposed to "get it" or "figure it all out".
This is horror that understands its power.
Final Recommendation: Highly recommend to horror fans who are craving unique storytelling voices that are not afraid to flip horror tropes and story constructs on their head. Readers who love horror and comedy and people who enjoy flawed, realistic characters that make mistakes but try to do the right thing. Prepare to give your hearts away to this family.
Comps: Jackal by Erin E. Adams, These Bones by Kayla Chenault, Lakewood by Megan Giddings, Bad Fruit by Ella King
Title/Author: Listen to Your Sister by Neena Viel
Page Count: 352 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Format: Paperback (I read a physical arc)
Other Books I Enjoyed by This Author: Debut author!
Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/978125090...
Release Date: February 4th, 2024
General Genre: Horror, Thriller, Mystery/Crime, Social horrors, Humor
Sub-Genre/Themes: Speculative horror, family dynamics, siblings raising siblings, social justice, protests, "into the woods", supernatural thriller, remote cabin, sacrificial love
Writing Style: humorous, relatable, speculative
What You Need to Know: "Listen To Your Sister is a laugh-out-loud, deeply terrifying, and big-hearted speculative horror novel. Their sister always warned them about her nightmares. They really should have listened."
To me, speculative horror fiction includes paranormal/supernatural phenomena and weird tale elements.
My Reading Experience: Neena Viel’s Listen to Your Sister balances tension, horror, and humor, within the framework of an intimate Black narrative. The horror is an unknown; an external threat. But underneath that is the pain of family history and expectations that shape who we are.
Viel crafts a story where everyday mundane activities like parent/teacher conferences and the supernatural exist side by side.
The humor is an unexpected, welcomed addition to the seriousness of this family living on the edge. I was infuriated by Calla's brothers Jamie and Dre. I could relate to her frustrations and struggles trying to "manage" or "corral" her brother's behaviors. One brother going totally off the rails into disaster and the other brother is completely absorbed in his own life--unhelpful. To add to the stress and anxiety, Calla feels like she's failing, drowning, and close to just giving up. The horror and the tension are watching this family in crisis head off to a remote cabin in the woods as the answer to their problems.
What makes Listen to Your Sister so compelling is its refusal to be boxed in. It’s terrifying and hilarious, familiar yet strange. Viel’s writing style feels like a slippery thing through my fingers, I couldn't quite get my hands around it. I felt disoriented and a little lost but at the same time, I had an understanding that this was deliberate. I was not supposed to "get it" or "figure it all out".
This is horror that understands its power.
Final Recommendation: Highly recommend to horror fans who are craving unique storytelling voices that are not afraid to flip horror tropes and story constructs on their head. Readers who love horror and comedy and people who enjoy flawed, realistic characters that make mistakes but try to do the right thing. Prepare to give your hearts away to this family.
Comps: Jackal by Erin E. Adams, These Bones by Kayla Chenault, Lakewood by Megan Giddings, Bad Fruit by Ella King
February 10, 2025
Reality to Nightmare
What a dense, adjective-filled, reality-blurring, sibling-tangling, journey this book turned out to be. I mean, this book is a lot—and I mean a lot. It’s like wading through a thick, mysterious fog of descriptions, desperately trying to grasp what’s real, and what’s a nightmare.
A Fever Dream
This read felt like listening to someone’s nightmare—a fever dream that leaves you disoriented, overwhelmed by bizarre images, and caught in a swirl of unexpected twisters. It was hard to tell what was real or part of a disorienting dreamscape. And then there’s the sea of adjectives, that felt like the author was having too much fun with a thesaurus.
Sibling Drama and a Dash of Snark
Now, let’s talk about the sibling drama. I am all in for that! The story unfolds through the lives of three siblings: Calla, Dre, and Jamie—oh, those brothers! They should have listened to their sister. Every time the narrative shifted focus to Calla, my spirits lifted. Her snarky, witty comebacks, and how she stands up to and for her brothers are heartwarming and entertaining.
Social Horror
I am all in for a social horror experience. However, the themes and messages often get lost in the sea of adjectives, leaving me confused and frustrated. A deeper, haunting undercurrent lurked beneath the words, but I just couldn’t grasp it.
Audiobook vs. Reading:
I listened to the audiobook, and while the narrator did a commendable job, I would have preferred reading it myself. The fever-dream quality and word-building were a lot to take in when it’s all spoken out loud.
The creativity is undeniable, and that dysfunctional family dynamic. Love it. I’m all in for a story that wraps sibling drama in a cloak of eerie, unsettling storytelling. But sometimes less is better.
I received an audiobook for the publisher through NetGalley
What a dense, adjective-filled, reality-blurring, sibling-tangling, journey this book turned out to be. I mean, this book is a lot—and I mean a lot. It’s like wading through a thick, mysterious fog of descriptions, desperately trying to grasp what’s real, and what’s a nightmare.
A Fever Dream
This read felt like listening to someone’s nightmare—a fever dream that leaves you disoriented, overwhelmed by bizarre images, and caught in a swirl of unexpected twisters. It was hard to tell what was real or part of a disorienting dreamscape. And then there’s the sea of adjectives, that felt like the author was having too much fun with a thesaurus.
Sibling Drama and a Dash of Snark
Now, let’s talk about the sibling drama. I am all in for that! The story unfolds through the lives of three siblings: Calla, Dre, and Jamie—oh, those brothers! They should have listened to their sister. Every time the narrative shifted focus to Calla, my spirits lifted. Her snarky, witty comebacks, and how she stands up to and for her brothers are heartwarming and entertaining.
Social Horror
I am all in for a social horror experience. However, the themes and messages often get lost in the sea of adjectives, leaving me confused and frustrated. A deeper, haunting undercurrent lurked beneath the words, but I just couldn’t grasp it.
Audiobook vs. Reading:
I listened to the audiobook, and while the narrator did a commendable job, I would have preferred reading it myself. The fever-dream quality and word-building were a lot to take in when it’s all spoken out loud.
The creativity is undeniable, and that dysfunctional family dynamic. Love it. I’m all in for a story that wraps sibling drama in a cloak of eerie, unsettling storytelling. But sometimes less is better.
I received an audiobook for the publisher through NetGalley
December 16, 2024
2.0 Stars
I liked the concept of this one, focusing on the broken bond between siblings. However I felt the actual plot and narrative to be overly contrived. I found myself questioning the actions and motivations of the characters which always pulls me out of the story. The horror portion of this book is action packed but unfortunately I personally struggled with my own suspension of disbelief.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
I liked the concept of this one, focusing on the broken bond between siblings. However I felt the actual plot and narrative to be overly contrived. I found myself questioning the actions and motivations of the characters which always pulls me out of the story. The horror portion of this book is action packed but unfortunately I personally struggled with my own suspension of disbelief.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
January 10, 2025
ARC for review. To be published February 4, 2025.
3.5 stars, rounded to 4.
Calla Williams is twenty-five, Black and struggling; she became guardian to her sixteen year old brother Jamie after her parents died/ran off. Jamie is a generally good kid who fights for what he believes in but also runs a bit wild and, therefore, seems to constantly be in some sort of trouble. Their brother, Dre, promised he would help Calla with Jamie but he’s usually nowhere to be found unless it suits him.
Oh, and Calla has a horrible, recurring dream of one of her brothers dying.
Then Jamie gets into a terrible mess at a protest and the Williams siblings have to go on the run. They hide at a remote cabin where they face a new threat…something more horrifying than they could have imagined. Was there a portent in Calla’s dreams?
This may not sound like horror but it certainly is. You only have to read the great first chapter, a scene with the siblings at the silver-tongued Jamie’s school to know that Viel is quite the talent; it’s interesting, engaging and witty. You learn who her characters are and want to know more. The book had my favorite guest line in awhile: “Calla was wearing the wrong bra.” Lord, don’t so many tales of woe begin this way? And also, “Calla was envious of how his bulk communicated clout where hers communicated an affinity for chicken tenders.”
However, the early promise of the book faded somewhat when the family left the city. The plot was confusing. I’m not entirely sure what happened and I definitely don’t know why it occurred, Although, still, “He could not allow himself to be arrested by white dudes in North Face.”
Anyway, as much as I loved the turns of phrase I could not love the book. I hope Viel’s next plot rises to the level of her writing.
3.5 stars, rounded to 4.
Calla Williams is twenty-five, Black and struggling; she became guardian to her sixteen year old brother Jamie after her parents died/ran off. Jamie is a generally good kid who fights for what he believes in but also runs a bit wild and, therefore, seems to constantly be in some sort of trouble. Their brother, Dre, promised he would help Calla with Jamie but he’s usually nowhere to be found unless it suits him.
Oh, and Calla has a horrible, recurring dream of one of her brothers dying.
Then Jamie gets into a terrible mess at a protest and the Williams siblings have to go on the run. They hide at a remote cabin where they face a new threat…something more horrifying than they could have imagined. Was there a portent in Calla’s dreams?
This may not sound like horror but it certainly is. You only have to read the great first chapter, a scene with the siblings at the silver-tongued Jamie’s school to know that Viel is quite the talent; it’s interesting, engaging and witty. You learn who her characters are and want to know more. The book had my favorite guest line in awhile: “Calla was wearing the wrong bra.” Lord, don’t so many tales of woe begin this way? And also, “Calla was envious of how his bulk communicated clout where hers communicated an affinity for chicken tenders.”
However, the early promise of the book faded somewhat when the family left the city. The plot was confusing. I’m not entirely sure what happened and I definitely don’t know why it occurred, Although, still, “He could not allow himself to be arrested by white dudes in North Face.”
Anyway, as much as I loved the turns of phrase I could not love the book. I hope Viel’s next plot rises to the level of her writing.
December 17, 2024
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ ½
Genre: Mystery Thriller + Horror
Calla Williams, who is 25 years old, is left with the difficult task of raising her younger brothers, Jaimie and Dre, after their mother leaves them. She is haunted by recurring nightmares in which she watches her brothers die, helpless to stop it.
Following a series of bizarre incidents in which mysterious women save Calla's brothers from imminent danger, the siblings escape their home and seek refuge in a secluded cabin. There, Calla's nightmares grow more intense, and the distinction between reality and the supernatural starts to fade as they confront a terrifying force that endangers their lives.
I asked NetGalley for this advanced reader copy because the cover and premise looked interesting. Having family drama, supernatural themes, and horror all together makes for an interesting story. The story possesses a uniquely atmospheric and strange quality.
The horror elements are intensely gripping, and the mysterious force driving the plot is quite powerful. It is true that there were times when I had difficulty comprehending the storyline, but this did not lessen the enjoyment I got from reading it.
I believe the main drawback of the story is its pacing. The first half is notably slower than the second half, which accelerates rapidly, making it feel like you're racing alongside the unfolding events due to their swift progression.
If you're seeking something delightfully scary and strange, try this book; you may find it quite enjoyable.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
Genre: Mystery Thriller + Horror
Calla Williams, who is 25 years old, is left with the difficult task of raising her younger brothers, Jaimie and Dre, after their mother leaves them. She is haunted by recurring nightmares in which she watches her brothers die, helpless to stop it.
Following a series of bizarre incidents in which mysterious women save Calla's brothers from imminent danger, the siblings escape their home and seek refuge in a secluded cabin. There, Calla's nightmares grow more intense, and the distinction between reality and the supernatural starts to fade as they confront a terrifying force that endangers their lives.
I asked NetGalley for this advanced reader copy because the cover and premise looked interesting. Having family drama, supernatural themes, and horror all together makes for an interesting story. The story possesses a uniquely atmospheric and strange quality.
The horror elements are intensely gripping, and the mysterious force driving the plot is quite powerful. It is true that there were times when I had difficulty comprehending the storyline, but this did not lessen the enjoyment I got from reading it.
I believe the main drawback of the story is its pacing. The first half is notably slower than the second half, which accelerates rapidly, making it feel like you're racing alongside the unfolding events due to their swift progression.
If you're seeking something delightfully scary and strange, try this book; you may find it quite enjoyable.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
January 15, 2025
This book was a wild ride through a horrific nightmare that kept me on the edge of my seat. I listened to the audiobook and I felt like the narrators were spot on and did an excellent job since this book was told in the perspectives of three siblings and each of them had a voice that was perfect. This book was twisty in ways I didn’t see coming and was beyond creepy. I think it would make an excellent movie (and one that may leave viewers with nightmares). Calla is trying to raise her teenage younger brother and frustrated by her adult brother’s lack of help. She sees Jamie sliding down a path she doesn’t want for him, but teenagers are difficult and with all he has been through he’s not interested in her parenting. Whenever she feels that her brothers are in trouble she slides into a nightmare that brings her to a memory of a pivotal night in their childhood, one she hates to relive and at the end of the nightmare her brothers are always dead. Nightmares reflect life and Calla, Jamie, and Dre need to figure out where this nightmare interests with their history to escape it. I gave this one 4.5 stars rounded up because this was a unique story.
January 16, 2025
Listen to Your Sister is a genre-bending weird girl fiction tale, centered around family drama, with horror elements. The book is like a fever dream and a rollercoaster ride that's impossible to leave.
Listen to your sister is such a unique and original story. The first half is slower-paced introducing you to the siblings but the second half is full of action. Its darkly funny with plenty of moments that make you think. The book’s biggest takeaway is the monsters inside of us are the most terrifying. Neena Viel has crafted an imaginative debut novel and I see a bright future for her!
Listen to Your Sister by Neena Viel will be available on February 4. Many thanks to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the gifted copy!
Listen to your sister is such a unique and original story. The first half is slower-paced introducing you to the siblings but the second half is full of action. Its darkly funny with plenty of moments that make you think. The book’s biggest takeaway is the monsters inside of us are the most terrifying. Neena Viel has crafted an imaginative debut novel and I see a bright future for her!
Listen to Your Sister by Neena Viel will be available on February 4. Many thanks to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the gifted copy!
February 19, 2025
I am DNFing at 50% because I am just not enjoying this one at all. It is very very slow and I am not at all interested.
January 7, 2025
Unfortunately I had to DNF this at 64%. It started out great but the more I got into it the more confused I got. I had no idea what I was reading, nothing made any sense. Between the back and forth of characters, the back and forth between time/ past or present, I had no idea what I was reading. The writing was style not my favorite. To me the paragraphs just skipped around constantly, I was repeatedly asking myself what is she talking about? It was choppy and just honestly made no sense to me. I couldn't do it anymore, so unfortunately I gave up.
January 27, 2025
I’ve been excited for Neena Viel’s debut horror novel, LISTEN TO YOUR SISTER, for awhile now, so when my booksta-bestie @shellysbookcorner sent me her copy, I knew it was time to dive in! The story is centered around three siblings—Calla, Dre, and Jamie and the horrors they experience at at a remote cabin.
25-year-old Calla Williams is struggling to raise her reckless teenage brother, Jamie, while their other brother, Dre, phones in his promise to help. When Jamie’s actions at a protest force them to flee to a remote cabin, Calla’s recurring nightmares of her brothers dying start to blur with reality, and the siblings face a threat they may not survive.
This book not only has supernatural horror elements, but touches real life ones as well. All three siblings were the core of why this book worked for me as they really got personal during this journey. This book could be considered a horror-comedy as there were some funny moments as well. My only critique would be the book’s pacing—going from quickly moving to slowly stagnant at times. Otherwise, LISTEN TO YOUR SISTER is a solid horror debut and I’m excited to see what Neena Viel delivers next!
25-year-old Calla Williams is struggling to raise her reckless teenage brother, Jamie, while their other brother, Dre, phones in his promise to help. When Jamie’s actions at a protest force them to flee to a remote cabin, Calla’s recurring nightmares of her brothers dying start to blur with reality, and the siblings face a threat they may not survive.
This book not only has supernatural horror elements, but touches real life ones as well. All three siblings were the core of why this book worked for me as they really got personal during this journey. This book could be considered a horror-comedy as there were some funny moments as well. My only critique would be the book’s pacing—going from quickly moving to slowly stagnant at times. Otherwise, LISTEN TO YOUR SISTER is a solid horror debut and I’m excited to see what Neena Viel delivers next!
February 13, 2025
4.25 stars - stellar debut speculative horror book, had such a good time with it
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https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT2SEB9Nr/
August 9, 2025
It's an awesome, fairly unique idea, and the characters and dialogue both feel authentic. However, a large chunk in the middle of the book was boring. While I understand that the arguments were necessary, it felt like they were having the same arguments over and over and over. They went on forever, and that's nearly all that happened for 100 pages! That part was grating to read, but the last half of the book was fantastic.
March 4, 2025
This feels so mean to say, but to be frank, this was one of the my least favorite horror novels I’ve ever read. Don’t get me wrong, this was a really well written debut. And it definitely was genre defying. However, it only took me about 10% into this for me to realize this book was not my thing. It was too slow to get going, it was filled with an unnecessary amount of vulgar language (I’m no prude but after a certain level, it’s just annoying and feels trashy when it’s this overboard), gave me no urgency to want to keep reading despite being a horror novel, and most of all, it just plain wasn’t scary.
First off, I do not want to dwell on today’s political climate when I read to escape, and do not need to be reminded about the lack of empathy that is happening into this country right now. It made me uncomfy and not in the fun way fictional scares do, when it provides untriggering scares in a safe, controlled, fictional environment. The scary part of this book wasn’t even the attempts at horror, but the real life horrors of the social commentary events at the beginning which just made me upset because I really don’t want a reminder of the lack of empathy that is so prevalent in the world right now.
Secondly, if you’re looking for horror that is scary, this isn’t it. It’s less scary and more…social commentary mixed with trippy? It’s well written and nothing about the way this was written screams novice or debut author, but it’s also not the type of writing style I personally vibe with. This was just so boring lol.
In Listen To Your Sister, Calla, the oldest child, is the parental figure for her 16 year old Jamie while Dre, the middle child, is off doing his own thing, despite promising to help raise Jamie. Aside from raising a teenager on her own, Calla is haunted by reoccurring images of her brothers dying, something she calls The Nightmare. Eventually, Dre and Jamie start having these nightmarish visions too. I’m talking, streams of blood coming from nowhere that no one else sees. But is there any truth at all to those visions, or are they really just nightmares? Add in them eventually ending up on the run and hiding in a remote cabin, and now you’ve got the atmospheric tension of a horror novel setting thrown in too. I will say there is some stock to the publisher’s Jordan Peele comparisons, it’s very much a, you don’t know what’s reality and what isn’t.
Another minus for this book….it takes FOREVER to get going. They don’t even get to the cabin until you’re basically almost halfway through. The entirety of part one is setting up the story and nothing really happens that you don’t already know from the synopsis. That is probably my biggest book pet peeve and I’ve talked about this a lot…..books that are so boring until the last 30%. I really appreciate it when books hit the ground running and are engaging from the first page, and this was not one of them. By the time the action starts I stopped caring because I had lost motivation by that point and just skimmed the rest.
I can acknowledge good writing when I see it. But, I was so not into this. If this weren’t an arc, I would’ve dnf’d it, but due to my refusal to never not finish an arc, I pushed through knowing that I wasn’t going to enjoy it. I planned to give this a 2 star rating but if I were being completely honest in how I felt about it, it would be a 1. I do have to rate based on my personal feelings and while I can acknowledge this was not a badly written book, I also have to acknowledge that I did not enjoy this whatsoever. Sorry?
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
First off, I do not want to dwell on today’s political climate when I read to escape, and do not need to be reminded about the lack of empathy that is happening into this country right now. It made me uncomfy and not in the fun way fictional scares do, when it provides untriggering scares in a safe, controlled, fictional environment. The scary part of this book wasn’t even the attempts at horror, but the real life horrors of the social commentary events at the beginning which just made me upset because I really don’t want a reminder of the lack of empathy that is so prevalent in the world right now.
Secondly, if you’re looking for horror that is scary, this isn’t it. It’s less scary and more…social commentary mixed with trippy? It’s well written and nothing about the way this was written screams novice or debut author, but it’s also not the type of writing style I personally vibe with. This was just so boring lol.
In Listen To Your Sister, Calla, the oldest child, is the parental figure for her 16 year old Jamie while Dre, the middle child, is off doing his own thing, despite promising to help raise Jamie. Aside from raising a teenager on her own, Calla is haunted by reoccurring images of her brothers dying, something she calls The Nightmare. Eventually, Dre and Jamie start having these nightmarish visions too. I’m talking, streams of blood coming from nowhere that no one else sees. But is there any truth at all to those visions, or are they really just nightmares? Add in them eventually ending up on the run and hiding in a remote cabin, and now you’ve got the atmospheric tension of a horror novel setting thrown in too. I will say there is some stock to the publisher’s Jordan Peele comparisons, it’s very much a, you don’t know what’s reality and what isn’t.
Another minus for this book….it takes FOREVER to get going. They don’t even get to the cabin until you’re basically almost halfway through. The entirety of part one is setting up the story and nothing really happens that you don’t already know from the synopsis. That is probably my biggest book pet peeve and I’ve talked about this a lot…..books that are so boring until the last 30%. I really appreciate it when books hit the ground running and are engaging from the first page, and this was not one of them. By the time the action starts I stopped caring because I had lost motivation by that point and just skimmed the rest.
I can acknowledge good writing when I see it. But, I was so not into this. If this weren’t an arc, I would’ve dnf’d it, but due to my refusal to never not finish an arc, I pushed through knowing that I wasn’t going to enjoy it. I planned to give this a 2 star rating but if I were being completely honest in how I felt about it, it would be a 1. I do have to rate based on my personal feelings and while I can acknowledge this was not a badly written book, I also have to acknowledge that I did not enjoy this whatsoever. Sorry?
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
April 4, 2025
3.75 stars
Jumping-off-the-page characters, it is rare when a book's marketing material really nails what it is selling, but one cannot describe Listen to Your Sister any better than the publisher's words: it is indeed 'Jordan Peele’s films + Stranger Things'. This is a horror story motivated by today's African American experience, and features some truly otherworldly, gory scenarios.
One thing I did not expect, but whole-heartedly welcomed, was the amount of comedy throughout. Mainly driven by the love/hate bickering between the three sibling protagonists, whose constant quarrel was credibly written and felt incredibly vivid—a harmless jokey sting, or brutally hurtful only achievable by the closest people. All of this really came to life via its audiobook, with the three narrators fully embodied their respective character. Particularly for someone like myself, who's not often exposed to African American Vernacular English, having the words emotively performed helped my understanding tremendously.
While I love the Jordan Peele-insired aspect of Listen to Your Sister, it is its Stranger Things-ness I have some issues with. This is definitely motivated by personal preference, as I've come to realize I'm simply not a fan of quest-like narrative. My experience reading this very much echoed my time reading The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher—where I quickly got bored of the Alice in Wonderland style structure: going to a location to talk to a character/defeat a mini-boss, rinse and repeat until the character meet the ultimate villain. The horror is also more fantastical (monsters) than scary (psychological), so adjust one's expectation accordingly.
Listen to Your Sister was not at all what I expected; I didn't get the type of horror I was anticipating, but I was completely engaged in the complicated sibling drama that felt extremely raw and real. The narrative was a little too absurd and formless for my taste, but I really appreciated its general sentiment and the unique core concept (when selfless love became a burden). Even though as a whole it is not a new favorite, it remains a memorable read.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
Jumping-off-the-page characters, it is rare when a book's marketing material really nails what it is selling, but one cannot describe Listen to Your Sister any better than the publisher's words: it is indeed 'Jordan Peele’s films + Stranger Things'. This is a horror story motivated by today's African American experience, and features some truly otherworldly, gory scenarios.
One thing I did not expect, but whole-heartedly welcomed, was the amount of comedy throughout. Mainly driven by the love/hate bickering between the three sibling protagonists, whose constant quarrel was credibly written and felt incredibly vivid—a harmless jokey sting, or brutally hurtful only achievable by the closest people. All of this really came to life via its audiobook, with the three narrators fully embodied their respective character. Particularly for someone like myself, who's not often exposed to African American Vernacular English, having the words emotively performed helped my understanding tremendously.
While I love the Jordan Peele-insired aspect of Listen to Your Sister, it is its Stranger Things-ness I have some issues with. This is definitely motivated by personal preference, as I've come to realize I'm simply not a fan of quest-like narrative. My experience reading this very much echoed my time reading The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher—where I quickly got bored of the Alice in Wonderland style structure: going to a location to talk to a character/defeat a mini-boss, rinse and repeat until the character meet the ultimate villain. The horror is also more fantastical (monsters) than scary (psychological), so adjust one's expectation accordingly.
Listen to Your Sister was not at all what I expected; I didn't get the type of horror I was anticipating, but I was completely engaged in the complicated sibling drama that felt extremely raw and real. The narrative was a little too absurd and formless for my taste, but I really appreciated its general sentiment and the unique core concept (when selfless love became a burden). Even though as a whole it is not a new favorite, it remains a memorable read.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
January 8, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up
While this book didn't entirely work for me, I think it's a promising debut in the horror genre and there's a lot to like here.
One thing to note is that this book is being compared to Jordan Peele and The Other Black Girl, therefore you should expect that it is a book dealing with race! I see some reviews that didn't like that element, but I think it's pretty clearly baked into the marketing so I'm not sure why they chose to review it if that was going to bother them. Personally I think horror is a great genre for exploring issues of race relations and that element of the book was done well with complex, nuanced characters.
I also appreciated the theme of what it means to be an older sister who is parentified too young. I could really relate to that, even if my experience was milder. Even this thing of having nightmares about trying to save a younger sibling from harm? Yep, been there. It does a great job of building this emotionally painful situation between three siblings who are struggling, including a woman in her mid-twenties serving as guardian to her 16 year old brother who keeps getting into trouble. The early part of the book sucked me in, but kept upping the creep factor.
Where it kind of lost be a bit was in the execution of the final part of the book leading up to the ending. I felt it went a little off the rails and there wasn't enough scaffolding built for where we end up. I get what it was trying to do, and conceptually it was interesting. But for me the reading experience really lost steam just when it should have been ramping up. That said, I would try something else from this author in the future because there were elements to this that really worked. The audio narration is great with a different narrator for each sibling perspective. I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
While this book didn't entirely work for me, I think it's a promising debut in the horror genre and there's a lot to like here.
One thing to note is that this book is being compared to Jordan Peele and The Other Black Girl, therefore you should expect that it is a book dealing with race! I see some reviews that didn't like that element, but I think it's pretty clearly baked into the marketing so I'm not sure why they chose to review it if that was going to bother them. Personally I think horror is a great genre for exploring issues of race relations and that element of the book was done well with complex, nuanced characters.
I also appreciated the theme of what it means to be an older sister who is parentified too young. I could really relate to that, even if my experience was milder. Even this thing of having nightmares about trying to save a younger sibling from harm? Yep, been there. It does a great job of building this emotionally painful situation between three siblings who are struggling, including a woman in her mid-twenties serving as guardian to her 16 year old brother who keeps getting into trouble. The early part of the book sucked me in, but kept upping the creep factor.
Where it kind of lost be a bit was in the execution of the final part of the book leading up to the ending. I felt it went a little off the rails and there wasn't enough scaffolding built for where we end up. I get what it was trying to do, and conceptually it was interesting. But for me the reading experience really lost steam just when it should have been ramping up. That said, I would try something else from this author in the future because there were elements to this that really worked. The audio narration is great with a different narrator for each sibling perspective. I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
February 14, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
This one didn't work for me. But I do believe that avid horror fans, especially those who are more well-read in terms of speculative horror, will gulp this up.
Listed on several "eagerly anticipated" lists, this debut novel tells the tale of three siblings- Calla, Dre, and Jamie who have to battle a lot of unsettling things to make it out alive. I realize that as wild imagination as I have and as much as I love descriptions, I cannot seem to picture things very well when it comes to horror novels.
On a side note, I love that cover!
Publication Date 04/02/25
Goodreads Review 12/02/25
This one didn't work for me. But I do believe that avid horror fans, especially those who are more well-read in terms of speculative horror, will gulp this up.
Listed on several "eagerly anticipated" lists, this debut novel tells the tale of three siblings- Calla, Dre, and Jamie who have to battle a lot of unsettling things to make it out alive. I realize that as wild imagination as I have and as much as I love descriptions, I cannot seem to picture things very well when it comes to horror novels.
On a side note, I love that cover!
Publication Date 04/02/25
Goodreads Review 12/02/25
November 5, 2024
Chaotic, fun, and good!
Full review:
Jamie knew how to best help women: give them weapons instead of pacifiers. p49
This book combines a lot of different horror and weird fiction elements, from inner demons projected into reality to unplotted time travel, to create a piece of existential weird fiction that's as smart as it is riveting. It's an emotional story full of relatable characters, family to each other, and so representative of people who struggle in this unfair world.
“They tell me things[," Calla said] “Of course they do. It would be gauche to occupy your body and not contribute,” Dre said. p263
Reading Notes
Three (or more) things I loved:
1. Calla was envious of how his bulk communicated clout where hers communicated an affinity for chicken tenders. p5 And she comes out swinging! What a powerful statement about body size, body image, and gendered power.
2. The younger brother, Jamie, is an excellent example of an unlikable lead.
3. [Dre] didn’t know what Jamie was up to, but he understood the yearning. The clawing at the base of the throat, the one that stretched and stretched because of this cursed skin, this blessed skin, and the gifts and burdens that came with it. p41 This is wonderful character development for both these brothers, and wonderful writing besides.
4. She handles busy scenes well, beautiful scenes with groups of characters.
5. Suicide is a subject that very few writers handle delicately. Many books stigmatize it, depression, mental illness, or all three. They don't plot the action, or they use it as a plot device. They dehumanize the person. They demonize the person. Veil, on the other hand, treats the subject with conscientiousness of its nuance and complexity. She plots it carefully and develops the characters to respond to it with empathy. So grateful when I find this in books.
6. This author understands mental illness, and being so in a sanist and ableist world. It’s hard going about the day behind a mask, gold and shining, delicate filigree curling around the eyes, the mouth . What lurks behind is teeth, affixed to the skin, a membrane of blood behind brassy eyes. And the screams build and build, trapped behind the iron seal, and it has to be swallowed. It just has to, otherwise you would be screaming all the time. And you walk around like that. Go to work, flip some burgers. p100
7. Viel's details are so real and relatable; they add so much value to the book. She didn’t have a bra , and she ran with one arm trying to hold her breasts down. She didn’t want to knock herself unconscious. p125
8. This book is absolute chaos, but it's the good kind of chaos. The plot and character development are strong and solid. The whole piece moves in a predetermined direction. Veil controls the story and thus the chaos, instead of the chaos controlling the author and yanking the story around by its hair.
9. An amazing example of existential and weird horror.
10. I've never read a book that better explains the plight of the oldest sister. Parents spawned new Callas every day, women adjacent to mothers, foisted with the responsibility of raising new generations. p253
Three (or less) things I didn't love:
This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.
1. The author's compassion for mental illness deteriorates over the course of the story, into something more stereotypically horror trope-ish. Whoever made these drawings was a fucking lunatic. ... Jamie fervently prayed he wasn’t the fucking lunatic. p237
Rating: 🏚🏚🏚🏚.5 /5 cabins in the woods
Recommend? Yes!
Finished: Nov 3 '24
Format: Digital arc, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
👥️ psychological horror
👤 existential horror
🕳 weird fiction
👻 ghost stories
👨👩👧👦 family stories, family drama
👫🏾 sibling relationships, siblings as parents
💇♀️ young women's coming of age
😵 curses
Thank you to the author Neena Viel, publishers St. Martin's Griffin, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of LISTEN TO YOUR SISTER. All views are mine.
Full review:
Jamie knew how to best help women: give them weapons instead of pacifiers. p49
This book combines a lot of different horror and weird fiction elements, from inner demons projected into reality to unplotted time travel, to create a piece of existential weird fiction that's as smart as it is riveting. It's an emotional story full of relatable characters, family to each other, and so representative of people who struggle in this unfair world.
“They tell me things[," Calla said] “Of course they do. It would be gauche to occupy your body and not contribute,” Dre said. p263
Reading Notes
Three (or more) things I loved:
1. Calla was envious of how his bulk communicated clout where hers communicated an affinity for chicken tenders. p5 And she comes out swinging! What a powerful statement about body size, body image, and gendered power.
2. The younger brother, Jamie, is an excellent example of an unlikable lead.
3. [Dre] didn’t know what Jamie was up to, but he understood the yearning. The clawing at the base of the throat, the one that stretched and stretched because of this cursed skin, this blessed skin, and the gifts and burdens that came with it. p41 This is wonderful character development for both these brothers, and wonderful writing besides.
4. She handles busy scenes well, beautiful scenes with groups of characters.
5. Suicide is a subject that very few writers handle delicately. Many books stigmatize it, depression, mental illness, or all three. They don't plot the action, or they use it as a plot device. They dehumanize the person. They demonize the person. Veil, on the other hand, treats the subject with conscientiousness of its nuance and complexity. She plots it carefully and develops the characters to respond to it with empathy. So grateful when I find this in books.
6. This author understands mental illness, and being so in a sanist and ableist world. It’s hard going about the day behind a mask, gold and shining, delicate filigree curling around the eyes, the mouth . What lurks behind is teeth, affixed to the skin, a membrane of blood behind brassy eyes. And the screams build and build, trapped behind the iron seal, and it has to be swallowed. It just has to, otherwise you would be screaming all the time. And you walk around like that. Go to work, flip some burgers. p100
7. Viel's details are so real and relatable; they add so much value to the book. She didn’t have a bra , and she ran with one arm trying to hold her breasts down. She didn’t want to knock herself unconscious. p125
8. This book is absolute chaos, but it's the good kind of chaos. The plot and character development are strong and solid. The whole piece moves in a predetermined direction. Veil controls the story and thus the chaos, instead of the chaos controlling the author and yanking the story around by its hair.
9. An amazing example of existential and weird horror.
10. I've never read a book that better explains the plight of the oldest sister. Parents spawned new Callas every day, women adjacent to mothers, foisted with the responsibility of raising new generations. p253
Three (or less) things I didn't love:
This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.
1. The author's compassion for mental illness deteriorates over the course of the story, into something more stereotypically horror trope-ish. Whoever made these drawings was a fucking lunatic. ... Jamie fervently prayed he wasn’t the fucking lunatic. p237
Rating: 🏚🏚🏚🏚.5 /5 cabins in the woods
Recommend? Yes!
Finished: Nov 3 '24
Format: Digital arc, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
👥️ psychological horror
👤 existential horror
🕳 weird fiction
👻 ghost stories
👨👩👧👦 family stories, family drama
👫🏾 sibling relationships, siblings as parents
💇♀️ young women's coming of age
😵 curses
Thank you to the author Neena Viel, publishers St. Martin's Griffin, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of LISTEN TO YOUR SISTER. All views are mine.
December 16, 2024
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Feb. 4, 2025
“Listen to Your Sister” is the debut novel by author Neena Viel. An older sister, raising her younger brothers, plagued by Nightmares that come to life in positive, and very negative ways, is the terrifying, spine-tingling premise of Viel’s horror novel.
Calla Williams is twenty-five years old, trying to raise her teenage brother, Jamie, with the help of her middle brother, Dre. Jamie’s behaviour gets more and more reckless and Calla is at her wits end. Desperate to get her family back under control, she takes both her brothers to a remote Air BnB in the woods, hoping to avoid the trouble back home. But the seclusion brings her nightmares even more to the surface and soon Calla and her brothers are running from a very different type of trouble- a sinister, death-seeking kind – and the only way out is together.
“Sister” is the kind of horror novel fans of Stephen King or Grady Hendrix will devour. Socially relevant, with substantial and emotional themes that are hiding underneath a dark universe of trauma, where Nightmares haunt the waking hours, Viel has touched a crucial nerve and delivered a novel that will reach a whole new generation of readers.
The story is narrated by all three Williams siblings, although Calla is the star (in more ways than one). Readers learn about the siblings’ dysfunctional upbringing slowly, as is it revealed through the separate experiences of Calla, Dre and Jamie. Calla’s Nightmare world is creative, horrifying and delectably haunting, and the familiarity of the creatures who take up that world make quite an impact, in Calla’s world as well as the readers’. Calla is the kind of character that readers will form an immediate connection with, and the broken but honest love between her and her brothers is heart-warming.
Horror fans must not miss this killer debut from Neena Viel. “Listen to Your Sister” came out of nowhere, scared and shocked, and left me in a euphoric daze. I never know what to expect when I read a debut novel but I try to tamper my expectations, especially from the horror genre (my all-time favourite). I can honestly say that I was beyond impressed with Viel, and she has made one heck of an entrance into the literary world. I can’t wait to read what she writes next.
Expected publication date: Feb. 4, 2025
“Listen to Your Sister” is the debut novel by author Neena Viel. An older sister, raising her younger brothers, plagued by Nightmares that come to life in positive, and very negative ways, is the terrifying, spine-tingling premise of Viel’s horror novel.
Calla Williams is twenty-five years old, trying to raise her teenage brother, Jamie, with the help of her middle brother, Dre. Jamie’s behaviour gets more and more reckless and Calla is at her wits end. Desperate to get her family back under control, she takes both her brothers to a remote Air BnB in the woods, hoping to avoid the trouble back home. But the seclusion brings her nightmares even more to the surface and soon Calla and her brothers are running from a very different type of trouble- a sinister, death-seeking kind – and the only way out is together.
“Sister” is the kind of horror novel fans of Stephen King or Grady Hendrix will devour. Socially relevant, with substantial and emotional themes that are hiding underneath a dark universe of trauma, where Nightmares haunt the waking hours, Viel has touched a crucial nerve and delivered a novel that will reach a whole new generation of readers.
The story is narrated by all three Williams siblings, although Calla is the star (in more ways than one). Readers learn about the siblings’ dysfunctional upbringing slowly, as is it revealed through the separate experiences of Calla, Dre and Jamie. Calla’s Nightmare world is creative, horrifying and delectably haunting, and the familiarity of the creatures who take up that world make quite an impact, in Calla’s world as well as the readers’. Calla is the kind of character that readers will form an immediate connection with, and the broken but honest love between her and her brothers is heart-warming.
Horror fans must not miss this killer debut from Neena Viel. “Listen to Your Sister” came out of nowhere, scared and shocked, and left me in a euphoric daze. I never know what to expect when I read a debut novel but I try to tamper my expectations, especially from the horror genre (my all-time favourite). I can honestly say that I was beyond impressed with Viel, and she has made one heck of an entrance into the literary world. I can’t wait to read what she writes next.
January 21, 2025
"Listen To Your Sister" is a speculative horror novel about Calla Williams, who becomes guardian to her brother Jamie. Calla is overwhelmed by the responsibility, while Jamie is reckless and always gets into trouble. Their other brother Dre is not helping as promised. Calla is haunted by nightmares of her brothers dying. When Jamie's actions at a protest go wrong, the siblings go on the run and seek refuge in a remote cabin. They face a new threat where their lives and reality are at stake. Their sister's warnings about nightmares prove to be true.
I was thrilled to finally get my hands on this book, but unfortunately, it didn't quite hit the mark for me. As someone who speaks five different languages, I sometimes struggle with books that have a unique writing style that I can't quite grasp.
Despite the challenge, I persevered and read the entire book, albeit taking some time to do so. The writing style was unique, reminiscent of a few horror writers I've encountered before. I've come to the conclusion that not every book is tailored to my taste.
The storyline itself was intriguing, but it fell short of my expectations due to some bizarre occurrences that left me feeling a bit lost. I found it difficult to differentiate between what was real and what was just a dream, especially with Calla's recurring visions.
Having lived in the Seattle area for four years, I was able to vividly picture some of the described locations, which added a layer of depth to the story for me.
While this book didn't quite resonate with me, I highly recommend giving it a try, perhaps as an audiobook if the written format doesn't work for you. I believe everyone should form their own opinion without being discouraged by Did Not Finish (DNF) reviews.
Happy reading!
Thank you, St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for the ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I was thrilled to finally get my hands on this book, but unfortunately, it didn't quite hit the mark for me. As someone who speaks five different languages, I sometimes struggle with books that have a unique writing style that I can't quite grasp.
Despite the challenge, I persevered and read the entire book, albeit taking some time to do so. The writing style was unique, reminiscent of a few horror writers I've encountered before. I've come to the conclusion that not every book is tailored to my taste.
The storyline itself was intriguing, but it fell short of my expectations due to some bizarre occurrences that left me feeling a bit lost. I found it difficult to differentiate between what was real and what was just a dream, especially with Calla's recurring visions.
Having lived in the Seattle area for four years, I was able to vividly picture some of the described locations, which added a layer of depth to the story for me.
While this book didn't quite resonate with me, I highly recommend giving it a try, perhaps as an audiobook if the written format doesn't work for you. I believe everyone should form their own opinion without being discouraged by Did Not Finish (DNF) reviews.
Happy reading!
Thank you, St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for the ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 4, 2025
Calla is twenty-five years old and she’s been struggling since becoming the guardian of her younger brother, Jamie. Her job is in jeopardy because she keeps being called to his school. Their brother Dre is two years younger than Calla had promised to help with Jamie but he hasn’t really been much of a help. Calla is stressed and tired. On top it, she gets this Nightmare where her brothers die. Jamie gets involved in a protest and things go wrong. Now the siblings must go on the run. They hide in a cabin in the woods and now the Nightmare is coming to life.
Oh, where do I start. Supposedly, this is a horror book, but I wasn’t scared for one moment. I went out of my comfort zone here to try horror since it’s not really my genre. Well, I was bored and confused through a lot of the book. Was I questioning what was real and what was a nightmare? Yes, because I couldn’t tell the difference. When the nightmare character has the same name as the real character, how do you tell them apart? Once in a while, we’d get “prom Calla” or something similar, but it wasn’t all the time.
There was a lot of racial politics in this book that felt unnecessary. There was also some language in this book that I didn’t love. Usually language doesn’t bother me much, but when it’s over and over, I could do without it. It takes half the book for any of the nightmare action to begin, so it felt very slow.
This is a debut book for this author, and I really hate to be harsh. It just really was not for me. I don’t ever DNF books, and I really wanted to DNF this one. BUT.. remember, this is just my lowly opinion. There are others that loved it, so don’t just go solely by my review. This is just one girl’s honest opinion.
Oh, where do I start. Supposedly, this is a horror book, but I wasn’t scared for one moment. I went out of my comfort zone here to try horror since it’s not really my genre. Well, I was bored and confused through a lot of the book. Was I questioning what was real and what was a nightmare? Yes, because I couldn’t tell the difference. When the nightmare character has the same name as the real character, how do you tell them apart? Once in a while, we’d get “prom Calla” or something similar, but it wasn’t all the time.
There was a lot of racial politics in this book that felt unnecessary. There was also some language in this book that I didn’t love. Usually language doesn’t bother me much, but when it’s over and over, I could do without it. It takes half the book for any of the nightmare action to begin, so it felt very slow.
This is a debut book for this author, and I really hate to be harsh. It just really was not for me. I don’t ever DNF books, and I really wanted to DNF this one. BUT.. remember, this is just my lowly opinion. There are others that loved it, so don’t just go solely by my review. This is just one girl’s honest opinion.
February 1, 2025
That was something else.
Listen to Your Sister is so original and I sure never have read anything like it.
As a fan of thriller and horror books, a lot of times it is recycled ideas with different plots and characters, but as a fan, I could never complain because most of the time, it just works. I picked this book up because the blur has mentioned a remote cabin and books that have a remote cabin as a setting are usually good.
You'd usually get the gist of how the plot of a book is going to be from the blurb, but I couldn't have guessed what happened in the book from the description alone. Sure, it is a story of three siblings, Calla, the oldest sister and her two younger brothers, Dre and Jamie. And yes, they did go to a remote cabin. But everything that came after that? It truly blew my mind.
At times, things can get confusing because something would happen that would make a reader question everything. This stopped me several times, but I have learned to just keep reading and it will make sense in the end. (Or not, because things can get really weird!)
Listen to Your Sister is one of those horror/thriller books that are actually haunting and creepy, but it also tells a story of a raw, beautiful and imperfect family relationship. With all their flaws, Calla, Dre and Jamie always got each other's back.
Reading this book is definitely a whole new experience, and anyone who is interested in this book should just start reading because I don't think a summary of the book would do any justice to the story that is waiting for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Listen to Your Sister is so original and I sure never have read anything like it.
As a fan of thriller and horror books, a lot of times it is recycled ideas with different plots and characters, but as a fan, I could never complain because most of the time, it just works. I picked this book up because the blur has mentioned a remote cabin and books that have a remote cabin as a setting are usually good.
You'd usually get the gist of how the plot of a book is going to be from the blurb, but I couldn't have guessed what happened in the book from the description alone. Sure, it is a story of three siblings, Calla, the oldest sister and her two younger brothers, Dre and Jamie. And yes, they did go to a remote cabin. But everything that came after that? It truly blew my mind.
At times, things can get confusing because something would happen that would make a reader question everything. This stopped me several times, but I have learned to just keep reading and it will make sense in the end. (Or not, because things can get really weird!)
Listen to Your Sister is one of those horror/thriller books that are actually haunting and creepy, but it also tells a story of a raw, beautiful and imperfect family relationship. With all their flaws, Calla, Dre and Jamie always got each other's back.
Reading this book is definitely a whole new experience, and anyone who is interested in this book should just start reading because I don't think a summary of the book would do any justice to the story that is waiting for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 28, 2024
"Listen to Your Sister" is a horror novel from author Neena Viel that a tale between nightmares and reality, leaving readers questioning what they have read.
Twenty-five-year-old Calla Williams has struggled becoming the guardian of her younger brother Jamie. Although her brother Dre promised to help her raise Jamie, he is always off doing his own thing. Meanwhile, Calla is overwhelmed and tired of being the only one to make sacrifices to keep the family together, while Jamie is continually getting into mischief. Through it all, Calla continues to be haunted by nightmares of her brother dying, which she is powerless to stop. When Jamie's actions at a protest spiral out of control, the siblings find on the run, taking refuge in a creepy remote cabin straight out of a slasher flick. With their lives and reality hanging in the balance, they realize they should have heeded their sister's warnings about her nightmares.
I appreciated the creepy of the book and found the premise intriguing, especially the relationships between the siblings. However, a strong start, the story fell apart for me. It seemed disjointed and hard to follow at times, and I was put off by the inclusion of racial politics. I was hoping for horror with an interesting dynamic, but it felt more a vehicle for pushing a political agenda. Finishing this book was a struggle.
Twenty-five-year-old Calla Williams has struggled becoming the guardian of her younger brother Jamie. Although her brother Dre promised to help her raise Jamie, he is always off doing his own thing. Meanwhile, Calla is overwhelmed and tired of being the only one to make sacrifices to keep the family together, while Jamie is continually getting into mischief. Through it all, Calla continues to be haunted by nightmares of her brother dying, which she is powerless to stop. When Jamie's actions at a protest spiral out of control, the siblings find on the run, taking refuge in a creepy remote cabin straight out of a slasher flick. With their lives and reality hanging in the balance, they realize they should have heeded their sister's warnings about her nightmares.
I appreciated the creepy of the book and found the premise intriguing, especially the relationships between the siblings. However, a strong start, the story fell apart for me. It seemed disjointed and hard to follow at times, and I was put off by the inclusion of racial politics. I was hoping for horror with an interesting dynamic, but it felt more a vehicle for pushing a political agenda. Finishing this book was a struggle.
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