As an older brother, having a dream where your younger sibling dies is not uncommon, however, what is uncommon is having those dreams lived out in reality.

Calla is the older sister of Jamie and is the sole provider. With parents in the wind and an older brother who chooses to be involved when it's convenient for him, the responsibility of raising Jamie falls on Calla's shoulders. After an incident at a protest, Calla and Jamie flee to a remote cabin where they face a new threat beyond their wildest imaginations.

While I can't speak to the representation featured in the book, I enjoyed the themes that were explored (i.e. racism, privilege, and family).

However, I felt like the book was lacking in a few places. The pacing in the first half was very slow and it made it hard to feel engaged with the narratives. I also felt like there were a few instances where it was hard to follow what was happening and things weren't explained well.

Anyway, If the premise of the book interests you, I highly recommend checking this book out!

As always, Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the advance reader's copy

I had high hopes for this horror novel, but I started reading and had to stop because the language was too crass for me. I definitely hope it finds its readers!! I

3.25 ⭐️'s for me.
This was creepy and had some really gross scenes. I can recall one involving Dre that had me so grossed out. If you read this you will know what I am talking about. It was interesting how the book was set up and how Callas nightmares set the tone for everything. There were some points in the book that took me a little long to get through so it didn't hold my attention completely which is why it didn't get a higher rating.

I very much enjoyed this and the comparisons to Jordan Peele make sense. Many horror novels are about trauma and confronting trauma and this one is no different, but it has an energy and a viewpoint that felt original and fresh. The characters are interesting and nuanced; nothing is black-and-white here, everyone is messy, but the author represents these characters with a loving and careful hand that really forces the reader to confront some of their assumptions about "bad" vs. "good" guys. This book is also both extremely dark and very funny. Overall, just a very good read and I expect this to be on a lot of best-of-2025 horror lists.

Man that was absolutely wild but dope in the best way. This is a debut!? I cannot *wait* to read more from Viel in the future. I hope she continues to write.

It’s not the easiest book to summarize (or read, tbh) but it pays in spades if you like surreal, weird horror. In Listen to Your Sister we follow Calla who has custody of her younger (by a decade) brother, Jamie. Her father died years previous and her mother is unfit to parent a rock. Her other brother, Dre, is supposed to be supporting them emotionally and physically but tends to shirk his familial obligations for selfish reasons. Jamie is in the thick of life on the streets and gets involved with some very heavy crime. It’s during this time he meets a mysterious girl who ensures his safety in some particularly precarious situations. Dre has a similar encounter and the brothers decide against consulting Calla for advice. Things spiral and the second half goes off the rails entirely when the siblings travel to a derelict AirBnB.

I loved the first part and honestly the second part only made me adore the book more. The first half is a bit of a slow burn as we come to know the Williams’ siblings. The characters are so realistically flawed with the trauma they’ve undergone and yet the bond between siblings is so incredibly dense and there is this unexpected humor woven throughout the story.

The second half of the book is straight weird horror/fever dream. It injects reality into the intangible and books that feel like an acid trip will always hit that mark for me. I came to love the Williams’ siblings and felt so deeply invested in their tale. If you’re into weird horror in the vein of Clay McLeod Chapman that will have you wondering WHAT WAS THAT?! when you finish, I’d definitely recommend this one. It can be a harder read at times and not the most accessible. The plot structure is mostly linear but we revisit memories often and at times recollections are not what they seem. Anyways, loved it, highly recommend to the weird fiction crowd. Can’t wait to read more Neena Viel moving forward.

I was not sure how I felt about this book for the majority of the time I was reading it. I really enjoyed the writing, the story, and felt it was a unique concept. However, it also often felt very scattered and chaotic. It wasn't until the last 1/4 of the book that I was able to figure out whether I liked this one or not, but the ending ended up being fantastic and worth the chaos to get there.

Calla is the guardian to her young teenage brother, and her other brother, Dre, while a part of their lives, can't help her be a guardian to Jamie. Calla is struggling--balancing her job, her flailing love life, and the very real challenges of being a guardian to her reckless and willful teenaged brother. When Jamie gets in trouble at a protest, however, things change, and suddenly their lives are in danger. And not only from the Nightmare that Calla has been having her whole life.

The siblings have to go on the run, and tensions between the three of them run deeper and start to become something tangible they must address in order to survive.

I really liked the idea of this book, and the naturalistic manner the author has in describing the siblings troubled lives while retaining their humanity and reality, and the challenges of growing up in a broken home, with no safety net. But I found the story getting away from me as the book progresses into the more fantastical. However, this was entertaining and I would read something else by this author.

What in the world did I just read? This book was everywhere! It felt like the entire cast of characters was on one communal acid trip! I appreciate the opportunity to tandem read this crazy story. Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin, and Neena Viel for the ARC of this book.

The story follows a sister forced to care for her younger brothers. Due to family trauma, she has created multiple versions of herself to help save and protect her troubled siblings.

I believe that if I were to listen to or read it again, I would be able to give it a higher star rating. The first time I experienced it, it was quite a mind trip. It was entertaining and even emotional, but definitely TRIPPY!

I am voluntarily leaving this review of my own accord.

This book started out strong, and I kept waiting for the eerie element when the family arrived at the cabin. Instead, the story just went a little haywire, and it just didn’t land well for me. It was an enjoyable read but not my favorite I’m sorry to say.

My thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

In her debut novel, Neena Viel weaves a fast-paced, emotionally charged narrative that delves into the intricate web of sibling relationships. "Listen to Your Sister" explores the nuanced dynamics of birth order, familial trauma, and the bonds that both bind and separate us.

Viel's narrative prowess shines as she introduces us to Calla, Dre, and Jamie, three siblings whose tragic past casts long shadows over their present. The author masterfully plays with memory and perception, using the siblings' varying recollections of their father's death as a tantalizing thread that unravels into a shocking revelation.

The novel's true genius lies in its ability to balance humor with profound emotional depth. Viel peppers the narrative with witty sibling banter and comedic mishaps, creating a delightful counterpoint to the weightier themes of self-image and identity. Calla's ever-changing phases and Jamie's struggles with anger management are portrayed with deep sensitivity.

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of "Listen to Your Sister" is its foray into the surreal. The recurring nightmares and the enigmatic saviors who appear in moments of crisis add a layer of mystery that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Viel's deft handling of these elements culminates in a twist that is as unexpected as it is satisfying.

At its core, this novel is a poignant exploration of familial love and the lengths one will go to protect their own. Viel's narrative dances on the knife-edge between light and dark, humor and tragedy, creating a reading experience that is as thought-provoking as it is entertaining.

A solid debut leaving me anticipating future works.

Thank you, St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley, for my free book for review.

Calla, Dre, and Jamie are siblings without parents. Their father is deceased and their mother may as well be dead since she is less than useless. Calla has taken custody of teenage Jamie, with promises of help and support from middle sibling Dre, but that never did amount to much more than empty words.

"To raise a child was to guard them. To raise a child was to let them find their own path."

Jamie has always been a handful, and Calla is plagued with nightmares and visions of both brothers deaths. It's been a struggle all along to keep Jaimie out of serious trouble and she prays to whatever is willing to listen, to keep him safe. She is exhausted, and resentful, yet fiercely loyal in her love for her brothers but she is pushed beyond her breaking point. How can she protect them both at the same time? She is only one woman. Isn't she?

I can't say much else about the plot without spoiling it for you. So I will just say it's an original, imaginative, humorous yet horrifying debut novel.

"He'd knocked over a guest book, or possibly the Necronomicon because the last guests of this cabin were probably the undead skeletons in the basement."

This is a remarkable story of family, love, dysfunction, and grief. It is alternately hilarious, frightening, and heart rending. If you are in the mood for something wild and weird this is it.

My thanks to St. Martin's Griffin for the invitation to read an early e-copy.

I'm not entirely sure where I thought this book was going, but I didn't expect anything that I read. I was really into the horror while Jamie and Dre were trying to figure out what was happening. After they arrived at the cabin the pacing felt off and I began to lose interest. The action scenes with the antagonist characters were discombobulating that I found it hard to stay interested or even follow the story clearly. I'm sure many people will enjoy this one, but it wasn't a great fit for me personally.

Listen to Your Sister by Neena Viel

The reason I requested Listen to Your Sister was because I found the premise of an older sister caring for her siblings, particularly with the inclusion of nightmare sequences, intriguing. However, the very slow start and jarring use of the N-word detracted from the story and made me want to DNF. While the pacing eventually quickened, it felt disjointed and like a chore to finish. This one just didn't resonate with me.

If you were to throw a Grady Hendrix novel, Jordon Peele's movie, "Us," and a few episodes of "Stranger Things" into a blender, you would get this novel. I spent just as much time laughing as I did, being creeped out and wondering WTF was happening to this family of siblings. It's the perfect blend of psychological horror, social commentary, and familial drama. I'm still thinking about it.

The story centers on the three Williams siblings. Calla is the oldest. She's a 25-year-old woman burdened with the responsibility of caring for her 16-year-old brother Jamie after becoming his legal guardian. Dre, the middle child, has shirked much of his promise to help, leaving Calla to carry the load. But Calla is tired of making sacrifices and being the glue that holds her family together. She's also tired of the recurring nightmares that haunt her sleep. These dreams, which she calls The Nightmare, show her brothers dying in terrifying, inexplicable ways, and she feels powerless to stop them. The nightmare comes to a terrifying high one evening when Jamie is in the wrong place at the wrong time, and someone ends up dead. Calla and Dre pack up Jamie and drive from Seattle to Southern Oregon to wait for things to die down, but the cabin they picked from Airbnb is creepy AF. While they thought they were leaving the danger behind, they may have run toward a bigger evil waiting for them in the woods - something that will blur the lines between reality and nightmare.

What I loved most about this book was how it seamlessly intertwines its supernatural and psychological elements with important social issues. Viel doesn't shy away from addressing systemic racism or the immense burdens placed on Black women. Through Calla's perspective, we see the emotional and physical toll of constantly having to hold everything together, of being the family's protector, and of being denied the space to prioritize her own needs while trying to hold her space in a white world. The book also highlights how societal expectations and systemic inequities force Black women into roles of perpetual self-sacrifice - a theme that resonates deeply throughout the narrative.

The sibling dynamics are another highlight of the novel. Calla, Jamie, and Dre are vividly drawn characters, each with their own complexities, flaws, and strengths. Their interactions feel real, capturing the mix of love, frustration, and loyalty that defines many sibling relationships. Calla's resentment toward Dre's lack of involvement is palpable, as is her fierce protectiveness over Jamie (and, to an extent, Dr, even though he's grown and living on his own). Viel's nuanced portrayal of these relationships makes the stakes feel deeply personal, intensifying my investment in the siblings' survival.

The prose is sharp and evocative, balancing humor with horror in a way that feels both effortless and deliberate. The pacing of the story is another strength. Viel builds tension masterfully, alternating between moments of heart-pounding suspense and quieter, character-driven scenes that deepen our understanding of the siblings' bond. The transitions between these moments are seamless, ensuring the story never feels rushed or uneven. As I said earlier, I found myself laughing at something someone said and then suddenly terrified by what was happening on the page.
I both read an ARC and listened to an ALC of this one, and all three narrators did an outstanding job. They captured each of the siblings perfectly. If you prefer audiobooks, I would recommend this one.

This is a rare gem and one I'll be thinking about for a while. I'll likely buy a physical copy when it's released just to have it on my shelf so I can revisit it down the line. For anyone who loves a story that's equal parts chilling, thought-provoking, emotionally resonant, and has something important to say - this is a must-read. Neena Viel has crafted something truly special, and I, for one, can't wait to see what she writes next.

Calla Williams, 25, has been responsible for raising her younger brothers Dre and Jamie. Jamie is 16 and Calla struggles to keep him on track while simultaneously herself suffering from recurrent nightmares that reveal her deepest fears for the brothers. When Jamie’s involvement at a local protest puts him in danger, the three must run to protect him, but running puts them in more danger.

This book was interesting to me but there was a lot of issues to try to unravel. Family drama, horror and supernatural suspense was really a lot. The rotating POVs really worked to set up the story but there were times I struggled to follow the storyline. The first part is really slow as it lays everything out and was hard to keep going through. Overall, this wasn’t necessarily my thing but it had a lot of promise so I’d read more by this author in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Available February 4, 2025

A powerful debut and impressive for a seamless effort at weaving in horror, themes on race and identity, and a reflection on the power of family and sibling bonds. Neena Viel offers a strong story, one that is at times humorous in the ways that she captures how siblings talk, inner thoughts from Calla, and one that is truly immersively creepy, if that is a thing, in terms of the unraveling of Calla's nightmares into a stark, intense reality. A fast, intense read at times, this is recommended on audio for the strong narration and production as well as the opportunity the audio gives to feel in the story, to be in Calla's experience.

Thank you SMP and MacMillan for the free review copies.

This book was....weird and that's a compliment. Do not read if family trauma triggers you. I want to talk to the author and see how their mind works. How they came up with such a twisted story. The story is about a sister that would do anything to protect her 2 brothers. After some trouble in the city, they go to a remote cabin in the woods and that's when things start getting weird. Is the sister the protector or is she the danger or can she be both?? Read to find out. I give this book 3✨. I liked it but didn't love it.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc. I really enjoyed the creepiness of this book and the weirdness. This gave me vibes of Jordan Peele's movies. 5 stars.

Listen To Your Sister
By: Neena Viel

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Publication date: Feb. 4, 2025

For fans of Jordan Peele’s films, Stranger Things, and The Other Black Girl, Listen To Your Sister is a laugh-out-loud, deeply terrifying, and big-hearted speculative horror novel from electrifying debut talent Neena Viel.

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 I say this story had me clutching my imaginary pearls for dear life. The story told from all the siblings pov’s, Calla, Dre and Jamie’s. Buckle up for one HELL of a ride literally. Calla is truly overwhelmed and under appreciated for all that she’s done and sacrificed for her younger brothers. She’s spent their whole lives keeping them safe and out of danger through her dreams during the day and night. But when she finally has had enough and she give her brothers over to her nightmares once. We get to experience first hand the families dysfunctional upbringing through the experiences of Calla, Dre and Jamie. Calla’s Nightmare world is horrific, visually disturbing and what nightmares are made of. Each sibling’s journey will surprise you and make you laugh and disgusted at the same time. But you see the love that they have for each other runs deep. They’ll need to all come together and find that connection, forgiveness and bond to survive the night.

Horror fans this is a must read, Neena Viel is a new auto buy author for me. I’m still in shock this is a debut novel. Don’t read this in the dark if you scare easily!!!!

I had to DNF at 20%. There was literally nothing scary happening, and the characters were more annoying than anything else. Just couldn't get into it.