I had heard amazing things about this particular title, but nothing prepared me for the journey I went on reading it.

This may very well be the best book I’ve read in 2025, and it’s February 2nd.

The intricacy of the plot. The depth of the characters. The bond of family, and how their tragedies impacted them…it was breathtaking. I paused and reread lines so many times. The voice is equal parts wit and growling reality.

Highly recommend.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this incredible book. Opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

For every review that calls this a genre bending fever dream, this book is that ten times over. However, for it not being anything like what I expected, I could not stop reading this story however heavy it got.

Calla and her brothers are on their own, Jaime being the youngest that she's in charge of, and Dre being the middle who promises more and delivers less each time. The bond between these three was so reminiscent of each time you sacrifice for your siblings and your family and feel the frustration of them never seeing it, all the while never seeing the sacrifices they've made for you.

Calla in particular is going to stick with me for a long, long while. Her desire to protect the family she has above work, above social life, above other relationships, above EVERYTHING was heartachingly clear, and the anxiety that comes with that is like an unspoken secret thrust into the spotlight for all to view.

This book was gutteral, deep, visceral and will fill you with emotions that might be uncomfortable but are worth facing. I cannot wait to see more from this author, and pick up a physical copy of this as well.

Maybe if horror novels were more my thing, I’d rate this story a 4. While there were some errors that proofreading should have fixed, the writing was solid. I just couldn’t suspend my belief long enough to enjoy the read.

This was a really unique read. From the start there is a complex family dynamic that drew me in. I was immediately empathetic to Calla and the sacrifices she's made and the pressure she felt trying to navigate a new guardianship role and be what she thinks her brothers need. And I really appreciated the multiple POVs in this book to really help the readers connect with and understand some of the brothers' motivations and perspectives.
The horror/creepy elements of the book sort of work their way into the story early and raise questions that really help drive the overall intrigue of the story. There were some really cool/creepy descriptions and scenes that really created a lot of urgency and tension for the novel. I really liked seeing the family navigate their own issues while also confronting the horrors of the novel. There were certain burdens (financial, interpersonal, racial) that are easily and naturally woven into the story and really help create a fully fleshed out world and story. And I loved the ultimate reveal of the story and seeing the siblings have to work through and navigate everything. There were several layers to the story that all came together so well and really made for a compelling read. And I love that the heart of the story really is about their family.

I do think some of the horror elements of the story didn't seem consistent with what is, ultimately, revealed. Both brothers have a creepy/gorey experience early on that is never really explained. And there is an overall level of confusion with the story and lack of clarity about how the nightmare manifests. And this lack of clarity was only heightened (in my opinion) by everyone's blind acceptance of everything.
I also felt like there were strong personality traits from each of the characters that I wish would have been developed and explored more. Especially when it came to their interactions with one another. I had a hard time understanding why Jamie and Dre both pulled Calla into everything just to immediately try to ice her out to "spare" her? It felt more like a plot convenience than a natural progression of the story.
And even with the ending, the resolution is quasi time-warpy but also inconsequential and more of an emotional resolution than physical one, even though so much of the story has been very physical (though as a consequence of heavy emotional burdens).
I'm also a bit unsure how to feel about the very end. I feel like we could have entirely cut out the scene with the police and just left it as an unsolved case rather than drag Jamie to an interview and then end.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s for providing me with a digital review copy of this story in exchange for an honest review

Maybe 3/3.5

The concept of this book was excellent. An older sister, doing whatever it takes to keep her brothers safe. A never ending Nightmare that becomes far too real each time, a sign that the boys are in danger. Evil doppelgängers. But I found myself having to force myself through it the further in I got.

Jamie and Dre are really, really annoying. They’re both so selfish that I found it laughable that Calla would still want to protect them. Even Calla annoyed me a few times throughout this book.

However, the nightmare and what it contains were extremely captivating to me! The author’s writing style is very vivid and very graphic, which can be seen as either really good or really bad depending on how sensitive to gore you are.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy in exchange for this review!

i couldn’t get into this one, which was a disappointment since it was repeatedly named one of the most anticipated horror releases of 2025. unfortunately, it felt too predictable for my taste. i made it to 20% before deciding to dnf.

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, this kind of content is triggering in today’s political climate, and I do not want to dwell in that when I read to escape, not 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 horror does, when it provides 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 in today’s political climate, could very well play out similar to this irl, and that’s terrifying. That’s not something I want a reminder of 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.

I’m pretty sure this is a case of it’s not you, it’s me, but I couldn’t develop a connection with Listen to Your Sister. It’s entirely possible that it’s my current mindset, but I gave up at the BLM protest. The violence involving a child was just more than I can do right now.

I found this book really slow . For me it dragged on and I couldn’t connect to any of the characters. There was too much time spent being descriptive instead of providing more character background.

Listen to your sister was an interesting horror read . The plot moves at a medium pace and does not feel like any part is dragging. The book deals with racism, drug use, absentee and unfit parents and older siblings raising younger siblings. I enjoyed the book and callas journey is quite interesting. Liked the nightmare aspect.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a review.

I like that this book crosses over some serious issues and horror. The book was good the dynamic between the siblings is very relatable. I liked this read cant wait to see what this author does next. Im not a huge fan of horror but this wasnt keep me up at night type scary.

Ｅｂｏｏｋ Ｒｅｖｉｅｗ
4 ☆
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 that the paperwork is finalized, 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.

This is a very thought-provoking story, one that requires careful consideration. Is Calla really seeing things, her fear becoming something real, or is she just mentally exhausted? I enjoyed this story a lot.

Thank you, Netgalley and St. Martin Press for the ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Calla is struggling to juggle her life now that she has custody of her younger brother, Jamie. Without the help that her other brother, Dre, had promised, she could barely keep afloat. That isn't even the end of her problems. With The Nightmare as brutal as usual, Calla also struggles to sleep.

This book was mediocre at best. The plot was interesting.However, it did not meet my expectations. With the bland writing style, the book failed to capture my attention. Overall, it did have a good ending. That was the best part. Not simply because the book was over, but because it actually had a good ending.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Macmillian Publishers for the opportunity to have read this book as an e-ARC.

Listen to Your Sister presents an intriguing premise with emotional depth, but at times, it left me more confused than engaged. Calla Williams, struggling to care for her reckless younger brother, Jamie, is a character that many can relate to, burdened by responsibilities that feel overwhelming. However, the first three-quarters of the book dragged, with long, meandering sections that felt aimless. When the plot finally picked up speed, it was rushed, leaving me wishing for more depth and buildup.
The dialogue between characters often felt disjointed, as if they were having long, rambling conversations with themselves rather than meaningful exchanges with one another. I found myself longing for more substance in these interactions, which sometimes seemed disconnected from the plot itself. Still, the book does create a tense atmosphere, especially as Calla’s recurring nightmares play a bigger role in the story.
Overall, it is a decent, albeit flawed, read. The premise is fascinating, and the moments that hit the mark were captivating. However, there were far too many instances where the narrative veered off course, leaving me feeling lost. With tighter pacing and more focused character development, it could have been a stronger, more engaging read.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for the ARC and opportunity to provide an honest review.

I would like to thank St Martin's Press for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my review.

Are you looking for a horror novel that is full of family ties that are deeper and stronger than actual monster that can be found in nightmares? Listen to your Sister by Neena Viel will provide some terror inducing visions filled with the deep love that only trauma bonded siblings can have.

Calla is her brother Jamie's guardian, but she is struggling. Her other brother Dre is supposed to be helping her raise their baby brother, but he finds ways to be absent when it suits him. The siblings have come from a horrible childhood which still seems to haunt Calla, in what she calls her Nightmare. She sees her brothers finding themselves in life threatening situations and must fight and bleed to save them. But what happens when Calla's nightmares start to walk around in the real world?

Viel's book is deeply disturbing and beautifully written. Being incredibly detailed and visual, I could easily see this being turned into a movie. The Black stories of these siblings may be fiction, but there are so man BIPOC people who are living a real nightmare in our world and I hope that more of these stories are lifted up and celebrated the way that they should be.

Listen to your Sister is set to publish on February 4 2025 and will be available at your local bookseller or library

Poor family was going through it. I loved this story. Thank you for letting me read the arc copy. I would rate it five stars. Looking up the author to see what else they have written.

This was an excellent novel, especially for those who love supernatural aspects and family drama. However, when I reached the halfway point of the book, I was thrown off about the pace of the story. The first half is much slower, then halfway it speeds up a lot.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for my copy of LISTEN TO YOUR SISTER. This one publishes Feb 4.

I really wanted to love this book but the pacing lost me. I felt like I was getting sucked in and enjoying myself and then, bam a new chapter with a different perspective (that just didn't hit the same) and it became less fun to read. If I could have gotten past this I would recommend it, but as it is right now I cannot.

4.5 / 5 stars

Twenty-four year old Calla Williams is the legal guardian for her younger brother Jamie because their mother does charming things like send him text messages that say "You're dead to me." But Jamie has not been an easy teen to raise, and Calla has long felt that she has been sacrificing parts of her life for him. She moved to a crappier apartment so that he'd have his own room. She keeps working at her job where she's overlooked. Her dating life is certainly suffering. Her middle brother Dre is supposed to be helping her with Jamie -- said he'd help with Jamie -- but the burden of the eldest sister is to continually sacrifice without recompense.

However, when things following a Black Lives Matter go sideways and it looks like violent acts might get traced to her brothers, Calla abandons her job to hide in a scary Airbnb cabin in the woods to protect her boys. But Calla has long suffered from a recurring nightmare in which she must save one or the other of her brothers. Dre and Jamie dismissed her as overreacting, but as Calla's Nightmare suddenly comes to life, they realize that they should have been listening to their sister.

I really enjoyed this horror thriller. I've seen some reviewers note that it takes a while for the action to ramp up, but I felt like the early chapters were all completely necessary to establishing the relationships between the siblings and some of the later payoffs once the Nightmare does set in. The action in the final two sections can get a bit confusing, but I think that it felt in line with the dreamlike quality that the author was intending.

As a mom and an older sister, I definitely connected with Calla's sense of frustration with her younger brothers. Caregivers can very easily fall into a cycle of self-sacrifice and resentment. I thought that this novel was an interesting examination of the complex relationship a caregiver has with their charges -- especially when they have a shared history of trauma.

I'm glad I picked this one up and I'm excited to see what else Neena Viel has in store after this amazing debut.

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 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.