[2.5 to 3 Stars] I really loved the concept of this book. Three siblings, their shared and individual traumas, and a haunted nightmare that consumes them all. The book is separated in to four parts with the first two being used as set-up and the latter two focusing on the horror action and actualization of character development, witch each chapter focusing on the one sibling's experience.

I found her writing to be enjoyable. Viel uses a lot of "big words," so you might need a dictionary handy. I, personally, don't mind learning new words and having to stop, though I know that it bothers some people. But I feel like those words also added a poetic feel to the writing. I haven't read it in a long time, but it kind of gave me the same vibe as Shelley's "Frankenstein," but in a modern tongue.

I am an older sister, so I fully stand behind Calla. I think the focus on her recurring nightmare and the stress that she experiences is a perfect reason for her to explode like she did, and that overwhelm is KEY for her response. You get to see a lot of build up and character explanation in the front, and I really enjoyed those first two parts. I found them entertaining and attention grabbing, and it kept me reading.

When I got to the second parts though, that when I got a little lost. For starters, and this is probably just a me-thing, but I felt like the description was a little misleading in that it kind of sounds like the main plot will revolve around this cabin, which is doesn't. But as I got further and further into the dream, the more confused I became. There were so many different personalities and I felt like they were hard to keep track of who was who. It was during these parts that you see major character development for all three siblings; it's nice and strong, and I love it.

Additionally, once we get into the main climax and conclusion, there was a lot of action and physical moving that I was confused about who was moving what, when, and where. The best ways to describe this feeling are 1) action movies where the screen changes multiple times in less than a second so that you cannot actually see what they are doing. or 2) a romance novel in which you are trying to visualize the positions described- there are plenty of jokes about this online.

As a debut author, I would love to other work from her because I really enjoyed her writing. This one just fell short for me. Although this book wasn't for me, thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

Favorite Lines:
"I hurt all the time. All the time. His bones ached everyday like they didn't fit right." pg 63
"She toasted the beginning of her new life." pg 170
Chapter 36 (all of it was funny), pg 291

4 stars

This was a fantastic novel. Strong writing and character & plot development.
Started out with a bang, it did lose me a bit toward the 2/3 mark but not so much that I wanted to quit reading. Just left me a little confused. I definitely want to read more by Neena Viel now.

This novel is a good blend of action packed horror with vivid descriptions and great character development for the individual characters. The story centers around Callie, the older sister who is trying to raise her youngest brother Jamie. The family drama drives the plot, with the middle brother Dre, at times helping Callie and other times he just seems to make things worse for them. The horror includes the nightmarish visons that Callie experiences and the mysterious demons intent on bloodshed that haunt the brothers.
I thought this book might have a sort of dark humor to it, as the publisher's blurb listed it as "laugh out loud funny", but I think it didn't hold true to this promise. The story line felt repetitive throughout the first half and I didn't feel drawn into the tale until late in the book. However, this is worth a read if you like lots of action in your horror.
Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

This is a terrifying novel about family bonds, trauma, and sacrifices to be mede to ensure the safety of loved ones. Told with a razor sharp sense of dark humor, this nightmarish story delivers the laughs and the horror.

Three siblings only have each other in this world. The eldest has sacrificed everything for the sake of the youngest, a sixteen year old who is street smart but rebellious to a fault. The middle brother has his own life issues to deal with so most of the responsibility falls to the older sister.

When those family bonds are stretched too thin and secrets are revealed, they are thrust into a literal nightmare where various versions of the sister are trying to kill them. Things are going to get bloody as their past traumas come to life in horrific ways.

The narrative is fast paced and deals with issues of being black while attempting to simply live a normal life. But with such disparate personalities as these three siblings, being "normal" takes on a whole new meaning. They love each other and they have a close bond through what they've suffered, yet tensions, arguments, accusations, and pride rear up and leak out.

If they're going to escape the nightmare world they find themselves in while being hunted by terrifying versions of the big sister, they'll have to rely on each other. But even that might not be enough.

I loved this book and I highly recommend it.

Calla is 25 and has guardianship of her younger brother, Jamie (with a little bit of help from their brother, Dre). Jamie does not make it easy though, and has a tendency to get into trouble. Calla just wants to protect her brothers- how come they can't see how much she has sacrificed for them??

I enjoyed this one! It definitely did not go in the direction I thought it would, and I think it's very unique. If you're looking for a creepy cabin in the woods story, this isn't it. That being said, I don't think its necessarily for everyone (but what book is?)

As I move from thrillers into lighter horror, this book seemed like the perfect choice to ease me in. The cover and description gave off strong ‘Cabin in the Woods’ vibes, but the cabin and the woods turned out to be more like background players in a much wilder story.⁠
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I really enjoyed the first half of the book. We get to know Calla as she takes custody of her rebellious younger brother, Jamie, who’s determined to get into trouble and challenge everything around him. With little help from their other brother, Dre, Calla is struggling to keep her job and haunted by nightmares of her brothers dying. Meanwhile, Jamie and Dre each find themselves caught in harrowing situations where the things from nightmares seem to come to life. This part of the story was incredibly compelling. You could almost feel the dark, sinister presence lurking just beneath the surface. The pacing was slower than expected, but it worked for me as the tension built and the Williams family’s troubles began to spiral.⁠
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When the family escapes to a creepy cabin, I thought, “Here’s where the real fun begins.” But honestly, the story became so chaotic that it lost some of its earlier grip. The ‘what’s happening’ of it all was unique and fascinating, but the shift in pacing felt jarring.⁠
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Overall, this was a solid debut filled with horror and supernatural elements. While some parts could’ve been more polished, I’m definitely excited to see how the author continues to grow and what they do next.

The book was just okay for me. I'm not really into the supernatural genre but I stuck with it. The beginning was a little slow but it picked up in the second half. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to be an ARC reader.

This was such a page turner! Not at all what I expected but oh so good! It was weird but good!
This is a book that has me at a loss to explain but that’s okay because I went into this pretty much blind and it was such a wild ride! There are a few heavy topics that are discussed but it adds to the story but do keep in mind that there’s some childhood trauma discussed.

The Williams siblings have such a bond and seeing them throughout this story was a ride in and of itself.

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.

“Listen to Your Sister” was a rollercoaster story that’s one part weird, two parts horror. Through the first half of the book there wasn’t much that I would classify as horror and I was a little confused about what I was getting into, but the second of the book was packed full of WTF moments that wrapped everything up into a horror-themed present.

The characters’ growth and ability to self-reflect are some of the central themes that kept me going to see what happened next. The plot twist of The Nightmare was weird and well executed, absolutely not was I was expecting. We even get some good, gory descriptions and moments tossed in.

Solid 3.5/5 ⭐️

This book had an intriguing premise, but it wasn't really what I was expecting, and I just may not be the right audience for this story. The sibling dynamics were heartfelt and relatable, and the author captured the weight of responsibility and sacrifice beautifully. However, the mix of family drama and surreal horror didn’t fully resonate with me. That said, readers who enjoy emotional stories with a supernatural twist might find it more engaging.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an eARC of Listen to Your Sister prior to publication.

Loved it! I was up reading all night. I recommend this book. I can only say how good it is as I do not want to spoil it for others.

Calla Williams, at the young age of 25 p, finds herself with the challenging task of raising her younger brothers, Jaimie and Dre, after their mother leaves them. Complicating this is p, her being haunted by recurring nightmares in which she witnesses her brothers deaths.

Due to a run of bizarre incidents in which mysterious women save Calla's brothers from imminent danger, the siblings decide to leave their home, taking refuge in a secluded cabin/shack. Unfortunately, Calla's nightmares become more intense, blurring the lines between reality and the supernatural. There seems to be a terrifying force threatening their lives.

This novel of horror is intense and the mysterious force driving the story is very clever and powerful.
Even though I didn’t always understand the whys and how’s of the plot, the writing was so grippingly intense, I stuck with it. Warning the beginning is slow, then picks up and races to the ending.

If you're a reader looking for something intensely scary and weird, Listen To Your Sister, should fit the bill.

i could have finished this book last night, but I had to stop because it was super late and it was scaring the fu … uh, crap out of me. I actually did a marathon read of the remainder this morning so that I wouldn't have to read it past bedtime again. So, yeah, I guess that's pretty high praise for a debut horror novel? And I'm not one who usually gets super freaked out over what I read, either.

absolutely terrifying, I loved it. WILL RECOMMEND!

When I read that this book is for fans of Jordan Peele’s films and The Other Black Girl, I was like sign me up!
I enjoyed the creepiness and the family dynamics for the majority of this book. Then the flow became weird and by the time I finished, I felt like I had just woken up from a fever dream. This one left me with a “what in the world did I just read” feeling, but all in a good way. You will just have to pick up your very own copy and give it go!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of Listen to Your Sister by Neena Viel.

What a debut! Listen to Your Sister tells the story of complicated sibling dynamics in the context of true horror. Our characters are trying to help each other grow up while still growing up themselves and it's incredibly moving. They all just want to care for one another, although each is left needing and wanting more than is being given to them.

In the beginning, I was OBSESSED with this. I loved the premise and the beginning stayed true to this. Calla's relationship with Dre & Jamie was raw and honest. Calla's struggles as a sister-turned-guardian were palpable and she seemed to be a relatable character. I enjoyed learning about the history of the family and the trauma of what happened with their parents. This started out as a story of tough love and the turmoil associated with being black in America; stereotypes, injustice, police brutality, etc. In the middle, this story took a strange turn when the trio reached the cabin in the woods in order to protect Jamie from the law. This is when the true horror began but I'm not sure if I was a fan. Once we entered Calla's "nightmare", I was a tad lost. Some of the events made sense but others left me confused and I honestly see the vision of what the author was attempting to do but in my opinion, it was not executed properly. The parts of this book that reminded me of Jordan Peele's "Us" were my favorite. I did not love this one but I did like it. I would definitely give this author read more of her work in the future.

Calla has been taking care of her teenage brother Jamie ever since their mother was deemed unfit. She keeps him out of the system but always feels like she’s treading water. He’s always getting into trouble, and their middle brother, Dre, isn’t the help he promised Calla he’d be. When things go very wring, the trio flew to a cabin in the woods and straight into a nightmare, literally.

This book has some great things to say about the burden of caretaking and the things people have to give up, keeping black boys alive, and family trauma, particularly black family trauma. It was really unique and different with a strong voice and some wicked horror. Definitely recommend.

Neena Viel’s Listen to Your Sister is a thoughtful and deeply resonant read that explores the complexities of family dynamics, sisterhood, and personal growth. With raw honesty and a sharp yet compassionate voice, Viel weaves a story that feels both familiar and fresh, drawing readers into a world where relationships are messy but love remains at the core.

The strength of this book lies in how Viel captures the nuances of sibling relationships—the push and pull, the tensions that simmer, and the unspoken bonds that tether us to family, no matter what. The characters feel real and flawed, which makes their struggles and triumphs hit home. Viel doesn’t shy away from portraying emotional vulnerability, and that’s what makes the book stand out.

One of the most compelling parts is how the author balances humor with heartache, making the story relatable while delivering deeper truths about loyalty, forgiveness, and understanding. Viel’s writing style is accessible but powerful, and the pacing keeps you hooked without overwhelming the reader.

While there are moments where the story dips into familiar territory, the sincerity in Viel’s storytelling keeps it from feeling cliché. Readers looking for a heartfelt, character-driven narrative will find Listen to Your Sister both engaging and thought-provoking.

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.