Another ARC I was ecstatic to receive and ultimately felt disappointed by. I saw some people mention for them they didn't like that it was a social horror, but for me it was that I didn't like that it was a surreal horror. I think I'm coming to realize that surrealism horror and I do not vibe well together. I never knew what in the world was going on and I had a tough time following the story in general. The pacing was also pretty slow. Another thing that didn't work for me personally is I'm an only child so I don't really understand sibling dynamics. Like, I know about the burdened eldest daughter, the middle child, and youngest tropes, but I don't connect to any of it on a personal level, I literally cannot relate. So all in all I would say it's not that this story didn't work and is not successful in what it's trying to do, it just didn't work for me because I'm not the right audience.

I did give two stars because I really liked the humor and I'm looking forward to seeing more from Neena Viel in the future!

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this AudioARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn’t a fan of this audiobook. I kept falling asleep. I had a hard time keeping up with the story and all of the different characters

This is really hard for me to review, but it just wasn't for me. It didn't resonate with me, and I truly need to stay away from the horror genre because it just isn't for me, I don't know how I did not see that when I requested, so this is my fault. But I had to DNF this one.

This is a really hard book for me to review as I am not own voices so please seek out those reviews first. Now that being said I did rather enjoy this book. I can relate to raising siblings and feeling all of the pressure of who they are or who they will be on you. I understand bottling up parts of you and hiding them and how eventually you will break. All of that was something I deeply understand and I like that part of the book. I also felt Viel did a fantastic job exploring these emotions in a really unique way.
I will also say this book has an almost Alice and Wonderland feel to it. The book is nothing like Wonderland but the vibes I got felt very similar. Overall I really enjoyed this book.

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.

Okay WTF did I just read😅? I am not sure!

The story is about the family dynamics between 3 black American siblings living in Seattle Washington. Calla the oldest sibling has been struggling ever since she became the legal guardian of her youngest brother Jamie, who is 16 years of age. Her brother Dre promised to help Calla raise Jamie, but Dre is off doing his own thing, leaving Calla to deal with the hellcat brother known as Jamie.

First of all, Jamie is a terrible character. He doesn't respect the rules or women and screams racism every time he is stealing or up to misdeeds. I understand he is from a broken family, a mother who could no longer deal with a son who is unruly, doesn't accept change, doesn't want to change, breaks the law and thinks the rules doesn't apply to him. I personally would have liked a bit more on the family dynamics between the mother and her kids. We did hear some things about the mother from Calla and Jamie's voice, but not sure how reliable or accurate it is since Calla wears rose colored glasses when it comes to Jamie, and Jamie is an unscrupulous character who lies, cheat and steals, and doesn't mind hitting a woman or two. I would have also like to delve more into Dre's character. I don't really know who is outside of Calla and Jamie's brother.

This book was weird! Many times, I was lost in the sauce trying to understand what was happening. Is it a dream? Is it a nightmare? Is it really happening? Is it college Calla or is it little mama😆? Poetically the story is told through a prose like rhythm that unfolds like literally fiction. This book would be great for literature professors and teachers. The beginning of the book had a great start. Somewhere down the early middle it went down slow muddle convoluted road. The book went into overdrive once they reach the cabin. I think it is at this point that the pieces start to fit.

I don't know how scary this was, but it was definitely disturbing. I did appreciate some of the themes and lessons learned. I also could relate to letting a love one grow by trial and error and making mistakes. Many times, I felt as if the author was actually recounting her own personal history through poetry.

What I didn't care for is all the racial politics and victimology. Jamie is a hardhead who does the crime yet screams racism. He is always playing the victim card and claims he is being racially profiled when he is actually behaving in criminal actions. I could not sympathize with this character or understand his plight because he is the kind of teen that makes it bad for others who want to succeed by honorable means. I think the narrators did an amazing job voicing these characters! It was definitely full production at high quality.

I rated this book on the following eight criteria:
Plot
Writing Style
Characters
Narration
Cover/Title
Moved or Wowed
Atmosphere
Ending

I was not wowed by this book, but I was moved by some parts of it. Personally, I could not entirely feel the atmosphere surrounding them, partly I believe due to the writing style. I did think the cover did a great job conveying what the reader will find inside, and I thought the ending wrapped fairly well. It stood true to all the characters' character. I also rated the narration high, because again I thought they collectively did an amazing job. The total cumulative rating resulted in a 3.5 which I am rounding to a 4 because of the amazing job of the narrators.

The story was difficult to follow and never resonated with me. I could sense what the author was trying to achieve, but it wasn’t executed well. With better editing, this could have been a stronger narrative, but as it stands, it just didn’t work.

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, Macmillan Audio, and Neena Viel for the advanced listening copy of this book.

The story follows a sister who is 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 was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

This was so weird and I just really really enjoyed it. I liked that I could relate to some of the sibling feelings and hardships, but it also gave me new perspectives as there was a lot that as a white person I would never have to think about, even if my life was on the line and everything had gone to hell. I thought it was pretty twisty, I thought I knew where it was going, but was honestly shocked with the big reveal. But at the same time, it made sense, especially knowing the characters as well as you get to. You get each sibling's POV and they're all unique and very well developed. I was on the edge of my seat for large portions of it, and it was one of those books I didn't want to put down. I listened to the audio and the narrators were so great! It made it feel even more that I was in these characters heads and understood their motivations. There is quite a bit of gore, so heads up for that, but definitely recommend! I honestly cannot believe this is Neena Viel's first novel, I look forward to more.

It’s hard for me to rate Listen to Your Sister as a white person because, while it may be a fictional book, its elements are deeply rooted in very real issues. Setting aside my privilege, here’s what I thought:

First, I absolutely loved Calla’s character. She was fun, quirky, and an incredibly caring individual. The author did an exceptional job portraying her as a stand-in guardian while still allowing her to maintain her own identity and individuality.

That said, I couldn’t stand the portrayal of Calla’s brothers, Jamie and Dre. Jamie, as a young high school student, consistently went out of his way to upset Calla and make her life more difficult. I already struggle with liking men, so seeing the blatant disrespect he showed Calla—who was stepping up to take care of him—was infuriating.

And then there’s Dre. He was the embodiment of the stereotypical “let the woman handle everything” attitude. Not only did he expect Calla to bear the burden of all the work, but he also chastised her and dismissed her valid feelings about Jamie’s behavior. This dynamic painted a vivid and frustrating picture of the unappreciated and sexist emotional labor that women are so often forced to shoulder, even in situations where their efforts should be acknowledged and valued.

While the story was unique and the body horror elements added a nice touch, the first half of the book made me so mad that it kind of ruined the vibe for me. The narrators did a phenomenal job bringing the story to life, but I just couldn’t get past the minimizing and disrespect of Calla during the first half of the book.

Thank you to Macmillan and Netgalley for the early audio!

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.

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.

I went into this book completely blind. I will admit I requested it just from the title. Now, this is not a dig at the author or even the book.. it was just not for me at all.. I did not know what to expect ,just that it wasn't for me. I am sure there will be plenty of readers who will love this book. And that is great! It just was not my style.

Neena Viel’s debut, Listen to Your Sister, is an electrifying mix of horror, heart, and family dynamics that hits like a gut punch. Calla Williams is a protagonist you’ll root for—flawed, fierce, and burdened by the weight of holding her family together. Her brothers, Jamie and Dre, add layers of chaos, love, and frustration that feel deeply real. The creeping terror of Calla’s nightmares bleeds seamlessly into the story’s speculative twists, building tension that keeps you teetering on edge. With its sharp social commentary, immersive narration, and relentless suspense, this is more than a horror novel—it’s a bold statement.

🎧 Audiobook Review

I really enjoyed this book. I felt like it stood out from other horror/thriller plots and the entire storyline was unique and different. I will say as I got deeper into the book, it was a little more difficult to follow each character and decipher what was really going on. I liked that it touched on childhood trauma and the sibling bonds. I think there were very important messages and themes throughout, especially as it relates to police brutality, racism, and other related issues. Overall, great book and the narrator did a wonderful job with the audio.

I was approved for both the ebook and the audiobook and am leaving the same review under both.

Phew, buddy. I loved Listen to Your Sister. It was so f*cked up and wild in the best way. Weird creepy things happened to Calla, Dre, and Jamie. People popping up murdering strangers for Calla’s brothers, just in their time of need. That was such a wild ride.
I also love how it touched on real issues involving race. A horror book with realistic issues was chef’s kiss. Each sibling had their own personality and way of handling things. It was great. I’m scatter brained trying to write this out without spoiling anything.
I definitely recommend this book. ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

Audiobook specific: I believe the narrators all did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life.

I absolutely loved this book! Calla is 25 and the guardian of her 16-year-old brother Jamie. The middle brother, Dre, said he would help Calla, but he always seems to have excuses. When Calla gets a call that Jamie has been suspended, and she has to leave work to meet with the school, her job is at stake. Calla is always putting her brothers first before herself, especially since her parents were far from great role models. Then there are Calla's nightmares where she is always seeing her brothers in trouble or dead. When her brothers start witnessing some crazy people, who they believe to be ghosts, do some crazy things, and Jamie is possibly wanted for something horrific, the siblings leave town. This story is about family, especially sibling relationships. I had all sorts of emotions because I could relate to Calla in some ways. Again, this book is so relatable, not only with the family dynamics, but with the inside jokes the siblings have. Not only is this book driven by family, but the paranormal aspect is fabulous! Seeing how these entities make the siblings face reality was everything!

I did not love this book, but I think it was a me problem. I think this was just not my cup of tea. I think it was written great, but definitely not something I would normally finish reading. I struggled to continue listening to it to finish. If you are into really weird, strange horror type movies/books I think this would be a great read or listen!

dnf 22%
It just didn’t click with me. It felt really slow, and there were too many perspectives to keep track of.

thankful i got the arc tho