This horror made me squirm with its detailed descriptions of some truly uncomfortable situations and I loved it. As an older sister, I definitely felt Calla’s need to protect her siblings and also WHY DONT THEY LISTEN TO US? Think Jordan Peele type of horror that deals with the difficulties of family and being Black in America. I was gifted the audiobook ARC graciously by NetGalley and Macmillan audio.

This book lives up to the comparison to movies that explore the intersection of horror and black culture. I loved how different all 3 siblings were while coming from the same home at different times. It play with sterotypes, asking the reader to fall into them and then question their own assumptions about people in that position. The ending was truly unexpected and the narrative kept shifting in a beautiful kaladescope. I was highly impressed!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy in exchange for an honest review!

Non-spoiler synopsis:
Listen to Your Sister is a multiple POV psychological horror type following three siblings: Calla, the oldest sister and caretaker; Dre, the middle brother who tries his best to support both of his siblings and play the middleman; and Jamie, the seemingly unruly teen who stands up for what he believes in. Calla is constantly protecting her brothers, but when her recurring nightmare becomes reality, all three siblings must work together to pull themselves out of The Nightmare.

Review:
I'm rating this 4 stars, but it probably falls somewhere closer to a 3.5. I felt like I was in a fever dream through at least 50% of this book. I really liked the whole premise, but I feel like it could have been executed a bit stronger. I'm rating this 4 stars, but it probably falls somewhere closer to a 3.5. My biggest complaint is about pacing; the first half is quite slow and then the second half moves extremely quickly. I loved the audiobook version which had different narrators for each POV (which I really liked!), but I feel like if I had been reading it, I might have DNFed it before the half-way mark which is so sad to me because the second half was really interesting and I wanted to spend more time with those pieces. Overall, I wish it was all fleshed out and paced a bit better, but the concept was super intriguing!

Please read Listen to Your Sister if you love Jordan Peele, family dramas, and all things creepy; it’s OUT NOW!! I would be interested to hear what y’all think of this one!
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TW: honestly a lot of TWs (i.e., racism, police brutality, child abuse, death, body horror) – look into this one a bit more before reading

I wanted to love this book more than I did. I can admit that the audiobook kept me engaged enough to finish, and if I were rating only the narration, this book would receive a much higher score. However, one of the biggest issues for me was the amount of time it took to really get into the horror and darker elements. While there are horror elements, most of the story focuses on a messy sibling dynamic and the sacrifices an older sister makes for her two ungrateful brothers. I would categorize this more as a family drama and psychological thriller than a horror novel.

The premise of the sister’s nightmares coming to life is intriguing, but the journey to that point felt bogged down with unnecessary conversations and scenes. The younger brother constantly gets himself into trouble and relies heavily on his older sister. Meanwhile, the middle brother, who initially agreed to help, has his own issues. Ava, the eldest sister, bears the brunt of responsibility, which neither of her brothers fully acknowledges. The most frustrating and horrifying aspect of this book was the way the older sister was treated.

At times, the novel reads like urban fiction, with elements involving drugs, bad deals, and certain stylistic choices in dialogue. There’s also social commentary, but it didn’t land as effectively as it could have. This story reminded me of Nightcrawling by Leila Motley, as it explores a young Black woman’s self-destruction in service of the men in her life. While that was one of the more compelling aspects of the book, I think the story could have been shorter and less repetitive in hammering this point home. Another issue was how much of the plot had already been revealed in the blurb—so much so that it felt like we spent 60% of the book waiting for the events described on the back cover to actually unfold.

For instance, the family is supposed to be on the run, yet they don’t reach the cabin until around 60% into the book. It’s only then, after yet another family argument, that the sister enters a dissociative state where the protective parts of her personality start to turn against her brothers. I had high expectations for this read, and while I know others may enjoy it, it was a miss for me.

This book took some time for me to wrap my head around and fully understand wat was happening. Once, that happened it was enthralling. I loved the 3 narrators and their ability to convey the story. It was creepy, scary, and emotional. Worth a read for those who love a scary book.

LISTEN TO YOUR SISTER vibes:
-multiple POVs
-absolutely nasty (complimentary)
-miscommunication and/or lack of communication
-two words: CREEPY CHILD!
-incredible, emotional, creepy, funny narration
-major sibling arguments built on love
-ACAB
-haunted cabin in the woods

What a debut!! This speculative fiction horror novel is bright, bold, and beautifully nasty. I absolutely LOVED the narration, it's easily joining my list of favorite audiobook experiences. Kristolyn Lloyd in particular absolutely knocks it out of the park with her performance and voice work. There were line reads that genuinely spooked me!! Incredible. I also appreciated that this story was rooted in the deep love the Williams siblings have for each other. If you like horror that is also funny and gross and full of love, get this ASAP!

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.

Thank you to Net Galley for an audiobook ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I’m sad to say that this one just wasn’t for me. There’s a lot to unpack here: complicated family dynamics, a highly unusual premise, and commentary about race relations. I completely understand if this is a five-star book for someone with different taste.

Unfortunately, I found the writing a bit choppy and convoluted. At times, it was hard to tell if we were in reality or a dream space. Perhaps this feeling of unreality was intentional, but I personally dislike a “fever dream” writing style.

I think this book relies on its readers’ connection to all three of the central characters, but I only found one to be likeable. Calla was treated so abysmally by her brothers that it was a struggle to read Jamie and Dre’s chapters.

The audiobook was excellent! Each narrator did a terrific job at converting the differing personalities on the three siblings. I would certainly recommend it, if you think this book is for you.

this was a good audiobook! It was eerie and creepy, it kept me scared and tense while reading it. I was worried and confused by the ending, and i Just wanted to get to the end of the book to see what was happening. It was good!!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

The pacing in this book was a big problem for me. The book was so slow initially but fast in the end, making it hard to get through.

Overall the book its self was good. The concept was new and refreshing.

I don't want to be harsh with my review but I didn't enjoy this book and had to really push through and increase the speed on the audiobook to finish.

The premise is really interesting but the writing is really disjointed and the story was hard to follow.

Thank you netgalley for giving me an advanced review copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review

I was completely mesmerized by this book! Calla, Dre and Jamie suffered tremendous trauma in their childhood, but now that their parents are dead, 26-year old Calla is responsible for her brothers, and 16-year old Jamie is running wild and testing her love and 24-year old Dre, after promising Calla he would help with Jamie, is living his own life.

Calla gives so much, sacrifices so much, loves her brothers so much, that she has nightmares that manifest her terror and fears and predict what happens as her brothers make bad life choices. One night, filled with anger, desperation and regret, Dre and Jamie get pulled into Calla’s nightmares where her pain and disappointments have become powerful vengeful spirits that prey on her brothers.

Both heartbreaking and redemptive, immersive and distracting. I both laughed out loud at Jamie’s antics and wanted to strangle him. I need to hug Calla for an hour, while shaking my head at Dre. I feel like their 4th sibling. I will miss them. I loved this book.

This book is not what I expected it to be when I read the summary. I found the idea so interesting but it wasnt the vibe for me! It felt a little slow at times but then was able to pick up towards the end. I listened to the audiobook version, and the narrator was speaking like it was more of a slam poetry. I think if I read the physical book, I would have been able to get into the story a little faster.

What a premise! Reality meets the surreal. Funny moments pepper the horror, but man does the story hold on tight. The writing's pretty good (though I would've preferred some editing with a certain slur/word).

Though it starts slow, the middle and end give a conclusion that quenches readers' taste.

Disclosure: This audiobook was provided as an eARC from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

My review can also be found on my blog here: https://tatimothys.com/review/debut/fantasy/horror/LtYS/

You'll have to forgive me if this review is a little incoherent, because I feel like I could gush about this book for hours. The only place to begin is with the characters. Calla, Dre, and Jamie are quite possibly best written siblings that I have ever read. They are all the heroes in their own heads, and despite their love for each other, they all have their own complex resentments about each other. Splitting the narrative between their PoVs works unbelievably well, and when one sibling is being a little shit, you get that moment of catharsis when they are put in their place. Just like twisting the knife against your own sibling, you immediately regret it, since you know how badly it will hurt them. That dynamic is beautifully written and is the focus of the plot, driving it in perfect tandem with the supernatural horror elements. I don't want to spoil any of those elements, so suffice to say that they serve multiple functions and you just have to experience them for yourself. It's hard to say enough how well crafted this book is. I can't think of a single scene or detail that was wasted, and that in itself is an incredible achievement.

I do think it is worth knowing going in that this is not a straight horror book, and the Stranger Things comparison really does it justice. While there are moments of true horror and grotesque scenes, it is somewhat diffused by the humor, which comes in many forms, internality, dialogue, and sometimes in the scene setting itself. One scene in the book had a particularly creative lighting source that had me legit laughing at the setup. Having read this, I'm a little sad that it's over and I will be there day one for whatever Neena Viel writes next. The only downside is now I have a strong desire to rewatch the first season of Stranger Things.

✨ALC Review✨

I do love a good horror story and this satisfied that craving.

Calla is the eldest of three and at 25, she’s the guardian to her youngest brother, Jamie. The middle brother, Dre, had promised to help when it comes to parenting Jamie, but he’s tired. Parenting Jamie is a nonstop, annoying gig. Jamie doesn’t make it easy on any of them not even himself.

Calla has had essentially the same nightmare for years. Her brothers are in trouble and she can’t save them. They give her night terrors and the brothers scoff at her concern. They should’ve listened to her.

When Jamie attends a protest against police brutality, things go wildly awry when a little girl kills a policeman to save him. He and Dre talk about the weird stuff that’s happening to them and convince Calla to go on the run with them.

There is so much to unpack here that it would take me the length of the book to go into it, but here we have an eldest Black sister who took on the role of mother way too young. We have three children who were abandoned and/or neglected and/or abused by their parents. We have the striking and horrific reality of police brutality. We have three siblings who need and love each other and have to figure out how to show it all while some pretty insane and terrifying sh!t is happening all around them and to them.

There’s a refrain through the book about how hard it is to keep Black boys alive and it crushes your heart to know this is the truth.

Highly recommended if you can handle the horror elements of which there are many many many.

Final note: these narrators are incredible. We should all be seeking out their work. Thank you @iamericlockley @kristolynlloyd and @childish_gamzeno - they brought the humor, irritation, resentment, trauma bonds and love of family to life spectacularly.

#booksbooksbooks #horrorbooks #horrorfiction #Blackfiction #bipocbooks #booksrecs #bookreview #bookstagram #listentoyoursister #neenaviel

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 an AirBNB, 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.

As an older sister (oftentimes called bossy) I definitely related to Calla. This horror story is told from all the siblings POV. At times I thought I wouldnt be able to get into the story but my oh my, I am so glad I stuck with it. Horror is not usually my preferred genre but sometimes a snippet of a new horror book catches my attention and this happens to be THAT book this time. Calla is overwhelmed and her siblings don't appreciate the fact that she sacrificed for them. Especially at an age where she should be footloose and fancy free. But, like a lot of us big sisters, we have our breaking . This book exposes their upbringing in a dysfunctional home. Without giving away too much, I will say that each sibling’s journey will make you laugh and cringe. Underneath that there is the love they feel for each other. Calla's nightmare world, oh my goodness. That is all I will say. DOn't read too many reviews on this book as it is best to go in with very little knowledge of what's going on. I am shocked that this is a debut. It is well written and scared the crap out of me. 4.5 stars

It's hard to believe this is a debut novel. Calla, Jamie, and Dre are so fully realized, I wanted to give them all hugs, or drop-kick them into the sun, at different times in the book. The writer must have a younger brother, because her depiction of a teenage boy (Jamie) is painfully real.

The core of this book is family. Three siblings try to stay afloat while dealing with past trauma and hidden tragedy. Or not dealing with it.

Calla, the oldest sibling, is trying to take care of her youngest brother, Jamie, who is doing his best to get himself in trouble. Dre is too busy with his own life to give Calla much needed support. It all comes to a head when Jamie is involved in a protest that turned violent.

The cover of the book shows a creepy cabin in the woods, but the cabin is just the melting point for what happens to the family. Lies and secrets are revealed in the most surreal way possible. Let me be plain: the second half of this book is a roller-coaster ride. Weird things happen throughout the book, but end is wild! The reveals are surprising, and made me love Calla to bits.

The audiobook has three narrators and all of them did an excellent job.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. This book is a paranormal rollercoaster through family trauma. It deals with some tough subjects, abuse, neglect, assault, just to name a few, but also has some laugh out loud moments. It is not your typical horror, but very much worth the read.

The protagonist, Calla, is 25, Black, and a single mom to her teenage baby brother, Jamie. Jamie is a good kid but very politically active, and their middle brother, Dre, promised to back Calla up with Jamie. Dre isn't keeping his word, and Calla is overwhelmed when Jamie gets into trouble at a protest. Because of the fallout from the protest, all 3 Williams siblings go on the run together into hiding. It's in hiding at an AirBnB that the horror begins to take shape.

Calla has been plagued by a dark recurring nightmare that has roots in what's happening at the AirBnB hideout. This aspect of the story was both frightening and confusing. There were a few awkward pacing issues, and some of the actions were confusing. None the less I quite enjoyed this. I would definitely read another novel by this author.

This audiobook had a dedicated narrator for each sibling. The story was told in rotating pov chapters, which is my favorite format for this style of story. The narrators for the characters are: Eric Lockley, Kristolyn Lloyd, and Zeno Robinson. The narrators really understood their respective characters, and this had the feeling slightly of a radio play. The narration is very well done.

Thank you to Neena Viel, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.