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lisabs's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Blood
Moderate: Murder
coolfoolmoon's review against another edition
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
No matter how much I hate the characters I always love when sisters sister. When sisters are sistering, I am sat. You have my full attention. I don't care if they're good or evil. I love them. Makes me wish I wasn't an only child, even if she was a serial killer! (I'm kidding but not really. Kinda.) Also based off the title alone I thought the book was gonna be set in New York lol
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Mental illness, Misogyny, Blood, and Medical content
Minor: Animal death, Drug use, Pedophilia, Police brutality, and Car accident
laurenisallbooked's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Really interesting exploration on dysfunctional family systems, how violence can be passed down between generations, how far one person will go to protect their family, and the eldest daughter burden.
The most loving parents and relatives commit murder with smiles on their faces. They force us to destroy the person we really are: a subtle kind of murder.
Korede the (hard-working, conventionally unattractive, constantly cleaning) older sister is resentful of her (beautiful, easy-going, universally-adored) younger sister Ayoola. The two sisters are bound together more by violence and obligation than by love, and this novel walks us through how that relationship was built and is sustained. Korede feels a deep sense of duty to protect her sister at all costs -- a duty that is reinforced by her parents -- that is explored by this book.
I look into his innocent light brown doe eyes and I wonder if I was ever like that? If I ever had that kind of innocence. He is so wonderfully normal and naive.
I like that this book inverts some patriarchal tropes: the men in this book exist to support the character development of the women; the women have more agency to decide who's engaged or married; the sisters are masterminds who dance around the cops; the serial killer is a woman
For some reason, I cannot imagine her resorting to stabbing if that particular knife were not in her hand; almost as if it were the knife and not her that was doing the killing. But then, is that so hard to believe? Who is to say that an object does not come with its own agenda? Or that the collective agenda of its previous owners does not direct its purpose still?
This book exists at the intersection of thriller and literary fiction, and that made for a very unique read. A short book with plenty to think about.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Violence
deepikaselvam_2006's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
She always gets away with it because of her looks which is literally true in this case. We can see how Ayoola uses that privilege to exploit any relationship she ever has and at the same time she utilizes her sister's love for her to her advantage without any second thoughts. I do have to admit, I love seeing messy characters come to life in these stories.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse and Domestic abuse
bibble_kingly's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book gets you from the first chapter. For only 4 hours, it feels like a lot is happening.
The main character's relationship with her sister really highlights how family obligations and cultural expectations can put people in really difficult situations.
On another note, the main character's fasidious cleaning tells the reader a lot about who she is as a person.
Overall, kind of a dark read. It was really well written and I look forward to reading more from this author.
The main character's relationship with her sister really highlights how family obligations and cultural expectations can put people in really difficult situations.
On another note, the main character's fasidious cleaning tells the reader a lot about who she is as a person.
Overall, kind of a dark read. It was really well written and I look forward to reading more from this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting
Minor: Alcohol
adriarato's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Violence
sam_rm94's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Domestic abuse
pagesofplatypus's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
My Sister, The Serial Killer is much more a character study than a thriller. The chapters are short and fly by. Korede is such an interesting, conflicted protagonist and I loved getting inside her head. The relationship with her sister, the titular serial killer, is
messy, frustrating, and deeply compelling as we see intermittent flashbacks to instances from their childhood that show the context of the toxic cycle of their relationship.
I also loved seeing Nigerian culture. There is pidgen and Yoruba sprinkled throughout, sometimes with translation but mostly readers can infer from context. The setting and culture is also crucial in showing the circumstances that shape the actions of Korede and those around her.
messy, frustrating, and deeply compelling as we see intermittent flashbacks to instances from their childhood that show the context of the toxic cycle of their relationship.
I also loved seeing Nigerian culture. There is pidgen and Yoruba sprinkled throughout, sometimes with translation but mostly readers can infer from context. The setting and culture is also crucial in showing the circumstances that shape the actions of Korede and those around her.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
callme_tippy's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a nice quick read that kept me interested from beginning to end.
I really loved the style this was written in, it has very short chapters and it told in fragments kind of which works really well for the plot of this. I think it was great the way it's treated seriously but not too seriously. It was the perfect amount of suspense for a short read.
This was great little dive into family ties and bonds, societal expectations, family expectations, and how to navigate right and wrong, when the wrong-doer is the only one in your corner.
I can't wait to try another one of Braithwaite's books!
I really loved the style this was written in, it has very short chapters and it told in fragments kind of which works really well for the plot of this. I think it was great the way it's treated seriously but not too seriously. It was the perfect amount of suspense for a short read.
This was great little dive into family ties and bonds, societal expectations, family expectations, and how to navigate right and wrong, when the wrong-doer is the only one in your corner.
I can't wait to try another one of Braithwaite's books!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
kimveach's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I enjoyed this contemporary story. It's not so much a mystery or thriller as a book about relationships and family. It was excellent on audio with the narrator's lovely accent.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism