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rwsmith's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
this was a great quick read. the pacing is perfect, i finished it in a few hours, and it is a perfect balance of funny and real at the same time. during the middle of the book, the main character is angry, and it made me angry as well! i was getting worked up alongside her! recommend for anyone in a reading slump or if you just want something quick that is still high quality.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Infidelity, Misogyny, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, and Classism
viireads's review against another edition
adventurous
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
3.0
interesting premise and really well written characters but I'd have enjoyed this way more as a movie
the characters pissed me off too much though; it was extremely frustrating to be in Korede's head
(probably because a lot of her behaviours mirror coping mechanisms of show a hypothetical future where my own OCD is controlling me rather than it being the other way around... Still it's a lot to think about and an fun quick read nonetheless)
the characters pissed me off too much though; it was extremely frustrating to be in Korede's head
(probably because a lot of her behaviours mirror coping mechanisms of show a hypothetical future where my own OCD is controlling me rather than it being the other way around... Still it's a lot to think about and an fun quick read nonetheless)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Body shaming, Death, and Murder
Minor: Classism
ingrid_annej's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Murder
mickeygod's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
These sisters, namely Korede, would do anything for each other including hiding murders and plotting more. The story really felt full circle at the end. It was sad, Korede having eldest sister syndrome to the absolute max and struggling with colorism and just general misogyny when you’re not considered conventionally attractive. I feel that. I cannot attest to the colorism or the Nigerian experience, but I enjoyed this book and felt connected to these sisters for better and for worse. Lol.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, and Murder
inespresso's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Infidelity, Violence, Murder, and Classism
Minor: Death
m_allardyce's review
dark
tense
fast-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
4.25
The premise of this book drew me in immediately: nurse Korede is home, eating dinner, when she receives a call from her younger sister, Ayoola, who has just killed a man. Korede drops everything, rushing to help Ayoola dispose of the body, and not for the first time. It's Sense and Sensibility meets Dexter.
My favourite aspect of the novel was the use of Korede as an unreliable narrator, and how this shapes our perceptions of other characters. Ayoola is both her helpless, victimised younger sister whom she must protect, AND a villainous narcissist who must be treated with caution. Tade is a good, honourable man, UNTIL his preference for Ayoola is established and it becomes clear he is just as conceited as all the rest. Her father's death may well have been Ayoola's first kill in the name of so-called self-defence, OR may have been Korede's first act of morally-grey sisterly protection.
The question mark that hangs over this novel is truly wonderful and left me unable to stop thinking about it for days after reading.
I also really appreciated Braithwaité's exploration of Nigerian culture, of which I am embarrassingly unfamiliar. The cultural backdrop of corruption, vanity, and obligate patriarchy really help to define the narrative and act as explanation for its progression.
Similarly, I liked the use of flashback to childhood under their father to help establish the characterisation of Korede and Ayoola. Both girls are, ultimately, perfectionists. Ayoola must be the 'perfect' woman who is beautiful and popular just as her father (and mother) groomed her to be. By contrast, Korede is expected to be perfectly clean. This is literal, in her obsession with cleaning, a possible hint at a more severe mental illness that lies beneath her character, such as OCD. This is also metaphorical: she is a nurse, a /good/ job, and she does nothing to dirty her family. In cleaning up after Ayoola's murders, she is also working to keep both their reputations clean.
My favourite aspect of the novel was the use of Korede as an unreliable narrator, and how this shapes our perceptions of other characters. Ayoola is both her helpless, victimised younger sister whom she must protect, AND a villainous narcissist who must be treated with caution. Tade is a good, honourable man, UNTIL his preference for Ayoola is established and it becomes clear he is just as conceited as all the rest. Her father's death may well have been Ayoola's first kill in the name of so-called self-defence, OR may have been Korede's first act of morally-grey sisterly protection.
The question mark that hangs over this novel is truly wonderful and left me unable to stop thinking about it for days after reading.
I also really appreciated Braithwaité's exploration of Nigerian culture, of which I am embarrassingly unfamiliar. The cultural backdrop of corruption, vanity, and obligate patriarchy really help to define the narrative and act as explanation for its progression.
Similarly, I liked the use of flashback to childhood under their father to help establish the characterisation of Korede and Ayoola. Both girls are, ultimately, perfectionists. Ayoola must be the 'perfect' woman who is beautiful and popular just as her father (and mother) groomed her to be. By contrast, Korede is expected to be perfectly clean. This is literal, in her obsession with cleaning, a possible hint at a more severe mental illness that lies beneath her character, such as OCD. This is also metaphorical: she is a nurse, a /good/ job, and she does nothing to dirty her family. In cleaning up after Ayoola's murders, she is also working to keep both their reputations clean.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, and Murder
lavishrebellion's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Minor: Misogyny
giasbookhaven's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Set in the contemporary present day of Lagos, My Sister, The Serial Killer delivers a gritty, realistic account of Korede and her younger sister, Ayoola, lives. Their complicated relationship with men began with their misogynistic, abusive and serial cheater father.
In control, meticulous, detail oriented Korede has always looked out for her sister. Just because they're both adults, this is something that will never change. Even if she calls her to tell her she's killed her boyfriend--again.
Korede has accepted the past excuses from Ayoola about the men being abusive towards her and she acted out of fear. But following the third victim, the seeds of doubts begin to take root in Korede's mind. Knowing how everyone dotes on her younger sister for her beauty, charm and look of innocence Korede is all at one immune and immune to the affects that Ayoola has on her. The pull to protect her while being ashamed, doubtful and untrusting of her younger sister curve her actions and decisions everyday.
While I believe Ayoola's character is a narcissist, sociopath and manipulative, readers will discover where these characteristics originate as the story progresses and the source may be a shock. While I don't excuse or condone Ayoola's actions, the depictions and actions of all the male characters in this book were overbearing, obsessed with fast, beautiful girls, belittling dismissive and creepy to all the female characters. Which left me at a cross roads as Ayoola's view and opinion on men, especially those who were drawn to her, seemed to bring validity her actions on a subconscious level.
Even when the doctor Korede was in love with began to show interest in her, it was as if Ayoola indulging in the attention was her way of proving to her sister that he wasn't the knight in shinning armor she believed him to be. Likewise, Ayoola enjoyed the freedom of being able to do whatever she wanted whenever she wanted. As this was a consequential result of no one, not even Korede, making her face the consequences of her actions.
It started with the death of their father; Ayoola seemed to develop a taste for killing and killing men who were interested in her until she grew tired of them and wanted them gone, but in a real way. Even if Korede were to have outed Ayoola, I felt that they were too use to/connected with each other for it to have made a difference at that point. Because even with all her doubts, worries and suspicions, Korede remained quiet in the end.
Besides the element of blood and death in this book, readers please check the TWs as the text references, minor/adult relationship, assault, domestic abuse, child abuse, blood and infidelity.
In control, meticulous, detail oriented Korede has always looked out for her sister. Just because they're both adults, this is something that will never change. Even if she calls her to tell her she's killed her boyfriend--again.
Korede has accepted the past excuses from Ayoola about the men being abusive towards her and she acted out of fear. But following the third victim, the seeds of doubts begin to take root in Korede's mind. Knowing how everyone dotes on her younger sister for her beauty, charm and look of innocence Korede is all at one immune and immune to the affects that Ayoola has on her. The pull to protect her while being ashamed, doubtful and untrusting of her younger sister curve her actions and decisions everyday.
While I believe Ayoola's character is a narcissist, sociopath and manipulative, readers will discover where these characteristics originate as the story progresses and the source may be a shock. While I don't excuse or condone Ayoola's actions, the depictions and actions of all the male characters in this book were overbearing, obsessed with fast, beautiful girls, belittling dismissive and creepy to all the female characters. Which left me at a cross roads as Ayoola's view and opinion on men, especially those who were drawn to her, seemed to bring validity her actions on a subconscious level.
Even when the doctor Korede was in love with began to show interest in her, it was as if Ayoola indulging in the attention was her way of proving to her sister that he wasn't the knight in shinning armor she believed him to be. Likewise, Ayoola enjoyed the freedom of being able to do whatever she wanted whenever she wanted. As this was a consequential result of no one, not even Korede, making her face the consequences of her actions.
Besides the element of blood and death in this book, readers please check the TWs as the text references, minor/adult relationship, assault, domestic abuse, child abuse, blood and infidelity.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Blood, Police brutality, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
thebookishwizard's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
An amazing read, I the writing alone earns it's 5.0 star rating. The main character is morbidly relatable and makes one reflect on what lengths one would go for their family. I have a few gripes with parts of the ending but not enough to bring down the score, truly an exquisite read that I can not recommend more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, and Fire/Fire injury
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