Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

222 reviews

gorgeousdreamerreads's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A timeless narrative exploring sibling rivalry and societal norms. The author’s unique storytelling technique immediately captivates the reader, transporting them between the past and present as they unravel the truth. Engaging, original, and accessible, the steady pacing, plot twists, and compelling storyline exceeded my expectations. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Blood, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

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. 

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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)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Body shaming, Death, and Murder

Minor: Classism

hauntedantiqueshop's review against another edition

dark funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Reading this as the middle child of sisters… 😬 but no really, older sisters are actually just like that. Loyal to the very end, no matter what. I know I’d call my older sister and I know our little sister would call us. THAT BEING SAID!!

It really pulled me out of the fiction that Korede didn’t put hands on her sister. She should have beat the living fuck out of Ayoola. I don’t know a single older sister that didn’t beat their siblings on the regular, regardless of their personalities types.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Medical content, and Murder

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, and Trafficking

sinamile's review against another edition

dark emotional lighthearted mysterious relaxing sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Yho. I still adore this book as much as I did when I last read it! Oyinkan was in her feels when she wrote this and I am here for it, always.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse

Minor: Infidelity and Death of parent

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. 

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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.

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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

fpcat99's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense 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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, and Murder

pookiee's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

like the writing style and love what it was saying about superficiality, but it doesn't hit. I <3 short books but this could've gone harder if it were longer and less predictable.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, and Toxic friendship

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.

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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