Super quick, dark read. Almost more like a short story or novella. Intense and worth it! Love the title too.

Thanks to Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Here is the publisher’s blurb. I’d suggest only reading this much of it. It gives away too much of the story, IMO. I picked this book based solely on the cover, title, and the author’s name.
Satire meets slasher in this short, darkly funny hand grenade of a novel about a Nigerian woman whose younger sister has a very inconvenient habit of killing her boyfriends.

"Femi makes three, you know. Three and they label you a serial killer."

Korede is bitter. How could she not be? Her sister, Ayoola, is many things: the favorite child, the beautiful one, possibly sociopathic. And now Ayoola's third boyfriend in a row is dead. Korede's practicality is the sisters' saving grace. She knows the best solutions for cleaning

I read an advanced review copy ebook from Netgalley. We call them ARC’s. If you subscribe to different services or get on publishers’ lists, you can receive ARC’s of books to review before they are released. It’s pretty cool. I am not sure how to comment on this without giving anything away. Basically, I really like it even though I don’t like any of the characters in the book. I can't really tell they are in Africa. I was disappointed about that part. This story reads like any other story of a place I have never been in the USA; except for a few words (that I hope will have definitions in the finished publication), the traffic police, and a mention of a chief. Since it's a great character driven story, not much detail about the city/country where they live.

Korede is the older sister who enables Ayoola, her younger spoiled sister (as does the entire world cuz she is just that pretty). Right off the bat I am not that sympathetic to either of the sisters. Korede cuz she complains bitterly about Ayoola but says nothing and keeps enabling. Ayoola cuz she is a killer and a spoiled brat. Yet I really liked this book. It was thrilling in a way. I did read parts out of order. The chapters titled Father intrigued me. I had a theory about his death and wanted to see if I was correct. I also read ahead because I wanted to know if Ayoola killed Korede’s crush. It’s a short read so I had read a third of the book by the time i skipped around. It was great. I hope she writes more and that they get published/released in the USA as well.

My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

Well, Ayoola has done it again. Korede arrived at the apartment to find her latest boyfriend stabbed in the back, blood everywhere. She cleaned and with Ayoola’s help dumped him in the lagoon, with the other body. Korede decided that her sister, was without a doubt, a serial killer. But she always had good reason to kill. The men were abusive. It was self-defense! But was it. And now Ayoola has Tade, the doctor at the hospital that Korede has been falling in love with, under her spell. Now Korede has a choice to make: does she protect the man she loves or her sister.

So this was an interesting book. It takes place in Lagos and there is a sordid history between Ayoola and Korede, that stretches beyond the bodies that Ayoolas has left in her wake for Korede to clean up. This novel is really an exploration of that relationship. Told in first person by Korede, you really understand from the beginning her frustration with her sister and her powers of manipulation. It’s never really clear how much Korede trust Ayoola, but it’s obvious that she feels that no matter what she has to be her protector even when it puts her own life and future in jeopardy. These two characters were very well developed. Braithwaite did a really great job revolving the plot around the relationship of these two sisters and their sordid past. What this book lacks though is world building. There is no complexity to their existence or their world. This book could have taken place anywhere and nothing would have changed.

I enjoyed this book for the most part. It was easy to read and I was able to finish it quickly. I was intrigued enough in the relationship between Ayoola and Korede to pay attention to the nuances between them. I think part of my problem with this novel though is that it is being touted as “darkly funny” and I didn’t find it funny on any levels. There was no comedic relief. It was just like reading any other fiction novel which had a few moments of comedy but nothing that would make this novel humorous.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this. I think I was expecting dark humor, and that’s not really what I got. The story was interesting enough to keep my interest, and short enough to read 85% of it in a couple of hours. I was generally rooting for Korede, but I wasn’t sure what kind of outcome to hope for. I feel ambivalent about the ending—let down, but still appreciative. I really couldn’t stand Ayoola, but I think the author did a good job of portraying the way Korede related to her. I was interested in the Nigerian setting, and I hope when the book comes out, it will have a glossary and pronunciation guide for the words in Yoruba.

An unbelievable and at the same time completely normal relationship between two sisters with very different paths. Leaves you thinking about the characters long after putting down the book.

A horror satire set in modern-day Nigeria. I'm not sure satire is quite the right word; it's not laugh-out-loud funny, but there is a black cynicism running underneath the plot that gives the story its punch. Think 'American Psycho more than 'Scary Movie'.

Ayoola is pretty, outgoing, flirtatious, popular, and skilled. She's also stabbed three of her boyfriends to death, each time claiming that it was in self-defense and convincing her older sister, Korede, to help her hide the body. Korede is beginning to suspect that there might be something wrong with Ayoola, particularly since she seems not at all bothered by the deaths and has to be reminded not to post sexy selfies to Instagram when she's supposed to be in mourning. Matters come to a head when Ayoola starts dating Tade, a handsome doctor that Korede herself is in love with. Does she warn Tade about her sister? And who will believe her if she does?

Not a particularly scary novel, but one that is deeply enjoyable, about the bond between sisters even in the most, ahem, unusual of circumstances.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2574372839

I read this one while unable to sleep last night. It is a quick, fairly interesting read. It kept me reading and I finished in one sitting...it is not a long book. I wish the story went more into the mental health of the sister, and I wasn’t a fan of the very end. I’d say it’s a worthwhile, easy read.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love this novel. A story of a nurses's unconditional love even when she resents the madness that her beautiful sister brings into their lives.

Basically, the main character's sister kills her boyfriends and her sister helps to hide the evidence. The killer sister is beautiful and beloved and gets away with murder. The helper sister is an unattractive but smart nurse. When I write this out, it sounds cliched, but the book as a whole was clever, fresh, and fun. This book has very short chapters and was a really quick read. I could see this being a good book club pick.

I have gone back and forth on my review for this novel. I have some much to say and so many feeling that I'm not sure I can even put them into words to articulate them correctly.


This deliciously wicked title is centered around two sisters, Korede (meticulous and calculating) and Ayoola (instinctive and a bit insane) gets you right from the start as we see Korede having to help Ayoola clean up yet ANOTHER murder! This book takes you on a one heck of a ride as you uncover why Ayoola commits these murders, and how Korede copes with her resentment and jealously towards her sister. 

Everyone is this story is bewitched by Ayoola and no one is safe. This was definitely a page-turner that I highly recommend.

I don't have anything to say. I did not finish it. I was not grabbed. I did not finish it. I did not rread more than 10 pages. I was not into it at all.

“Ayoola summons me with these words - Korede, I killed him.
I had hoped I would never hear those words again.”

I mean, really. How can you not love this book?? That quote and the title pretty much let you know what this one is about, however, I still did not expect anything of what I just read. This was simply brilliant, and I did not want it to end.

As the oldest child, I sympathized with Korede in that the younger siblings can oftentimes do no wrong in the parents’ eyes, BUT this was a bit extreme and obviously created some bad behaviors in both sisters to say the least - both in the killing and the cleaning up of messes. Yikes.

The plot was certainly unique - I loved the short chapters and writing style, and it was a legit page turner. The ending was phenomenal too, a book like this just should not have a bow put on the end, and this did not disappoint.

5 stars, no question, this was stunning. You must read this one, hands down. Pub date is November 20, 2018.

Thanks to NetGalley for an electronic ARC of this book. All opinions above are my own.

Ayoola's beauty and charm have made her spoiled.  She's used to getting everything she wants and that makes her sister Korede a little bitter.  Especially when Korede has to clean up her sister's murders.

...Wait, what?

It's true.  Korede and Ayoola both suffered abuse at the hands of their father who is now thankfully dead.  So when Ayoola tells her sister that she was defending herself against a boyfriend, Korede rushes to help dispose of the body and all evidence to protect her.

But then more die at the hands of Ayoola who swears self defense and there are more boyfriends to dispose of and messes to clean up for Korede, who is growing not only tired but suspicious.

When a handsome doctor at the hospital where Korede works as a nurse sets his eyes on Ayoola, Korede must deal with her jealousy and the fear of what her sister has become.

This was a short book that packs a huge punch!  I would describe it as a slasher satire with heart.  The dark humor envelops the intense relationship between two sisters who have supported one another through childhood abuse at the hands of a parent.  Korede and Ayoola have extremely different personalities but are compelled to protect one another through some satirical situations, bringing the bond of sisterhood and abuse to the forefront of the story.

I would've enjoyed more back story to further the character development but this was overall a wildly entertaining tale that takes readers to Nigeria with some brief cultural descriptions and dialogue that added to the setting I'm completely unfamiliar with.

Many thanks to Doubleday Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.  My Sister, the Serial Killer is scheduled for release on November 20, 2018.

This book was received through NetGalley for my honest review. The story revolves around two sisters, one is a nurse and one has a habit of murdering her boyfriends. It's set in Africa, Lagos in particular. I liked the writing, the author is clearly very talented and has a good way painting her characters. I didn't really love the actual story though. This is being billed as a darkly funny story. I didn't find the story humorous in the slightest. Maybe I'm missing something though. I feel like the story would have worked better if it was portrayed more as a study in sisters, what families will do for each other, what makes us the way we are, etc. Overall, I think this is a really promising new author, but I didn't particularly care for this story.

My sister, the serial killer is funny ride through sibling rivalry. Korede feel the need to protect her sister, Ayoola, even though she is jealous of her.

Ayoola has it all. She is the favorite child and is very beautiful. Men are always attracted to Ayoola and Korede feels like the ugly duckling. Ayoola has a dark side, men seem to die around her. Korede spends most of her time cleaning up after Ayoola.

My sister, the serial killer is a fun and fast read. I look forward to reading more from Oyinkan Braithwaite.

I really enjoyed this! It tells the story of Korede, a sensible and hardworking Nigerian woman who has to deal with her beautiful and murderous sister Ayoola. It is a lightly comic novel about family and sisterhood and making the best out of bad situations. Say, when your serial killing sister starts dating the man you secretly love.

"On their one month anniversary, she stabbed him in the bathroom of his apartment. She didn't mean to, of course."

Braithwaite has written an exquisite dark tale about murder that bind two sisters together. I loved Braithwaite's sense of humor and sass in this mix of murder!

Korede has always come to her younger sister Ayoola's side when she needs her even when it involves dead bodies upon dead bodies. The story starts out with a bang.... as we see already a murder that is being covered up by Ayoola and Korede. Talk about a kicker to this start of a novel!

This story definitely packs a punch in this 180 page book! I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone that has an interest in human psyche, murder, and crazy characters!

Overall, 4 stars for this unique and dark tale.

Huge thank you to Doubleday and Netgalley for a copy of this arc in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Publication date: 11/20/18
Published to GR: 10/15/18

I love reading about unapologetic women. The main character, Korede, is a strict nurse whose sister keeps murdering her boyfriends. Korede spends most of the book dealing that her sister is not protecting herself when she kills but really wants to murder. Then she has to decide will she protect her little sister or give her to the police.

I thought this book was really interesting. I think that this is your dynamic is what really interested me because story was so intense and every time I thought that it was going to go one way or the other. I definitely recommend it for people who like reading about complicated relationships and not avoiding the hard stuff.

AAARRG! With ten percent left of this novel, my Kindle battery died. If not for that, this would have been a one sitting page turner!

This bizarre tale of a sister gone wrong is sure to be a crowd pleaser. It's bad enough having a sibling with a nasty habit of knocking off boyfriends, but when she starts dating the man of your dreams? The tension built by Braithwaite was palpable and deliciously painful with pathos and dark humor that wouldn't let me set it aside. 4+ stars. Highly recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and DoubleDay books for making an advance reading copy available for an honest review.