Brother & Sister Enter the Forest examines how having a parent who was not present affected two siblings in quite different ways. This novel is filled with tension, and it tells Justin and Willa’s stories without judgment. Some parts were tough to listen to but handled with care.

My main complaint was the narrator. Willa’s parts were fine, but she made Justin sound like a child throughout the book. Her voices for the other males in the story were okay, but every time Justin spoke, it made me cringe, and it negatively affected the story for me. Pick this one up in print.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Intrigued by the cover and later the blurb, my interest for this book was peeked.
This books tells the story of a brother and sister who grew up without the love and support every kid craves and needs from their parents and how it affected their whole lives. As adults the absence of it keeps interfering in how they handle situations and more important their love lives.
The story keeps switching between the past and the present and if you're not paying attention it can be hard to tell if you're in the present or in the past. Also you don't get the full picture of what happened or how Justin got his braininjury.

For me the time jumps didn't work, I felt confused a lot of the time. But I really felt sorry for how the MC's craved the attention and love from their mother and how it it affected them short term (Justin's rebellion act) and long term (willa's commitment fobia). So that's a plus.

Narration: the narrator missed a bit of "flow", the description parts were ok, but when doing "voices" it felt off. Justin seemed like a small kid that never grew up and maybe the braininjury caused it, but even before it didn't really fit and was rather distracting from the story.

Ah, this was one of my most anticipated reads for 2023, and although I didn't receive a paperback/physical copy of this one, I was very thankful to have been considered for an audiobook version. I am so gracious towards Richard Mirabella, Dreamscape Media/Catapult, and NetGalley for granting me access before the audiobook version publishes on April 18, 2023. The physical version came out in March of this year for those interested.

Brother and Sister Enter the Forest tells the coming-of-age, literary tale of two siblings haunted by childhood trauma, becoming the adults they are today, working through their issues, and getting by. Justin and Willa grew up with a narcissistic mother who played the victim in every scenario. For example, Justin was groomed and molested by a family friend, Nick, who also happened to murder another boy in the area. Justin encountered a very damaging event in his early teenage years and deserved to receive care and love to recover accordingly. Still, his mother and nearly the rest of the town pointed blaming fingers at this young boy.

Flash forward to the present day; Justin stumbles through life until he finds his way upon Willa's front porch, seeking refuge from the horrors that have followed him. Willa is the only one who has ever cared for her broken brother and continues to guide and help him until that help runs out, time after time.

This family drama depicts the terrors of a family dynamic gone sour when selfish feelings are prioritized over raising children with love and compassion- just the basics of parenting.

Thank you NetGalley, dreamscape media, publisher and author for the #gifted ALC in exchange for my honest review. I really enjoyed the narration. However the story felt all over the place with the man in water etc... i was left confused for most of the book LOVED the coming of age aspect.

Brother & Sister Enter the Forest by Richard Mirabella is a poignant and emotional novel about siblings Justin and Willa, who are trying to reconnect after years of severed communication. Justin, who has been struggling with a brain injury and sobriety issues, shows up on Willa's doorstep looking for a place to stay. Willa, who has carefully crafted a stable life for herself as a nurse and diorama maker, is hesitant to let her brother back into her life, afraid of the chaos he may bring.

As Justin tries to reconnect with the people in Willa's life, including her boyfriend and their mother, Willa begins to feel exposed and vulnerable. The novel delves into the strained yet loving relationship between the siblings, exploring their past and present struggles.

The narrative is structured in two timelines, interweaving Justin's present-day journey with his past experiences. The novel explores Justin's relationship with his first lover, a slightly older boy who provided him with a sense of intimacy and refuge during his troubled home life. When his boyfriend commits a violent act, the two flee on a doomed road trip, which leaves a lasting impact on Justin and his family.

Richard Mirabella's prose is beautiful and evocative, capturing the complex emotions and experiences of the characters with sensitivity and depth. The novel deals with themes of trauma, addiction, family, and love, offering a nuanced and intimate portrayal of the human experience.

Overall, Brother & Sister Enter the Forest is a moving and powerful novel that will stay with readers long after they've turned the final page. It is a testament to the enduring love between siblings, even in the face of difficult circumstances and painful pasts.