Whoa! This book took on a life of its own. Uniquely twisted, terrifying, and emotional all at the same time. The love of one's family is at the heart of this book. What would you do to keep your brothers safe? The constant worry bringing on its own type of stress and anxiety to the mix. Add in a nightmare that causes screaming that sends shivers down your spine. Well now we need to uncover what that is about and fast!

Calla is at her wits end with her brothers. She has guardianship over her 16-year-old brother Jamie. As the years have passed, she has had to worry more. He seems to always have one toe slipping into the dark unknown. Her brother Dre is little self-centered, not there for Cala and Jamie like he promised he would be. This all comes to a head when Jamie finds himself in deep trouble. Making the three siblings come together and skip town and find themselves at a desolate cabin. This cabin made me shiver in horror. The descriptions alone would have me turning around, a scream echoing through the trees, as the car ripped far from its red door. As the nightmare takes on a life of its own. I was left flying through the pages. The terrifyingly dark details, the horror these three people have witnessed, and the love they have for one another left me staggering to the finish line.

The details and descriptions for this book were not held back. I will be having my own nightmares for months to come. The horror was found in the details. Darkness surrounded everyone and everything. The sacrifices that Cala made for her family are truly beautiful and heart wrenching all in one. Cala needed her brothers no matter what. She held on and tried to make them see the right choices. I could feel her frustration when no one saw her and what she did for them. I feel that every day with my own son. The ending was a breath of fresh air. Thank you to Neena Viel and St. Martin's Griffin for my gifted copy.

Ready to enter the fever dream that is Listen to Your Sister by Neena Viel? The speculative horror debut is a psychological mind-f*ck in the vein of Jordan Peele films and trippy novels like The Other Black Girl, The Night Guest, and We Used to Live Here, where you never know what’s twisting around the next corner, for better or for worse.

The book follows 25-year-old Calla, who’s drowning under the weight of raising her brother Jamie, a reckless, rebellious, hard-partying 16-year-old. Even though Dre, their listless middle sibling, lives nearby, he hasn’t helped out with Jamie nearly as much as he initially promised when Calla agreed to become their little brother’s guardian. She’s overwhelmed, overworked, and and just tired — she needs a nap. OK, actually, a nap is the opposite of what she needs, considering anytime she closes her eyes she has a vivid, recurring nightmare of her brothers dying that seems less like a dream and more like a premonition.

Things continue to get worse for the siblings when Jamie’s participation in a protest spirals out of control, leading them to book a remote cabin to get out of dodge while the police are looking for him. Unfortunately the Airbnb find is less a cozy woodland retreat than it is a dilapidated shack, which proves to be the perfect, creepy backdrop for a brand-new threat facing Calla, Dre, and Jamie: someone — or something — has followed them there, and it’s out for blood.

What I liked about ‘Listen to Your Sister’:

-I really respect just how deeply weird this book is. It’s almost Lynchian in how the story melds the sinister with the mundane, warping things into a confusing, dream-like state. Neena Viel layers an unnerving haze over the entire story so you’re never able to quite get comfortable before being walloped with a new kind of terror.

-That sense of everything being a little askew, a little off-kilter, enhances the descriptions of Calla’s nightmare. They’re so immersive I’d frequently find myself short of breath while reading them, as if I was the one being pulled under a pool of oily water, or stepping on a shard of broken glass. Viel makes sure you feel just as trapped by these visions as her characters.

-The visuals! The descriptions! Freaky as hell.

-In this house (er, broken-down cabin), we love female rage!!! This is such an interesting, unique take on that.

-Big fan of the banter between the siblings. It feels genuine. Some good lines in there.

What I wasn’t crazy about in ‘Listen to Your Sister’:

-Jamie, Jamie, Jamie. I think the tone the author is trying to strike is more ‘endearing dickhead,’ and less ‘total asshole,’ but I don’t think he ever comes across as anything other than the latter. Within the first few chapters he commits violent assault against a girl at a party, which feels oddly glossed over. I understand that he’s ~seeing things~ at the time, due to the ~horror~ of it all, but it’s not nearly enough to feel justified. (Especially when that same girl is later described as ‘scared’ of Jamie, and sporting a massive bruise on her collarbone.) The see-saw of whether or not he’s an out-of-control teen with a heart of gold, or a self-centered POS tips too far, too often in the wrong direction for me.

-“Jamie wanted to defend himself. He just didn’t know exactly how to explain to a girl he once wanted to sleep with that he didn’t mean to abuse her, he’d just experienced a creepy vision where a tiny hand got stuck in Alice’s insides. Her cheek had swallowed his fingers, for Christ’s sake, and not in a porn way.” — None of that makes what he’s done any better? I hate him?

-See also: “Jamie knew how to best help women: give them weapons instead of pacifiers.” It’s giving condescending, it’s giving misogyny, it’s giving go to therapy.

-I wish Viel would’ve slowly ramped up the psychological confusion she creates within the story, rather than dumping us in the thick of it almost immediately. What’s real, and what’s a hallucination? It’s hard to tell when you don’t really have a baseline. That also results in a confusing sense of setting, place, and time — people in key conversations aren’t described, details of movement and action sequences (like the protest, which is a blur) come off as muddled. Even if it’s all done purposefully to reflect the psychological breaks the siblings seem to be having, it makes the actual story less effective. A bummer, because there are solid, scary moments in here.

-The above also makes it harder to really get to know these characters. I wish we could spend more time with them before everything goes to sh*t.

Alright, so what’s the TL;DR of it all? Should you read this, or nah? Three siblings fighting to escape the same, all-consuming nightmare, tied to a past they desperately want to forget, is such a great concept. I think if you have a healthy appreciation for books unafraid of taking creative risks, especially in the horror genre, Listen to Your Sister has potential. It wasn’t exactly to my tastes, but who doesn’t love a big swing? At the very least, it never ceases to be interesting.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I enjoyed this! This is written in a way that makes every character seem like a real person and I was invested in the story. The pacing is good. This was an entertaining read! I would recommend this! Special Thank You to Neena Viel, St.Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Lol at anyone who read this seeing the comparisons to Peele and Due and then thought it talked about racism too much. Viel has a wonderfully poetic style, realistically capturing inner monologues as well as dialogues, I really appreciate how she merges the horror of the siblings’ lives with that of the supernatural storyline. This book is chaotic and captivating and I can’t wait to see how Viel develops.

Also: giving low stars bc you DNF or hate finished a book with even the slightest hint of non-white/straight/cis representation shouldn’t be allowed. That’s not an opinion, that’s hurting an author bc bigotry.

Unfortunately, this book didn’t work for me.
The storytelling felt choppy and difficult to follow.
The first half moved at a painfully slow pace, focusing heavily on family drama while adding in social and cultural issues. The second half picked up, shifting toward Calla’s sacrifices for her brothers, but by then, I struggled to stay engaged.
None of the characters were likable. Jamie and Dre came across as selfish and ungrateful, while Calla felt irrational and overly dramatic.
The book read more like a psychological thriller with supernatural elements, creating an almost fever-dream-like experience.
While the premise was unique and thought-provoking, the execution missed the mark for me.

💭 🅀🄾🅃🄳 : Do you have any siblings?

🅁🄰🅃🄸🄽🄶 2

🄵🄾🅁 🅁🄴🄰🄳🄴🅁🅂 🅆🄷🄾 🄻🄸🄺🄴

☆ Psychological Thriller
☆ Haunted Protagonist
☆ Generational Trauma
☆ Racial and Social Issues
☆ Unreliable Reality

🄵🄰🅅🄾🅁🄸🅃🄴 🅂🄲🄴🄽🄴

Dre’s relationship with his father was complicated. In the early hours of the morning, Dre would wait in his room, listening for the soft tap of tiny rocks against his balcony, his father’s secret signal. Without hesitation, Dre would slip down the fire escape and into his father’s car, heading to a bridge where the homeless gathered. There, they would cover the concrete in graffiti, their shared art becoming an unspoken language between them.

🄵🄰🅅🄾🅁🄸🅃🄴 🅀🅄🄾🅃🄴

-The quotes referenced are from an advanced reader's copy and may not reflect the final version. Please refer to the finished copy for accuracy.-

"People acted like being estranged from a relative was selfish. That's just how they are, they argued. Unspoken but implied was: You owe her your life. Jamie had a right to live, and he was tired of explaining that nicely. "

Thank you so much, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy of this haunting book in exchange for an honest review.

Listen to Your Sister by Neena Viel is a wild mix of family dysfunction, supernatural horror, and sharp humor.
Calla Williams is stuck juggling a job she hates, a messy love life, and raising her reckless younger brother, Jamie. When their family trauma turns into something literally nightmarish—complete with eerie premonitions and a sinister force chasing them—the siblings are forced on the run. This book blends coming-of-age struggles with a paranormal twist, offering a weird, raw, and sometimes darkly funny ride.
First off, let me say the writing style was incredibly unique and had me hooked with its wit and dark humor. Calla's relationship with her brothers, Jamie and Dre, was definitely the heart of the story. I loved how the author balanced the mix of love, sacrifice, and frustration in their dynamic. The pacing, however, was a struggle for me. The first half of the book dragged, but I’m glad I stuck with it because the final part picked up in intensity and thrill!
The horror element was definitely intense, though I found myself unsure at times of what was real and what was a nightmare. Calla's visions were trippy, but sometimes they left me feeling more confused than scared. The cabin setting was fantastic for atmosphere, but the latter half of the story got a little chaotic. The monsters (both real and metaphorical) had tons of potential, but I didn’t quite connect with the plot twists or their resolutions.

We are following three siblings, Calla and Dre which are the guardians of Jamie, a teenager who can't stay away of problems. Calla keeps having the same Nightmare in which her brothers are dying. The three of them ends up at a cabin where they are faced with more than they ever think was possible.

You should pick Listen To Your Sister by Neena Viel if :
* you like speculative horror that left you wondering if any of this is real;
* complexe siblings dynamics cause by family trauma (neglect, violence);
* you want to discover a new voice since it is the debut novel of Neena Viel.

I personnally was confuse for a good half of the books. I had trouble staying focus on the event and even who we were following. The concept of the book is interesting but the way it is narrated wasn't working for me unfortunately.

A Speculative Horror Debut with a Unique Tone
Speculative horror is one of my favorite subgenres, so when I saw Listen to Your Sister marketed for fans of Jordan Peele and Stranger Things, I was immediately intrigued. Neena Viel’s debut novel blends family trauma, unsettling horror, and unexpected humor in a way that sets it apart. While the book didn’t fully land for me, there’s a lot to admire about its ambition and execution.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the Advanced Reader’s Copy for review: all opinions are my own.

The Story: Family Bonds and Horror
At its heart, Listen to Your Sister is about sibling relationships—particularly the weight of responsibility placed on an elder sibling. Calla, the 25-year-old protagonist, has been parentified and is solely responsible for raising her 16-year-old brother, Jamie. Meanwhile, their middle sibling, Dre, is off living his own life, leaving Calla to shoulder everything alone. Viel deeply explores themes of trauma bonding, the loss of self in caregiving, and the messy reality of sibling dynamics. These elements are some of the book’s strongest aspects, and Viel’s insight into the emotional toll of these relationships is both powerful and painful.

The Horror and the Unexpected Humor
One of the most surprising things about this book is its humor. Horror often has moments of dark wit, but Viel really leans into laugh-out-loud moments that contrast with the novel’s heavier themes. This tonal mix makes for an unpredictable reading experience—sometimes it works brilliantly, adding levity to an otherwise grim narrative. Other times, it undercuts the tension, making it harder to stay immersed in the horror aspects.

Does It Deliver on the Horror?
The horror elements are definitely there—there’s gore, an army of Calla doppelgängers wreaking havoc, a terrifying cabin in the woods, and enough body horror to give me the constant ick (how many times can Calla shove broken glass through her heel). For readers looking for a slow-burning psychological horror with deep emotional stakes, this will be a pass. For fans of the slasher genre (think The Indian Lake Trilogy by Stephen Graham Jones) this might be a real winner for you.

Content Warnings
This book doesn’t shy away from heavy and potentially triggering content. Some major themes and moments include:

Racism and racial violence
Gore
Political violence (including an intense protest scene with police brutality)
Child death
If any of these are deal-breakers for you, proceed with caution.

Final Thoughts: A Mixed but Promising Read
For me, Listen to Your Sister was a mixed experience. While I loved its deep exploration of sibling relationships and the unique tone Viel brings to horror, I didn’t always feel fully engaged with the execution. The humor, while refreshing, sometimes clashed with the horror, and I wanted a bit more intensity from the speculative elements.

That said, Viel is clearly a talented writer, and I’m curious to see where she goes next. I’d rate this one 3.5 out of 5 stars—it’s worth a read, especially if you like horror that leans heavily into slasher territory.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

This one didn't work for me. But I do believe that avid horror fans, especially those who are more well-read in terms of speculative horror, will gulp this up.

Listed on several "eagerly anticipated" lists, this debut novel tells the tale of three siblings- Calla, Dre, and Jamie who have to battle a lot of unsettling things to make it out alive. I realize that as wild imagination as I have and as much as I love descriptions, I cannot seem to picture things very well when it comes to horror novels.

On a side note, I love that cover!

Publication Date 04/02/25
Goodreads Review 12/02/25

This book was definitely a unique experience and nothing at all what I was expecting. The marketing is a little off. This is not a haunted cabin in the woods book. Not at all. They do go to a cabin in the woods, but I'm not even sure if they are there for even a 23-hour period. This book is truly about how siblings are the ones who keep you together and also completely tear you apart. This took surrealist horror to a whole new level, and I did love that side. I may be the only one, but I couldn't stop imagining the fight scenes as straight out of Kung Fu Hustle.

The characters were really well developed. I loved them all, but they were also so perfectly flawed. I was going to pick a favorite and say Dre because I thought his chapters were some of the more hilarious ones, but I liked all of them. The element of the nightmare and the trauma that we carry not only into our lives but our loved ones was great. This really was a story that brought out a lot of strong emotions.

The reason I did 4 and not 5 was because occasionally, I found my interest wasn't held completely while I was trying to figure out what in the world was going on. There were a few times when I had to reread a bunch of pages. Occasionally, things didn't flow super smoothly, and while I did find this book super funny, sometimes the humor and horror bits didn't blend well. It's almost like I was reading 2 separate books.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

This was spooky! I loved the atmosphere and twisty story and had a really good time with this!! at times it was a tad predictable for me, but it was entertaining.

This book lives up to the comparison to movies that explore the intersection of horror and black culture. I loved how different all 3 siblings were while coming from the same home at different times. It play with sterotypes, asking the reader to fall into them and then question their own assumptions about people in that position. The ending was truly unexpected and the narrative kept shifting in a beautiful kaladescope. I was highly impressed!

This books is funny, horrific, heartbreaking, and all around inspiring. This is more than just a spooky story about happenings in the woods, this is a story about family and love particularly the unique exploration of resentment building in the eldest daughter whose parentification is required for the survival of her siblings. Similarly, how these manifestations at every stage of trauma can build upon itself until you cannot control the cracking infrastructure of your being.

This is tough. The premise (especially once you figure out what’s going on) is wildly interesting. The execution needed a stronger editor... especially with regard to pacing. I am VERY good with slow... some of my favorite books of all time are slow. But that’s when the characterization work is good or the writing itself is special. This was just slow. I kept watching my progress bar and waiting to be enthralled. The pace finally picked up around the 50% mark, but at 65%, I knew more of what to expect, but didn’t care and was just waiting for the end. The concept is really good, but this needed better plotting/pacing. I think it would be better on film. I will say the audio helped me through.

Some “If you liked” style comparisons: Jordan Peele inspo for sure

Warning: Lots of content warnings here. Look them up if that’s something you need.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for this ARC.

Yeah. No. This wasn't for me. I thought about DNFing a few times before the weirdness fully kicked in and then once it did, I figured I was too far in at that point so I just sucked it up and muscled through.

Was it me or did the writing seem... off? Things flowed really strangely and it felt kind of disjointed at times. It definitely had the rougher edges of a debut novel.

For those of you who haven't read it yet and are expecting a creepy cabin in the woods horror novel, this is not quite that. Part childhood trauma, part sibling survival story, and a huge heaping serving of oldest sister trying to hold everyone's shit together, including her own, this is more psychological horror than anything else. And it's weird. I mentioned it being weird, right?

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with this early copy in exchange for my honest review. What a wild ride! I truly enjoyed this one. I loved that it followed two siblings and that most of the way through you had no idea what in the world was going on. It had Nightmare on Elmstreet vibes and I was here for it. Viel did a great job at keeping the setting and the ambience just scary enough. I also love that I was able to support this author during American black history month.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. Listen to Your Sister was an intriguing read filled with familial trauma and creepy horror aspects that kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time through. I really enjoyed it and will be looking for more of Ms. Viel's works in the future.

"Gangster shit and stardust."

I saw somewhere that this was noted as a fever dream of a novel and after finishing, I think I have to agree. What starts out as a slow trudge through the chaos of Calla Williams' life quickly becomes a family saga, dipped in nightmares that are fed by love and protection.

I really like what Viel did with this novel and how she effectively portrays the struggle of a sister who gave up her life to be a guardian for her brothers. She effortlessly depicts the toll this took, not only on the MC's mental health but on her career, her love life, and her personal views of herself. It also shows how younger generations who are rebelling and trying to become their own person may not see how they affect the lives of the loved ones around them. Every family has burdens, and each individual person in the family carries their own. Some choose to not help with that lift, which is shown in this novel.

I also don't want to take away from the representation of the riots, police brutality and prejudices depicted in the narrative. The audio is narrated by Eric Lockley, Kristolyn Lloyd and Zeno Robinson, each voice expertly representing one of the siblings. The horror scenes are well depicted, and if you have a good imagination, pretty creepy. The siblings coming together to fight the different aspects of their sister's nightmares was really well done and I liked how it tied into unburdening yourself.

Between both formats, I personally enjoyed the audiobook more. But in any format, I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a slow burn horror novel. True rating 3.5/5.

Listen to Your Sister by Neena Viel is a horror novel about family, nightmares, and survival. It follows Calla, a 25-year-old who suddenly has to take care of her teenage brother, Jamie, while dealing with terrifying dreams where her brothers keep dying. Things get even more intense when Jamie gets caught up in a protest gone wrong, forcing them—along with their older brother, Dre—to escape to a remote cabin. But instead of safety, they find something even more dangerous waiting for them. It’s a mix of psychological horror and family drama, perfect if you love eerie, slow-burning thrillers.

A delicious mix of horror, family drama, and social commentary.

It starts a little slow, but picks up quickly. Once you hit the speculative elements, it just ramps up from there. It gets gruesome, borderline gory at times. And gore doesn’t normally phase me, but the injuries were so real here that I was squirming in my seat. That doesn’t happen often for me, so it was a real delight.

Talk about some sibling behavior! All three of them had some of the most realistic sibling dynamics I’ve ever read. And as an eldest sister, this really hit me in the gut and kept punching. It was brutal. I understand Calla and every choice she made, but that doesn’t mean it hurt any less.

Definitely for fans of Jordan Peele, this one is well worth the read!

All opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in return for my honest review.