Thank you to Macmillan Audio and St. Martin's Griffin for the gifted copy of LISTEN TO YOUR SISTER by Neena Viel!

LISTEN TO YOUR SISTER centers on Calla Williams and her two brothers. When their mother was deemed to be an unfit parent, Calla took in her younger brother Jamie and became his guardian. Jamie is sixteen years old and eager to improve the world around him, getting involved in protests and getting himself in trouble. Dre is the middle child who promised to help Calla with the parenting, but who hasn’t really stepped up until now.

When Jamie gets in trouble at a protest, the three siblings get in the car and go. Calla has long been plagued with nightmares of Jamie’s death where she can’t do anything to help, but she’s determined to make things go differently in the waking world. As those nightmares begin to plague them all, they soon learn they all should have been listening to Calla all along.

This book was very different from what I expected and I wound up with some mixed feelings. The synopsis mentions that there is a remote cabin AirBNB that is rented and that had me expecting a bit more of the house setting and possibly a haunted setting. In reality, we don’t get to that cabin until around the halfway point of the book and it winds up not being a big focus.

The first half of the book is focused a lot on the siblings, their character development, and their relationships. I think all of this was really well done. These are siblings who aren’t always nice to each other, but they do ultimately have each other’s backs. The horror elements begin to slip in here or there, but they don’t really take off until later in the book. When we get to the full horror mode it goes very fever-dream-esque and this isn’t a book that is going to give concrete answers to everything. After finishing I had to give myself a day or two to process before trying to put my thoughts into words.

I think this is very well written, though hard to really describe sufficiently. I would recommend this to those who don’t mind a few unanswered questions in the end. I think this would be great for a discussion group as well!

I was very excited to read Listen to Your Sister as the premise sounded fantastic - a struggling family, nightmares, and an isolated cabin.
I really enjoyed the first half of this book; I cared about the characters, and even though I am not into politics, I enjoyed the angle that they provided. There were also some spooky elements, which were well-written. However, at the 60% point, I really wanted to DNF. I found the nightmares very disjointed, and the plot seemed to lose its way.
This one didn't quite work for me. I was really hoping for more isolated cabin vibes than fever dream.

I am a pretty regular horror reader and this one had me spooked more than once. I enjoyed it SO much, it reminded me of something that would be made into a Jordan Peele movie in the sense that it brought the love of family and the lengths you’ll go to for them together with expertly written suspense. This was brilliant.

"Listen to Your Sister" by Neena Viel is a dark, haunting tale about the lengths one will go to for the people they love and the damaging effects that love can have. Both cutthroat and tragic, “Listen to Your Sister” is a social horror with a dysfunctional family at its core. Bloodthirsty and gruesome, readers will be propelled into a world where reality and nightmares blend into a horrifying mixture.

Calla is twenty-five and a guardian to her brothers Jamie and Dre, which is a full-time job with Jamie bent on getting into mischief in and outside of school. At the same time, Dre, the middle child, is too busy doing his own thing to be involved in family matters. To make matters worse, Calla keeps having these vivid nightmares in which she tries to save her brothers from getting murdered—and fails.

When Jamie gets himself into trouble again, this time with the law, the three siblings find themselves on the run. Holed up in a creepy shack in the woods, they find themselves isolated and at the mercy of something that not only threatens their lives but their very reality.

Oh boy, was this a rollercoaster. From the family drama to being hunted in the night, this family cannot catch a break—especially from each other. The constant bickering and fighting felt like something that happens in every dysfunctional family that cannot seem to get along. For the Williams family, a lot of their inability to see eye to eye stems from a traumatic event they all share, and how they handle that trauma puts strain on their relationships. Not knowing what this event is, but seeing the effect it has on the family adds intrigue and suspense to the overall plot. A lot of this trauma is what contributes to the decisions the siblings make, ones that affect their mental health but also lead to fatal mistakes.

The horror aspect is incredibly well done. Reality is bent until it’s impossible to know what’s actually real. It plays on each character’s psyche, forcing them to confront the tragedy of their past or lose themselves in it. On top of that, the imagery (though gory at times) is quite powerful in its significance by forcing each sibling to grapple with feelings and events they’ve buried deep inside of them. While absolutely horrifying, these disturbing scenes add depth to the characters and the story.

Personally, the beginning did start a bit slow as the characters and their dynamics were introduced to set up the story. It seemed to take a while before any action occurred, but at the same time, it helped that the characters were striking and intriguing enough to stick with the story. There were also times, later in the story when the action was unfolding, that the pacing slowed when it needed to speed up due to too much detail. If some of that detail had been cut back, the tension could have ramped up and unfolded quickly.

“Listen to Your Sister” by Neena Viel is a dark, gritty novel not intended for the faint-hearted. Add it to your TBR’s now! “Listen to Your Sister” is expected to be published on February 4th, 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press (St. Martin’s Griffin) for providing me with a copy of this e-arc and the opportunity to share my honest opinion in this review.

As an older brother, having a dream where your younger sibling dies is not uncommon, however, what is uncommon is having those dreams lived out in reality.

Calla is the older sister of Jamie and is the sole provider. With parents in the wind and an older brother who chooses to be involved when it's convenient for him, the responsibility of raising Jamie falls on Calla's shoulders. After an incident at a protest, Calla and Jamie flee to a remote cabin where they face a new threat beyond their wildest imaginations.

While I can't speak to the representation featured in the book, I enjoyed the themes that were explored (i.e. racism, privilege, and family).

However, I felt like the book was lacking in a few places. The pacing in the first half was very slow and it made it hard to feel engaged with the narratives. I also felt like there were a few instances where it was hard to follow what was happening and things weren't explained well.

Anyway, If the premise of the book interests you, I highly recommend checking this book out!

As always, Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the advance reader's copy

I had high hopes for this horror novel, but I started reading and had to stop because the language was too crass for me. I definitely hope it finds its readers!! I

3.25 ⭐️'s for me.
This was creepy and had some really gross scenes. I can recall one involving Dre that had me so grossed out. If you read this you will know what I am talking about. It was interesting how the book was set up and how Callas nightmares set the tone for everything. There were some points in the book that took me a little long to get through so it didn't hold my attention completely which is why it didn't get a higher rating.

I very much enjoyed this and the comparisons to Jordan Peele make sense. Many horror novels are about trauma and confronting trauma and this one is no different, but it has an energy and a viewpoint that felt original and fresh. The characters are interesting and nuanced; nothing is black-and-white here, everyone is messy, but the author represents these characters with a loving and careful hand that really forces the reader to confront some of their assumptions about "bad" vs. "good" guys. This book is also both extremely dark and very funny. Overall, just a very good read and I expect this to be on a lot of best-of-2025 horror lists.

Man that was absolutely wild but dope in the best way. This is a debut!? I cannot *wait* to read more from Viel in the future. I hope she continues to write.

It’s not the easiest book to summarize (or read, tbh) but it pays in spades if you like surreal, weird horror. In Listen to Your Sister we follow Calla who has custody of her younger (by a decade) brother, Jamie. Her father died years previous and her mother is unfit to parent a rock. Her other brother, Dre, is supposed to be supporting them emotionally and physically but tends to shirk his familial obligations for selfish reasons. Jamie is in the thick of life on the streets and gets involved with some very heavy crime. It’s during this time he meets a mysterious girl who ensures his safety in some particularly precarious situations. Dre has a similar encounter and the brothers decide against consulting Calla for advice. Things spiral and the second half goes off the rails entirely when the siblings travel to a derelict AirBnB.

I loved the first part and honestly the second part only made me adore the book more. The first half is a bit of a slow burn as we come to know the Williams’ siblings. The characters are so realistically flawed with the trauma they’ve undergone and yet the bond between siblings is so incredibly dense and there is this unexpected humor woven throughout the story.

The second half of the book is straight weird horror/fever dream. It injects reality into the intangible and books that feel like an acid trip will always hit that mark for me. I came to love the Williams’ siblings and felt so deeply invested in their tale. If you’re into weird horror in the vein of Clay McLeod Chapman that will have you wondering WHAT WAS THAT?! when you finish, I’d definitely recommend this one. It can be a harder read at times and not the most accessible. The plot structure is mostly linear but we revisit memories often and at times recollections are not what they seem. Anyways, loved it, highly recommend to the weird fiction crowd. Can’t wait to read more Neena Viel moving forward.

I was not sure how I felt about this book for the majority of the time I was reading it. I really enjoyed the writing, the story, and felt it was a unique concept. However, it also often felt very scattered and chaotic. It wasn't until the last 1/4 of the book that I was able to figure out whether I liked this one or not, but the ending ended up being fantastic and worth the chaos to get there.

Calla is the guardian to her young teenage brother, and her other brother, Dre, while a part of their lives, can't help her be a guardian to Jamie. Calla is struggling--balancing her job, her flailing love life, and the very real challenges of being a guardian to her reckless and willful teenaged brother. When Jamie gets in trouble at a protest, however, things change, and suddenly their lives are in danger. And not only from the Nightmare that Calla has been having her whole life.

The siblings have to go on the run, and tensions between the three of them run deeper and start to become something tangible they must address in order to survive.

I really liked the idea of this book, and the naturalistic manner the author has in describing the siblings troubled lives while retaining their humanity and reality, and the challenges of growing up in a broken home, with no safety net. But I found the story getting away from me as the book progresses into the more fantastical. However, this was entertaining and I would read something else by this author.

What in the world did I just read? This book was everywhere! It felt like the entire cast of characters was on one communal acid trip! I appreciate the opportunity to tandem read this crazy story. Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin, and Neena Viel for the ARC of this book.

The story follows a sister forced to care for her younger brothers. Due to family trauma, she has created multiple versions of herself to help save and protect her troubled siblings.

I believe that if I were to listen to or read it again, I would be able to give it a higher star rating. The first time I experienced it, it was quite a mind trip. It was entertaining and even emotional, but definitely TRIPPY!

I am voluntarily leaving this review of my own accord.

This book started out strong, and I kept waiting for the eerie element when the family arrived at the cabin. Instead, the story just went a little haywire, and it just didn’t land well for me. It was an enjoyable read but not my favorite I’m sorry to say.

My thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

In her debut novel, Neena Viel weaves a fast-paced, emotionally charged narrative that delves into the intricate web of sibling relationships. "Listen to Your Sister" explores the nuanced dynamics of birth order, familial trauma, and the bonds that both bind and separate us.

Viel's narrative prowess shines as she introduces us to Calla, Dre, and Jamie, three siblings whose tragic past casts long shadows over their present. The author masterfully plays with memory and perception, using the siblings' varying recollections of their father's death as a tantalizing thread that unravels into a shocking revelation.

The novel's true genius lies in its ability to balance humor with profound emotional depth. Viel peppers the narrative with witty sibling banter and comedic mishaps, creating a delightful counterpoint to the weightier themes of self-image and identity. Calla's ever-changing phases and Jamie's struggles with anger management are portrayed with deep sensitivity.

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of "Listen to Your Sister" is its foray into the surreal. The recurring nightmares and the enigmatic saviors who appear in moments of crisis add a layer of mystery that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Viel's deft handling of these elements culminates in a twist that is as unexpected as it is satisfying.

At its core, this novel is a poignant exploration of familial love and the lengths one will go to protect their own. Viel's narrative dances on the knife-edge between light and dark, humor and tragedy, creating a reading experience that is as thought-provoking as it is entertaining.

A solid debut leaving me anticipating future works.

Thank you, St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley, for my free book for review.

Calla, Dre, and Jamie are siblings without parents. Their father is deceased and their mother may as well be dead since she is less than useless. Calla has taken custody of teenage Jamie, with promises of help and support from middle sibling Dre, but that never did amount to much more than empty words.

"To raise a child was to guard them. To raise a child was to let them find their own path."

Jamie has always been a handful, and Calla is plagued with nightmares and visions of both brothers deaths. It's been a struggle all along to keep Jaimie out of serious trouble and she prays to whatever is willing to listen, to keep him safe. She is exhausted, and resentful, yet fiercely loyal in her love for her brothers but she is pushed beyond her breaking point. How can she protect them both at the same time? She is only one woman. Isn't she?

I can't say much else about the plot without spoiling it for you. So I will just say it's an original, imaginative, humorous yet horrifying debut novel.

"He'd knocked over a guest book, or possibly the Necronomicon because the last guests of this cabin were probably the undead skeletons in the basement."

This is a remarkable story of family, love, dysfunction, and grief. It is alternately hilarious, frightening, and heart rending. If you are in the mood for something wild and weird this is it.

My thanks to St. Martin's Griffin for the invitation to read an early e-copy.

I'm not entirely sure where I thought this book was going, but I didn't expect anything that I read. I was really into the horror while Jamie and Dre were trying to figure out what was happening. After they arrived at the cabin the pacing felt off and I began to lose interest. The action scenes with the antagonist characters were discombobulating that I found it hard to stay interested or even follow the story clearly. I'm sure many people will enjoy this one, but it wasn't a great fit for me personally.

Listen to Your Sister by Neena Viel

The reason I requested Listen to Your Sister was because I found the premise of an older sister caring for her siblings, particularly with the inclusion of nightmare sequences, intriguing. However, the very slow start and jarring use of the N-word detracted from the story and made me want to DNF. While the pacing eventually quickened, it felt disjointed and like a chore to finish. This one just didn't resonate with me.

If you were to throw a Grady Hendrix novel, Jordon Peele's movie, "Us," and a few episodes of "Stranger Things" into a blender, you would get this novel. I spent just as much time laughing as I did, being creeped out and wondering WTF was happening to this family of siblings. It's the perfect blend of psychological horror, social commentary, and familial drama. I'm still thinking about it.

The story centers on the three Williams siblings. Calla is the oldest. She's a 25-year-old woman burdened with the responsibility of caring for her 16-year-old brother Jamie after becoming his legal guardian. Dre, the middle child, has shirked much of his promise to help, leaving Calla to carry the load. But Calla is tired of making sacrifices and being the glue that holds her family together. She's also tired of the recurring nightmares that haunt her sleep. These dreams, which she calls The Nightmare, show her brothers dying in terrifying, inexplicable ways, and she feels powerless to stop them. The nightmare comes to a terrifying high one evening when Jamie is in the wrong place at the wrong time, and someone ends up dead. Calla and Dre pack up Jamie and drive from Seattle to Southern Oregon to wait for things to die down, but the cabin they picked from Airbnb is creepy AF. While they thought they were leaving the danger behind, they may have run toward a bigger evil waiting for them in the woods - something that will blur the lines between reality and nightmare.

What I loved most about this book was how it seamlessly intertwines its supernatural and psychological elements with important social issues. Viel doesn't shy away from addressing systemic racism or the immense burdens placed on Black women. Through Calla's perspective, we see the emotional and physical toll of constantly having to hold everything together, of being the family's protector, and of being denied the space to prioritize her own needs while trying to hold her space in a white world. The book also highlights how societal expectations and systemic inequities force Black women into roles of perpetual self-sacrifice - a theme that resonates deeply throughout the narrative.

The sibling dynamics are another highlight of the novel. Calla, Jamie, and Dre are vividly drawn characters, each with their own complexities, flaws, and strengths. Their interactions feel real, capturing the mix of love, frustration, and loyalty that defines many sibling relationships. Calla's resentment toward Dre's lack of involvement is palpable, as is her fierce protectiveness over Jamie (and, to an extent, Dr, even though he's grown and living on his own). Viel's nuanced portrayal of these relationships makes the stakes feel deeply personal, intensifying my investment in the siblings' survival.

The prose is sharp and evocative, balancing humor with horror in a way that feels both effortless and deliberate. The pacing of the story is another strength. Viel builds tension masterfully, alternating between moments of heart-pounding suspense and quieter, character-driven scenes that deepen our understanding of the siblings' bond. The transitions between these moments are seamless, ensuring the story never feels rushed or uneven. As I said earlier, I found myself laughing at something someone said and then suddenly terrified by what was happening on the page.
I both read an ARC and listened to an ALC of this one, and all three narrators did an outstanding job. They captured each of the siblings perfectly. If you prefer audiobooks, I would recommend this one.

This is a rare gem and one I'll be thinking about for a while. I'll likely buy a physical copy when it's released just to have it on my shelf so I can revisit it down the line. For anyone who loves a story that's equal parts chilling, thought-provoking, emotionally resonant, and has something important to say - this is a must-read. Neena Viel has crafted something truly special, and I, for one, can't wait to see what she writes next.

Calla Williams, 25, has been responsible for raising her younger brothers Dre and Jamie. Jamie is 16 and Calla struggles to keep him on track while simultaneously herself suffering from recurrent nightmares that reveal her deepest fears for the brothers. When Jamie’s involvement at a local protest puts him in danger, the three must run to protect him, but running puts them in more danger.

This book was interesting to me but there was a lot of issues to try to unravel. Family drama, horror and supernatural suspense was really a lot. The rotating POVs really worked to set up the story but there were times I struggled to follow the storyline. The first part is really slow as it lays everything out and was hard to keep going through. Overall, this wasn’t necessarily my thing but it had a lot of promise so I’d read more by this author in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Available February 4, 2025

A powerful debut and impressive for a seamless effort at weaving in horror, themes on race and identity, and a reflection on the power of family and sibling bonds. Neena Viel offers a strong story, one that is at times humorous in the ways that she captures how siblings talk, inner thoughts from Calla, and one that is truly immersively creepy, if that is a thing, in terms of the unraveling of Calla's nightmares into a stark, intense reality. A fast, intense read at times, this is recommended on audio for the strong narration and production as well as the opportunity the audio gives to feel in the story, to be in Calla's experience.

Thank you SMP and MacMillan for the free review copies.