I wanted to love this one. It’s got fresh horror vibes and emotional depth, but I ended up finding it a bit extra and hard to really get into.

Calla Williams is a 25-year-old who suddenly finds herself as guardian to her younger brothers, Dre (23) and Jamie (16), after their parents disappear. She’s already overwhelmed, and her recurring nightmares—The Nightmare—show horrifying visions of her brothers dying . When Jamie lands in trouble at a protest and Dre nearly ends up seriously hurt, the siblings flee to a creepy cabin in the woods. But instead of safety, they find their worst nightmares come to life
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What worked:
- The horror elements were genuinely creepy—dream worlds bleeding into reality gave me chills.
- I appreciate the strong emotional core: the sibling bonds, the pressure Calla feels to hold everything together, and the themes around trauma and family really shine through.

What didn’t quite land:
- The writing gets choppy—shifting between surreal nightmares, pop-culture tangents, and multiple POVs can be harder to follow than thrilling.
- Some characters, especially the brothers, felt like caricatures at first—high drama without much grounding.
- I never really settled into the weirdness; it kept veering into places that felt too wild to connect emotionally.

In short, Listen to Your Sister is definitely ambitious, with moments that are imaginative and spine-tingling, but it was overwhelming at times. If you’re into experimental horror wrapped in deep family tension, you might enjoy it more than I did. For me, it was a lot to take in, and I never found my footing in the middle. Still, it was a very interesting debut, and I definitely want to read what Viel writes next.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Listen to Your Sister is a bold and emotionally charged debut that blends speculative horror with family drama in a way that’s both chilling and deeply human. Neena Viel crafts a story that feels like a fever dream—equal parts terrifying and tender—as three siblings confront nightmares both literal and metaphorical.

The audiobook is a standout, thanks to a stellar ensemble cast. Kristolyn Lloyd brings raw vulnerability to Calla, the overburdened older sister, while Zeno Robinson and Eric Lockley breathe life into her younger brothers, Jamie and Dre. Their performances elevate the emotional stakes and make the sibling dynamics feel authentic and urgent.

The story’s pacing is intense, with moments of surreal horror that echo the likes of Stranger Things and Get Out. Viel’s writing is sharp and unflinching, though at times the narrative veers into chaotic territory that may leave some listeners disoriented. Still, the emotional core—Calla’s fierce love and frustration—grounds the story beautifully.

This is a must-listen for fans of horror that dares to be both scary and sincere. It’s not perfect, but it’s powerful, and it marks Neena Viel as a voice to watch.

Thank you to NetGalley, Neena Viel, and Macmillan Audio for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Listen to Your sister was an excellent read! I loved the writing and character development. Would definitely read more from this author.

Read If You Like:
• Speculative horror with emotional depth
• Sibling dynamics and family trauma
• Cabin-in-the-woods thrillers with a twist
• Narratives blending humor and terror
• Stories exploring dreams and reality 

Calla Williams, at twenty-five, finds herself overwhelmed as the guardian of her sixteen-year-old brother, Jamie. With their father deceased and mother absent, the responsibility weighs heavily on her. Jamie, embodying teenage recklessness, often lands in trouble, leaving Calla to manage the fallout. Their middle sibling, Dre, had promised support but remains largely uninvolved. Adding to Calla’s stress are recurring nightmares where her brothers face peril, dreams that blur the line between premonition and imagination.  

When Jamie’s involvement in a protest escalates dangerously, the siblings flee to a remote cabin, seeking refuge. However, the isolation brings its own horrors, as Calla’s nightmares begin to manifest in unsettling ways. The cabin, far from being a safe haven, becomes a battleground where familial bonds are tested, and reality is questioned. 

What I Loved:
• The raw portrayal of sibling relationships, capturing both love and tension
• The seamless blend of horror elements with genuine emotional stakes
• A protagonist whose strength and vulnerability are equally compelling
• The atmospheric setting that enhances the story’s suspense
• The exploration of dreams as both a narrative device and a window into trauma

Thank you so much to the publisher for my ARC and ALC!

Listen to Your Sister by Neena Viel is a gripping and emotional thriller that explores the complexities of family dynamics, sibling relationships, and the weight of responsibility. Calla Williams, a 25-year-old woman who is struggling to keep her family intact after becoming the guardian of her younger brother, Jamie, is at the center of this fast-paced and intense story.

Calla is overwhelmed by the constant demands of looking after Jamie, who is 16 and full of youthful energy, mischief, and idealism. Her other brother, Dre, who promised to help raise Jamie, is largely absent, leaving Calla to shoulder the burden alone. Compounding Calla's stress are terrifying, recurring nightmares of her brothers dying, visions she is powerless to stop. These vivid dreams create an undercurrent of dread that haunts her as she tries to keep her family together.

When Jamie’s involvement in a protest goes horribly wrong, the siblings are forced to flee, finding refuge in a secluded cabin that feels like a scene straight out of a horror movie. As they try to lay low, they are confronted with new dangers that blur the line between reality and their worst fears. Calla’s nightmares seem to be coming true, and the siblings must rely on each other to survive and uncover the truth behind the eerie events surrounding them.

The novel does a fantastic job of balancing emotional depth with suspense, delving into themes of family loyalty, sacrifice, and the complex bond between siblings. The characters are well-developed, and their relationships feel real and relatable, especially Calla’s internal struggle as she deals with the weight of her responsibilities and her fears. The pacing is taut, and the tension builds as the story progresses, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

The narration by Eric Lockley, Kristolyn Lloyd, and Zeno Robinson brings the story to life, capturing the emotions and intensity of the characters' experiences. The performances enhance the psychological tension and the feeling of being trapped in a nightmare-like situation.

Listen to Your Sister is a thrilling and emotionally charged story that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt the weight of family obligations or the fear of losing a loved one. It’s a compelling read that will keep you hooked until the very end.

Listen to Your Sister is well narrated, but unfortunately the story did not work for me. It may have been an issue of expectations, but this was a bit too weird for me. I think the story is well-written and this is an issue of me not being the right reader for this book.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.

Umm – this book is definitely the definition of a fever dream! It was wild, it pulled me in, it made me question what the character's motives were and why, and where the author was going with everything!

I feel this is a very solid 4 STAR read! I was able to read the book as well as listen to the book and I found myself much more invested and hooked while listening to the audio version. Having multiple narrators helped hold my interest and brought even more life to the characters, lifting them off the page.

In Listen to Your Sister, Calla’s barely keeping it together while trying to raise her teenage brother, Jamie, after their parents’ deaths—meanwhile, their middle sibling Dre is MIA and emotionally checked out. When a protest goes wrong and tensions explode, the siblings escape to a remote cabin where Calla’s nightmares start crossing into reality… and they're violent. The line between grief, guilt, and something sinister blurs fast, especially as secrets surface and the siblings start to unravel. This one is raw, haunting, and weird in all the right ways—I couldn’t put it down.

Huge thank you to Macmillan Audio, Neena Viel, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for a review.

I love the cover for this book, I was immediately drawn to it. As someone who took care of my younger brother, I felt for Calla with having to juggle everything. She ends up having nightmares and they escape to a cabin to get away for a little bit. I loved the writing in this book, the style was very unique. It was really horrifying at times but other times there was comedic relief. The author also did a great job of making the characters seem personal. I will definitely be checking out more books from this author.

Thank you to the publishers for the audio advanced copy!

Pacing felt off with so much happening in certain POVs and not much in others. Didn’t understand any back k stories of some major plot points. Writing is super descriptive but doesn’t allow the reader to learn to much about the characters before flipping to a different POV. 40% in and it felt like we were still at an introductory level of the story. The narrators were okay and I loved that it was a full cast

Special thanks to the author, @stmartinpress for my gifted copy, & @macmillan.audio #MacAudio2024 for my gifted ALC‼️

This book had so much potential but fell short for me because I honestly was lost on what was happening. In the beginning everything was clear we had siblings raising siblings after the loss of a parent and the abandonment of another. You could tell it was a lot of pressure on Calla trying to hold things together being Jamie’s guardian and him being so defiant. Then Dre was really nonchalant about things which provided no help.

The night Jamie got into trouble and the cop was murdered that’s when all of the confusion started. The entire book he was acting out and I’m 100% sure his behavior created whatever it was they were experiencing lol. Calla was also withholding so many emotions, seemed to have some relationship issues with her father, on top of dealing with some suppressed trauma maybe it was all a manifestation of what she was going through. Idk it was never really stated in the book so I’m still at a loss behind it all.

Overall, the book was okay. Before all of the chaos begins it does start off well building up the suspense with some eeriness, the character development was good, and the vivid descriptions made it easy for me to envision a lot of it. This was like a mix between a Jordan Peele movie and Nightmare on Elm Street because it makes you question what’s real and what isn’t. Although I didn’t love it doesn’t mean you won’t‼️

Listen to Your Sister Review!

Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for this gifted audio book, in exchange for an honest review. Listen to Your Sister is out now! I don't think I have ever laughed more for an audio book while listening to this one. I adored each and every character and their absolute mess of a life. This one was hilarious, but also touched a lot on family problems and grief. The paranormal aspect was a little out there, but still good. Listen to Your Sister was a 3.5 stars for me! Overall, a hilarious and heartfelt creepy horror. Pick this one up!

I really really did not like the book. It just wasn’t my cup of tea. I listened to this on audio and did not like
The voice of Jamie. His voice reminded me of the voice of a Disney trivia game we use to play when my boys were younger.

I felt like this one had so much potential but it took way too long to get to the spooky part of the spooky story… I also felt like some things were being pushed on the readers and I didn’t like like that at all… this was a no for me but I could see it being a yes for others!

Great read! First read from this author. This book makes me want to read more from this author. Kept my attention and interest until the end.

I really wanted to enjoy this book but it felt like thoughts were thrown together with no connection. This lead to confusion and lots of disbelief, even in the horror aspect.

The narrators did a good job of portraying what was on the page, but there wasn't much they could do to change the disjointedness and disbelief.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press (St. Martin's Griffin), and Macmillan Audio for an advanced reading and listening copies of this book.

This was such a good story with good writing. The characters were unexpected and I loved the development of the relationship between the sister and her brothers. The themes of found family, the role of male siblings versus female siblings and what happens when someone has to take responsibility are enlightening.

2.5/5

Listen to Your Sister blends psychological horror with family drama, exploring trauma, survival, and the blurred line between nightmares and reality.

The story follows Calla, a 25-year-old struggling as the guardian of her younger brother, Jamie. When Jamie’s involvement in a protest spirals out of control, they go on the run and seek refuge in a secluded cabin. As Calla’s recurring nightmares of her brothers’ deaths grow more vivid, she starts to question whether they are just dreams after all.

I was really drawn to the premise, but I struggled with the execution. The novel is ambitious, tackling trauma and survival in creative ways, but it often felt chaotic and difficult to follow. The blending of reality and nightmare made it hard to stay engaged, and I found myself more confused than scared.

That being said, I really liked the sibling dynamics, and the audiobook narration was very well done.

Overall, while Listen to Your Sister wasn’t quite my cup of tea, I appreciate its originality and exploration of trauma through horror, especially as a debut novel. If you enjoy surreal, atmospheric horror with a unique twist, it might be worth checking out.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the audio of this one. The trio that is Eric Lockley, Kristolyn Lloyd, and Zeno Robinson did a really well balanced narration—each taking on a sibling and giving them life.

This novel is a lot of things. It’s a critique on race relations and police involvement, in kind of an à la Jordan Peele-style. It mixes hyper-violence and realism with humor, in a way that I’ve found makes it more palatable for a lot of people that wouldn’t listen/read/watch these types of things otherwise. It’s also a family saga. Dysfunctional as all hell, each jaded in their own way, and each nursing scars they’re too hurt to discuss…even if they claim they have. Calla is broke, forced to take in her younger brother Jamie—who her other brother, Dre, most definitely said he’d help way more than he is with. And most of all she’s tired. Jamie, an aspiring musician, can’t get out of his way enough to realize that he’s way less street than he realizes. And Dre is stuck somewhere in between—too annoyed by Calla to be of much help, and too ‘straight and narrow’ to reach Jamie. And then there’s the nightmares.

On top of tackling all the real world horrors, the author has also blended in nightmarish horrors kind of à la Stranger Things and Love Craft Country (I’m primarily recalling the twin girls scene, but also the idea of shedding skins works well here). Except these strange things are rather more R rated, come from within, and only want to murder the three of them. I struggled with the build up to the climax, wondering if it was about to fumble the twist, and luckily, the author really pulled it off. The explanation of the Calla’s really worked for me, and that unique spin on sacrificing yourself for your siblings, that breaking yourself down into smaller and smaller pieces—or versions of yourself—even when you have nothing more to give, was really powerful.

This book also tackles anger. Being angry with the world, with the hand you’ve been dealt, with not being loved and wanted, with your family, and even with yourself. Jamie can’t get over the way life has treated him. He’s angry, and he’s even angrier that as a black teen, the world isn’t build to accept his anger. It’s raw, it’s real, and I found this novel to be a really strong way to talk about the subject. There’s things to learn here below the surface, and it also works as a functional horror if that’s not your thing.

This is so so well done, especially for the authors debut book. There's equal parts family drama, and eerieness, the characts are vivid and relatable. I did find that it took me a little bit to get invested in the story but it really picks up around the middle. Once I hit that point I just wanted more of it. I definitely agree with other reviewers that it gives the vibe of a Jordan Peele movie, and to me the settings and descriptions were so unsettling I did have to take a couple breaks. But in a horror style book I didn't feel like it was a bad thing. I will definitely be interested in whatever this author comes up with next

Thanks to Macmillan audio and Netgalley for this ALC that I chose to listen to and review

This wasn't my favorite, but I'm glad I gave it a try. I really enjoyed the sibling bond here, but I wasn't a fan of the horror elements - I wanted so much more. I also found it hard to follow.