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.

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.

I went into this book completely blind. I will admit I requested it just from the title. Now, this is not a dig at the author or even the book.. it was just not for me at all.. I did not know what to expect ,just that it wasn't for me. I am sure there will be plenty of readers who will love this book. And that is great! It just was not my style.

Neena Viel’s debut, Listen to Your Sister, is an electrifying mix of horror, heart, and family dynamics that hits like a gut punch. Calla Williams is a protagonist you’ll root for—flawed, fierce, and burdened by the weight of holding her family together. Her brothers, Jamie and Dre, add layers of chaos, love, and frustration that feel deeply real. The creeping terror of Calla’s nightmares bleeds seamlessly into the story’s speculative twists, building tension that keeps you teetering on edge. With its sharp social commentary, immersive narration, and relentless suspense, this is more than a horror novel—it’s a bold statement.

🎧 Audiobook Review

I really enjoyed this book. I felt like it stood out from other horror/thriller plots and the entire storyline was unique and different. I will say as I got deeper into the book, it was a little more difficult to follow each character and decipher what was really going on. I liked that it touched on childhood trauma and the sibling bonds. I think there were very important messages and themes throughout, especially as it relates to police brutality, racism, and other related issues. Overall, great book and the narrator did a wonderful job with the audio.

I was approved for both the ebook and the audiobook and am leaving the same review under both.

Phew, buddy. I loved Listen to Your Sister. It was so f*cked up and wild in the best way. Weird creepy things happened to Calla, Dre, and Jamie. People popping up murdering strangers for Calla’s brothers, just in their time of need. That was such a wild ride.
I also love how it touched on real issues involving race. A horror book with realistic issues was chef’s kiss. Each sibling had their own personality and way of handling things. It was great. I’m scatter brained trying to write this out without spoiling anything.
I definitely recommend this book. ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

Audiobook specific: I believe the narrators all did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life.

I absolutely loved this book! Calla is 25 and the guardian of her 16-year-old brother Jamie. The middle brother, Dre, said he would help Calla, but he always seems to have excuses. When Calla gets a call that Jamie has been suspended, and she has to leave work to meet with the school, her job is at stake. Calla is always putting her brothers first before herself, especially since her parents were far from great role models. Then there are Calla's nightmares where she is always seeing her brothers in trouble or dead. When her brothers start witnessing some crazy people, who they believe to be ghosts, do some crazy things, and Jamie is possibly wanted for something horrific, the siblings leave town. This story is about family, especially sibling relationships. I had all sorts of emotions because I could relate to Calla in some ways. Again, this book is so relatable, not only with the family dynamics, but with the inside jokes the siblings have. Not only is this book driven by family, but the paranormal aspect is fabulous! Seeing how these entities make the siblings face reality was everything!

I did not love this book, but I think it was a me problem. I think this was just not my cup of tea. I think it was written great, but definitely not something I would normally finish reading. I struggled to continue listening to it to finish. If you are into really weird, strange horror type movies/books I think this would be a great read or listen!

dnf 22%
It just didn’t click with me. It felt really slow, and there were too many perspectives to keep track of.

thankful i got the arc tho

Buckle in for a wild ride with Listen to your Sister. The best way I can describe this book is chaotic.
It’s about family bonds & trauma (parents death, sibling guardianship, kids forced to deal with adult issues, abandonment, sacrificing your dreams for siblings). Cross that with nightmares, horror and a side of supernatural. It’s definitely a fresh story and I’ve certainly never read anything like this before.

Subject warning if you’re sensitive for the following: drug use, violence & racial slurs.

The book is written from the POVs of the siblings Calla, Dre & Jamie and is the debut novel from Neena Viel.

The cast of narrators - Eric Lockley, Kristolyn Lloyd & Zeno Robinson did an excellent job with the parts.

Thank you to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This had an incredibly interesting premise, but very obviously felt like a debut. After about the first 1/3 of the story, I began feeling lost because the plot became convoluted. It became unclear to me when observations were nightmares vs real encounters.

However, I did really appreciate the commentary about family, particularly needing to care for your siblings. I thought the depiction of sibling dynamics was very accurate and honest.

I'd be interested in reading more from Neena Viel in the future, because I think the bulk of my critiques are due to this being her first novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the ARC!

🎧 Book Review 🎧 I just turned forty and am only starting the stage of parenting teens and some days I am not sure how I made it through the events that unfolded. Calla is twenty-five and the legal guardian of her brother , who keeps getting into trouble that is spiraling. Listen to Your Sister is a gripping, horror-filled thriller that delves deep into generational trauma told through the lens of three siblings, Calla, Dre, and Jamie. Neena Viel blends the reality of what it is like to be a black youth in America with a nightmarish inferno that unravels like a terror you could not even dream of. Narrated with absolute perfection, this spellbinding book unravels in the most deliciously dark and captivating manner that even time in the real world seems to be lost while engrossed in the harrowingly horrific tale of Listen to Your Sister.

3.75⭐️

This was a chaotic fever dream! Honestly I didn’t realize what I was getting into and this book will not be for everyone.

I am thankful to have gotten the ALC from MacMillian Audio for free from through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

Now, personally this book wasn’t exactly for me. It was a bit too indulgent in the plethora of tropes and political messages used and came off a bit disjointed.

However part of that is because I personally can’t connect to it being a white woman. For that reason I am so glad that I read it because I appreciated the representation as well as a different life experience. Because of the base of the story being a literal nightmare of the FMC Callie the jumping from one thing to another is just a facet of dreams sometimes. It’s just that the execution in the editing process could have been smoother to make it more readable:listenable.

The multicast narrators did a good job overall. There were some voices that were just cringy and came off a bit stereotypical but hey, it’s our “turn” so it’s all good.
The book comes out on February 4th 2025 so if you like horror, give it a shot!
My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

DNF at 25%, so I got a good sense of it. I think this book will work fine for many readers, but it wasn’t working for me.

This is the story of Calla, an older sister left parenting her youngest brother without much help from the middle brother. She gets a frightening recurring nightmare, especially if her brothers aren’t home. Jamie, the youngest, is struggling and lashing out while also experiencing some gory hallucinations (?). At about 25% the setup is sort of coming to a head such that the siblings will go into hiding (based on my read of the synopsis).

As you might guess based on that summary, I was frustrated by the slow pace. When I read horror/thriller, I don’t enjoy lengthy setup. Character work is usually not that great in horror/thrillers, so I kind of prefer to skip the setup of such generic people. There wasn’t enough horror or thrills here for me!

On the positive side, I thought the few horror elements that were there in the early part of the book were cool. Effectively distressing and creepy!

The humor was another problem for me - pretty cringe - but that’s highly subjective. I was willing to go along with it for the sake of a compelling horror story, but that didn’t take shape.

Also a minor note - I was reading this via audiobook and the narrator for Jamie regularly got weirdly quiet. I don’t know what was going on with his audio, but it was frustrating!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

When listening to the audiobook version, how much weight do you give the text vs, the production? If you’re lucky, they will roughly match, so you don’t have to feel like one is dragging down the overall rating.

With Listen to Your Sister, this would have been close to a 4 star for me, but I kept getting taken out of the story by the unexpected cadence and emphasis that didn’t always seem to match the message. I did like the choice to have different narrators for the siblings’ PoVs, but they were not equal in quality.

For the text, there were some really effective descriptions of horror, body horror in particular, and the core relationship- between the three orphaned siblings - felt very real, equal parts loving, loyal, and protective and antagonistic, dismissive, and cruel.

To use the yes, no, maybe vernacular, this is a yes* for me - with the * pointing to - I recommend the text version over than the audio if that’s an option for you.

It was slow to start and hard to follow. The writing was choppy and had a YA feel. So yeah, it was a struggle to finish. We need more black horror stories unfortunately this wasn’t it.

**Thanks to Macmillan Audio & NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review**

Listen To Your Sister
Neena Viel

Publication date: February 3, 2025

5 / 5

Now THIS is an impressive debut. I went in blind (as you should) and was blown away by the journey Neena Viel took me on.
Great plot, great pacing, this horror novel has a visceral atmosphere that's set up perfectly with precise and blunt writing.

Familial trauma takes unexpected turns in this dark, touching and timely novel that's both hopeful and heartbreaking, scary, and dark in perfect doses ... this is one horrifically grim, yet incredibly beautiful fairytale.
I found myself lost and frantically turning the pages, as though following breadcrumbs with breakneck speed, to it's (objectively) perfect ending.

I loved and highly recommend this book. If we have similar taste in horror (anything rated 4 or 5) just "listen to your sister" and read this book a.s.a.p.

5 / 5

I couldn't finish Listen to Your Sister by Neena Viel. While the premise intrigued me, I found the narrative disjointed and difficult to follow, making it hard to stay engaged. The pacing and structure felt uneven, and I struggled to connect with the story or its characters. Unfortunately, it just wasn't the right fit for me.

I want to start off by saying this storyline was so confusing! At first I thought that maybe I’m not understanding because of the pace of the audiobook. After slowing it down, I quickly realized I still wasn’t following what was happening. Once I realized that the sister, Calla, pulled her brothers into her nightmare, it made a little bit more sense.

Some parts of this audiobook were creepy. The different Calla’s had a creepy aspect to it. However, I was expecting so much more based off of the synopsis and the cover. It fell flat for me.

I will say, the narrators were great! They all had range and changed their voices when someone else was speaking which helped with some confusion.

All in all, this story wasn’t for me.

No notes. Utter perfection. As the eldest daughter with a little brother 10 years my junior, I understood Calla so thoroughly in the way she grew up caring for him and always wanting to protect him.

This book is heavy and filled with a trauma and included the Black experience that I’ll never begin to understand or experience myself. But I have no notes, this book was outstanding.

It reminded why I loved the movie, Split. And other books similar to it.

Also a great listen and I think the audio was the perfect way for me to read this book!