From the first page, Cursed Daughters had me hooked. Braithwaite weaves humor, heartbreak, and superstition into a beautifully layered story about a girl born under the shadow of a family curse—and the belief that she’s the reincarnation of her dead cousin. Eniiyi is a brilliant, stubborn, and utterly relatable narrator, caught between her own desires and the weight of generations before her. I loved how the novel explores the tension between modern life and inherited beliefs, especially through the lens of love, rivalry, and what we owe to family. It’s sharp, eerie, and unexpectedly funny—a haunting but hopeful read that lingers long after the final page.

This was an ok read enjoyed it I will recommend for those that are looking for a read of this genre thank you

This is a crazy book about crazy women in a family in Lagos and all of those women live under the family curse. They will never live happily with the men they love. Throw in one of the main characters looking just like the cousin she just buried and she doesn't know if she's her cousin reincarnated or her own.person. There are family secrets, rivalries and a little bit of superstition. It all makes for a fun romp.

"Cursed Daughters" by Oyinkan Braithwaite is a captivating novel that explores the intricate lives of a family in Lagos, believed to be under a curse affecting their relationships. The story follows Eniiyi, who bears a striking resemblance to her deceased cousin Monife, as she navigates love and her family's mysterious past. Braithwaite masterfully weaves themes of family dynamics, societal expectations, and love throughout the narrative, creating complex and relatable characters. The novel's rich detail and layered storytelling make it a compelling read that keeps you engaged from start to finish. This is a must-read for anyone interested in family sagas and the exploration of generational curses.

So thrilled to be an early reviewer of Oyinkan Braithwaite's latest novel CURSED DAUGHTERS. I still think about her debut, MY SISTER THE SERIAL KILLER, all the time and have been wondering when we'd get a new book from her. Well, the wait is nearly over and let me tell you - it, of course, DELIVERS. Braithwaite clearly writes sisters like no other, In CURSED DAUGHTERS, we follow three generations of women who believe they come from a cursed family, destined to lead tragic lives once they fall in love with a man (very PRACTICAL MAGIC-coded, I loved it).

Set in Lagos, we start the story with Ebun who gives birth to her daughter Eniiyi the same day her family buries her cousin and close friend Monife. Eniiyi is the spitting image of Monife, and this similarity causes problems for her her whole life. As we jump back and forth through time, learning why Monife died and why Ebun does not want Eniiyi to date the boy she's fallen for, stories about the family start to reveal themselves slowly and make for a complete, gorgeous plot in the hands of an incredible writer. I loved living in this world while enveloped in the pages, and just know that everyone will also fall in love with it when it's released later this year.

Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC. This was my first book by Oyinkan Braithwaite and I really enjoyed it. I loved how complex the characters were, how layered the book was and the storyline. This book was unlike any other book I have ever read and I loved that. The women were so complex and flawed. There were so many lessons to be learned from reading this. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

Thanks to Netgalley and Doubleday for the ebook. We follow a family in Lagos through multiple generations as we see the effects of a family curse: No woman in the family will ever have a successful, long term relationship with a man. Young Eniiyi is a modern woman and has no time for this nonsense, except she does seem to look exactly like her dead aunt and now she’s even fallen in love with someone whose family might be the reason that her aunt died. This is such a fun and devastating family epic with rich family characters throughout.

Having read " My sister, the serial killer" I knew this book would be a good read. What I was not ready for was the detail in four generations and how each woman tried to outrun the curse, but didn't succeed or did they.
to me this book shines a light on how family history isn't shared and how a curse will follow you if you give it life. While Eniiyi is who we're introduced to as the reincarnation of her aunt. For me it's her mom who steals the book for me. Ebun left me wanting to know more about her and how she felt and what was going on in her mind the entire book. To see how Monife viewed her thru Ebuns eyes and what she "thought" she was feeling but never quite knowing. I think this was intentional because I believe this is how Eniiyi felt her entire childhood as well. This origin story was everything and the amount of detail in each person especially the men. This will definitely be an excellent 2025 read.

Eniiyi is a young woman born to a family of Nigerian woman beloved to be cursed. Everyone in her family believes her to be the reincarnation of her deceased cousin Monife.Eniiyi falls in love with the handsome boy she saves from drowning, she can no longer run from her family’s history. As several women in her family have done before, she ill-advisedly seeks answers in older, darker spiritual corners of Lagos, demanding solutions. Will she be able to break the curse once and for all ? I enjoyed reading this novel. The writing style was on point , and I liked reading about the history behind different women in the story. This book explores themes such as family dynamics, societal expectations, and love.

“Cursed Daughters” is the latest novel by Oyinkan Braithwaite. Like her acclaimed work “My Sister, The Serial Killer,” Braithwaite explores complex themes such as family dynamics, loyalty, and the societal expectations faced by Nigerian women, all while still feeling universal.

In this novel, the author vividly portrays one family's struggle with a curse across generations, focusing primarily on Eniiya, who is believed to be the reincarnation of her deceased cousin Monife.

I loved this story—I found myself questioning whether the family was navigating rivalries and self-fulfilling prophecies that justified poor decision-making and circumstances beyond their control, or if the curse was actually real. I enjoyed the sharp, witty writing style and the symbolism of the black kite, and the look at women throughout the family over time.

My only complaint is that while we learn about the female lineage and their struggles with love and relationships, we don't get to see much more beyond that. For example, Eniiya studied genetic counseling, and although this is mentioned, I'd love to see her explicitly contemplate concepts like epigenetics or how science influences the debate of nature versus nurture. While I found this book compelling and recommend it, it does not pass the Bechdel test. I wish the characters were portrayed in a more well-rounded way within the context of this plot.

Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday for the ARC. This read will linger in my thoughts for a while. 4.5 Stars