I don’t even have the words to describe this book, I think this was the first time where it literally felt like I was staying up late into the night just to find out what was going to happen next, literally had me on the edge of the seat of tissues to wipe away my tears 😭.

Jasmine Holmes has created a story that is equally parts gripping and tragically moving. A book which throws you into the world of East Cobb, where woman with the the ability to pull the pain and suffering from the men in town bear their heavy burdens. This is one Southern Gothic novel that will burrow deep and stick with you.

I have absolutely no criticisms on this book, and I for one cannot wait to see what the author comes up with next!!🤩

This is so good yet so sad. The twist shocked me and I usually am good at catching them!
The commentary on burdens and the resilience of Black women and their rage, the cost of having someone else carry the burden so you can have everything you want. This will be in my mind forever.

Jasmine wrote something amazing here and I can't wait to see what else she writes!
Thank you Bindery for the ARC!

At first, this story moved at a slow burn, carefully laying the groundwork, but once the momentum built, the twist completely caught me off guard. I loved how this book forced me to think about the burdens our partners may carry and the weight, physical or emotional, that love sometimes asks us to bear. At its heart, it’s also a testament to the quiet, unshakable strength of women.

Though my feelings toward the women of the town never softened, Thea’s journey was a haunting ride. Her relentless need to press the others for honesty, instead of trusting her instincts, or her husband, made her path frustrating at times. Still, her journey kept me hooked, and I couldn’t look away from the unraveling truths.

With Mississippi, 1927 as its backdrop, Our Sister’s Keeper blends historical fiction and Southern gothic horror beautifully. It’s a superb, thought provoking read that lingers in your mind and leaves you reflecting on the heavy price of carrying another’s pain.

OMG OMG OMG. This was incredible. I devoured it in less than 24 hours. And a satisfying ending?! And the commentary on black women’s strength, communal trauma, the cost of having it all?! This one will stay with me for a while. Thank you to Bindery Books for the ARC!

This was a 5⭐️ read for me.

It’s a slow burn as you are introduced to the cast of characters and the town of East Cobb. What unfolds is a story of marriage, friendship, loss, trauma and rage. The twist at the end made me gasp. I loved the way Holmes weaved and revealed storylines.

The book made me question what would we do to relieve our loved one’s suffering? What would we inflict on others to ensure our family’s safety? What did it mean to be a young Black family in 1920s America looking for safety and learning to be a generation that was ‘free’? Can you yourself be free when you are keeping others freedom from them? If you lay your burdens on others, what new burdens do you yourself pick up?

Jasmine Holmes frames this book around a simple question that carries real weight: what does it look like to care for the women beside us when life is ordinary, and when it is not. The opening chapters set the tone with clarity. Holmes writes as a teacher and a sister in the faith, part memoir, part exhortation, part “this is how I learned it the hard way.” The first section moves quickly, each chapter anchored to a lived situation that makes the point concrete. A conversation that went sideways becomes a lesson on listening. A season of loneliness becomes a case study in what genuine hospitality requires. I appreciated how she orients readers without dragging us through a long preface. The stakes are not abstract; they sit in kitchens, group texts, and church foyers where small decisions add up to a culture.

The structure feels intentional. Chapters often begin with a scene or a memory, step back to name the principle, then return to practice with a short list of what helped and what did not. That rhythm keeps the book readable. You can take a chapter at a time, then set it down and try one concrete change. The middle third slows in a good way, making room for hard topics that need more space: envy, conflict, apology that actually repairs, the way cultural baggage sneaks into spiritual language. Holmes brings in other voices with brief spotlights that widen the lens without turning the book into an anthology. A few topics begin to echo each other by the two-thirds mark. Trimming one repeated angle would sharpen momentum and make the final section land even harder.

Holmes’ voice is steady and warm. She writes with the calm of someone who has sat through a lot of conversations and decided that patience is not passive. Scripture appears as a frame for discernment rather than a blunt instrument. When she references a passage, she connects it to the people in the room and asks what obedience would look like on a Tuesday. The prose is contemporary but not breathless, careful with terms that can carry different meanings from church to church. When she uses a loaded word, she tends to define it in context, which keeps readers from different backgrounds on the same page. Dialogue snippets are short, often paraphrased, and they sound like actual people, not strawmen. That restraint helps the counsel feel usable rather than performative.

The strongest thread is the book’s insistence on specificity. “Love your neighbor” is a banner; “text her again next week” is a plan. Holmes pushes for tangible practices: calendars that make room for people, budgets that include blessing, confession that names what happened and what will change. She also puts boundaries in the conversation. Being your sister’s keeper is not being her savior; it is recognizing limits, saying no when you must, and pointing her to better help when the problem is larger than friendship can carry. That balance keeps the tone honest. Encouragement comes with a clear eyed sense of cost.

Not every chapter hits with the same force. A pair of sections revisit similar ground on comparison and platform; combining them would have tightened the argument. I also wanted two moments of nuance earlier in the book: a brief nod to how personality and neurodiversity shape “showing up,” and a paragraph about cross generational friendships that move in both directions. Those additions would make the counsel feel even more inclusive without changing the spine. On the practical side, a simple index and more consistent endnotes would help readers who plan to return to favorite ideas or share quotes with groups.

The audience is clear: women who want a theologically rooted, real life guide to friendship, service, and conflict repair inside local communities. Small groups could read a chapter per week and end with one action step. Mentors will find language that keeps hard conversations kind. Readers outside church spaces who value intentional community may still find the practices useful, since much of the counsel translates easily: own your part, take initiative, listen before you fix, make rhythms that last longer than a mood.

Strengths are easy to name. A grounded, hopeful call to ordinary faithfulness; a voice that treats readers as capable; examples that live where we live. Weaknesses are modest. A touch of repetition in the back half, two places where an earlier nod to complexity would widen the welcome, and a need for cleaner reference tools. None of that changes the bottom line. This is a thoughtful, usable book that invites readers to trade vague ideals for habits that actually love their neighbors.

The beginning immediately caught my attention because of Marah’s first line. I liked the honesty, then throughout the novel I understood the price of that little bit of honesty. This novel is beautifully written and I don’t just mean the prose. I had a strong visceral reaction and actually had to physically step away. I do encourage folk to buy and read this novel, to bear witness as I’ve heard many people say.

I devoured this book in a few sittings. I don’t even know where to begin. First of all, this was masterful. From the slow unveiling of horrific truths, to plot twists, some I saw coming and some I didn’t, to the atmosphere of the town and the 1920s, to the honoring of individual stories, to the female rage, to the intersectional feminism and anti-racism, to the body horror and psychological horror—-I can’t recommend this enough. Black women I think will find vindication and solidarity in the characters and their rage, though as a white woman I can only assume. But I can say that any woman can feel the rage for the misogyny in this book, and anyone who wants to spend more time understanding Black women’s rage, their burdens, not only for white folks but even for Black men, the way they’ve carried America’s history in a way no one else has, you’re gonna love this book. For what it can teach you and for the ways it will draw you in, mangle you, and spit you back out.

I’ve read only one of Holmes’ nonfiction and it was great, but the fiction writing chops this woman has are just as impressive. She knows her history, and she knows how to write the horror and the rage AND the honoring of individual stories. The book unfolded and peeked into complexities and nuances in the female experience, the Black female experience, in the post emancipation era, in the way Black folks have been used and manipulated by white folks…. Honestly, I can’t recommend it enough.

In summary, if you like dark, psychological horror, body horror, female rage, history, plot twists, and feeling SEEN by an author as a woman of any race, if you liked Ring Shout or the movie Sinners, you’ll love this book.

Thanks to Bindery books and Netgalley for the ARC.

Bindery Books has done it again! "Our Sister's Keep" by Holmes is another brilliantly written book from a BIPOC author, and I'm already telling everyone I know to pre-order it. This story grabs you immediately; the hook is strong, and the pacing kept me so engrossed I finished it in a weekend while ignoring literally everything else. The blend of historically accurate fiction with nods to Black Wall Streets of the past creates such a rich backdrop, and Holmes doesn't shy away from addressing not only the racism felt from Whites but also the prejudices and assumptions found within the Black community itself, which is so necessary. The horror elements and foreshadowing are expertly woven throughout, creating this psychological thriller atmosphere that also has touches of fantasy with the "carriers" and their powers. But what really got me was the metaphor for the burdens Black people, particularly Black women, carry. When Holmes wrote "The anxiety of being not enough or too much" (pg.145), I shouted. That quote just hit! Also, the way the main character fails in segregated systems and then fails again in non-segregated ones based on the "systems" that are supposed to be helpful? That's the kind of reflection good literature should spark. There are sharp jabs at misogyny throughout, both within the Black community and America at large. The side characters have main character energy, which adds so much drama and depth. Even the character names are historically accurate! And that plot twist? Chef's kiss. The line "Settling was the only path of safety" (pg. 225) still haunts me. My only critique is that occasionally the pacing moved too quickly, and I had to reread sections to catch what Holmes was saying. But a careful reader can follow along, so no real loss.

This book is already in my online shopping cart for when it releases. Do yourself a favor and add it to yours, too!

I got this as an arc on Netgalley and it will come out in June. If you ever read a book that was so good in being suspenseful that you could only read it in small bits because your body couldn't take the suspense, you will understand how much I loved this book. This book about the impact of misogynoir and the burdens we place on Black women was the best thing I have read this year and I will categorise as one of those books that felt life changing. You need to get this.

Wow what a read !!!! This one was very heavy to read as it wakes up different subjects that we face on a day to day as black people .. it was sad as well I loved the story and character development it was amazing thank you so much for a well written read

The story flowed well and the characters were well developed. I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.


****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

This was absolutely incredible. My favorite part was the cast of characters, and how even most of the villains of the story were nuanced and complicated rather than just being evil. It was creepy and definitely a page-turner, and it also had a lot of depth to the themes. The twist gagged me, I didn’t see it coming at all. I will highly recommend this to people when it comes out! (And the cover is beautiful.)

A historical old timey novel, Kid and Thea are a newlywed couple who move to a town called East Cobb, who's people are a lot more progressive than the other segregated towns in America. A book I found really easy to sink into, I was addicted from the moment I started it, and thought it was very unique. It might just be one of my new favourites, and I'm about to tell you why it was so captivating.

In a segregated world, Kid and Thea have moved to a black people only town. The men work like normal, and the women stay home, taking care of the home and raising their kids. But they also keep smelling salts on them, and medicine to help them calm down, that they use more leniently than you would think. And if a women finds herself lost, running away from home, they're taken to a place where they're basically slaves to the men in the town. They're forced to take away their bad memories through a kind of new age therapy, and take on their burdens themselves. That leaves the men strong, happy, and helpful to the world. The girls however? Broken, alone, and though they aren't forced to stay there, something in the town effects them when they try to leave, making it impossible.

Though I'm not usually a fan of historical fiction, I couldn't put this down after I started it. I loved this story, it was downright terrifying at times. Half the story is through Thea and Kid's eyes, and the other half is through Marah's eyes living at the home for wayward women. A carrier, she's forced to take these burdens along with the other girls, and expected to be happy, healthy, and ready to go at any time. It's basically a memory brothel, and the end comes for each of them eventually, as they're worked to death.

The difference with Thea? She's moved to the town, she has no idea what's going on with the other women, and wants to be independent, having a job along side her husband. But that's not how this town works, and they force her home. This is when she starts seeing things, haunted by walking nightmares of dead women begging for her help. And no one else seems to find anything wrong with this. After all, they all see them, and they are able to just ignore them with the help of the smelling salts and the medication. But Thea is horrified at these violent visions, and it eventually starts to drive her mad.

The ending of this book was particularly satisfying, and I really enjoyed how everything wrapped up nicely. I was obsessed with it from the moment I saw the cover, and I finished it way too soon. I absolutely recommend checking it out if you like horror and historical fiction.

Our Sister’s Keeper is emotionally compelling, eerie, and incredibly thought provoking. I had a hard time putting this book down; I had to know how it would end.

There is a sinister undertone to everything in Easy Cobb, an alleged utopia for Black families in the Deep South. It’s hard to put your finger on exactly what’s happening in this story, but it is impossible to put down until you find out.

Jasmine Holmes writes her characters so well; I really felt for Thea, I didn’t trust Mildred, I desperately wanted to believe in Kid. I loved each of the Carriers dearly. I did figure out the twist before it was revealed, but it was excellent. What a way to add so much more depth to this story.

The weight of the emotional burdens Black women have had to carry for generations is brought to the forefront of this story, rightfully so. The groanings were a disturbing, heart breaking, and necessary way to paint the picture of the generational emotional weight they’ve carried. I was moved by them, and I will be thinking about this book for a long time.

The ending was satisfying, although painful. I’m so glad I read this! This book is perfect for people intrigued by the ideas and concepts behind Don’t Worry Darling and Ring Shout.

Thanks for an early digital copy, NetGalley!

I just finished Our Sisters’ Keeper and I would like to file a formal complaint because… what the actual hell did I just read (in the best possible way).
A historical Southern gothic horror set in a town where women literally take on the burdens of men, in every sense of the word. The imagery in this book is powerful, and the horror does not hold back. I was minding my own business, thinking I knew where things were headed, and then the twist hit. I gasped. I sweated. I clutched my pearls (that I don’t even own). My jaw? Still on the floor somewhere.

Ans I’d like to use this space to talk about how the author handled the Black historical angle, because I felt it was done really well. No trauma parade, no tired tropes. Just Black people being powerful, complex, and caught in something dark and otherworldly. I was fed, and I am still full.

Thanks to NetGalley, Mareas, and Bindery for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. It was my pleasure to reflect on this book.

Like the other reviews suggest, Our Sister's Keeper is a slow-burn (not romantically) novel about black women's struggles in post-WW1 America. Based on the Great Mississippi Flood, it gives us a backstory of two black women: Thea, a newlywed, and Marah, a carrier for the men of East Cobb's burdens. It blends horror with historical fiction, with religious undertones and a shocking twist. This is a story that will keep you hooked until the very end.

A short *synopsis*
No town is perfect, but East Cobb comes close. It’s a wealthy all-Black Free Town—untouched by white oppression—where ambitious Thea Elliot and her husband plan to make good on their big dreams. Little do they know that the idyllic town teems with ghoulish, walking nightmares . . . that only the women can see.


Marah knows the groanings well. She is one of the carriers—women with the ability to pull traumatic memories from men. Populated by men entirely freed of their pain, East Cobb has flourished, even as the remnants of their memories haunt the town’s women. When an unexpected death drives Marah to discover more about her own power, Thea’s and Marah’s worlds collide. The sisters must confront the rotten core at the heart of East Cobb’s prosperity and choose what—and who—will survive the reckoning

I loved the twist in the book with psychological and gothic elements of the novel. It's a fun book to read during Halloween times.
Intriguing: 1
Scariness: 0
Unsettling: 1

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

WHOA. If I could give this book more than five stars, I would. WHAT A STORY with things I did not see coming! WOW. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this deep, emotion filled story. As a black woman, I will be thinking about this story for a long time. This has nestled itself into my soul - recognizing the strength that black women have had & continue to still, endure. Jasmine Holmes, THANK YOU for these characters and for this POV with this story.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy!
Astonishing. This is definitely going to be one of my top reads for the year, and I hate that now I have to wait so long before I can see other people talk about spoilers in the book! This is an absolutely fantastic novel, Holmes' writing is very good, and I really liked how the characters were written. The cast of characters is a decent size, but not in a way where you have trouble keeping track of them. Each character stood out on their own as an individual, even when they were often paired up in the same groups with other characters. I especially liked Thea as a main character. The changes in POV took me a minute to get used to, but that's a me thing--and I do think having multiple perspectives is perfect for this novel. I found the premise for the novel to be unlike anything else that I've read, which is always refreshing as someone who reads so many books every year. The further I read in the book, the harder it was to put back down.

I'M SPEECHLESS OVER THIS ONE I AM ABSOLUTELY OBSESSED. I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE THIS ON SHELVES AND I HOPE IT GETS THE LOVE IT DESERVES AND MORE!

This is the most unprofessional review I've ever written but I don't think I have EVER been so surprised by how much I loved a book before. This was freaking unmatched for me.

A bold and unforgettable debut that blends horror, history, and sisterhood. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Our Sister’s Keeper by Jasmine Holmes is set in 1927 Mississippi, in the all-Black town of East Cobb—a place thriving on a chilling secret. Holmes crafts a gripping tale of two sisters, Thea and Marah, whose intertwined fates expose the town’s dark magic and buried trauma. With lyrical prose and haunting imagery, this novel is both emotionally resonant and deeply original

Such a good book! I really enjoyed this, found it hard to put down. Loved the writing style which I thought enhanced the plot.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC. All opinions are my own.

5⭐️!!!!!


This is a story that needs to be read by everyone!!!!!!!

“A gripping blend of historical fiction and Southern gothic psychological horror, Our Sister’s Keeper is a fierce exploration of Black sisterhood, rage, and resistance”


This is a masterfully written piece of Southern Gothic psychological horror that is as beautiful as it is utterly terrifying. I couldn’t put it down!! This is the most powerful metaphor for emotional labor I’ve read in years. It exposes the cost of patriarchal convenience and the silent, invisible burdens women are expected to carry. There were a few places where the pacing was off for me but not in a way that ruined the story. Seriously, this is a must read!!!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bindery for the arc . These are my honest opinions

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Devastating Masterpiece That Demands to Be Read
Rating: 5/5 Stars
It has been a long time since I've read a piece of historical fiction that has moved me as profoundly as Our Sister's Keeper by Jasmine Holmes. This book is an experience, a reckoning, and a mirror held up to the intersectional oppression that Black women have endured throughout history. From the moment I started reading at midnight on November 13, 2025, I was consumed by the mystery, the horror, and the brilliance of Holmes' storytelling.

THE NARRATIVE STRUCTURE
Holmes employs a narrative technique that is nothing short of genius. What begins as seemingly two parallel stories—THEA Elliott, a journalist who moves to East Cobb with her husband Kid, and MARAH, a mysterious carrier with psychic abilities—converges in a twist that absolutely shattered me. Without spoiling, I'll say that the realization of how these narratives connect transformed my entire understanding of the novel. We think we're reading forward chronologically, but Holmes reveals we've been reading an origin story all along. The moment I realized my suspicions were correct about the connection between these characters, I wept.

THE SETTING AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT
Set in 1920s East Cobb, the novel takes place during the Great Migration era, but with a twist. East Cobb is presented as a Black utopia—a place where Black families can thrive separate but equal from the white settlement of West Cobb. The town was built on the promise that Black men, emasculated by slavery and ongoing racism, could finally exist as men, protect their families, and build prosperity without white interference.
But this paradise is built on blood and bones—specifically, on the plantation where Dr. Grimm's family once enslaved Black people. And the experiment that the benevolent white doctor claims will help Black people heal is actually something far more insidious. The parallels to the Tuskegee experiment are unmistakable and chilling.

THE CARRIERS AND THE BURDEN-BEARING SYSTEM
The most devastating aspect of this novel is the system of "carriers"—Black women with psychic abilities who physically absorb the trauma, pain, and memories of Black men so these men can function without the psychological weight of slavery, racism, and oppression. These women are called "reparations" for Black men. Let that sink in. Black women serving as reparations for Black men, while the white system that created the trauma watches, studies, and benefits.
Holmes brilliantly explores how these women become conduits, absorbing not just the burdens of Black men but eventually—in the most horrifying twist—the guilt and wickedness of white men who have harmed Black people. Then the men’s wives talk like the characters in Jordan Peele's Get Out—robotic, subdued, existing at the edge of themselves. They've learned to silence their own pain, to pretend they don't hear the "groanings" (the spirits and memories of those who suffered on this land), because to acknowledge what they experience is to be labeled hysterical and locked away.

THEMES THAT GUTTED ME

Black Women as Accessories: Throughout the novel, women are treated as accessories to men, as comfort systems. THEA's qualifications as a journalist are dismissed. Even her seemingly progressive husband Kid doesn't truly value her work, seeing it merely as something she can do while also managing the home and children. The women of East Cobb exist to perform excessive femininity, to cuddle the egos of broken men.
Memory and Forgetting: Memory is transient and weaponized in this book. The men need to forget their trauma to function. The carriers must remember to survive and resist. MARAH is haunted by a spirit friend who keeps telling her to "wake up"—to remember who she was before she became a carrier. The manipulation of memory is a form of control, and reclaiming memory becomes an act of resistance.
Sisterhood—Two Definitions: Holmes presents two kinds of sisterhood. For the wives and respectable women of East Cobb, sisterhood means keeping each other in line, enforcing the patriarchal system, maintaining the status quo. For the carriers, sisterhood means protection, solidarity, sharing the burden, being a shoulder to cry on. The difference is stark and meaningful.
The Experiment Within the Experiment: Just when you think you understand the horror—that Black women are being used to heal Black men—Holmes reveals the true depths of the exploitation. All of them—the carriers, the men, the entire community—are part of a grand experiment designed to benefit white people. The same people who caused the trauma are now providing the "solution" and using Black bodies as test tubes.

THE CHARACTERS
Every character in this book serves a purpose. There are no throwaway side characters. THEA is complex—educated, ambitious, yet slowly realizing her voice doesn't matter in this "paradise." Kid is portrayed as liberal and open-minded, yet he too falls into misogynistic patterns, unable to truly see his wife's work as valuable. Mildred, Vera, Gertrude—each woman represents different responses to patriarchal oppression. And MARAH—oh, MARAH—her story broke me.
When Canaan comes to the infirmary and recognizes her, when we learn that her husband signed away his wife's life to this prison! I felt a rage I cannot adequately express. The betrayal. The disposability of Black women's lives, even by those who claim to love them.

THE ENDING AND THE POWER OF ANGER
I won't spoil the ending, but I will say this: women's anger is what saves them. Black women's anger has power, and Holmes doesn't shy away from showing us that rage can be liberating. There's a quote about Gertrude that encapsulates so much: her last thought before death was that even dying "felt so much better than being so damn nice all the time, and what had all that niceness been for anyway?"
As a Black woman, as someone who has been belittled in classrooms, who has had students look down on me, who has been taken for granted and taken advantage of—this book gave me permission to be angry. To let that anger remind me that I can overcome.

COMPARISONS AND LITERARY MERIT
This book deserves to be discussed alongside Toni Morrison's Beloved, Octavia Butler's work, and contemporary Black horror. It has the atmospheric dread of Jordan Peele's films, the social commentary of Ryan Coogler's work, and the historical depth of the best literary fiction. Holmes has created something that feels both timely and timeless.
The writing is vivid and immersive. I could see, feel, and taste the world of East Cobb. The descriptions are lush without being overwrought. The dialogue rings true to the period while remaining accessible. The plot is intricately woven, with details that seem minor early on becoming crucial later.

FINAL THOUGHTS
Our Sister's Keeper is a five-star read that needs to win awards. This is the kind of book that stays with you, that changes how you think about history, about Black womanhood, about the ways oppression layers and compounds. It's a book about how separate but equal was always a lie, how utopias built on exploitation can never be paradise, and how Black women have always borne burdens that were never theirs to carry.
This is an Advanced Reader's Copy, and I'm so grateful to have read it early. When this book releases, please read it. Sit with it. Let it challenge you. Let it anger you. Let it move you to tears as it did me.
Jasmine Holmes has written something truly special. this is a book that is both a warning from history and a call to remember, resist, and refuse to be silent anymore.
Content warnings: Racism, slavery references, experimentation on Black bodies, psychological abuse, trauma, mentions of violence, loss of bodily autonomy

Black Feminist horror that reads like a Jordan Peele movie! The climax was pure catharsis. Highly Recommend!

I am such a fan of stories that have multicultural characters. This was so beautiful and so well done. I did not see that ending coming either. They called this one a horror - but I feel like it was a love story at its core. I won't be forgetting this one anytime soon.

This story starts as a slow burn, carefully setting the stage, but when the momentum hits, the twist completely blindsides you. I loved how it made me reflect on the burdens partners carry and the weight, emotional or otherwise, that love sometimes demands. At its core, it’s a tribute to the quiet, unshakable strength of women.
Thea’s journey is haunting and at times frustrating—her insistence on demanding honesty over trusting her instincts or her husband made her path tense, but it kept me riveted. Set in Mississippi, 1927, Our Sister’s Keeper blends historical fiction with Southern Gothic horror in a thought-provoking story that lingers long after the last page.

What an absolutely incredible book! It was amazing, terrifying, haunting, devastating, twisty and inspiring! East Cobb sounds idyllic and then as you peel back the layers, you see just how bad it can get. Who has the movie rights because this absolutely needs to be made into a movie. Or a mini series. I made a "top 5 star books I read in 2025" list two weeks ago and now I have to revise it.

Huge thanks to Bindery (are all of these books going to be five stars?!) and NetGalley for this EARC. I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy.

I love this!

I did not realize until the twist is revealed and when it did, I feel tears welling up. An emotional read for me, with how the characters are portrayed. Each one a reminder of a real human and how easy it is to lose your path. The end gives me a nostalgic feel that I feel is important and a good closing for the characters.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this.

This was phenomenal. Captivating and haunting from the very first page. This is a story of the strength of Black women, of how the world continues to pile all its burdens on the backs of Black women, and how so many turn their back on the cries of Black women.

This book broke my heart and stoked such a fire of rage in me that I was left breathless. Jasmine Holmes is a force to be reckoned with, and I'm so thankful for her writing a masterpiece like this.

I will never be able to get this book out of my head. Impeccable.

Such excellent storytelling. And so spooky. Very compelling and the characters were well done! I could read anything you write ma'am!

Going into this, I didn't expect to feel as seen as I felt by the time I finished. As a first time reader of this author, I was deeply touched by her writing style and the way she brought me into the story. Racism isn't always handled the best in recent media. It often becomes the reason for the story. Holmes writes the racism here with care, and it's woven into the story well.

This is an emotional one, so I took a few breaks with reading this one. But what a powerful ending and I'm glad for it due to all the various things that happened to our main characters along the way. Creating a town like Easy Cobb, where you can just feel the heaviness around these characters is no easy feat. Holmes handles the worldbuilding and the characters very well. They jumped off the page and truly felt real. I'm not sure what research went into crafting this story, but you can definitely feel that it was thorough and on point. Extremely genuine and scary. I don't want to dive too deep into the themes because it's best to experience them, but as a Black woman, this was vindicating. And that to me, is worth 5 stars.

This book had me in a chokehold from start to finish!! It really made me think about the intersectional oppression that black women face in a way that I hadn't before, and I will be thinking about this book for awhile. I loved the overall story line, the twist (of course) and the ending. So good.

I am honestly speechless. I probably should have waited to do this review so I could gather my thoughts but I didn’t want to. This book is stunning. There are books that you read and there are books that you experience. This is a book you experience. Wholly. Viscerally. It is raw and powerful and heart wrenching.

There were a couple of minor inconsistencies I noticed just because that’s how I am and I don’t know if they’ve been addressed but since this is an ARC I’ll mention them. I also am unsure if they were intentional, to make the reader feel a little crazy or at least off-kilter. But just in case: at the welcome party at Mrs. Blake’s house, Mildred’s dress is noted to be blue in one scene and emerald in another. And at the beginning of chapter 22, Kid is going to the school to “set up his classroom and meet with the principal” but it is stated everywhere else that he was selected to be the principal himself.

Nothing major or crazy just little blips I noticed. Thank you for approving me for this ARC. I am in awe of this book. Truly.

intensely haunting book about trauma and how you never can really escape it, no matter how much you have and who you try to sacrifice to it. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

I immediately need to purchase this so I can reread and annotate properly. This book was very well done. The southern gothic vibes, and the conversations around the strength of black women, communal trauma and more were just so well done. Great read.

The build-up of the tension was perfect. Vivid and visceral descriptions. So many good themes of the validity of memory, the role of each party in a relationship (whether that be a marriage, a friendship, a community), the ways that we carry each others' burdens (willingly or unwillingly, and the way that some people in our society are expected to do so much more of the carrying). While it's told with a supernatural bent, this story has such an honest and raw take on how Black women are treated and the burdens they carry.

This is a book where, even if you see the twist coming … you don’t know what the twist is, not in its horrible entirety. And I loved it. The writing has such personality, and while I might have preferred the characters to be a little more developed, this book isn’t a character study. Or rather it is, but the character is more all-encompassing than one woman, or one woman’s pain, and grief, and rage at a stolen life. At being forced to carry the weight of someone else’s life, someone else’s guilt and remorse so that they can live their happy little entitled happy endings.

It’s a book about sisterhood, too, in the way Marah and her fellow gifted women come together to shield and support one another, to be present for each other’s pain. It’s a bond formed by trauma, but also empathy and love. Contrast that to the women in the city, living the homemaker’s dream with handfuls of happy children, beautiful houses, and content husbands with none of them having to suffer the slings and arrows and hatred of the outside world.

It’s Stepford Wives set in the 1920s rather than the ‘50s, and the spectre of Slavery is everywhere. These are people who knew relatives, sometimes living relatives, who had suffered enslavement at the hands of white people. They knew or knew of people who had been beaten, raped, lynched, ignored, spit on, harassed, and hurt in so many ways without having the freedom and bodily autonomy to defend themselves; and even the current generations enduring all of this in the modern age where people ought to know better, to be better.

The story builds with a grim, inexorable pressure that has you anticipating the ending — waiting for the catharsis of the wronged women getting their revenge. Personally I wanted less of a tidy end. I wanted it messy and visceral and more drawn out. I wanted more of that release of tension. But I think there’s a point to an ending that — while well done — isn’t and can’t be perfect. Because revenge is brief; death can only be handed out once, and these women must now live beyond it and hopefully find a way to heal.

This book is one of my favorites of the year, and I can’t wait to see what this author does next. I also can’t wait for the physical copy, which I ordered tonight, to get here so I can put it on my shelf to occasionally pet. Thank you so very much to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC!

really enjoyed this, found it hard to put down.
The characters are well developed and will recommend it.
Thanks NetGalley, Bindery Books-Mareas for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I can't find the words to do this book justice honestly, just WOW what a profound masterpiece. Such an invocative, deep, and beautiful story that leaves you breathlessly flipping pages. I've been thinking about this book since I finished it, and I can't imagine it leaving me any time soon. I wish NetGalley allowed 6 star ratings!
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Bindery for the arc (which didn't impact my views!). I will definitely be purchasing this book when it releases!

I'm not usually in the habit of reading books labeled "horror," but I AM in the business of reading anything written by Jasmine Holmes because I trust her work to be moving, engaging, affecting, and meticulously researched. This check all of those boxes and more and I am so glad I picked it up. There is intense content that I recommend reviewing before reading it yourself, but both the characters and the psychological twists and turns of this book are excellent. I was captivated by the creativity and discomfort of the story, always wanting to read another chapter to learn more. I hope Holmes continues to write fiction in addition to her beautiful non-fiction, because this one will stick with me for a long time.

Our Sister's Keeper left me speechless. I haven't been able to stop thinking about it and yet I don't know how to explain how incredible this book is.

The storytelling is masterful, and I love how intertwined the mystery and the character development are. It keeps the pacing steady and creates a very immersive experience while reading.

On a sentence level I was so impressed with how much feeling, worldbuilding, and character exposition were able to fit in very few words. All it would take was one scene and I'd feel like I knew the history, tone, and personality of the characters and their relationships, almost like I'm being let in on an inside joke with an old friend.

This was my first dip into horror, so I didn't know what to expect or how much I would enjoy it. But it's not horror without a purpose, and I think that's what really got me invested. Everything in this book was in service of the story, in the best way possible.

If anything about the synopsis, or the beautiful cover, grabs your attention, I want you to follow that attention and get a copy. Read it for yourself, you won't be disappointed.

Thank you to Netgalley, Bindery, and Mareas for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5, rounding up to 5.

Truly an incredible book and the best book I read all year. A must read! Jasmine Holmes is an amazing writer.

An idyllic all-Black town in Prohibition-era Mississippi. Thea and Kid Elliot, a young couple deeply in love and ready to make a new start in this town. A strange group of girls no one in the town is willing to speak about who carry the weight of its success on their flesh and in their bones. And, stranger still, the groanings. Visible only to the women of the town, these specters welcome Thea with a cry she can't ignore, but- somehow- everyone else can.

I received this book during one of the busiest weeks of the year for me, and yet I still fought to squeeze in bits and pieces of reading in every spare moment I had, so instantly was I hooked. This book welcomes its readers with not just one central mystery, but several, all of which act as rivers, narratively flowing in the direction of their estuary, the perfect little town of East Cobb.

This book was painful, yes, but so, too, was it beautiful. Jasmine Holmes weaves an expert and unflinching depiction of collective and shared trauma and the bonds we forge because of, and in spite of, them. This is one of those stories that never leaves you, one that does not answer all its own questions, but rather passes itself to the reader for their own personal interpretation and takeaways. I can easily see this book becoming a staple in university classrooms and book clubs for years to come.

Thank you to Bindery and Mareas for the ARC! I cannot wait for the general public to get their hands on this incredible story. I will be following Jasmine Holmes's career, as well as all Mareas's future acquisitions, eagerly.

Thank you to NetGalley for a ARC of this work. The theme of this book reminded me of a short story by Ursula K. Le Guin, a happy life at the expense of someone else’s misery. This was creepy, read like an historical account, and just really well written, especially in a time where it’s hard to find well edited and executed stories. The characters and their journeys throughout the book were well done. I’ll be thinking about this one for some time.

this book rocked. its central themes aren't exactly subtle however they're extremely well executed, and i wasn't surprised when i learned that the author is an educator and historian. it's definitely not traditional historical fiction and tbh that's probably why i enjoyed it so much. i loved Thea and Marah and the relationships they built around them. I thought the horror elements were really successful and one of the final plot points actually did leave me with my mouth ajar. a sort of modern day stepford wives.

Our Sister’s Keeper by Jasmine Holmes is a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of faith, justice, and what it truly means to love and protect one another. Holmes writes with clarity and conviction, addressing difficult cultural and spiritual issues in a way that is both accessible and deeply challenging.
Holmes invites readers to reflect on their personal responsibilities within their communities, especially toward women and marginalized voices, without resorting to guilt or condemnation. Her tone is compassionate yet firm, encouraging growth, accountability, and action.
While some sections feel more reflective than practical, the message remains strong and relevant throughout.
Overall, Our Sister’s Keeper is an engaging and meaningful read that sparks important conversations and inspires readers to live out their values more intentionally. It earns a solid four stars for its heartfelt message, thoughtful analysis, and spiritual depth.

It was exceptional. The writing, characters and story were all masterfully crafted. If you enjoyed The reformatory by Tananarive Due this is the book for you. You have to experience this one for yourself, it's that good.

4.5 stars
Our Sister’s keeper mostly goes between two perspectives: a young wife moving into a strange but proud all black town and a woman at a clinic that takes away men’s pains. I was intrigued from the start about this concept of being able to carry and take away another persons pain and what that might do to the carrier.
The book does a great of creating a sense of the characters being trapped in their roles and expectations. It confronts relationship dynamics and the role of the wife. Is a married couple supposed to support each other equally emotionally or does that role fall on the wife? The book also addresses how race may play into the marital dynamic. Many of the black women have aspirations of white womanhood to no longer carry the heavy burden society puts on them and to be wives who sit back and let themselves be taken care of.
There are interesting discussions here on the intersection between race and gender within society.

When the book occasionally switched from the two main viewpoints, I enjoyed getting the chapters of backstory for some characters.

One of the main themes throughout the book, was away from the pain of others to live in comfort. The book really helps create feeling of isolation as you see the injustice and want to fix to scream for the rooftops but everyone else wants to look away and treats you like you’re crazy for bringing it up.

I felt like it was an interesting concept of what could black men achieve without the burdens of trauma.

I enjoyed the contrast of the results of what happens when women stand together instead of tear each other down.

Overall, I loved the concept and themes of this book. The characters were engaging. The book did a great job of creating a sense of horror and dread within ordinary life.

This historical urban-fantasy exploration of the concept of caring pain for others, of racism, sexism and privilege, as well as where they intersect, was chilling and vibrant.

Emoji-Aesthetic: 🧪🌻🎩🪡🌫️💞

Listen to
🎶 Jericho - Iniko
🎶 Nobody’s Soldier - Hozier
🎶 People Live Here - Rise Against

This book absolutely blew me away. The book features strong stories of black women and their resilience, resistance and strength. It tackles topics like communal and inherited trauma in a really vibrant, explicitly clear way. It also deals with women as the bearer of the weight that trauma brings into relationships and the expectations applied to them - as well as the intersection of that with the trauma that results from prejudice and racism.
The storytelling was gripping and the main character made me feel for her in an intense and deep way, so much so that the plot twist made me physically gasp, even though i was already feeling for the character before that.
The story is devastating and gorgeous and a beautiful portrayal of grief and sisterhood.
If there’s only one book you read this year - let it be this one.

4.25 🌟. This book was on track to be a 5 star read until the very end. 😭

Still, it was such an amazing story and I love the way the pieces started to come together the deeper I got into the book. When one of the main revelations came about, I literally gasped because I didn't see it coming. Jasmine Holmes did a fantastic job of keeping the suspense up. I look forward to reading more of her work. 

Thank you Netgalley and Bindery Books for this ARC!

If I could give this book six stars I would. It took my breath away and consumed my thoughts, not just reading it but after too.
It is incredibly beautifully written and so powerful. Describing all the feelings and thought that ran through me reading this book is almost impossible. At a certain point I just could not stop reading. The story, the characters and the subjects all were woven into this incredibly captivating book. There is so much depth and so much emotion in the pages.
It starts slow, but eerie. You just know something isn't quite right, but not how deep it goes. And then it just builds and builds.
Truly cannot recommend this book enough. A thought provoking masterpiece in my opnion.
I will buy this book the second it comes out and reread the physical copy, because it was just that incredibly good in my opinion.

Thank you immensely to NetGalley and Bindery Books for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.

WOW. Have you ever read a book with such an interesting premise, but the writing falls flat? Well, you don't have to worry about that with Our Sister's Keeper. At all.

After Sinners dropped last year, I've been lapping up historical/gothic horror and just finished reading Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark, which was a similar brand of amazing.

OSK follows Thea Elliot and her husband as they deal with the spooky occurrences in East Cobb, a truly wonderful and immersive setting. I could feel the goosebumps on my arms from Holmes' atmospheric prose and tension. The concept of memory-pulling was such an interesting concept and handled so well.

I adored Thea and Marah, two strong and interesting FMCs faced with truly horrible circumstances. I loved the themes of family, unity and survival.

"You know how strong we Black women are." "I know how folks have a funny little trick of saying that we Black women are strong and expecting our strength to rise to every occasion where convenience demands it," said Thea hotly.
5/5. I absolutely love this book. This could be made into a movie. The town of East Cobb, Mississippi is a dream come true for any colored person around the U.S. All back town, wealth, with a group of black women that have an ability to take on the burdens of the black man, so he can be the best version of himself that he couldn't be outside of East Cobb. Sounds great, until Thea and Kid arrive and realize the town is not as it seems and is starting to break at the seams.
What hit me was realizing the group of young girls with the ability had to take on all this from the town but couldn't even voice their own opinions. I loved the descriptions the author used. Like when Thea saw the ghost at the party. You could feel the intense dread as you are reading. That scene reminded me of a scene from Beloved. It had those aspects to it when reading it. I like the twist with Dr. Grimm and how far everything was supposed to go. The ending was clear cut and I liked it. It really resonates with you after you read it because even now as a black woman we are to suppress our anger, our voices, and instead help everyone else. But who will come to help carry our burdens?
Thank you Net Galley and I will definitely recommend.

Our Sister’s Keeper by Jasmine Holmes is one of the most moving and emotionally devastating books I’ve ever read. Set in 1927 Mississippi, it blends historical fiction with Southern gothic horror in a way that feels both unsettling and deeply purposeful. I’ll be honest—the beginning is slow, slow enough that I almost DNF’d it—but I’m so glad I stayed. Once the story settles into its rhythm, it becomes a powerful exploration of Black womanhood, generational trauma, rage, and sisterhood. The concept of women carrying the pain men are freed from is haunting and symbolic, and it lingers long after the final page. This book doesn’t rush its message, but when it hits, it hits hard—and it’s absolutely worth the patience.

A haunting and powerful read. Our Sister’s Keeper blends historical fiction and Southern gothic horror to explore Black sisterhood, trauma, and resistance. The concept of women carrying the weight of men’s pain is chilling and unforgettable. Thought provoking, eerie, and beautifully written, this story stays with you long after the last page.

Damn!!!!!!!!
This is such a powerful story about anger, desire, and the unwavering strength of Black women. The writing is vivid and accessible. The plot weaves such a complicated tale without giving away too much at the beginning. And the characters are written with so much care, it’s easy to feel moved by their actions.
Using the horror genre as a vehicle to personify the weight of centuries of oppression is genius. And I loved reading Holmes take. This book is a gold mine of talking points on rage, resistance, and sisterhood. 10000000 out of 10!
Thank you to Netgalley for my early copy!!

Actual rating: 4.75

Our Sister’s Keeper is a doozy of a book telling so many stories and having so many conversations with important topics. It was a little slow to hold my attention, but once I got halfway in I was absolutely hooked and finished quickly. I love Thea and Kid’s love and how they both try to care for the other, at times to their own detriment. The whole way Black women are made to hold burdens, especially those of Black men to create a space where men can be seen as a man, is such a sharp part of this story. I don’t know if I have all the words for how much this story has utterly wiggled into my brain and got me buzzing with thoughts. I feel like this is an important book and saying such important things, but I also recognize this is a book that many will struggle with - there was a couple points where I wasn’t sure I could keep reading because of what Marah and the others were being made to carry. It broke my heart, but the ending was fantastic, though I was hoping for a brighter conclusion. This just is such a powerful book and I cannot wait to see what else Jasmine Holmes writes.

Wow. This book packed a punch. I had no idea what to expect but this put me through the ringer and I experienced so many emotions. I wanted to cry, scream and throw my ereader against the wall. So much meaning and feeling was packed in to this story. It was about trauma and emotional labour and the unequal burden sharing in relationships and so much more. This will stick with me for a while.

From Bindery Books, Our Sister’s Keeper by Jasmine Holmes is a sharp, haunting story of rage and sisterhood. Check trigger warnings, please.

Bullet points for those short on time:
- debut standalone thriller horror magical realism
- sisterhood, womanhood
- early 1900s Mississippi & the times’ perspectives of gender roles
- rage, power, memory, manipulation
- racism, sexism, misogyny

My summary: Newlyweds, Kid and Thea, travel to a seemingly idyllic all-Black Free town in Mississippi to start a new life. However, the town’s ideal is only made possible by sacrificing other childless unmarried women (women who refuse to fit the mould, who question too much, who want for more) and making them carry men’s emotional burdens so their wives can be free to be as the men want, soft, carefree, and baby machines. Marah is one of these women, trapped in a hellish nightmare. Yet, together with the other women in the same cage, she finds strength to survive and possibly even the hope of freedom…or revenge, if only she can remember who she is…and stop dulling her rage.

Thoughts: If you are looking for a book to make you stop scrolling, this is it. This was expertly written and edited. As horrifying and harrowing as it was, I didn’t want to put it down. The author’s skill in storytelling is clear!

There’s a lot of history and pain that is part of this book, so please check trigger warnings before opening. I think this is one of those books where you won’t be the same person after reading. It was brilliant, biting, and haunting.

Highly recommended. Let the rage go. Burn it all down.

Thank you to Bindery Books/Mareas/Marines for the eARC via NetGalley for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Content warnings:
Racism, sexism, misogyny, slavery, hauntings, torture, whipping, murder, death, severe gaslighting, psychological abuse, drugging, body horror, miscarriage, minor references to the bible/religion, and kidnapping.

Our Sister’s Keeper by Jasmine Holmes is a powerful and deeply reflective work that invites readers to reconsider what it truly means to care for and support one another within community. Holmes approach's themes of responsibility, compassion, and accountability with both honesty and grace, creating a reading experience that feels personal while still grounded in larger social and historical conversations.

What makes this book especially meaningful is its emphasis on empathy and intentional connection. Holmes encourages readers to move beyond surface-level understanding and instead engage in the harder work of listening, learning, and showing up for others with humility and care. The writing is thoughtful and accessible, balancing reflection with practical insight in a way that feels both encouraging and challenging.

This is a book that stays with you, prompting self-examination and deeper awareness long after finishing it. Our Sister’s Keeper is a meaningful reminder that community is built through responsibility, compassion, and the willingness to grow alongside one another.

I really enjoyed task book. It was beautifully written and the character development throughout was done beautifully. I loved the Historical Horror aspect of the story and it was done amazingly well and I loved seeing more people of colour in stories.

I want to be completely transparent. I didn’t manage to finish this book, not due to inability, but rather because personal circumstances left me short on time and motivation. I began reading it, and what I encountered was truly enjoyable. I believe I would have loved this book, especially with its ghostly and ghoulish elements. I hope to complete it once it is officially released. Thank you for the opportunity to read this, and I sincerely apologise for not finishing it.

WOW. This was such an incredibly powerful book! I don’t usually read books with horror elements, but they were masterfully used and really helped to build the tone of the story. The characters were so well-created and the way the two narratives collided was both devastating and beautiful. I think the message of Our Sister’s Keeper will stick with me for a long time.

Bottom line: I need more books like this one.

Guys wow,
The book kept me shallow-breathing; it’s claustrophobic in this town where Black people are ostensibly free, yet as a woman, there was still as strong a sense of oppression and quiet despair. Then, sudden gory reminders of the town’s slave past broke my spiraling, leaving me torn between guilt, horror, and gratitude?

If I have to nitpick, some of the vocabulary felt too modern for the setting and pulled me out of the story descriptions like butter yellow appeared more than a couple of times, and phrases like “getting married… in this economy?” felt out of place. But again, nitpicking.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book

This was done so well. It's a rare book where the execution lives up to the premise. Throughout the novel you get the shape of what is happening and why, but the way it all comes together is what makes the book. I appreciate the ending in particular- the women are given agency and a choice and that choice is understood and respected.
As a white person, I don't know if this was too on the nose in some descriptions. One problem I have with a lot of books is being fed too much info/the author not trusting me to read the subtext or have the background to understand what they want to say. I did NOT have that problem in this book, but I don't know if everyone would feel the same.
I have already recommended this book to all of my friends!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for this advance copy of Our Sister's Keeper.

This book was stunning, both in its storytelling and in its execution. I found myself drawn into each and every character, and especially loved the chapters which delved into their backstories. There is so much careful nuanced commentary woven into each chapter. Holmes delves deeply into topics of oppression and misogynoir while still reminding us of the ever powerful presence of sisterhood.

I did find the pacing to be slightly off at times. It has a slow build up, and the last quarter of the book hits quite hard with reveal after reveal. I may have preferred a steadier climb, but that's just my personal preference.

I give Our Sister's Keeper a 4.5/5.

This book was sharp and biting - filled with commentary on black women’s strength, communal trauma, the cost of trying and fighting to have it all. Wow, just wow. Also, gorgeous cover!!

This book will have you bouncing all over the feelings wheel. It had me laughing and cheering and punched me right in the heartstrings.

“Thea is NEVER a burden to me.”

I think it’s incredibly rare to find a story that will truly make you wonder which side of things you would be on. Do you ignore what’s happening around you for the chance to live a privileged life, at the expense of others? Or do you look at the horrors and know that you might have to join them if you don’t comply.

I’m giving this book 5 stars because that’s the most I can give but it deserves a million stars! What a story! I loved it so much!!

This was my first NetGalley ARC and first horror book and wow! The bar has been set high. Despite taking place in the 1920s, I couldn't help but draw parallels to the present day, especially as it relates to Black women's strength, generational trauma, and misogyny. As I finished the book, I was left pondering what healing from centuries of violence, oppression, and injustice looks like, especially when it is not at the expense of women or the oppressed carrying the burdens of society, and how do we leverage rage in current times in the face of so much injustice? Our Sister's Keeper is rich in history and masterful storytelling. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy and thank you to Jasmine Holmes for writing this spectacular work of literature. I will absolutely be buying this book, supporting this author, and recommending this book to all.

Intersectional feminist fantasy that's both tender and rage-filled, thrilling and heartbreaking. I didn't know books like this existed and now that I do, there's a whole new standard for the genre.

Our Sister's Keeper focuses on a thriving free black town in Mississippi with a haunting underbelly. East Cobb is every man's dream because every woman, but especially the designated carriers, carries the men's burdens for them.

Holmes nailed the best aspect of fantasy: using magic to give shape to reality. I loved the 1920s historical setting, the variety of heroes and villains, and the social commentary that never explained but was clear as day. The carriers' sisterhood and rage was palpable and relatable.

I truly hope we get more books like masterpiece and that Holmes has a long, awarded career. Cannot believe this is her debut!

Thank you to NetGalley for an early digital copy of this title.

Our Sister's Keeper is a beautifully written historical horror fiction. I personally had never read a book quite like this; it was such a unique gem of a book.

Jasmine Holmes writes the close to idyllic East Cobb, Mississippi as vivid as if the reader were actually there. The sights and smells of the streets mixed with the emotional tension of the East Cobb residents were so well written. I was blown away by the emotional range of this book- I screamed, cried, gasped, and cheered. The themes of racism, faith, womanhood, carrying each others' burdens, marriage, and rage are woven through the book. I enjoyed reading the backstories of each of the carriers, and I was blown away by the way Holmes brought all of the storylines together at the end. This is a book I'll be thinking about for awhile.

This book had me on the edge of my seat! I finished it in one day. There was an unpredictable-ness to some parts of it that made me want to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next. And even though I knew it was fiction, knowing the history of black women in this country, I honestly felt like the events could have truly happened.

On a deeper level, this story is really about black women throughout history and how we have been made to shoulder the burdens of others by force and by love. In this book, the pain of carrying those burdens and our perceived audacity to want more for ourselves is on full display. The criticisms and critiques we have faced over the years as we have fought to get just a small piece of something for ourselves are plain here. The way Jasmine Holmes weaves all of this truth for so many of us into this story is remarkable.

The love story between Kid and Thea, between Mildred (and the other women) and East Cobb, and between the carriers brought 3 different levels of want and desire. The back stories of each character were perfectly placed and helped me understand more what each character was after.

I could not put this book down. Stepford Wives meets Handmaids Tale meets Sky Full of Elephants. Amazing characters, brilliant story. Recommended for real readers. WOW!

Wow! Just wow! I'm sort of speechless.
This story will stay with me for a long time. This was beautifully written and took me through the every emotion. I cannot wait to talk about this book with my bookclub! Wow!

Our Sister’s Keeper by Jasmine Holmes is a powerful, heartfelt story about love, forgiveness, and the bonds that shape us. Holmes writes with emotional depth, giving each character a voice that resonates long after the last page. The novel’s themes of faith, resilience, and sisterhood are woven with warmth and authenticity. Compelling and compassionate, it’s a moving read that celebrates the strength found in family and redemption.

Before starting this review, I want to mention that I am a die-hard, huge, HUGE fan of Southern Gothic and in particular Black Southern Gothic fiction, particularly speculative. Since discovering Zora Neale Hurston’s work years ago, both fiction and nonfiction, I have loved finding so many more Black storytellers who have told these phenomenal stories, like Eden Royce, Andrea Hairston, and many others. And after “Sinners” in 2025, a film that will stay with me for the rest of my life, I was very excited to get into “Our Sister’s Keeper” by Jasmine Holmes.

The book is set in a Mississippi town, East Cobb. Like Eatonville, Florida before it, East Cobb is a wealthy all-Black Free Town. The protagonist, Thea, has made a life for herself here. She soon finds out that only the women of the town can see nightmares and apparitions. Then there’s Marah. She is a carrier — a woman who can pull traumatic memories out of men (something that is far, far more intense than it seems on first glance). So in this town, the men are freed of their pain, but the remnants of their memories are said to haunt the women here.

The novel had a very “Eve’s Bayou” vibe for me and started off strong. Fans who also like the works of Jesmyn Ward and Yah Yah Scholfield will enjoy this book.

One word - incredible. This book started out slow and meticulous, gently leading the reader right where it wanted us - into a state of shock and surprised when you finally realize exactly what was going on. As many other readers have said, I did not see that coming. I thought I knew what was going on, but not the full extent. What a wild ride with an amazing payoff.

The premise is what got me right away. We start in 1927 rural Mississippi in a free black town. A town where everything seems perfect! Quite unusual for Jim Crow south. How is it perfect? Well, there are women who pull the painful memories from the men of the town, allowing them to flourish unburdened. But who carries the burdens of these sisters? What an intriguing concept! Right away I was bracing for the horror of what was going to be uncovered, because with a setup like this, the utopia of the town was sure to be founded on a rotting core. The slow buildup of the horror, the painful reveals, and the reckoning that comes at the end....chefs kiss.

I hesitate to say more without giving too much more away. However, I will reiterate the tagline from the book premise that originally hooked me. That Our Sister's Keeper is "A gripping blend of historical fiction and Southern gothic psychological horror, Our Sister’s Keeper is a fierce exploration of Black sisterhood, rage, and resistance." It is all of that and more. I will be thinking of this one for awhile.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for the digital ARC of this novel. Can't wait until publication!

Horror narratives that make your scream and cry because of the truth hidden within the monster. This is a narrative that will have you thumbing each page for answers as you bite your nails. This is terrifying but you cannot look away. The historical components are both tear jerking and refocus your attention to the cultural significance. The rage of being othered and trying to make your way in a world that gives you nothing but platitudes and hate. A slow burn that turns around to give you one of the most shocking horror twists.
A great narrative that will shock you at your core. This is horror – the fear, the terror, and the sheer monstrosity of the treatment of black people in America. Trauma that unwinds into fits of rage and discovering who really is the monster. Who are we running way from and why is that so important? All the protagonist wants is to make a life for herself outside of the expectations of whiteness and colonialism. This narrative is also feminist in nature and what it means for black women to create a community that cares for each other.
A definitive read on anti-colonialism horror that will make you want to read this again for context you may have missed. Holmes has a knack for writing with articulate flair that catches you with her sweet but direct register. There are moments where the story is stagnant and fills in the history. Normally, I am not one to deal with slower pacing but for this narrative that context is vital. Think of the way we interact with American Black History and how often it is erased.
There is not a piece of this narrative that does not deserve praise. What does it look like to build a community and find the horrors within? It is the way colonialism is sneaked into every living aspect of our lives. What does it mean to have no control yet try to reign in control from those who persist in seeing you no longer live? Thank you Jasmine Holmes and Bindery for this advanced digital copy. All opinions are my own.
For more tarot readings, recommendations, and reviews, please look at my blog, https://brujerialibrary.wordpress.com/

ARC of Our Sister’s Keeper by Jasmine Holmes granted by Bindery Books, Inc.

Throughout reading this I continued saying to myself one thing: this one is gonna be BIG!

Our Sister’s Keeper is a story that takes place in a historically fictional post-civil war America that is surrounded by magic, sci-fi, dystopian ideals, and even a deep dive into horror that kept me guessing until the end.

The setting places us in a Mississippi society cut off from anti-black sentiment growing within the States, where black men and women can live in harmony with one another without the strife of white hate in their community. However, there’s a very dark secret keeping everyone in bliss.

This book begs the reader the question: if black Americans were able to live as selfishly and self centered as white Americans have been since the Country’s inception, would privilege show its face in the same manner? The culmination of this read shows that everyone has the choice to speak up for the silent and that ancestry can come to bite those in the ass who tarnish human decency for their neighbor.

Often a story that tries to tie in so many concepts leaves other parts of the story, such as character development, dry. However, the characters in this were multiple and SO SO strong, each on their own and as a group, that I can definitely see this spread into other novels. I feel like the characters have so much more to tell and places to heal.

I really can’t wait to see the reception of this book once it’s available to the public! I want more!!!

"Don't look away."

This book is an absolutely fantastic historical horror fiction by Jasmine Holmes.

The characters are stunning--with ones you fall in love with and ones you get so angered by you might throw your book. But that's how excellent the storytelling is.

This book haunted me. I kept picking it up for more because I couldn't wait to see where it went next. The plot twist toward the end is SOUL CRUSHING but soo good.

The entire story is reminiscent of the great Tananariva Due, and to be frank, it deserves to be a best seller.

Definitely has dark vibes with intense scenes, but like the refain you find through the story, don't look away. Read it.

This is worth being on high-school reading lists, frankly.

Fantastic job, to the author for a stunning story that will leave you thinking deeply on our history and the burdens we've forced others to carry for us.

I really hope more books are in the works!

Thank you so much to Bindery and NetGalley for an eARC!

This was an absolutely phenomenal read! I will say that it is important for people to protect their hearts when approaching this story because there is a good bit related to enslaved people in America post Civil War.

I think the author did a fantastic job of carrying the weight and tension of the intersectional aspects of the story, and how this played into the horror aspect of the story. This story takes on misogyny within a all-Black Free Town in Mississippi in 1927 and tackles intersectionality incredibly well. While there are supernatural elements to this story, this very much incorporates the horror of humanity as well, with the story keeping you on your toes until the very end. This story is deeply emotional on multiple levels and I loved the alternating perspectives, along with the fantastic major reveal of the story. The GASP I gasped!

I loved the layers of the story, and the writing was absolutely fantastic. This book is heavy and has a lot of heart to it, along with great components of generational shifts and feminine rage. I definitely will continue to read Jasmine Holmes and am excited to see what she will write next.

The worldbuilding in this novel is incredible! From the first page, I was sucked into the town of East Cobb and the strange magic that has infiltrated every part of life here. This is sure to be a staple of Southern gothic horror in the years to come, and I'm so excited to see what Holmes comes up with next.

First and foremost what an absolutely original concept. I’ve never read anything like it and massively respect the creativity of the author, as well as all the heart that was infused in the story. This was heartbreaking and enraging to read, but all the better for it. I was intrigued immediately and while I did take a while to get used to the narrative jumping around, eventually I became accustomed to it. I was genuinely surprised by how all the threads of the story came together in the end.

Our Sister’s Keeper was SO GOOD! Wow. This book is definitely a page turner. The amount of rage I felt from the women on the pages made me feel as if I was in the story with them and one of the carriers myself. We mainly follow Thea and Marah in a town called East Cobb that is a Negro town only where men can get rid of their burdens, but in turn only women see “groanings” and hear them as well. Marah is a carrier in East Cobb that helps men ease their burdens. Thea is new to town and begins to think the town is odd when no one else is reacting to the groanings. I really enjoyed this book and I can’t wait for others to read it too.

Thank you NetGalley and Bindery Books for an arc!

I was not prepared. The idea that a community could be built on women quietly absorbing everyone else's pain — and that it could look like a good thing from the outside — sat with me for days. Marah deserved better and Holmes makes sure you feel that. Don't sleep on this one.
4.5 out of 5.

Thank you to Bindery Books and Netgalley for the eARC!

Wow. This book truly and completely blew me away! I read it in the span of 24 hours because I was so sucked in to the story, and it just kept getting better the more I read.

The emotions were so visceral, and while I as a White person will never truly understand the struggle of being a Black person, I could understand and sympathize with the choices the many Black characters made, especially with the context I have gathered over the years of what it means to simply exist as a Black person in the United States. Even when some of the choices made could be seen as "bad" or "wrong," I could still grasp why that choice was made. The neverending weight of White supremacy truly harms us all, but Black people especially.

The atmosphere and characters were so well written that I felt like a movie version of the book was playing in my head as I read. And when I finally pieced together what was really going on in East Cobb? My jaw dropped, and I had to set down my phone to just bask in the glory of being truly surprised -- a feeling I don't often get from most mysteries anymore, fictional or otherwise.

I will definitely be picking up a physical copy as soon as I can, because I need this book in my collection.

#OurSistersKeeper #NetGalley

I devoured Our Sister’s Keeper in less than 24 hours and immediately started angrily messaging my friends demanding they read it too. This book got under my skin in the best possible way. It’s dark, unsettling, emotionally devastating, and completely impossible to look away from.

The psychological horror in this story was incredibly well done. Every reveal made me feel more uneasy, and the twists genuinely shocked me. Just when I thought I understood what was happening, the story twisted again in a way that made everything even more horrifying. The tension builds so perfectly throughout the entire book.

What really stayed with me, though, was the emotional weight behind it all. I felt anger, sadness, and complete devastation for these women and everything they endured. The horror works because the emotional core feels so real.

If you love dark psychological horror with shocking twists and a story that leaves you thinking about it long after you finish, this is absolutely worth reading.

My Sister’s Keeper is an engaging and thought-provoking read and it kept me invested from beginning to the last page! There is a HUGE twist I didn't see coming. The story does an excellent job of exploring important social issues, particularly around race and feminist themes. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a powerful and compelling story

I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I started this book. What a well-written piece of supernatural fiction. The small town of East Cobb was billed as a Utopia for black families in 1927 Mississippi, where they could live lives of wealth and comfort. But it came at a cost. Just who paid it, why, how it started (and how it ends) will keep you turning the pages. I read this in one sitting, and you may find yourself doing the same.

I'm calling it now: Jasmine Holmes is the next Tananarive Due.

This story is gripping, infuriating, heartbreaking, with an undercurrent of hope. A Black feminist masterpiece that we can all learn from.

I could not put this one down. It is a poignant and prescient work I believe will quickly become a new classic. The idea of Black women taking on the burdens of Black men in order to ensure their happiness and safety is not new to those women who have lived in America. The rich, complex characters feel alive, as if they are standing in front of you, and their pain is the reader's pain.

This story has a twist that you probably won't see coming, which will shock you and make you want to throw the book- I just kept saying, "No! No!!!" aloud.

I cheered for the righteous feminine rage of Marah, Thea, Frankie, Violet, Inez, Belle, Gertie, and Betts... and cried for the injustices and indignities suffered by the carriers of East Cobb. The same injustices still being perpetrated on our Black siblings today.

If you love history, stories of Black excellence and vengeance, and books like The Reformatory, you will love Our Sister's Keeper.

On sale June 9th, I can't recommend this enough!

Thank you @Netgalley for the advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Bindery for the ARC. The thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

Our Sister's Keeper is a devastating, heartbreaking and often brutal psychological horror that champions Black feminine rage, resistance and sisterhood. And oh how I felt that rage, from the very first page to the very end. Any author that makes me feel this strongly will end up on my list of favorite authors.

This book was impossible for me to put down, despite wanting to throw my kindle at the wall sometimes because of the rage. The different pov's and the blending of the timelines is what made me keep reading, because I needed to know what happened next. If sleep hadn't defeated me in the end, I probably would have finished it in one sitting.

The reckoning was a much needed release after all the rage, it was brutal but glorious.

I love love loved this book. I almost don’t want to talk about it too much because going into it blind was such a treat. These characters jumped off the page in such a beautiful way and they took us on this journey of black women’s suffering, the strength of sisterhood, and the overwhelming power of rage. The slow buildup and creeping dread of this book gave me so much anxiety. I had no idea what to expect. Easily my favorite book of 2026. Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

I don’t even know how to talk about this book because it was SO GOOD.

Our Sister’s Keeper is a book where every piece feels intentional and well-planned out. The writing is incredible, the themes are layered without ever feeling heavy-handed, and the story steadily builds toward an ending that completely consumed me. The final ten percent is absolutely impossible to put down (I read the ending while on my walking pad and ending up walking 4 miles just to finish it!). Every chapter raises the stakes, every revelation lands, and the book manages to deliver a twist I genuinely didn’t see coming.

What impressed me most, though, is how powerfully the novel explores the costs of survival. Beneath the psychological horror and Southern Gothic atmosphere is a story about Black women carrying impossible burdens while refusing to surrender themselves to them. It’s heartbreaking, furious, hopeful, and deeply human all at once. Some parts of the ending left me emotional enough to cry, others felt bittersweet, but every moment felt earned. This is one of the strongest debuts I’ve read in a very long time, and I’ll be reading whatever this author writes next.

This is a book that you just have to experience. Read it RIGHT NOW!

Not only is this the most beautiful cover I've ever seen (honestly, the more you look at it, the more stunning details pop out. GORGEOUS). The story itself was written so well that I was really surprised it was a full-length debut. The intermingling of historical fiction with a deep psychological horror was crafted so beautifully and it ended up being a really haunting portrayal of women in the deep south in 1927. It was full of rage and sisterhood and painted the most magnificently strong picture of black women resisting the box they're thrown into. It's both an important read atop a fantastic story. Well done, Jasmine!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this novel. All my thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is only my second 5-star read of the year (it’s June) and I don’t think there is any book more deserving at this moment. I was starting to think I was too picky.

I am truly in awe.

The cleverness of making Black women shoulder the burdens of everyone. Having to paste on a smile to keep up the illusions that everything is fine. Being punished for wanting more. The fact that our anger is power, not something to stifle like we are taught.

Oftentimes, I do not enjoy “unlikeable” characters. But for this book, that was not the case. I don’t see any of the women as villains. At the most, I think they were morally grey. I hurt for them all almost equally as much as I was upset at some of their actions.

This was excellent. And I see myself thinking about this one for a while.

What happens when the Utopia you were promised isn’t what it seems? The perfect place to start a family, raise your children, away from the threats that exist in the white world. A place where you’ll never have to worry about lynchings, or mobs, or the Klan. A place where you can lay your burdens down- as long as you’re a man.

These are the questions we ask when reading Our Sisters Keeper, and in return, we receive our answers- although they may not be the ones we wish to find. On the surface, East Cobb seems like the perfect town. An all-Black Utopia, safe from the rest of the world. But the perfectly manicured lawns and picture perfect families are not what they seem on the outside. East Cobb has a dark secret in place to ensure its happiness: the men’s burdens are carried by the women.

Our two points of view are Marah, a carrier, who has watched her sisters die off due to the weight they carry, and Thea, who isn’t as charmed by the town as her newlywed husband is. Through these women’s eyes, we watch as the serenity of this town unravels, and the illusion disappears with it. East Cobb is built on the pain of Black women, their suffering being the hands that hold the weight of the world. But just like most systems of oppression, the world of this town is due to crash down.

I felt so much dread reading this book. Terrified through Thea and Marah’s eyes, in the best way.

Thank you so much to Mareas Books and Netgalley for the e-arc! Our Sisters Keeper is a fantastically woven psychological horror, set in 1927. I kept my review short and sweet to keep things spoiler free, but please know my thoughts on this book are many! Check it out when it releases on June 9th!

Our Sisters’ Keerper by Jasmine Holmes - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bindery Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I’ll be honest, I know whatever I say here, it simply won’t do this book justice so I’ll start off with: just go read it. Seriously.

Now if that didn’t convince you… well, here we go.
Our Sister’s Keeper by Jasmine Holmes is a haunting Southern gothic horror novel set in 1927 Mississippi that explores generational trauma, misogyny, systemic abuse, and the emotional burdens women are expected to carry for others. In the wealthy all-Black town of East Cobb, Mississippi, women alone can see the terrifying “groanings” that haunt the community while a group of women known as carriers are used to absorb men’s traumatic memories.

Thea and her husband Kid, both from Washington DC, arrive in East Cobb one morning, and while it seems like a perfect utopia in contrast with the rest of the 1920s American South, not everything is as it seems. The first strangeness that Thea notices is that she has to get a vaccination upon arrival, but more strange things keep happening, including screams that seem to come from nowhere, and that quickly turn into visions of abused or injured women that no one else seems to acknowledge. And though she is college-educated and has been working on her writing, it doesn't seem like anyone in the town wants her to be anything but a housewife.

In alternating chapters, we also learn about East Cobb from Marah's perspective— one of the carriers living in a house away from the “townies”. The girls and their keeper, Miss Clothilde take the burdens off of the men in town through some process developed by Dr. Grimm, a white doctor who teaches them about the "gift" they can give the men of East Cobb as carriers: the men pour their hearts out about the horrible things they've experienced, which the girls then experience, including the emotions and physical pain. This leaves the men feeling like their burdens have been lifted, free to “be men” and making it so their wives don't have to carry the burdens either.

Through the perspectives of Thea and Marah, Holmes examines how systems of oppression reproduce themselves even among people seeking freedom from injustice. The novel also draws from the horrifying history of medical experimentation on Black communities, making its supernatural horror feel disturbingly real.

What impressed me most in this book was how intentional every detail felt. Holmes plants small moments and clues throughout the story that later pay off beautifully, creating a novel that rewards careful reading. The atmosphere is eerie, the themes are powerful, and the social commentary is woven naturally into the story rather than overpowering it. There’s a twist at the end that I can honestly say didn’t see coming from a mile off, and you WILL want to stick around for it.
This book really runs the gamut of emotions: I was rooting for Thea and Kid, crying and screaming in rage on behalf of the carrier girls, occasionally wanting to punch snobby Mildred… did I mention I cried. A *lot*?

I genuinely can’t recommend this one enough. Jasmine Holmes, what a masterpiece.

What burdens would you shoulder to create a better community? Would you shoulder them willingly even if you couldn’t enjoy the peace the relief brings? What would you turn a blind eye to to live in such a community? Well Thea has to make those choices if she wants a future with Kid, but does she make the right choice? Do any of the women in East Cobb make the right choices?
You’ll have to decide that for yourself.
This is dark, mysterious, and gripping. I was rooting for Thea and Kid. I was calling for blood with the burden carriers. I desperately wanted to punch Mildred in her snobby turned up nose. I’m still not over “Saditty”. I cried copious amounts of tears.
Highly recommend.

Our Sister's Keeper (publication day June 9, 2026) by historian Jasmine Holmes is a superb historical fantasy/ horror novel set in a fictional 1920s Mississippi town called East Cobb. East Cobb is the black sister to the white town of West Cobb, and it's different than most--it's thriving and everyone seems happy.

Thea and her husband Kid, both from Washington DC, arrive in East Cobb one morning because Kid had interviewed for a teaching position in the high school and they agreed to try it out. The first strangeness that Thea notices is that she has to get a vaccination upon arrival, but more strange things keep happening, including screams that seem to come from nowhere, and that quickly turn into visions of abused or injured women that no one else seems to acknowledge. And though she is college-educated and has been working on her writing, it doesn't seem like anyone in the town wants her to be anything but a housewife.

In alternating chapters, we also learn about East Cobb from Marah's perspective--she lives in a house with Miss Clothilde and several other girls--but it is not a brothel. The girls and Miss Clothilde take the burdens off of the men in town through some process developed by Dr. Grimm, a white doctor who teaches them about the "gift" they can give the men of East Cobb, which involves the girls holding the mens' hands and the men pouring their hearts out about the horrible things they've experienced, which the girls then experience, including the emotions and physical pain. This leaves the men feeling like their burdens have been lifted, free to be men and making it so their wives don't have to carry the burdens either.

Thea keeps seeing more and more--the Groanings, she calls them--the ghosts of the women who have carried the burdens of the men of East Cobb. And she can't tell Kid about it because he seems to really love it there--she doesn't want to be another burden to him. But she realizes that the entire town is built on the lives of these women--the burden-bearers.

It is so well-done, with a twist I didn't see coming. It has some similar themes with Tananarive Due's The Reformatory in all of the best ways. I couldn't stop reading and had to find out what happened. I highly recommend it, although I must warn about some anti-fat bias in that both groups of women--the burden-bearers and the wives--are expected to remain thin, and Thea uses a man's body size to retaliate against some comments he had made to her. I wish Holmes hadn't included those details, but they are realistic for the time period, unfortunately.

Our Sister’s Keeper by Jasmine Holmes is a haunting Southern gothic horror novel set in 1927 Mississippi that explores generational trauma, misogyny, systemic abuse, and the emotional burdens women are expected to carry for others. In the wealthy all-Black town of East Cobb, women alone can see the terrifying “groanings” that haunt the community while a group of women known as carriers are used to absorb men’s traumatic memories.

Through the perspectives of Thea and Marah, Holmes examines how systems of oppression reproduce themselves even among people seeking freedom from injustice. The novel also draws from the horrifying history of medical experimentation on Black communities, making its supernatural horror feel disturbingly real.

What impressed me most was how intentional every detail felt. Holmes plants small moments and clues throughout the story that later pay off beautifully, creating a novel that rewards careful reading. The atmosphere is eerie, the themes are powerful, and the social commentary is woven naturally into the story rather than overpowering it.

This is a challenging, emotionally heavy novel, but also an incredibly rewarding one that will leave readers thinking long after they finish it.

I know my review won’t do this book justice, so, up front, I will say: just read it.

Our Sister’s Keeper certainly has an unassuming title. It’s a blend of southern psychological horror, historical fiction, and…sci-fi? I’m not actually sure how you would properly categorize this. Whatever it’s considered, I’m here for it.

It’s an impactful story that addresses race, slavery, trauma, women’s roles & burdens, class, and what it means to be a loving, supportive spouse or partner. I would definitely characterize this as a heavier read. I was devastated when I figured out what was happening, but I really loved how the ending came together.

Recommended for fans of historical horror that doesn’t shy away from addressing issues head-on.

Thank you to NetGalley & Bindery Books for the eARC.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

WOW. I did not know what I was getting into with this book and I’m actually glad I had no idea going in. This may be the best book I’ve read so far this year.

With a powerful mix of horror and social commentary, “Our Sister’s Keeper” is a book that highlights the — very unfair — expectation for Black women to carry other people’s burdens with a smile on their face and without a single word of complaint.

The story takes place in the town of East Cobb, which is an all-Black community where its citizens are able to live free from the fear of white hatred and oppression. It seems like a utopia from the first few glances, but readers will be able to quickly realize that the peaceful living that the men and women of East Cobb get to experience is only possible in exchange for the ongoing suffering of a select few women. As I got further into the story, my main question was really just “are all of these people really free after all, or is this entire town just a different flavor of slavery?”

Holmes’ prose flows smoothly and the entire book really had me captivated from the very first page — she did a fantastic job of crafting a story that’s emotional, haunting, and thought-provoking. There’s also a perfect balance of characters you want to root for as well as characters you’re going to hate, and I’d say they’re all developed pretty well. Even though I definitely didn’t agree with a lot of the choices made by certain characters in this story, I do think their motivations were laid out clearly and their behaviors made sense in context of their beliefs.

This is probably going to be one of those novels that I’ll keep thinking back on for quite some time. It’s a story that is here to tell a message and does a great job at delivering that message. I’ll definitely be putting this one into my list of favorite Southern gothics and I’ll absolutely be keeping an eye out for whatever Jasmine Holmes comes out with next!

I ate this book up in 2 days! Gothic horror is becoming my jam and go to. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel.

What would you do if your worse memories, bad experiences, or nightmares could be taken from you and you no longer had to suffer with those recollections?

What if you are the person that receives these nightmares and they feel so real you have to physically recover sometimes?

It's 1927 in East Coob, a town in Mississippi, everyone is free and wealthy and also black.

The women shoulder the burden of making sure their men are relieved of all stress and strife and bad memories that plague them, the men take this for granted.

But there will be a reckoning...

From Jasmine Holmes, a debut novel, a gripping blend of historical fiction and Southern gothic psychological horror, Our Sister’s Keeper is a fierce exploration of Black sisterhood, rage, and resistance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for this ARC.

I was going through a bit of a reading slump this month and I tend to put down whatever I'm reading, but I'm so glad I pushed through with this one. This was an incredible story that left me with my jaw on the floor in the end. The themes in this are so raw and centers around injustice and rage that we see too often throughout history. I felt for these characters and what they were fighting for. The final act had me flipping pages like nobody's business.

This was an incredibly powerful story. I felt so strongly while reading and we need more stories like that. I loved the concept of the women taking on the grief of the men and thought it was a great original idea. The storytelling with the seemingly parallel perspectives really helped hide the plot twist until it was basically right in front of you. The ending was so well done and I felt so much. Seriously I cannot say enough good things about this book. As a woman I felt seen and heard and this story is definitely going to stay with me for a long while.

Thanks to Bindery Books and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC!

Wow this was amazing. Easily 5 stars. A bit of a slow burn in the beginning but it really picks up. I can't wait to see where this book goes!

This book needs to become a film ASAP. Wow wow wow!! I was hooked from the very first page. I can't believe how good this was! The characters felt so real, like I was reading about real people rather than fictional characters. I was rooting for them and so concerned for their wellbeing. I will absolutely be recommending this to everyone!