The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
hello_lovely13's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Child abuse
Moderate: Blood, Misogyny, and Domestic abuse
ka_ke's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It’s okay. I appreciate the complexity behind the need to protect ones sister, and protecting oneself by reporting the crime. It’s not easy to be in that position and I believe it was portrayed well.
Otherwise the book gets very repetitive and eventually you figure out where it’s going
Otherwise the book gets very repetitive and eventually you figure out where it’s going
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Misogyny, and Violence
Moderate: Classism, Gore, Bullying, Grief, Mental illness, and Death of parent
yomireads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
What I love most about this book are the evolving characters. From the beginning to the end of the book I wouldn't say there's a whole lot of growth for any character in particular; however, the non linear story-telling adds complexity to what could easy be written off as "she's good, she's bad, and its always been this way." Though through the haggard circumstances of murder, the fraught nature of sibling dynamics is well realized as they squabble with each other, harp about each other, and love each other.
Usually the overall lack of growth would be a very big disappointment to me, but the sense of dread and feeling of inevitability that surrounds the conclusion of this book feels very nuanced to me. And though it's a small change,there is a sense of the sister's relationship become more resolute and settled.
Stylistically, I also found the chapters to be just a smidgen too short. I don't mind quick chapters, but sometimes keeping the chapters so brief feels like it's cutting the plot and story momentum off at the knees. I know this isnt a largely popular opinion, so take that as you will.
Usually the overall lack of growth would be a very big disappointment to me, but the sense of dread and feeling of inevitability that surrounds the conclusion of this book feels very nuanced to me. And though it's a small change,
Stylistically, I also found the chapters to be just a smidgen too short. I don't mind quick chapters, but sometimes keeping the chapters so brief feels like it's cutting the plot and story momentum off at the knees. I know this isnt a largely popular opinion, so take that as you will.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Misogyny and Gaslighting
Minor: Physical abuse and Medical content
heather_harrison's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I could not get enough of the audio book of "My Sister, the Serial Killer" - after picking this up on a whim and hearing some mixed reviews, I really enjoyed this.
It walks the line between dark and funny. The writing is direct, and often sardonic.
It walks the line between dark and funny. The writing is direct, and often sardonic.
Korede is a plain no-nonsense woman, a nurse, and older sister.
Ayoola is her beautiful younger sister who can seemingly do no wrong. Except for the trail of dead men she seems to leave in her wake.
Ayoola is her beautiful younger sister who can seemingly do no wrong. Except for the trail of dead men she seems to leave in her wake.
Femi makes three, you know. Three, and they label you a serial killer.
I found both Korede and Ayoola absolutely fascinating, and their relationship is like a train wreck (you can't help but not look away). It is simultaneously disturbing and delicious.
"I am the older sister—I am responsible for Ayoola. That's how it has always been. Ayoola would break a glass, and I would receive the blame for giving her the drink. Ayoola would fail a class, and I would be blamed for not coaching her. Ayoola would take an apple and leave the store without paying for it, and I would be blamed for letting her get hungry."
For anyone who is an older sibling, this not an wholely accurate representation per se, but you will feel so seen in how this book handles the expectations and complexities!
“It’s because she is beautiful, you know. That’s all it is. They don’t really care about the rest of it. She gets a pass at life.”
For a piece of writing that is so dark, funny and light - this does a pretty solid job at reflecting on not just women in patriarchal society, but also the weaponisation of beauty.
For those that get it, get it - a fresh punchy piece of feminist satire.
For those that get it, get it - a fresh punchy piece of feminist satire.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Violence, Physical abuse, Infidelity, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Death of parent
ahhhreadzombiez's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
This book hmm… I got through it very fast (in two days, really) but does that mean I enjoyed it? Well, not exactly. I didn’t enjoy the characters; it’s very hard to read a book when you don’t like a single character in it. And I can’t help but feel I continued to read it because I wanted to just see it through to the end and hope, just really hope that the characters would have some type of development that would make them just a tad bit enjoyable. It was just a tragic story with what felt like no real point. I wish I liked this more, but it just… didn’t do it for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Murder, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Grief, and Child abuse
Moderate: Rape and Pedophilia
autumngore's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
this book & 'the bandit queens' are like sisters. iykyk!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, and Child abuse
sissiemilia's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I really like Braithwaite’s writing style and her dialogue is amazing. I just kinda struggled to connect with the characters. Half way through the story I found myself thinking ”why should I care about this story?” I also found that I don’t like the characters. And in a way that’s unusual for me. I normally love characters that are morally grey (or in this case probably just straight up horrible), but for some reason I just couldn’t like them as characters. The potential this book had with its themes and the way it let me down was dissapointing.
ALSO, this was marketed as a comedy, but I really struggled to find that aspect of the story. 🤷🏻♀️
ALSO, this was marketed as a comedy, but I really struggled to find that aspect of the story. 🤷🏻♀️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Body horror, Physical abuse, and Murder
Moderate: Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
heisiiri's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
A fun, fast-paced book that is dark in its themes yet light in its style and narration. This was an extremely quick read, with an interesting yet fairly simple plot.
My main issue was with the characters. Yeah, they're kind of unlikeable on purpose, like they're not supposed to be good people, but sometimes the way they behaved just got on my nerves way too much. I didn't connect with any character in particular - I mostly just felt bad for the main character for having to deal with all these people.
My main issue was with the characters. Yeah, they're kind of unlikeable on purpose, like they're not supposed to be good people, but sometimes the way they behaved just got on my nerves way too much. I didn't connect with any character in particular - I mostly just felt bad for the main character for having to deal with all these people.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Murder, and Child abuse
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Misogyny, and Death
kateea7536's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A really quick read that I was gripped to. I loved the short chapters and the different time periods and characters perspectives that were shown. Such an innovative and interesting plot and I couldn’t stop reading. I feel like the end happened so quickly though - I wanted there to be more to it in some way perhaps…
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Murder, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death, Medical content, Death of parent, Infidelity, Physical abuse, and Blood
bethantg's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Death and Medical content