Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

My Sister, the Serial Killer, by Oyinkan Braithwaite

13 reviews

fraise's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Infidelity, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Blood, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Grief, and Medical content

Minor: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Classism, Drug use, and Animal death

particledamage's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective 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

2.5

I've seen this book described as biting satire but while it was abundant in commentary--on colorism and beauty standards, on misogyny, on codependency and the construction of the family unit, on wealth--it feels more like "satire" here just means "Everyone is one-dimensional to make a point" rather than anything more biting, nuanced, or funny.

The book goes at a break neck pace but only because of its short chapters and time jumps, not because anything meaningful actually happens or changes. You see everything coming; it's easy to see that that may be intentional but ultimately that changes nothing, you still want to just skip ahead to have it confirmed. There is little to be lost if your eyes glaze over waiting for confirmation rather than taking in what little story this book has to offer.

That said, this book is oozing with potential. The sisterly relationship--and sometimes lack thereof--is compelling and I would have loved to seen it explored more with two fully realized characters. The idea of them both ultimately being their sister's keeper is interesting but when the story is so rote, you never see the boundaries of that relationship tested in any meaningful way. The high takes of this story and their relationship feels much like jumping out of a third story window except you're wearing a safety harness and a bungee rope, knowing you'll never hit the ground.

I think if this book committed more to being a short story, I could forgive its shallowness and lack of peak a bit more. But instead this book half-commits to being a full story and loses its steam halfway through, overextending itself with details that don't add much to the moral questions its asking (and sometimes answering). 

Still, the premise alone is so refreshing and new I can't resent it for not reaching the highs I wanted it to.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Child abuse, Toxic friendship, Sexism, Physical abuse, and Misogyny

Minor: Blood, Classism, Pedophilia, Violence, Medical content, Death, and Death of parent

nojerama's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Wow this book moved at breakneck speed I literally read it in one day. Absolutely gripping and so much of Korede's feelings towards her sister and other women in her life resonated with me so much. Absolutely loved it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Car accident, Drug abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Mental illness, Cursing, Death, Gaslighting, Violence, Murder, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Domestic abuse, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, Rape, and Stalking

nrogers_1030's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Murder, Blood, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Death, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Police brutality and Medical content

saraellenme's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Blood, and Toxic friendship

bex_knighthunterbooks's review against another edition

dark funny tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I picked this up on a whim, and am so glad I did! This felt vey original - a morbid family drama set in Nigeria that is both funny and dark. It was very readable with short chapters, entertaining writing, and I was never sure what would happen next. The situation and characters did frustrate me often, but I think that was the intention of the author given the family dynamic is so toxic, so that is not necessarily a bad thing! I liked that the perspective was the put-upon sister of a serial killer, where we can see her enabling behaviour and also how trapped she is. I also liked the way the book criticises how often we allow pretty privilege to blind us to someone's flaws.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Toxic friendship, Child abuse, and Death

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Blood

nicole_schmid's review against another edition

dark reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This book has a very intriguing concept, written neither in the POV of the serial killer nor the detective trying to stop them, but the killer's sister. We follow her struggles as she is torn between helping her baby sister and giving justice to her victims, especially considering that her newest victim is someone she herself is interested in.
The ending was a bit predictable, I found, but enough doubt was shed onto the conclusion that I was not completely sure. Refreshingly, this is not a cheesy romance movie ending where everything ends well and everyone is happy.

Spoiler

The protective big sister remains as such, choosing her family and moral code over justice and the man she loves.

Overall, I do not think this book is especially outstanding (excepting the fact that it is set in an African country without being about racism, colonialism or the aftereffects thereof), but I quite enjoyed it and it was a quick and engaging read.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Drug abuse and Pedophilia

avishajain's review against another edition

adventurous dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Was really expecting much more from this book, it ended up being kinda bleh. I was expecting it to be funny, it was anything but. Don't bother reading it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Death, Murder, and Toxic friendship

moiralyle's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Gaslighting, Death, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Body shaming, Violence, Pedophilia, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Child abuse, and Blood

chichio's review against another edition

dark funny tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

OBSESSED WITH THIS BOOK. HONESTLY.

Such an interesting take on sisterhood because it uses a serial killer and her sister to explore an, otherwise, common theme of sibling rivalry as well as the sibling solidarity that exists alongside it. 

Loved how drastically different both Korede and Ayoola were and how they were both revealed to be terribly flawed in completely different ways. 

This was a really fast paced read with punchy, short chapters and an overall plot that had me hooked from the very beginning. Had elements of dark humour dotted throughout that had be laughing/smiling despite the crimes that had happened just two pages prior. 
 
Will hold a special place in my heart… especially because it’s based in Nigeria❤️🤌🏾

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Body shaming