Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

141 reviews

tinnuben's review against another edition

emotional funny tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Child abuse, Murder, and Death of parent

tacochelle's review against another edition

dark funny fast-paced

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

4.0

I really liked this, not so much as a thriller but as a black comedy. I liked the exploration of the sisters' relationship, though I wish that Ayoola was more developed as a character. It felt like she was a bit one-dimensional until the end. It was short, well paced, and the narrator for the audiobook was great. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Death of parent

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. 

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. 

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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Grief, and Death

Moderate: Violence, Physical abuse, Infidelity, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Death of parent

alisonfaith426's review against another edition

fast-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Murder, Child abuse, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual content and Toxic relationship

Minor: Death of parent, Infidelity, and Medical content

traa's review against another edition

dark 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Gaslighting, Medical content, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Blood, and Infidelity

Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Police brutality, and Sexual content

nindie's review against another edition

dark 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? It's complicated

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Child abuse, Death, Murder, Toxic relationship, Gore, Death of parent, Medical content, Violence, Blood, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Pedophilia, and Grief

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, and Vomit

nefariousbee's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-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

2.75

this book could have been good if it went deeper into everyone's psyches. as it is now, it's just average which is honestly a shame. also the author seems not to realize how not good of a person the main character is which doesn't help its case

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Blood, Gore, Medical content, Murder, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Fatphobia, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Bullying, and Toxic relationship

abitbetterbooks's review against another edition

dark 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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Listened to this in one sitting today during a long car ride and it was the perfect thing to keep me entertained! Fast-paced, disturbing, oddly funny, and absolutely fascinating characters make this an incredible read. I love the way this story was woven together with threads from the past and present, and illustrated the reality of hard decisions, family bonds, and what we’re willing to do for those we love. 

Plus, that ending! Whew! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Death, Murder, Death of parent, Gore, and Violence

Minor: Body shaming and Fatphobia

megb64's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective fast-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Gore, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Blood, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Medical content

aisabel's review against another edition

dark funny 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Death of parent and Violence