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Listen to Your Sister
For fans of Jordan Peele’s films, Stranger Things, and The Other Black Girl, Listen To Your Sister is a laugh-out-loud, deeply terrifying, and big-hearted speculative horror novel from electrifying debut talent Neena Viel.
Twenty-five year old Calla Williams is struggling since becoming guardian to her brother, Jamie. Calla is overwhelmed and tired of being the one who makes sacrifices to keep the family together. Jamie, full of good-natured sixteen-year-old recklessness, is usually off fighting for what matters to him or getting into mischief, often at the same time. Dre, their brother, promised he would help raise Jamie–but now the ink is dry on the paperwork and in classic middle-child fashion, he’s off doing his own thing. And through it all, The Nightmare never stops haunting Calla: recurring images of her brothers dying that she is powerless to stop.
When Jamie’s actions at a protest spiral out of control, the siblings must go on the run. Taking refuge in a remote cabin that looks like it belongs on a slasher movie poster rather than an AirBNB, the siblings now face a new threat where their lives–and reality–hang in the balance. Their sister always warned them about her nightmares. They really should have listened.
“A knockout debut." -Ashley Winstead
“Incredibly original and seriously scary.” – Nick Medina
“A brilliant fever-dream of a novel that effortlessly dances between horror, literary, and family saga—sure to appeal to fans of Grady Hendrix, Tananarive Due, Mona Awad, and Stephen King. – Maria Dong
Twenty-five year old Calla Williams is struggling since becoming guardian to her brother, Jamie. Calla is overwhelmed and tired of being the one who makes sacrifices to keep the family together. Jamie, full of good-natured sixteen-year-old recklessness, is usually off fighting for what matters to him or getting into mischief, often at the same time. Dre, their brother, promised he would help raise Jamie–but now the ink is dry on the paperwork and in classic middle-child fashion, he’s off doing his own thing. And through it all, The Nightmare never stops haunting Calla: recurring images of her brothers dying that she is powerless to stop.
When Jamie’s actions at a protest spiral out of control, the siblings must go on the run. Taking refuge in a remote cabin that looks like it belongs on a slasher movie poster rather than an AirBNB, the siblings now face a new threat where their lives–and reality–hang in the balance. Their sister always warned them about her nightmares. They really should have listened.
“A knockout debut." -Ashley Winstead
“Incredibly original and seriously scary.” – Nick Medina
“A brilliant fever-dream of a novel that effortlessly dances between horror, literary, and family saga—sure to appeal to fans of Grady Hendrix, Tananarive Due, Mona Awad, and Stephen King. – Maria Dong
352 pages, Paperback
Expected publication February 4, 2025
About the author
Neena Viel
1 book54 followersNeena is a horror writer who lives in a cabin in the Washingtonian woods with her husband. She has a canine assistant who fundamentally disrespects the creative process.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 24, 2024
✨4.5 rounded up✨
(Thank you so much to St. Martins Press for the advance reader copy!)
If you love Jordan Peele movies you will certainly also enjoy this book.
Calla, Dre, and Jamie are siblings that have truly gone through hell together. It’s a story of a black American family, their trauma, and fight to keep together what family they have left.
Calla, their sister, is a strong force and will do anything for her brothers, to a fault. She has severe and vivid nightmares about horrible things happening to her brothers, unable to keep them safe.
The story is written in third person omniscient and we get perspectives of all three siblings.
It took a little while to get used to the writing style and pacing, often times not knowing what’s actually happening and what is imagined. This is by design.
Neena’s writing is so clever, both cheeky and eloquent and flawlessly bounces between the two. I was frequently cringing and then laughing in the same breath.
It’s a profound message about our younger selves and how damaging they can be to us and those we love if the trauma goes unchecked.
This story was smart, funny, heartfelt, horrifying, and thought provoking. Loved it!
(Thank you so much to St. Martins Press for the advance reader copy!)
If you love Jordan Peele movies you will certainly also enjoy this book.
Calla, Dre, and Jamie are siblings that have truly gone through hell together. It’s a story of a black American family, their trauma, and fight to keep together what family they have left.
Calla, their sister, is a strong force and will do anything for her brothers, to a fault. She has severe and vivid nightmares about horrible things happening to her brothers, unable to keep them safe.
The story is written in third person omniscient and we get perspectives of all three siblings.
It took a little while to get used to the writing style and pacing, often times not knowing what’s actually happening and what is imagined. This is by design.
Neena’s writing is so clever, both cheeky and eloquent and flawlessly bounces between the two. I was frequently cringing and then laughing in the same breath.
It’s a profound message about our younger selves and how damaging they can be to us and those we love if the trauma goes unchecked.
This story was smart, funny, heartfelt, horrifying, and thought provoking. Loved it!
August 8, 2024
Neena Viel's 'Listen to Your Sister' takes the horror genre and pushes into a realm so different and so unexpected... it's amazing! It tells the story of a twenty-five-year-old Calla Williams and how she's overwhelmed and struggling to be a guardian for her brother, sixteen-year-old Jaime. Calla's other brother, Dre, promised he'd help take care of Jaime, but he's been off doing his own thing. As a result, Calla's left holding the bag and literally sacrificing herself to make things meet and give Jaime the best life she can. Also, Calla has these terrible nightmares that show her brothers meeting their deaths in awful ways.
Something goes terribly wrong, and the siblings are on the run and they end up at a creepy cabin in the middle of nowhere and everything just hits the fan...
Neena Viel's debut novel is fantastic. It is hilarious, heartbreaking, and terrifying all at the same time. I'll be adding this author to my list of 'must read' authors!
Thank you to the Macmillan Publishers for this eARC in exchange for a review!
Something goes terribly wrong, and the siblings are on the run and they end up at a creepy cabin in the middle of nowhere and everything just hits the fan...
Neena Viel's debut novel is fantastic. It is hilarious, heartbreaking, and terrifying all at the same time. I'll be adding this author to my list of 'must read' authors!
Thank you to the Macmillan Publishers for this eARC in exchange for a review!
August 21, 2024
Fans of Stephen King will enjoy this creepy novel. My favorite thing is the bond between these siblings, surviving a wrecked family if lies, drugs, abuse, trauma. Although Calla didn't want to assume the responsibility of taking care of her youngest brother, and dealing will all the trouble he creates, because she doesn't feel like she is an adult yet, she is brave and strong and loyal to her siblings. Even when things go south and they feel so lost that they lash at each other. Deep inside, they know they only have each other.
Something is wrong, and it's not just prejudice, racism, or getting into trouble because of protests, bombs, or drugs. Something strange, wicked, and supernatural. Something is happening, and they will have to deal with it. The dreams are like warnings, and they are terrible as well.
I enjoyed reading this one. It's one we highlight and annotate (sassy fun answers and also emotional life realizations).
Thank you netgalley amd publisher for the e-arc.
Something is wrong, and it's not just prejudice, racism, or getting into trouble because of protests, bombs, or drugs. Something strange, wicked, and supernatural. Something is happening, and they will have to deal with it. The dreams are like warnings, and they are terrible as well.
I enjoyed reading this one. It's one we highlight and annotate (sassy fun answers and also emotional life realizations).
Thank you netgalley amd publisher for the e-arc.
August 29, 2024
4.25⭐️ on this one for me!!! It was a slower read for me, but was so absolutely a great read and so different! From the characters, storyline, and gory details it was all done just right. Since i’ve stayed up WAY past my bedtime to finish, i’m finding it difficult to explain how/why i enjoyed this book! I’m not big on “supernatural” if that’s how you would classify the “Callas” in this book, but if this was classifies as supernatural it didn’t feel like it!
August 30, 2024
Was excited to read this! Unfortunately, the writing is so bad I couldn't make it past the 3rd page.
August 20, 2024
I love horror books that make me laugh but also make me afraid to go to the bathroom at night. And horror books that deal with family trauma and generational trauma and childhood trauma. Guess what. This book does all of that.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews