BOOK REVIEW | My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

"Femi makes three, you know. Three, and they label you a serial killer."

I picked this book up from my work as it was in our proof copies pile and decided to give it a read due to the fact it's shortlisted for the Women's Prize For Fiction 2019 and, not to mention it's title being very intriguing in it's own right. I wasn't too sure on what to expect regarding this book due to how short it is at just 223 pages. All I knew going in is that it follows two sisters; one being a serial killer. 

This novel is set in Nigeria amid a corrupt system of law and order; a country that doesn't have the best policing and police resources available, following a protagonist named Korede. Korede is used to continuously coming to the aid of her younger sister Ayoola, helping her clean up and dispose of the bodies of boyfriends that she apparently kills in 'self defence'. At the start of the book we quickly learn that Ayoola may be very beautiful on the outside but on the inside is the opposite, as it becomes apparent early on that she doesn't ever seem to have any guilt or that of a conscience regarding the murders of her previous boyfriends. 

"She killed him on the first strike, a jab straight to the heart. But then she stabbed him twice more to be sure. He sank to the floor. She could hear her own breathing and nothing else." 

This quote in particular gives us an insight into the type of person Ayoola is and further instigates her cold-heartedness. Her sister Korede on the other hand seems to feel far more guilt and remorse for her sisters victims. 

Korede is a very quiet nurse with an obsession for neatness and cleanliness. We find out early on that she isn't the most sociable character as she seeks comfort and friendship in a patient who is in a comatose state; spilling all her sisters secrets and her own suspicions as to weather or not they truly were acts of self defence or if her sister is now statistically, a serial killer after three murders. We are also alerted to her love interest at the start of the book, a colleague of hers, Tade the doctor. However the only thing close to a plot twist in this book is her sister Ayoola winning the attentions and affections of Koredes crush, Tade. This deeply impacts our protagonist as it pains her emotionally, but also gives way to much worry and stress over the likely possibility of the man she loves becoming just another of Ayoola's victims. It is clear throughout the book that deep down Korede carries a lot of anger towards her sister and a great deal of jealousy due to her sisters remarkable beauty and ability to always get her own way throughout life. However, despite these feelings she always puts her sisters wellbeing and freedom from being caught first; helping her to get rid of evidence and continuously coming to her rescue regardless of the personal cost. Ayoola is completely self absorbed and unaware of the hardships she puts onto her sister through her actions, which, she never takes any real responsibility for. 

The sister's dynamics in the book are what I find to be most compelling and add so much more depth and intrigue to the story. Even though Korede thinks her sister may well be a serial killer, cold blooded and soulless as opposed to the victim she continuously claims to be, she cannot stop herself from protecting her younger sister in any way she can, even if that means going against what she knows to be right and just. 

I really enjoyed the uniqueness of this book and the constant suspense it provided, never knowing if the sisters where about to be caught at any given moment. The story is very intriguing as you never know what may happen next and what turn it may take. However, I was very disappointed that this story lacked any plot twists, it definitely would have made the story a lot more interesting. The writing was also rather mediocre and could have been done better to give the book an even more thrilling feeling to reflect it's very bold title. Another thing that did disappoint me when finishing this book is that the story isn't over when the book is. We never truly get to understand why Ayoola is the way she is, and how she truly feels about the murders. Therefore I feel that the ending could have been done a lot better by giving the reader these answers, or at least a reason behind why the characters have the particular traits they do. 

I rated this book four stars on goodreads as I did really enjoy it. It was an interesting, easy read that I couldn't put down and a book that holds my interest and attention that well is deserving of four stars for me! 

Thank you for reading, 

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis from Goodreads: 

My Sister, the Serial Killer is a blackly comic novel about how blood is thicker - and more difficult to get out of the carpet - than water...

When Korede's dinner is interrupted one night by a distress call from her sister, Ayoola, she knows what's expected of her: bleach, rubber gloves, nerves of steel and a strong stomach. This'll be the third boyfriend Ayoola's dispatched in, quote, self-defence and the third mess that her lethal little sibling has left Korede to clear away. She should probably go to the police for the good of the menfolk of Nigeria, but she loves her sister and, as they say, family always comes first. Until, that is, Ayoola starts dating the doctor where Korede works as a nurse. Korede's long been in love with him, and isn't prepared to see him wind up with a knife in his back: but to save one would mean sacrificing the other... 

BOOK REVIEW | DID I MENTION I LOVE YOU? BY ESTELLE MASKAME

Okay so I didn't really know what to expect from this book... the storyline sounded really interesting and i'm a sucker for ya romance books they're totally my guilty pleasure. However the whole 'main character falling in love with her stepbrother' storyline did make me a little apprehensive. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by this book and ended up giving it four stars on goodreads although,  I probably would have given it a 3.5 if I had the option. 

So I won't lie; this book is full of cliches and is very cheesy at times but I found that once I was a couple of chapters in I couldn't stop thinking about reading it when I wasn't. You know when a book just consumes your thoughts and when you aren't reading it your mind is constantly wondering whats going to happen next? well that is how the book made me feel. 

At first I didn't really understand how the main character Eden could possibly fall for her stepbrother Tyler because he just seemed like a totally awful person and I didn't fathom how there could be more to him and also how he could redeem himself. However, I like how the forbidden romance unfolded between the two. 

An aspect of this book I really enjoyed was the mystery surrounding Tyler and why he was such a 'jackass' as described by Eden. This element of the story made it all the more intriguing. I would have to argue it was a little bit of a slow burner but worth the wait. The ending did seem a little bit rushed to me in a way *SPOILER WARNING* as the whole story builds up to everything happening just so that Eden and Tyler could be together; they have finally admitted their feelings to one another, Tyler has ended things with Tiffany yet all of a sudden Eden decides to quit at the final hurdle... After Eden realised her feelings for Tyler she did everything she could to continue things with Tyler in a way and seemed very enthusiastic in pursuing their forbidden romance. Then suddenly Eden out of nowhere decides to do the right thing and end things just as things can begin... It was kind of disappointing and even though  it was a good element to the story and more realistic it could have been executed better and not so abruptly. The rushed ending to the story and slightly strange epilogue is what decreased by rating. But I did really enjoy this book and I can't wait to pick up book 2 in the future! 

Thank you for reading, 

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis from Goodreads: 

When sixteen-year-old Eden Munro agrees to spend the summer with her estranged father in the beachfront city of Santa Monica, California, she has no idea what she’s letting herself in for. Eden's parents are divorced and have gone their separate ways, and now her father has a brand new family. For Eden, this means she's about to meet three new step-brothers. The eldest of the three is Tyler Bruce, a troubled teenager with a short temper and a huge ego. Complete polar opposites, Eden quickly finds herself thrust into a world full of new experiences as Tyler's group of friends take her under their wing. But the one thing she just can't understand is Tyler, and the more she presses to figure out the truth about him, the more she finds herself falling for the one person she shouldn't – her step-brother.

Throw in Tyler's clingy girlfriend and a guy who has his eyes set on Eden, and there's secrets, lies and a whole lot of drama. But how can Eden keep her feelings under control? And can she ever work out the truth about Tyler?

Did I Mention I Love You is the first book in the phenomenal DIMILY trilogy, following the lives of Eden Munro and Tyler Bruce as they try to find their way in an increasingly confusing world.