Ayoola brings entitled, favoured sibling to a new level in My Sister, The Serial Killer.
Ayoola calls her sister, Korede, after killing her most recent boyfriend expecting her to help with the clean him. This is the third time: Ayoola is technically a serial killer. Korede tries to give her the benefit of the doubt, she is her little sister, after all, claiming self-defence. That is until Ayoola picks out her next boyfriend/target - a doctor from the hospital Korede works at. A doctor Korede is in love with.
I like how this story is told. It is a chronological recounting, with some chapters set in the past to give the reader a sense of how Ayoola came to be the way she is. I like the language that is used, the descriptions and speech patterns add to the tone of the story.
Korede is the typical exasperated older sibling. She claims to be less pretty than Ayoola and is therefore often overlooked. She has pride in her work as a nurse, and we follow her as she advances in her career. All while hiding her being an accessory to murders.
Though Ayoola is truly a sociopath, she starts to become whiny and irritating - though I imagine this is because Korede is the one telling the story. However, it does get rather tiring to read and is the only reason I gave this novel four stars rather than five.
The relationships between the characters are well-portrayed and realistic. By getting the flashbacks to their relationship with their father it allows the reader to understand how he impacted the two girls and how much he still effects them.
The relationship Korede and Ayoola have is toxic. Korede will do anything to ensure Ayoola's safety and Ayoola knows this and often takes advantage of it. Her first thought is always to place Korede as the blame and often Korede resigns to such, only fighting back when it threatens her long-term livelihood. Their mum is Ayoola's biggest enabler and often places the blame on Korede without ever asking for the full truth. Due to this Korede's first instinct is to ensure Ayoola is happy and safe and often puts her own wants and needs to the side.
Despite the nature of the novel, the tone is over-all lighthearted. It makes the darker elements a little easier to digest. It also ensures that the tone is closer to a dramedy rather than a crime/thriller.
Ayoola calls her sister, Korede, after killing her most recent boyfriend expecting her to help with the clean him. This is the third time: Ayoola is technically a serial killer. Korede tries to give her the benefit of the doubt, she is her little sister, after all, claiming self-defence. That is until Ayoola picks out her next boyfriend/target - a doctor from the hospital Korede works at. A doctor Korede is in love with.
I like how this story is told. It is a chronological recounting, with some chapters set in the past to give the reader a sense of how Ayoola came to be the way she is. I like the language that is used, the descriptions and speech patterns add to the tone of the story.
Korede is the typical exasperated older sibling. She claims to be less pretty than Ayoola and is therefore often overlooked. She has pride in her work as a nurse, and we follow her as she advances in her career. All while hiding her being an accessory to murders.
Though Ayoola is truly a sociopath, she starts to become whiny and irritating - though I imagine this is because Korede is the one telling the story. However, it does get rather tiring to read and is the only reason I gave this novel four stars rather than five.
The relationships between the characters are well-portrayed and realistic. By getting the flashbacks to their relationship with their father it allows the reader to understand how he impacted the two girls and how much he still effects them.
The relationship Korede and Ayoola have is toxic. Korede will do anything to ensure Ayoola's safety and Ayoola knows this and often takes advantage of it. Her first thought is always to place Korede as the blame and often Korede resigns to such, only fighting back when it threatens her long-term livelihood. Their mum is Ayoola's biggest enabler and often places the blame on Korede without ever asking for the full truth. Due to this Korede's first instinct is to ensure Ayoola is happy and safe and often puts her own wants and needs to the side.
Despite the nature of the novel, the tone is over-all lighthearted. It makes the darker elements a little easier to digest. It also ensures that the tone is closer to a dramedy rather than a crime/thriller.