My Sister The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite is about two sisters that experienced a traumatic childhood facing dire consequences in adulthood. Korede is the older sister whose light is dulled by her younger and more beautiful little sister, Ayoola. The two harbor a dangerous secret: Ayoola kills every man she dates, and Korede, feeling responsible for her, cleans up each crime scene. Korede’s a nurse, giving her access to skills and tools to clean effectively. 

The story starts with a crime scene. Ayoola has murdered her latest conquest, and while Korede cleans up the crime scene, Ayoola is hunkered on the toilet in the fetal position. It reads, “ “Ayoola is perched on the toilet seat, her knees raised and her arms wrapped around them”(p. 3). I love how Oyinkan portrays Ayoola as a child before we know her age. It highlights the dynamic between the two sisters and overshadows what might have happened to cause Ayoola to become a killer. It shows that even though Ayoola is a woman, mentally she is childlike.

I enjoyed Braithwaite’s themes around beauty. Korede’s in love with the hospital doctor (Tade) from her workplace. When Tade meets her sister, he is immediately enamored. As he sets his eyes on her, “Tade’s voice trails to nothing and the blood cools within [Korede’s]  body. Ayoola frees herself from my grip but it doesn’t matter; it’s too late anyway. His eyes settle on Ayoola and dilate”(p. 54). Korede is heartbroken but soon becomes torn between protecting her sister’s secret and protecting Tade. As the story progresses, Oyinkan manages to shift our perception of Tade. At first, we root for him, but his fixation on Ayoola’s looks reveals the shallowness of her victims, Tade included. 

On the theme of beauty, here are some notable quotes:

*When Ayoola confronts Korede about her feelings for Tade* : ““Do you like him? If you want him for yourself, just say so….Besides, he isn’t all that different from the rest of them, you know…He isn’t deep. All he wants is a pretty face. That’s all they ever want”(p. 69). 

*When the sisters’ mom asks Korede about Ayoola’s marriage prospects* : “Don’t you want [Ayoola] to marry?”[…] I choose not to respond to my mother’s illogical statement, nor acknowledge the fact that she is far more interested in Ayoola’s marital status than in mine. It is as though love is only for the beautiful”(p. 24).  

Oyinkan highlights the way society places more value on beauty than character and other attractive attributes.  

I disliked Korede’s choice in the end to protect her sister. While she’s not directly responsible for Ayoola’s issues, she takes her duties as a big sister to extremes. By protecting Ayoola, she places any man she crosses paths with in danger. 

I’d give this book a 3.2/5. It was a quick read, entertaining, and highly relatable. Get your copy here.