Our Take

Sisters is a masterclass in atmospheric psychological horror from Daisy Johnson, whose debut novel Everything Under was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. What makes this slim novel so effective is how Johnson captures the suffocating intensity of codependent sibling relationships—the way two people can become so entangled that individual identity dissolves. The prose is hypnotic and claustrophobic, mirroring July's growing confusion about where she ends and September begins. Johnson excels at building dread through accumulation rather than shock, letting unease seep into every page like water damage in the sisters' decaying house. The isolated seaside setting becomes a character itself, reflecting the family's psychological deterioration. What's particularly brilliant is how Johnson explores power dynamics within sibling relationships—who leads, who follows, and what happens when those roles become toxic. The revelation of what actually happened at school and why they fled reframes everything that came before, forcing readers to reconsider the entire narrative. Some may find the ending ambiguous, but that's intentional—Johnson is more interested in psychological truth than neat resolution. The novel asks uncomfortable questions about love, control, and whether some bonds are too strong to be healthy. Fans of The Girls by Emma Cline or We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson will recognize similar dark examinations of female relationships. Sisters is essential reading for anyone interested in literary thrillers that prioritize psychological complexity over plot mechanics.