WOW... Just WOW!!

As a first time reader of Sally Hepworth I was not disappointed. Definitely an Author to add to my read list! She had be from the very first page all the way down to the last!! I love me a good thriller and this one does not do you wrong!

5/5 Stars

This is the story of fern and rose sisters that couldn’t be more different I loved the storyline and characters

Like most twin sisters, Rose and Fern have a strong bond. Rose has a strong personality while Fern grapples with sensory issues and maneuvering societal norms. Rose makes the decisions while Fern simply and without much thought goes along with them... until she starts to wonder, why do I do that? Am I capable of deciding what's right for me?

The first half or so of this story read like Women's Fiction so at one point, I doublechecked the genre and yup, it said thriller. Even though I enjoyed finding out more about the sisters (and especially loved Fern's quirky personality) and their childhood, I was anxious for the story to get to the good part. This one was a slow burn for me with the suspense building little by little as I wondered and tried to guess where the story was heading. As in, there HAS to be more to this story, but what is it? Which sister is steering the narrative, and in which direction? If you're like me and took a break from thrillers during the Covid-19 pandemic, then this is the perfect "light" thriller to ease you back into them!

I enjoyed reading this book and stayed up late at night to finish it, unable to put it down. Twin sisters with an interesting childhood. Their mother in a nursing home. Both have different memories of their childhood, which one is true? Fern meets what she thinks is a homeless person at the library where she works and this leads to a series of events that affect both sisters. The plot was slightly familiar with regard to the diary etc. but still a very good page turner.

So it seems as though Sally Hepworth can write a thriller just as well as she can a contemporary story. This book is about two sisters, Rose and Fern. We get Fern's POV in the present and we get Rose's journal entries that go back and forth to her childhood with Fern and her mother to the present. I was captivated with the story from the beginning. Fern seemed to have Asperger's syndrome - she was very sensitive to light and sound and touch and she was utterly devoted to her sister and it seemed as though Rose was devoted to Fern as well.

As the story goes on though, we start to question which sister can be trusted. I couldn't help but root for Fern, but I also wondered if she was dangerous. And I couldn't help but wonder whether Rose was the amazing sister that she appeared to be.

This book was full of twists and turns and was amazing from beginning to the very last page. So amazing!

The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth

Thank you to NetGalley, Sally Hepworth and St. Martin's Press for a complimentary digital ARC for an honest review.

Being a twin myself, I always look forward to any books that explore the connections that twin's have. The story was told from the different points of view of Fern and Rose. Due to a rocky childhood, they are very close and very dependant on each other. However, Fern is more dependant on Rose, who always seems to be looking out for her. Gradually, we learn what actually happened with Billy and how it affected them until the present time.

The story was a page-turner with well-developed characters. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

#NetGalley #TheGoodSister

“People without sisters think it’s all sunshine and lollipops or all blood and guts. But actually it’s both. Good and bad. The bad is as essential to the relationship as the good.”

This was a quick, interesting read. The characters are complex and well developed. The plot moved along at a good pace, with a couple of shockers thrown in. The relationship between Feen and Rose was both sweet and disturbing. I enjoyed that the story was told from both sister’s point of view. Fern’s sensory sensitivities added a unique element to the story.

Thank you Sally Hepworth, St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC.
#TheGoodSister #NetGalley.

Review will be posted on 5/18/2021

Rose and Fern Castle are fraternal twins, but they aren't very alike. While Rose is more put together, Fern marches to the beat of her own drum. Fern has sensory processing issues that can sometimes be debilitating and dictate her life, so in turn, Fern has her life planned out to avoid any triggers. While working at the library, she has found her place where she is accepted and can excel. Rose, while outwardly seems settled, she struggles inwardly with her anger towards her mother and their upsetting childhood. Rose and Fern are extremely codependent on each other. Rose mothers Fern and Fern depends on Rose to help her in most things. Rose is unable to have a child, so Fern thinks she can be the one to carry a baby for her in order to show her thanks after all she has done for her. Fern's idea becomes a reality when she meets a guy at the library and they hit it off. However, things get really complicated as more secrets are uncovered and more truths are questions. Sally Hepworth's domestic thriller, The Good Sister, is an addicting story about two sisters, their loyalty to each other, and family secrets that could tear them apart.

I immediately thought Fern was a very compelling character in The Good Sister. Hepworth does a brilliant job portraying someone dealing with sensory issues or perhaps someone who is on the spectrum. Fern is quirky, can be brutally honest, but also doesn't pick up on social cues. These characteristics made for an interesting main character. I loved Fern's dedication to the library and her ability to get others to enjoy reading. However, I didn't always love her relationship with her sister. Rose is very controlling of Fern and I am not sure it is warranted. Rose holds this secret over Fern about something that happened years ago and due to this, Fern feel like she can't trust herself. This makes Fern reliant on Rose in an unhealthy way.

Every other chapter or so in The Good Sister has an entry from Rose's journal that mainly fills in the blanks about childhood memories. Rose dealt with major issues, as well as their mother's upsetting behavior, and experienced all this very differently than Fern. I felt badly for Rose, because their mother was manipulative and was an all-around horrible person, according to the diary entries, and treated Rose poorly. However, as readers learn more about Rose, I kept wondering if her journal entries were entirely accurate. Then I wondered if Fern was a reliable narrator as well? Are Rose's memories a twisted view of reality?

Fans of domestic thrillers and psychological thrillers will enjoy this tale of family secrets that left me questioning just about everything. But don't worry! Slowly Hepworth reveals the truth and it kept me turning the pages! If that's your kind of story, then The Good Sister would be a fantastic book to throw in your beach bag this summer!

Are you a fan of Sally Hepworth? Did you read The Good Sister? Is it on your TBR list? Let me know in the comments below.

Who doesn’t enjoy a good story about twins? Readers can tell that sisters Rose and Fern are quite intertwined just from their names. They grew up in Australia where each experienced parental abuse. How has this impacted Fern and Rose? What will happen when Fern wants to get pregnant to give her sister Rose the baby that Rose cannot have? Domestic suspense readers know that a lot will transpire in this novel told by unreliable narrators. If this is your cup of tea, definitely worth it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.
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This one was a solid thriller, I love her books and she’s a very reliable author. I would recommend this to thriller fans.

I've got to admit, I wasn't a fan of this at first. I didn't like Fern's weirdness or the way she spoke but I quickly fell in love with her and especially Wally. I've got to admit, I was a bit shocked as the twists started happening, too. But can it really be that far off? Probably not. People will do some crazy things and when you love someone, you don't always see it!

The dynamic between Fern and Rose was definitely something. After knowing what I know now, it made me wonder how many little bits I missed or didn't question in the beginning half. I just took her word for it! But like Wally realized, something just doesn't seem right here.

What an amazing story, seriously. I knew I would love it because it was a Sally Hepworth novel and she never let's you down, but I was shocked at how much I loved it after Fern didn't initially catch me eye from the getgo. I wasn't expecting to love her the way that I did and to care about her and her emotions, no matter how blank they initially seemed. Hepworth did a great job peronating someone with sensory issues and trouble understanding the world, as it is.

Wow. Just wow. This book totally blew me away! If your looking for a book that you will stay up all night to finish - this is it! Two sisters who have found many similarities and many differences as twins. Sisters will do anything for each other won't they? This family drama thriller will leave you wanting more! Thank you to the publisher and author for my ARC copy. ( possibly my 2nd review as one was posted!)

A chilling accounting of the insidious and disturbing relationship between two twin sisters. One takes on the role of the "big" sister and protector and the other one has sensory issues and does not process social situations well. For a long time you have no idea on who is telling the truth. You can only sit back and watch it all unfold. I was engrossed from beginning to end.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for my copy of The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth in exchange for my honest review.

Sally Hepworth has done it again! I have read most of her books, and this one is definitelty one of my favorites by her. She is master at tricking you and throwing in devious twists that just sneak up on you! I have read enough of her books to know that you can't trust what you are reading, and this book is no different.

Fern and Rose are fraternal twins that have supported each other through a difficult childhood and as adults. As always, Hepworth's character development in this book was incredible. They are very different from each other, but each sister has thier own issues. Fern's sensory issues made her more quirky, and added a unique aspect to the story. Rose has always been the responsble one since childhood and acted as a protector to her sister from thier mother and the world.

The chapters were shorter and the story was fast paced. I loved the dual timelines and the way the story was partly told with journal entries. The dark twists in the story kept me on my toes. I think readers will be hooked from the first chapters and be entralled till the very end. It is one of my favorite thrillers of the year so far and I will definilty be recommending whenever I get the chance.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.

Fraternal twins sisters, Fern and Rose have always supported one another and as adults are still very close. Both swear they would do anything for the other. But everyone has a dark side.

I began reading this before work today and after supper, this evening plunged back into its pages. Even though I had an inkling where this one was headed, I found it to be an absolutely delightful read.



Publication Date 13/04/21
Goodreads review published 15/05/21

Fern and Rose Castle, who live in Australia, are fraternal twins in their late twenties. Fern, who has sensory-processing issues, is unsettled by bright lights, noisy rooms, and crowded spaces. In addition, she takes people's remarks too literally and shrinks away from most physical contact. Rose, who is married to Owen, is a type-one diabetic who cannot conceive because she has a condition known as premature ovarian aging. Although Fern is relatively self-sufficient—she lives in her own flat, holds down a job as a librarian, and adheres to a regular routine that soothes her—Rose treats her like a child.

Each woman takes turns narrating (Rosa via her journal), and we are initially intrigued and troubled by certain events that occurred in the past. They include the sudden death of a boy whom the twins knew for a short time; the sadistic and negligent behavior of the girls' mum; and Rose's insistence that her marriage is solid, although evidence points to the possibility that all is not well in her relationship with her husband. One day, Fern meets a fellow named Rocco, whom she nicknames Wally; like her, he is neurologically atypical. The two discover that they have a great deal in common and, as the weeks pass, their friendship steadily deepens.

Sally Hepworth's "The Good Sister" is a page-turner, with fascinating heroines whom we get to know intimately. As the narrative progresses, readers will become increasingly invested in the fortunes of Fern, Wally, and Rose. Hepworth's humorous passages enliven the proceedings, and she has some surprising tricks up her sleeve that turn the story on its head. The conclusion is a bit contrived, but it does not detract from the book's appeal. "The Good Sister" is an engrossing work of psychological suspense that is also charming, romantic, and funny. This is an unusual combination, but the author pulls it off with style.

This was the first book I read by Sally Hepworth, and it was a marvelous read. The author wrote this book so well, that it was a quick and easy read. Fern and Rose were diverse characters, and I became absorbed with trying to figure out who was the "good sister." Hepworth has a way of describing her characters to make you love them until you hate them. This book is told from Fern's point of view with excerpts from Rose's diary. Fern and Rose have different records of how their childhood went.

Rose and Fern are fraternal twins in their late twenties who are very different in looks, nature, interests and lifestyles. Rose has spent her life protecting Fern who has a Sensory Processing Disorder and is on the Autistic spectrum. The chapters are written from the perspective of each sister with flashbacks to their difficult childhood with a sociopath mother who struggled as a single parent.

Hepworth described Fern’s personality traits perfectly, in a very charming and fascinating way, and it was a pleasure to see how her character developed throughout the writing. I particularly enjoyed the relationship she built up between Fern and Rocco which was wonderful to watch develop.

This was a gentle, slow burner of a thriller and a most enjoyable read.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the review copy.

The Good Sister follows two fraternal twins - Fern and Rose - who couldn't be more different. Rose is married and dreams of having a baby, but is unable to get pregnant. Fern is autistic and relies heavily on her sister's support... But when Fern meets Wally, and becomes pregnant, Rose convinces her the best route to take is for Fern to let Rose adopt the baby. After all, Fern is dangerous.... right?

The book is full of twists and turns, that keeps readers guessing until the very end. Some aspects were slightly predictable, once the story started coming together more, but it didn't take away from the enjoyment of the drama.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved her previous book The Mother-in- law so I was pretty sure about this one. It’s about two sisters with a symbiotic relationship. I won’t give away anything by saying it was hard to tell which was the “good” sister but it held my interest the whole way. In these COVID-19 times, that’s saying a lot! Thanks to the publisher, the author and NetGalley for allowing me an arc in exchange for my honest review.