A compelling story told from dual points of view by Rose and Fern. They share an extremely close bond as twin sisters. Rose has a husband, successful career, the only thing missing is a baby which she desperately craves. Fern is a librarian, living a seemingly quiet life outside of work. The story alternates between past and present, providing insight into the sisters early years. Fern and Rose share a closely guarded secret that clearly impacts their present.
The story is rich with secrets, tension, suspense and more. Fern falls within the neurodiversity spectrum and it is her journey that makes for an entertaining, compelling and poignant read. The burgeoning relationship Fern develops with a man she cheekily calls Wally is one of my favourite parts of the book.
This story is well written and I am glad I had the chance to read it. This is definitely my favourite book by the author thus far.

This one took me by surprise.
The story starts like an almost boring twin sisters book, before taking few twists.
Fern the younger fraternal twin is the ultimate optimist despite extreme sensory issues. Rose the older womb-mate has been Fern's protector against the world, against an instable mother and a plethora of potential stepdads.

A mix of domestic drama, some secrets, a bit of romance, many lies, I would not categorize this book as a Thriller even though there is definite tension and some thrills.
It is, however, a two POV well written storyline, with well developed complex characters.
A little predictable, but an enjoyable page turner I would recommend.

Take a minute to read the Acknowledgements at the end of the book, it is extremely interesting to learn about the inspiration for such a twisted tale on sisterhood relationships.

Thank you to St Martin's Press and Sally Hepworth for the ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
*Publication date 4/13/21*

Rating: 4.5 stars rounded down to 4 stars

This is a head-spinning tale of Australian twin sisters. Their accounts of their growing-up years and their current adult years is head spinning in an engaging way. We hear from both Rose and Fern in alternating chapters. Early on in the book, I understood that there was at least one unreliable narrator, I just couldn’t decide if it was Rose, Fern or both sisters. Rose mainly describes their childhood in flashbacks from her diary. Rose is the competent sister. Fern has sensory sensitivity that has made it hard for her to cope in everyday life. Rose has always been her protector, and knows just what to do when Fern is in an overwhelming sensory situation. Despite her issues, Fern has carved out as space professionally as a librarian, and is successfully living on her own. Then things start crashing in.

The crux of the book is bouncing back and forth between two viewpoints and trying to decide who is telling the truth. I was fully invested in seeing how this tale ended. I liked the fact that I couldn’t figure out what was going on right off the bat. This book was thrilling ride that had me rooting for a happy ending. I did not see some of the twists coming, which is always a good thing in any book in my opinion.

I’d recommend this book to readers who like alternating narrators, and psychological suspense. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. These are my honest thoughts.

This author just never disappoints. I really enjoy mystery/thrillers that make me care about the characters and allow me to have a more emotional connection to the characters, which this author always does so well. The unreliable narrator aspect in this story was done so well. Fern and her love interest were so endearing from the outset. I also loved the use of the journal entries. The ending was super satisfying. I will always pick up this author!

Thank you to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was a great psychological drama with twin sister, Fern and Rose. The chapters are told in alternating viewpoint and from each of their perspectives. Fern is a librarian who is a rule-follower, has sensory overload issues and interprets things literally. Rose is married, helps her sister with routines and has her life together...or so it seems.

How far would you go to be the good sister?

I really enjoyed Sally Hepworth's last book, The Mother in Law, so I definitely put her new book on my list of books I had to read. The Good Sister is an interesting look at what it would be like to live life as someone who is not, as the character calls herself, "neurotypical", or as someone who has a different way of processing things. Add to that what happens when that person and her sister are raised by an unstable mother, and what you have is a fascinating look at how two very different people develop as a result.

The book is told through two perspectives- the present day perspective of Fern, the woman who realizes she is not "neurotypical", and also through a journal written by her sister, Rose. The question quickly becomes which narrator is reliable? Are either of them reliable?

I really enjoyed this book and its look at mental illness, family relationships and how different the same childhood can look from the perspective of two siblings.

**Thanks so much to the publisher for my advanced reader copy in exchange for this honest review!!**

The Good Sister is about fraternal twins Rose and Fern who appear have a loving, unbreakable bond. Fern is the quirky one and has some undiagnosed sensory processing difficulties, and Rose is the responsible one who has always acted as Fern’s protector. Though they lived the same experiences as children, they remember their childhood very differently.⁣
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Other than that, I’m not going to tell you anything about the plot - I highly recommend going into this one without reading the synopsis. That’s what I did, and I’m so glad! ⁣
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This book is so 👏🏻 much 👏🏻 fun 👏🏻⁣
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I was totally captivated by this expertly-plotted story, and I couldn’t wait to see the direction it would take! The characters are fantastic, Sally Hepworth’s writing is flawless as always, and the twists 👏🏻 keep 👏🏻 coming 👏🏻!!! This is a page turner filled with family drama, secrets, and unreliable characters, and I guarantee that it will keep you on the edge of your seat!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

QUICK TAKE: if you're a fan of Sally Hepworth books, chances are you'll enjoy THE GOOD SISTER, A solid, but somewhat forgettable story about two sisters and their complicated past, I enjoyed the relationship dynamics and twists of the story, but it definitely didn't feel like it was reinventing the wheel. Reminiscent of ELEANOR OLIPHANT meets SHARP OBJECTS, I would have liked a little more dark and twisty,but a solid Sunday read.

The Good Sister is one of the better books I have read this year and drew me in from the very beginning! It has a little of everything- romance, mystery/suspense, and family drama. I think that is the key to Sally Hepworth's books- she is an excellent storyteller, but you can't go into this expecting it to be a thriller.

The Good Sister is about two twin sisters: Rose and Fern, who grew up with a sociopath for a mother. Rose has always been Fern's protector, especially after a terrible incident in their childhood. Now as adults, Rose is Fern's "person" who she trusts with her life. When Fern learns Rose is trying to have a baby, she will go to major lengths to help her.

The story alternates between Ferns perspective and Rose's journal entries. I really liked that Fern was a neurodiverse character. While the story is somewhat predictable, I still found myself turning the pages to find out how it would unfold.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press via Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book to review!

In typical Sally Hemsworth fashion, this book was well-crafted and impossible to put down---so much so that I read it in one day. I adored so many of these characters, especially Wally and Fern and her library friends. Fern reminded me a bit from the guy in The Rosie Project (although I can't remember his name at the moment). Overall, I loved the varying points of view and the way the plot unfolded. Sally Hemsworth is a genius!

Very different than other novels I’ve read by this author. Most of the book I thought I was reading a romance as Fern falls for Wally. But the mystery is there, in the background. I caught on early that one sister is not who she says she is so not really much of a mystery at all but still a very enjoyable read!

Sally Hepworth is an author I have read before and I have enjoyed her writing. Being one of six sisters, I was intrigued by the title and the prospect of reading about other sisterly relationships. Luckily for me my sisters are not at all like the twins, Rose and Fern, who are featured in this story.
If you like suspense and and unexpected ending you most likely will enjoy The Good Sisters. I did find the beginning a little slow but once I got into the story I kept turning those pages.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I love Sally Hepworth and have read most of her books, but this one just wasn't my favorite. From the very beginning it was obvious how this story was going to end. I didn't like Rose at all and thought her parts were really whiny. I just really struggled getting into it, and I don't know if it's just my current mood because I usually love these kinds of books. I did really enjoy the last 20 percent and thought the ending was done well (though I could have done without the last chapter).

Much less twisty than The Mother in Law but still so excellent. This is now 2/2 for Sally Hepworth hits for me, and she's quickly becoming an "I'll definitely give any of hers a try!" author for me!

Wow! This book was great! I think I have another favorite author. Great writing, a story that sucks you in, a twist you don't see coming...Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

There are not enough words to describe how much I loved this book!! I have read all of Sally's books and get so excited whenever I get to read a new one.

Fern and Rose -- twin sisters -- who couldn't be more different. A death happens when they are little and the journey to finding out the truth leads us down a winding road which we never see coming. There were times in this book I found myself screaming -- because I do talk to characters when I love a book -- and there were also times when Sally had me chuckling while seeing the world through Fern's eyes.

Brilliant!!!

Twin sisters Rose and Fern Castle are devoted to one another, though the two have completely different personalities. Rose, an interior designer, is charming and outgoing, while Fern is more introverted and is easily overwhelmed with the sights and sounds of the world around her. Their chaotic upbringing has strengthened their bond, and Rose is convinced Fern is unable to navigate the world without Rose’s help, and has convinced Fern of that as well, ever since their ill-fated camping trip when the girls were just twelve.

Rose is desperate to have a baby, but is unable to conceive due to a medical condition, so Fern decides she will get pregnant and give the baby to Rose. Her friend from the library, Wally (aka Rocco), is a likely candidate, but once Fern is pregnant, the influence from Wally and her library co-workers have her reconsidering her decision, infuriating Rose once she sees her control over Fern slipping away. Rose’s diary entries show Fern as incompetent at best, and dangerous at her worst. With their mother in a care facility, the girls have only each other to rely on, and Rose has always been the strong one.

Fern’s blind devotion to Rose is understandable given that the twins have never had any stability, but is also frightening when you realize Rose is hell-bent on getting her way, even if it means sacrificing her sister. Rose’s diary entries can be particularly chilling, and I definitely felt badly for the girls being raised in that environment of their mother’s addictions and revolving boyfriends. I was fascinated by this story, and appreciated the layers in this story that made me realize things are not always as they seem on the surface.

I really enjoyed this thriller. It wasn’t too scary but was an interesting and chilling depiction of sisterhood. I loved Fern and Wally/Rocco - they were both such sweet characters! The end wasn’t a surprise for me but it was still well-written and clever. This was a quick read and I would recommend it!

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Fern and Rose are twin sisters who have always been able to count on each other. Fern is the quirky one. The librarian who will tell you exactly what is what and has not a single ounce of pretense about her. Rose is the more responsible sister. She has always looked out for Fern and has been "her person." Fern knows Rose will do anything for her, so when Fern discovers she has the opportunity to help out Rose, she considers making the selfless offer. And when Ferrn meets a man who she calls "Wally" because of his resemblance to the character in "Where's Waldo?" she makes the final decision to help Rose. Wally is a bit quirky himself, he lives in a van after all, but he accepts Fern for who she is and he is somebody she actually enjoys spending time with him. When Rose finds out about Wally, she forces Fern to make a tough decision. Will Fern let Rose make all of the decisions for her yet again, or will she finally realize that not everybody wants what is best for Rose.

The Good Sister was an absolutely delightful read. The book is told from alternating perspectives. Ferns in present day and Rose from her journal entries. Rose's journal entries go all the way back to their childhood and paint a pretty disturbing picture. Fern, on the other hand, was quite likable with her quirky ways and sensory processing issues. I liked how she warmed up to Wally and how her new boss warmed up to her. It was endearing in a Sheldon Cooper sort of way. Unfortunately, not everybody had Fern's best interest at heart. - CLICK HERE FOR SPOILERS


Bottom Line - The Good Sister was a fast read that had me hooked from the first page. With intriguing characters and a clever plot, you have the perfect mix for a splendid book.



Details:

The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth
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Pages: 320
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: 4/13/2021
Buy it Here!
Thank you to NetGalley for the book in exchange for an honest review.

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Okay so to give an honest review I have to admit I was not into this book at all in the beginning. A friend of mine started it and only got to 30% and quit. I’m not going to lie, I almost quit too. The beginning was annoying and I couldn’t stand Fern’s character at all. The ONLY reason I kept going was because the reviews are so high and I needed to see why? I thought (and hoped) it must get better. And yes it did! I would say the first half of the book was only about a 3 star for me but when I hit the second half it got so much better!! If the whole book had been like the second half, it would have gotten 5 stars from me!! As always with mysteries, I made some predictions as I was reading and I did figure out a few things, but even though I was right, I still enjoyed watching it unfold in the book. By the time I hit about 75%, I really took a liking to Fern. I definitley wish the beginning of this book would have been better but I still do recommend it. Since I did enjoy the author’s writing style, I’m really looking forward to reading The Mother-In-Law sometime soon.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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