4.5 stars, rounded up. Sally Hepworth gets better with each book! This was excellent on audio, and this deliciously twisty story was one I had a hard time stopping when I couldn't be listening. There are bits you'll see coming- but enough that you won't to make this worth the ride. I can't speak to the accuracy of the neurodiverse representation but it felt like it was done respectfully.
(review of audio edition via LibroFM)

One of my favorite books of the year! Felt like Eleanor Oliphant meets The Rosie Project with a sinister twist.

Sally Hepworth has quickly become one of my go-to authors for domestic thrillers. She really does an amazing job creating characters that you fall in love with, and Fern fit squarely in this category. From the very first pages, I truly adored her and was rooting for her happy ending.

Highly recommended for fans of domestic thrillers with a side of romance and strong independent women.

Thank you Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the egalley of this book.

5⭐️ REVIEW! The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth
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SUMMARY: Fern and Rose are fraternal twins who have always been there for one another. Fern’s life is a bit more challenging because she suffers from a sensory processing disorder, but she’s willing to do whatever it takes to help her sister.
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I loved this one!! For me, it was the perfect blend of traditional storytelling and spooky tension that kept me engaged throughout. About halfway through, I had such positive vibes I went ahead and added the author’s other recent book, The Mother-in-Law, to my library holds list.
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The author’s style reminded me of Liane Moriarty (who I love), and not just because they’re both Australian. It’s the feeling that you’re actually reading traditional fiction until the offsetting clues start to drip their way in and change your whole perspective. The first part of the book, in which Fern finds herself in a relationship, felt a lot like the charming Love on the Spectrum docuseries about people with autism spectrum disorder learning how to navigate romantic relationships. I was rooting for Fern!!
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If you liked Big Little Lies or are a fan of domestic thrillers, I definitely recommend this book! It comes out April 13, so go ahead and add it to your list of spring reads!

The Good sister will keep you guessing until the end. Rose and Fern are twins and have had some problems in their lives. Their upbringing wasn't always the best, but they got through it together. Fern has sensory processing disorder and has relied on Rose to help her when things get tough. The author treats this disorder with respect and even humor at times.
Fern is my favorite character so far this year and will likely remain so for the rest of 2021. I just adore her. I will definitely be looking for more books by Sally Hepworth in the future.

4.0 stars

I received a copy of The Good Sister from NetGalley for an honest review. I wish to thank NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Sally Hepworth for the opportunity to read this book.

HOLY CRAPPOLA!! This book has some great twists and turns to a great ending!! The character development was good and I was invested in their story. Sisters are a VERY complicated relationship as this book proves and I know from real-life!

This book took me a while to get into - I didn't want to give up as Sally's books always give a good pay-off. So know that when reading it - there is a LOT to set up for the story!!

Definite recommend. A great read for by the pool IF you have had your COVID vaccination(s)!!!!

Amazing! I was hooked from the start and found the characters of both sisters compelling in their own “twisted” ways. I especially loved the character of “Wally.” Well written and taut with tension, The Good Sister is a fascinating read into the mind of a narcissist, but the exploration of Fern on the spectrum was spot on. I recommend this for anyone looking for a great escape. Captivated me on a cross-country flight with a three hour layover.

This was another binge worthy read from Sally Hepworth. I devoured this book in less than 24 hours over the weekend. And even though I guessed the twists early on, that didn’t take away from the story.⁣
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We meet twin sisters Rose and Fern. This story focuses on the present day as they navigate jobs, married life and their complicated sister dynamic, but we also get flashbacks of their childhood. Rose has always been Fern’s protector and even as adults she doesn’t know how to take a step back and let Fern just live. ⁣
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There’s something else we learn about Fern, she has sensory processing disorder (SPD) and is possibly autistic (although it is never spelled out in the story). Because of Fern’s meltdowns, Rose has always checked in with her often and controlled aspects of her life. When Fern meets a man and begins her first real relationship, Rose doesn’t know how to let go. We learn a lot about these sisters as old issues and secrets come to the surface and we understand more about who is really protecting who. ⁣
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I am a sucker for books about twins and I’m always here for SPD/ASD representation in characters. And I loved these characters...I loved that they were competent, self sufficient and capable of having a loving/healthy relationship. I wasn’t expecting this story to be so dark, but I also found that I couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend picking this one up in April.⁣
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Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for this advance reading copy- be sure to make a note this one is available 4/13/21.

This book was provided to me by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is marked as a Mystery & Thriller | Women's Fiction on NetGalley and it read more like a "women's fiction" until about half way through. Then all the pieces started to fall into place. This book is told from Fern's POV and from Rose's diary entries. Fern and Rose are fraternal twins, who enter the foster care system at the age of 12 due to their mothers overdose. Fern has major sensory issues: lights, sounds, smells. Rose has always taken care of Fern. Then one day Fern discovers she is pregnant, and Rose who cannot get pregnant decides she and her husband will adopt the baby, since Fern is not reliable enough to care for a child. Without giving any spoilers, Fern learns that she can take care of herself and her baby. I found that while reading both the diary entries and Fern's POV I could see what was happening and what was going to happen. I would not say this is a predictable book, I believe that is the way the story is written. I enjoyed this book, even if I was looking for more of a mystery/thriller upfront, it got there. Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Sally Hepworth for giving me this book!
Review is live now on the following sites:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3725930053 (GoodReads)
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/3550123390 (BookBub)
https://www.librarything.com/topic/327548#n7463939 (LibraryThing)
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I received a free electronic ARC of this novel from Netgalley, Sally Hepworth, and St. Martin's Press. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. Sally Hepworth always brings us a good tale with personable protagonists and a well-turned mystery. The Good Sister is no exception - right through to the end she had me puzzled. This was another all-nighter.

Rose and Fern are fraternal twins, and their mother was truly psychotic. Rose spent a great deal of her time trying to protect Fern from their mother's unwarranted wrath. The chances of them growing up well-rounded and sane would be astronomical. But after an overdose of Valium and alcohol when the girls were 12, things were looking up. That is a really sad thing when foster care is a giant step forward in parenting.

Now 28, Fern has grown up, settled down, and despite her honest lack of social mores, has a fulfilling career at her local library. Rose is married, thinking about having a kid once Owen is back from a job in London. Twice a week Fern comes by Rose's place for supper and they often talk on the phone. Family. What a wholesome thing. Or is it?

I really enjoyed reading this book and thought Fern was a fantastic character. It was clear from the beginning that she was a bit different, from her sensory issues to her anti-social tendencies, and not only did she not trust others but it was plain to see she didn’t even trust her own decisions. The only person she wholly put her trust in and truly relied on was her twin sister, Rose.

Stepping out of her comfort zone wasn’t easy for Fern, but after befriending a man at the library where she works, she devises a plan to help Rose the only way she knows how. However, even the best laid plans can go awry, and Fern realizes that Rose is keeping secrets of her own, secrets that could change everything. So who is the real “Good Sister” after all?

Overall, I thought this was a great story. It flowed well, kept my attention from beginning to end, and I really liked all of the characters. Highly recommend!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3900841794

Fern and Rose are extremely close sisters and incredibly dependent on one other. Rose has always been the responsible one and Fern, with her sensory-processing issues, the one people look at a bit oddly. Their mother was abusive, scarring Rose, who saw through to her true nature. Fern, who always looks to the good side of people, remembers her more fondly. But Rose has always protected her sister, especially since, as children, Fern did something horrible. Rose has faithfully kept her sister's secret, even though both girls wonder if it made Fern a terrible person. Now Rose and her husband are having trouble conceiving. Fern realizes she could finally do something for Rose: give her a child. However, Rose worries that Fern could make some disastrous choices if pregnant, just as she did so many years ago.

"Most people think of me as Fern's protector. But the truth is, in her own funny way, she's always been mine."

This is an excellent book in terms of the page-turner element. I was madly flipping the pages. It is especially remarkable because the story was actually fairly predictable. I kept waiting for some big twist, but I felt the plot was pretty well telegraphed from the beginning.

What kept me spellbound was the characters, particularly Fern. There was just something about her--you couldn't help but become attached. The cast here is small: the sisters, Rose's husband, Fern's acquaintance Wally, but they are quite well-drawn. Hepworth does a fantastic job with the two sisters, both depicting their childhood and then their current state, as Fern becomes determined to do something for Rose, her long-time protector, and Rose struggles with what Fern's choice means.

It's best to go into this one blind. To me, the story felt pretty straightforward and nothing really surprising happened, but it was still well-written and exciting. Yes, I would have loved a great twist or two to push this thriller from good into great territory. I still think it's worth a read, though, especially if you don't read a ton of mysteries and are more likely to be surprised. The relationship and dynamic between Fern and Rose is really worth a read by itself.

The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth was an enjoyable book. It kept me interested from the beginning until the end. I had trouble figuring out who the "good" Sister was. Was it Rose or was it Fern? We find out at the end but, I'm not going to ruin it for you.

This book was missing a little something for me. I'm not sure what it was. I don't know if I was expecting a few more twists or if the sense of impending doom wasn't strong enough. It was just barely there under the surface.

I did like the character development. I liked Fern but, her sister took too much control of her life. Fern has sensory perception problems and I loved her thought processes. Wally is Fern's boyfriend. He was fabulous. All in all it was a good story and worth the time to read it. I'm not sorry I did and would recommend it.

I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher and Netgalley for a fair and honest review. Thank you!

The Good Sister is about the bond twin sisters have where they can communicate with the tap of a bracelet or even a simple look, but what happens when that bond becomes too tight, almost suffocating to one sister? What happens when one sister makes all the decisions and the other just goes along?

Sally Hepworth does it again! I think this is her best book yet, and I have been a huge fan from the beginning. I won't go into any details on the plot...it's better to experiences the twists and turns first hand!

I received an advanced digital copy; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I thought this book was little too much of a slow burn for me and for that reason, it's not rated as high as it could've been. Still a good plot and good writing.

The Good Sister started off highlighting the special relationship that Rose and Fern had and how much they relied on each other growing up and as adults. Fern's sensory issues and love for routine caused a tremendous amount of stress that Rose knew how to deal with. Rose was always helpful and seemed to have Fern's best interest at heart with every decision she made. When Rose needed the biggest gift of all, Fern was more than willing to step up to grant it for her without being asked. Then things started to slowly crystalize and changing when Fern meets Wally and sees that life could be different.

I loved this book and gave it a 4.5 rounding it up to 5 stars. The twin relationship of Fern and Rose was like watching a game of Frogger. I didn't know where things would land or collide as the story moved forward so I couldn't put it down. The different people in the girls' life were the logs that could provide some safety or relief, but you didn't know it at first. There were so many special relationships that were discovered, a surprising love developed, and family realities revealed. Nothing was as it seemed from the beginning, which makes for an addicting story. Sally Hepworth wrote another hit for sure!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this book for an honest review.

This is my first book by Sally Hepworth and if it's any indication as to her backlist of novels, I am ready to read them all!

The Good Sister is a suspense read. It alternates perspective between Fern, a nuerodivergent woman just living her life. Fern is a librarian (dream job, I may be jealous) and she's really great at what she does. She seems to anticipate many of the patron's needs and wants like book recommendations or if children would enjoy having a book read to them. She has no patience for the printers or computers and will essentially run away from any questions regarding them. Fern doesn't always pick up on facial cues, she finds reading implication and emotions difficult. It was thoroughly enjoyable to see the world through Fern's eyes. To have things that don't truly make sense pointed out as obvious, to see that we often limit ourselves to our own understanding and point of view of the world. Fern was a refreshing character.

The next point of view we are treated to is that of her twin sister, Rose. However, we get this input through Rose's personal diary. She's started a diary to deal with her struggling marriage on the advice of her therapist. Rose details the difficult childhood Fern and she had. Their mother was abusive, at least emotionally, if not physically, she drank to excess, was consistently homeless, was unreliable and volatile. And Rose struggled to anticipate her mother's swinging moods as well as protect her twin when Fern couldn't read the room. It paints a bleak and sad picture of what all they've had to overcome, whether knowingly or somewhat unknowingly.

As the book progresses though we start seeing big differences in Fern and Rose's perspectives. The reader is treated to the dilemma of finding the truth hidden within two differing accounts. There is drama and suspense and build up. It was very entertaining to read and be sucked into this story.. I found myself reading quickly, thoroughly immersed, curious about the women in this book.

Hepworth did a great job with this character development. Fern's neurodiversity adds to the readers' own puzzlement about the behavior of the supporting characters. We are trying to figure out the motives and intentions of Fern's acquaintances, friends, and family just as she is. I feel this added a great deal to the story.

I'd recommend to anyone who likes suspense but isn't looking for a thriller or horror.

I loved this book. I was captivated from the first page and did not want to put it down. Sally Hepworth does not disappoint! Definitely recommend.

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

I felt like I needed to mix things up a little and switch genres to get back into reading again, and I still had this ARC of The Good Sister, which is a mystery/ family drama, something I don’t read very often. I have to admit that it did the trick perfectly. I finished it in just over a day, and honestly couldn’t get enough.

The book starts off almost as a contemporary romance, and it gave me all the Eleanor Oliphant vibes. The focus is on two twin sisters, Rose and Fern, and whose current lives we follow and whose past we learn about by reading Rose’s diary entries. Rose seems in all aspects to be the perfect sister, whereas Fern has some sensory issues and I strongly felt that she was an autistic person, even though that is never specifically mentioned. However, as the story continues you find out that everything is very much not as it seems. Dark family secrets start surfacing, which completely change your views of the sisters. Very exciting, and I was constantly on the edge of my seat.

Whenever I finish a book like this, it always makes me wonder why I don’t read this genre more. Just like with Sally Hepworth’s last book I was entranced, so I will try and prioritise mysteries and dramas more in the future. I would certainly recommend this book if you enjoy those genres.

Rating: 5/5 stars.

“The Good Sister” by Sally Hepworth is a brilliant domestic thriller focused on the relationship and interaction between two twin sisters. One of them is a librarian, with an undiagnosed sensory processing disorder and possibly on the spectrum, and the other is an outgoing wife. In many ways, they are polar opposites of each other, bound together by that undeniable sisterly bond. I had not read any of the author’s other books, but my sister also happens to be a librarian so naturally I just had to check the book out.

Based on the cover and description, I was expecting a standard thriller filled with twists and turns, but this was quite different. The main draw of the book is the development of the main character, Fern, and how she copes with her differences and interacts with the world. While the book starts off as a mystery, it quickly turns almost into a romantic comedy. This was such an unexpected yet very delightful genre pivot. I could not stop laughing at some of the predicaments, and found a lot of Fern’s plights relatable, as I too have dealt personally with sensory processing issues and overload before. The comedy and humour was unlike I have ever seen in a domestic thriller, making it quite the crossover novel. Only closer to the end does the book return to its mystery roots, and solve all the loose ends. The big reveal of the twist is perfectly set up and executed.

I absolutely loved this book and cannot wait to read the other stories written by the author. I would recommend this to fans of popular women thriller authors such as Megan Miranda and Lisa Jewell, and for romantic comedy fans who are looking to add a little more mystery to their reading list.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book on NetGalley and have provided an honest review.*

The Good Sister is the second book I’ve read from from Sally Hepworth. This book felt more like mystery than a thriller to me. The storyline is intriguing, more character driven and it’s a slow burn. Though I picked up on a couple of clues in the beginning, I found it to be an enjoyable read. All the characters were well thought out. I really enjoyed reading the perspectives of past vs. present perspectives from the twins, Rose and Fern. I kept switching from reading the physical book and the audiobook. I really liked the audiobook narrator as I felt like she made the story come alive. Highly recommend picking this up if you’re looking for a domestic slow burn mystery!