Sally Hepworth has rapidly become one of my go-to authors.

While none of her novels have been five-star reads for me (not that I give five stars frequently), they've consistently been 3.5 to 4 star reads. The Good Sister was no exception. I was engrossed from page one.

This book particularly resonated with me because Ms. Hepworth did an amazing job portraying sensory processing disorder. My son, who has autism, also has SPD. While his is primarily auditory, he has mild issues with all his senses. It's always refreshing to see authors get things like this correct.

I loved Fern and Wally. They were kindred spirits, and the cutest couple ever.

However, if you're looking for something highly suspenseful, I'd look elsewhere. The Good Sister is more a domestic drama with a sprinkling of comedy and romance. And it's ridiculously compelling.

4 stars from me!
Available April 13, 2021

My sincere thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my review copy.

Good job Sally Hepworth! This is another good take spun from Miss Hepworth. It had all the twists and turns I would expect from reading her novels. Had me hooked from the beginning!

I received a advance copy of this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and give an honest review of this book.

A set of fraternal twins, Rose and Fern, tell this story, each from their own point of view. Fern has many issues that have to do with social skills and relating to others. She appears to have some disabilities related to that. She is high functioning and intelligent and she works as a librarian. Rose is an interior decorator and she is married to Owen. Rose desperately wants a baby and cannot have one. Because Fern feels Rose has taken care of her most of her life, Fern decides maybe she can have a baby, as a surrogate, for Rose.

As the story unfolds, it appears that some things are not as they seem. What Rose writes in her diary is her perception of life and may not always be true.
Fern is fairly innocent and doesn’t always stand up for herself.

The plot goes back and forth. It is often difficult to determine whose story is true.

The characters are well developed and you will find yourself cheering for one sister over the other. Who is the good sister, really?

"The Good Sister" was a relatively straight-forward thriller and quick read right up until the wonderfully devious final chapter that will absolutely leave you wondering what is going to happen next.

Once I sat down to read The Good Sister, I didn’t want to put it down! The story of twin sisters is told from alternating points of view, via journal entries of one twin (Rose), and narration by the other twin (Fern). From the journal entries, we learn about the twin’s mother, about their childhood, and about a tragedy they experienced. From Fern, we learn about her daily life, her job as a librarian, and her interactions with people as someone who has Asperger’s (though it’s not named in the book), including a man she meets at the library. We also learn about her present day relationship with her sister. I thought the character development was done very well and I personally really loved Fern and the relationships she forged throughout the book. Reading both sides of the story leads to some twisty reveals which make this book very enjoyable.
I read another book by this author a couple years ago (The Family Next Door). A lot of people liked the book, but it didn’t work for me, and I almost passed up this book because of that experience. I am so glad that I didn’t, as this is definitely one of my favorite books of the year so far!

This was a great domestic psychological thriller, I don’t remember the last time I forgo sleep to read a book. I could not and would not put this down until I got to the end . This story was captivating, fast paced and so well written. If you are a fan of Eleanor Oliphant , then you will love this story .
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This story is about fraternal twins, Fern and Rose, and their complicated sisterly relationship. Fern and Rose are the best of friends, after all, they're all they have. Rose pride herself on being Ferns protector. Things hasn't always been easy for the girl, with Ferns sensory challenges and Rose own health concerns, paired with growing up in an abusive household, their life had not been a bed of roses.
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When an incident one summer left Fern in fear of herself, she learn that she cannot be trusted. Rose, always the protect swoops in and covers for her sister, taking on the blame . Feeling in-debt to her, fern comes up with a plan to repay her, by giving Rose the one thing she wants the most, a baby. things doesnt go as plan, and when a family member turn up dead, and a new person appears in their lives, they're starting to realize that things are not what they seem, and the sisterly love may not be enough to keep them together.
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The story is told from Fern’s point of view and in flashbacks to their childhood through Rose’s diary. I loved Fern’s!! she's quirky, so pure and has a good heart. i was rooting for her the whole time and i want more!

I loved The Mother In Law and was hoping for a similar feel, and while this was a decent read, it didn't grasp my attention as much and I felt it lacked in the mystery department.

Fern is a librarian who has a very regimented life, with a schedule that never changes. Her life revolves around her job and her close relationship with her sister. When she learns that her sister is unable to have a baby, Fern decides to get pregnant to fulfill her sister's lifelong dream by letting her raise her child. Then everything takes a turn for the unexpected! Wow, maybe I'm glad I don't have a sister after reading this novel! It's a great read and I recommend it highly.

I found this book very hard to get into. Almost didn't finish, but i pushed through. I didn't care for Rose at all. I also had a hard time with the story told from different points of view. I usually don't mind this, but this one was hard.

The nature of twins if you are not a twin yourself is mysterious, and this book delves into that bond head first. It is a very fascinating feed about twins Rose and Fern and how one sister wants to have a baby for the other who finds herself infertile. The issue is, like in many books, that the women have a past with some terrible secrets that need to stay buried. But the path to possible motherhood could dig up those long-buried secrets and destroy the tight bond Fern and Rose have. Normally, I get tired of the 'secret past' trope in books, but this one also features a sociopathic mother and an incident, both of which are very compelling, even if you have 'secret past' fatigue like I do. the strong female bond is also a bonus because so much literature still tends to be shallow in the female friendships, or pit them against each other as competitors. That doesn't happen here, and it makes the books all the more enjoyable.

Sally Hepworth is an absolute gem! The Good Sister is only the second book I have read from her (I know, I had been living under a rock before I discovered her work!) and I am so glad that I have another Aussie author to add to my favourite authors list!

The plot for The Good Sister is fresh, so very compelling and right from the outset, has you completely hooked! The story has been perfectly written and just flows so well. There are no unnecessary filler chapters and each one ends with you wanting more. Sally Hepworth knows how to get her reader’s attention and keep it that’s for sure!

The characters have been very well developed and come to life so vividly through the pages. I have to say that Fern was the standout. She is such a fascinating character and my favourite parts of the book were when she lead the narrative. Rose was also an interesting character and I really enjoyed the use of journal entries from her POV which was a great touch. Now for Wally, I just loved him!

I love when I read a book that is set in my home town of Melbourne and knowing all the places that are spoken of, makes the story feel more personal. The use of the alternating chapters between Rose and Fern gives a great perspective of each and as you go deeper into it, you start to wonder who is the unreliable narrator.

The Good Sister is an exceptional read. You know those moments when you are truely enjoying something that suddenly a few hours has gone by and your cup of tea has gone cold! This is what happened to me. I just devoured this book as it demanded my attention, never letting me go free until the final page! And that ending…OMG!!

I think it is clear that I loved The Good Sister and it is definitely right up there as one of the best books I have read this year. There is nothing better than reading a book that you just want to shout from the rooftops as to how brilliant it is and The Good Sister is definitely one of these books!

Sally Hapworth has such a talent of being able to write books that lull the reader gently in one direction...before hitting them squarely in the face!
In The Good Sister, Rose and Fern are fraternal twins who grew up with an abusive mother and no father. After their mother’s drug overdose, they end up in foster care and seem to have moved onto productive adult lives, with Rose always taking the lead as Fern’s protector.
When the book opens, Rose and Fern are in their late 20’s, seem to have a very close relationship, but each have their own challenges. Fern has sensory processing and other issues, but fits neatly into her job as a librarian and her very structured life. Rose is an interior designer, married, and anxious to have a baby.
And that is what leads Fern and Rose down a twisty path involving Where’s Waldo (or Wally as he’s called in Australia) and lots of deception!
Ms. Hepworth is a wonderful storyteller and I liked the first half of the novel almost as much as the second half. Look forward to seeing what she’s working on next!
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for the opportunity to read The Good Sister in exchange for an honest review.

The Good Sister is the second book that I have read by Sally Hepworth. WOW! This book is phenomenal! A thriller/domestic suspense novel that kept me engrossed from the very first page until the last page. Fraternal twins with an abusive mother. Fern has mild Asperger's syndrome and functions very well in everyday life and at her job as a librarian. Rose is married and has watched over Fern since they were children. The question is "Who really is the good sister?" Lots of twists and turns. You will not be disappointed! Thank you to NetGalley and Sally Hepworth for the ARC!

I've read 3 other books by Sally Hepworth so was very happy to be able to read this prepublication.

Hooked from the start. Not as creepy as Hepworth's other books, although there is considerable darkness [but also much sweetness--go figure!]

A fast-read, page turner. I couldn't wait to get back to reading this tome.

The novel is divided into segments: Journal of Rose Ingrid Castle and Fern. The journal is a literary device in the book [no spoilers from me.]

The setting: Fern and Rose are fraternal twins--devoted to one another. An abusive [or is she?] mother figures throughout the novel. Fern is autistic and has many, many, sensory issues--sensitive to light, noise, touch, people [she wears goggles and headphones as protection.] However, she is functional and works at a library--where she meets the man she names Wally [his name is really Rocco] as she thinks he resembles [in his clothing], "Where's Wally." Rose, a diabetic, is married to Owen, and is much more of a mystery. Is she caring, or not? But, definitely manipulative.

There's a backstory regarding their upbringing, their dysfunctional mother, and their secret. [As a child, Fern "did something very bad" and since then, Rose has been her protector.

Rose desparately wants a baby but has fertility issues. Fern decides she will get pregnant and give the baby to Rose.

And so it goes.

Some of the dry humor I loved:

"Rose is an excellent frowner. Even when she laughs, two little vertical lines remain between her eyebrows, as if her face is afraid to have too much fun."

"Premature ovarian aging...In my mind's eye, I see a row of eggs with gray hair and wrinkles and tiny walking sticks."

"Fern, I"m glad I ran into you," Carmel says, even though she was not running and nor did we make physical contact."

Some predictability but not ruinous.

Full disclaimer: I loved Fern.

I figured there was a connection to Kelly Rimmer--and I was right [in acknowledgments].

Not for everyone but recommend.

Loving this new suspense side of Sally Hepworth. The characters are so full of life and well written, however I think I picked the twist pretty early in the piece. I loved the storyline and was definitely kept on the edge of my seat.

All Rose wants is a baby of her own. That’s not too much to ask for right? Fern meanwhile, has her set schedule and enjoys how she lives her life. Her twin sister Rose has always been her person and been there for her. She is the only one that truly knows what Fern needs. Can Fern do something to return the favor?

Oh man Sally Hepworth coming in strong as always! For the first 100 pages or so I was like oh this is such a lovely story of sisterly love and care. I knew this was considered a thriller so was wondering when things would get good, and boy did they ever! I don’t want to say more and give anything away, but this book was absolutely excellent and if it isn’t on your TBR you are missing out. Get that pre-order in so it can be on your doorstep on April 13th!

Thank you, NetGalley and the Publisher for an advanced copy to read. This is the first book by this author I have read and I was not disappointed. I will definitely read more that this author has written. The book was well written and I enjoyed the characters. Looking forward to another good story.

This was my first read by Sally Hepworth and she did not disappoint. The story is written in alternating perspectives between twins, Fern and Rose. The main character of the book is Fern and she had the most contagious personality that you can’t help but love. Fern is on the spectrum and has sensory issues ,and because of that she has been codependent on her sister’s help. During their childhood Fern made a mistake that haunts her to present day. Rose finds herself with fertility struggles and asks Fern if she would have her child. Fern feels this is one way to right her wrongs and help her sister who has always helped her. As the story unfolds, secrets are uncovered. This book had me staying up way to late and furiously turning pages until the end. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley for an opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. This is the first book by Sally Hepworth I ever read and I was not disappointed. I will definitely pick up more from this author. The Good Sister is so incredibly well written. The story explores a somewhat co-dependent relationship.

Sally Hepworth is one of my favorite domestic suspense authors and this book was another brilliant addition to the genre!

Rose and Fern, sisters who could not be more different, grow up in an unstable, transient environment with their mother. The constant is their sisterhood - and one traumatic, shocking event that will taint their relationship from that day forward.

Fern forges her own path as a librarian, and creates a life of predictable routine. Rose is her doting sister, living a picture perfect life and is only a phone call away, anytime Fern is in need. When Rose discovers she is infertile, Fern crafts a plan to give her sister the ultimate gift. The twists, turns and deceptions that follow are perfectly orchestrated and had me flipping pages as fast as possible!

(A note: the marketing of this book includes the word "quirky" to describe this story. This seems to have become a recent misnomer for any story involving a character who is non-neurotypical. My own opinion is that this description is a disservice to the beautiful, brilliant and resilient character that is Fern).