The Good Sister kept me up most of the night. I couldn’t put it down. This was my first Sally Hepworth novel and it won’t be my last.
The story alternates POV with fraternal twin sisters Rose and Fern. Rose’s POV is shared via her journal and tells the story of a terrible mother and a twisted childhood. Fern has a sensory processing disorder and remembers their childhood very differently.

Each sister tells their perception of what it was like growing up in their home and how a traumatic event shaped their lives.

Highly recommend this one!

Loved it , couldn’t put this one down, kept me up late on a night I needed to be up early.... it’s like just one more chapter..... found me a new author!,

This was a good story, though having read another of the author’s books, I was on the lookout for the plot twist right from the start. It became clear about half way through that my suspicions were confirmed, but that didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the book. Couldnt put it down.

Part family drama, part mystery/thriller. A perfect combo! This felt like the Hulu show "The Act". A manipulative mother, forcing two twin sisters against each other. But can they put aside their "differences" to figure out what their mother is doing to them?

This story had so many twists that I almost felt dizzy. It certainly makes you look at family relationships in a different way. The characters were well thought out and carefully developed, which made the story move seamlessly right up to the end.

I have never read any novels by Sally Hepworth, however The Good Sister description was one of the upcoming novels that captured my attention. Upon starting this story, I was drawn in right away with the word “What did you do?” The plot of this story moved faster than I anticipated, however I enjoyed the flow. I also enjoyed the main characters, the fraternal twins Fern and Rose, and how the author carefully developed their personalities in the story. This story had a lot of layers and I enjoyed the unfolding of each layer into such a wonderfully crafted suspense thriller.

In addition, I thought the relationship between the sisters were well-written intertwining the twists and turns that the author does to keep the reader engaged until the very end. There is some romance with one of the sisters and the man who is the love interest had my eyebrows raising, although he is somewhat likeable.

This novel was truly a delightful read and had my attention to the very end. As this was a first time by Ms. Hepworth for this reader, I will not be a stranger to this author and her works. Definitely a “must read” and highly recommend.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed are completely my own.

4.5-Stars

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an early release of The Good Sister. This book was one of the most fantastic books I have ever read! You will never meet another character as you do with Fern. You cannot even imagine the plot, UNBELIEVABLE! I don’t have enough words to say about this novel, I never wanted it to end. You who are reading it now, ENJOY EVERY SECOND of it, it ends way too quick. LOVED IT!!

4.5 stars for this wonderfully crafted, twisty thriller!

As my first read of 2021, The Good Sister is setting the bar high! The characters were all so well developed; I especially loved the character of Fern. I was fully invested in the whole story and couldn't stop reading! I didn't know what to expect going into this novel, as the description on NetGalley is pretty vague, but I think that is the best way to go into this read--the less you know, the better!

This book was a solid 3.5 star read for me. (Why don't they allow half star ratings?) I wouldn't consider this to be a mystery or thriller selection, though. Yes, there is a twisty-ish ending (that a thriller reader will spot pretty much from page 1), but a twisty-ish ending doesn't make it a thriller.

Twin sisters Rose and Fern are featured in this family drama. Fern is autistic, though the author never actually comes out and acknowledges this. Rose has spent her life protecting her sister from both their overbearing mother and from her autism.

The book was well-written and a quick read.

This review was also posted on Goodreads.

Fern and Rose Castle are twins who have managed to stay closely connected after a tumultuous childhood. Rose is happily married and wants a baby to complete her family, but she’s having trouble conceiving. Fern suffers from sensory issues and loves her job at the library. When Fern finds her sister’s container of prenatal vitamins, she sees it as a sign: she will conceive a baby and then give it to her Rose. It’s the least she can do for her sister, especially since Rose is always watching out for her sister’s special needs. After Fern begins a relationship with a man she calls Wally, she begins to realize that perhaps Rose isn’t as benevolent as her sister would like her to believe. This book was a total page turner. I fell in love with Fern, it was easy to root for her and I found the story to be compelling and entertaining. Part suspense, part romantic comedy, part mystery, The Good Sister was a perfect blend of a book that will appeal to many. And for good reason. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advanced review copy.

I highly recommend this latest book by Sally Hepworth. I do not have a sister, but was captivated by the author's depiction of Fern and Rose as best friends and greatest enemies as they survive a difficult childhood under the care of an irresponsible mother and are often homeless. It is not hard to fall in love with Fern, who loves the adventures she finds in books and the year they spend every day at the library shapes her life. Always a little different than other kids, Fern reminds me of another of my favorite literary characters, Eleanor Oliphant and is just as relatable and quirky. Now that the girls are grown, Rose is always there for Fern and still helping to sort out all of her problems. It seems to be a perfect arrangement, until Fern starts to develop connections outside of Rose... and to question what she truly wants in life. I enjoyed the twists and turns of this story and highly recommend this book. I received an ARC, but all opinions are my own.

Sally Hepworth is one of my new favorite authors! She takes a normal situation and changes it just enough that it becomes a great domestic thriller.

A story of twin sisters whose relationship is equally sweet, co-dependent and creepy. One of the sisters has sensory processing issues and the other seems to have a hard time letting go. Something happened in their past that has shaped their current reality, but even the truth is not as it seems. This is more of a character driven book more than a plot driven and as each character develops, you struggle with who to believe.
I really enjoyed it and ended up flying through it as I sat by the pool.

I will post my review on my social media sites after the release date and update my review here

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my opinion in any way.

I could not put this book down. The characters drew me in. I especially enjoyed that one of the main characters gave the perspective of an individual with sensory issues. The "twist" was easy to see coming but that didn't hurt my enjoyment of the book. I knew what was coming but was still interested to see how it all played out. I would recommend this one.

Thank you NetGalley for providing this book for an honest review. This was a fantastic domestic thriller. The plot was fast moving and the characters were interesting and believable. The author did a brilliant job with the two sisters and drawing you in to the story. When you are reading the book, you think you have it figured out and then the major twist at the end is definitely a surprise. This was an excellent book!!

Thank you to St. Martins Press & Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

By now I should know that Sally Hepworth can deliver a riveting thriller but this book was insane! You’re hooked from the first page with this book. Told from Rose’s journal and Ferns perspective the book intermingles the past and present but they don’t really related until later in the book. In fact it was hard to reconcile the Rose/Fern in the journal with the real life Rose/Fern but it wasn’t confusing; it just added to the uneasy feeling that was growing the longer I read the book.

This is easily a 5 star book. If you’re a fan you will not be disappointed. And if you aren’t a fan, you will be after this book.

Thrillers haven't been working for me lately, but this one really did keep my attention and keep me guessing the entire way. It is a different and unique twist on the twin trope and I think all thriller lovers will absolutely love The Good Sister.

Thank you to NetGalley.com for providing the ARC. I very much enjoyed the author’s previous book The Mother-In-Law so was excited to read this book. Rose and Fern are fraternal twins and they could.not be more different. Sound of mine, practical Rose has always been Fern’s rock. Fern has always been without social skills and full of wild ideas. She is living by herself in the old family home when tragedy befalls her. Rose comes home to deal with her sister’s death and learn what caused it. Insert an unhelpful aunt who comes out during the story, a father who was never there is now dispensing advice and Rose coming undone as she tries to help her patients back home, ignore her own therapist and search her sister’s diaries for clues to her death and you are chasing the wind down many wrong allies. Their mother is still alive in an assisted living facility. She has Alzheimer’s and she has the key.

The book asked me to suspend belief and travel through too much fantasy to get to an ending that felt very contrived. Why was it necessary for the aunt to become a central figure with an unrelated story? Why does the dad who was absent for so long come off as a likable guy who Rose goes to for advice? I didn’t find it to be a page turner nor much of a psychological thriller because of the fantasy elements and I do not like the fantasy genre at all.

The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth is a dramatic thriller with a wonderful storyline that keeps you guessing from page one. The book opens with a dramatic scene of a childhood secret that occurred when the main characters were just twelve years old. This has shaped their lives, and you will find out more about this tragedy as the book continues.

The book is told from two points of view, Fern (a librarian with spectrum tendencies) and Rose (the twin sister who is undergoing various issues of her own but still cares thoughtfully for Fern). You are given glimpses of flashbacks of their childhood through a diary that Rose is writing. Rose is painted as a sympathetic character and you will wonder what is real and what has been manipulated. Rose has devoted her life to her twin sister. Fern has a carefully structured routine that as the mother of two children with Autism Spectrum Disorder was eerily familiar. A bit of comic relief and a heartwarming relationship is introduced when Fern begins a friendship with a library patron, Wally.

The characters have flaws which draws the reader even further. You can not help but try to figure out who to sympathize with and who is at fault. Trust me though, you will be shocked when it is not at all what it seems. The superb handling of mental illness and respect for those with differing abilities is handled with grace by Hepworth.

I was provided a free advance reader copy from St. Martin’s Press in exchange for my honest review on Net Galley. The opinions shared in this review are my own.

Just finished #thegoodsister by @sallyhepworth and boy, was it a ride!
The early chapters give us a clear illustration of the main characters (twin sisters Rose and Fern) and their dynamics with each other and their mother. Rose is the responsible, neuro-typical twin while Fern is the occasionally forgetful twin with sensory process issues.
Best parts of the book: Hands down, Fern’s romance with “Wally,” one of her library patrons was my favorite part of the book. It brought light and humor to an often dark thriller. I also enjoyed learning more about the thought process for someone with a SPD.
Now, the not so great part: in one of the earlier chapters, there are a few scenes revolving around (accidental) animal neglect. As a major dog lover, I had to skip this chapter entirely. Also, after so much build up, the ending felt a bit rushed – something that often happens and thrillers.
Rating: 3.8/5

Despite being a little predictable this book in the ended up being pretty clever. Was it the best thriller out there? No but I just really loved Fern and her story. You can’t help but like her and I loved reading her alone without the thriller parts. Can we get a follow up book of her and Wally? That would be awesome.
Thank you netgalley for an ARC of The Good Sister!