The Good Sister
By Sally Hepworth
December 4, 2020

Before reading The Good Sister, I was not familiar with Sally Hepworth and her books. But I’m a fan now!

In this psychological thriller, twins Rose and Fern seem to experience a normal, up and down sister relationship. Until the story weaves and flips and readers learn, “Maybe when it comes to sisters, boundaries are always a little bit blurry.”

The book kept me guessing the entire way, and I can’t wait to read another Hepworth novel.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Net Galley for the advance copy.

What a great book! The book started off a little bit slow but I really enjoyed it. The characters were well defined and I enjoyed the differences of the sisters. It is amazing how stories can be changed with just a few words. Rose and Fern were inseparable which is expected as they were sisters and twins. Sounds like their mother had a lot going on while raising them by herself. I believe Rose was a master manipulator and could spin a story any way she wished! Thanks for the opportunity to read this book - I will definitely recommend this to my friends.

Sally Hepworth hits it out of the park as usual with this engrossing and brilliant thriller.

Rose and Fern are twins and their dynamic is interesting, complicated and not necessarily the way it appears to others. Like layers of an onion we learn more and more and then it all smashes together in the Hepworthiest way.

It's awesome.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for gifting me a copy. It is my pleasure to write an honest review.

Twin sisters, Rose and Fern share sad childhood memories including a secret that has kept them bound together. This book is told from Rose's POV via her journal and Fern's POV as she struggles through life. Fern is the one thing that really captivated me while reading this book. She struggles relating to people as she is on the spectrum and has difficulty with understanding people, bright lights, and loud sounds. To Fern, things must be black and white to make sense, there isn't a way for her to interpret a grey area unless someone does it for her. One day, she meets "Wally" and her life changes. I loved their interactions and how much "Wally" understood Fern, although she often confused him as well. The deep secrets of these sisters was at the heart of the book, but at the same time I was rooting for Fern and "Wally" the whole time. It was hard book to put down!

I loved the characters and the twisty suspense! I don't think I will ever forget Fern, she was such a memorable character.

An absolutely FANTASTIC read! I could not put it down. I loved the 2 different point of views of the sisters, the underlying suspense throughout, the excellent writing of Hepworth. Thank you so much for allowing me to review this!

The publisher's description of The Good Sister uses these adjectives: "spine tingling, creepy, utterly compelling and unpredictable," While my spine didn't tingle, I didn't get any creeps, and I found the story pretty predictable, I 100% was utterly compelled to keep the pages turning.

I'm also now compelled to go back and read the author's earlier novels, because it's obvious Sally Hepworth has a gift for storytelling and character development. The Good Sister is the story of fraternal twins, and clearly we're meant to discern which is the titular good one. The largest share of the chapters are dedicated to the perspective of Fern, a neurodivergent librarian who counts on her sister Rose for nearly everything... and would do anything for her. Rose in turn is dealing with marriage and fertility issues, as well as childhood scars, in her chapters told in the form of journal entries.

To say much more quickly falls into spoiler territory if you're looking to enjoy this book as a thriller. If you're content with a well-written, absorbing women's fiction novel, then you're in for a heart-warming ride with a truly unique character. That's right, one of the adjectives I'd use to describe this "thriller" is heart-warming. I'll also throw in unforgettable, as I believe I'll think back on one of these sisters often.

I really enjoyed this offering by the author of The Mother-in-Law. It's written from the points of view of both Fern and her twin sister, Rose. We learn about their childhood in flashbacks from both sisters' point of view and believe me when I say they see things very differently.

One of the things I enjoy about Ms. Hepworth's writing is her thorough characterization. This time around it's Fern who really gets fully fleshed out. Her mannerisms and speech patterns are so detailed that I can almost hear and see her in my mind. See, Fern is a little different, raised in a time where kids were not always tested and labelled, so she's relied upon her sister Rose for assistance in navigating a world that always seems just a little too much to Fern - too loud, too bright, too close. Fern is happy with her job in the library and her little apartment, but then things change, as they always do. I was fully immersed in the story and actually a little sad to see it end. The author does a fantastic job of keeping the reader guessing all the way through.

Sally Hepworth is a new to me author. I found the synopsis intriguing and thought I would give it a try. I’m so glad I did. The story immediately sucked me in and I couldn’t put it down.

The story was a great psychological thriller. The whole time I was reading, I knew I couldn’t take the story at face value, but I had no idea was true and what wasn’t. I think the author did a great job building the stories of both sisters and leaving the reader guessing - who is The Good Sister?

I was very happy with the ending too. Everything was wrapped up nicely and I wasn’t left with any lingering questions. Even the acknowledgements were worth the read. The author told the reader where she got her idea for the story.

ARC kindly provided by publisher via NetGalley.

Sally Hepworth always writes compelling stories and this one is no exception. It’s told as a dual narrative – Rose tells hers in the form of diary entries whereas we get Fern’s inner thoughts and daily life as she’s living it. The two are twins (not identical) and from the beginning, it’s quite obvious that Rose protects Fern, has always protected Fern, from when they were children to even now, as adults. Fern processes things a different way to most people – she’s very literal, she often has difficulty picking up certain cues. For example, she won’t answer someone if the person doesn’t phrase their speech in the form of a question. For Fern, questions require answers but statements do not. So when her boss often says something that for her requires Fern to respond, Fern often doesn’t see the need to.

Rose looks like she has her whole life together. Lovely house, wonderful husband although at the moment he’s working abroad. And now she and her husband are trying for a baby and when Fern discovers that it may not be that easy for Rose, she’s willing to help out. After all, Rose helped Fern years ago, many years ago and Fern has felt like she’s owed her ever since. This might be her chance to help Fern the way Fern once helped her….

I don’t have a sister. So I don’t know what that sort of relationship is like – I’ve witnessed a lot of sister relationships, some more toxic than others. I think it’s a very complex relationship, some I’ve seen where the sisters are so close they’re almost one person. Others where they can’t even be in the same room and almost everything in-between. I don’t really know any sets of twins but I’d imagine that adds a whole new layer to that dynamic.

The book builds well in the beginning, describing the life of the twins growing up, dividing up the story between Fern and Rose, dripping it out to the reader. For a while, you’re pretty convinced that you have the story and I did wonder if the book actually tipped its hand a bit too early. Recently I read another book about twins, where there are some complications of a pregnancy (in this case, for an inheritance) and although it was structured in a very different way, it was, in some ways, similar in vibe. However, this book was more subtle, more realistic I’d say, in terms of the characters and the situation. But I don’t think this one really kept me guessing for as long as I would’ve liked. Instead, things shifted sideways and then it became about who would triumph I think, the so-called long game of which story you chose to believe and who would be believed in the end. There were a lot of complications and the twins were fleshed out well, with added depth as the story went on but I do think that for me, some of the tension (not all, but some) went out of the plot a bit early.

I really enjoyed the setting, especially the fact that a large portion of Fern’s part of the story takes place at the library where she works. Fern avoids anything to do with helping people use the photocopier or the computers but she has such an excellent knowledge of books and also takes part in the story times that the library runs as well. It reminded me quite a lot of my own library (which is still closed) and I liked how Fern came into her own when she was there. I also liked the dynamic between her and the man she meets there, whom she assumes is homeless. I actually didn’t realise until covid hit and a lot of libraries closed, just how much of a resource they were for people in insecure accommodation. I read an article about it actually, how many people come in and use the bathrooms, showers if the library has them, read the papers or use the computers to apply for jobs or places to stay. They are a huge resource for people who are vulnerable and even though the character in the story isn’t actually homeless, it does showcase that in the community, a library is much more than just a place to borrow a book.

This was a good, solid read with some twists and turns.

7/10

I anticipate a Sally Hepworth book like a day at the beach; I know I am going to enjoy it and be sad when it ends. Ms. Hepworth is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. THE GOOD SISTER did not disappoint, a very enjoyable read I did not want to end, the only thing that could have made it better was reading it at the beach.

THE GOOD SISTER was one of my favorite reads of this year. Romance is not my preferred genre but there was truly a wonderful love story in this novel. Not sappy and oh so different than the usual.

This book has a non-traditional protagonist and you will fall in love with her, cheer her on and wish you could find out what happens to her after you close the last page of this book. To me, thinking about a character when I am finished with a book is the number one sign of a good read.

I was very invested in the characters in this novel. I will recommend it to romance and thrillerr readers a like.

This book was really interesting in how it gaslights Fern. This was one of the few thrillers that I genuinely did not have figured out until about 75% into the book. I had my guesses, but when everything was revealed I was genuinely shocked. I found Rose to be unlikable from the start, but felt that perhaps this was from years of abuse and lack of therapy. I didn’t care for the way she treated Fern and the relationships that were developing.
As the book progressed, I liked Fern more and more, and her love interest. Often when reading thrillers, love interests feel frustrating and unnecessary. This particular interest was sweet and really enjoyable to read.
Reviewing thrillers is complicated as I never want to spoil the story for my readers, but let me tell you that this fast paced thriller was an amazing read. I enjoyed all the aspect of it and even the representation of someone with sensory issues. If you’re someone who likes to read a quick thriller, this is definitely the one for you.

Oh, family drama. There’s nothing like it. Maybe you have good siblings. Or maybe you were the terror. There’s a whole realm of situations we get into with our siblings.

With sisters, you can be very close or not so close. In this story, our author tells the story of a deep bond between two sisters. It’s a bond that you may recognize with your own sister. You go everywhere together, do things together, even try to survive in a home that may not be idealistic or as perfect as you want.

Sometimes there’s a sister who is more of a protector and takes the lead. But what happens to that weaker sister that allows herself to be lead. Is it a healthy situation?

Told in two different parts, one by each sister’s point of view, the story is simplistic in theory but the author actually delves into deep psychological areas that just grabs you and begs you to hold on as you get deeper into the psyche of the sisters.

The author writes in such a manner that she’s spinning a yarn that weaves you tightly into the lives of these two women. They’re almost like one because they do so much together. But yet they both have secrets and they do have different lives. Completely different on many levels we find.

One sister I liked. One I disliked and you will probably find yourself in the same spot. Hepworth scores big in this psychological tale that seems simplistic yet leads you down the garden path to a twisted state of mind.

In the novel we meet Fern and Rose, fraternal twins who have spent their entire life depending on each other for survival due to an abusive childhood.

As in childhood, the sisters are there for each other in adulthood with Fern choosing to help her sister Rose who is unable to conceive by having a child for her and her estranged husband. As Fern’s plan takes shape what we thought we knew about the sister’s starts to unravel.

This is a fun thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The characters are well developed and the setting well define d allowing the reader to create vivid images of the surroundings. The story is told from the individual perspective of Rose and Fern. It toggles between present day and the past in the retelling of sisters’ youth. We learn about Fern, the sister with sensory stimulation issues. I loved her quirkiness and inability to be anything but her authentic self. We also meet Rose who early on be are told suffered abuse in her attempt to protect fragile Fern.
As the story unfolds we realize the narrators are not reliable what we thought we knew about the characters is not true.

I highly recommend this book as it is a great read.

So good! Read it in one sitting. For another twin book, this one kept me on the edge of my seat. Loved it. Would definitely recommend!

The Good Sister is a twisty story about twins who have an unconventional upbringing. They are devoted to one another and you'll learn more about their relationship through journals as written by Rose. Fern is the sister who is completely dependent on Rose yet is quite a capable young woman, one who doesn't realize her potential and abilities.

Fern is so likeable but there is something a bit off about her. She has a keen mind for detail and a practical way of examining a situation. Black and white with no gray area, as an engineer, socially awkward yet confident.

Rose appears to have her life together, has a lovely home and clearly takes care of Fern. Still, Rose's husband has left her and she wants to have a baby. Right from the beginning you will see how Rose manipulates Fern, steers her a particular direction so it seems it's Fern's idea.

We read about the childhood experiences she and Fern endure through her journals and their mother is not kind. It's a dysfunctional family drama with hints of the ending surfacing early on in the book. Still, it's well written and I wasn't tempted to put it aside. The sister with the dark side is gradually developed in this story.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced readers copy of this book. I was not compensated for the review and opinions are all mine. This book will be published 13 April 2021.

Genre is mystery and thriller/women's fiction.

This book has a set of twins. Rose is responsible and Fern is more carefree. Rose does a lot of things for Fern and is very involved in her life. There are some twists in the book. A few twists I didn't expect and a couple I did expect. I wanted to keep reading this book to see how it ended.

This book make me think a lot about relationships with family members in your life. One of the sisters had to put trust in someone other than what her sister was telling her. I found that fun to think about. I was thinking about believing in yourself is great skill to learn, but it's hard to break once you have gone down that path for a bit.

This was a great book! This is the second Sally Hepworth book I have read. I will read more of her books in the future.

I really tried to get into this book. The writing and the plot just didn't flow well for me. I never connected to the characters. The book itself was too choppy and under-developed. This wasn't a book for me.

Fern's twin, Rose, has watched out for her all their lives. She wants to do something for Rose to show her appreciation. Nothing works out like the plan.

I wasn't sure I would like this for the first couple chapters...it certainly wasn't what I expected. But Fern reminded me of Eleanor Oliphant (one of my all time favorite book characters) so I continued. I am so glad I did. What a ride! I loved Hepworth's character development and her descriptions of sensory sensitivity. I also love that Fern is a completely capable librarian (I also shy away from computer and copier issues).

This book made me feel things. I found myself knowing who the "culprit" was but the actual journey was well worth it. I would definitely recommend this book.

The Good Sister is a fantastic story of two sisters and the secrets 'tween them. I really loved this book - it was incredibly twisty and turny where plot points were considered - but the end did feel a bit predictable, probably because Hepworth wrote the sisters so well. I enjoyed this book a lot and would recommend it to anyone that's interested in family drama/suspense novels. Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy! Excited to read more of Hepworth's work, considering I devoured this in less than 24 hours.