This was a interesting and intriguing storyline. Both sisters had different memories of their childhood. I enjoyed the book and would recommend it.

Oh man what a great book by Sally Hepworth. I hadn’t read this author before but I sure will now. I loved her writing style and her story. The Good Sister is about a set of twins; Rose is quite normal and always willing to look after Fern who has a light and sensory disorder. Fern is a very quirky and lovable character so she looks at the world a bit differently. This leads to many smiles while reading their adventures. This book is truly a case of it is never what it seems on the surface. A library, a mystery, a little love and a dysfunctional family. What’s not to love? Put this one on your TBR list - coming your way April 13, 2021.

#FirstLine ~ It's been three months since Owen left.

Um, well....WOW. I am still a bit speechless. This book was quite the read. I would say that I was unsettled the whole time. It had an uncomfortable undertone from the start and I LOVED IT! You never knew who to trust or what was real or perceived. It was one of those reads that unfolds slowly...making the reader work to anticipate what was going to happen. It built on the suspense, but not the edge of your seat suspense, but the slow burn of a reveal that leaves you saying...WOW! I absolutely loved this book. I was pulled in right away and loved the varying perspectives and the journal entries. It was fresh, original and worthy of all the praise it is getting! A MUST READ!!!!

Another great thriller by this author. Two sisters, both sharing a secret. This was a great domestic drama with some suspense layered in. I really enjoyed Fern's character, she was different and refreshing.

Fern and Rose are fraternal twins but are complete opposites. Fern is a bit of an unreliable narrator who we find out has some sensory processing issues which cause her some difficulties . Rose is the protector, always coming to Fern's rescue.

Alternating chapters between the two had me turning the pages needing to know how this story was going to play out. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to Ms. Hepworth's next book.

A huge thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this book prior to publication! 4.5 stars rounded down -

This is a great story that Sally has written about twin sisters who are so different yet closely tangled together. Fern who has sensory issues, works in a library and has a wonderful outlook (love this character). Rose who seems to be sensible, on top of everything and watches out for her sister. Or does she? Well written with great character development. Love, murder, secrets and personality disorder. Highly recommend.

Fern and Rose are as close as two sisters can be...on the surface. This is because they share a past with a mother who was anything but loving and kind. When Fern decides to help Rose achieve a dream of having a baby, secrets unravel, and the sociopathic past of their mother's past may begin to rear it's ugly head.

This novel was suspenseful, fast-paced, and well-written. A fantastic read.

Spine tingling, creepy, utterly compelling and unpredictable, The Good Sister is about the ties that bind sisters together...and about the madness that lurks where you least expect it.

When I read the description given by the publisher I wanted to read this book and when my request was approved, I was delighted to sat the least. This is a novel about two co dependent twins Rose and Fern. Rose is definitely the more outspoken and responsible of the two where Fern seems to at times be childlike in he choices and characteristics. Rose is married and is trying to get pregnant however that seems to be a challenge at this time because she is focused on her sister and trying to ensure her decisions will not destroy everything. However, we learn that both sisters are struggling with secrets that neither want the other to know. They grew up with a mother who brought different men in and out of their lives and things happened to them as children that should not have happened but with a sociopath for a mother........ This story is told by both sisters and the writer does an amazing job of giving the girls history without overwhelming the reader. The girls were poor growing up and were often homeless. Fern decides that since Rose is not able to get pregnant, she will have a baby for her. The story moves from a mystery of sorts to a romantic novel as Fern has a love interest. Yet it switches back to a psychological thriller that is hard to expect. I love this author and if you have read any of her novels you will be able to spot her writing style immediately. This is certainly a fast paced read that will keep you interested until the last page.

Thank you to netgalley as well as the author/publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

I was pleasantly surprised with this book. In the introduction chapters we are introducted to Fern who seems a bit off and flakey and I was wondering how a story could be built around her, and if it would be satisfying. I was wrong; I totally came around to loving Fern, her strength, character and and storyline. It is more of a family drama and exploring family dynamics between Fern and her overbearing and controlling twin sister Rose with a little twist of psychological thriller thrown in. The story moves well and I was captivated with it and couldn't put it down. A great read!

The Good Sister is the first of what I hope to be many of Sally Hepworth's books that I read. There are so many twists and turns that hold true for the bonds of the relationships between sisters in real life, that it was hard to put down. And so I didn't. Now I'm looking forward to reading Sally's previous books. Thank you #NetGalley for this advanced copy.

This book started slowly in my opinion but developed into a great story around twins Fern and Rose. It kept me guessing to the end . Well worth a read

Thank you @NetGalley for the e-ARC of The Good Sister. I really enjoyed Sally Hepworth’s last novel, The Mother-in-Law, so I was excited to read this one.
.
The Good Sister is a novel about sisters with secrets, family problems, and a complex relationship. It was a dark novel and I did struggle with the characters a bit because the relationships were so toxic. I ultimately found the book to be ok but will continue to read anything Hepworth writes.

The Good Sister is an excellent novel set around twins - Rose, who is neurotypical and Fern, who is not. The novel runs through their childhood to the present day. The story goes back and forth between excerpts from their journals and the present day. Things however, are not always what they seem when you read the experiences of each sister. Fern is a lovable character. She has some sensory issues, which Ms. Hepworth depicts realistically for the reader. She loves to stick with her routine and adores her job at the library. What she doesn’t quite realize is how loved and capable she is. Rose is her loyal twin who is always available to her when things go awry and they spend a tremendous amount of time together. As supportive as Rose is, sometimes she appears a little over protective and occasionally gets in the way of Fern standing on her own. But what are sisters for? Read The Good Sister to find out all the nuances of these sisters. It’s well worth your time!

The Good Sister started off slow for me, but I'm really glad that I stuck with it because it kept getting better as the story went along. The novel centers around twin sisters Fern and Rose. Fern is on the autistic spectrum, has sensory overload challenges and is dependent on order and stability to function well. So she's always relied on her twin sister Rose to help her handle the world and give her cues on when she should and shouldn't be doing something especially after an accident during their childhood where another young child drowned. Fern is happy in her life, working as a librarian, so when she sees her twin's desire to have a baby she decides she'll help Rose. She meets Rocco, known to Fern as Wally, and a relationship with him is the perfect solution to helping Rose be a mother. Except for it turns out that Fern really likes Rocco and once pregnant Rose increasingly is a presence in her life whether Fern wants her there or not. The story alternates back in forth between Fern in the current time and journals written by Rose recounting their childhood with an abusive mother. But as the story goes on Hepworth makes it clear that everything you know so far may not be as it seems. Does Fern really need to be dependent on Rose? Or is it possible that she's perfectly capable of running her own life? This thriller uses a person on the autism spectrum as a way of creating the unreliable narrator; a unique approach that also creates a character you can't help but root and cheer for as Fern learns just how valued she can be in her job and personal life.

I absolutely loved this book. Fern’s character was so well written and I thought the ending was quite unexpected as well.

I could not put this book down! Fern and Rose are fraternal twins. Sally Hepworth intertwines their personal stories, Rose’s through a diary, Fern through her perspective, weaving their lives between present day and their childhood.

Fern has undiagnosed sensory issues. Rose has been her protector and caregiver since she was a child, despite their mother being in their lives. Rose is unable to have a child and has a marriage that is struggling, so Fern decides to give Rose her baby. As the story continues, Fern grows personally, building relationships and a life outside of Rose. The sibling dynamics are incredibly realistic and understandable, even though there are secrets lurking.

Sally Hepworth is an incredible story writer. Her character development and growth are realistic, and although I found the ending semi-predictable, I could not stop reading. I was rooting for one of the sisters from the start and questioned the health of her trust and reliance.

Thank you to Netgalley, Sally Hepworth and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy!

I loved this book. It hooked me from the start and I sped through it. I loved Fern and Wally. This is my second book by this author, but will not be my last.

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.

The Good Sister's expected US publication date is April 2021. I'd like to thank Sally Hepworth and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review an advanced copy via NetGalley.

This is such a good read!! The rundown this is about two sisters Fern and Rose, fraternal twins. Fern also has sensory issues, Rose has been her caregiver since childhood even though they had a mother. This is a beautiful read about a protagonist that grows from start to finish and becomes her own person through unfortunate events that lead up to this. This at times was suspenseful and an overall thrilling read!! This sisterhood bond is not the most likely of what you hear, and as Fern starts to become her own person she realizes Rose has been keeping secrets from her. Just because it looks one way on the outside doesn't mean that is the true meaning of what happens when no one can see! This has been a great thrill ride to go back and forth between Rose and Fern, and have the ending bring both sides into one by the end and discover what can't be seen from the outside unless you are looking closely. Riveting, mysterious, hints of comedy and touches of romance and endearing outcomes, this book touched on a lot of different emotions while still being a captivating domestic psychological thriller type read. Thank you Netgalley for the chance at reading this and St. Martin's Press! Truly astounding book!

“Sometimes I wonder if, like those choose-your-adventure books that we used to devour, the two of us were living parallel, alternate lives.”

Twins Fern and Rose couldn’t be any different and not just looks ... these twins are nothing alike.

Fern works as a librarian and lives by a routine. She has certain days for everything, including visiting her mother at her nursing home. Living with sensory issues Fern feels she is less than most people. Besides her sister, there are very few people she lets get close to her.

Rose is an interior designer. She is married to Owen, outgoing and seemingly perfect in every way. But unlike Fern, she has a rocky relationship with their mother.

Fern relies on Rose. Rose helps to care for Fern. But there is a fine line between caring and making someone feel dependent.

Like other Sally Hepworth books, you know there is always something coming. The Good Sister was no different. Told from two points of view, through Fern’s eyes and then through Rose’s diary, the book flew by. I loved being able to see into the mind of both sisters. While reading, I thought I had an idea about what was going to happen through most of the book, but I didn’t mind because I was so hooked I had to find out how it all played out.

I really enjoyed this one. Plus all the nods to other novels at the library was definitely a nice touch.

This book is about 2 fraternal twin sisters showing you their past and how they grew up to how they are in present day.
Fern is the twin with sensory issues, dependency issues, and is a librarian.
Rose is the twin who seems to have her life together, is Fern’s protector and cannot have a child.

You will begin to realize down the road who you should really be cheering for in the end. This book will keep you going from all twists within Rose’s diary and the true outcome of what really has happened.

I rate this 4/5 stars for the main fact of wanting to know the outcome of the sisters but other than that this is a fabulous read and I truly recommend.