I read this book all in one sitting in a long car ride, and it kept my attention the entire time. For me, the thriller aspect started off a little slow, and I thought maybe I had picked up a book that was more of a family drama than a suspense title. I wouldn't say that is a bad thing, though, as the author slowly unwrapped the tension, making me want to read on. The other thing I liked about the book is the main character Fern. The author wrote a character on the autism spectrum in a sensitive and realistic way that made me really like her (maybe because I am a librarian too!)

I started it and couldn't really get into this book. It didn't keep my attention like the Mother-in-Law did. The going back and forth with the characters was a little confusing. I did enjoy her other book The Mother-in-Law and picked it because I thought it would be like that book.

Definitely an interesting book! First book I have read by this author.

Fern and Rose are sisters who have definitely led an interesting life. The author is great at keeping the twists and turns coming in this book and the ending was somewhat of a surprise for me! Fern is the sister who is a single librarian and leads a somewhat quiet but mysterious life. Rose is the sister who seems more outgoing, is married and seems to lead a more glamorous life.

The girls had a somewhat troublesome childhood which has led to a somewhat troublesome life as adults. Fern got into some trouble when she was a child and Rose has never told anyone. As a result, when Rose wants to have a baby but is having trouble getting pregnant, Fern decides as repayment, she will try to help Rose achieve her wish. Lots of interesting and somewhat scary twists and turns in this story!

Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of this book. It was definitely an interesting read and I might look into reading more by this author.

A twisting tale of manipulation and sibling rivalry gone mad, nothing is quite as it seems in The Good Sister. Twins Rose and Fern are close, yet from the outset, I felt a certain toxicity to the relationship, a razor sharp edge of manipulation and control. Something was off with these twins, and very early on in the story, I started to have an inkling as to what it was. Nevertheless, don’t be fooled by this show of hand so early, this psychological thriller is less about the astonishing reveal and more about the long game.

Fern instantly endeared herself to me and then once Wally was on the scene, the deal was well and truly sealed in terms of who was my favourite twin and who was not. Fern has sensory issues, in that, she has hypersensitive senses, so things like bright lights, loud noises, crowds, changes in temperature and people touching her, just to list a few as an example, make life incredibly challenging for her. She can’t cope in these situations, and for the most part, she uses avoidance strategies to deal with this. When she meets Wally, she soon realises that she may have just met a kindred spirit.

As I mentioned above, Sally shows her hand quite early on in this story in terms of what might be going on. It’s nothing as obvious as a big reveal, more an element of sustained dread that takes root and just continues to build as the story progresses. I felt like this was deliberate, a way of steering us, as readers, into fully appreciating what life must be like for Fern. Just as we could see what was going on, so could some of the other characters in Fern’s life. For Fern however, the extent of the manipulations she had been subjected to rendered her incapable of fully comprehending the danger she was in until it was almost too late. She simply couldn’t see what we could. Therefore, I do think this was less ‘obvious plot reveal’ and more ‘intentional plot mastering’.

This story is an excellent case study in vulnerability. It’s also a cautionary tale about hidden depths and dangerous minds. Fans of Sally Hepworth will enjoy this latest release and if you are new to her work, this one is sure to turn you into a fan.

Thanks is extended to St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a copy of The Good Sister for review.

3.5 stars

Sister relationships are complicated, and fraternal twins, Fern and Rose, have a more complicated relationship than most.

Fern is on the spectrum and has sensory processing disorder. Rose has been her best friend and protector since they were young children growing up in an abusive household. Fern knows she could never make it on her own. She is indebted to her sister for many things and comes up with a plan to repay her that you know will not be as uncomplicated as Fern believes.

This seems to be a pretty straightforward story but things are not be as they seem. After the halfway mark, there are a few surprises and twists in store. The story is told in a dual perspective from Fern’s point of view and in flashbacks to their childhood through Rose’s diary.
I loved Fern’s quirkiness, innocence and good heart and I fell in love with her friend Wally. I loved the library setting and Fern’s job as a librarian, as well as her love of books and reading.

Which sister is the ‘good sister’? Are either reliable narrators? Is someone lying? Was I right to root for one of the sisters? The ‘good sister/bad sister’ story has been done before. Was it predictable? Yes. Did I care? No. I still found it an engaging fun read that I read on the beach in one day at a time when I needed an easy page-turner.

Recommended for fans of women’s fiction with a side of humor, romance, and light suspense that won’t stretch your ‘little gray cells’ too hard. This will be a good one to throw into the beach bag next Spring/Summer.

Sally Hepworth's The Good Sister is interesting and fascinating. It's a coming of age story about twin sisters—Rose and Fern, growing up with their sociopathic mother. Rose wants to get pregnant and has a strained relationship with her husband. Fern works as a librarian and hypersensitive in all senses such as touch, light, sound, and smell.

Rose describes her sister as having intellectual disabilities. To me, it is more not knowing how to behave normally in an everyday social environment. Fern sounds intelligent when she speaks. She is well-read and can discern what is right from wrong. She likes her routine and becomes disoriented when the routine is not followed. I would say, Fern, is somewhat on the extreme side. She met a guy a the library who she first thought was homeless. The library has a shower facility beside the typical books, computer, printer, and photocopier service it offers. Because the guy looks so much like Wally from the Where's Wally puzzle book (the British edition), Fern started calling him Wally since then.

Sometimes, a character doesn't have to be likable in order for me to appreciate a book. In this case, while I can somehow relate to both sisters, there are a lot of their traits that I do not find admirable as a result of their mother's treatment when they were young. Another point that I like about this book is how the characters are mundane and domestic. Like typical people I interact in everyday life. How they are flawed but managed to rise from it and have a normal life as an adult. I like how the twin sisters developed throughout the story.

The book is told from two perspectives. One is Fern's perspective. The other is Rose's perspective together with the recounting of history through her journal writing. It is a good flow between the two perspectives that I did not lose the plot as I read. Besides, the author talks about books a lot which I enjoy and find very engaging.

The story is both dark and light-hearted. Rose's retelling of the past is dark as it involves their sociopathic mother. On the other hand, Fern's deadpan and matter-of-fact responses are funny. I also enjoy the interaction between Fern and Wally. I felt hopeful, compassionate, poignant, nostalgic, and appreciative after reading the book.

If you like stories about twin sisters, narcissistic and sociopathic mother, coming-of-age, libraries, coding, romantic story between two outliers, hope, love, routine, and books then I recommend the book to you.

Many thanks to NetGalley, publisher St. Martin's Press, and author Sally Hepworth for providing an advanced digital copy of this book. All reviews are voluntary, honest, and my own.

This story centers around twin sisters,Rose and Fern, who are so different from each other it’s hard to believe that they’re twins. Rose is a very confident, take charge woman who has taken on the role of always caring for Fern, who happens to be on the spectrum. I really enjoyed how the author developed these two sisters characters as they are so different from each other. The author weaves some flashbacks of the girls childhood into the narrative which really helps shape your opinion of them. As you read on, you really get to know these two women - or so you think! Half way through the book there is a twist that will shock you and from then on the story really gets interesting and drama-filled!
I really enjoyed this story - it hooked me from the very first page and kept me hooked til the very end.
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the free, electronic ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

Sugar and spice and everything nice...that's what little girls are made of.....and what happens when you have two little girls at once? Is it double the sugar and spice?

In her new book, The Good Sister, by Sally Hepworth we are introduced to two sisters who are twins. Rose and Fern Castle are quite different from one another as poor Fern seems to have a severe case of sensory overload and life is very difficult for her. Her sister, Rose watches out for Fern growing up and even keeps a very deep dark secret about an action of Fern's that resulted in tragedy. The girls have had a rough upbringing as their father deserted the family and their mother seems harsh and cruel, and yet the girls grow into women, Fern heading off to become a librarian and Rose to marry.

Fern copes with what life has given her, the aversion to noise, clothes that scratch, and even people until she meets Wally (Rocco) and life takes a turn for the better. Fern has feelings for Wally and they are reciprocated by Wally and as Fern becomes pregnant, she feels she can repay all the care and concern given to her by her sister Rose by one simple act of love.

However, there is an evil twist about to present itself in the lives of the twins. One of them is lying and someone might possibly be dying.

This was a quick easy read, one that you didn't need the wits of Sherlock Holmes to figure out. The story was entertaining, a good way to take a break from those heavy reads and while away a fall afternoon.

Thank you to Sally Hepworth, St Martin's Press, and NetGalley for a copy of this story due out April 13, 2020.

I loved this book! I have a sister with a sensory disorder and it was so interesting to read a book from their point of view. I loved the twists and turns in this book. Suspenseful, heartbreaking and so fun to read! I highly recommend it.

While the suspense genre has broadened to the point of being almost unrecognizable, that does not take away from the enjoyment I had reading The Good Sister, primarily because I fell in love with Fern, the protagonist. I found it to be a sweet, predictable book, which may not be what the author was going for, but I was transported and put off other chores until I finished reading I like Hepworth books anyway, even though it's the characters, not the mystery, that draw me in. During these dark Covid days, this book was perfect for me.

I really liked this novel a lot. Even more than The Mother-in-Law. Fern was a compelling character and it was interesting that she was written as being on the spectrum. There were a lot of twists and I can't say much as to not give anything away. It kept me guessing the entire time and I didn't see a lot of things coming. It was hard to tell who to trust sometimes, but that's what made the story even more exciting. I love that a lot of this novel took place in a library. I recommend this for a good, edge-of-your-seat kind of read.

Movie casting suggestions:
Fern: Mia Wasikowska
Rose: Samara Weaving
Wally: Emory Cohen
Carmel: Tess Haubrich
Mother (in flashbacks): Emilie de Ravin

Another winner from Sally Hepworth! I always enjoy her books and this was no exception. Lots of good twists - you didn't know which sister was truly the good sister until the end. It was a great psychological drama and I highly recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC.

I wish I could give this a 3.5. I loved The Mother-in-Law and was so excited to be able to get into The Good Sister. I appreciated having a main character with sensory processing issues - showing the neurodiversity of the world in books is incredibly important to all of us. The Good Sister is fast-paced, well thought out and has a fantastic story arc. However, the ending unfolded far too quickly. Everything was tied up neatly in the last 10% of the book and it needed much more finessing in terms of story.

Domestic thrillers is one of my favorite genres to read, so when I read the synopsis of The Good Sister, I was instantly intrigued. Sally Hepworth killed the thriller game with this one. I was hooked from the very beginning and could not put it down. This is not your typical married couple domestic thriller but instead is written in the sisters' point of views and is about the drama between them. They're best friends but what if everything's been a lie? What would you do if you can no longer trust "your person"?

I highly recommend this good for thriller fans, you won't want to put this down.

Hepworth's book raises the question of who is the good sister. An unreliable narrator casts the tale of a sister with sensory processing disorder and her guardian-protector sister. As you learn more about the sisters, you realize that all is not as it seems. An enjoyable literary thriller!

Already released in some parts of the world, I grabbed this book from Netgalley. The Good Sister sounded like an amazing mystery/thriller read and also I love stories that involve siblings that are one Good/ one Evil. It could be due to my childhood but it has always fascinated me. I found myself loving The Good Sister way more than I thought I would. This book was so amazing that afterward, I was ranting about it to a group of friends on Instagram. One of the main characters Fern is a Librarian and we read a lot of her interactions in the library, her customers, and the ones she recommends books too and her hate of technology especially the photocopier/printer. This made me love her even more, as a Librarian myself I saw a lot of myself in Fern's character and understood her on a personal level. The same goes for being a sister and growing up in a rocky home. Like Fern, the library and books growing up were my escape. In the Good Sister, Fern has a sister named Rose who was "the good one" and "responsible one". However as the book goes along, we learn that what you see on the surface isn't always the truth and that Rose is a mastermind manipulator who has been controlling Fern's life ever since she was a little girl and making Fern feel that she is a danger to society and irresponsible. What happens though when Fern falls in love with Wally aka Rocco and Rose starts to lose her grip on Fern, even more so when Fern falls pregnant? Will Rose be caught before she can destroy everything and everyone Fern has ever loved? Find out in this psychological sibling thriller "The Good Sister" by Sally Hepworth. A Mystery that everyone should add to their reading lists as The Good Sister does not disappoint.

Such a great book!!!! I was engrossed from page one! I loved the way Fern's thought process was! Twin sisters who were totally different from each other but still had a close relationship. This book made me mad and then made me cry. I would recommend it to anyone! One of the best books I have ever read! Thank you so much to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read it! And thank you Sally Hempworth for writing such an engrossing book!!

The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth was fantastic. This is the second book I've read this month revolving around twins, but this book was much better.

Fern and Rose Castle are fraternal twin sisters who couldn't be any more different but still share a special bond. Rose is the responsible one who is married and is ready for children. Fern is quirky and free-spirited and works as a librarian. Rose has always been protective of Fern ever since they were little, protecting her from their abusive and sociopathic mother.

Fern is different from others - she avoids social interaction and can't be over-stimulated by loud noises, lights or sounds. Rose has always been like a mother to Fern, sheltering her from the outside world. Rose is the only one that truly knows and understands Fern - because of this, Fern does whatever Rose says because clearly she knows best. Rose is also protecting Fern from herself as she did something very bad when they were children - something unforgivable - and she knows what Fern is capable of doing.

Since Rose has always taken care of Fern, Fern wants to do the most selfless thing she can do for her - she wants to have her baby - after she learns that Rose is having trouble conceiving. Rose could not be more thrilled as she's been wanting to have children and the subject has been a source of contention between her and her hubby.

As Fern goes through this process, she finds out that Rose has been keeping secrets from her. She begins to distrust her sister and realizes that her sister is not as trustworthy as she appears to be. Has her relationship with her twin always been a lie? Does Rose really have her best interests in mind?

The Good Sister is captivating, chilling and addictive. It's fast-paced and a page turner. Excellent plot - I was so enthralled with the book that I ended up staying up till 2am to finish it and I was definitely not disappointed.

Fans of The Girl in the Mirror or Lisa Jewell novels will like this book. I highly recommend it. This is my first Sally Hepworth but I know it won't be my last.

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with this e-galley / eARC to review in exchange fo my honest review.

Wow. Sally Hepworth has done it again. This book will immediately pull you in & keep you turning pages until you have finished. Fern is absolutely charming and Wally is the perfect boyfriend. How do I get one?!? Rose is a great sister to Fern and caring for her, all her life.

Eventually things... don’t add up and you will NEED to know what is going on.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy!

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

4.5/5 stars

The suspense in this book was excellent. Twin sisters Fern and Rose seem to have grown up living two different lives. Fern, who is on the spectrum, works at a library and was used to Rose being her protector and always being there to do stuff for her. Rose treats Fern like a person who can't think for herself. At times, I wanted to shake Fern and say wake up. I loved the lover story between Fern and Rocco/Wally. I had no idea where the story was going. I stayed up way too late finishing it.