Sally Hepworth has written a smashing psychological twister. Twin sisters that are incredibly different. As can happen one twin is the “normal” one while the other twin has sensory issues which makes her “different”. I absolutely could not put this book down until I finished it. I read it in one day and I have to be honest and say that I will be reading this one again. If you are a fan of psychological teasers then this is the book for you. Thank you to the publisher for my requested copy of the ARC. This review is my own and humble opinion.

I couldn’t put it down, I think I finished it in less than 24 hours !!! I was instantly in love with Fern!!!!!! This is the first lead character I have read with sensory issues and also to present her in the way she is I truly applaud Sally Hepworth! Fern is relatable and loveable I find her perspective and interpretations to be my sense of humor and something I totally agree with, I loved her commentary and self talk throughout the book. This was really a page turner and man WALLY!!!! He is such a prince so romantic but in a realistic way not the rubbish books and Disney sell to you but how a man or a partner should be and can actually be !!! This is a great story of the bond sisters hold .... I highly recommend this twisted little gem ! No spoilers here but there are some crazy misadventures and mystery to say the least !

“Maybe when it comes to sisters, boundaries are always a little bit blurry. Blurred boundaries, I think, are what sisters do best. “

This is my first delve into the writing of Sally Hepworth, but it certainly won’t be my last! This twisty domestic thriller had me at the edge of my seat. Thank you SO much to Netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Fern and Rose are fraternal twins, yet the line where one ends and the other begins is obscured. Their relationship, which initially appears to be a loving one full of sisterly protection and mutual respect, quickly turns into something much darker. This story is told through alternating points of view, predominantly via Fern, but with journal entries from Rose. I don’t want to say too much about the plot as I feel that the less you know, the better the twists will be. If you like strong female characters and twisty, edge of your seat plots, this book is for you! Happy reading 😊

This book had me guessing the entire time. The characters are masterfully crafted and engaging. The characters are complicated and enjoyable to read about. The perspective changes add an extra engaging element to the story.

4.5 stars

This novel is a lot of fun for folks with sisters, those who love a thrill, and anyone who generally wants to be entertained.

Fern and Rose are twins, and they have a complicated relationship, to put it mildly. They had a challenging childhood, marked by socioeconomic challenges, a mother who is an addict, a string of their mother's creepy partners, and some unusual rivalry. As adults, in the present day of the novel, their lives are weirdly intertwined. Fern's sensory processing struggles create an opportunity for her to be overly dependent on Rose, and Rose appears to have some codependency issues of her own. It is fascinating to watch events unfold through both characters' perspectives.

I am anti-spoiler in general, but in this case, I think that's especially important. I went into this read knowing nothing aside from the title, and that is an approach I endorse wholeheartedly for all interested parties. Enjoy the ride.

<i>The Good Sister</i> was my fourth Sally Hepworth novel; it will not be my last. I could <i>not</i> put this book down. It is compulsively readable. From the cover and the title, I assumed it would be a psychological thriller. And it is, but a very slow burn that I didn't realize was happening until the heat was turned all the way up. <i>The Good Sister</i> starts off light, fun, airy. It's not until about 2/3 of the way through that things become shifty.

Fern, the main protagonist, is a delightful character. She's a librarian, which in my world automatically adds to that delight. Fern's love of the library and musings on librarians warmed my heart. Hepworth describes librarians as "front line soldier[s] in the war against illiteracy and lack of imagination." Fern clearly considers herself among these soldiers and takes her job seriously. Except she hates to help patrons with the printers and the copiers (they never seem to work the way they are supposed to!).

Fern has sensory processing difficulties. She doesn't understand certain aspects of conversation; Fern takes every statement literally and misses social cues. People seem to like her, but she doesn't quite pick up on it. Fern's fraternal twin, Rose, is the person she feels closest to in the world. Rose is her protector, aware of each of Fern's limitations and always there to provide a safety net.

The chapters alternate between Fern and Rose's diary. Rose's diary depicts a twisted childhood with an abusive mother (TW: child molestation, domestic violence). Fern's memories are warmer, but she believes Rose's memory over her own. As the tale unfolds, it becomes more difficult to determine which narrator is unreliable. It's sad, confusing, and utterly intriguing. In my opinion, it could have been sped up a little, but it was still a fast read.

A favorite highlight: learning about Wally's social prompter app. An app designed to provide excuses for social events and manage them all for you so you never repeat an excuse, so you can plan ahead to call out sick, so that you can use the right phrase depending on social setting. I applaud Hepworth for this hilarious concept. And I'd gladly pay $1.99 to download it.

I did take some issue with the depiction of Fern and her mental abilities or disabilities, depending on how you look at it. I'm surprised that it's not mentioned in any of the reviews I looked at. I felt like Fern was dumbed down in a way that was inconsistent with her obvious intelligence. I'd also be curious how people with sensory processing issues would respond.

Overall, highly recommend.

Sally Hepworth can always be relied upon to write an amazing plot with well fleshed out characters and to always leave you wondering, even if just a little bit. In this book, Fern and Rose are sisters. Rose is the stable one who protects Fern from the world. She has a great job and is in a loving marriage. The only thing Rose doesn't have that she wants is a baby. Fern can give her one, and decides that she should. And this is where it really starts getting good. Because you start to wonder -- who is really the good sister?

Sally Hepworth knows how to write a good thriller! This book keeps you on your toes until the very end. I loved the different POVs and was not expecting the reveal at the end. Can't wait to read another book by this author.

The new domestic thriller by Sally Hepworth is a roller coaster of a read. It is the story of two sisters Rose and Fern. Outwardly very different but as the reader looks closer it becomes hard to tell where one sister ends and the other begins as the bondary lines of their relationship are so blurred. Told in alternating chapters by each of the sisters there are flashbacks to traumatic events and secrets of their childhood. The twists and turns propel this novel forward at a rollicking and pace until the final unexpected ending.

I loved this novel. The character development was wonderful. It sisters were so clearly described and their and it is clear the author took her time in creating them. I liked how their characters evolved and interacted with one another. I also enjoyed that the story was told in a series of flashbacks. It was interesting to see how the events of the past has shaped the characters in the present. But what I loved most about this novel were the twists and turns and surprises. Just when I thought I knew in which direction the story was headed, there would be a twist and sent it in a whole different direction. This is a hard novel to review because I really don't want to give anything away. The surprises are the best part. I read so many suspense and thrillers that it is hard to surprise me but this one did and I loved it.! This is one of the best domestic suspense thrillers I have read in a while and I will be recommending it to everyone I know!

I want to thank Net galley and St. Martin's Press with providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest and fair review.

An astonishing book. It is the first book I read by Sally Hepworth, and it fascinated me. It is the story of two very close sisters, Rose and Fern. Rose is the responsible sister with a beautiful house and a husband. Everything is perfect, except she desires a baby. Fern, on the other hand, works in a library, she doesn't like social interactions, and her outings are limited. Rose has always been very protective of Fern. Since they were children, Rose had protected Fern, especially from their troubled mother. Fern realizes her sister's desire to be a mother, so she sets out to help her. What Rose does not know is that Fern is slowly discovering several of the secrets that she has been hiding for so many years. I loved the story because I was intrigued by Fern's situation. The author described Fern's feelings, as well as her fears, marvelously well. In addition to the fact that the entire time I read the book, I felt empathy and compassion for Fern. It is a book that I enjoyed reading that is worthwhile. I thank NetGalley and St Martin's Press for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Twin sisters brought up by a single mum. Two very different complicated sisters, not only in appearance, but also in nature.

Rosie was the protector of her sister Fern while they were growing up. One year they spent their whole days in a library, while at night they jumped from house to house staying whom whoever the mother could find and befriend. Not an ideal childhood. Rose always thought Fern was the favourite. She was afraid of her mother’s moods and threats.

As adults Fern worked as a librarian, she suffered from Aspergers, and found it difficult to associate with other people. Loud noises, smells etc., would send her ‘off’. Rosie always came to the rescue, still the protector.

The story is written from both their perspectives, and an intricate and fascinating tale emerges. A quick read by an excellent author. There was some predictability in the story, but the end will keep you in suspense.

Wow! I was so impressed by how The Good Sister took me by surprise. I had ideas of what this book would be like after I read the synopsis and those ideas went out the window once I started reading the book. I found myself constantly re-analyzing where the story was going and trying to guess what direction it was going in.

This story is about Rose and Fern, sisters who are fraternal twins. Rose and Fern have always been very close and they have been inseparable since birth. As adults, they have slid into their respective roles. Fern is a quirky librarian always living up in the clouds. She has a hard time navigating the world and social situations and she depends a lot on her sister. Rose is the responsible sister who has her life together with her husband and home. She does everything she can to help and protect Fern. When Fern learns that her sister can't have a baby, she decides to help her sister. As things progress with the baby, the stress of the situation brings out a different side of Rose and Fern begins to sense that Rose is keeping major secrets from her.

As I read this book, I kept wondering why this book was categorized as a thriller. The first 75% of the book feels more like a family drama than a thriller. I really enjoyed it because the stories of Fern and Rose's childhood and their current lives were intriguing and captivating. The last quarter of the book went very fast and had more thriller elements incorporated into the story. It turned the corner very fast, and once it turned that corner, it had me on the edge of my seat.

There is a lot to unpack from this book, including themes about boundaries, co-dependent relationships, emotional abuse and manipulation, the struggles of neuro-diverse people, the unreliability of memories and unreliable narrators. This book had me on an emotional roller coaster. There were parts that broke my heart, parts that had me laughing out loud, parts that melted my heart, and parts that gave me heart palpitations. It's been a long time since I've read a thriller that knocked my socks off like this one did!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I think The Good Sister is my favorite book by Sally Hepworth so far.

I loved Fern’s character and her relationship with Wally. They were so honest and straightforward, it was refreshing. Especially because I had just read Normal People where the characters just refused to speak their mind. I loved Fern’s outlook on life, and though she sometimes has to decipher the intentions of her coworkers and friends, she does an extraordinary job of managing her sensory issues in public. I laughed at the description of her walking around in swim goggles and noise-canceling headphones.

The pace slowed down a bit around 50%-75% of the way through the book. The reader can tell it’s building up to something but not what to. I had an inkling of the twist at the beginning, but SH did an awesome job of keeping the reader guessing until the end.

This is a real fast, easy read.... a 'domestic thriller' in category? It portrays 2 sisters, & their history & current lives (in alternating 'chapters')...& you wonder which is going to be the 'good sister.' One might be able to imagine this being turned into a 'made for tv movie' & shown during the day on Lifetime....it doesn't require too much personal investment, but does briefly capture your interest & provide quick, easy distraction! I liked that the author used 'sensory challenged' characters in some lead roles, & I thought they were cast in a positive light.
I received this complimentary e-ARC from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley, in return for reading it & offering my own fair & honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and author Sally Hepworth for a digital copy of this fantastic read!


We have two close sisters, Rose and Fern, fraternal twins who as kids had to weather their mom's volatile behavior, her boyfriends and her cruelty. Rose has always seemingly been the caretaker to Fern, who appears to be on the Autism Spectrum scale with her exact ways and structured schedule both are now adults with their own lives. Fern works in a library, while Rose now married yearns for a child but is unable to conceive. Rose also has memories of her mother's cruelty that has scarred her, now as an adult she also remembers a night when a tragic accident occurred that involved Fern when they were kids, a secret she has always kept until now.
Knowing that Rose yearns for a child Fern formulates a plan to get pregnant and give her child to Rose and her husband but she needs to find the right candidate for such a plan and she meets "Wally." Wally is much like Fern in his outlook of life, they find much in common and perhaps he is on the spectrum scale as well with his quirky ways and the two become friends. Deciding to experience the fun of a first date with Wally, Fern also experiences the headiness of love and intimacy for the first time and ends up pregnant. As Rose discovers her sister's pregnancy with the knowledge that Fern will terminate her parental rights and give the baby to her, things begin to take a turn, Rose becomes forceful and possessive of her sister coercing her to end her relationship with Wally and keep the pregnancy hidden. Fern beginning to feel the stirrings of her baby for the first time contemplates whether her decision to give her baby to her sister isn't the best decision after all.
Without giving away more of the plot, this was an engrossing, you have to pick this one up kind of read which I really enjoyed. Recommended.

This is a very inventive and fast paced book. After you read so many books from this genre you start to figure out what is happening about mid way through the book. With this one I had multiple ideas about where it was leading because the author threw in enough clues and red herrings to keep you guessing. I really loved Fern with all her idiosyncrasies and was so happy when Wally/Rocco came into her life. This book offers so much; it does an excellent job of taking the reader inside Fern’s mind as she struggles through each day, it shows the difficult relationship between sisters under the best (or worst) circumstances and the importance of friendship. I really loved it and look forward to reading more books by Sally Hepworth. Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin’s press for allowing me to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

They're as close as two sisters can be…

At 27, fraternal twins Rose and Fern lives are as different as chalk and cheese, but their bond has always been strong.

Rose is an interior designer, married, with a beautiful home that looks like something out of a magazine spread. She dearly wants a baby, but is having difficulty conceiving.

Fern works in a library, has only ever had one short-term boyfriend, and lives in a flat. She's on the autism spectrum, but has never been diagnosed.

When Fern discovers a bottle of pregnancy vitamins in Rose's belongings, she confronts her sister. Upon learning of her infertility struggles Fern is determined to help. If Rose can’t have the baby she longs for then Fern will carry one for her. It's the least she can do, after all her twin has done for her.

The Good Sister was the perfect blend of psychological suspense, domestic drama, and unhealthy family dynamics, and I devoured it. There is no way this won't make my 2020 top favourites list. This is Sally Hepworth's best book so far, I reckon. As other readers have mentioned (and I agree whole-heartedly) this novel had a lot in common with another of my 5 star reads – Eleanor Olyphant is Completely Fine. Fern's literal interpretation of her interactions with others and struggles to read social cues and situations made for adorably sweet and, at times, hilarious reading.

Savvy readers will have a fair idea where the thriller storyline is going, but what made this a tense, nail-biting read for me was the vulnerable and naïve nature of its central character being unaware of the impending danger and threat. I felt very protective towards Fern (as well as other characters, and a dog) and was rooting for her as she discovered and explored her newfound independence. The library is one of my happy places as well, so I completely understand why Fern felt so comfortable there. Another constantly present worry was me wondering how far the situation was going escalate, and the last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat. Talk about shocking – secrets and lies galore!

Chapters alternated between Fern in the present and Rose's diary entries, which also include flashbacks to the twins troubled childhood. The prevalent questions throughout are – what does it mean to be a good person, a good parent, and as the title states… a good sister?

I'd like to thank Netgalley, St. Martins Press, and Sally Hepworth for the e-ARC.

I was so surprised and completely enjoyed this book throughout. The characters absolutely drew me in with their quirks and idiosyncrasies that more of us can identify with than not. The movement of the story was perfectly paced with so much to like... I laughed and cringed and was thoroughly entertained. I will read more from this author in a heartbeat and I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to read this advanced copy and will gladly share my thoughts on other forums.

This psychological thriller has laugh out loud moments that keeps you turning the pages until the end. Fern is a twin sister to Rose, who is absentminded, has a processing disorder, single, and works as a librarian. Rose is an interior designer for office buildings, whose husband leaves her to work in London due to their strain on their marriage of not able to conceive. This book alternates between Fern and Rose from their point of view about their childhood, lives, and their point of views about each other. This book will keep you guessing and questioning until the end on who is the good sister? Definitely a must read!

This book was a thrilling page turner from beginning to the end. The buildup was executed extremely well. I kept going back and forth between the two sisters, unsure which one was "the good sister." I kept this up until I got to the middle of the story. Their character development was complex and the alternating povs were balanced really well in my opinion. Fern was very practical and logical, which you later on find out is just a carefully constructed mask. Well done!