Sally Hepworth has outdone herself with this one! She takes the unreliable narrative and turns it on its head. Who is the real good sister here? You'll be asking yourself just that as you find yourself immersed in a story about Fern and Rose who are two very different twins for very different reasons. It is so disturbing to see how one sister manipulates the other to the point where she doubts herself over every little thing.

The unreliable narrative isn't the only thing in which Ms. Hepworth is a master. Her gift for characterization is dead on. For example, one twin suffers from a sensory processing disorder and I have a strong belief that she has Asperger's. The author provides such detail about this character that I came away feeling that I'd learned quite a lot about sensory processing disorder. Also, she added to what I already did know about people with Asperger's.

Lastly, one of the twins experiences a sweet romance that definitely puts a smile on this romance book reader's lips..

Overall, this is a brilliant novel and I am so grateful to Netgalley for the advanced copy!

Wow! Take one set of twins, a difficult history with a mother, a romantic relationship, money, and a baby, throw in some thriller notes, mix it up, and you have an excellent story. Fern and Rose could not be more different from each other; Fern is the quirky twin, the free spirit, while Rose is more of the logical one, the one who provides structure to their relationship. But she knows about something that happened in Fern's past, and is willing to do most anything to keep it secret. Or does she?

Fern is a likable character, someone you want to see succeed and have a great life. She's an awesome librarian and has slowly demonstrated her value to her colleagues. She seems to have herself put together, but then you start to question everything as the narrator alternates the story between Fern and Rose's point of view.

I found it interesting that Rose's sections primarily focus on the past, while Fern focuses on the present. This narration helps to set up the thriller aspect of the story, and we come to learn more about each twin and how they viewed their life growing up and how connected they remain today. This is a definite must read!

This book was not at all what I expected. I went in thinking that this was a thriller/suspense novel, and there are elements of that. But.....I would classify this as more contemporary fiction that addresses issues such as trauma, family dynamics, and living with a disability. I think if you go in thinking this is going to be suspenseful, you may be disappointed, but if you go in with a more open mindset, you will be pleased with this read. Hepworth's marketing team might want to reconsider their strategy. Side note - I love the Australian cover so much more than the anticipated USA cover.

This book was amazing! I laughed out loud multiple times and cried near the end. This was a book I could not put down and loved all the twists and turns.

I fell in love with Fern and Wally’s relationship. The scene where he takes her to dinner and helps with her sensory issues was so cute.

I highly recommend!

I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop and for another twist to turn up in The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth. The book was an intriguing and exciting read. I kept second-guessing what was actually happening and who and what was going on. This book dives into the good and bad relationship between sisters. As the synopsis indicates, the story was unpredictable.

Thank you, Netgalley for an ebook copy of this spicy read. Loved this story of Fern and Rose, sisters of a different mold - very different yet come together to solve s few life problems.; The story moves along quickly, easy to just start and keep going. I loved Hepworth's Secrets of Midwives, and also found this book a keeper! Thank you!

This book is set to release April 13, 2021.

Rose and Fern are twin sisters and basically BFFs. “Rose is the responsible one, with a home and a husband and a fierce desire to become a mother. Fern is the quirky one, the free spirit, the librarian who avoids social interaction and whom the world might just describe as truly odd. But the sisters are devoted to one another and Rose has always been Fern's protector from the time they were small.” . . .

I almost always go into any kind of mystery/thriller without reading the summary (cause they seem to ruin a lot!) and I did the same with this one. I read Sally Hepworth’s last book “The Mother-in-Law” earlier this year and absolutely loved it. I loved this one too! Hepworth’s ability to craft characters is just masterful. She did it with Diana in “The Mother-in-Law” and wow did she do it again with Fern. Also, Wally is definitely my new book crush😆. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5/5)

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-book ARC!

Sisters best friends or worse enemies? Sally Hepworth weaves a drama that will make you wonder what the answer will be.

WOW!

This is my first book by Sally Hepworth and I was blown away. The twists and turns really got me.

I thought I knew what the ending would be because there are so many books like it out there but it turns out this book is completely unique in its genre.

The shock comes about 60% through the book and it had good timing along with a good explanation. I wasn’t disappointed with how ends were tied up and rushed because there was no rushing, each word was carefully placed and though out

The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth
The good sister is an engrossing tale about two sisters and a mother which alternates between time frames and the points of view of the characters telling the story. The two sisters are Fern and Rose. Fern is a librarian who loves her job; she is somewhere on the spectrum and suffers from sensory processing disorder. She finds relationships of any kind difficult and relies on her sister who has always been there to protect her ever since their childhood when they were being raised by a sociopathic single mother. Rose is the sister who has it all together. She’s successful, married, and having trouble conceiving a child, so Fern decides to help her sister by becoming her surrogate. In her search for an intelligent and reliable father for the baby, Fern forms a relationship with a man she calls Wally. Then the story begins to take a turn.
Hepworth does the unreliable narrator scenario very well. The characters, especially Fern and Wally, are appealingly quirky and endearing. There is suspense as the narrative unfolds, though you may guess fairly early on where it is headed. Secrets past and present are revealed as the story builds to its climax. The novel explores family relationships, the love and rivalry between sisters, and the ways in which we remember and interpret events differently according to how they affect us. I read the book in two days, so it definitely had that “can’t put it down” factor!

This tale of twin sisters who are mutually dependent on each other is twisted, complicated and engaging. Fern seems to be on the autism spectrum, bothered by bright lights, noise and anything that is not part of her daily expectations for her world. Rose is a diabetic with a husband who wants a child more than she wants anything else. Both young women are hiding a potentially devastating secret from their childhood. Raised by a cruel and domineering mother, both girls learned quickly to protect each other. The secret that is the foundation of their closeness is the mystery upon which the plot is built. One character was magnetic for me and the other ended up being repulsive. I cannot tell you which was which without disclosing a central part of the mystery, but I can say that appearances can be very deceptive. This book was creepy, bordering on a horror tale at times. I kept turning the pages because I wanted to know the outcome, but since I’m not a fan of horror, sometimes that page turning was a reluctant, eyes on the page but ready to turn away at any moment. I found this book to be compelling and an absolute must-read for fans of unexpected thrillers and definite domestic dramas.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

I could not put down this book until I got to the end. And, even then, I would have been happy to read more. I chose this book after reading the synopsis. However, the story still managed to surprise me. I was not expecting such a layered, complex tale with so many twists and turns. I'd highly recommend it if you enjoy mysteries with a psychological twist.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for my review.

Sisterhood: "the bad is as essential to the relationship as the good". Meet Rose and Fern, fraternal twin sisters, which one is The Good Sister? Rose, who chronicles in her diary how she protected Fern from their mother's maltreatment as children? Fern, who has sensory processing issues and poor social skills? When Fern discovers that her sister can't have a child of her own, she decides to get pregnant so she can give Rose and her husband a baby. Fern doesn't plan on falling in love, however, and maybe wanting to keep the baby. But she is barely able to take care of herself, how can she take care of a baby? The story is told from the perspective of both sisters; when their versions start to differ, who do you believe? The characters are unique and well-developed. A fabulously twisty, compelling read, Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow — what an explosive and relatable book! Don’t we all have a family member that clings just a little too close? Or one that’s just a little too dysfunctional? I just knew I HAD to read the latest by Sally Hepworth after I loved her last book (highly recommend), and I was so excited to receive an advance review copy.

Rose and Fern are twin sisters. Fern experiences sensory overwhelm and sometimes struggles with everyday relationships. Thankfully, her twin sister is always close and anticipating every need. Rose sees herself as the savior that always protected Fern from their dysfunctional and narcissistic mother, who now lies in an extended care facility with extended brain damage. Rose is also keeping a big secret for Fern, which has haunted her whole life and casted doubt on her ability to care for herself or any other living thing. But as Fern tries to live in the works a bit more, Rose seems to clamp on tighter. Is there something more sinister to this sisterly relationship?

This was a super quick popcorn read for me; I downloaded it around lunchtime and finished by 8pm. It was fast paced, fun, and twisty. A high recommend!

I enjoyed this mystery and family drama love triangle , with the love of two loyal twin sisters protecting each other, They use their bracelet to tap each other when danger of their mother's mood swing is about to happen and this is their signal to keep quiet and dont answer back to her.
Their sociopatheic mother has mental issues . The different boyfreinds in her life, and lacking mothering to the girls, and their having to be homelesss for a year.
The abuse and harsh homelife,, traveling to different places to survive , Fern is the favorite daughter,which molds Rose into jealousy and will get even. Their mother clearly makes sure Rose is aware she is pudgy and shouldnt eat much,while letting it known Fern is tall and slender.
Fern has a sensory type issue that scares her , where she cannot be in crowds, sensitive to noise ,light or anyone interrupting her routine. Whenever she finds herself in a situation like this, she cries out for Rose to rescue her away. AFter all, Rose is the sister who knows her twin very well and even makes sure Fern knows she has this problem and cant survive without her to protect and rescue her.
Fern is withdrawn and yet caring and loving and loves her librarian job. She is great with the children and the elderly. She is scared of being asked to help with the photo copier. Her freinds there understand her more and more towards the end.
Rose is more the interior designer, married to Owen and seems to be the one who has a normal life. She manipulates her sister by telling her she is forgetful and we find that Rose, suggested by her therapist to keep a journal, we find the mysteries unfold later from this journal. The author allows us to understand their earlier childhood ,by reading about the girls thoughts and Rose's journal.
Fern is going to help her sister have a baby by surrogate in return for being a Good Sister to her.
Rose ,after all , has helped her survive the demons in Fern's mind...or has she really helped her?
Fern ,without attached strings or romantic involvement needs to find a partner and get pregnant.
Wally, a nickname given by Fern is really Rocco. He is a computer programmer who codes apps, supposedly homeless, going into the library every day . This library is kind to homeless people and even has a shower for them to clean up in. Fern always has care toiletry bags for them so they can shower and clean up.
She notices the attraction to him. A quiet young man, but intelligent, and becomes Fern's kindred spirit.They both share the sensory issues and yet, Wally is more outgoing and can deal with it and helps Fern too.
Wally's secret on who he really is, later is well known and I hope the two can become a lasting relationship,they are so good for each other.
I was so engrossed in this novel, that I couldnt put the book down. A delightful mystery filled with romance and sometimes filling me with anger for a character, it is a heartwarming story of love and kindness and survival.
Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to review this book .

I. Could. Not. Put. This. Down.

The narrative switches between the points of view of twins, Fern and Rose. Fern tells us about the present day, Rose recounts moments from their childhood in the form of a journal, ostensibly suggested by her therapist. And that journal provides some interesting context for what's happening in the present. So while it seems, as far as mysteries / thrillers go, nothing is really happening in Fern's timeline, SOMETHING IS HAPPENING.

There is just an underlying sense of, something isn't right throughout the story. I agree with other reviewers that if this is a genre you read frequently you'll start to guess at some of what is to come. I pride myself on guessing what a twist will be before it happens (ask my husband how much he likes watching movies with me), but I just didn't see this one coming.

This novel is a perfect example of how a writer can successfully use the "unreliable narrator" trope. In this case, the question you're asking yourself the entire book is, who is unreliable?

So well done. Adding more Sally Hepworth to my "To Read" list immediately.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review

This book seriously had me all turned around! Everything that I thought I knew was completely upside down, much how Fern must’ve felt. This was one of the best thought out stories I’ve read in a very long time, it had me guessing the whole time! It was very well-crafted and I loved the quirkiness of the characters. Well done and highly recommended!

I loved this one! I will read anything by Sally Hepworth but this one described sisters perfectly. She portrays mental illness in an appropriate manner from various perspectives which I appreciated. This was a fast paced rand enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.
Fern and Rose are fraternal twins. Rose is the responsible one and Fern is somewhere on the spectrum and is lucky to have Rose as her protector. Their mother is a bit of a sociopath but only Rose sees this behavior and makes sure that she takes care of Fern. Rose is married, has a good job, and is trying to become pregnant but has fertility issues. Fern decides she is going to give Rose the best gift she can - a baby. She thinks Rose will make a wonderful mother...or will she?
This book was a little bit of a slow start for me....but that didn't last very long. It is told from two points of view - rose's diary and Fern's perspective. The character of Fern is excellent and I loved Rocco/Wally and how he treated Fern. The relationship between the two sisters is not unlike any two sisters. Until you get to the end. There is some creepiness and unpredictability which makes for an excellent read. Its the right length without any added and unnecessary descriptive passages. definitely a good read and highly recommend it.

What a fascinating psychological thriller The Good Sister is. Sally Hepworth masks and slyly reveals her many hidden secrets as the story climaxes with many astounding revelations. You must read this one.