Do you have that one person that you trust completely? Like they're your person. Is it a family member or a friend? How well do you really know them?

The Good Sister by @sallyhepworth makes you doubt who you really know. And its totally worth the read. Sally's books always grab me and I can never them down.

Fern and Rose are twins. Not identical and are complete opposites, looks wise and in character. They had a difficult upbringing with an unstable mom so, they learned to depend on each other. They also share a secret that happened when they were young, that must never be shared.

Grown up the twins still depend on each other. Rose is always looking out for Fern, she can't be trusted on her own. But can Fern really trust that Rose is looking out for her or is it Rose's own interest?

I enjoyed this book so much, wanted to know more and see what was going to happen. I loved the relationship between the sisters but I also loved Fern, and how she lived her life plus she worked at the library.

Definetly pick this one up if you love reading about relationships between sisters, the complexity and if you really know your person.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC from @netgalley so, thank you. This book will get available April 2021 so be sure to grab it!📚❤

Have you read any if Sally Hepworth's books? Any faves?

The Good Sister is a very well written book. Right from the beginning, the reader knows that there might be something wrong with Rose, the sister who is originally portrayed as "good." But, she appears to take care of her sister and rearrange her life to better serve Fern. Hepworth manipulates the knowledge given to the reader to keep us enlightened, yet not enlightened totally. On the other hand, Fern is so good hearted and in many ways naive that the reader cheers for her in spite of the bad part of her past. I loved how Hepworth resolved these issues and finally gave the readers the information we needed to see the whole picture.
Loved this writing.

Sally Hepworth hooked me earlier this year when I read The Mother-in-Law, and she has absolutely done it again with The Good Sister.

The Good Sister is a haunting tale of fraternal twins, Fern and Rose. Fern, a librarian with a sensory processing disorder, discovers that Rose and her husband have been struggling to conceive. In an attempt to repay her sister for all the times that she has taken care of her throughout their lives, Fern decides to be a surrogate for Rose.

While Fern experiences pregnancy and a budding romance, Rose writes diary entries about their past, revealing details that Fern doesn’t tend to notice or dwell on—their abusive mother, their disturbing childhood, and, frighteningly, an episode in which Fern is left standing over a drowned boy.

Even when I was forced to put this book down, Fern and Rose never left my thoughts. Hepworth has a true knack for writing intense, compelling, and relatable female characters. Although the plot becomes predictable earlier than I had anticipated it to, I was entranced up to the very last page. If anything, this is the beauty of Hepworth’s writing: even when you know what’s going to happen, you care deeply about the characters and need to see them through to the end.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

WOW! I didn't see that comin'!! The Good Sister is an incredible page-turner! I loved it and highly, highly recommend it to all readers!

Fern and Rose are twin sisters with a single mom. Growing up, it seems, was difficult with their mom's various boyfriends and her drug problems. Fern is a librarian, with some sensory issues that she must deal with on a daily basis. Rose is the "normal" sister who is always there to take care of Fern. The sisters share a horrific secret, and much of the story centers around the consequences of that secret. The chapters bounce back and forth between what is happening in Fern's life, and Rose's journal. The story is very well written, with a minimal number of characters and a story that is not difficult to follow.

Thank you, NetGalley for letting me read this fabulous book!

Another home run from Sally Hepworth!

This is the second SH book I’ve read and it was just as good as the first! I can’t quite put my finger on exactly what it is, but something about her writing style is just so readable. I love the short chapters and her character development is top notch.

I very much appreciated the way she handled Fern’s character who I assume falls somewhere on the Autism spectrum.

4.5/5 stars

A great story about the relationship among sisters and about mental illness. Rose and Fern are twins, but could not seem more different. Rose is married and has a good career and seems to have everything together, except her inability to have a baby. Fern is on the autism spectrum and has significant sensory issues. She is a librarian and is wonderful at her job so long as she can control her interactions with others. If you need a book recommendation or if a little kid needs someone to read a story to him/her, she is in her element, but helping with printer or photocopier issues or engaging in small talk is not her forte. The twins had a rough childhood growing up, with a mother with mental health issues and unstable living situations at times. Rose has always looked out for Fern, a role that has continued as adults. When Fern learns that Rose cannot have a child, she comes up with a plan to have a child herself and give the child to Rose. She has all the logistics planned except for the guy, when she mistakenly assumes a guy who has come into the library to use the shower is homeless and an odd friendship develops between her and Rocco (whom she calls Wally because when they first meet, his attire, including his hat, remind her of Where's Wally (or Where's Waldo for US readers)). Fern becomes pregnant and when Rose learns about the pregnancy, she becomes more watchful and controlling over Fern.

The book alternates between diary entries by Rose detailing their childhood, her mother's erratic behavior, and a childhood incident where Fern accidentally drowns a boy (Billy). [This incident is revealed at the beginning of the book, so it is not a spoiler.] While Fern believes Rose has always looked out for and had her best interests at heart, people have recently been warning her to watch out for Rose. As the birth of her child approaches, Fern begins to question things. Rose is not the person she seems to be.

The sister dynamic itself is quite good, as is the psychological manipulation aspect of the story. However, what really makes the book stand out is the decision to have Fern not be "neurotypical". The interactions between Fern and Wally are at times quite funny and at times quite touching/heartwarming because of how her sensory issues and the way her brain functions affect her interactions with others and the efforts Wally, who has had his own emotional/mental issues, makes to respect and accommodate her sensory issues. Fern is confronted with situations, including involving her new boss, that require her to try new things and to open up about her sensory issues. She finds that people are more understanding of her needs than she expected and that she is capable of more than she thought possible -- a legacy of her overprotective and controlling sister. "The Good Sister" was an interesting and enjoyable book; I would certainly recommend it.

I received a copy of the e-book via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

Sally Hepworth writes such fabulous characters that you just fall in love with. The Good Sister is a brilliant domestic thriller that kept me reading into the early hours and I loved it. It is the kind of book you just need to keep reading.

This is the story of fraternal twins Fern and Rose. They might be twins but they couldn't be more different. Rose is married and desperate for a child. Fern has the need for order and structure in her life. She lives alone and works at the local library, a job that she loves. Rose is very protective of her sister, especially after an incident in their past. We learn about how the girl grew up, with their unreliable mother through diary entries and flashbacks. Their mother is now in a nursing home and only Fern visits her. They all have their secrets and are desperate to keep them a secret.

Fern was just a wonderful character. She was sweet and innocent and living her best life. She is happy amongst the books and with dinners with her sister. Rose likes that Fern is so reliant on her, so when things start to change for Fern she doesn't handle it well.

Not going to give anything away, you need to read this one for yourself!

Thank you to St Martins Press and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read.

“My sister holds the key to my sanity.”

3.5 stars

The Good Sister is a highly entertaining, psychological thriller/domestic drama about twin sisters, and the lengths one sister will go to get what she desires, even if it means costing her twin her sanity.

Twin sisters Fern and Rose are extremely close. Fern is on the spectrum, and Rose makes sure her twin is taken care of, something she has done since they were children. When one twin needs something, the other is there. But one of these twins is CRAZY, so crazy that she tries to steal what her sister holds most dear.

This book emanates a heavy sense of foreboding, and I was quite tense while reading. I was reluctant at times to turn the page because I was scared to read what was going to happen. However, at a certain point, quite early on, it becomes obvious what’s going on. If you read a lot of thrillers, the plot is going to feel predictable. The sense of foreboding lifts and then it just becomes a drama, drama, drama. But I enjoyed the drama!

There is something about this book that made me want to keep on reading, and that something was one of the characters. I don’t want to say which one, as it would be a potential spoiler, but this character had me flipping the pages. I loved her and was rooting for her.

The Good Sister is fast-paced with some good twists and turns. It spins out of control towards the end and gets a little messy, but I loved one of the characters, and I enjoyed seeing the other one get what she deserved!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.

What a thriller! From the author of The Mother in Law, The Good Sister perfectly captures the many layers in that sisterly relationship, and shakes us to our bones with a gripping, smartly-paced and nuanced ride. Hepworth is masterful at writing characters with full-on realism and relatability, and there are going to be times when you question what *you* would do, and how *you* really relate to these characters. Highly, highly recommended. We've got cozy weather coming, and this is one story that's going to keep you reading until the wee hours. Already can't wait for Hepworth's next one.

“The Good Sister” is the latest domestic suspense thriller from Sally Hepworth.

Rose and Fern are fraternal twins, but like most twins, are nothing alike. The twist here is that Fern has sensory processing issues and hence, it’s been Rose’s job to protect her sister, especially when their mother struggled give her girls just the basics.

As adults, Fern works as a librarian where she meets Wally, who lives in the van and uses the library's shower. On the other hand, Rose is married, but cannot have a child and that is where Fern comes in.

Chapters alternate between their points of view, mostly through journal entries on Rose's part to give reader’s glimpses of the past, as well as Fern’s voice in the present. Fern is exceptionally well developed—if you have ever wondered what it’s like to see the world differently than the average person, then you’re going to love getting into Fern’s head.

There is plenty going on in this store and like any good thriller, the writer is not sure which narrator is reliable. What makes this novel stand out is how much of its movement is based on character growth; it’s clear the characters are making their choices due to their needs and not because the author makes it so.

I will keep reading Sally Hepworth’s work because she constantly ups her game. I whole-heartedly give this tale four and a half stars.

My thanks to St. Martin’s Press, the author and NetGalley for this intriguing book.

Hepworth has become one of my favorite authors! I really enjoyed this twisty story. I will definitely recommend it to the patrons at the library.

Another solid novel by Sally Hepworth!

Her novels are typically marketed as a thriller or have thriller-esq covers, but the stories are truly family mysteries with a secrets that do not age well with time.

I love them.

The Good Sister follows Fern and Rose, fraternal twins that are living two different lives, yet things have always been insync. When loyal Fern tries to help her sister out, secrets bubble to the surface quickly.

I really do not want to say much more than that about the plot because I would give it away. Fern is one of the most likeable narrators with her endearing outlook on life as a woman with sensory processing issues. Rose is the perfect evil opposite. The plot read quickly and clean, which allowed for a solid ending.

Highly recommend for fans of family drama and secrets.

This book was amazing! Would highly recommend it to any reader who loves reading a bit of twisted family drama. I couldn't put it down and can't wait to read future novels from Sally Hepworth! Mystery/Thrill seekers should add it to their 2021 reading list!

I loved this book, which I found utterly charming despite the fact that one might not usually describe a psychological thriller in that way. First, as I librarian I enjoyed the descriptions of the life of a librarian so much that I probably would have loved the book if it consisted of little but that. However, in addition to that delightfulness, I loved how Fern's being on the spectrum with sensory issues was handled so lovingly, and I thought the relationship between Fern and Wally was really lovely. Maybe as a result of all that, I can't say I was too shocked by the twists and it wasn't the heart-racing, nail-biting kind of thriller, but it kept my rapt attention throughout and I highly recommend it! I've read all of Sally Hepworth's books and will anxiously await her next book! Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC of this wonderful book. I've already raved about it to my colleagues and hope that they get a chance to read it too!

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the advance ecopy.
Rose and Fern are twin sisters. Completely different from each other on every possible level. But they share a big secret. A little boy drowned years ago and it looked like Fern was responsible for it and Rose kept quiet. Their mother was horrible. Mentally abusive and a drug abuser. There's just a big question of how far did the apple fall from the tree.

Definitely not my favourite Sally Hepworth novel, which is a disappointment because I loved her last novel, The Mother In Law.

My biggest problem with the novel was that it lacked mystery. I was hoping for an excellent mystery and there was hardly one. During the first 75% of the novel, the novel reminded me of others novels that I had read, like Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and The Rosie Project. They are good books, but not mystery novels.

Thank you to Netgallery and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I received this book for my honest review. I could not put this book down! I actually read it in one day! I would recommend this book. I really felt for Fern and felt her pain. Never saw some twists coming!!! A must read!

I was highly entertained by The Good Sister, written by Sally Hepworth. This book had such a high readability factor! The characters were all interesting and well drawn, and the story line held my interest throughout.

I definitely recommend this book for an unputdownable, fun read!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the ARC of this book!

I love Sally Hepworth! This book met my expectations begun by The Mother in Law--touching on family dynamics, intergenerational patterns, and the lengths that we will go to to protect ourselves and understand our families. This, mixed with her signature ability to offer the thriller build, leading to a twist--her books will always be a go to for me!

An awesome domestic thriller! 2 sisters with multi layered personalities. Great story that kept me on the edge of my seat. Not my first book by Sally Hepworth and definitely not my last.Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy.