Wow, what a great read.

This is one of those books that makes you so angry! Stop it Rose! Open your eyes Fern! Help them Wally!

At first I thought, oh another Eleanor Oliphant type story with a sister twist. Nope. I was wrong. This is an original plot with twin sisters, secrets, lies and an awesome library cubbyhole thrown in. What more could you ask for?

I thoroughly enjoyed this one and will be recommending it to my patrons!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

This will be available in 2021 but add it to your to-read list now!!! Told by alternating narrators twin sisters Rose and Fern, Hepworth delivers another twisty tale - domestic thriller at its best!

I love the way this author can weave a story. I felt the same contentment with everything of hers I’ve read - great characters, page-turning format, some twists and thrills but it’s not a traditional thriller - this was just such a fun read and I loved every minute. Fern, one of the sisters, was just so charming and lovely - one of my favorite characters from recent reads, for sure. I don’t want to say much more, at risk of giving anything away, but I think this book will appeal to the masses. I’ll be in line for Hepworth’s next book!

4.5 Stars

Sally Hepworth has another hit with "The Good Sister"! Rose and Fern are twins who grew up with an emotionally abusive mother and now lead very different lives. Rose is a married woman who dreams of being a mother one day, and Fern is a librarian who would do anything for her sister. Fern has issues with her short-term memory and is on the spectrum and is cared for by her sister. This novel is as twisty and fast-paced as other Hepworth novels with another storyline woven in about their past. Fern had done something terrible when the girls were younger, and Rose has always protected her from those events. Now that Rose wants a child and has issues conceiving, Fern will stop at nothing to help her sister get the child she has always wanted. I would recommend this novel to anyone who had previously read Hepworth's work or loves a good thriller.
Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC

This book suffers from genre identity issues. It's part domestic drama, part psychological thriller with some romance tossed in for good measure. For my review, I'm going to comment on these various aspects.

It works perfectly as a domestic drama. This is a story of two sisters, Rose and Fern, and their complicated sibling relationship. Despite being twins, they couldn't be more different in appearance, personality and ambition. Fern suffers from a sensory processing disorder which makes her thoughts, behaviors and actions different from everyone else around her. This made her a fun, quirky and endearing character. I loved the chapters from her perspective! Rose, on the other hand, functions okay outside of her diabetes. Because of Fern's condition, Rose has always felt like her protector. In addition to this, Rose is also struggling with infertility and a marriage on the brink of ending. Rose's fertility issue is the culminating circumstance in which their sisterly bond will be tested.

As a psychological thriller, this story was lacking. If your someone who reads thrillers a lot (much like myself) you'll figure out what's going on pretty early on...as in by the 20% mark (and that's being generous). The twist wasn't shocking in any great way but it does help enhance the domestic drama aspect surrounding the sisters.

As for the romance, let me preface by saying that I hate romance novels. I hate rom com movies. I'm just a cold-hearted, unromantic person. I inwardly sighed at the romantic aspect and thought it would ruin the whole book for me. (And it did damper my enjoyment of the book to an extent and made it a bit of a tedious read at times). In the end, though, it was pretty sweet, endearing and helped push the book along and made for a nice conclusion to the story.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rose has taken care of her twin sister Fern for their whole lives. When Fern gets overwhelmed with the world, Rose is there to soothe her and make it right. Rose has been her protector, especially from their mother who always seems to punish Fern. In present day, Rose is married and really wants to have a baby, but she is unlikely to conceive due to a medical issue. There are some chapters from Rose’s journal that fill in the story of their lives growing up.

I really like Fern! She is a librarian and doesn’t think twice about sitting on the floor to read a book to a toddler or recommending books to all the patrons, but she doesn’t like to fix the copiers. She does like her life scheduled and just so. Some might think of her as odd, but I just loved her character and rooted for her. She meets a library patron – Wally – and his interactions with Fern are some of my favorite parts of the book.

This one was perfectly paced and set me up for a terrific ending. A wonderful domestic suspense tale from an author I’ve read before, this is my favorite so far of Sally Hepworth’s books. This one seemed to fly by, and I was very compelled and a bit anxious to see how it would all turn out.

Fans of “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” will enjoy this one.

Highly recommended!

I think Sally Hepworth is one of my new favorite authors. I loved her last book and had high hopes for this one. It did not disappoint. Fern and Rose are unique, compelling, and sympathetic. Hepworth has such a detailed and empathetic understanding of trauma and family. I was cheering for Fern from her first scene and loved being in her head. It's tough to show how family can sometimes guilt, love, and challenge us in the same way but Hepworth does this in a way that feels natural and real.

Well written psychological thriller that will keep you reading late into the night.


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53137974

Mark your calendars for April 13th, everyone! You've got a while, but I need to put this one on your radar. Sally Hepworth's last book The Mother-in-Law was one of my favorite books of 2019. {If you haven't read it, you should.} I was so excited to be able to read an early copy of her newest one, The Good Sister. It did not disappoint!
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Fern and Rose are fraternal twin sisters who could not be more different. Fern has an undiagnosed sensory processing disorder and works in a library. She requires a rigid schedule and little social interaction. Rose works as an interior designer and is a perfect housewife. Their sisterly relationship lacks boundaries and Rose takes on a motherly role to Fern. Fern would do anything for her. When she discovers that Rose can't get pregnant, she takes matters into her own hands and tries to get pregnant herself to give her a baby. When Fern meets a man that truly understands her, things get complicated between the sisters. Really complicated.
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Thank God that I got a good one in my baby sister because that was one messed up relationship these sisters had! I loved this book. It was surprising in so many ways, much like The Mother-in-Law. I adored Fern and absolutely loved her journey and her romantic relationship with Wally. It was so cute and sweet. This is a slow burn suspense, but I was here for the family drama.
4.5/5 🌟s for me!

Thanks @netaglley and @stmartinspress!

This was really well written. I found it fast paced, interesting and a nice break from reality for a bit. Enough suspense to keep me guessing. Then, of course, reading faster to find out the ending.

The Good Sister features the worst kind of enemy-the one who looks you in the eye and pretends to be your friend. We learn early on something awful happened years ago involving sisters Fern and Rose, but they've kept their secret to themselves and remained steadfast in their loyalty to each other. It is never said explicitly but Fern appears to be on the autism spectrum, and although she has a job as a librarian Fern depends on Rose to help her navigate many rudimentary tasks most people take for granted. Sally Hepworth does an exceptional job of describing the challenges people with autism face- sensory overload, adherence to a strict schedule, and inability to interpret meaning behind facial expressions and tone of voice. In alternating chapters Fern and Rose recount their childhood-and their memories could not be more different. Rose recalls a selfish, mean and abusive mother, while Fern has only fond recollections of a kind and loving mom. The Good Sister unfolds in devastating layers-and the sense of foreboding of what you fear is coming but desperately hope is not, increases with every chapter. The writing is neat and efficient (Sally Hepworth wisely avoids hyperbole when dealing wth a character like Fern who interprets every word literally), and the sisters are a character study in "nuture versus nature." The Good Sister is an excellent book about a person who does very bad things but cloaks themselves behind an ironclad facade of sisterly love.

Not my favorite from this author but a great read none the less. Fun trying to figure out what was happening!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher

I am a huge Sally Hepworth fan, but it’s always nerve-wracking going into a new book by a favourite author. Will it live up to your own hype? In this case, yes, absolutely. My friend Sally hits it straight out of the park, again.

This story centres around two twin sisters in their late twenties, Fern and Rose. These sisters are as close as can be, and for good reason, they had traumatic childhoods and experienced something absolutely horrifying as preteens.

They’re also polar opposites. Rose is married, has a home and a job as an interior designer, and is yearning for a baby. Fern is happily single, works at a library (a job she loves), and lives in a small apartment. Fern is also neurodiverse and has sensory issues, although no diagnoses is given, I’d say she is on the autism spectrum.

When Rose leaves town to visit her husband, who is abroad, Fern is left on her own in the first time since she can remember. How will he manage? You’ll just have to read the story!

I don’t want to give away too much, but this book has everything. I loved Fern and think she’s likely one of my favourite characters in a book ever. There’s definitely suspense, there’s a love story, there’s bookishness (the library scenes are swoon worthy, as are all the supporting characters at the library). I’d love to see this book turned into a film one day.

Highly highly recommend and cannot wait until all my reader friends and family read this so we can discuss. It’s just such a wonderful book.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced review copy.

Twins are fascinating creatures.. Bosworth spins a tale of Rose and Fern-one
Leader and one follower. Journal entries by Rose. tell the story of her manipulations of Fern the Librarian with sensory problems. Even when Fern. wises up you will be surprised at the ending.. A fun and clever read!

I have LOVED all of the Sally Hepworth novels that I have read so far, so I was thrilled to be invited to read a VERY early ARC of her latest (Publishing Apr. 13, 2021) directly by the Publisher through NetGalley.

I just couldn’t WAIT any longer to read it!

She truly excels at DOMESTIC SUSPENSE, and this was her best yet!

Rose and Fern are fraternal twins who are as different inside as they are outside.

Fern has Sensory Processing Issues and is often overwhelmed by loud noises, bright lights, and pungent smells and Rose has always been her fierce protector. Their mother lacked some mothering skills, and they even had to develop a way to communicate without words-a warning tap of their matching bracelets, when Fern should remain quiet.

The threesome were even “homeless” for a year, spending every day in the Public Library, and every night in the home of anyone who would loan them a couch for the night.

But this ended up serving the girls well, because when Rose moved on to marriage, and a fierce desire to become a mother herself, Fern found herself a job as Librarian, which she excelled at, and found that she could live independently after all.

When Rose discovers that she may be unable to have a baby of her own, Fern decides that she may just be able to repay Rose for all the things she has done, and for all of the shared SECRETS that she protected.

I had no idea when I started this book that I would find the next Eleanor (Oliphant)!

Although Fern often has to decipher what her co-workers and Customers are asking of her-she VERY OFTEN sees the World more clearly than you or I, and her outlook is delightful!

My favorite chapters were those spent in the present day with Fern and Rocco (affectionately dubbed Wally by Fern).

They meet in the library when he comes in to use the shower and she mistakes him for a homeless guy-though he actually has chosen to live in a van. #VANLIFE.

The sister’s earlier years are shared with the reader through the “Journal entries of Rose Ingrid Castle” in alternating chapters.

As the story progresses I became quite ANXIOUS as to what may happen, as I became quite invested in wanting a happy ending for Fern, but knowing that life doesn’t always give us what we want.

Whether I yelled at my Kindle with triumph or with anger, is for you to find out!

One of my favorites this year!

Sally Hepworth's next tale following the Mother-in-Law does not disappoint! The Good Sister was a total page-turner for me. I was left in suspense and found it highly entertaining!

Another great book from Sally Hepworth!
Twin sisters Fern and Rose seem to have had a difficult childhood. They are very different. Fern has sensory difficulties while Rose leads a normal life. As the story progresses, you find out how different they are and truths about their childhood.

This was a great book! The first part of the book gave a lot of background and developed the characters. The second half was full of new information and twists that greatly impact the story. I loved the way everything came together and was resolved in the end.

The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth is a psychological thriller, family drama, about fraternal twin sisters, Rose and Fern. Growing up with a single mother who inflicts mental abuse on her daughters, as portrayed through journal entries written by Rose, Rose is Fern’s protector. Fern is on the autism spectrum, and Rose makes sure Fern is taken care of, even as an adult. Fern is a free spirit, smart, a librarian who avoids social interaction, becomes over-stimulated quickly in certain situations, however it doesn’t affect how well she does her job. It seems to everyone that the twin sisters are as close as can be, and after a tragic event when the girls were pre teens, they hold a secret that could destroy everything they wish for. Rose is married, unable to have children, but seems to mother Fern in every aspect of her life. Fern finds love with a quirky guy who comes into the library one day, although she thinks he’s homeless, but he’s not...he just lives out of his van. She nicknames him “Wally”, because he resembles the character “Where’s Wally” in the Australian book series. The two quickly find they are very much alike, and “Wally” is not exactly the character you would think he is.

As Fern becomes more and more independent in her personal life, Rose feels she is losing all control of the sister she has taken care of her entire life. As the secrets of the past start revealing themselves, Fern is faced with the task of figuring out the truth vs. what she has been led to believe to be the true. When Fern comes up with a plan to help her sister by giving her the ultimate gift, we see the relationship unravel and the differences between the two sisters are more prevalent than ever.

The story will lure you in from the first page. It is told in alternating chapters through the point of view of Fern and Rose, including Rose’s journal entries as snippets of the past. Fern is my favorite character. The author’s perspective of Fern’s world was eye opening. She does a fantastic job of allowing the reader to really feel the world through the eyes of someone with sensory issues and how they deal with it in every day life. To see how Fern’s mind processed information, in such a literal fashion, was really eye opening and written so well. It was a nice process to see the development of Fern’s character throughout the story, and be part of her relationships with her fellow library co-workers. You can’t help but cheer for her relationship with “Wally”, and see how she develops her own sense of worth in society. As for Rose, you start to see how her life isn’t what she wants people to think it is. While Fern may be the twin with the ‘issues’, we start to understand Rose may have some of her own unresolved issues from the past.

I have to start by saying I am a huge fan of Sally Hepworth. This is the fourth book I have read by her, and my third five star review. Each chapter just gets better and better, and about halfway through, I found myself needing to finish it without stopping. I wouldn’t consider this book a thriller, but it is a psychological drama with many dark turns and a creepiness you won’t be able to get out of your head. This will definitely be a must read of 2021!

I would like to thank Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Sally Hepworth for an advanced read copy of The Good Sister in exchange for an honest review. I would recommend this book, as well as many other books by Ms. Hepworth no matter what your preferred genre may be.

Sally Hepworth has done it again!

Fern and Rose are twins, in their late twenties. They take turns telling their stories. Fern mostly tells about her life nowadays, while Rose fills in the present. Though it’s never explicitly stated, Fern almost definitely has autism and Rose has spent most of her life helping a Fern navigate her world. However, Fern is very humanized- something that I think is lacking with a lot of characters with autism in other books.

The characters are phenomenally developed and Hepworth once again proves herself a great writer. The story flows and it kept me glued to my kindle.

I cannot wait to recommend this to all of my friends. Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

Sally, you did it again. I’m a huge Sally Hepworth fan to begin with and this new novel didn’t disappoint!

This is a story about two sisters, fraternal twins growing up and in modern day. The story is told front their respective Points of View. There are triggers like alcoholism and child neglect.

In true Sally fashion, this is a suspenseful ride, with a twisty and satisfying conclusion. Take nothing for granted as you read, because you’ll find yourself very surprised at the end.

I recommend this one highly and categorize this in the “unputdownable category.”

Thank you for the ARC!

Ah, this was a fun read! This is the story of twins who are close and yet are very different. The author did a good job with the character with sensory processing issues, showing her in a real way. The author also did a good job of telling the story, leading the reader down a path in a way that we think we know where it will lead... and then the path takes a dark turn.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.