Oh my goodness! This is the best book I have read all year! The story is completely captivating and I fell in love with Fern, one of two main characters. Fern and Rose are sisters, fraternal twins. Fern has sensory issues and Rose has type 1 diabetes. I really do not want to give too much away as I could not do it justice. The story is told from the two points of view of the sisters. Fern is absolutely fascinating, loveable, strong, honest, simply delightful. Rose basically had the role of caretaker of Fern, protecting her. A story that made me angry, made me cry and made me laugh. I absolutely loved it! It is on my ‘best ever’ book list.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Woo, what a roller coaster! Sally Hepworth has done it again. The story moved quickly, yet believably. The character development was great. It was really hard to put down and I enjoyed it just as much as The Mother-in-Law. Fern and Wally were my favorite characters. This would be a great addition to a library's collection.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book!

Another solid 5-star book by Sally Hepworth! I have loved everything she has written and always get excited when I see a new book by her.

Rose and Fern are sisters - twins, in fact - but very, very different. In the beginning, it seems obvious who is the "good" sister. But as the book evolves and the characters develop further, everything becomes less clear. Who is telling the truth?

I absolutely loved the character of Fern with her sensory issues. She was so unique and so well-written. Sometimes a book has a good plot, and sometimes it has good character development. This book is one of the standouts that had both.

* Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thoroughly engaging domestic/psychological thriller with a quirky romance. Very few authors could pull this one off but Sally Hepworth is a master at grabbing you from the start and keeping you entertained all the way through. I literally could not put this one down - even cooking and reading at the same time!

The was the second book I have read by Sally Hepworth and she is now on my must read list. I enjoyed this book and her style of writing alternating the narrative between the sisters. I was sure I knew where the story was going but was surprised by the outcome. I gave this book four stars and highly recommend it.

Sally Hepworth never disappoints with her novels, and I have to say this has to be her best yet. This book left me thinking about the characters for a long time; and couldn’t get the clever storyline out of my head. Definitely a page turner you won’t want to put down. So much is covered in this book - sibling bond, family, abuse, mental health, love, lies, pregnancy, humour, loss.. you name it, it’s covered in this novel.
Fern and Rose and twins, and it’s apparent from the beginning Fern has issues and needs Rose in her life to make sure she can manage everyday hurdles. Fern is likeable and instantly someone you can visualise, and Rose seems more complex but the stronger of the two women. As the story unfolds, we learn of the big secret from their childhood and their difficult upbringing with an abusive mother. There are so many twists and turns in the story, and I have to say it didn’t turn out as I expected. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, suffice to say you will not be disappointed. This is the first time I actually put a book down and instantly wanted to re read it knowing what I knew from the ending!
Definitely up there as one of the best books I’ve read this year. So thankful to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this wonderful book.

Wow ! The Good Sister has it all: murder, mystery, family, craziness, twists and turns and most of all sisters!!

Sisters do have a bond that is hard to explain.

Fern and Rose are twins and Rose is always taking car of Fern and hiding a secret that would ruin her life if she ever told.

The pages fly by as Fern meets Wally and pulls away from Rose.

Can't say too much with out spoiling the book for the reader but this is a very definite 5 star read for me.

Makes me think of my sister over the years.

Put this near the top of your to read to pile: The Good Sister is bound to be a big hit!

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for a wicked spell binding read!!

Hands down my favorite read of the year with it's twisted, riveting, fast-paced and totally mind-blowing plot! I was literally shaking towards the end.

The story is told by Rose and Fern, twin sisters who have lived through terrible trauma together. Rose is the protective, loving sister of her autistic sister fern who can't stand bright lights, crowds, or having her routine interrupted in the slightest. Rose has always protected Fern, even through a tragedy that happened when they were children: a boy drowned because of Fern, but Rose kept her mouth shut. And after years of physical and emotional abuse from their mother (which Rose took for herself and her sister), they were through into the bumpy foster care system due to the mother's overdose.

And years later, when Rose can't get pregnant, Fern decided to show her thankfulness by having sex with a stranger and giving the baby to Rose. Except... what was supposed to be a quick affair becomes something more.

BUT, if you think this is crazy enough... there's more! In the course of the novel, we uncover the twins' past to question whether Rose is really the protective, good sister, and whether Fern is really the gentle and naive girl. Are they/Is one of them more like their mother than it seems?

I can't even describe how much I loved this absolutely mad psychological thriller. When it comes out, I'm looking forward to listening to the audiobook as well because I have a feeling it would be amazing.

*Thank you to the Publisher for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Sisters Fern and Rose share the same story growing up, except they each tell it very differently. Through each of their voices we learn of their childhood and how their adulthood is still influenced by their closeness. A thriller with twists and turns from both the childhood story and their adult current day make for a wild ride!

I love this book. Sally Hepworth never disappoints but The Good Sister may be her best book yet. I fell in love with Fern from page one and loved her even more by the time I finished the book. I wish I could give 10 stars.

This book is so good! It didn’t take long for me to get settled into this story, and then the little reveals started to appear, and it kept getting more and more compelling. This story is exquisitely told through the alternating viewpoints of twin sisters, Rose and Fern. One of the best things about this book is the voice and development of Fern, a young woman with sensory processing issues. Honestly, there were times I practically cheered out loud for her. There were definitely moments when I had some emotional tears for her.

This has some domestic thriller vibes, but not crazy whiplash reveals. This is almost what I would call a comfortable thriller, which doesn’t take away from the power of this story or the layers of crazy reveals. But this book doesn’t depend solely on the crazy and unexpected. It is the characters and their relationships and believability that are the heart of this book. To my delight, there is a romantic storyline that is excellent. A bonus is that Fern is a librarian and many scenes take place in a public library with some fabulous supporting characters.

I really can’t wait for this book to be published and to receive the accolades and buzz it deserves. I highly recommend this book!

If Sally Hepworth has a new book coming out, you can bet I'm going to read it! I had my month made when I received an advance copy of Hepworth's upcoming novel The Good Sister via NetGalley. The book alternates between the perspectives of two twin sisters, Fern and Rose. These two sisters share a bond that has kept them close all their lives, but is this bond a healthy one or there something twisted about it?

Hepworth artfully crafts her characters in such a way that you will be completely drawn in and she keeps the action building and the tension rising as the plot moves forward. This book has it all- secrets, twists, suspense, unreliable perspectives, and even heartwarming moments. The Good Sister firmly cements Sally Hepworth's place in my top authors short list. She is an incredible storyteller and I am here for it! I highly recommend this one and am grateful to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

We have The Castle sisters, Rose and Fern, who are identical twins. The story is told in alternating perspectives of each sister from the present and part. You are led to believe Fern did a horrible thing in the past and Rose fixes things. Something occurs with Fern that causes supposedly happily married Rose to come in, manipulate the situation to make Fern give in to Rose. When Fern visits her mother in the nursing home, her mother tells her something that makes her question herself and the reader as to who is the Good Sister. I did not hate this book but it was somewhat predictable. It was not a page turning wow of a book.

The Good Sister is a captivating read that I couldn't put down. A major highlight of the book is the creative format Hepworth employs to tell the story of twin sisters Rose and Fern. Using dual narration, one sister tells her story through journal entries, while the other narrates through internal monologue. Fern struggles with sensory processing issues, and exhibits symptoms of autism, although a formal diagnosis is never disclosed. What I most enjoyed about this book is how the genre shifts through the novel; what at first seems like general women's fiction later evolves into a psychological thriller, and as a reader, you're not quite sure who to trust. It also touches on difficult subjects like emotional abuse and the challenging relationships between parents and their children. I really enjoyed this book, and highly recommend it to readers.

Fern Castle Is a highly intelligent, forthright young woman. She enjoys her highly structured routines which help her cope with her very literal take on the world and her tendency to suffer from sensory overload. She has intricate family relationships and keeps social interactions with less familiar people to a minimum, as she finds these confusing and uncomfortable. Fern has always been very reliant on her twin sister, Rose, to help her navigate the complexities of life. She has always felt that Fern has been her protector. The chance presents itself for Fern to reciprocate to Rose in a very selfless way. Seeing this through, leads Fern into a relationship which she never felt would be possible, and into events which turn Fern’s world upside down. This sometimes funny, sometimes tragic novel is a must read. Highly recommended. Thanks to the author, St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

I read The Mother-in-Law in 2019 by Sally Hepworth and really enjoyed it so I was looking forward to reading her new book, The Good Sister. It's definitely a slow burn, but Hepworth writes with great suspense and buildup. This is the story of two adult twin sisters and one of them is not exactly who she seems. I'll be recommending this book to friends as a good psychological thriller, and I'd also read more by this author in the future.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Fern and Rose are twins. And as different as two people could be. Rose is married and seems to be happy with life except for the fact that she can't get pregnant.

Fern is more of a free spirit but has severe sensory issues. The world and it's inhabitants are a bit too extra for her.

But they both have secrets. Rose protected Fern from their crazy mother. Or did she?

Rose manipulates Fern into having a baby for her. And as soon as she is pregnant Rose turns into someone Fern doesn't know at all. 

I loved Fern. She has all these issues but she finds love with someone who understands them perfectly. But in the end, will she be able to stand up to Rose? Or will her mother actually save the day and expose who is the sociopath here?

That was some ending! Did not see that coming!

NetGalley/ April 13th, 2021 by St. Martin's Press

Wow! I just finished The Good Sister and I am blown away. All throughout I thought the writing was stellar; to be able to give the POV of two different sisters, one of which has sensory processing issues, was unique and very well done. As the story continued towards the climax, I was surprised at its twists and turns. So well written!

Having read and enjoyed another Sally Hepworth book I was looking forward to reading this and I wasn't disappointed. The story set in Australia focuses on two sisters – Fern and Rose and is told from their two narratives, although Rose’s narrative is given through a journal she keeps. Fern is really the central character and is wonderful, with her quirky idiosyncrasies. She struggles with noise and light and also she takes everything that is said to her quite literally, which causes a number of problems. She works in the library, a job she really loves and where she is a highly valued member of the team. The other person in the story is Rocco, who Fern meets at work. Rocco is also a wonderfully quirky character – he is a computer programmer who lives in his van. Rose is married to Owen who is currently working in London. Rose is desperate to have a child, but she has been trying for some time unsuccessfully. Rose has always kept an eye on her sister and they are very close, eating together three times a week. Fern wants to have a child for Rose to repay her for her kindness so she needs to find someone to have a baby with. Fern is a wonderful character and I became desperate for the happy ending she deserved. The first half of the story sets the scene and looks at the relationship the girls have with their mother who is now in a nursing home. There are flashbacks to the past and what happened in their childhood. It is difficult to say too much without giving the story away but suffice it to say it is really worth reading. It is a real page turner and is slightly hard to categorise although it certainly has some suspense in it. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this wonderful book

The Good Sister is a domestic thriller with a hint of suspense. With having loved The Mother in Law... I was eager to start The Good Sister.

What can I say? Is it a page turner? Yes! Does it keep you guessing? Yes! I was enthralled with this book but it was extremely predictable and that was SUCH a bummer. I have read so many thrillers and am so tried of having a predictable plot. I was playing it out in my head before I even finished the book sadly :(.

Fern and Rose are fraternal twins but are almost complete opposites. Fern has suffered some trauma in her childhood and has sensory-processing challenges, and is sensitive to touch and loud noises. Rose has looked after Fern her entire life and is very protective. Fern and Rose were placed in foster care as little girls due to their mother having an over dose on drugs. Ever since then, Rose has become some what of a mother figure to Fern.

Fern always has to have dinner with Rose three nights a week and they have a pretty steady sister relationship. Until things start to take a darker turn between Rose and Fern.

I won't go to into depth of the plot but the storyline alternates between Fern and Rose. It's a page turner and I have to say is quite the fast paced read. I was a bit let down unfortunately with the predictability and was hoping for another fresh and unique read by Hepworth. There are way too many thrillers in this genre that I feel all seem to get mixed up in the same box for me.

Overall, this has been getting very high praise and recommend giving it a try especially if you're a Hepworth fan!

3.5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Pub date: 4/21/21
Published to GR: 8/2/20