This is my second book from Sally Hepworth and I have loved both! I loved both characters especially Fern and I could read about her all day long!

Being a sister myself, books that center on sisters always intrigue me. Being a middle child with both an older and a younger sister, I definitely know how different dynamics can be between sisters. Needless to say, I was instantly intrigued by the synopsis of The Good Sister.

Fern and Rose are twin sisters, but what gave their relationship so much depth throughout the story is their dependence on each other. Fern depends on her routine staying exactly the same and she looks to Rose as her caretaker. Rose, on the other hand, seems to have it all with a nice home and a wonderful husband.

The novel is mainly told from Fern’s perspective as her routine gets completely upturned and she begins to take control of her own life. Entries from Rose’s diary are interspersed between chapters, giving readers a glimpse of what’s really going on behind the curtains of Rose’s home.

The Good Sister is considered a thriller, but it’s not a thriller in the scary sense. It has some dark moments when you think about what family means and the secrets kept within those familial bonds that definitely pushed the narrative. It was pretty easy to discern exactly what was really going on and how it would end, but I still really enjoyed reading this story and going along for the ride with Fern and Rose.

Side note: Sally Hepworth also has a new novel, titled The Younger Wife, coming to the US in April 2022! I’ll be reading/reviewing this one as well and hope to have a review published on its pub date!

A new trend in the mystery/suspense genre seems to be emerging because there have been a lot of books coming out featuring twin sisters, and for some reason, I think I have to read them all. Of course, they all haven't been hits, but I really like where Hepworth went with this story by featuring one of the sisters as neurodivergent. At first, I thought this was a curious choice, but as the story unfolded and I realized where it was ultimately headed, society's overall lack of understanding of neuro-diverse people, and the way they are sometimes treated by government and law enforcement officers really raised the stakes for me.
One detractor I do have was that, as I was reading, I kept thinking about how similar this story was to another Australian twin sister pregnancy thriller that I had read last year. This distracted me and kept me from fully engaging in this one because in many cases it felt like same story, different spin. I do think Hepworth did do a good job of building the suspense and sense of urgency, and I really liked the ending. 3.5 stars

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for my copy of the book.

SO good! I love this author - she is consistent but never redundant. Thriller writing at its best with edgy writing, fast paced writing and endings that don't disappoint. Good from the beginning!!!!!

I am always interested in stories about the dynamics between sisters. When that story also happens to be a psychological suspense I dive in, no questions asked. Then I find out it's dual POVs and I'm off to the races.

THE GOOD SISTER follows fraternal twins Fern and Rose Castle. We know from the opening pages of the book that the sisters were witness to a terrible accident which tied them together. They have been close their entire life with Rose acting as the protector of her sister, Fern.

We get dual POVs and meet the sisters in the present, when they are 28 years old, as well as get insight to their backstory growing up and their at time challenging relationship with their mother.

Rose is desperate to have a child but she and her husband have not been able to conceive. Fern decides that will help Rose by getting pregnant and giving Rose the baby. It's the least she can do after all Rose has done for her. Fern just needs to find a partner. The best of intentions, but suffice to say all does not go according to plan.

I have to say Fern is one of the best and most interesting characters I've read in a long time. A librarian, Fern's life is dictated by structure. Fern is hyper-sensitive to sensory stimulus, is quite literal with her words, is highly intelligent and tired to her routine. She can be unintentionally funny and I love her insistence on calling Rocco, "Wally". It made me smile every time. And made me love him as a character. I also through the dynamic between Fern and her colleagues at the library was so well done and what a great representation of found family.

This is a story of the complicated dynamic of family - sisters and daughters - and about manipulation, deception, gaslighting and how trust and vulnerability can be exploited. I found there to be a slow build of tension, but I was so drawn in by the characters it has that compulsive thriller feel. And even though Sally Hepworth clues us into what's going on there are still so many twists to be revealed that I was hooked until the final page.

This was the first book I read by Sally Hepworth and I have become a fast fan of her work. I'm so excited so read her backlist and upcoming novel, THE YOUNGER WIFE.

This was my first book by this author. It kept me hooked right from the beginning. I will definitely be reading more of Sally Hepworth's books.

"It's always struck me as one of the great mysteries of life, who you are fond of."

5 stars! I love Sally Hepworth and she did not disappoint with The Good Sister - it was nothing that I expected and everything I needed - and what a twist at the end. I flew through the book and did not see that coming.

When you start to read, make sure you have tissues from this fantastic story of two sisters,twins from Sally Hepworth. ..Follow their story as one sister can have a baby the other cannot,will the one who can,will she carry her sisters baby for her and give that baby up to your twin?? Who will be the father?? Questions well asked as you read and follow these twins secret and see how their lives are lead and follow such a fantastic story on will one sister do such a personal thing for the other,does their love go that deep and not only that,twins have a special bond... You feel the connection between these two.Received from Net Gallery... Once you do read,this story will stay with you...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Good Sister
By: Sally Hepworth
A special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this advance reader copy of this book all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Twins Fern and Rose couldn’t be more different from one another. From their body types to Rose being diabetic. Fern has sensory issues and is quite quirky. She depends a lot on Rose. It’s not until she meets Rocco that she really starts to get some independence in her life as an adult. So many times the way Rose remember some thing it’s not the way Fern remembers it. Rose has always thrown massive temper tantrum‘s all her life and has a way of getting what she wants. And now what she wants is a baby.
Rose is a master manipulator and really quite dangerous.
This book was so good. Many little things about their lives don’t add up until boom you see the whole picture! I really enjoyed The Mother in Law by Sally as well!

Sally Hepworth is always worth waiting for and The Good Sister was worth waiting for. This book has not remained on our library shelf once it is returned by a patron. Spin tingling, "what's next," is her theme.

First of all I would like to thank the publishers and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review. This is now my third Sally Hepworth book and I am so happy to keep adding to that category! She is a fantastic author. I love books about family relationships.....especially when they are dark! I was captured from the first page to the last and I highly recommend this book if you like suspense and a good story!

Thank you to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This just wasn't the book for me. I found the storyline to be slow moving and predictable. By the end I had already figured out the big reveal and was left feeling a little underwhelmed.
The story is told in back and forth chapters that cover events from their childhood and adulthood, with each sister telling their version of events.
I went into this expecting a psychological thriller which this isn't, more of a family drama. In any case it was still a good way to spend an afternoon and is sure to be enjoyed by many.

Thanks so much to the author, Netgalley, and St. Martin's Press for the complimentary advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts. And thanks to Libro.fm and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary advanced audio copy. All opinions are entirely my own. { gifted book } All of my reviews can also be found on Instagram @Tackling_TBR and on my blog at tacklingtbr.home.blog

TW : murder, death, poisoning, infertility, loss of a parent, hospice
[ And possibly more that I don't remember ]

This book was WILD! It was twisty and turny, and had a really interesting unreliable narrator, and yes a tiny bit predictable at certain times, but I couldn't have cared less about that because I was enjoying it so much!

I began reading an electronic copy of this book, and then I had to run some errands and didn't want to put it down - so I picked up where I left off on audiobook, and I never turned back! This book was SO GOOD on audio. The narrator is so talented, and honestly I just want to listen to any audiobooks that she narrates.

The story was well written, and kept me gripped the entire time - it took everything in me not to just finish it in one setting! I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a good psychological thriller. But seriously, trust me on this one, do the audio!

Sally Hepworth has become one of my absolute favorite writers and her books rarely disappoint. The Good Sister is fantastic and I had a hard time putting the book down. It's a great domestic thriller with lots of twists. I loved the alternating points of view and the diary entries. Huge thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this title.

Absolutely fantastic! This one had me turning pages and staying up too late. I'd definitely recommend.

I really loved The Mother In Law and was hoping this would be in a sort of similar vein but I found myself realizing, quickly, it didn’t and I didn’t love the book. Parts were okay and I appreciated the autism aspect but otherwise, it felt much too forced and I didn’t enjoy reading it. Maybe because I have autistic relatives and I found some of the situations impossible from their eyes but I realize it’s a spectrum of very different people

Super predictable thriller but the characters had me hooked. I really enjoyed reading the sections from Fern's POV.

This book was completely unexpected and original. I had the opportunity to listen to the audio while reading my advanced copy, and I have been recommending this ever since!

This was an amazing book! It felt to me part thriller and part mystery. There was also a sweet romance arc as well. The story is told from one character perspective and diary entries from another. The characters were so well developed that one character I felt everything along with her. The other character literally made my skin crawl and I was angry for what they were doing. I love absolutely love the way Sally Hepworth tells a story.

This book had my attention the whole time, I literally read it in one sitting. I have always loved Sally's books, and this one didn't disappoint at all.