Sally Hepworth is a master at creating an atmosphere of suspense! This particular books immerses you into the lives of twin sisters, one with sensory issues and one as the designated protector. It is so engaging that you do not want to leave their minds, and it causes so much anxiety in that delicious way only a good book can do.

Wow! I was really invested in all of the characters. There was amazing character development, both good and bad. I enjoyed the ending and was rooting for Fern the whole time. Would definitely recommend!

4.5/ 5 stars
“The Good Sister” is the second book that I’ve read by Sally Hepworth (the first being “ The Mother-in-Law”). It is definitely one of those books that the less you know going in, the better. I’ll give you the basics. This book is about twin sisters, Rose and Fern.

I was pulled into this story right away. The writing flowed effortlessly. I loved how it alternates between present day (Fern) and journal entries that focus on the past (Rose). This book is a domestic thriller but underneath the mystery was quirkiness that I really enjoyed. And even more so, underneath the mystery and quirkiness, there’s romance, there’s sisterhood, there’s so much. It is definitely a multilayered book.

The characters were well developed, and I absolutely loved Fern. She may be one of my favorite characters. Here is a little tidbit. Fern has a sensory-processing issues. Loud sounds, bright lights, sudden touches are all triggers for her. The way that Sally Hepworth developed her character was spot on and I loved the representation. Everyone within this story served a purpose.

When it comes to the twist or the big reveal, I figured out what was going on beforehand, but I loved the journey that led up to it. I also think that the clues were put into place along the way so that it would be figured out beforehand. Where do the lines blur between what is “good” and what is evil? Overall, I really enjoyed this book and Sally Hepworth is quickly becoming one of my favorite suspense authors.

*** Side note: Who knew that “Where’s Waldo” is not titled “Where’s Waldo” across the world? You learn something new everyday, lol. I think I’ll call him Wally from now on.***

I absolutely loved this book and found it impossible to put down! I've been in a bit of a reading slump, having abandoned several books in a row, so I was really excited when I got approved to read The Good Sister. I read and loved Sally Hepworth's book The Mother in Law and dove right into this one. I'll admit, I was a little nervous for the first few chapters with what direction the story might go in. I really didn't want the neurodivergent character to be characterized as evil, but there were some strong hints that everything was not as it seemed, so I kept reading. Within a few chapters, I absolutely knew I was in good hands with this story, and I could not put it down. It combined a few of my very favorite elements in a story: an unreliable narrator and an unexpected romance. Fern was delightful, I loved Wally, and the dynamic between Rose and Fern's sisterhood definitely kept me clicking through the pages as fast as I could. There were a few surprises I didn't see coming, and I had a hard time putting this book down in between reading sessions. I finished it very quickly and immediately got on hold at the library for the rest of Hepworth's backlist. Thank you NetGalley and St, Martin's Press for an e-ARC.

Another hit from Sally Hepworth! She's so great at mixing and elevating genres. Here, we have a sweet romance juxtaposed with a domestic thriller, and both converge for a cohesive and tight narrative.

Hepworth has been a must-read author for me for a long time, and The Good Sister is as good as ever.

Wow. I was totally caught off guard by this one! Killed it in a couple sittings. The book follows two sisters, Rose and Fern. While they are fraternal twins, they are very different in personality. Rose is considered the responsible one and very protective of Fern. Fern is highly sensitive to light, touch and sounds and rarely strays from her schedule. Alternating between the POV of Fern and Rose's diary, we see their "routine" shaken up and how they each evolve. Loved the characters, the many layers and unexpected twists and turns! One of my favorites of the year so far.

This is my third Sally Hepworth novel. I enjoyed the previous two books by this author, so I was excited to receive an ARC from NetGalley of her newest book The Good Sister.

The story alternates between fraternal twin sisters named Rose and Fern. Rose is the dependable sister who escaped their rough childhood determined not to follow in her mother’s footsteps. Fern struggles with social interaction and takes everything literally. She needs predictability and order in her life. A tragedy when the girls are young makes Fern feel as though she can’t be trusted on her own. She relies on her sister Rose to help her navigate new situations. But when Fern learns that her sister cannot have a baby, she wonders if maybe it’s her turn to help Rose.

What I liked: The alternating viewpoints included flashbacks to the characters’ rough childhood and their relationship with their mother. You know something awful happened when the girls were young, but it is not fully revealed until the middle of the book. The book is written in a way to make you think you know which one is the “good sister,” but also includes some twists to make you wonder if you are actually correct. Their was minimal foul language in the book, which I appreciated. Fern’s character reminded me of Eleanor Oliphant in that she takes everyone at their word and struggles understanding emotions and interpersonal relationships.

What I didn’t like: I did figure out the twist about halfway through the book. I knew who the “good sister” was and was afraid the ending would leave me angry. I will say that while I figured out that piece, there was a slight twist that shed new light on the motivations of the “bad sister.” And not all was as it seemed throughout the story. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the last chapter because it made it seem like the “bad sister” might get her way after all. I would have been happier had it ended with the next to last chapter.

Overall, a solid thriller by Sally Hepworth. There were definitely some predictable parts, but a few small twists will keep you interested. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book!

I could not put this book down and since I finished it last night, I still cannot stop thinking about it.

Fern and Rose are twin sisters, Fern has sensory issues & has been made to believe her whole life that she needs her sister to live. When she finally meets Wally at her job, her life will change and she will learn just how different Rose is.

I love how the author went into detail with Fern’s sensory disorder. My daughter has slight issues and to hear just how much little things that don’t phase me, can really upset and work someone up....it was very eye opening for me.

Stop what you are doing now and pick this up, it was fantastic!

Another good page turner from a mystery writer. Read in an afternoon at the beach and it kept me entertained and moving.. A great escape from the current environment we are living in.

I like Fern & Wally. Yes a bit odd but lovely people whereas some of the other ‘normal’ people aren’t what they seem. A book of depth with complicated relationships and mental illness. Touching in places, aggravating in others, spoiler:::::::::
I hope the ending page is understood by the police in what it truly is and not an opportunity to throw off the wonderful ‘family’ Fern finds in all her people.
Thank you netgalley & the publisher for giving me this arc for an honest review

Rose and Fern seem to be the quintessential fraternal twins. Rose is the responsible one. A husband who loves her, a fierce desire for a baby and a deep seated passion for protecting her sister from the dysfunctional displays of aggression and anger from their mother.
Fern the unusual one, a librarian, lovingly following Rose’s guidance and suggestions a little afraid to step out on her own.
Then after Rose leaves for a chance to reunite with her husband Fern meets someone wonderful who becomes a serious part of her life and challenges her to see life for what it is.
Like a wondrous chrysalis, Fern dares to fall in love. She begins to see the monster in her life and the plot that emerges to take her baby.
Great story, fun, quirky, entertaining imaginative.
I would give this story 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advanced copy. My opinions are my own and unsolicited.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not expecting this. Rose and Fern are twins. Which one is the leader and which one the manipulator. And don't even get me started on the mother. So many twists and I was hooked from the start. Unputdownable!

The Good Sister
by Sally Hepworth

Sally Hepworth has quickly become one of my favorite authors for this thriller genre. I absolutely enjoy a good domestic thriller and this one is amazing!! The story is about Fern Castle a local librarian who had some previous trauma that makes her uncomfortable with crowds, noises and bright lights. To avoid those triggers, Fern's life has been carefully planned to a set routine with no surprises. Her sister Rose has been her rock and a gift from Fern may help Rose change her life.

The story is told in the fraternal twins point of view and I really love the difference between the two sisters' bond. As the layers are peeled to reveal the rest of the story, there you will find Hepworth's brilliant story telling and creative plotting that is fast paced and tension filled.

I highly recommend this book - for the thriller fans, this is a must read.

"The Good Sister" by Sally Hepworth is another one of her books that hits the suspenseful spot. Very twisted, very dramatic, and very good! The two point of views featured in this story made this book what it is. It needs to come with a warning label that states "Has to be read in one setting" because nobody will be able to put this book down!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Good Sister.

I enjoyed the author's previous book, The Mother-in-Law so I was pleased when my request was approved.

The Good Sister is about fraternal twins, Fern and Rose. Rose is the 'good' sister. Fern is not. For all her life, Fern has depended on Rose but as she will soon discover, that might cost her.

What follows is a tale not just about two sisters, but about a young woman coming into her own, finding independence and believing in herself.

Fern is a believable, honest and relatable character. She is sensitive, emotional but capable and competent.

The narrative is juxtaposed between Fern's present day and notes from Rose's journal as she chronicles her past, a good way to lead the reader into a false sense of understanding, almost complacency as we are drawn into Rose's story and her point of view.

The ending is a happy one, though quickly and conveniently tied up nice and neat, as some readers noted, but I was glad to see Fern settled in and Rose get her comeuppance.

I look forward to the author's next book.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of the Good Sister. This was an incredibly fast paced read about a set of fraternal twins and their relationship with their mother and each other. The story is told from the perspective of both Fern and Rose, and their accounts are startling different. To give more info on the plot would give this book away, so readers should sit back, enjoy, and find out who is protecting who!!!

I adore Sally Hepworth and her devious mind, tricking us in all her novels. This one is a detailed relationship between twin sisters, Fern and Rose and it’s a doozy. Their mother prefers one of them over the other and it affects them both. One is a little developmentally challenged and it affects them both. One is a killer and it affects them both. One is good and the other not so much, and it affects them both. As a character observes where does on e start and the other end. Love and hate, jealousy and insanity, sweetness and evil, it’s all here and it makes for an unforgettable read.

I am a huge fan of Sally Hepworth, her books never let me down, and this one was fantastic! So thanks @Netgalley and @Stmartins press for giving me that chance to read/review this book before pub date.

The book is a domestic thriller, told in multiple POV, and focuses on Fern, and Rose who are fraternal twins. Fern is a librarian who has a very structured life, things have to be just so, or she becomes overwhelmed. Rose, is married, and wants children, but unable to. Fern decides to have a baby for Rose, and a story unfolds, and A story it is. Without giving too much away, the book is just something else, and it one rollercoaster of a book. I would highly suggest anyone read it!! I think this book will do great when it releases in April 2021!!! Buckle up!!!!!

in closing, The book grabbed my interest from the first few pages. The characters are well developed, and the author does a great job in describing each character!!!

The Good Sister is one heck of a read and I didn't stop reading until I finished the book in one sitting! With sinister undertones and a deliciously juicy plot, readers are going to go crazy for this book! It's going to be a top read for everyone in 2021!

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: April 13, 2021
“The Good Sister” is Sally Hepworth’s newest family mystery, full of deep, dark secrets between sisters, spurred as a result of a desperate struggle with infertility.
Rose has always been her twin sister, Fern’s, protector, always taking the blame for her sister against their drunk mother’s tirades, even covering for Fern after a terrible accident led to the death of a young boy. When Rose and her husband, Owen, remain childless after years of struggling, Fern decides that she can finally return the help her sister has been giving to her all of these years. Fern agrees to be a surrogate for Rose, against Rose’s knowledge, and sets out a plan to fall pregnant so her sister can have the child she so desperately wants. When Fern becomes pregnant however, others in her life start to point out things about her sister she may have missed and when their mentally incapacitated mother warns Fern to ensure Rose does not get her baby, Fern realizes her sister may not be the person she thought she was.
This novel had me hooked from the get-go. Alternating chapters between Fern and Rose, I felt empathy for both sisters almost immediately. Rose, who was willing to sacrifice her own life in order to ensure her sister was safe and Fern, the eccentric outcast who struggled in social situations and relied on her sister to help her through when she was overwhelmed. It was easy to understand why Rose would be so protective, and I rooted for Fern, as she grew into her own and became an independent young woman.
The drama doesn’t slow down; it is a constant thrill ride of gripping emotion. The twists and turns lead to a satisfying conclusion, with just a hint of anticipation as the very last pages come to a close.
I am always in love with characters who are on the spectrum (as I assume Fern was, although she was not diagnosed and does not label herself as such), and I was totally on board with Fern throughout. Hepworth has this way of finding relatable characters that pull me in, both in this novel and in “The Mother in Law”. The connection I have with Hepworth’s honest, dysfunctional characters has me devouring her novels every time. I can’t wait to read her next one (and perhaps I should get cracking on the other novels of hers I’ve neglected!).