The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth is an enjoyable novel with many thought provoking twists and turns. It is about two very different sisters who are also twins. There appears to be a dysfunctional family that forces the twins to rely on and protect each other. As the novel proceeds there is a very realistic display of sensory integration disease and anxiety disorder that truly controls the life of one of the twins. The mother of the twins also has a story that appears to control her mothering skills and overall temperament. Without revealing any spoilers I loved the ending and I appreciated everything I learned as I was reading this novel. I would like to thank netgalley, Sally Hepworth, and St.Martin’s Press and Publishing Group and Pan MacMillan Australia for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Rose and Fern are fraternal twins. Fern is a quirky librarian and I could quickly picture and hear her eccentric self interacting with the different patrons and her coworkers. Rose is unable to have a baby, so Fern starts to put a plan together to become her surrogate. As plans progress, Fern is faced with childhood memories about a tragedy that has haunted her since. The book is a quick read. A lot of the story and past unfold in the last pages - I kind of wish the twists and turns were more spread out throughout the entire book.

I loved this creepy good domestic thriller! From the very first page to the last I felt like I was a part of this story. Awesome character development. Fell in love with a few, totally heart wrenched for some and I might have just wanted to clock someone!! I really felt this book in my bones!
Great read! Highly recommend!!
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Loved the twist! The plot is cleverly woven to take the reader on an exhilarating page turner. Twins couldn’t be more different. Great fast paced read with memorable characters. I simply adored Fern

This book blew me away! I was unable to but it down. Perfect, dazzlingly, very well written. The details the author described throughout the book was so amazing. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers.

Well, she's done it again! Sally Hepworth has written yet another fantastic book! But that shouldn't surprise anyone.

The Good Sister introduces us to twin sisters, Fern and Rose. Fern is a librarian with sensory issues and Rose is an interior designer who has always been there for Fern. They had a rough childhood with their single mom, who had her own issues, and is now in a long term care home. After Fern meets Wally and they embark on a serious relationship, Rose convinces Fern it's best for her to break up with Wally and move in with Rose.

I have to say The Good Sister sucked me in and I really didn't figure out the twist until late in the book...in my opinion, a sure sign of great writing. I loved the characters of Fern and Wally and felt sorry for Rose. A truly enjoyable read. 4.5 stars.

Thank you to #Netgalley and @StMartinsPress for an advanced copy of The Good Sister! And congratulations to Sally Hepworth on another surefire hit!

Sally Hepworth is one of my must read authors and I happily delved into her upcoming book. You quickly become immersed in the story of these twin sisters, Fern and Rose. We meet them in their twenties and relive their stories of their manipulative sociopathic mother. Through the author’s excellent character development we examine their earlier lives as the truth slowly unfolds. You can’t help but root for Fern and Wally as their romance progresses. The mystery of their past is revealed through Rose’s diary. Good writing that kept me engaged throughout the story. #TheGoodSister #Sally Hepworth #NetGalley

The Good Sister is a very intriguing novel. It tells the story of twin sisters, Rose and Fern Castle..
Fern is a librarian and suffers from what she describes as sensory issues. Rose is married to Owen and longs for a baby. The girls mother resides in a nursing home. She had what was described as a stroke many years ago.
The story plays out full of surprises - especially for Fern. It made for a very interesting story.

FIVE STARS ALL THE WAY!!

“When I was a kid…”I did something terrible..”

Fern and Rose, fraternal twins, are a tightly woven pair. But that is the only thing they have in common. Fern's sensory processing disorder requires routine and structure. Rose is married and seeking to have a child with her husband Owen. These two women are codependent and share a dark secret.

The narrative begins with a memory of a fateful evening and then springs forward into the present. The story unfolds between each sister's alternate perspective. Each chapter starts in the present tense with Rose’s narration coupled with journal entries. This format is brilliant as we stay connected to the current character while receiving bytes of history. Midway through the novel, we revisit the fateful night. And then the story takes a left-hand turn.

What do I have to say about The Good Sister? Character development is on point. Fern is delicate yet profound. As a person who works with sensory processing, the details of Fern’s behavior and thought process are authentic. Through touch, sound, light, and noise, we enter into Fern’s reality. When Wally arrives on the scene, we see the transformation of Fern. Ryan Rocco, also nicknamed Wally, lives on the fringe of society and yet as complex as Fern. Rose is a protective force in her sister’s life. She has had to provide salvage from people closest to their life. But her protectiveness is also in part complicated. And the author creates a hunger to find out more.

Sally Hepworth has dialed in the intrigue in this domestic psychological drama. The Good Sister is perhaps her best book to this date. There is nothing about this novel that did not work.

“I was utterly transported from start to finish.”

Thank you, NetGalley, Saint Martin’s Press, and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was totally enchanted by this book. The relationship between Rose and Fern is quite a story, and I couldn’t help falling in love with Fern. As someone who is an educator, working with children who have challenges allowed me to connect with the story.

Hepworth has spun an intriguing story about two very dissimilar twins. I was very drawn into the plot and slowly began to unravel the truth. Fern is an inspiration and I will certainly utilize this book in my education classes. I believe excellent fiction like this can be valuable to my future teachers since it is a very enjoyable read and explores the unique needs of a woman who has challenges dealing with her environment. I think it will give them both understanding and a sense of hope about moving them ahead.

Thank you Netgalley for this extremely engaging read. I think book clubs will enjoy reading and discussing it.

Wow! This is the absolutely the very, very best Sally Hepworth book yet, and I am telling you -- they are all great!
This is a must read for April, 2021!
Twin sisters, Fern and Rose grew up with a mother who didn't care and only wanted what was best for her- not her girls.
Yet, Fern a sensitive, quiet person who is also on the spectrum, does not remember it exactly as Rose recounts their childhood.
Were their younger years as awful and terrifying as Rose says? Why can't Fern remember all this?

When Rose finds out she is unable to have a child, Fern decides to help her sister and be a surrogate. She needs to find just the right man to assist her!
A good sister always helps her twin! This is how it is!
But.... Memories are NOT always the exact way things happened and this psychological thriller will have you up late to get to the end of this well written, detailed novel of family, deception, friendship and drama!
Amazing novel!

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read and review this book.
This is the second book I have read by Sally Hepworth, and it did not disappoint. This story seemed like a typical sibling story with one sister taking care of the other sister. Boy! Was I in for a surprise! The relationship between Rose and Fern is not quite what it seems to be-lots of twists and turns. The writing is excellent and draws the reader into the story right away! Highly recommend!

I loved this twisty book, the complicated relationship of sisters but with an edge. Rose and Fern had a difficult childhood and this obviously shapes the relationship they have with each other as adults, and indeed the type of adult they become. A great story and very well written.

The Good Sister is another great novel by Sally Hepworth. A domestic suspense told through alternating POVs, the book explores the complex relationship between two sisters; Fern, who has significant sensory issues, and Rose who has always been Fern's protector. With incredible writing and many surprises along the way, The Good Sister has everything to capture readers' attention from start to finish - deceit, manipulation, murder, and romance!

Another home run for Sally Hepworth! An intriguing and complex story about two sisters and the boundaries of trust that eventually break down between them, leading Fern to question just how good of a “good sister” Rose is.
Twin sisters Rose and Fern lead a troubled childhood with a less-than perfect Mother, with a revolving door of boyfriends.
Fern, led to believe she is incapable most of her life, has become dependent on her sister Rose, who is truly a mastermind of falsehoods.
Wally, the homeless millionaire helps Fern find her true self, shows her love and helps her seek the real truth about Rose and in the end you find out who the good sister really is.

Another fantastic book from Sally Hepworth! This one is so different from her others but still great!
Told from the POV of two twin sisters- one essentially good- Fern and one essentially evil-Rose. Rose is in a struggling relationship and can’t have a baby she so desperately wants.
Fern is a librarian who is quirky and has some sensory issues. Btw, the descriptions of library work in this book are on point. Having worked in a library for 20years I found myself laughing and agreeing and thinking I’ve been in these exact situations.

The book continues on describing Fern & Rose and their dynamic- definitely setting us up for something big to happen. You could feel it on each page. This was a psychological thriller/ domestic fiction for me. A totally addicting book, I just had to know what happened next. I couldn’t put it down.

I did figure out what was going to happen as it was pretty easy to guess but Sally’s writing is so good that you want to make sure so not really a mystery for me or anything with twists but the climax in this book is huge! I loved the ending!

Thanks to Netgalley & St. Martins Press for my advanced ebook copy. This book will be published April 2021.

This book was so addicting that I read it in two days! This book addresses the complexity of bonds people have with their loved ones and shows that sometimes there is more beneath the surface.

Thanks to NetGalley and to St. Martin's Press for the preview copy.

I am a fan of Sally Hepworth's work and this one may be the best yet. Page-turner, could not put it down. I love the character development and the way both Wally and Fern were portrayed. The questions posed about the relationships in Fern's family- mother/daughters and between the sisters was done beautifully through the juxtaposition of Rose's journal entries and Fern's day to day life. Surprises, exploration of relationships and excellent prose. What more could you ask for?

What a great read! I don’t want to say too much and give anything away - just be prepared for both a warm-hearted and twisty story about sisters.

Highly recommended!

Sally Hepworth does it again! This was such a good book! The sister dynamic was good, but I loved the character of Fern and all of her quirks. Her sensory issues made this book stand out. I’m so glad the publisher went this to me. When I read the description I knew I had to read it right away. It’s such a job well done! Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!