Hepworth writes such amazingly twisty unreliable female narrators. This new book is no exception. You always have access to the inner workings of a sociopath. Fascinating. She is a great storyteller.

The Good Sister is the latest book from Sally Hepworth. I've previously read two of her more current releases, and when this one became available via NetGalley, even though it's almost a year before publication, I had to grab a copy. Sometimes books just line up at the right time, as I had a few free days between reads... then this popped up. Hepworth's novels have made it to the top of my must-read, newly published list of authors... although, I still need to get copies of her earlier novels so I'm fully caught up. A solid 4.5 stars for this one.

In this book, two sisters in their late twenties are somewhat co-dependent. Fern is tall and willowy, and she has intellectual / relationship boundary issues. Rose is shorter and told ‘she's round’ by her mother, yet she is married and seeking to have a child. Chapters alternate between their points of view, mostly through journal entries on Rose's part. Fern is more the leading character between the two. Through memories of their childhood and the way their mother introduces men into their lives, both sisters have had somewhat traumatic experiences. In contemporary times, Fern works at a library and Rose looks after her on the sidelines. Something bad happened years ago, and Fern is responsible... but it takes almost half the book to discover the secret. And even then, there is more to it than we initially know. I won't say much more as I don't want to spoil anything... as the surprises are lovely and haunting.

In the last decade, there have been a lot of books focusing on the relationship between sisters, particularly those that urge the reader to decide which one is telling the truth and which one is lying. At the beginning, I worried this would be another re-telling of semi-average nature... but quickly, the story becomes more and more fascinating. The strength and beauty of this novel is in the character development, specifically Fern's. Fern is such a treasure, a wonderful compilation of all the things people face in small increments; yet Fern has all the issues at once. People make her nervous. Noises frighten her. She thinks she is a horrible person. She trusts no one. She says things that come across as mean but she doesn't mean them that way. The entire time I'm reading her sections, I found myself enamored with how complicated and troubled the young woman is, but at the same time how innocent she must be.

Reading this book just to see Fern's evolution is definitely an option. Though the mystery and drama is intriguing, I found myself more focused on whether she and Wally would get together. Wally is her love interest, a man who lives in his van despite having some money, and who showers in the library because it is free and available. He's equally adorable, because like Fern, they suffer from some trauma in their past and never had the proper guidance to learn how to deal with the repercussions. Hepworth's handling of these two characters is wonderful. She could've tried to play on our sympathies by having strangers or even friends treat them both poorly because they were intellectually challenged, but that's not the case. Everyone is kind to them, a little apprehensive at times but mostly generous and friendly. It is in the innocence of how they live that readers will fall in love with their connection.

Rose, on the other hand, is frightfully peculiar. From the very beginning, I knew something else was going on... and I don't think Hepworth is trying to hide it. She's careful to drop the clues so readers think they know what's going on, but there is a blend of history that's not yet come out. That's when we meet their mother, who for some reason I'd suspected was dead. She's not. And this also isn't a spoiler because it's something pointed out that just wasn't a central point. This is why I like Hepworth's novels... well... that and because when I look up to check the time, thinking I've read 10% and a half hour has passed... I learn I'm halfway down already. It's so simple to read yet full of complexity in the words and imagery.

In the end, I really enjoyed this book. It's less about the plot and more about the character development. You want to see Fern and Wally succeed, but can they? Is this a story where you are meant to think she's the bad or the good sister? Does Hepworth want you to find your silver lining in the end, or is this about saying "I told you all along, she did something bad." Phew... I kept waffling because it was too obvious and too murky at the same time. I'm quite happy with the way it culminated, not because of which sister is good, bad, or a combo of the two, but because I felt like the story truly wrapped up everything that had happened over thirty years, and I understood so much of the tension and fear along the path.

The Good Sister is such a exquisitely crafted thriller. As I was reading, I was trying to figure out Rose and Fern and was pulled into their sisterly bond, all they layers of it, good and bad. A story that will keep you guessing and will leave you very satisfied. An excellent read!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book. This is my honest review.

The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth is as brilliantly woven as all her previous novels. Once you start, once you take that first bite, you can’t stop!

The premise of the story sets an intriguing narrative: Rose can’t have a baby, so Fern will have one for her. Sounds like a mushy tear-jerker that’ll leave you feeling good all over. IT’S NOT! It dark and twisty and will have you picking sides very quickly!

The story is told from both character’s point of view, which contributed well to the evenly paced and balanced character development of both Fern and Rose. I did love Fern immediately though. Although on the face of it she seems to be a difficult person to deal with, she’s quite adorable and I would like to have her for my friend. I also loved watching how the relationship between Fern and Wally developed.

If you’re a fan of Ms. Hepworth, you’ll love this! And if you haven’t read her books yet, well, what are you waiting for?

#netgalley #sallyhepworth #thegoodsister #stmartinspress

I was so honored to be asked to read the upcoming novel, The Good Sister, by Sally Hepworth.
Fern and Rose are twin sisters who are always, looking out for one another. Even from a very young age, they’ve had a special, sisterly bond that is truly unbreakable.
Rose is married to Owen, and all she wants is to give him a baby...however it just doesn’t seem to be in the cards for them.
Fern, is a quirky, sensory sensitive librarian with a charming intellectual disability. She decides she wants to help Rose. All she needs to do is find a man and get pregnant. Sounds so simple, right?
This book alternate between past and present, and also between both girls’ points of view. As the reader, I instantly favored Fern, and immediately fell in love with her...though both sisters were likable and each told a great story. Chapters set in the past carry a deep, dark secret, that only slowly unravel....continuously leaving you begging for more!!
Who is “the good sister” here anyway?? 🤔
Unfortunately you’ll have to wait a bit for this one. It doesn’t come out until April 2021, but I promise, it will be worth the wait!!
I really LOVED this book and I think you will too!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I am a huge fan of Sally Hepworth and was excited to receive this copy of The Good Sister from netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. This was a fantastic domestic thriller! The plot was quick moving and the characters were multilayered. I loved the way that the author presented Fern and Rose, two fraternal twins who lives are tightly wound together. Fern needs order in her life and she has some sensory issues that the author does a brilliant job writing. I can't remember ever reading a book with such an accurate representation of character with sensory issues. The relationships in this story are well written and the twists that Hepworth weaves throughout this novel keeps the reader on the edge of there seat, waiting to see how life will evolve for these two sisters. I flew through this novel and it was such a wonderful thriller. I can't wait to see what Hepworth writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this! Fern is a librarian who sticks to her routines, hates crowds and loud noises, takes things literally, and doesn’t understand many social cues. After finding out that her twin sister Rose cannot have a child but wants one desperately, Fern decides to help her out by finding a man and getting pregnant herself. What follows is completely unexpected and will keep you reading! The ending seemed a bit too unrealistic, with everything tied up neatly in a bow for Fern, and I thought at times the author was beating us over the head with Fern’s (I assume) autism. But overall, a solid and well-written mystery! 4 stars!

THE GOOD SISTER is an interesting read, but a bit uneven. The first half or so reads like women's fiction. It's a tiny bit slow as the story develops and I had a difficult time connecting with Fern. Then the second half of the book becomes somewhat of a thriller or suspense story. The second half seemed stronger to me and I wish the first half had been a bit more interesting or moved faster. Hepworth's character development is very well done. Recommended for fans of women's fiction and suspense and who don't mind a book that changes gears a bit halfway through.

Another fantastic book by Sally Hepworth! Every new book is my new favorites of hers, and this is no exception. The Good Sister is so incredibly well written. Sally Hepworth has a way with characters, making you easily fall in love with each one of them and root for the best. LOVED this book and highly recommend!
Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book from start to finish! It grabs you right from the beginning. It didn't have jarring swings but rather the story builds perfectly. I really felt connected to the characters!!

Wow - awesome book - couldn’t put it down.....even read it through dinner!!!! The author really knows how to pull her readers into a story - this is just another one of her books that I’ve loved! I won’t spoil the story, because it’s that good, but wow - just wow!!!!

Current pub date is April 2021 - add it to your TBR!

This is SUCH a good one from Sally Hepworth, perhaps my favorites of her's so far. We meet Rose through her journal - occasionally sharing current events, but mostly detailing memories from her childhood - then we meet her fraternal twin sister, Fern, who experiences Sensory Processing Disorder (though she isn't officially diagnosed).

The initial setup of the story and up until about the halfway mark for me felt very normal... though I was waiting on *something* to happen knowing that it was a thriller, it truly felt like a normal women's fiction story. Then we start getting more details on a mysterious event that Rose has referenced in her journal, and the first inkling that we may have an unreliable narrator here. But who?

I'll leave it there for now since there's plentyyy of time until the pub date but trust me - this is a good one! Super intriguing story throughout and an ending I think will please readers!

The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth A domestic suspense novel that is warm, humorous, heartwarming with an underlying threat that is dealt with in clever outcome.. Rose and Fern are fraternal twins with the premise that one twin is more dominant than the other, Their story further complicated because of their past and Fern's life issues. The final pages reveals a relationship that is both loving and complex. Fern and Wally are absolutely adorable as a couple.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

This book was a crazy fucking roller coaster. It was also incredibly funny. A joy to read. Light hearted, but checks all the right boxes. This author keeps getting better and better

I'm a huge fan of Sally Hepworth so I salivated a little when I got this title. How can a book be heartfelt, heartbreaking, and heartwarming all at once! Fraternal twins Rose and Fern are as close as sisters can be. It appears that Rose has always taken care of Fern who has Aspergers; even as an adult, it is to Rose that Fern turns to when life seems to spiral out of control. The novel alternates between Rose's journal which documents their childhood with an abusive and controlling mother and present-day Fern who works as a librarian and meets "Wally." another quirky and lovable character. But of course Hepworth's talent lies in the unsuspected surprises that are revealed as the book goes on. Nothing is as it appears and I was gasping every other page! Ultimately, I may have done some ugly crying but it was all worth it as this is a gem of a novel!

Sisters are a complicated relationship,as anyone who has one knows.
Fern & Rose,twins,have known this all their life.
From a complex relationship with their mother to a complex relationship at hand,this story weaves a web that needs untangled,in the worst of ways.
Rose,the perfect child & Fern, ostentatiously on the spectrum try to live their adult lives while combating their childhood & their own intermingled relationship day by day in a novel that will keep you hooked page after page.

I received this book from Netgalley because I read and enjoyed The Mother In Law. I liked the Good Sister just as much. Great characters and a story that made me tense. Not knowing where it was going.

THE GOOD SISTER
BY SALLY HEPWORTH

What is it about twins that make for such a fascinating topic in psychological thrillers?

In this case Rose and Fern aren't identical twins but fraternal. I think what captivates us is somewhere in these stories there is always one that is relatively good and one that if not evil is bad news.

In Sally Hepworth's latest offering we definitely have an unreliable narrator but who is it? Is it Rose or Fern? Rose is married to Owen but is failing in the common infertility area where she admits right in the very beginning that she is driving him away with all of the stressors of the perfect ovulation time etc. Fern is an unmarried librarian who happens to come across the news by accident that Owen and Rose are having trouble conceiving by noticing an infertility drug in Rose's pocketbook.

Fern gets it into her head that if she was to have a baby and give it to Owen and Rose--then problem solved? The only problem is that Fern is single and not dating anyone in particular at this time. If it weren't for Rose Fern couldn't manage since she has an over stimulating capacity to not be able to tolerate bright lights and loud noises. It is Rose that has to keep reminding Fern not to forget both simple requests as to pick up a container of milk to not forgetting she is taking care of Rose's dog. Fern is convinced that if not for Rose's reminders she would not be able to manage on her own.

This book is completely addictive once you start reading it. It left me pondering how much of our trauma's in our youth define us as being confident adults? Are some of us more susceptible than other's in believing how events really happened? I do believe some of us are more strong willed than other's. I do know that from birth until around the age of seven we children are in a theta brainwave state meaning our core beliefs are being downloaded by our parents, siblings, friends and community like we are video recording everything that is our surroundings.

This novel is themed with one sister being more dominant than the other. This was an interesting premise of who is leading who. It is a compelling narrative with what is at stake and believe me that it is a life defining decision whether or not you are able to give up one of life's most precious gifts.

Publication Date: April 13, 2021

Thank you to Net Galley, Sally Hepworth and St. Martins Press for providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#TheGoodSister #SallyHepworth #StMartinsPress #NetGalley

I am a big fan of the author, Sally Hepworth, and have read almost all of her books. I really enjoyed The Good Sister. We start with Fern and Rose, fraternal twins, but completely different from one another. The story is told alternately from Rose's journal, starting in the past, and then we see what's currently happening in Fern's life. From the very beginning of the book, you can tell that Rose is the strong, dominant twin and always looking out for her more socially awkward sister Fern. We are then introduced to Fern, who works in a library and has difficulty dealing with the world due to having Asperger's. There does seem to be a hint early on in the book that she has done something bad in the past.

I really enjoyed the humor and warmth that the author interjected into this book. The character development was wonderful and the plot was well driven. I love the little touch of danger that that's through and ends interestingly. With all the turmoil currently happening in the world right now, this was a fantastic book to fall into and lose yourself in. I loved it! Kudos to Sally Hepworth for another great novel.

I would like to thank Sally Hepworth, St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Oh.My.HEART.

Sally Hepworth's books always just hit the "happy" spot for me. No matter what they are ostensibly about, no matter the time period or the subject matter or the genre...I walk away with a warm, full heart.

THE GOOD SISTER is no exception.

On the surface, this is a suspense/domestic fiction novel.-but it's so much more than that. It's a story of manipulation, sisterhood, hurt, community, and ultimately...love. Familial love, romantic love, unexpected, fierce love.

I ADORED Fern and Wally. They were written in such a multi-dimensional way that they became friends. I cared about them so much by the end of the novel.

I LOVE a plucky, strong, non-neurotypical female lead. Fern is a gem. And as I finished the last page, I had tears in my eyes.

I'm just imagining this sweet family all cozy in warm, sensory friendly cocoon of love and happiness and man... Rocco is right. Everyone else is weird. THEY are perfection. Absolute perfection.