Fern and Rose Castle are twins, but that is where the resemblance ends. Fern works in the local library and can only function with a structured life. She finds it difficult to deviate from this structure and needs advanced warning of any changes before they disrupt her. Rose feels that she needs to protect Fern and that’s the way it’s always been, right through their cruel upbringing and into their adult lives.

Despite trying, Rose cannot fall pregnant, so Fern decides to become her surrogate, as a way to repay Rose. As Fern starts to become more responsible for herself and that of her unborn child, Rose begins to panic that everything won’t just fall into place how she planned. Slowly as the layers peel back, Fern discovers the truth is more than she bargained for.

A truly compelling read, which doesn’t just lead you up the garden path, it takes you into the house, sits you down and makes you a cup of tea. I thoroughly enjoyed this book which kept me guessing to the end.

The Good Sister is a book that the more I read the more I started to become involved until I couldn’t put it down.
Fern and Rose are twins, they aren’t identical as fern is tall and slim with light hair and Rose is smaller, rounder and darker haired. Fern avoids social interaction, loud noises, smells and lives a life by routine whilst Rose is married and living a normal life and helping her sister. Rose can’t have a child so Fern decides to have one for her but this is where Ferns life will start to question her sister. Their mother is in a care home, Rose hasn’t seen her for ten years as she can’t forgive her for the terrible upbringing she had but Fern religiously visits every Thursday. One week when Fern visits she tells her mother who struggles to talk that she is pregnant and she’s going to give it to her sister. Her mother manages to say “don’t give Rose your baby”. Fern doesn’t understand why she would say that.
I enjoyed this book from start to finish, the chapters worked well with excerpts of Roses diary to keep you thinking. The book was written well, I felt Ferns awkwardness leap out through the pages.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Hodder and Staughton for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

Just a middle of the road ok book for me. More a drama than a thriller and easy to guess what was meant to be the twist. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

Absolutely loved this! The story is narrated from two sides, from a set of twins. Indeed there is two sides to each story! With a few twists and turns , you be hooked till the end!

Totally immersive, cleverly composed. I couldn’t put this book down. Entertaining with a perceptive insight to the struggles of living with autism. Brilliant characters with a gripping plot. This is a story that will stay with me for a long time and I’ll be telling all my friends to read it!

This is a new to me author. The book focuses on twin sisters Rose and Fern and a terrible secret from their past. We are gradually told the story from the viewpoints of each sister but are soon left wondering who is telling the correct version of events. We are led to believe that Fern is an unreliable narrator. She easily forgets things and her older sister has always helped her get out of distressing situations due to her sensory issues which can affect her functioning. This is also what Rose thinks and she paints a picture of a disturbing childhood with an uncaring mother. However after some time we find that Fern and Rose present with two differing versions of the past. I will not go into more detail as I don't want to give away any of the plot which has lots of twists and turns. I look forward to reading other books by this author. Thanks to netgalley for the free read.

Wow where do I start with this book without giving anything away.
Fern is a loveable character and with having sensory problems she relies on her twin sister Rose to always put things right, take care of her and keep her secrets but is she really looking out for Fern or for herself?

When Fern finds out that her sister Rose can’t have a baby she thinks it’s the right thing to do to get pregnant and have one for her, after all Rose does so much for her. As the story is told Fern is not quite sure who her sister really is and the lengths she will go to to get what she wants.

I was absolutely hooked on this book from the beginning and can’t wait to read another by Sally Hepworth.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder Books for the opportunity to read an advance copy in return for my honest review.

The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth Pub Date 15 Apr 21
Fern Castle works in her local library. She has dinner with her twin sister Rose three nights a week; she avoids crowds, bright lights and loud noises as much as possible. Fern has a carefully structured life, and disrupting her routine can be dangerous.
When Rose discovers that she cannot fall pregnant, Fern sees her chance to pay her sister back for everything Rose has done for her. Fern can have a baby for Rose. She needs to find a father. Simple.
I do not want to reveal any spoilers, so I advise all to read the book.
This is a well-written story, the characters are strong, and the storyline is excellent. I would happily recommend it.
I want to thank NetGalley. Hodder & Stoughton and author Sally Hepworth for a pre-publication copy to review.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this amazing book

where to start with this book...its difficult without giving away to many spoilers, but its based on twin girls and their mother and through roses diary we get a hint of what their lives were like growing up

rose and fern are twin sisters, with fern being special needs, which we learn more about as the story goes on and how rose looks after fern to the point of taking over in all aspects of her life, but life is easier for fern with rose in control


its a captivating storyline and once you are hooked you are there right to the end... how one sister will do all they can for the other

cant wait for the next book from this author

The Good Sister is a cleverly imagined story of sibling relationships and influences, especially as they are twins with one more dominant than the other. There is a backdrop of danger and uncertainty, as one of the sisters has a destructive personality disorder. The plot is extremely well delivered with a horrible secret hanging over the family, and a sociopathic mother that targets her displeasure and wrath at one daughter in particular.

Fern and Rose Castle are twin sisters and have lived most of their lives with their single mother and her different partners over the years. We look back in time with Rose as she recalls and notes in her diary the life and experiences she and Fern have endured. Fern is a wonderful and highly likeable character who has a sensory overload problem and a filter-less lens on the world where social etiquette is just non-existent. The dialogue and perspective Fern exhibits have endearing humour, as she rationalises situations in her own unique manner and is astonished why people are easily offended.

“It’s astonishing what can be offensive to people. For example, apparently, it is the height of rudeness to ask someone his or her age or weight, which makes absolutely no sense. Why be mysterious about something that is quite literally on display for all to see? And yet, these rules exist, and everyone seems to understand what they can and can’t ask. Everyone except me.”

Fern recognises that she causes issues with her irregular approach, so she often defers to her sister to make many of her life choices. Fern is a librarian, marvellously suited to her job as she recalls and recommends the huge number of books she reads. She believes that she cannot be trusted because she is absentminded with dangerous consequences – none more so than the massive family secret where a boy was killed at Fern’s hands.

Rose is married and has a problem conceiving a child due to premature ovarian ageing. In selfless support of her sister, and with her own unique analysis of the situation, Fern decides to get pregnant and give the child to Rose. The man she identifies as the father-to-be is called Rocco Ryan or as Fern calls him Wally because he looks like “Where’s Wally” with his bobble hat. Wally is an intriguing character that adds another important thread to the story that helps Fern grow and gradually develop her independence.

I much prefer novels that gradually paint the symptoms of a personality disorder and allow us to build our own diagnosis. So much could be said about the characters in the novel but the less said the better. If we follow the notion that there is a Good sister then we can surmise that there is a Bad sister, but the story has many secrets and surprises ahead.

The Good Sister is a very engaging story full of suspense and drama, with compelling characters that keep this novel fascinating and with intelligent humour that rounds this novel off as a great entertaining read. The novel is impressively threaded together even if predictable and Sally Hepworth is establishing her place as a sharp social and domestic storyteller with keen observational quality. I would recommend this book, and I would like to thank St Martins Press, Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in return for an honest review.

This book had me hooked with the two sisters and their distinct personalities. The twists and turns until the amazing ending. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me review this book.

This book is guilty of destroying my sleep! I literally couldn't stop reading ! Chilling, mind bending, slickly woven physiological thriller. Anyone who has grown up with siblings knows no two truths or recollections are the same . This is certainly true of twin sisters Rose and Fern . Rose has apparently protected her sister (who is on the spectrum) all their lives, from their cruel, abusive mother, their mother's, boyfriends and even from her own failings . But all is not as it seems in this fiendishly clever book. I don't want to spoil the reader's enjoyment by issuing spoilers but I urge everyone to grab a copy for yourselves asap! Brilliant!

Wow, this had me on the edge of my seat from a couple of chapters in. I was hooked! I honestly had book hangover after this. This is my first book from Sally Hepworth but most certainly not my last.

The character development throughout the book was mind boggling. I found myself feeling how I imagined the characters to feel; I was shouting at the book and in some aspects, my heart was being pulled.

Definitely a run of emotions, I loved how you can tell Rose is the good big sister, taking care of everyone and her sister Fern who has issues probably from previous childhood memories which are touched on throughout the book.

Thank you so much Sally and Netgalley for this ARC in return for an honest review. 5* from me!

A story about 2 sisters. 1 with a seemingly perfect life but is desperate for a baby and another who is aloof, particular and quirky- complete opposites. It’s twisty and keeps you guessing with a great ending really enjoyed this book 5 stars!

A clever suspenseful novel that keep you engaged and wanting to find out more. The story gripped and intrigued me right from the first chapter. The plot builds, the suspense is tense and the ending is definitely not one you see coming.
I would definitely recommend this book to friends.

This was such an engrossing read. Fern adores her twin sister Rose and decides to give her a baby, when she discovers that Rose can’t have one. Fern is a wonderful character and it’s easy to relate to her. Rose is the ‘sorted’ married sister who has always looked out for Fern, protecting her from their manipulative mother and a terrible incident in their childhood. But all is not what it seems. The narrative is brilliantly twisty and I couldn’t put the book down! I so enjoyed reading about Fern’s relationship with Wally and her growing friendship with her colleagues at the library. There’s so much to delight the reader in this book. Five stars!

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for giving ARC in exchange my honest review.
This story is an excellent case study in vulnerability. It’s also a cautionary tale about hidden depths and dangerous minds. It’s a wonderful novel with lots of surprises and twists. The plot is fresh and so compelling as right from the outset. The characters are well developed and the storyline was great. The twisted where not super big, but they where really good. It has you completely HOOKED! As the story had me anxious and chilled, for what happened next. I loved everything about this book. It has been perfectly written and just flows so well. A very engaging story unfolded that kept me tethered close to the end. I love Sally Hepworth writing style. Furthermore, I was never bored and so invested in the story. I couldn't put it down till the end. This book deserves the highest praise and all of the stars!

Fern and Rose are twins and we hear from Rose's point of view about the terrible childhood they had with their mother who is now in a care home. She was petty and vindictive ,a true horror . Rose has always taken care of her sister as Fern has lots of issues where she needs to be reassured byRose.
Fern doesn't like loud noises of bright lights or certain smells and has difficulty understanding what people want from her. She has a set routine working in a library and going to Rose's house for dinner on the same nights every week. Rose is desperate for a a baby with her husband Owen but has recently been told it's not possible . Fern decides she will get pregnant and give Rose the baby but first she has to find someone to sleep with.
This was quite a rollercoaster of a read as I didn't know who was telling the truth throughout the book.
I loved the addition of Rocco the American boy who seemed to be on the same wavelength as Fern. Fern's fellow library workers were somewhat in the background but they did add a lot to the story. It was lovely when the finally realized what Fern needed to get her through each day easily.
I haven't read anything from this author until this one but I'll be looking for more of her books.

Oh, The Good Sister is a very unsettling novel.

There is a lot of unreliable narration going on, but it is difficult at first to see just exactly who is the one who is not telling the truth.

I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves thrillers.

Wow! I loved this book. A psycho-thriller that kept me thoroughly entertained from start to end.

This was the second book I have read by this author and once again 5 stars from me!

This book is about twin sisters Rose and Fern. Fern suffers from sensory-processing issues and can even have sensory meltdowns. A few examples to better understand her: she cannot read people's faces, takes everything very literally, misses social cues and does not like to be touched. Her twin knows her like no other so has always been there to protect her and help her out. Fern is quirky, but seems really sweet at the same time, a bit childlike. Rose is the complete opposite. At the start of the book she is married and seems like the calm stable character, mothering Fern, but as the story goes on you start to wonder if there is more to her. There are some great twists and lots of drama.

I don't want to say anymore for fear of spoiling it for others.
It was simply great and I highly recommend it!