The Other Sister - Sally Hepworth

The only book by Sally Hepworth I've read previously was The Family Next Door, which
I thoroughly enjoyed, so was looking forwards to reading another one.

I mainly read Psychological Thrillers and Crime, but am very open to this kind of 'sunny domestic-noir'.

The story of two twins, Rose and Fern. Fern has some form of autistic spectrum sensory overload issue and takes things very literally. Fern's is the main narrative, which is based in the present.

Rose's contribution comes in the form of a journal, documenting their childhood and unstable home life . We learn early on that the twins were involved in the drowning of a boy they were camping with.

Most of the book covers Fern's daily life and struggles, working as a Librarian and trying to cope, it is sensitive, tender and often very funny. I wasn't gripped, but was contentedly entertained.

Things get a lot more involved and tense in the last third which I found gripping, tense and very, very moving.

One of those you can't say too much about without hinting at spoilers, but it is very cleverly constructed and extremely well told. Ever so readable and highly recommended.

Totally had me hooked. This is about two sisters who are twins, and you read the diary of one and the other part is real time. It goes between them and you think one is a better sister.....but which one really is good.
It's a unique storyline and I loved it .
Sally Hepworth is a fantastic writer who knows how to get the readers gripped
Can't wait to read more
Thank you NetGalley

Fern Castle works in her local library. She has dinner with her twin sister Rose three nights a week. And 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 just needs to find a father. Simple. Fern's mission will shake the foundations of the life she has carefully built for herself and stir up dark secrets from the past, in this quirky, rich and shocking story of unexpected love.

Hepworth has written a masterpiece of a family thriller with this read. From the beginning I was hooked and drawn into the mysterious relationship between Fern and Rose. It is clear there is something off about their relationship and Hepworth masterfully builds the tension and drops clues as to the true nature of the bond throughout the read. Speaking of the atmosphere, this has such an intense, dangerous feel to it the whole way through, it made for very addictive reading.

Fern and Rose are essential to the plot so it was integral they were strong characters and they both are. However, Fern is a phenomenal character! I found myself obsessed with her, she has such a likeable personality and I loved reading about the world though her eyes. This was already an excellent read but Fern ensured this was outstanding.

I also have to mention the library where Fern works. Having worked in a library myself, I was astonished at how accurately Hepworth portrayed it, it was like I was back there!

'The Good Sister' is an exquisite thriller, full of lies and secrets just waiting to be revealed. I was completely hooked by this read and Fern is such a strong a character who will remain with me. What a read this was!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advance copy.

I couldn’t put this book down and read it in 1 night! I was really impressed with the way various mental health and learning difficulties were portrayed in the book. Also it was good how the author showed different ways they were combatting this and how they acknowledged they made mistakes in social communications. I also enjoyed the love story intertwined with the story between Fern and ‘Wally’, her sister Rose and her mother. It was great the way her feelings were explored and how she felt about each person. Loved the ending, really wrapped everything up and left me feeling satisfied.

This is my second Sally Hepworth novel and I have got the rest lined up ready to go .
This tale grabbed me on the first page and didn't let go till the last .
Fern and Rose are twins -inseparable all their lives . Now Fern has had a taste of independence - and she quite likes it . However Rose isn't sure -Fern has a few problems going on and she isn't sure she can handle too much . And Rose has always protected her ....
Two sisters -very different -but who is the good sister ??

Loved It !

Thankyou NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of this book.
When I started I didn’t think I was going to be able to read this. Do not like the different font/ print strength used for the different character storylines but it became less annoying as the book progressed, possibly because you do get used to it. I loved the two totally different characters of the twin sisters as they are usually portrayed as alike in every way. The fact that Fern is not comfortable with loud noises , lots of people and light is getting more common in today’s world and the way she found to be able to cope with it, aided by understanding work colleagues and unfortunately her sister. Great story and will be on the lookout for more books by Sally Hepworth.

Rose and Fern are twin sisters. Rose is the protective sister. Fern is the one that needs protecting. The story draws you in straight away as you get a glimpse of a childhood memory through Rose, shes having therapy and has to write things down. Whilst camping as 12 year olds Rose leaves Fern and their future step brother alone while she answers the call of nature. She returns to find him floating in the river beside Fern.

I was totally hooked from the beginning and enjoyed watching the story play out. It's a rather dark and gripping book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's my first book by this author but it won't be my last.

A captivating, entailing story from the off. Fern and Rose are twins. Fern, an intriguing and endearing character, has sensory processing difficulties and Rose has always prided herself on being Rose's protector but as Fern moves towards a life of independence the line between the sisters' relationship blurs.
A brilliant read, thanks to netgalley for the advance read copy in exchange for an honest review.

Sally Hepworth does it again! I devoured this book in one sitting and ended up not getting to sleep until late as a consequence. This is a great domestic noir and I was thrilled to discover a neurodivergent protagonist who wasn’t a rain man style savant. Fern is an instantly likeable character and as I’m also neurodiverse with sensory processing issues I could relate to her in many ways. I don’t know what experience Hepworth has with autism but she did a really good job here.
Fern’s twin sister Rose is from the outset, a puzzle. She seems to be the victim of a terrible childhood and now in a marriage she knows is failing because of her increasing desperation to conceive which should make the reader sympathetic to her, but something about her just didn’t feel warm and natural like Fern did. This is cleverly written by Hepworth as we soon find out that everything is not what it seems with Rose so the seeds have been very carefully sown with skilled writing.
Wally is undoubtedly the best ‘Prince Charming’ of any book I’ve read for a long time and seeing Fern blossom with him is really lovely. The supporting cast of characters at the library are also well drawn and likeable and the love of reading shines through in every scene there.
Although I figured out fairly quickly what was going on I was still turning pages at speed racing to find out what would happen in the end. The end when it comes could be said to be sentimental and a bit unadventurous but it was perfect as Fern deserves nothing less.

I note lots of 5 star reviews but I'm afraid I didn't click with this book at all.
Another "evil childless woman killer"-sigh who also has a mental health condition. Usually it's D.I.D as a psychiatric condition that's the cause of evil but in this case it's BPD. I'm not saying people with mental health conditions can't be killers but using it as an excuse is well over used. Not sure why there were so many American spellings.
Who the heck uses an App to feed a baby?
Not for me

My thanks to NetGalley for this advance copy of Sally Hepworth’s book.

This novel speaks with the two voices of twin sisters, Rose and Fern, living in Australia. The girls recall memories of their unsettling childhood and their purported volatile mother who now resides in a nursing home after supposedly taking an overdose.

How far will you go to get what you want? This novel goes deeper than sibling rivalry: it raises overlooked mental issues, such as intellectual disability and sensory processing issues. A good storyline with strong characters, humour and horror. This is an amusing, easy read with very predictable ending, but ultimately quite dull.

I absolutely loved this book. It is so well written and had me hooked from the beginning. Although I worked out was happening quite early on, it didn’t stop me reading this book in 2 days. I highly recommend this book , you won’t be disappointed.

Fern and Rose are twins. As children they were inseparable and as adults Fern is almost dependent on her sister.
Both sisters have their own issues to contend with, which have implications for the story as it unravels. Told by Fern as narrator, and in flashback through journal form by Rose, the story develops when Fern realised that her sister is struggling to conceive and that just maybe, Fern could do something to help her sister out....
A new author for me and one that I will now be looking out for. A rollercoaster of a read that kept me guessing all the way through.
Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read and review.

This is a compelling read that I devoured in one sitting.
The novel focuses principally on the relationship between two fraternal twin sisters but also centres on family dynamics and whether our memories are truly our own. Although the two sisters drive the plot, it is the other relationships within this book that makes this book stand out from many other psychological thrillers and what had me hooked. The library crew are great and two of the main characters in this book are just so very endearing that I would have been captivated by them in any scenario the author chose to place them.
The plot does have you asking questions and theorising as you read and once you think you know what is happening, you are holding your breath in hope that all the ideas in your head are wrong!
A fabulous read and I will certainly read more by this author - a thriller with heart- what more can you want?

Wow, you will not believe this book. Rose and Fern are twins and would do anything for each other and love each other. Read their story from childhood to today. But then everything begins to change when Rose wants a baby but not in the way you may think.

The Good Sister was my first novel by Sally Hepworth, and it didn't disappoint. It was interesting to have the perspective from a neuro-diverse protagonist, and how (unfortunately) she could be manipulated by her sister. I knew roughly which way the story was going, but it didn't stop me from enjoying the ride. Dark and gripping, this is a real page turner.

i have read other books by sally hepworth which i loved so i had to read this one. i honestly related so much to fern when she describes her job at the library - i feel exactly the same with certain customers! as the story progressed, i figured out pretty quick that fern is on the autism spectrum. i found it fascinating to see how fern deals with various situations that she ends up in - especially with the story written in both sisters perspectives. overall, i thoroughly enjoyed this book and the psychology behind the characters.

thank you to netgalley and hodder & stoughton for the advanced copy of this book.

Twins usually have a universally accepted strong bond and second sense not found in siblings. The twins forming the premise of this story substantiate this theory although are very different people, both in appearance and character. One slender, lacking confidence and although not spelt out, high performing on the autism scale. The other, short, weighty and carrying the belief that she has a right to a high level of responsibility and decision making in her siblings life . The story , alternating between time periods and perspective of each twin, is one of a neglected childhood with a single parent mother who appears to struggle with mental health or dependency issues . This has affecting her ability to care for them or balance the attention each require resulting in several episodes of abuse, neglect and danger. during their childhood. And yet the story skilfully moves between the two lives of these young women where actions become suspect, outcomes tense, and the lurking threat of peril is ever present. The reader is forced to re-examine events both past and present questioning interpretations of each woman as the situation both find themselves in, spirals out of control with the conclusion galloping along at heartbreaking speed.. A thought provoking story on several levels questioning universal judgements made on individuals with special needs yet carrying a feel good factor on the generosity and well intentioned thoughtfulness of people in contact with them. Difficult themes, awkward situations written with care and sensitivity always , delivering an enjoyable conclusion that lived up to the quality of the writing. Many thanks to author, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and raced through it. It is a dark tale leading to what I thought was a satisfactory ending. I don't want to give anything away but I thought the development of the two sisters' characters was really well written and I loved Wally too. A great read - highly recommended.

Fern and Rose are adult twins living in Australia Fern is a Librarian and Rose is married to Owen her Job is unclear, but like mosts twins they are very close. Fern appears to have a variety of Autism she takes everything literally, conversations don't flow easily for her, but also,she feels she had a good childhood Roses doesn't agree. Fern loves her Mum Rose doesn't. Fern loves her sister and will do whatever she wants or need to help.
When Fern learns her sister can't have kids she hatches a plan to help which is the bulk of this thriller. As things progress with the inevitable twists all good Thrillers need its hard but to feel for Fern, the story is from her side with diary entries from Rose. The characters are great Wally is the biggest surprise but not the biggest twist that's saved for family, isn't it always?
I've given this 5 🌟 stars not just because I loved it and because Sally (the Author) has done it again smashed the ball right out of the park with this her latest masterpiece, well that had helped alot obviously. Its because as I read it nothing else seemed to matter its addictive, your probably not going to want to put it down, and that's the thing about 5 ⭐ books you'd rather miss a meal or miss 💤 😴 sleep rather than put them down. That's why this gets all 5 stars i hope you enjoy it as much as I have.