I have read a lot of thrillers over this past year and feel like ‘The Good Sister’ is one of those truly original ideas that drives you through a book and after that last page you’re still questioning what you thought you knew. Aka everything you want in a great and gripping page turner!
The plot centres on twins Rose and Fern; Fern is the naive, sweet sister who always sees the best in people and Rose is the protective, practical sister who always has to keep her sister safe. They have assumed their roles since their distressing childhood but when Rose expresses her dream of becoming a mother but is unable to do so Fern feels like it is her time to step up. But as with all good intentions Fern’s plan isn’t fully thought through and she begins to look back at their own childhood and begins to question everything she thought she knew.
This book is a little slow in the beginning just as Hepworth begins to set up the story but as soon as the plot thickens the pace is brilliant and the trickles of truth are expertly inserted in so as a reader you have to know who is telling the truth and who still has secrets to hide.
An addictive domestic drama where you never really know who is the ‘good sister’.

I enjoyed Sally Hepworth’s book The Mother-in-law, so I was extremely excited when I received an approval for her latest book ‘The Good Sister’ on NetGalley. The main characters of this story are twin sisters, Fern and Rose and the chapters go between Ferns POV in the current timeline and Rose’s childhood journal. This book captivated me and I felt myself questioning which characters to trust. The lead up to the ending in this book was exceptional and each chapter unravelled more and more twists. I enjoyed the supporting characters in this book, such as, Wally and genuinely enjoyed reading about Fern’s life. Fern loving books and working in a library also made me enjoy her as a main character. Sally Hepworth really knows how to write domestic suspense thrillers and I can guarantee that if you read this book you will be turning the pages well into the night to find out exactly what happens to Fern and Rose. Currently in Perth WA we are in a lockdown over the long weekend, so if you are bored and looking for books to read during that time, look no further than this great read.
Thank you to @HodderBooks, @sallyhepworth and @Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this amazing book. This book is available now if you want to go get yourself a copy.

Fern und Rose, die ungleichen Zwillingsschwestern. Rose hat schon immer auf Fern achtgegeben, denn sie ist nicht wie die meisten Menschen. Fern hat spezielle Eigenschaften und Bedürfnisse. Sie hatten eine nicht ganz einfache Kindheit und sind schlussendlich im Kinderschutz groß geworden, nachdem ihre Mutter durch einen Anfall einen Hirnschaden erlitten hat. Nun arbeitet Fern in einer Bibliothek und Rose hadert mit ihrer Kinderlosigkeit und ihrer Ehe zu Owen.

Die Autorin hat hier zwei sehr interessante Protagonistinnen geschaffen, man folgt ihrer Geschichte aus wechselnden Perspektiven sehr gespannt. Immer wieder fließen Erinnerungen aus der Kindheit ein und Andeutungen um das erschütternde Ereignis mit Billy. Kann man Fern nicht trauen? Neben den Kolleginnen aus der Bibliothek wird mit Wally eine weitere sehr sympathische Nebenfigur eingeführt.

Sally Hepworth spielt mehr als geschickt mit den unterschiedlichen Sichten, wie man zum überraschenden Schluss des Buches feststellen kann. Das letzte Drittel des Romans saugt einen förmlich ein, die Seiten fliegen dahin, ein düsterer Verdacht kommt auf, aber so einfach kommt man nicht zur Auflösung.

Ein sehr interessantes Setting und ein außergewöhnlicher Plot. Für mich ein herausragender Thriller!

I have that lovely feeling. You know when you find a fabulous author and devour a book in one sitting. I am awake at 5am writing this after finishing it in the early hours. Please spread the word about this book!

This is a Psychological Thriller that I have saw so much about it. The first Fern chapter I read I know that the Fern character has Autism, but the book never says that is what she has. I do not want to say to much about the book because it being a thriller I want to not give away anything. The characters are developed very well, and the storyline was great. The twisted where not super big, but they where really good. I loved everything about this book. I am so glad I decided to read this book. If you love psychological thrillers then you should give this book a chance.

This is a great read and a well detailed plot that kept me engaged from the very start.
I really liked the well thought out characters and found them to be believable. I cannot wait to read what the author brings out next.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I was unsure of how the story would pan out.
It kept taking you in different directions but at the end the twist you knew was coming was great.
I loved Wally as he was called and Fern was adorable. She was very well written and her hypersensitivity was very well described. Having a son with this myself I could see traits in him and Fern together.
The book is definitely a page turner and I would recommend it. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers and the author for the privilege to read this book for my honest opinion

Fern and Rose are as close as twin sisters can be- Rose is the responsible one and Fern is the quirky one, but they are devoted to each other and Rose has always been Fern's protector from the time they were small children.

The girls mum was a true sociopath who hid her real side from the world making out to everyone that she was the perfect mother, only Rose saw the neglect that she was causing. When they went on a family camping trip with Mum’s new boyfriend and his son Billy, Fern did something very, very bad, and Rose kept her secret and never told a soul. So when Fern discovers that her sister is struggling to conceive, she steps up, and decides to make her sister’s dream come true. Rose however wrestled with the fact that Fern grew more and more independent and became aware of secrets that Rose was keeping from her.

Well, well, well! I can’t tell you how amazing this book was!! Such a fantastic piece of writing that drew me in from the beginning – initially I loved both the girls, then my loyalty was with Rose, and then it shifted back to Fern – I was constantly changing who I loved and who I didn’t!!

We see one side of the story from Rose’s perspective through her journal and how their lives were shaped during traumatic childhood events but it is only one side of the story. Fern has sensory issues and is described as being “quirky” and as a result, Rose manages her meltdowns, or does she? When I was reading the story, I really wanted Eleanor Oliphant to walk into the library and befriend Fern – I think they would really get on!!

It was a compelling, brilliant story that had me flicking through the pages so fast, I’m sure I’ll have RSI but I just wanted to find out the truth!

This book is up there as one of my favourite reads of 2021 so far.

Sally Hepworth does it again! For me, she is the master of slow burn domestic suspense that has at its heart an incredibly human story. I was slightly confused for the first half of the book, thinking Hepworth was taking on a new genre - the book felt firmly uplit at first - but once you see where its all going, this is all the more genius for that slight bait and wtich. Fern is a glorious protagonist, one you'll root for from the very first page. As an only child, I find sibling dynamics in fiction to be fascinating, more so when those sibling are twins and Hepworth delivers here. It's a tough book to review without spoilers, but I wholeheartedly recommend - you won't be disappointed with the twists and turns this book takes!

This is another book I received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

So without further ado, let’s have a bit of a blurb:

From the outside, everyone might think Fern and Rose are as close as twin sisters can be: Rose is the responsible one and Fern is the quirky one. But the sisters are devoted to one another and Rose has always been Fern’s protector from the time they were small.

Fern needed protecting because their mother was a true sociopath who hid her true nature from the world, and only Rose could see it. Fern always saw the good in everyone. Years ago, Fern did something very, very bad. And Rose has never told a soul. When Fern decides to help her sister achieve her heart’s desire of having a baby, Rose realizes with growing horror that Fern might make choices that can only have a terrible outcome. What Rose doesn’t realize is that Fern is growing more and more aware of the secrets Rose, herself, is keeping. And that their mother might have the last word after all.

—————

The first thing that I loved about this book is that it has a dual narrative structure which in my opinion is a fantastic writer’s tool to bring the characters and story to life. The story is told by both sisters, Fern and Rose. The language used in the narratives is very clever in that the character’s voice clearly comes out and after a while you can tell which twin it is simply by the language.

Good Sister is a great story full of mystery, suspense, twists and turns. It is a beautiful, heartfelt tale of love, devotion, duty and how quickly things can turn dark. It follows the twin sister’s life with flashbacks to their life and to that one day which changed the course of many people’s lives.

This will keep you enthralled as you fall into the sister’s worlds. Fern is a wonderful character, who is loving, caring, generous and often awkward at times due to her social anxiety. She also has sensory sensitivities which has given her a more sheltered life as she is unable to go to crowded places such as restaurants and bars. However her safe place is also where she works, her local library. There she can be herself and as a complete bookworm is perfectly placed to help others find their big next read.

The whole story was a wonderful read and it will leave you on the edge of your seat until the end.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ – thrilling, heart warming and dark all at the same time. A true joy to read,would highly recommend.

The Good Sister was engrossing from start to finish, and I could not put it down! The first book I have read by this author, and I loved her humorous writing style. The plot was clever, and the main twist unexpected!. I adored Fern, and it was refreshing to read about a charter on the autism spectrum. I work with autistic young people, and like the young people I work with, this character made me smile so much! I loved how supportive Fern's colleagues at the library were, especially her boss Carmel, who could see how invaluable Fern was within her role. I won't give away any spoilers, and there is another character you will get to know who is such a kind and beautiful soul.

Thank you, Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for kindly sending me an ARC of Sally Helpworth's novel for my honest review.

I loved this book. I thought it was going to be a nice easy read and light hearted but it soon took a twist that I was very surprised at. The main character Fern was so loveable, she had me hooked from the beginning. It was lovely short chapters, no confusing characters and it all flowed so well. Reallt enjoyed it

The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth

Rose and Fern are twin sisters but they are as different as day and night. Rose is petite and fleshy with dark hair, suffers from diabetes, an outgoing person and a career woman. Fern is fair, tall and slender, has Sensory Processing disorder, and works as a librarian. She finds communicating with people exhausting and prefers books over human.

One thing they have in common is their troublesome childhood and a sociopath for a mother. All their lives, Rose has been Fern 's protector - even after she's married, she makes sure Fern is close by. When Fern found out that Rose is having difficulties to conceive, she offers to be Rose's and husband's surrogate. That's the least she can do after all that Rose have done for her all their lives, right?

Things change when Rose went to London to visit her husband and Fern met a guy she calls Wally. With their darkest childhood secret resurfaced and their mother back in both their lives, the sisters are questioning the trust they have for each other.

*  *  *

This book had me turning its electronic pages over and over and I can't put it down! The storyline is perfectly paced with good character depths & development. I am especially fond of Fern. Her literal thinking, her social awkwardness really takes you into the mind of a someone with autism. It hits a soft spot in my heart because my son was just officially diagnosed with autism. I feel that this book offers a peek into the way his mind works. And Fern - Wally relationship is just so sweet I can't even!

The Good Sister is a witty and cleverly written domestic thriller. Did I see that plot twist coming? Yes. Did that ruin the book for me? Not at all! I was wholly invested in it and am glad I came across a Sally Hepworth book. It's my first book from her and surely won't be the last.

The Good Sister is out now so go get it!

Thank you @netgalley for an eARC of The Good Sister in exchange for an honest review.

The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth was such an addictive read, I couldn’t get through it fast enough. It was well written with great characters, I absolutely adored Fern. The twists didn’t come as too much of a surprise but that didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed the story/plot and suspense. A recommended read!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

I am not quite as bowled over by this book as many reviewers seem to be, but then reading is so subjective! I would describe this more as a family drama than a thriller. The relationship between the non- identical twins Fern and Rose is complex, and trying to decide who is actually the ‘good’ sister keeps the reader guessing.
I am uncomfortable with authors giving their characters mental health issues to describe odd, or even deviant behaviour, as a vehicle to move their story along. There are rather too many of those books around at present. That would inevitably colour my judgement of any book, as it does this one.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this title.

Absolutely loved this book!!

The story is told from 2 different points of view, fraternal twins Rose and Fern. Both sisters have had a difficult childhood and we follow them as adults.

I don't want to give too much away, but this thriller is perfect. I loved the diary entries from Rose and Fern just seems so vulnerable.

Thank you Netgalley for an early ARC of this book!

I’ve only read one of Australian author Sally Hepworth’s previous novels, The Family Next Door, and I’d sort of pigeon holed her as a domestic thriller writer in the same vein as Lianne Moriarty, Adele Parks etc. That’s what I was expecting judging by the title and UK cover of her latest book, The Good Sister, but it was actually a very different, quirky and uplifting read (which just goes to show ….).

Fern Castle is an early-30 something librarian who also happens to be a high-functioning person on the Autism spectrum. She values routine, has trouble interpreting non-verbal signals and dealing with over-powering noises, smells and images. Fern has a non-identical twin sister, Rose, and as their parents are no longer in the picture Rose has taken it upon herself to act as Fern’s protector, making sure that she is able to function in this confusing, fast paced and often cruel world. This seems ideal at first, but it becomes increasingly obvious that Rose’s idea of caring for Fern is rather controlling, self-serving and manipulative and the book takes some very dark turns when Fern offers to have a surrogate child for Rose and her husband.

Fern is a very engaging and sympathetic character who is aware that she is a bit different to what society defines as ‘normal’ but is happy to march to the beat of her own drum. She narrates the story, alternating with extracts from a journal which Rose has been encouraged to keep by her therapist. What starts off as a relatively light-hearted and quirky story along the lines of Eleanor Oliphant, soon becomes quite a dark tale of manipulation and exploitation which I found very interesting and compelling.

"One thing I've learned about facing fears is that sometimes, it's just too scary"

This book was a promising read! The blurb intriguid me so much. And when I started reading, I didn't want to stop, and thus, finished it in one day! The way the story progresses is amazing, and I loved the diary entry idea, when though the concept is not unfamiliar❤️

This book is a thriller that does not require the reader to ponder over much as to what the ending could be. The answer is there, just before our eyes. The book is told from two POVs - Fern in present time and Rose's Diary, which explains her past. For Fern, who is a person with, I'm guessing, Asperger's syndrome, it takes a while to understand what's going on and break free out of the web of lies she was living in all these years. That is how the book keeps building to the ending even though the ending is quite evident (or maybe that's just me because I read thrillers all the time?🤭)

Overall, it was a good read!

This is not your usual psychological thriller. It was masterfully done with Sally doing the big reveal early on. From there the book just continued to build the feeling of dread giving an idea of what Fern must be living with.

From the outside Fern and Rose are as close as twin sisters can be: Rose is the responsible one, with a home and a husband and a desire to become a mother. Fern is the quirky one, the free spirit, the librarian who avoids social interaction and whom the world might just describe as truly odd. But the sisters are devoted to one another and Rose has always been Fern’s protector from the time they were small.

Fern needed protecting because their mother was a true sociopath who hid her true nature from the world, and only Rose could see it. Then years on Fern did something very very bad which Rose has not told a soul about.

Now we see Fern take on her plan to become pregnant in order to pay Rose back for all she has done for her. Although Fern’s POV is innocent we see the danger she is in as not all is what it seems.

A masterful telling of manipulation and sibling rivalry.

A delightful funny, even sad story about twin sisters, Rose and Fern. Brought up by their single mother, they are homeless, spending their days in the library and sleeping on friends' sofas at night, eventually ending up in foster care.
The two girls, who are completely different, are extremely close and always look out for one another. But who exactly is looking after who?
I could never have predicted the turn the story took. I was completely hooked and thoroughly enoyed it. I look forward to reading more from Sally Hepworth.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for my ARC.