This was an absolutely entertaining, domestic thriller/drama. It was not intense but was suspenseful enough to keep me engaged. I finished it in two sittings! And that had more to do with the characters than the suspense. I do not want to give away any spoilers but one of the characters was adorable. I loved her and was rooting for her throughout! Although, there is a chance that the blurb might give it away!

The plot was well-written. Even though the story was a bit predictable, I was impressed with the twists and turns. Everything played out really well. I also enjoyed the humour and romance in this book! It was the perfect light thriller that I needed!

Thank you Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for the copy.

Engaging and suspenseful, The Good Sister is a slow-burning mystery thriller packed with twists and turns.

The main characters are twins Rose and Fern - two sisters who share an extraordinarily close bond. All of their lives, the twins have been there for one another through thick and thin. In good times and bad, Rose and Fern have always been each other's 'person' and on the surface, they have an idyllic sibling relationship. However, it soon becomes apparent that things are not as good as they seem, and plenty of murky water lies beneath the surface.

Each sister has her own unique way of looking at the world. As the book is told from both their perspectives, in turn, this adds an extra layer to the narrative. Rose is focused and determined yet often finds herself stuck in the past, reliving events from her childhood. She is bitter about her lot in life, yet remains overly protective of her sister, intervening whenever she can. By contrast, Fern seems to see the best in both life and people. She is positive and upbeat, looking ahead to the future while simultaneously making the most of her treasured routines and the small pleasures in life.

This is a slow-paced story and it takes a while for the thriller elements of the plot to kick in. This makes The Good Sister unique and individual - just like its characters.

I found this book to be a quick read; it was utterly absorbing and I enjoyed reading about Fern and Rose. It's very well written - while there are supporting characters, the vast majority of the story focuses solely on the twins. However, this heavy focus really works well with the narrative and helps to draw the reader into their lives.

The Good Sister is a captivating story bound to leave you wanting more!

The Good Sister is the new novel of breathtaking suspense about the secrets and lies that bond two sisters. From the outside, everyone might think Fern and Rose are as close as twin sisters can be: Rose is the responsible one with a home, a husband and a fierce desire to become a mother, whereas Fern is the quirky one; an introverted bibliophile who works amongst the piles of books in the local library and avoids anxiety-inducing social interaction as much as possible. 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. This is an enthralling, addictive and intense domestic drama which, at its heart, is a dismantling of the relationship between two sisters who whilst are chalk and cheese in terms of personality, were always there for each other no matter what. Just as family should be. But when long-held secrets, problematic behaviours and bad decisions rise to the forefront of the narrative the superbly crafted mystery and slow unravelling of their lives make this such an alluring read. Utterly compelling, unpredictable, and absorbing, The Good Sister is about the ties that bind...and the darkness that lives where you least expect it. It's a stark reminder that we don't always know those we are incredibly close to or the actions they would take in certain situations. Highly recommended.

An entertaining psychological thriller based around the relationship between twin sisters.

Rose and Fern are twins but they couldn’t be more different. Fern struggles with social situations and has sensory issues and tries to avoid loud noises, bright lights and strong smells. Rose is married and was always the more outgoing one and has spent most of her life being protective over Fern. They are devoted to each other.

Through the book via Rose’s journal we learn of their mother, who was very cruel and manipulative to Rose but seemed to be the complete opposite to Fern. We also learn of an incident in the past where Fern did something truly horrific and Rose helped to protect her. But will the truth finally be revealed ? And is the twins relationship quite as it seems ?

This is a gripping psychological thriller that will have you engrossed in Rose and Ferns little world. The more you get to know Fern the more you will absolutely love her. If you’re looking for a suspense that keeps you hooked throughout then you should definitely give this one a read !!

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

I loved the story, just loved it. Maybe it’s because I can relate to Fern. It felt real, every sensory overload and the questioning of everything before making a decision. Then this creeping up on you feeling of dread and panic and the question becoming: WHO is the good sister - Fern or perfect Rose. Highly recommended!

Suffused with a niggling sense of foreboding, The Good Sister curls itself around you like a sea harr, teasing and caressing, then gripping you in its fist like a vise; its story and characters so compelling that everything else around you diminishes into insignificance.

Fern and Rose are 28 year-old fraternal twins. They’re close, unnaturally so. And they share a grim secret from their childhood that makes Fern indebted to her sister. So when Fern discovers that Rose can’t have the baby she longs for, she decides to have one for her. All she needs is a man.

The seductive power of this story lies in the characters of Rose and Fern, who are revealed, facet by fascinating facet, through their alternating voices. Fern as she goes about her job at the library, fighting to keep a grip on her autism, while exchanging bants (and more) with IT guru and camper van dweller Wally aka Rocco. Rose as she scribbles angry reminiscences in her journal about their shared childhood and controlling, unpredictable mother.

As the story — and the twins’ relationship — unfolds, it becomes increasingly clear that something is a bit off kilter. That there are inconsistencies, hidden jealousies, and untruths. And that things are slowly spiraling out of control. And you start to wonder, who is the eponymous good sister? Is it Rose or Fern? And if there’s a good sister, does that mean the other one is bad?

I found this book utterly addictive. I loved all the characters (good and bad), the pressure cooker atmosphere and the skillfully constructed plot. And I loved Hepworth’s understanding of the sister dynamic:

“People without sisters think it’s all sunshine and lollipops or all blood and guts. But actually it’s always both […] The bad is as essential to the relationship as the good.”

How true. How very true.

A first-rate psychological thriller.

Full of humour, Absolutely loved this book a fantastic story well written and Asperger's very well portrayed.

Fern and Rose are twins with Fern having Asperger's and Rose being the one that holds the two together after they had a difficult childhood and the protector to Fern.
After Rose admits she can`t have children Fern volunteers to have a baby for her, she had looked it up and it seems easy to do though a bit untasteful.

But everything is not as it seems and Fern starts to question Rose`s protectiveness or is she controlling and manipulative.

The best book I have read in ages, just loved Fern would love a follow up book to find out how she went on, just can`t get enough.

Thanks to Netgalley and St Martins Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review

Twins, one on the spectrum and one with diabetes. One looks after the other but which one is doesn't have the others best interests at heart?
Ok so this one was my kind of thing. Interested to know someone else's view on the autistic spectrum, interested to see someone else's interpretation of a twin relationship and a whole lot of family intricacies and drama thrown in.
I don't want to give too much away because it's a bit of a mind bender but the different writing techniques, the journalling and first person leave you questioning all the way through. The two different perspectives overlap and lead you down different paths until the very end. Then you're totally sucked in and hoping for the best outcome.
It's was laugh out loud funny in parts and then flipped to creepy and suspenseful.
The perspective of a high functioning adult on the spectrum was good, although a little too much I parts, I felt it was as close to real as anything I have ever read and aswell as being a fab read, would give a good insight into the day to day life of someone on the spectrum.
Having twins myself the close relationship really does mirror the real thing, the little secret signals, the talking without talking, really made this book come to life.
A really suspenseful page turner. Thankyou to Netgalley and Sally Hepworth for the copy.

The Good Sister - Sally Hepworth

Such a gripping read, a real page turner. The author has done an exceptional job at describing her characters and their personalities, I felt invested in their stories and was gagging to know the outcome. Loved the ending - it was totally unexpected for me (and I love that!!) Fern's personality had so much going for it, (again which I was so not expecting) I feel it's impossible for me to discuss the sister's relationship without giving away any spoilers, so all I'm going to say is....this really is a must read.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for accepting me to read and review this book.

Boom! Straight into my number one read of the year so far! Oh wow, I want to shout about this book, because it is terrific! The story follows twins that are nothing like each other, either in looks or character. Fern is tall and slender and works in the library, but she comes with problems, because she has trouble with sensory perception, unable to read people, and what they feel and has she has difficulty with noise. Rose, on the other hand, is short and dark and has been diagnosed with diabetes. She is organised and knows where her life is going. Rose always looks out for Fern.

From the first page where I met the twins, I was invested in their story, and there was no way that I was putting this book down for anything. I loved quirky Fern and how the people that worked with her accepted her for who she was. Every minute was a challenge, but her sister Rose had always been at her side, keeping her safe. Now Fern could pay her back, and she hatched a plan.

Oh boy, I thought this book couldn’t get better, but I was so wrong, this was a gem, a rough diamond that was truly priceless. New characters come into the story that just made my heart flip. While at the other end of the scale the story kept dropping back into the past. I cried ugly tears and loved every moment. Oops, there I go again while I am writing this!

I want to say soooooo much about the story, but I can’t, I just won’t. I laughed so much too, as the author caught every moment with perfection, and ensured that I cared about these people, and I did. It will be one of my come back to books, time and time again, no matter that I know the end and the future of these fabulous characters. I know that it will still knock me sideways time and time again. Highly, and completely, recommended. You won’t regret it!

I wish to thank the publisher and Net Galley for an e-copy of this book which I truly loved!

What a brilliant book. It had me completely hooked from the start. Would definitely recommend if you enjoy the suspense genre. I’ve not read any books by this author but will definitely seek some out.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review #TheGoodSister

The Good Sister 5
What a brilliant book! Twins, Rose and Fern, are the two characters from whose viewpoint the book is written. Rose writes in a series of diary entries, which tell us about their unstable mother and deprived childhood, and the Fern chapters describe how she copes with day to day life, coping with sensory overload, presumably from having Asperger’s although this is never said but hinted at, and working in a library. Rose is the only one who understands Fern, coming to her aid whenever she has a meltdown or can’t cope. A secret from the past binds them together, but we know about this early on. When Fern discovers Rose is struggling to get pregnant, she forms a plan to come to her sister’s aid by getting pregnant by any man and giving the baby to her sister..
I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book, due to the style of writing from Fern’s view, but I suddenly found I couldn’t put it down! Fern’s character develops as she starts to trust more people and to realise that she has more going for her than she had ever realised. The last few chapters had me covering each line to stop myself from reading too quickly. I can’t say too much without giving away major plot lines, so will just say that this is a must-read.

Another excellent novel from an author who always delivers!

Fern Castle enjoys her job at the library and has dinner with her sister three times a week. She doesn't deal well with the unexpected and likes routine, staying away from crowds, excessive noise and bright lights. Her sister Rose has always looked out for her and when Rose can't get pregnant, Fern thinks that having a baby for her sister will be a way of thanking her for all she has done. Will stepping out of her structured life be straightforward for Fern?

This isn't my first Sally Hepworth book; every time she grabs my attention and sucks me into the story and then surprises me - and this time is no different. I really liked Fern and admired the close relationship she had with her sister and how well she coped with her life. The characters are well-developed individuals who very quickly got under my skin and the whole story is very cleverly constructed and beautifully written. I really didn't see what was coming - the author had me hook, line and sinker. A captivating tale, written with the author's trademark easy style and sleight of hand which focuses the reader's attention exactly where she wants it to be. An excellent read which I'm happy to recommend and give 4.5*.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

The only other book I have read by Sally Hepworth is The Mother-in-Law and I rated that as a five star read.
The Good Sister is explosive! A dynamite of sisterly dynamics, which packs a terrific punch or two, culminating in an earth shattering blast.
Fraternal twins Rose and Fern have had an incredibly difficult childhood, so traumatic that at times I could barely tolerate the thought of what might come next. Told distinctively in two voices, the tall, socially awkward Fern, and Rosie Round, the twin Fern leans on, are dissimilar in looks as well as their memories and perspectives.
Sally Hepworth deftly creates a dual narrative that leads you further into the minds of two very different women, one married, capable, an interior designer and always on hand to rescue Fern, the other sister who loves working in the library but who takes everything literally and avoids all photocopiers, printers and eye contact.
I adored Fern the minute I met her. Her quirky outlook in life and interactions with others are funny but perfect and it is easy to warm to her honesty and lack of social guile. She just doesn't believe in her qualities. Confusion tends to follow Fern but in many ways it is the readers' judgements which cause the most confusion and make you realise just how quickly we can believe what we are told, without ever questioning the motives behind the behaviour.
I also loved Wally and his van and I grew to love library colleagues Carmel and her cart, and Gayle, as they too shifted their opinions to realise that gifts come in many shapes and sizes and the best ones tend to be the more unpredictable ones, just like Fern.
The novel is first one thing and then another, twitching, flipping and wriggling away to keep the reader interested, motivated and highly invested in what will happen next. It is everything I expected and more so because it is a psychological thriller which doesn't just keep you guessing but makes you question your own assumptions.
Which of the sisters is good? Is Mum, Nina Castle good or bad? Is it good to look after someone more vulnerable than yourself as Rose does with Fern, or does that hold the other person back? Who is the most vulnerable? Someone who is not neurotypical or a neurotypical individual damaged emotionally? Can we be good and bad? What is memory? Is it an absolute or a shifting, changing commodity influenced by its owner? Can we create and distort memories? Can we invent them, bury them, ignore them? These are just some of the questions that glide between the storyline to guide the reader onward, joining reality with fiction, to form an opinion and make this so much more than a highly entertaining read.
Whilst we might feel uncertain about the relationship between Rose and Fern, the girls and their mother, one thing is certain to me. Sally Hepworth is a talented author and I MUST read more of her books!
Thanks as always to Netgalley and everyone involved in making this book available to read and review before publication.

I really enjoyed this book as it was very different to any I have read .The two main characters twins Rose and Fern fascinated me.

Fern works in the local library, she avoids crowds, loud noises and anything which is outside her normal routine. She’s is very close to Rose who is the responsible one, and has always on hand to sort out her life. .

When Rose discovers she can’t become pregnant, Fern decides that this is her chance to repay her twin for everything she has done for her. All she has to do is find a father and it will be as simple as that. What Fern does not realise is that her plan will uncover hidden feelings and secrets which will shake her life and her beliefs to the core.

I loved how the author portrayed Ferns character. I work with a teenage girl (who is also a twin ) and is so like Fern , I could relate with lots of the story. Her very literal understanding of the world as well as her hidden humour is something I encounter on a daily basis.

I was cheering Fern on throughout the story. Hoping she would find her happy ending. Realising that being different is perfectly fine.

This book has twists and turns which I didn’t see coming. The diverse topics covered were done a fantastic true to life way. I would definitely recommend it.

Another great story from Sally Hepworth full of sibling drama and suspense. A very engaging read with a good pace and a plot that is very well threaded together.

All of the characters are interesting and well developed by the author, but I must single out Fern as being the overriding favourite for me. Sally Hepworth has portrayed Fern’s sensory processing issues in such a wonderful and entertaining way. Some of the things Fern says are incredibly ‘witty’ that I found myself smiling often whilst reading and almost laughing aloud.

The Good Sister is the second Sally Hepworth novel I have read and I highly recommend it.

Thank you to the publisher, Hodder & Stoughton for an advance digital copy of this book via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sally Hepworth and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC of The Good Sister (released 15/4/21)

“Maybe when it comes to sisters, boundaries are always a little blurry. Blurred boundaries, I think are what sisters do best,"

I absolutely loved this book. The perfect blend of thriller and family drama with empathetic characters who draw you in from the outset. Fern has quickly become one of my favourites!

Fern and Rose are fraternal twin sisters and thick as thieves, having grown up with a seemingly unloving mother and her abusive partner. Fern has sensory processing issues and is on the autism spectrum and as such, Rose has always been her protector – whether it’s from shielding her from loud noises, busy places or simply helping her navigate through her very literal understanding of the world. Rose has even protected her from her past – never telling a soul what happened that fateful day when they were 12 when Fern killed Billy. She held him down under the water until he stopped breathing. It’s their little secret.

The Good Sister is told through two perspectives, Rose – via her therapist journal describing the past and Fern, very much describing the present. I instantly felt sympathy for Rose. Due to her sister’s condition her Mother always seemed to love Fern more, Rose always had to cover for her and always got the blame. She was sexually abused by her mother’s boyfriend and even now as a grown up she can’t get the only thing her heart desires – a child of her own.

Fern decides she owes it to her sister to give her the child that she craves so badly. After all how hard can it be? She’s had sex before and it wasn’t so bad. Now she has to just find a willing participant.

What follows is a truly captivating story. I fell in love with Fern and her innocence, her literal understandings and love of routine. I found myself smiling at the thought of her and Wally (Rocco), and her finding ‘her person’.

This book starts of slow, drawing you in, gaining your investment into the characters and then really ramps up in the second half, to the darker, more thrilling and dramatic elements at the end. The ending was full of twists and dramatic reveals with a truly climatic ending.

Sally has written an intelligent and sympathetic coverage of learning disabilities and some hard hitting topics in a way that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page.

5 stars from me.

I was up until the early hours reading this as I couldn't put it down. What an incredible story. It was a little slow to get going but that was okay as I loved Fern and her innocent and delightful view of the world. I laughed out loud at a few things Fern said and did. It took a turn for the dark and twisty though and then the story unfolded and twisted again at the end. A fantastic read.

The Good Sister - Sally Hepworth

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley.

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.

I was captivated by the book from the start, I read this in one sitting. Throughout this book, you get to follow both sides of the story. Rose’s point of view is told via a diary she is advised to keep by her psychiatrist. Fern’s parts follow her day to day life working in a library.

Each of the characters is written fantastically, with unexpected twists in both stories. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys drama and mystery.

Rating 4/5

Rose and Fern. Fraternal twins whose lives are bonded so closely together you don’t know where one begins and the other ends. As a non identical twin myself I was drawn to this novel like a moth to a flame, fascinated by the uniqueness of the dynamic that exists between two people born only minutes apart. As the older twin, my sister, like Rose, was my protector, mothering me whilst I was quite content to remain in her shadow and it’s a role that once adopted is hard to shake off. Dominance can be part and parcel of being a twin with one leading the way through childhood, laying down and enforcing the rules of play with the other one following, desperate to maintain harmony. Basically you quickly realise to go along with whatever your dominant twin suggests, because that to you is normal and Rose and Fern are no different. Being a twin creates complicated feelings of love and loyalty that outsiders can’t comprehend but as I immersed myself in Rose and Fern’s story I totally understood why Fern would feel obligated to her sister in her hour of need. In the telling of their story, Sally Hepworth has excelled at recognising this strange phenomenon together with the extraordinary way in which memories, perspectives of situations and even those closest to you can differ so wildly. She has created a compelling piece of fiction with beguiling, bewitching characters, that I found impossible to put down. Having never read a book by this author until now, I was impressed by her perception of this special form of sibling relationship, weaving it into a narrative that is full of surprises. Experiencing sorrow, hatred and anger alongside laughter, shock, disbelief and joy The Good Sister is a brilliant, well written novel that deserves to find its way onto your bookshelves.

Rose recounts her version of their childhood and current life via her diary whilst Fern, offers up her own distinctive perspective of then and now. Married to Owen and desperate to become pregnant Rose gains your sympathy and your attention with tales from the past denoted by its unhappiness. Living with a seemingly unmaternal mother, it’s distressing to read of a childhood that’s far from idyllic, filling me with a rage that was difficult to quell. As witnesses to a tragic event whilst they are still quite young and impressionable, the twins are bound together in adulthood in an intensely close relationship that others may find stifling and suffocating, a relationship that is further complicated by the fact Fern isn’t neurotypical. Lying somewhere on the autistic spectrum, hating loud noises, bright lights, smells and craving routine,the fairly inflexible Fern has become Rose’s shadow with Rose naturally assuming the role of protector. Protecting them both from a mother who is terrifying one minute and indifferent the next is the only way to survive, the pair battling with her mood swings and unpredictability, raised to live a rather haphazard lifestyle, constantly on the move and sofa surfing for a large part of their younger years. The only place that has ever really felt like home, particularly for Fern is the public library where she now works as a librarian and whilst the majority of people fail to understand her odd behaviour, Fern lives a relatively ordinary life, albeit heavily dependent upon her sister whom she trusts implicitly. I loved the focus on this place where Fern feels safe and happy, yet it is her literal take on the world and those around her that makes her such an endearing character. You cannot fault her logic which whilst outside the bounds of ‘normal’ thinking is refreshing, funny delightful and so entertaining!(just don’t mention the photocopiers!) She’s a character you will love with all your heart, especially when her world expands to include Wally (Rocco Ryan) who opens Fern’s eyes to possibilities of a more independent life, challenging her view of her differences which don’t necessarily need to hold her back. Both characters add sunshine and a breath of fresh air to a narrative that celebrates uniqueness and over the course of events it’s wonderful to witness Fern finding acceptance amongst her colleagues, realising how loved and valued she truly is,warts and all. This heavy emphasis on two equally adorable characters lulls you into a false sense of security but wait because just around the corner lurks a dark and menacing cloud. A storm is brewing in which ugly truths, formerly buried in the past are about to be artfully revealed, shifting the focus from one sister to the other.

I cannot fault the author for misleading her readers with a storyline that loses its warmth and innocence part way through, morphing into something else entirely. This is a clever piece of manipulation, forcing you to question the reliability of everything you’ve just read yet increasing your levels of engagement for reasons you don’t anticipate. Brilliantly executed, with characters that are beautifully and carefully crafted, Sally Hepworth had me eating out of the palm of her hand. I didn’t want to reach the end but my fingers, itching to turn the pages, had other ideas! Highly recommend and as always my thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.