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.

Rose and Fern are fraternal twins and they couldn't be more different. Fern is tall and slender, whereas Rosie is short and 'round'. That's what their mother calls her.

The story is told from two POV. Rosie's point of view is from her diary entries as past and Fern's is as present. Since childhood, Rosie has always taken care of Fern as she's very sensitive to light, sound and touch. Rose has also protected Fern from their mother's physical and mental abuse.

Now as adults, Fern is happily single and a librarian. Rose is struggling with her marriage and wants a baby to save her marriage. Fern comes up with a plan to help her sister's marriage and puts the plan into motion. But it doesn't go according to plan. There's so much to talk about this story but I do not want to give anything away.

One of the thing I really loved about the book is the character Fern. Her emotions and feelings are described so beautifully and there were places I found myself feeling emotional. Also enjoyed how the relationship between the sisters was explored. The good and the bad.

This is the first book I've read by this author and definitely will be reading more of her books.

This is a fast paced, domestic suspense with a mix of romance. I could not put it down.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Formatted so is difficult to read with two chapters intermingled into one,one red type and one black so unable to read it,apologies

Rose and Fern are fraternal twins, they're different in every way possible. Since they were small Rose has always been Fern's protector, years ago Fern did something terrible and Rose has always kept her secret. As adults Rose is sensible and responsible, she's Fern's rock and emergency contact as Fern often finds the world overwhelming with sensory difficulties and misunderstanding social norms. When Fern learns that her sister can't have a baby she decides she'll become Rose's surrogate to repay her for everything she's done. Things aren't as simple as Fern foresees them to be though...

"Sisterly relationships are so strange in this way. The way I can be mad at her but still want to please her. Be terrified of her but also want to run to her. Hate her and love her at the same time. Maybe when it comes to sisters, boundaries are always a little blurry. Blurred boundaries, I think. are what sisters do best,"

I cannot begin to put into words how much I enjoyed this book. This isn't just a psychological, domestic thriller its a heart warming book featuring what has to be one of my favourite characters of all time, I absolutely adore Fern. Sally Hepworth has done a magical thing in creating a novel that both had my stomach tied in knots and heart warmed whilst on the same page. It's fast paced with twists and turns and fully developed characters that I cared about and didn't want to put down. This was my first Hepworth read and I will definitely be reading all of her books now. I can't recommend this book more.

Thank you so much Hodder & Stoughton for my copy. It's available in the UK from 15/04/21.

Wow, just wow! A five star thriller based upon Fern, who is now undoubtedly one of my favourite characters of recent times.

Fern and Rose are twins, who we learn had a difficult childhood with a borderline psychopathic mother, and they share in a terrible secret. Fern is a neurodiverse character, as she has autism, and she relies on Rose a lot. Rose is having marriage and fertility problems, so Fern wants to repay Rose by being her surrogate. The book is told from the perspectives of both twins, interchangeably.

What ensues is completely gripping, shocking, edge-of-your-seat reading, and I defy anyone not to be rooting for Fern!

An amazing book, my first by Sally Hepworth, but certainly not my last. Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.

I loved this engrossing story of twin sisters with a slightly different take on their upbringing. Well written and thought provoking I was impressed with how sensory issues were portrayed and explained.

What a great book! I thoroughly enjoyed this from start to finish.
Seen through the eyes of Fern and the journal of Rose, the relationship between the twin sisters is revealed to the reader. I don't want to say too much about the storyline and give anything away as the way it progresses is subtle and clever and a pleasure to read.
The characterisation of Fern is such that you can't fail to like her and it shows a real understanding of her issues. I worked for many years with children with sensory processing difficulties and it was interesting seeing this from the other side as it were.
This book ticked all the boxes for me including empathetic characters and a storyline that kept you reading. I've not read any books by this author, indeed I don't know if there are any others, but based on this book I'm going to read any available.
I don't give many 5 star ratings, 4 is a good read for me, I save 5 for a really great read and this was certainly that. Highly recommended.

A very unique read. Well portrayed characters and an intriguing storyline. Which sister is the good sister?

What a fun and entertaining page-turner! I was hooked from the beginning and the short chapters made this a breezy read. I love the dual perspectives that alternated between Rose's diary entries and Fern's narration; it was soon clear that someone was an unreliable narrator but who? Or even possibly both?

Most of the book was quite predictable after awhile but it was still a compelling read that I didn't want to put down. I also loved Wally and the side characters like the library staff more than I'd expected!

All in all, I really enjoyed this (even more than The Mother-In-Law) so I'm thrilled that I got to read an ARC. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher!

Favourite quote: "Sisterly relationships are so strange in this way. The way I can be mad at Rose but still want to please her. Be terrified of her and also want to run to her. Hate her and love her, both at the same time. Maybe when it comes to sisters, boundaries are always a little bit blurry. Blurred boundaries, I think, are what sisters do best."

I had heard good things about both this author and this book so was looking forward to reading it. I wasn't sure at first if I liked it or not but once I was further into the book I really enjoyed it. I found I liked the characters and it had some good twists that I didn't see coming.
Based on this book I will definitely be reading more by Sally Hepworth in the future.

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

This is a wonderful book. I am a twin and found it very interesting, the story was good and I had no idea of what the outcome would be . It is well written and the characters are believable. It’s an easy read and i would recommend it.

Thank you Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this ARC.
This is my first read by Sally Hepworth and I absolutely loved it, I will definitely be buying more of her work.
This story covers twin sisters Fern & Rose and switches between Ferns narrative and Rose’s journal entries. There are definite Eleanor Oliphant vibes to the story and I feel the author covered mental health in a really sensitive and relatable way. She shows how vulnerable people with mental health can be and how they can be taken advantage of by the ones that you would least expect.
I read this book in a day, I just couldn’t put it down! It’s compelling, with some great characters and great twists. Definitely recommend it!

This book turned out to be a real page turner. At first I found it a bit slow but after awhile I got into it a I flew through it. I really enjoyed it. It was my first book by Sally Hepworth so I’m pleased I enjoyed it in the end. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Fern and Rose are twins they don‘t look alike and certainly have different personalities, one is quirky and the other more considered. They live together with their mother and her on-off boyfriends.
Both of them have varying opinions on occurrences and they are keeping a horrible secret. Which version can we trust?
In adulthood it turns out that Rose is not able to get pregnant. So her sister decides that she will find herself a man, surprise her with her pregnancy and give the baby to her. But soon Fern starts to feel love towards the baby and is not so sure anymore, if she give her one and only to her sister. Furthermore the past is catching up with them and nothing is like it seems.

Sally Hepworth is getting better and better with each book 📚. This was such a high tension, enthralling, claustrophobic, leaving you breathless and speechless kind of read. I loved it and couldn’t put it away. I had to devour it in one unrelenting, nerve-stretching sitting. Fern and Wally are what you call relationship goals, they are so meticulously cute together. I wish I could read more about them.

„The Good Sister“ is the type of book, you wish never ended and will stay in your heart forever ♾. If you like thrillers from Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen your place to go is Sally Hepworth.

Thank you NetGalley / Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with this exceptionally good arc in exchange for my honest review.

An engrossing and suspenseful drama about secrets, lies and the complicated bond between sisters

This is a story about twin sisters and their bond,
This is a story about childhood trauma,
This is a story about what it's like to be on the Autistic spectrum, with Sensory Processing Disorder,
This is a story about boundaries,
This is a story which asks what makes a good sister?

It's been a long time since I devoured this book in a day, and stayed up very late to finish it, but The Good Sister was such an entertaining page turner, that I just couldn't help myself! This book had got a lot of hype from my GR friends, so I am so happy that it lived up to, and exceeded my expectations!

So how can a book be a twisty drama, which filled me with a sense of foreboding and unease also be so heart-warming and wonderful? I'm not sure how Sally Hepworth managed to achieve this, but she did! I was addicted to this nail-biting story, and felt deeply worried about the vulnerability of one of the characters, and the danger that they possibly faced, and yet smiled at the humour, the romance and the lovely characters!

The Good Sister was so well written, it just flowed incredibly well, weaving together so many issues in a remarkable and sensitive way. I enjoyed the contrast of the chapters, written from one sister Rose's POV in the form of her diary, with some flashbacks to their childhood, and from her twin sister's POV as the narrator. It was emotional reading about these characters, and trust me, the characters definitely make this book!

Rose, the sensible, protective, responsible sister, who takes care of her twin, supports her and is her person.
Fern, the innocent, quirky sister, with a heart of gold, who has to have a routine, misunderstands social norms, and has several sensory difficulties.
These characters had me caring about them, invested in them, rooting for them! The character growth was amazing throughout the story, and I relished in it! The dynamics between the sisters as they grew up, and as their lives evolved was so fascinating.

I adored the library setting, where Fern worked, and the secondary characters whom I met there.

Did I have an inkling where this book was going? YES! It did have a little predictability that seasoned thriller readers will figure out. Did this affect my enjoyment? HELL NO! I delighted in every step of the journey!

I'm not going to say too much about the plot because it was wonderful discovering it myself! And my review cannot do this lovely, yet dark book justice, but if you're looking for a quick and engaging suspense, which also has family drama, unreliable narrators, romance and some amazingly fleshed out characters, then give this one a go!

Twin sisters Fern and Rose are very close and live their lives relying on the other after a very difficult childhood. However, when they were young Fern did something very bad, and has been paying for it ever since. Things all change when she meets eccentric Rocco, life changes for Fern and therefore for Rose as well. This is a really intriguing book with fascinating characters, particularly the central character of Fern. Very original and a gripping read.

📚 The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth. Publication Date 15th April 2021 📚

Rose & Fern are twin sisters. They have always had a close relationship, especially as their mum didn’t give them the life they deserved and could often be cruel. Once they are grown up, they are still close. Rose had discovered she can’t have a child with her husband and Rose offers to have a child for her.... this leads to Rose meeting Wally and things don’t go to plan! I loved the character Fern ..... I willed for her to do well in this book ❤️!!

I was out my comfort zone with this book as I’m usually a thriller/crime reader BUT I honestly loved this book. Thanks for allowing me to read an ARC.

#netgalley #thegoodsister #hodder #sallyhepworth

https://www.instagram.com/Bookstagramshaz

Fern needs to have a quiet life. She has sensory perception disorder and her job in the local library suits her perfectly. Her twin sister Rose is always on hand so what more does she need?
Rose appears to live a perfect life except for one thing, she can’t have the baby she desperately desires. Fern sees a way to pay her sister back for all her support.

Salt Hepworth has created a wonderful central character in Fern. Her ability to deal with situations outside her tightly controlled world are cleverly written and you become heavily invested in Fern’s life as she meets a man who has just as many issues with dealing the world as her. At its heart this is an intelligent lovely story, but also something much darker as the twins’ childhood is revealed and you begin to question whether Rose is everything that Fern believes she is.
This is a fabulous book by a very accomplished author, I raced though it and stayed up very late to finish it. Highly recommended.
Thank you to #netgalleyand #HodderBooks for allowing me to review this ARC