I read the Mother in Law by Sally Hepworth and really enjoyed it. The Good Sister is a suspense novel, but it manages to keep the reader entertained and surprised without being over the top and fast paced. This really is a book about two sisters and their relationship.
Twin sisters Fern and Rose have always been close. It was Rose who protected Fern from their sociopathic mother. Since Fern has always been different, it was Rose who looked out for her. So when Fern finds out that Rose wants a baby, Fern decides to get pregnant and give the baby to Rose. However, it isn't long before the sister's secrets start to unravel.

I received a free digital ARC (Advanced Reading Copy) of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This was a great book with a great plot and many twists I was not expecting.

The story is told from the point of view of both Fern's current life and Rose's journal entries. We get a lot of background information about the sisters, including a narration of their unstable childhood. Rose explains that her sister's neurodiverse disorders have muddled her memories of their mom and acknowledges that noticing the toxic environment they grew up in caused her to bear the brunt of the abuse. Fern, on the other hand, sees her childhood as a carefree experience and holds no grudges against her mom. Their different perspectives explain how their lives and personalities turned out to be polar opposites.

The plot moves fast. The three events developing are Fern's choice to get pregnant to give her sister the baby, her developing relationship with Rocco, and the recollection of Fern and Rose's childhood memories. We get alternate chapters with Rose's diary entries that mostly focus on her memories of events during their childhood, including their friend Billy's drowning and their mom's overdose that almost killed her. From Fern's point of view, we learn her current routines and how her processing disorders have affected her life. We also see, through Fern's perspective, her love story with Rocco developing.


It is not explicitly said, but we can infer that Fern is on the autism spectrum, which explains some of her quirky personality traits such as her need to keep the same routines every week and her sensory processing issues. Rose explains Fern's disorders as a form of protection developed to overlook the abuse they suffered. Fern is happy and upbeat. She's a loyal and trusting person who is direct and has no filter, so she expects people to be the same. Overall, Fern is a well-rounded character who provides an excellent balance in a book with some unexpected and dark turns. The other main character, Rose, is somewhat of a pessimist with serious trust issues that have caused an issue in her marriage. She is skeptical of people's intentions, so when Rocco (or Wally) becomes a frequent presence in her sister's life, she's immediately suspicious.

The secondary characters are as well developed as the main ones, which I truly enjoyed. Not many writers get to tell a full story from different points of view while also creating well-rounded and developed secondary characters and storylines, so props to Sally Hepworth for creating such a unique domestic thriller.


The plot moves fast, which I greatly appreciated because I just couldn't put the book down. I was taken by surprise as the main plot twist is revealed although Hepworth did lay out the events in a way that, not only makes sense but fully explains the plot. I was caught off guard, and I truly enjoyed the ending.


Overall, an amazing read!

easy, fun read, but not what I would classify as a thriller. Fern's character was inconsistent -- seemed on the spectrum most of the time, but I would often be dragged out of the book at some comments and conversations that didn't fit with her previous comments. The relationship between the sisters was well done.

Sweet and twisty - another great Sally Hepworth book. A little bit Eleanor Oliphant with some mystery.

Wow. I honestly wasn't expecting pretty much anything that was in this book! What a great surprise! A book about twin sisters where one agrees to have a baby for the other who can't have a baby. What could go wrong? Seemed like a pretty straight forward plot for a thriller, but honestly, this was way different that what I expected - in the best way. There's so much depth to the characters and a lot of interesting backstory that is revealed throughout the book. Because this is kind of a slow burn, everything reveals itself & you don't really have anything to "figure out", but the slow reveal of everything had me shaking my head and trying to give the characters advice, which they obviously didn't take. Rude. Anyway, there's something so satisfying about kind of knowing what the main "thing" is, but being along for the ride to see how you get there, and that is what this book does really well.It reminded me of Liane Moriarty's writing style. I am a huge Liane Moriarty fan :)

There was also a great aspect of this book that focused on a woman with a neurodivergence. Because it was written from in first person, it really helped with the understanding of the what it is like to live with a sensory challenges.

I would like to thank NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Sally Hepworth for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Sally Hepworth is so good! This one was thrilling, suspenseful and kept me turning the pages! The audio is really great too!

Thanks to NetGalley for an electronic ARC of this book.

The Good Sister is the story of twins, Fern and rose. Chapters alternate between Fern's story and Rose's journal. We learn that they had a difficult childhood marked by a tragedy that altered them forever. As the story opens, Rose has learned that she and her husband cannot conceive, and Fern decides to get pregnant and give the baby to her sister. Fern is on the spectrum but lives on her own with some oversight by her twin; as time goes on her interactions with Rose make the reader question whether or not Rose is caring for her sister out of love or to fulfill her own purposes. This book was a page turner from the beginning--once you start, you won't want to put it down!

The Good Sister, by Sally Hepworth, is one of the best psychological thrillers I’ve read in a long time. The story revolves around a set of fraternal twins whose relationship with each other, and their mother is complicated and challenged. Every character is so nuanced that it is hard to not be thoroughly invested in the story and the outcome. Hepworth is a very talented writer who can make you laugh out loud and cry real tears within the same chapter. I’ve enjoyed one of her other books, and I’m determined to read every book she has written.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this wonderful novel. Highly recommend.

3.75 stars. Pretty solid psychological thriller, though predictable. Lots of funny moments that made the book stand out a little more.

I was so excited to get an early review copy of this book. I loved Sally Hepworth's last novel "The Mother-in-Law" and was eager to dig into this one.

The story revolves around Fern and Rose, twin sisters who experienced a sordid upbringing. Rose is desperately trying to get pregnant, and Fern is willing to go to extreme lengths to help that happen. Secrets from the sisters' past reveal themselves along the way.

I loved the character development in this novel, especially with Fern, who has become one of my favorite characters ever in a novel. The pacing is decent, and there are parts in the story that will frustrate the bejesus out of you - a sign of good storytelling from the author. While I didn't love it as much as "The Mother-in-Law", it's still a great read from Sally Hepworth.

I really enjoyed this book! It’s elinor oliphant is completely fine with a twin twist. Not too scary or creepy but very suspenseful! Love everything Hepworth has written and this is no exception!

The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth is a family drama with a twist. Rose and Fern are fraternal twin sisters, and there the similarities end. Fern is a librarian with sensitivities to loud sounds, bright lights and any deviation from the daily stream of things. She is very close to her sister Rose and has supper with her three times a week. Because Fern depends on her, Rose is the domineering alpha twin. When Fern realizes that Rose is unable to conceive a child, she decides to become pregnant in order to give Rose a baby. That is how strong their bond is. The novel alternates from the twins’ adult life to their past, with their mother. But the past intrudes on their present. And their lives will be turned upside-down. This is a family drama that quickly evolves into a thriller. Each chapter reveals more and more suspenseful information, confusing the reader and leading to an explosive conclusion. The Good Sister is tense and cringe-worthy but it is also mesmerizing. Highly recommended. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sally Hepworth is quickly becoming one of my most favorite authors, and even when I can predict what is happening it doesn't take away from my enjoyment of her novels. I don't have kids, let alone kids with special needs, but from what I hear from friends The Good Sister is excellent at portraying someone who is on the spectrum. Fern is one of my favorite characters of all time thanks to this, and I think the decision to have this type of character in the novel with proper representation has made Hepworth an even larger hit with readers. Fern really was the highlight of the entire book, and she made me laugh so many times, as well as making my heart just ache for her as she makes her way in the world. Is there anything more endearing than a character who calls someone Wally because he looks like the man in Where's Wally? (Where's Waldo? in the states)? I don't think so.

I listened to the audiobook and if you love audio then you need to listen to it because Barrie Kreinik hit it out of the park with her narration. I thought she was especially good as Fern, and if it's possible, made me love her even more. For me, there weren't a ton of surprises in The Good Sister because I have read a similar plot before, but there were still a few things I didn't see coming, and really I loved Fern so much that it didn't even matter. Hepworth's writing is very pacy and addictive, and I had a hard time putting the book down because of this. I will literally read anything she writes, but I think The Good Sister would be best for the newer thriller readers since the plot was something I had read before. However, if you love Hepworth you will probably still love this too, and Fern adds a little something more that I didn't get from the other book with this plot.

Thank you to Libro.fm and the publisher for both my advance listening copy and advance review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Self admittedly, I was a little apprehensive about this book. It reminded me a bit of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. The story of an interesting woman admittedly with sensory issues who struggles dating. However, with the addition of the twin sister and intertwined past and present storytelling, I fell in love with Fern and Wally! I did not foresee the incredible twist in this book…AT ALL! So twisty, premeditated, and unexpected!!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Wow! I am a twin and am so glad this book didn’t describe our relationship! I loved the deep dive into these sisters, Fern and Rose! Fern is amazing and her relationship with Wally is heart warming even if frustrating at times. This was such a good story! I loved it from beginning to end!

3 stars.

Entertaining and actually a bit dark and twisted family drama/thriller. I read this one about a month ago and it's a bit forgettable, but I ended up really rooting for one of the sisters. For some reason, this book was difficult for me to get into in the beginning, but I stuck with it.

Enjoyable, but nothing really stands out to make this different in my view. I would recommend The Mother-in-Law over this one.

This book actually made me appreciate my brother and made me glad I don't have a sister! 🤣🤣

There are two things you need to know before picking up Sally Hepworth’s latest novel, "The Good Sister."

First, it’s NOT a thriller. It’s a contemporary domestic drama, with a soft touch of mystery and suspense. If you go into it anticipating edge-of-your-seat excitement, you will be very disappointed.

Second, you will likely love it. Because Hepworth’s story of fraternal twin sisters, Rose and Fern, is wonderful, despite the genre mix-up. It’s instantly engaging, warmly humorous, and immensely enjoyable. And it will introduce you to one of the most memorable characters I have ever encountered.

Fern. She’s a star. A true gem of a personality. Afflicted with sensory processing disorder, she is quite similar to my beloved Eleanor Oliphant in her endearing quirkiness and lack of social graces. And like Eleanor, she is a bit of a loose cannon when it comes to her interactions with others. The funniest, cleverest things come out of her mouth, and you can’t help but want to hug her.

I just wish Hepworth had not tried to push "The Good Sister" into thriller territory. The story feels predictable because of it, occasionally overdone in characterization, and its emotional impact is significantly cheapened.

And the epilogue – CRINGE! If only it had never been written. It’s a lame, last-ditch attempt by Hepworth to darken and twist the story, and it fails miserably.

Erase, erase, erase. There. The epilogue is gone from my mind.

(Epilogue? What epilogue?)

Almost certainly, "The Good Sister" will be on my list of 2021 favorites. It is one that should not be missed.

Say hi to Fern for me when you read it.

My sincerest appreciation to Sally Hepworth, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the Advance Review Copy. All opinions included herein are my own.

I love Sally Hepworth's books. You can rely on her to give a super book with great characters. The Good Sister is no different. It's an immensely compelling read which hooks you from page one.

I love books about twins and this one has such amazing characterisations of the sisters that I could not stop reading it until I was done.
The story is told by twin sisters, Fern and Rose. They share their current stories and memories of a troubled childhood but apart from that, there is a bigger secret that is unravelled slowly.
Fern is one of the best characters I have read in a long long while. She is so well written that I fell in love with her completely.

This is a twisty, amazing, well-paced book that will relentlessly pull you in.

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a wonderful story and a different take on a psychological thriller for me. Fern is a very quirky main character and I love her uniqueness. She has sensory processing disorder and has been told by her sister for most of her life that she isn't capable. Rose is her fraternal twin that has been looking out for her for a long time. They come from a past filled with instability and emotional abuse.
Fern decides she wants to have a baby for her sister because she has premature ovary aging syndrome. Fern works in the library and finds an interesting American that she takes a fancy to. She starts tracking her cycles and manages to get pregnant. Rose quickly steps in telling Fern that she isn't going to be a capable mother because she forgets too many things and has done horrible things in her past.

As the story progresses, things turn out to be different than they are perceived to be. Who is the good sister and who is the sister hiding all the dark secrets???

This was a wonderful book that I didn't want to end!

Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced reader's copy.

This book was.... well, this book was actually really good! I am trying to branch out more with the type of books I pick up and read. This was one of those, "Well, let's give it a try!" reads. I was definitely not disappointed. The story focuses on twin sisters, Fern and Rose. Rose is seemingly normal and perfect from the outside, with the usual quirks that makes anyone their own unique person. Rose's POV take place in the journal that she keeps. She explores her and Fern's childhood and their mama drama. Rose is no afraid to get into the dark and horrible things that she experienced in her childhood. As an adult, her marriage is falling apart and she desperately wants a baby of her own.
Fern is a different type of person. She focuses on her immediate surroundings. She is sensitive to sounds, crowds, lights, etc. She enjoys her job as a librarian and has dinner with her sister at least three times a week. The two sisters have a close bond. One thing that always sticks in Fern's mind, however, is something tragic that happened in her childhood that she will never let herself forget. She does not trust herself because of this incident, and it keeps her from forming a bond with other people. One day, Fern discovers that her sister desperately wants a baby but is unable to have one of her own. Being the good sister that she is, she comes up with a plan to help her sister get that baby. What she does not realize is that by trying to help her sister have her dream baby, her whole world will start to unravel. Suddenly people are not who she thought they were. They have their own motives that she is not able to understand. What is a constant, however, is her job and her coworkers... and that guy with a funny hat that she bumps into one day while on the job who looks just a bit like Wally from "Where's Wally?"
This was an enjoyable read and I loved how the author weaved the story. There was definite character growth and the story became a bit disturbing (in the best way) near the end before the grand reveal.

Review will be posted on CelticsLibrary.com by June 7th, 2021