While the suspense genre has broadened to the point of being almost unrecognizable, that does not take away from the enjoyment I had reading The Good Sister, primarily because I fell in love with Fern, the protagonist. I found it to be a sweet, predictable book, which may not be what the author was going for, but I was transported and put off other chores until I finished reading I like Hepworth books anyway, even though it's the characters, not the mystery, that draw me in. During these dark Covid days, this book was perfect for me.

I really liked this novel a lot. Even more than The Mother-in-Law. Fern was a compelling character and it was interesting that she was written as being on the spectrum. There were a lot of twists and I can't say much as to not give anything away. It kept me guessing the entire time and I didn't see a lot of things coming. It was hard to tell who to trust sometimes, but that's what made the story even more exciting. I love that a lot of this novel took place in a library. I recommend this for a good, edge-of-your-seat kind of read.

Movie casting suggestions:
Fern: Mia Wasikowska
Rose: Samara Weaving
Wally: Emory Cohen
Carmel: Tess Haubrich
Mother (in flashbacks): Emilie de Ravin

Another winner from Sally Hepworth! I always enjoy her books and this was no exception. Lots of good twists - you didn't know which sister was truly the good sister until the end. It was a great psychological drama and I highly recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC.

I wish I could give this a 3.5. I loved The Mother-in-Law and was so excited to be able to get into The Good Sister. I appreciated having a main character with sensory processing issues - showing the neurodiversity of the world in books is incredibly important to all of us. The Good Sister is fast-paced, well thought out and has a fantastic story arc. However, the ending unfolded far too quickly. Everything was tied up neatly in the last 10% of the book and it needed much more finessing in terms of story.

Domestic thrillers is one of my favorite genres to read, so when I read the synopsis of The Good Sister, I was instantly intrigued. Sally Hepworth killed the thriller game with this one. I was hooked from the very beginning and could not put it down. This is not your typical married couple domestic thriller but instead is written in the sisters' point of views and is about the drama between them. They're best friends but what if everything's been a lie? What would you do if you can no longer trust "your person"?

I highly recommend this good for thriller fans, you won't want to put this down.

Hepworth's book raises the question of who is the good sister. An unreliable narrator casts the tale of a sister with sensory processing disorder and her guardian-protector sister. As you learn more about the sisters, you realize that all is not as it seems. An enjoyable literary thriller!

Already released in some parts of the world, I grabbed this book from Netgalley. The Good Sister sounded like an amazing mystery/thriller read and also I love stories that involve siblings that are one Good/ one Evil. It could be due to my childhood but it has always fascinated me. I found myself loving The Good Sister way more than I thought I would. This book was so amazing that afterward, I was ranting about it to a group of friends on Instagram. One of the main characters Fern is a Librarian and we read a lot of her interactions in the library, her customers, and the ones she recommends books too and her hate of technology especially the photocopier/printer. This made me love her even more, as a Librarian myself I saw a lot of myself in Fern's character and understood her on a personal level. The same goes for being a sister and growing up in a rocky home. Like Fern, the library and books growing up were my escape. In the Good Sister, Fern has a sister named Rose who was "the good one" and "responsible one". However as the book goes along, we learn that what you see on the surface isn't always the truth and that Rose is a mastermind manipulator who has been controlling Fern's life ever since she was a little girl and making Fern feel that she is a danger to society and irresponsible. What happens though when Fern falls in love with Wally aka Rocco and Rose starts to lose her grip on Fern, even more so when Fern falls pregnant? Will Rose be caught before she can destroy everything and everyone Fern has ever loved? Find out in this psychological sibling thriller "The Good Sister" by Sally Hepworth. A Mystery that everyone should add to their reading lists as The Good Sister does not disappoint.

Such a great book!!!! I was engrossed from page one! I loved the way Fern's thought process was! Twin sisters who were totally different from each other but still had a close relationship. This book made me mad and then made me cry. I would recommend it to anyone! One of the best books I have ever read! Thank you so much to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read it! And thank you Sally Hempworth for writing such an engrossing book!!

The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth was fantastic. This is the second book I've read this month revolving around twins, but this book was much better.

Fern and Rose Castle are fraternal twin sisters who couldn't be any more different but still share a special bond. Rose is the responsible one who is married and is ready for children. Fern is quirky and free-spirited and works as a librarian. Rose has always been protective of Fern ever since they were little, protecting her from their abusive and sociopathic mother.

Fern is different from others - she avoids social interaction and can't be over-stimulated by loud noises, lights or sounds. Rose has always been like a mother to Fern, sheltering her from the outside world. Rose is the only one that truly knows and understands Fern - because of this, Fern does whatever Rose says because clearly she knows best. Rose is also protecting Fern from herself as she did something very bad when they were children - something unforgivable - and she knows what Fern is capable of doing.

Since Rose has always taken care of Fern, Fern wants to do the most selfless thing she can do for her - she wants to have her baby - after she learns that Rose is having trouble conceiving. Rose could not be more thrilled as she's been wanting to have children and the subject has been a source of contention between her and her hubby.

As Fern goes through this process, she finds out that Rose has been keeping secrets from her. She begins to distrust her sister and realizes that her sister is not as trustworthy as she appears to be. Has her relationship with her twin always been a lie? Does Rose really have her best interests in mind?

The Good Sister is captivating, chilling and addictive. It's fast-paced and a page turner. Excellent plot - I was so enthralled with the book that I ended up staying up till 2am to finish it and I was definitely not disappointed.

Fans of The Girl in the Mirror or Lisa Jewell novels will like this book. I highly recommend it. This is my first Sally Hepworth but I know it won't be my last.

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with this e-galley / eARC to review in exchange fo my honest review.

Wow. Sally Hepworth has done it again. This book will immediately pull you in & keep you turning pages until you have finished. Fern is absolutely charming and Wally is the perfect boyfriend. How do I get one?!? Rose is a great sister to Fern and caring for her, all her life.

Eventually things... don’t add up and you will NEED to know what is going on.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy!

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

4.5/5 stars

The suspense in this book was excellent. Twin sisters Fern and Rose seem to have grown up living two different lives. Fern, who is on the spectrum, works at a library and was used to Rose being her protector and always being there to do stuff for her. Rose treats Fern like a person who can't think for herself. At times, I wanted to shake Fern and say wake up. I loved the lover story between Fern and Rocco/Wally. I had no idea where the story was going. I stayed up way too late finishing it.

Sally Hepworth has written a smashing psychological twister. Twin sisters that are incredibly different. As can happen one twin is the “normal” one while the other twin has sensory issues which makes her “different”. I absolutely could not put this book down until I finished it. I read it in one day and I have to be honest and say that I will be reading this one again. If you are a fan of psychological teasers then this is the book for you. Thank you to the publisher for my requested copy of the ARC. This review is my own and humble opinion.

I couldn’t put it down, I think I finished it in less than 24 hours !!! I was instantly in love with Fern!!!!!! This is the first lead character I have read with sensory issues and also to present her in the way she is I truly applaud Sally Hepworth! Fern is relatable and loveable I find her perspective and interpretations to be my sense of humor and something I totally agree with, I loved her commentary and self talk throughout the book. This was really a page turner and man WALLY!!!! He is such a prince so romantic but in a realistic way not the rubbish books and Disney sell to you but how a man or a partner should be and can actually be !!! This is a great story of the bond sisters hold .... I highly recommend this twisted little gem ! No spoilers here but there are some crazy misadventures and mystery to say the least !

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

This is my first delve into the writing of Sally Hepworth, but it certainly won’t be my last! This twisty domestic thriller had me at the edge of my seat. Thank you SO much to Netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Fern and Rose are fraternal twins, yet the line where one ends and the other begins is obscured. Their relationship, which initially appears to be a loving one full of sisterly protection and mutual respect, quickly turns into something much darker. This story is told through alternating points of view, predominantly via Fern, but with journal entries from Rose. I don’t want to say too much about the plot as I feel that the less you know, the better the twists will be. If you like strong female characters and twisty, edge of your seat plots, this book is for you! Happy reading 😊

This book had me guessing the entire time. The characters are masterfully crafted and engaging. The characters are complicated and enjoyable to read about. The perspective changes add an extra engaging element to the story.

4.5 stars

This novel is a lot of fun for folks with sisters, those who love a thrill, and anyone who generally wants to be entertained.

Fern and Rose are twins, and they have a complicated relationship, to put it mildly. They had a challenging childhood, marked by socioeconomic challenges, a mother who is an addict, a string of their mother's creepy partners, and some unusual rivalry. As adults, in the present day of the novel, their lives are weirdly intertwined. Fern's sensory processing struggles create an opportunity for her to be overly dependent on Rose, and Rose appears to have some codependency issues of her own. It is fascinating to watch events unfold through both characters' perspectives.

I am anti-spoiler in general, but in this case, I think that's especially important. I went into this read knowing nothing aside from the title, and that is an approach I endorse wholeheartedly for all interested parties. Enjoy the ride.

<i>The Good Sister</i> was my fourth Sally Hepworth novel; it will not be my last. I could <i>not</i> put this book down. It is compulsively readable. From the cover and the title, I assumed it would be a psychological thriller. And it is, but a very slow burn that I didn't realize was happening until the heat was turned all the way up. <i>The Good Sister</i> starts off light, fun, airy. It's not until about 2/3 of the way through that things become shifty.

Fern, the main protagonist, is a delightful character. She's a librarian, which in my world automatically adds to that delight. Fern's love of the library and musings on librarians warmed my heart. Hepworth describes librarians as "front line soldier[s] in the war against illiteracy and lack of imagination." Fern clearly considers herself among these soldiers and takes her job seriously. Except she hates to help patrons with the printers and the copiers (they never seem to work the way they are supposed to!).

Fern has sensory processing difficulties. She doesn't understand certain aspects of conversation; Fern takes every statement literally and misses social cues. People seem to like her, but she doesn't quite pick up on it. Fern's fraternal twin, Rose, is the person she feels closest to in the world. Rose is her protector, aware of each of Fern's limitations and always there to provide a safety net.

The chapters alternate between Fern and Rose's diary. Rose's diary depicts a twisted childhood with an abusive mother (TW: child molestation, domestic violence). Fern's memories are warmer, but she believes Rose's memory over her own. As the tale unfolds, it becomes more difficult to determine which narrator is unreliable. It's sad, confusing, and utterly intriguing. In my opinion, it could have been sped up a little, but it was still a fast read.

A favorite highlight: learning about Wally's social prompter app. An app designed to provide excuses for social events and manage them all for you so you never repeat an excuse, so you can plan ahead to call out sick, so that you can use the right phrase depending on social setting. I applaud Hepworth for this hilarious concept. And I'd gladly pay $1.99 to download it.

I did take some issue with the depiction of Fern and her mental abilities or disabilities, depending on how you look at it. I'm surprised that it's not mentioned in any of the reviews I looked at. I felt like Fern was dumbed down in a way that was inconsistent with her obvious intelligence. I'd also be curious how people with sensory processing issues would respond.

Overall, highly recommend.

Sally Hepworth can always be relied upon to write an amazing plot with well fleshed out characters and to always leave you wondering, even if just a little bit. In this book, Fern and Rose are sisters. Rose is the stable one who protects Fern from the world. She has a great job and is in a loving marriage. The only thing Rose doesn't have that she wants is a baby. Fern can give her one, and decides that she should. And this is where it really starts getting good. Because you start to wonder -- who is really the good sister?

Sally Hepworth knows how to write a good thriller! This book keeps you on your toes until the very end. I loved the different POVs and was not expecting the reveal at the end. Can't wait to read another book by this author.

The new domestic thriller by Sally Hepworth is a roller coaster of a read. It is the story of two sisters Rose and Fern. Outwardly very different but as the reader looks closer it becomes hard to tell where one sister ends and the other begins as the bondary lines of their relationship are so blurred. Told in alternating chapters by each of the sisters there are flashbacks to traumatic events and secrets of their childhood. The twists and turns propel this novel forward at a rollicking and pace until the final unexpected ending.

I loved this novel. The character development was wonderful. It sisters were so clearly described and their and it is clear the author took her time in creating them. I liked how their characters evolved and interacted with one another. I also enjoyed that the story was told in a series of flashbacks. It was interesting to see how the events of the past has shaped the characters in the present. But what I loved most about this novel were the twists and turns and surprises. Just when I thought I knew in which direction the story was headed, there would be a twist and sent it in a whole different direction. This is a hard novel to review because I really don't want to give anything away. The surprises are the best part. I read so many suspense and thrillers that it is hard to surprise me but this one did and I loved it.! This is one of the best domestic suspense thrillers I have read in a while and I will be recommending it to everyone I know!

I want to thank Net galley and St. Martin's Press with providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest and fair review.