WOW!

This is my first book by Sally Hepworth and I was blown away. The twists and turns really got me.

I thought I knew what the ending would be because there are so many books like it out there but it turns out this book is completely unique in its genre.

The shock comes about 60% through the book and it had good timing along with a good explanation. I wasn’t disappointed with how ends were tied up and rushed because there was no rushing, each word was carefully placed and though out

The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth
The good sister is an engrossing tale about two sisters and a mother which alternates between time frames and the points of view of the characters telling the story. The two sisters are Fern and Rose. Fern is a librarian who loves her job; she is somewhere on the spectrum and suffers from sensory processing disorder. She finds relationships of any kind difficult and relies on her sister who has always been there to protect her ever since their childhood when they were being raised by a sociopathic single mother. Rose is the sister who has it all together. She’s successful, married, and having trouble conceiving a child, so Fern decides to help her sister by becoming her surrogate. In her search for an intelligent and reliable father for the baby, Fern forms a relationship with a man she calls Wally. Then the story begins to take a turn.
Hepworth does the unreliable narrator scenario very well. The characters, especially Fern and Wally, are appealingly quirky and endearing. There is suspense as the narrative unfolds, though you may guess fairly early on where it is headed. Secrets past and present are revealed as the story builds to its climax. The novel explores family relationships, the love and rivalry between sisters, and the ways in which we remember and interpret events differently according to how they affect us. I read the book in two days, so it definitely had that “can’t put it down” factor!

This tale of twin sisters who are mutually dependent on each other is twisted, complicated and engaging. Fern seems to be on the autism spectrum, bothered by bright lights, noise and anything that is not part of her daily expectations for her world. Rose is a diabetic with a husband who wants a child more than she wants anything else. Both young women are hiding a potentially devastating secret from their childhood. Raised by a cruel and domineering mother, both girls learned quickly to protect each other. The secret that is the foundation of their closeness is the mystery upon which the plot is built. One character was magnetic for me and the other ended up being repulsive. I cannot tell you which was which without disclosing a central part of the mystery, but I can say that appearances can be very deceptive. This book was creepy, bordering on a horror tale at times. I kept turning the pages because I wanted to know the outcome, but since I’m not a fan of horror, sometimes that page turning was a reluctant, eyes on the page but ready to turn away at any moment. I found this book to be compelling and an absolute must-read for fans of unexpected thrillers and definite domestic dramas.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

I could not put down this book until I got to the end. And, even then, I would have been happy to read more. I chose this book after reading the synopsis. However, the story still managed to surprise me. I was not expecting such a layered, complex tale with so many twists and turns. I'd highly recommend it if you enjoy mysteries with a psychological twist.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for my review.

Sisterhood: "the bad is as essential to the relationship as the good". Meet Rose and Fern, fraternal twin sisters, which one is The Good Sister? Rose, who chronicles in her diary how she protected Fern from their mother's maltreatment as children? Fern, who has sensory processing issues and poor social skills? When Fern discovers that her sister can't have a child of her own, she decides to get pregnant so she can give Rose and her husband a baby. Fern doesn't plan on falling in love, however, and maybe wanting to keep the baby. But she is barely able to take care of herself, how can she take care of a baby? The story is told from the perspective of both sisters; when their versions start to differ, who do you believe? The characters are unique and well-developed. A fabulously twisty, compelling read, Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow — what an explosive and relatable book! Don’t we all have a family member that clings just a little too close? Or one that’s just a little too dysfunctional? I just knew I HAD to read the latest by Sally Hepworth after I loved her last book (highly recommend), and I was so excited to receive an advance review copy.

Rose and Fern are twin sisters. Fern experiences sensory overwhelm and sometimes struggles with everyday relationships. Thankfully, her twin sister is always close and anticipating every need. Rose sees herself as the savior that always protected Fern from their dysfunctional and narcissistic mother, who now lies in an extended care facility with extended brain damage. Rose is also keeping a big secret for Fern, which has haunted her whole life and casted doubt on her ability to care for herself or any other living thing. But as Fern tries to live in the works a bit more, Rose seems to clamp on tighter. Is there something more sinister to this sisterly relationship?

This was a super quick popcorn read for me; I downloaded it around lunchtime and finished by 8pm. It was fast paced, fun, and twisty. A high recommend!

I enjoyed this mystery and family drama love triangle , with the love of two loyal twin sisters protecting each other, They use their bracelet to tap each other when danger of their mother's mood swing is about to happen and this is their signal to keep quiet and dont answer back to her.
Their sociopatheic mother has mental issues . The different boyfreinds in her life, and lacking mothering to the girls, and their having to be homelesss for a year.
The abuse and harsh homelife,, traveling to different places to survive , Fern is the favorite daughter,which molds Rose into jealousy and will get even. Their mother clearly makes sure Rose is aware she is pudgy and shouldnt eat much,while letting it known Fern is tall and slender.
Fern has a sensory type issue that scares her , where she cannot be in crowds, sensitive to noise ,light or anyone interrupting her routine. Whenever she finds herself in a situation like this, she cries out for Rose to rescue her away. AFter all, Rose is the sister who knows her twin very well and even makes sure Fern knows she has this problem and cant survive without her to protect and rescue her.
Fern is withdrawn and yet caring and loving and loves her librarian job. She is great with the children and the elderly. She is scared of being asked to help with the photo copier. Her freinds there understand her more and more towards the end.
Rose is more the interior designer, married to Owen and seems to be the one who has a normal life. She manipulates her sister by telling her she is forgetful and we find that Rose, suggested by her therapist to keep a journal, we find the mysteries unfold later from this journal. The author allows us to understand their earlier childhood ,by reading about the girls thoughts and Rose's journal.
Fern is going to help her sister have a baby by surrogate in return for being a Good Sister to her.
Rose ,after all , has helped her survive the demons in Fern's mind...or has she really helped her?
Fern ,without attached strings or romantic involvement needs to find a partner and get pregnant.
Wally, a nickname given by Fern is really Rocco. He is a computer programmer who codes apps, supposedly homeless, going into the library every day . This library is kind to homeless people and even has a shower for them to clean up in. Fern always has care toiletry bags for them so they can shower and clean up.
She notices the attraction to him. A quiet young man, but intelligent, and becomes Fern's kindred spirit.They both share the sensory issues and yet, Wally is more outgoing and can deal with it and helps Fern too.
Wally's secret on who he really is, later is well known and I hope the two can become a lasting relationship,they are so good for each other.
I was so engrossed in this novel, that I couldnt put the book down. A delightful mystery filled with romance and sometimes filling me with anger for a character, it is a heartwarming story of love and kindness and survival.
Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to review this book .

I. Could. Not. Put. This. Down.

The narrative switches between the points of view of twins, Fern and Rose. Fern tells us about the present day, Rose recounts moments from their childhood in the form of a journal, ostensibly suggested by her therapist. And that journal provides some interesting context for what's happening in the present. So while it seems, as far as mysteries / thrillers go, nothing is really happening in Fern's timeline, SOMETHING IS HAPPENING.

There is just an underlying sense of, something isn't right throughout the story. I agree with other reviewers that if this is a genre you read frequently you'll start to guess at some of what is to come. I pride myself on guessing what a twist will be before it happens (ask my husband how much he likes watching movies with me), but I just didn't see this one coming.

This novel is a perfect example of how a writer can successfully use the "unreliable narrator" trope. In this case, the question you're asking yourself the entire book is, who is unreliable?

So well done. Adding more Sally Hepworth to my "To Read" list immediately.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review

This book seriously had me all turned around! Everything that I thought I knew was completely upside down, much how Fern must’ve felt. This was one of the best thought out stories I’ve read in a very long time, it had me guessing the whole time! It was very well-crafted and I loved the quirkiness of the characters. Well done and highly recommended!

I loved this one! I will read anything by Sally Hepworth but this one described sisters perfectly. She portrays mental illness in an appropriate manner from various perspectives which I appreciated. This was a fast paced rand enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.
Fern and Rose are fraternal twins. Rose is the responsible one and Fern is somewhere on the spectrum and is lucky to have Rose as her protector. Their mother is a bit of a sociopath but only Rose sees this behavior and makes sure that she takes care of Fern. Rose is married, has a good job, and is trying to become pregnant but has fertility issues. Fern decides she is going to give Rose the best gift she can - a baby. She thinks Rose will make a wonderful mother...or will she?
This book was a little bit of a slow start for me....but that didn't last very long. It is told from two points of view - rose's diary and Fern's perspective. The character of Fern is excellent and I loved Rocco/Wally and how he treated Fern. The relationship between the two sisters is not unlike any two sisters. Until you get to the end. There is some creepiness and unpredictability which makes for an excellent read. Its the right length without any added and unnecessary descriptive passages. definitely a good read and highly recommend it.

What a fascinating psychological thriller The Good Sister is. Sally Hepworth masks and slyly reveals her many hidden secrets as the story climaxes with many astounding revelations. You must read this one.

First, I would like to suggest the title is poor. Too many books titled the same and published previously. Needs a rethought. Not attention grabbing. Now to the novel. Well written and very descriptive of several main characters who are on the autistic spectrum. That factor certainly makes the protagonist an interesting focal point of the book. High functioning autistics enable us to accept some of the premise but the happily ever after ending with a very rich Prince Charming is not really believable. I recommend the novel because it flows well but the inevitable denouements are too predictable. Thanks for providing the read... I truly appreciate Net Galley.

I really enjoyed this easy-reading mystery, and seeing how my understanding of the two sisters and their relationship evolved as I got to know the characters better. And of course the library setting was so much fun! I'll be recommending this book to every reader who loved Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely fine—and that's a lot of readers!

I just finished reading an advance reader copy of The Good Sister by @sallyhepworth a few nights ago and I can honestly say I loved it - it pulled me in from the first page and kept me up late at night as I kept reading “just one more chapter.”

This story of twin sisters is twisty and endearing and intriguing all at the same time. Rose and Fern have had to rely on each other ever since they were kids, growing up with a unstable single mother. Rose has always protected Fern, whose sensory issues and difficulties reading others’ emotions often made her the odd one. Fern, in return, would do anything for Rose - including having the baby she can’t conceive. But they’re both keeping secrets that threaten to destroy their lives. And we, the readers, get drawn into those lives easily as we get to know each sister through alternating POV chapters.
It’s a fun ride I highly recommend! It doesn’t release until April, but it’s definitely worth the wait.

“Some people are in such utter darkness that they will burn you just to see a light. Try not to take it personally.” -Kamand Kojour

Thank you to @netgalley @stmartinspress and @sallyhepworth for this early ᴛʀᴇᴀᴛ! 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗦𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 will hit shelves April of 2021!

If you enjoyed 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿-𝗶𝗻-𝗟𝗮𝘄 and 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗗𝗼𝗼𝗿, get ready for another great twisted domestic drama from Sally Hepworth. I started this one last night and could not put it down until the last page. Available for preorder now! 𝟰.𝟱/𝟱 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀:
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 and a husband and a fierce 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. 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.

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The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth can be compared to a picture that shows two different images. Some people see one thing in the picture and some people see something different. Eventually, the two pictures begin to meld. So which is the good sister in the story? At first, the plot seems obvious. Fern appears to be a high functioning young woman on the autism spectrum. Her twin sister, Rose, has always "taken care" of Fern. From a dysfunctional childhood to a regimented adult life, Fern and Rose are inseparable. The story flashes between childhood scenarios and adult situations that seem pretty cut and dried. I have to admit I wasn't expecting the "plot to thicken" like it did. The Good Sister is not to be missed. Do yourself a favor and settle in with an open mind and plenty of time. You don't want to read quickly because you might not be ready for the final scene!
I voluntarily received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

The Good Sister had me hooked from page 1 and didn’t let go. I liked the alternating narrative between Rose and Fern. I really love Fern and Wally! Fern is so cool. She does so much, handling her sensitivity disorder so well. I love her directness. The plot builds and builds and definitely packs a punch. I give it 5 plus on a 5 star rating. I put a review on Goodreads but can’t figure out how to get the link to put it here. Thanks so much for the advance copy. I love it!!

Wow! The Good Sister was a thrilling read that kept me wanting to find out more but I didn’t want it to end. The beginning confused me at first, but once I figured out the rhythm of the chapters going back and forth between sisters it was a nonstop page turner. What I thought was constantly being challenged, and without spoilers it’s hard to say more. This was my first book by Hepworth, but I will definitely be reading more of her. If you are looking for a book that always keeps you guessing and wanting more, this is it!

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.