I remember when I read my first Sally Hepworth book, [book:The Secrets of Midwives|21853678]. I thought the writing was extraordinary and knew then that I would read every single thing that she ever wrote.

This book was exceptional. Written in a unique and interesting format, the fact that it revolved around two sisters both intrigued and scared me, as my sister is my best friend.

What I love about Sally Hepworth's books are that they aren't the same thing you read every day. They're easy to read, you get involved right away, but it won't remind you of something else you've read, which is truly unique for me, as I read quite a bit.

I highly recommend this, but I'm not sure I'll recommend it to my sister. :)

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

WOW! What a fantastic new book by Sally Hepworth. It was one of those books that made the outside world go away for a few hours -- there was no cooking or cleaning, I ignored the phone and social media and even lost a few hours of sleep but it was totally worth it!

Fern and Rose are fraternal twins but they are different in every way. Rose is married and trying to have a baby with her husband, Owen. Fern is a loner who lives by herself and works at a library. She has a sensory processing disorder which limits her life in many ways because she has to stay away from situations that might affect her disorder. Because of the way that the twins were raised by a sociopathic mother, they became very close growing up so that they could protect each other from their mother. As adults, they still protect each other. Rose is always there to help Fern and is the person that Fern always turns to first. Rose is the strong twin while Fern appears to be odd and needy.

The novel is told in alternating chapters by each of the twins. Reading Rose's chapters make you see her as the brave protector of her sister who is also helping keep a terrible secret from years earlier. But then when you read Fern's chapter, you can't help but admire her for the way she is approaching her life to keep her disorder from affecting her day to day. The more you read the alternating view of each sister, the more you begin to question the stories that they are telling about their lives. Is it all real or are there other and worse secrets being kept quiet? When Fern meets a man and finds out that she is able to love someone, she also begins to question some of Rose's attitudes toward her.

I can't say any more about the plot at risk of telling more than I should. What I can say is that this is my favorite Sally Hepworth novel. It's a book that will keep you guessing until the end. You will change your mind several times about the real motives of each twin versus the perceptions that they want believed. The novel is compelling and totally unpredictable. The Good Sister is about the ties that bind sisters together...and about the madness that lurks where you least expect it.

This book was a trip. You know there’s a bad sister from the title of the book so you are immediately on the defense on who it can be. You slowly learn the past experiences that took place throughout the book. A pair of twins. One has sensory and social issues. She decides she wants to have a baby to support her sister who cannot. So she does it. But then starts to remember things about her past. And meets someone new. Will she keep the child? Give it to her sister? Had me flipping until the end! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I need a vacation to recover from Sally’s newest (soon-to-be) hit book 🤯

S.H. takes sanity, sisterhood, and co-dependency to a new new Level in “The Good Sister”. I think this is her best book yet, I can’t wait to re-read it to see everything I missed the first go-around. I am SO grateful to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book 7 months prior to its release - I’m only sorry my friends have to wait to read it!

So friends, if you’re reading this add this to you’re TBR list and pre-order it NOW and in the meantime read all of Sally’s other books because I’m pretty sure she’s a wordsmith wizard 🤩

Described as both a suspenseful, psychological thriller and domestic fiction, <i>The Good Sister</i> was a fine read that kept me turning pages right through til the end. The story is multi-layered and unfolds at a slow but steady pace which fit a plot that kept evolving and changing.

At the core of the story are the family relationships – two sisters, actually fraternal twins, but quite different in a variety of ways. Rose is short and diabetic. Fern is tall and is hypersensitive to sound, light, touch – a sensory processing disorder. Each tells their family history from their own perspective particularly as it comes to their mother. Although in some regards it is the story of typical mother-daughter and sibling relationships, Hepworth takes the story in several new directions.

I particularly enjoyed Hepworth’s <i>The Mother-in-Law</i> but somehow this one didn’t quite measure up. Perhaps it was because I figured out where it was going just a bit too soon so, for me, it lost the edginess of suspense. Otherwise, a worthy read!




FYI - I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Fern and Rose are twins, not identical, as different as two people can be. Fern is fair, slender, and tall while Rose was a shorter, plump child, with darker hair. Eventually Rose was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes while Fern struggles with sensory processing disorder. Rose had been the more outgoing child while Fern had and still does shrink from noises, light, smells and all the things that bombard her senses. Rose is Fern's protector and this protection continues into their late twenties, even as Rose marries and Fern lives in a small apartment near Rose. 

Rose is an interior designer and Fern is a librarian, a job that Fern loves as much as she loves her never changing routine. I'm so fond of Fern, with her colorful clothes, shoes, skirts, and overalls. She is great with both children and the elderly, at the library, but DO NOT ask her to help you with the printer or photocopiers because she'll pretend she didn't hear you or pretend she hears someone calling her in another part of the library. And Fern will discard your food if it's too stinky...I think I might have a bit of Fern in me. 

Rose's diary tells us that Rose and Fern had a painful upbringing, via a cruel, mood changing mother, a mother who always favored Fern over Rose. When Rose and Fern were twelve, Fern did something very, very bad and Rose helped make up a story so that what Fern did wouldn't be discovered. This bad thing is what reminds Fern that she can never really be on her own, that she'll always need Rose to look after her and fix her mistakes. Still, Fern is very good at her job and she is well liked by her co-workers and the library patrons. 

Rose and Fern are so very close, Fern needs Rose to survive, it's as if they can't tell where one really begins and the other ends. But things in the past might not be as they seemed and things in the present might not be as they seem. One of these women wants something so badly that she'll do anything to get it. 

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

Fern and Rose are twin sisters. Fern is a delightful character, probably with a diagnosis of Asperger's,
who works as a librarian. Her sister supplies most of Fern's memories of their difficult childhood, times when they were sometimes homeless, and hungry. Now Rose is married and desperately hoping to get pregnant. Fern relies on Rose not just for memories of their childhood, but as the person who basically steers her life. Fern sees herself as not able to really make decisions for herself, and is dependent on Rose in many ways. Rose at times seems to resent this dependency, but also fights against any moves toward being more self-sufficient shown by Fern. But when Fern meets a young man that she grows to like a lot, she begins to become more autonomous, and to be willing to fight against Rose's dominion over her life. There are glimpses into Rose's journal that give keys to what she is really thinking and feeling, despite what she verbalizes to Fern.
This story is mostly predictable, but is an enjoyable read all the same. Fern's time spent in her job at the library, and her role there, really added to the pleasure of the book for me.
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This is not as good as Hepworth's other novel, The Mother in Law. Hepworth does infertility well, but it's getting kind of old. I'd encourage her to branch out and not have the same "family member carrying baby" as plotline.

Sisters like no other. Who knows how far your sister will go to get what she wants? I like the book and the fact that you didn't know who to believe until the end. It kept you guessing.

This book was good and held my interest OK although was really I like book plot to a little faster...

Fern and Rose are fraternal twins - raised by a single mother. The story takes place when they are adults - Rose uses her journal entries to give insight into their childhood and consequential issues as adults; Fern simply talks about her day to day life, generously sharing her sensory issues, lack of social skills and her clear reliance on Rose.
The first half of the book lays the groundwork for both sisters' personalities. Rose and her husband, Owen, have separated - Owen has accepted a job in London while Rose remains behind. She delves into past events as a child, detailing a narcissistic, neglectful, abusive mother. During a stretch of homelessness, Nina brings her daughters daily to the library - which becomes a haven for Fern.
Fern is a librarian - and clearly loves her job. Though she is struggling to connect with her new supervisor, following the sudden death of Janet, Fern seems to be the light of the library. While trying to provide assistance, Fern meets "Wally". Rose recently confessed she is unable to have children - Fern decides to have a baby for her. Fern and Wally begin to build a relationship - with humor, compassion, understanding and acceptance.
The author begins to drop hints of the truth as the story progresses. How much does Fern actually distort her reality?

I connected to this book on so many levels. I also grew up with weekly visits to the library - I was obsessed. I loved hearing about Fern's job - all the little touches she provided in strangers' lives, never realizing the ripples of happiness she created.
I also have a sister. It can be glowing and a blessing. When we were growing up, it was in constant flux.

I greatly enjoyed this book. The final journal entry - it was a great ending.

This book was excellent! Sisters Rose and Fern have an enmeshed relationship. Fern has sensory processing issues and works in a library. Great characters and a great story!

Sally Hepworth has by now solidified her place as one of my favorite authors: An auto-buy for me, every time. I was so happy to get a sneak peek at her latest via Netgalley. Here we get the dual points of view of two grown sisters who have risen above a neglectful, abusive childhood to make their way in the world—leaning on each other perhaps a bit too much. One is more "reliable" than the other, but of course we find ourselves cheering for the underdog—and are about to learn that neither is what she seems. Just when I thought I knew where this was headed, Hepworth turned the tables again. A fast, enjoyable page-turner that will keep you good company.

I LOVED this book. It just hit every perfect note for me. It was incredibly well-written and a total page-turner that I devoured in a day. The characters were so well rendered, so nuanced and complex and relatable, and the relationships were so compelling and understandable. I loved Fern’s narrative voice. The story and pacing were incredible, it all built beautifully and came together so well and slammed me in the gut when they did. I liked this one even better then The Mother-In-Law. Sally Hepworth is quickly becoming a favorite of mine.

I have to start by saying this was one of the best books I’ve ever read! I feel deeply privileged to have been selected to read and review this advance copy!

I found this book to be a bit of a thriller, a bit of a drama, and a bit of a mystery. There were so many twists and turns that I could never guess what was about to happen next, and the ending simply made my head totally spin!

The two main characters that the story centered around were Fern and Rose; fraternal twin sisters. The chapters went back and forth from the point of view of each sister as their past and present story was told. Fern was apparently undiagnosed for what the sisters both referred to as sensory issues, but she was very clearly on the spectrum, likely living with autism. So, when she told her side of the story it was from an angle that allows the reader to fully experience the world thru the eyes of one who experiences very severe sensory overload. Fern was a beautifully trusting individual who had no ability to trust in herself or her abilities. She believed she had no ability to remember important things or to be trusted... even by herself. Rose was the one Fern relies on to keep her safe. Rose was essentially her caregiver, although they lived independently from one another (but just a few blocks apart).

I don’t want to tell any more than this because I would be doing a great disservice to the next reader’s experience. This book was an advance copy that doesn’t come out to the public until April of 2021, but I’ll just say it would be worth paying for an advance copy to be sure you get one as soon as released! You won’t regret it! I have truly discovered a new favorite author, and I plan to seek her future and past books!


I received a complimentary copy of this book from St Martin's Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a twisty tale that kept my attention riveted. While I could guess some of the directions the twists would take I was still caught by some surprises. Told in alternating perspectives from two Twin sisters Fern and Rose, who is using a journal to process based on her therapist’s advice. Past and present collide in this thrilling mystery. Fern and Rose are fraternal twins who couldn’t be more opposite. Fern is tall, thin, and has sensory processing difficulties. Rose is shorter and more round and diabetic. Rose is also struggling with getting pregnant as her eggs have prematurely aged. Fern decides she can help out her sister by getting pregnant and giving her sister the baby. This book was well-written and engrossing, I highly recommend it.

By the title alone, I had some suspicions about how accurate this story was being told me through the alternating points of view of fraternal twin sisters, Fern and Rose. Through Rose’s journals as an adult, she revisits the ugly portions of her childhood and their emotionally abusive mother.

Now they are adults, and although Fern has a problem with sensory overload that makes it difficult for her to navigate social situations, she’s doing all right as a librarian. When she learns that Rose wants to have a baby but can’t because her diabetes has rendered her eggs no good, Fern becomes determined to have a baby for her sister. But as the pregnancy gets closer and closer to the time she’ll give birth, secrets about the sisters and mother are revealed.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for an ARC of this novel for my honest opinion.

This is the second book I have read by Sally Hepworth and I enjoyed it as much as "The Mother in Law". Hepworth's novels are twisty and surprising and take the reader on a fun, highly readable journey.

"The Good Sister" is about family and mystery and lies. There's also a little romance. Fern as the quirky librarian is completely lovable as is "Wally". The ending had me on the edge of my seat.

I'm giving it 4 stars and recommend it for thr escape we all need right now!

Wow! I read her first book and really liked it.. well let me tell you her second book is just as good. I liked the plot a lot and I liked that she swapped narrators between chapters. I felt like I was on the hunt for twits throughout the book but didn’t feel like I had a handle on something’s till 75% through. I highly recommend.

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Haven't you always wanted to be a twin? The bond they share is unlike any other sibling connection.

To an outsider, Fern and Rose appear to be as close as only twin sisters can be. Of the pair, Rose is the more responsible one—she has a home and is trying to start a family with her husband—whereas Fern, the librarian, is more of a free spirit who avoids social interaction. But one thing is certain, as different as they are, they are completely loyal to one another. Especially Rose who always protected Fern from their sociopathic mother. She hid her true nature to everyone else, but Rose could see her for who she truly was.

Years ago, Fern did a very bad thing. And Rose, being her protector, has never told a soul. So Fern decides that she is going to help her sister achieve her dream of having a baby. But Rose is becoming concerned with the choices Fern is making—they all have a terrible outcome. What Rose doesn't realize is that Fern is discovering all the secrets that she has been keeping...and that their mother might get the last word after all.

Told from alternating points of view between Rose and Fern, The Good Sister is a gripping domestic thriller with razor sharp writing and perfect pacing. With Hepworth telling both sides of the story, the reader questions the women's character. Is Rose really the protective sister, or is she controlling and cunning? And what about Fern? Is she a sociopath like their mother?

I have nothing but effusive praise for Sally Hepworth's novels and this book is no exception. Her characterizations are rich and layered, as are the family dynamics. The Good Sister is more than just a story about the bond between sisters. It is a character driven thriller that will have readers anxiously turning pages to its stunning conclusion.