How suspenseful could. a story about twin sisters be? If it's written by Sally Hepworth you better hold on tight. The characters in this book are so well developed I felt like I knew them. The differences between Rose and Fern carried the story to places I never expected. I highly recommend this twisted tale. The ending is especially great.

I received an Advanced Reader's Copy from St Martin's Press through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are completely my own.
#TheGoodSister #NetGalley

I received an advance copy of this book from Net Galley. Overall I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars. The beginning started slow but quickly pulled you in. The book left you wondering which one is really the good sister. Are things what they really appear. Lots of twists and turns throughout the book. If your looking for a great suspense book this is a must read

Wow. A page turner with a number of twists and turns. I enjoyed the the intricacies of the sister and mother relationship. The author does a great job of both celebrating and exploiting them. I don’t want to give too much away but it’s kind of a cross between The Rosie Project and Gone Girl in the best ways! Thank you to Net Galley, the author, and St. Martin’s for the advanced reader copy!

Now this was fun!

Ever since the pandemic hit I have had trouble concentrating. Books and reading didn’t hold their usual appeal. Hence, my (probably) overly critical and lackluster reviews of late. This story was a wonderful respite from that!

I loved The Mother-In-Law. I thought it was clever and well written. I liked this even more! The characters were so interesting! Fern was fascinating. The details of her struggles with social situations (sensory issues) were very intense and heartbreaking(the noise, smells, lights, touch). Rose’s diary entries gave additional details and layers to the story and characters.

There were surprises and I saw a few of them coming but there were a few little twists within some of them that I didn’t. I couldn’t help but root for the relationship between Fern and Wally. This was excellent and I advise you to go into it as blindly as possible.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for a copy in exchange for a review.

Wow! Sally Hepworth's, The Good Sisiter is amazing! Rich, well crafted characters drive a compelling tale of the complex bond between tin sisters. Crazy twist will keep the reader guessing. I highly recommend The Good Sister!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I loved Hepworth's "The Mother In Law" so I was excited to read this one. It seems Hepworth has a knack for twisty families. Definitely recommend.

The Good Sister is a clever, twisty thriller that really kept me guessing. I like this better than Hepworth's previous book and would definitely love to read more by the author now!

Thank You NetGalley & Publisher for this gifted e-ARC for an honest review!

"There's only been one time that Rose couldn't stop me from doing the wrong thing and that was a mistake that will haunt me for the rest of my life."
Fern Castle works in her local library. She has dinner with her twin sister Rose three nights a week. And she avoids crowds, bright lights and loud noises as much as possible. Fern has a carefully structured life and disrupting her routine can be ... dangerous.

Overall- This was a fast read for me, Which I love!
This was a great twisty thriller. About the relationship between two sisters, The story was very well written, which had me gripped from the first page.

Fern and Rose are adult twins living in Australia. Although Fern is beautiful with long blonde hair and a slim athletic build, Rose is the dominant twin. Fern struggles with sensory issues and although she has a job she loves in a library and her own apartment, she depends on Rose for stability and companionship. Told in alternating viewpoints and through diary entries, readers toggle back and forth between the sisters' current relationship and their often difficult childhood. Rose's diary entries depict an unreliable and sometimes cruel mother. Fern sometimes chafes against Rose's sometimes overbearing presence in her life but believes that it is just part of sisterhood, telling herself, "Sisterhood is not all unicorns and rainbows. It's also blood and guts." How would Fern manage by herself? She certainly isn't capable of running her own life, or is she? Sally Hepworth will keep readers engaged until the last page with this one. I couldn't put it down and found myself staying up too late just to finish. This is a great, entertaining read.

Oh, this book was quite a ride! I really enjoyed reading it & trying to unravel the mysteries it contained. I was drawn to the characters from the start, and it was a great story that kept you guessing throughout!
I stayed up because I couldn’t wait to finish, and it didn’t disappoint me! This is the second book I’ve read by Sally Hepworth, and I’d recommend it to readers who enjoy psychological thrillers & suspense. It wasn’t clear the whole time where the thrills would be found, but the questions kept coming up and the intrigue was built. That desire to know “what’s next?!” propelled me through the story!

Sally Hepworth is a master at creating an atmosphere of suspense! This particular books immerses you into the lives of twin sisters, one with sensory issues and one as the designated protector. It is so engaging that you do not want to leave their minds, and it causes so much anxiety in that delicious way only a good book can do.

Wow! I was really invested in all of the characters. There was amazing character development, both good and bad. I enjoyed the ending and was rooting for Fern the whole time. Would definitely recommend!

4.5/ 5 stars
“The Good Sister” is the second book that I’ve read by Sally Hepworth (the first being “ The Mother-in-Law”). It is definitely one of those books that the less you know going in, the better. I’ll give you the basics. This book is about twin sisters, Rose and Fern.

I was pulled into this story right away. The writing flowed effortlessly. I loved how it alternates between present day (Fern) and journal entries that focus on the past (Rose). This book is a domestic thriller but underneath the mystery was quirkiness that I really enjoyed. And even more so, underneath the mystery and quirkiness, there’s romance, there’s sisterhood, there’s so much. It is definitely a multilayered book.

The characters were well developed, and I absolutely loved Fern. She may be one of my favorite characters. Here is a little tidbit. Fern has a sensory-processing issues. Loud sounds, bright lights, sudden touches are all triggers for her. The way that Sally Hepworth developed her character was spot on and I loved the representation. Everyone within this story served a purpose.

When it comes to the twist or the big reveal, I figured out what was going on beforehand, but I loved the journey that led up to it. I also think that the clues were put into place along the way so that it would be figured out beforehand. Where do the lines blur between what is “good” and what is evil? Overall, I really enjoyed this book and Sally Hepworth is quickly becoming one of my favorite suspense authors.

*** Side note: Who knew that “Where’s Waldo” is not titled “Where’s Waldo” across the world? You learn something new everyday, lol. I think I’ll call him Wally from now on.***

I absolutely loved this book and found it impossible to put down! I've been in a bit of a reading slump, having abandoned several books in a row, so I was really excited when I got approved to read The Good Sister. I read and loved Sally Hepworth's book The Mother in Law and dove right into this one. I'll admit, I was a little nervous for the first few chapters with what direction the story might go in. I really didn't want the neurodivergent character to be characterized as evil, but there were some strong hints that everything was not as it seemed, so I kept reading. Within a few chapters, I absolutely knew I was in good hands with this story, and I could not put it down. It combined a few of my very favorite elements in a story: an unreliable narrator and an unexpected romance. Fern was delightful, I loved Wally, and the dynamic between Rose and Fern's sisterhood definitely kept me clicking through the pages as fast as I could. There were a few surprises I didn't see coming, and I had a hard time putting this book down in between reading sessions. I finished it very quickly and immediately got on hold at the library for the rest of Hepworth's backlist. Thank you NetGalley and St, Martin's Press for an e-ARC.

Another hit from Sally Hepworth! She's so great at mixing and elevating genres. Here, we have a sweet romance juxtaposed with a domestic thriller, and both converge for a cohesive and tight narrative.

Hepworth has been a must-read author for me for a long time, and The Good Sister is as good as ever.

Wow. I was totally caught off guard by this one! Killed it in a couple sittings. The book follows two sisters, Rose and Fern. While they are fraternal twins, they are very different in personality. Rose is considered the responsible one and very protective of Fern. Fern is highly sensitive to light, touch and sounds and rarely strays from her schedule. Alternating between the POV of Fern and Rose's diary, we see their "routine" shaken up and how they each evolve. Loved the characters, the many layers and unexpected twists and turns! One of my favorites of the year so far.

This is my third Sally Hepworth novel. I enjoyed the previous two books by this author, so I was excited to receive an ARC from NetGalley of her newest book The Good Sister.

The story alternates between fraternal twin sisters named Rose and Fern. Rose is the dependable sister who escaped their rough childhood determined not to follow in her mother’s footsteps. Fern struggles with social interaction and takes everything literally. She needs predictability and order in her life. A tragedy when the girls are young makes Fern feel as though she can’t be trusted on her own. She relies on her sister Rose to help her navigate new situations. But when Fern learns that her sister cannot have a baby, she wonders if maybe it’s her turn to help Rose.

What I liked: The alternating viewpoints included flashbacks to the characters’ rough childhood and their relationship with their mother. You know something awful happened when the girls were young, but it is not fully revealed until the middle of the book. The book is written in a way to make you think you know which one is the “good sister,” but also includes some twists to make you wonder if you are actually correct. Their was minimal foul language in the book, which I appreciated. Fern’s character reminded me of Eleanor Oliphant in that she takes everyone at their word and struggles understanding emotions and interpersonal relationships.

What I didn’t like: I did figure out the twist about halfway through the book. I knew who the “good sister” was and was afraid the ending would leave me angry. I will say that while I figured out that piece, there was a slight twist that shed new light on the motivations of the “bad sister.” And not all was as it seemed throughout the story. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the last chapter because it made it seem like the “bad sister” might get her way after all. I would have been happier had it ended with the next to last chapter.

Overall, a solid thriller by Sally Hepworth. There were definitely some predictable parts, but a few small twists will keep you interested. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book!

I could not put this book down and since I finished it last night, I still cannot stop thinking about it.

Fern and Rose are twin sisters, Fern has sensory issues & has been made to believe her whole life that she needs her sister to live. When she finally meets Wally at her job, her life will change and she will learn just how different Rose is.

I love how the author went into detail with Fern’s sensory disorder. My daughter has slight issues and to hear just how much little things that don’t phase me, can really upset and work someone up....it was very eye opening for me.

Stop what you are doing now and pick this up, it was fantastic!

Another good page turner from a mystery writer. Read in an afternoon at the beach and it kept me entertained and moving.. A great escape from the current environment we are living in.

I like Fern & Wally. Yes a bit odd but lovely people whereas some of the other ‘normal’ people aren’t what they seem. A book of depth with complicated relationships and mental illness. Touching in places, aggravating in others, spoiler:::::::::
I hope the ending page is understood by the police in what it truly is and not an opportunity to throw off the wonderful ‘family’ Fern finds in all her people.
Thank you netgalley & the publisher for giving me this arc for an honest review