This is my favorite book of the year!! I absolutely loved reading this excellent novel and fell in love with the main character, Fern. Her quirky personality was so endearing to me, I want to know her in real life. Hepworth captured the beautiful sweetness of (high functioning) autism spot on with this character!
Fern Castle works at her local library, she eats dinner with her twin sister, Rose, three nights a week, she avoids eye contact and crowds, lights and loud noises whenever possible to avoid a sensory overload. She has a strict routine and doesn't like to deviate from it, which is consistent with her autism. Though never diagnosed, she is clearly on the spectrum.
When Fern discovers that her best friend and twin, Rose cannot have children, she realizes that she can give this wonderful gift to her sister! She can have the baby for her! She just needs to find a sperm donor. Enter the lovable character of Wally. He is well developed and absolutely the sweetest guy for Fern. Fern sets upon her mission.
In the first quarter of the book, I almost forgot I was reading a thriller. I was completely enamored with the characters and excellent character development. As I mentioned, I fell in love with Fern and Wally immediately and watched their relationship blossom with excitement. We learn early on- through the diary of Rose- that Fern's childhood wasn't the greatest and her mother may have been abusive and a possible narcissist. Something terrible happened in the girls' childhood that could affect them in the present. What did Fern do and what is she capable of? What did her mother do these girls?
We begin to see that one of the characters isn't a reliable narrator, but which one? Can we trust what we are reading about the childhood of these twins? The relationship between sisters is examined and pushed to the limit. I can't tell you anymore. READ this book. I loved the character development, I loved the surprises in the end and I love this book. My first 5 star read this year!!! Thank you to netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Even BETTER than The Mother-in-Law!! WOW! We have 2 twin sisters. Fern has sensory issues and is crazy, or is she? Rose is the good sister, or is she? Mom is a total nutjob, or is she? This book was SO much fun and I actually laughed out loud in parts. Especially with Rose and Wally. I loved how Rose's issues were handled. Autism runs in my family and I thought the author did a great job with that. There were also EXTREMELY emotional parts and I did ugly cry at times. Take my word and READ THIS!!! Sally Hepworth just shot right up my Must Read list with this one!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Sally Hepworth and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest review.

Sally Hepworth has done it again - she's written a book that I have a hard time putting down! Hepworth has been my go-to author for domestic drama and The Good Sister did not disappoint. The story follows fraternal twins, Rose & Fern, who are opposite in more than just their looks. Raised by a single mother, "Good Girl Rose" and "Quirky Fern" have hid a terrible secret which becomes hard to hide when a love interest and pregnancy is involved. Told in two narratives, Rose's diary and Fern's current love life, you will be turning the pages at fast speed trying to figure out the truth.

I love books about sisters. I loved half of this book. I loved the character of the librarian and her tech guru boyfriend. I could have read a whole book just about them and been happy. They had a great arc, she seemed realistic, the story was satisfying.

I did not like the "mystery" or suspense aspect of the book at all. The other sister was awful even if you didn't know the twist., I wish that storyline had been left out. Sally Hepworth, you can totally write non-suspense books! Please do!

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review. If you have enjoyed Sally Hepworth's books before you will love this one. This is a page turner that will have you hooked from the beginning. The characters were well developed and the storyline was engaging. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good thirller.

This is a 2021, release, but with such an interesting premise, I knew I had to dive in. St. Martin's puts out some of my favorite titles, and The Good Sister did not disappoint.

Fern and Rose are fraternal twins. Their entire lives, they've only had each other to depend on. But when Fern learns Rose wants a baby (but can't have one), their relationship begins to change. Told in alternating POVs of Fern and Rose's diary, the sisters struggle with their past, a tragedy that occurred one night when they were children, and their competing viewpoints of the world.

Phew, it's hard to summarize without giving away spoilers.

This book was excellent. Multi-POVs can be tricky, because oftentimes one (or more) of the voices can be less successful than the other. This is not the case with The Good Sister. Both Fern and Rose provide excellent context and insight into their behaviors. While both were good, I *LOVED* Fern. Rarely do you see a neurodivergent voice take front and center in a first-person narration. Fern's sensory processing disorder is an important part of not only her character, but to the plot, as well. Hepworth did an amazing job developing the world through Fern's eyes. Her personal struggles to relate to others, her sensory processing, the feeling of being overwhelmed--an action such as going to a bowling alley becomes sensory overload, and until I read Fern's perspective, it never occurred to me just how much stimulus is happening in a seemingly-mundane activity. I really appreciated her observations and clever quips.

The mother, too, in the flashbacks and in the current timeline, was an excellent side character, adding just enough creep factor to strengthen your investment in the girls. Complex mother/daughter relationships give so much additional depth to this book, and Hepworth highlights perspective and heartbreak beautifully.

As a side note, I'm not usually a fan of romantic subplots, but Wally stole my heart. Fern and Wally's dynamics were sweet, quirky, and refreshingly honest. I love when characters communicate. So many plot devices rely on miscommunication to propel the plot, and while there is some of that here, it's deliberate and tugs at the heart.

Additionally, Hepworth's writing style is clean, crisp, and beautiful. I couldn't put this read down, and I'd devoured half of it before I could take a breath. This is one of those reads that will stick with you, and while I had a pretty good idea where the plot was headed early on, I loved watching the story unfold, the characters grow, and the ultimate fallout from their choices.

Overall, The Good Sister is an un-put-downable, unsettling read with wonderful characters and heart. 10/10 this will be one to watch in 2021, and I can't wait to see more from Hepworth.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.

I received a copy of the book from the Publisher for an honest review. Once I got into the book I honestly couldn't put it down. About 75% in was when it really had me wondering which one was the good sister. From then on I couldn't put it down until I finished it. This is the second book of the authors that I've read and I'm still impressed! It was a quick, fast paced read, that kept my attention and that's what I need in my life these days.
Thank you #NetGalley #sallyhepworth and #stmartinspress for the opportunity to preview the book #thegoodsister #dueoutapril132021.

The Good Sister solidified Sally Hepworth as one of my favorite authors. Ms. Hepworth always does an extraordinary job of portraying how easily we misinterpret even those we consider closest to us. This particular novel, The Good Sister, is a story of twins and an examination of the strength of their sisterly bond. Ms. Hepworth offers alternating viewpoints to help the reader fully understand each sister, which in turn builds the plot’s action and suspense beautifully. Ms. Hepworth is the master of writing suspenseful family dramas,and I’m already eagerly awaiting the next. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth was another great book! I enjoyed Sally’s other novels, so I was super excited to read this and had high expectations.

Every night I clear my busy schedule (hahaha!) and plan on reading for a few hours. There are books like this one that forces me to stay up way past my bed time. If I can’t finish before bed, I pick up the book the next day and keep reading.

Poor Fern. She’s the frumpy sister of a beautiful, successful woman named Rose. The two are close and have dinner together a few nights a week. They share a tragic event from their childhood when their little brother dies. It was Fern’s fault, but Rose promises to never tell anyway and covers for her sister. From the entries of Rose’s diary, we learn that she was severely mistreated by their psychopathic mother.

When Fern discovers how badly Rose wants a baby, but can’t get pregnant, she puts a plan in place to help her. After all, Rose has done so much for her!

She meet a young man who would be perfect to get her pregnant, he looks kind of like the Where’s Waldo character and lives out of a van, but he’s nice and Fern likes him enough.

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.

When Rose discovers that she cannot fall pregnant, Fern sees her chance to pay her sister back for everything Rose has done for her. Fern can have a baby for Rose. She just needs to find a father. Simple.

Fern’s mission will shake the foundations of the life she has carefully built for herself and stir up dark secrets from the past, in this quirky, rich and shocking story of unexpected love.

I really liked the character of Fern who might be on the spectrum of having Asperger’s syndrome and is misunderstood by her co-workers. She hates bright lights and sounds and lots of people, I could relate to that. She is such a kind soul and I found myself connecting to her and wanting everything to work out for her.

The Good Sister is another book fo you to add to your To Be Read list or pre-order now.

It will be published in April of 2021, don’t despair! Sally Hepworth’s other books are very good too. I loved The Mother In Law and The Secrets of Midwives.

Anytime a new book comes out by Sally Hepworth, I am going to read it! A story of two twins, one dominant and the other a bit meek and the "horrible " life they had growing up. I loved the sweetness of Fern but also really enjoyed when she came into her own and took control of her own life, a wonderful read that I know all my friends will love!

Sally Hepworth never disappoints. So you think you can figure out what’s going on with these sisters. ....think again. Great story about two very different sisters and how they affect each other’s lives. I couldn’t put this book down. Put it on your list and ore order it now.

Another hit for Hepworth! I just love the writing style she utilizes, I seen it in THE MOTHER-IN-LAW as well. This one was another that kept you intrigued from the beginning until the end. The prologue definitely captures your interest, for the chills, thrills, and shocks you’ll get while reading! Overall, I thought it was quite unputdownable, had enough twists and turns to keep me gasping here and there, some amazingly chilling chills, wild thrills, and fun shocks! I highly recommend to those who love Hepworth, thrillers, domestic suspense or to someone starting into the genre! Well worth the read, as the tension is high and the suspense never ending! Highly, highly recommend!
Will make sure to buzz around platforms and use low Amazon reviewer number on release date!

Sally Hepworth does it again! This one had me staying up way too late to finish it, but I just HAD to know the truth.

The Good Sister is another amazing domestic suspense by Sally Hepworth.

Twin sisters, Rose and Fern, are particularly close after a troubled childhood.  Rose's journal recounts abuse and neglect leading up to their mother's overdose, and the sisters' years in foster care, but Fern remembers their childhood slightly differently. For example, Fern remembers the year they spent basically homeless and living in the public library as a great adventure that led her to become a librarian. Even as an adult, Rose feels like she needs to take care of her sister. Fern is never diagnosed, but she's a bit too literal and can't handle noises, lights, or strangers, really.   Definitely can't cope with a new relationship...

I don't want to reveal too much of the plot, because this really is a novel in which pretty much every detail is significant. There are so many twists, and so many times that tiny bit of information earlier came back to reveal something else. I'll say that fans of The Mother-in-Law will enjoy the suspense, and it really kept me wondering who to believe. There wasn't anything even a little bit gross,  but the suspense is so intense.

5 out of 5 for The Good Sister.

Fern and Rose are twins who have always had to look out for each other as their mother was not always the most caring mother. From the age of 12 they were put into foster care and have had to depend on each other.

Fern has sensory issues and doesnt like being touched. Rose is always looking out for Fern and making sure that she doesnt forget things. But all is not as it seems. A great thriller with twists and turns along the way.

I received a copy of The Good Sister in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

I loved this book. Sally Hepworth is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. She vividly develops the characters. I read this book in one day. I couldn’t put it down and I figured out one of the main twists early. Even thinking I had it figured out, I really enjoyed it.

I would highly recommend this book to my friends and look forward to my next Sally Hepworth book!

I just loved Fern!!! Rose I was not so sure about, through the diary entries of Rose we get to learn of her relationship with her mother. What was strange was that Fern still kept visiting her mother but Rose did not. This made me wonder what was different in the relationship between the sisters and their mother. Fern is a very trusting person and this is evident throughout the whole book. Lots of things happens with Fern that I couldn't explain and wondered about, especially her forgetfulness. I enjoyed the romance that developed between Fern and Wally and the friendship that Fern had with her colleagues. We learn a lot about people with sensory problems. In the end every plot line is tied together neatly for the reader. This book is about two sisters and their relationship with each other.

4 stars.*

I'm a huge Sally Hepworth fan. When I saw this title in the coming releases on NetGalley I lept at the chance to read her latest twisty adventure.

This was not my favorite but it was, as is typical to Sally Hepworth, a dark and emotional psychological thriller. It is the story of twin sisters Fern and Rose Castle. Having grown up in the care of a psychologically abusive, drug-addled single mother, they are bound together in unusual ways. We learn their story through parallel narrative- with Fern telling her memory of events as well as her current situation, and Rose telling and writing in a diary as suggested by her therapist the stories of their youth as well as current events in her life.

Rose is a type=A home decorator, married to Owen and desperate for a baby. Fern is atypical, with sensory issues and difficulty relating with people. She works in a library and has a very structured life which includes thrice weekly dinners with her sister and a weekly visit to her mother in her care facility where she has lived for nearly 20 years since her drug overdose when the twins were just teenagers.

Rose takes a holiday to visit Owen where he is working on a long-term project in London and leaves Fern to take care of her dog and herself. Things do not go well and Fern finds herself having forgotten to feed the dog for days. She meets a handsome but unusual man that she initially mistakes as homeless at the library and enlists his help in managing the dog situation. They become fast friends, and then lovers. When Fern finds herself pregnant, she and Rose agree that the best course of action is for her to give the baby to Rose & Owen to raise.- partly because of her issues and partly because of an incident in their youth when Fern blacked out and drowned a boy while on a camping trip. The drowning has haunted Fern her whole life and Rose uses that to manipulate her into giving up all of her freedom and moving in with Rose. Fern cuts off contact with the father without telling him she is pregnant.

When the baby is born, Fern comes to a realization about the drowning, her mother's overdose and the circumstances surrounding her giving her baby to her sister. It wasn't anything I couldn't predict but it was good and it kept me interested.

*with thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for this honest review.

Thank you SO much for this ARC!

Seriously, I am obsessed with Sally Hepworth. Her writing is brilliant, I love that I know going into the story that there is a great chance that these characters are extremely unreliable and anything could happen! Of course that was true!

I love reading her female dynamics, she really does such an incredible job of portraying different points of view.

The Good Sister was amazing. I loved reading about Fern and experiencing the world through her eyes, super interesting and must have taken a lot of research to accurately express.

Forever fan, thank you!

This is a beautifully written novel about sisters. There have been a lot of books written about the relationship between sisters, but this one is totally different. I was a little concerned about the book at the beginning, but I soon realized this is not your every day sisters book. Ms Hepworth has a way of making what seem like facts turn into something totally different. Rose’s diary alternately with Fern’s life through her own eyes tell the heartwarming story. I recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries. I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and St Martin’s Press. All opinions expressed are my own.