This book kept me guessing until the end so much do I stayed up very late to finish it! I loved the twist in the story and I got really invested in the characters. Such a clever plot and I’ve already recommended this fantastic book to friends, family and my book group. Thank you for the opportunity to provide an honest review.

Rose and Fern are twins, and close. Fern is single and works in a library and goes to dinner at her sister’s house three times a week. Rose is happily married with a beautiful home and successful career, but she can’t seem to have the one thing she really wants – a baby.

Can Fern be a surrogate for her sister in return for everything Rose did for Fern growing up? Of course, she has to find a potential father first.

Lots of twists, turns, and an unexpected ending kept me gripped.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

'The Good Sister' tells the story of Fern and Rose, a pair of fraternal twins who had a troubled upbringing, from the POV of Fern, as well as Rose's diary entries.

Both perspectives strongly hint at a dark secret from the girls' childhood, which resulted in a dead body. Consequently, Rose is still protective of Fern well into their adult lives, but their normal lifestyles are turned upside down when Fern decided to become pregnant so that she can carry a child for Rose, and secrets are unearthed.

The story was mostly well-paced, and it definitely kept me turning the pages at the start and towards the end. However, by about 60% through the book, I did start to wonder what the book was actually about and whether anything dramatic/exciting was actually going to happen. Luckily, the final third of the book introduced a twist which kept me interested for the rest of the novel.

The characters were fairly likeable and somewhat relatable, so readers would be definitely be able to empathise with them (although some more than others). Like all good thrillers, the characters' flaws were revealed more and more as time went on, which kept the plot moving forward.

Overall, this was a great read and I will definitely recommend this book to our library users. The only disappointing factor for me was that the story seemed to be tied up too easily and conveniently, but that didn't detract from the storyline.

The Good Sister is the first book I’ve read by this author and I was pleasantly surprised. I didn’t expect to enjoy it quite as much as both the title and the blurb seemed quite mediocre, with many similar books in this genre currently on the market. However, I devoured the first three quarters as I loved the characters, the writing, the humour and the underlying current of foreboding and unease. The last part of the book was a little disappointing as the big twist was predictable, over explained and clumsily executed. At this point the story matched its run-off-the-mill title and the blurb.

Gosh I don’t know where to start as so many other reviewers have said it already. So to back them up I agree with the sentiment of not only the majority but all reviewers. This was an excellent, satisfying read about twins Rose and Fern. Rose, an interior designer has a charmed life with a loving husband and a successful business. To the outside world she has everything but appearances can be deceiving. What they desperately want is a child and that is where her sister Fern comes in. Shy quiet, Fern spends her days hiding behind the safety of her job at the local library. She sees a chance to give back all the protection and caring that she has received from Rose, recruiting new friend, Rocco or Wally, who, is going to help her to do that. This was certainly an original storyline which I thoroughly enjoyed. Miss Hepworth can’t go wrong and always delivers.

This was a really quick domestic thriller to get through and I do enjoy books with sisters in but I did find it a tad predictable and saw the twist coming from quite early on. I would recommend this more if you are new to the genre.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I saved this book for a duvet day.
I’d read and enjoyed Sally Hepworth’s other novels and knew I could count on her for a good, undemanding page-turner. Sometimes you need a novel that you can just dive into immediately to forget all the difficult stuff that everyone’s going through at the moment.
The story is told by twins Rose and Fern. Alternating accounts can be a problem - sometimes you find yourself forgetting who’s speaking - but not when the characters are so different. Fern is a charming character who owes much to Eleanor Oliphant. She is kind but unworldly and appears to be too reliant on her practical sister Rose, who even took Fern on honeymoon. You worry that Fern is ruining Rose’s life when Rose complains that Fern has turned her hair grey.
Fern is desperate to repay Rose for everything she’s done for her and plans to have a baby and give it to Rose, who has premature ovarian ageing.
But Fern knows she cannot be trusted with a baby, as at the age of 12 she did that terrible thing, that only Rose knows about ...
We all enjoy a good twisty suspense novel, and the twists in this book are very satisfying, upending all our expectations. There’s also the bonus of a romance in which two people who struggle with social acceptance find the perfect match in each other.
I have to say that I prefer darker thrillers but this light read is perfect for a day off.

There are some books you cannot put down, this was one of them. If you like dysfunctional, toxic, old fashioned good versus evil The Good Sister is a great book for you! Sally Hepworth has cleverly captured two very compelling personalities in the sisters Rose and Fern as their story unfolds. No spoilers, you need to read this to the end that you won't see coming!

A decent domestic drama concerning fraternal twins, Fern, a librarian who is on the autism spectrum, and bossy Rose, an office space designer. Rose keeps a diary chronicling memories of an unhappy childhood with their unpleasant mother, Fern's memories however, are very different, so which set of recollections are accurate? A fast read, enjoyable, a little twisty, engaging but not too heavy and I loved the character of Fern, 4 stars. Thanks Netgalley.

Sister relationships can be very complicated and are not usually something I enjoy reading about, as I prefer a plot with a wider lens rather than an intense focus on just two females and ideally a novel with an evocative, glamorous setting. I am glad, however, that I made an exception for Sally Hepworth’s latest novel ….as this exception was well worth it!

'The Good Sister' is about Fern and Rose, non-identical twins in their late twenties who each deal with serious issues. Rose, a diabetic, has become her sister’s protector because Fern struggles a sensory processing issues that leave her unable to cope in many day-to-day situations, although she is highly thought of and appreciated in her librarian job. As well as looking out for her sister now, we learn that Rose also covered for Fern during a terrible childhood event that neither sister has yet recovered from, and that both girls are traumatised by their dysfunctional childhood at the hands of their hostile, narcissistic mother. But was the past exactly like the sisters make out and is the present really like Rose describes it in her journal?
Even if you would not normally consider a domestic thriller, I suggest you pick up this one – you may well find you are hooked! Thank you to the publishers and to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for this honest and unbiased review.

I really enjoyed this book. Rose and Fern are sisters. Fern is clearly on the autism spectrum and Rose takes good care of her. Fern works at the local library and lives independently,. When she discovers that Rose is unable to get pregnant, Fern decides that she will have a baby for her. She just needs to find a father! This is a good read which will keep you guessing to the end. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

Thoroughly enjoyed this and how twisted it was, well worth reading as you will get sucked straight into the story!

The good sister is a brilliant emotive domestic thriller that will draw you in and keep you guessing right until the end!
The power and intensity of fraternal twins bonds, one twin having a sensory processing disorder the other being the protector, where do these roles end and start??
Fern and Rose are twins that have a very intimate, close almost suffocating relationship forged from childhood due we are led to believe from their upbringing! Now as adults Fern is functioning well,working, sticking to her routines and rituals but Rose who likes to be needed,wanted is faltering and needs to come up with a plan to make Fern ever more reliant upon her!
What follows is a twisty, emotive, thrilling read that will enthrall you to the end!
Thank you net galley for this early read.

When I saw that Sally Hepworths new book was available on NetGalley I jumped at the chance to read it early! I loved The Mother-In-Law and was hoping for another great read. I wasnt diasappointed, whilst being totally different to The Mother-In-Law it is another cracker! When it first started I really struggled to recoginse it as being by Sally Hepworth, it was so different to its predecessor but it was equally as good. I immediately loved the character Fern; her sensory issues were so interesting to read about and her relationship with her sister Rose was fascinating. The way the diary of Rose is interspersed throughout the story to describe the twins childhood is great but the twist at the end was so unexpected!

I gave this book four stars as it was thoroughly enjoyable!

This book is absolutely fantastic! I literally could not put it down. It is a beautifully written story about twin sisters who couldn't be more different. There is some humour throughout the story which makes it heart warming but then it takes a dark, mysterious turn. I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars!
Without a doubt I will be recommending this book to family and friends. If you are unsure whether this book is for you, definitely read it! I have never read any of Sally Hepworth's books before but after reading this I will be purchasing her others. She has an great way of writing which flows and her descriptions of the characters were perfect.
By the end of this book I had no questions about particular characters and there were no "loose ends." There's nothing worse than getting to the end of a book and not having questions answered. I have no faults or criticisms at all with this book. A thrilling story with an excellent ending.
Thank you to Sally Hepworth, Net Galley and Hodder and Stoughton for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Every so often a book pops into my Kindle (thank you NetGalley!) that I just adore.

This one such book. Beautifully written, wonderful story told with humour and style.

I can't think how I've never heard of Sally Hepworth before, I'm certainly going to read everything she's written before.

I read this book in two sittings (would have been one but the family needed feeding). Really great feel-good book.

Really enjoyed this book, the story unfolded and you weren't sure who was good and who was evil - it soon became apparent that all was not as it seemed but I wasn't expecting it to be quite as dark!

The Other Sister - Sally Hepworth

The only book by Sally Hepworth I've read previously was The Family Next Door, which
I thoroughly enjoyed, so was looking forwards to reading another one.

I mainly read Psychological Thrillers and Crime, but am very open to this kind of 'sunny domestic-noir'.

The story of two twins, Rose and Fern. Fern has some form of autistic spectrum sensory overload issue and takes things very literally. Fern's is the main narrative, which is based in the present.

Rose's contribution comes in the form of a journal, documenting their childhood and unstable home life . We learn early on that the twins were involved in the drowning of a boy they were camping with.

Most of the book covers Fern's daily life and struggles, working as a Librarian and trying to cope, it is sensitive, tender and often very funny. I wasn't gripped, but was contentedly entertained.

Things get a lot more involved and tense in the last third which I found gripping, tense and very, very moving.

One of those you can't say too much about without hinting at spoilers, but it is very cleverly constructed and extremely well told. Ever so readable and highly recommended.

Totally had me hooked. This is about two sisters who are twins, and you read the diary of one and the other part is real time. It goes between them and you think one is a better sister.....but which one really is good.
It's a unique storyline and I loved it .
Sally Hepworth is a fantastic writer who knows how to get the readers gripped
Can't wait to read more
Thank you NetGalley

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.

Hepworth has written a masterpiece of a family thriller with this read. From the beginning I was hooked and drawn into the mysterious relationship between Fern and Rose. It is clear there is something off about their relationship and Hepworth masterfully builds the tension and drops clues as to the true nature of the bond throughout the read. Speaking of the atmosphere, this has such an intense, dangerous feel to it the whole way through, it made for very addictive reading.

Fern and Rose are essential to the plot so it was integral they were strong characters and they both are. However, Fern is a phenomenal character! I found myself obsessed with her, she has such a likeable personality and I loved reading about the world though her eyes. This was already an excellent read but Fern ensured this was outstanding.

I also have to mention the library where Fern works. Having worked in a library myself, I was astonished at how accurately Hepworth portrayed it, it was like I was back there!

'The Good Sister' is an exquisite thriller, full of lies and secrets just waiting to be revealed. I was completely hooked by this read and Fern is such a strong a character who will remain with me. What a read this was!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advance copy.