The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth. This book dives deeply into the characters of twins Rose and Fern and their story which is told from both point of views (in diary form), delving into their past and today where they are 28 years old.

Rose has always been Fern’s protector and they have had a code since childhood which was tapping each other bracelets a warning from Rose to tell Fern to say nothing at all. Their childhood was far from ideal, they never had a stable place to call home, living on other people’s sofas with their mother constantly psychologically abusing Rose even if it wasn’t her fault - most of the time for protecting Fern (who has sensory processing disorder).

Fern finds out that Rose is having difficulty conceiving and vows to help Rose to pay her pack for everything she has done particularly with something awful that happened that saved Fern. We read about Rose’s therapy, her marriage and Fern’s blossoming relationship with Wally a man she meets in the library where she works.
You can really get a feel of the story here, the twins have been through a lot together, the childhood trauma, the secrets they had to keep strengthened the bond of the twins … or did it?

Great read. Four stars. Thank you to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton and the author for the ARC.

Twin sisters Fern and Rose are very close and always have been. Rose has always looked after Fern who has Aspergers and has protected her from their sociopathic mother.
The reader discovers that Fern did something awful when she was a child and Rose has kept the secret all her life, protecting Fern from the consequences of her action.
Rose has difficulty conceiving and Fern decides to help her by getting pregnant and offering the baby to Rose.
As the story moves towards the conclusion things change and the reader is unsure about what happened in the past or what will happen in the future.
Good psychological drama with interesting twists and well written characters.
3.5 Stars ⭐️
Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for a fair review.

It’s a slow burner this one but a gripping plot and storyline, the twins were brilliant, like chalk and cheese and I enjoyed the complexity of their relationship. I devoured it in two sittings and there were a few twists I didn’t see coming too! Il be looking out for more from the author!

A complicated psychological thriller about twin sisters Rose and Fern who couldn’t be more different. The story is interesting and has a few twists with a subtle hint of humour. I will definitely be looking to read more books by Sally Hepworth.

Twins Fern and Rose are completely different but also as close as it is possible for sisters to be. Fern suffers from sensory processing disorder and has always been heavily reliant on Rose, when she learns that Rose is unable to have a baby she thinks the best plan is to get pregnant and give her the baby. Are things between them what they seem?

The Good Sister is a great slow burn thriller and a plot that grips you from start to finish. I would highly recommend giving it a read.

This book had me hooked .I was initially drawn into one version of the past and then was completely thrown when other versions and clues into the characters upbringing and personality were revealed.
I don’t want to give too much away but it’s a great page turn and then is a sense of satisfaction discovering how the plot pans out.

This was a great slow burn mystery/thriller. This is the second book of Sally Hepworth I’ve read. I love how she is able to write about family dynamics. Weaving what could be fantastical with what could be realistic. To make you question yourself as a reader.

Having read and loved a book by this author previously, I decided to give her latest new book a go as it did sound pretty good from the book blurb.

The story plot and characters were very well written, and I really enjoyed getting to know each and every one of the characters especially the two sisters. There were times throughout the story when I liked one sister more than the other sister, but then again this did keep changing throughout.

This was a truly outstanding story, very cleverly done, I was gripped from start to finish and I literally couldn’t turn the pages fast enough for wanting to see what was going to happen next. There were so many twists and turns within the story that I think I spent majority of the book sitting on the edge of my seat in anticipation.

So if you love psychological thrillers, then this book is definitely for you. I truly can’t recommend it enough.

Wow. Wow. Wow. This is honestly one of the best books I've ever read. I mean, the synopsis made it sound good, but it is seriously 100x better than you can imagine. If I'm honest, I went into it expecting a fairly average thriller, maybe above average if I was lucky, and that would be that. But it is so much more. It's entirely unique, managing to combine elements from so many genres in a way that creates something completely new, and utterly addictive.

You get to read from the POV of both Rose and Fern - Rose through diary entries, and Fern as the main narrator. Now, Fern is just fantastic. Seriously, she's so smart and funny and unusual and completely herself. She's obviously not neuro-typical, but the way she's characterised and written was brilliant - she was created as a truly unique individual, without veering into being in anyway stereotypical or cliched at any time.

The plot is just... perfect. As I said above, this book really defies genre, instead being a little bit of everything. I personally loved the rom-com and humour elements of the novel, which I didn't expect as I would've assumed it didn't fit well in a thriller. But instead it worked brilliantly, and made for a really captivating read - firstly you're there for the romance and the comedy, and then tension begins to build and everything gets a little dark...

So, altogether an amazing read. It's funny, smart, dark, creepy, romantic, and just completely captivating in every way. I just genuinely don't have words for how much I loved this book! So do yourself a favour and go and read it right now - you won't regret it.

Disclaimer - I was fortunate enough to be provided with an advance reading copy of this book by NetGalley. This has not affected my review in any way, and all opinions are my own.

Rose and Fern are twins and are as close as you would imagine them to be. Fern has sensory processing issues and Rose has always looked out for her.
Their childhood wasn't the easiest and they both formed a bond that kept them together into adulthood.
Fern and Rose both view their childhood differently but one thing they both agree on is that Fern wouldn't have made it without Rose.
From the outset this story is pretty straightforward, but it turns out sometimes everything is not as it seems. I enjoyed this book and would recommend, the characters are really well developed and the suspense keeps up throughout the book

Absolutely brilliant! Great story! Great characters!
This book had me hooked and never let me go. Sally Hepworth, thank you for this masterpiece.
Many thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read and review this title!.

As a huge fan of Sally Hepworth I was super excited for this book! I loved being sucked in to Fern and Rose’s sibling relationship and read this book in two sittings! I don’t want to give too much away but you will be engrossed - definitely go pick up this book!

Wow, wow, and wow! Three cheers for Sally Hepworth and the way she wove this story together, I loved every bit of it from start to finish and am gutted to have to say goodbye to the characters, even the ones that don't deserve a space in my life. I think it's a pretty big deal if you can write despicable characters that you end up feeling torn over.

Rose and Fern are twins. As much as they are chalk and cheese, they do pretty much everything together. Rose is 'round' and diabetic and in control, whilst Fern is odd and irritable and unpredictable, but the two of them share a bond that no one can come between. It must be the whole sister thing, right?

Having looked after Fern her whole life, more so after their mother took an overdose when they were preteens, Fern wants to give Rose a grand gesture, be the one to make things better for once. She has it all planned, what could possibly go wrong when you have best-laid plans and are regimental with your routines?

You can tell from the start that Fern is different, that she has traits that make her vulnerable, Without stating the obvious, Hepworth makes this clear with the stilted dialogue that contrasts greatly with Rose's fluent journal entries. Absolute mastery.

The story took some setting up and yet it still maintained a really good pace throughout with twists and turns so subtle, they are easy to miss. Lovers of family drama and psychological thrillers will not be disappointed with this book. It's suited for mid-teens upwards although adults will probably appreciate it more. There is no obscene language and graphically violent scenes commonplace in modern thrillers. The author relies solely on her storytelling skills which are simply amazing.

Despite a couple of grammatical errors, though not too many to bear a grudge, this is a sold 5/5 read. Grab you copies and enjoy the ride.

First time I'm reading a book from this author and I really liked it! The main character, Fern, is on the spectrum and has problem processing external sensors (light, voices, touch). She struggles with the nuances of social interactions but she's kind-hearted, hard-working, and intelligent. I really liked how the book portrays a neurodiverse character with warmth, humor and sincerity. She has a sister, Rose, who is incredibly protective of her. We get to see Rose's POV from excerpts of her diary which speaks to a traumatic childhood and marriage struggles. I really liked Fern's relationship with Wally, an autistic man she starts dating and I was anxious for them to stay together!

While I was able to predict the storyline, there was still a lot I was able to take from the story. Seeing how Fern handles a possible pregnancy, uncovering a secret from her childhood, her relationship with her sick mother, and Rose's increasingly strange behaviour all made for a suspenseful read. Is Fern harbouring dangerous tendencies? Is Rose caring or controlling? There were times when I got angry at the situation which means the book does a good job making me care! I was satisfied with the ending too. A well-written thriller about sisterhood, family drama, manipulation and secrets, this should go on your list!

A psychological thriller about twins sisters and their mother.
Something happened when the twins where younger.
This story is told through Rosie’s journal and through the eyes of Fern.
All is not what it seems.
Great reads
Thanks NetGalley

This has been a read filled with tension and suspense and I have been completely hooked. I have adored the way this has been written and fully engaged in this novel.

I loved this book.
Sally Hepworth has a really interesting style of story telling, taking something that's typically mundane and making it so intense and suspenseful.

I really enjoyed the characters, I felt each character was so individual including the supporting characters such as the library or healthcare staff. Each person really stood out and had a purpose.

While it was definitely intense, I felt The Good Sister had a really heart warming element to it's story that was so perfect.

I will say that I could see the ending coming but that somehow made it all the more intense and towards the last 30% of the book, I was just racing to finish it, I couldn't wait to find out what happened. I even stayed up late after a night shift to read it which I never do!

It's also clear Sally did a huge amount of research for this book. One of the characters is diabetic and the research in this alone was great.

I definitely think this is going to stand out as one of my favourite books in 2021. A very easy 5 stars⭐

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton, Sally Hepworth & NetGalley for an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Good Sister is one of those books that stay with you long after you put the book down. I loved this book all round and was captivated from the very first chapter. It is an absolutely fantastic book.

The book is about two sisters, Fern and Rose, Rose is the older protective sister of Fern, who it's not said openly but we learn is somewhere on the Autisc Spectrum, with a sensory processing disorder. I loved Fern's character and her quirks. The story is told through present day Fern's POV and Rose's old diary It is very interesting having a different style like this and I enjoyed it.

It's hard to explain how this book is heart warming, yet nerve wracking, happy, yet simmering with tension!
The blossoming relationship between Fern and Wally (Really called Rocky, but she names him this as he reminds her of Where's Wally!) is so sweet and endearing, it will make you root for them, as well as make you laugh and cry!

The relationship between Rose and Fern is very intriguing, I won't divulge anything as I don't want to spoil the plot, but the development of how we view the sisters relationship through the story is done brilliantly.

I wish I was still in the depths of this book as I am very much missing it now! The ending was wraped up brilliantly and I found nothing lacking whatsoever. I will definitely be looking for more books by Sally Hepworth to add to my collection.

Thank you to Netgalley, Hodder and Staunton, and Sally Hepworth for a copy of the book in return for an honest review.

A fantastic twisty turny, high octane thriller that kept me guessing throughout. I liked the quirky main characters.

What a fabulous book! I haven’t loved a character like Fern for a long time. A story celebrating neurodivergency and difference. An extremely insightful examination of what it means to have a sister and to be a sister: lollipops and blood… also about different narratives on the same experiences. Superbly written with the right balance of humour and difficult issues. Made me laugh and cry! I was truly gripped and read in one session.