The good sister

by Sally Hepworth

Large Print, 2020

Publication

Wheeler Publishing

Collection

Eiland Center

Call number

Large Print Fiction H

Physical description

424 p.; 9 inches

Status

Available

Call number

Large Print Fiction H

Description

Fiction. Literature. Thriller. HTML: THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER "A stunningly clever thriller made doubly suspenseful by not one, but two unreliable narrators." �?? People Sally Hepworth, the author of The Mother-In-Law delivers a knock-out of a novel about the lies that bind two sisters in The Good Sister. 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. When Rose discovers that she cannot get 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 what families keep hidden.… (more)

Genres

All Topics

Fiction

User reviews

LibraryThing member jfe16

Review of Uncorrected Digital Galley

Twenty-eight-year-old fraternal twins Fern and Rose have always been close, have always had a special bond. But they couldn’t be more different. Fern, a librarian at Bayside Public Library, is tall, fair-haired, and suffers from a sensory processing disorder;

she’s very literal and finds social situations awkward. Rose, an interior designer, is petite, dark-haired, and strong; she’s her sister’s protector and knows how to help Fern calm herself when a situation becomes overwhelming for her.

Rose has recently discovered her difficulty in becoming pregnant is due to a condition called premature ovarian aging. When Fern discovers Rose’s problem, she considers the issue and decides that there’s a simple solution to the problem: she could have a baby and give the infant to Rose and her husband, Owen to raise. After all, Rose has always watched over Fern and protected her. Fern decides she could do this to repay Rose for everything she’s always done for her.

Fern sets out to execute her plan, but nothing goes quite as she expects, leaving Fern confused and Rose worried. Can Fern do this one thing for her sister? And can Rose let her do it?

This compelling family tale alternates between Fern’s present and the sisters’ past as relayed through entries written in Rose’s diary. These remembrances slowly create an often-startling picture of the girls’ tumultuous growing-up years. The characters are well-drawn, nuanced, and believable although, at times, readers will find it easy to dislike one sister or the other.

The story is quirky and humorous yet filled with warmth; the devotion the sisters have for each other is heartfelt. However, there’s a slowly-building undercurrent of uneasiness warning readers that not everything may be quite as they believe. And as the unfolding narrative takes the story in unforeseen directions, readers are sure to find themselves surprised by the unexpected revelations in this impossible-to-set-aside tale of dark family secrets.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley
#TheGoodSister #NetGalley

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24 more

LibraryThing member bookczuk

Summer 2021 pandemic resurgence/Delta variant read. I was expecting a twist, even expected this one though not in its final format. But then again, I only have brothers, no sister.

LibraryThing member amysan

I really enjoyed Sally Hepworth's novel, The Mother-in-Law and so was looking forward to reading this one too. I wasn't disappointed - this was a quick, enjoyable read with a little more depth than your usual thriller.

LibraryThing member susan.h.schofield

Another winner from Sally Hepworth! I always enjoy her books and this was no exception. Lots of good twists - you didn't know which sister was truly the good sister until the end. It was a great psychological drama and I highly recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC.

LibraryThing member Mrsmommybooknerd

#FirstLine ~ It's been three months since Owen left.

Um, well....WOW. I am still a bit speechless. This book was quite the read. I would say that I was unsettled the whole time. It had an uncomfortable undertone from the start and I LOVED IT! You never knew who to trust or what was real or

perceived. It was one of those reads that unfolds slowly...making the reader work to anticipate what was going to happen. It built on the suspense, but not the edge of your seat suspense, but the slow burn of a reveal that leaves you saying...WOW! I absolutely loved this book. I was pulled in right away and loved the varying perspectives and the journal entries. It was fresh, original and worthy of all the praise it is getting! A MUST READ!!!!

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LibraryThing member litwitch

Hepworth's writing just gets better and better! I read this book in a little over a day and am still thinking about it 3 days later. The writing was perfect. Simple to follow but complicated enough to keep you thinking. The mystery became clear quite early, but I think that made me enjoy it even

more. Instead of trying to figure out what happened, I got to spend plenty of time really digging into why it happened. Another amazing read from an amazing author!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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LibraryThing member SquirrelHead

The Good Sister is a twisty story about twins who have an unconventional upbringing. They are devoted to one another and you'll learn more about their relationship through journals as written by Rose. Fern is the sister who is completely dependent on Rose yet is quite a capable young woman, one who

doesn't realize her potential and abilities.

Fern is so likeable but there is something a bit off about her. She has a keen mind for detail and a practical way of examining a situation. Black and white with no gray area, as an engineer, socially awkward yet confident.

Rose appears to have her life together, has a lovely home and clearly takes care of Fern. Still, Rose's husband has left her and she wants to have a baby. Right from the beginning you will see how Rose manipulates Fern, steers her a particular direction so it seems it's Fern's idea.

We read about the childhood experiences she and Fern endure through her journals and their mother is not kind. It's a dysfunctional family drama with hints of the ending surfacing early on in the book. Still, it's well written and I wasn't tempted to put it aside. The sister with the dark side is gradually developed in this story.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced readers copy of this book. I was not compensated for the review and opinions are all mine. This book will be published 13 April 2021.

Genre is mystery and thriller/women's fiction.

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LibraryThing member runner56

Fern and Rose, fraternal sisters, are very close siblings. Rose might view herself as the more pragmatic decision maker, and Fern the organised librarian, mildly autistic, in her own ordered world. As young children they lived a chaotic transient, abusive existence, with their mum and various

questionable lovers.
Rose and partner Owen, unable to have children, are overjoyed when Fern offers herself as surrogate mum. The story is delightful, at times a little dark, and is told in the alternate voices of the two sisters. To say more would spoil the delights awaiting an expectant reader, with an ending that is surprising and very neatly executed. Recommended. Many thanks to the good people at netgalley for a gratis copy in exchange for an honest review and that is what I have written.

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LibraryThing member purple_pisces22

A new book by Sally Hepworth. Does anything else need to be said? If you must know, once again, Ms. Hepworth nails it.
Fern and Rose are twins. Living with their single mother, they appear to live a life that is not what one would consider perfect. In fact, it’s a life that most would consider

pretty awful... or is it?
This book had me questioning nothing. I literally took everything I read as the truth. Maybe it is the truth though. But who’s truth is it actually? As a long-time reader of suspense books, I should know better, but I was taken in by the amazing writing and the very believable characters.
Since the book is not out until April, I will leave it at that for now. Thank you to NetGalley for the free advanced e-book in exchange for my honest review.
#Netgalley #SallyHepworth #TheGoodSiste

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LibraryThing member LoriKBoyd

Ms. Hepworth’s books, for me, have a tendency to start on the slower side. She lolls you into a safe place and you start wondering where the story is. Then, bam...the story takes off and everything she led you to believe, is turned upside down.

Twins, Fern and Rose, are as different as night and

day. Fern is quirky, with sensory issues, who loves her job and needs routine. Rose is more mainstream, married, but going thru a rough patch, always looking out for Fern. Enter Rocco, an lovable quirky character in his own right, who Fern names Wally due to his resemblance to a book character. This is a twisted story of family, reality isn’t what we always see or are led to believe. You will fall in love with some characters, and question the motives of others. Well written, excellent character development.

Thanks to Ms. Hepworth, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone!

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LibraryThing member SilversReviews

Which sister is the good sister?

You will ask yourself this question as you read.

They both seem to be good and good for each other especially after surviving their horrible childhood with a sociopath for a mother.

But is one better than the other? Is one actually more conniving than the other?

You will find out.

We follow Rose and Fern's life and see that Rose protects Fern at all costs and that Fern listens to everything Rose tells her to do.

The alternating chapters of each sister's life as adults was described in detail and gave us insight into how they really lived and the secrets they kept from each other and one they kept for years.

This book was more character driven than plot driven for me, but that is great because the characters are likable.

You will like both Rose and Fern and especially Wally. Wally is a man Fern met when he came to the library. They have much in common and are a good pair and good for each other.

There is something happening in both stories, but something you can’t pin down or can't figure out.

The beginning has you wondering where it is going, but…oh does it get better and better.

Sister and family drama can be good or bad.

THE GOOD SISTER will let you know which way it goes for Rose and Fern. 4/5

This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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LibraryThing member tamidale

Loved this book! I’m having a book hangover. I don’t see how my my next read can top this one! This was my second Sally Hepworth book and it definitely will not be my last.

The story centers around Fern and Rose, fraternal twin sisters. Fern has sensory issues and Rose suffers from type 1

diabetes. For most of their lives, Rose has paved the way for Fern.
Throughout their growing up years Rose and their mother had a troubled relationship. Rose felt their mother favored Fern.

Once the girls are grown Rose is still helping with Fern and they see other several times a week. When Fern finds out something about Rose, she wants to help her and this action leads to a series of events that neither sister saw coming.

I’m not saying anymore because this book is best when you read it not knowing anything. But, rest assured, things are not as they seem.

I highly recommend this to readers who love mystery, thrillers and contemporary fiction. This is one of the few books that I will add to my favorites list this year.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advance copy. I’m happy to give my honest review.

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LibraryThing member GrandmaCootie

We learn a lot about the Castle twins from Rose’s diary and Fern’s narrative of her daily activities. We learn that they are close, as close as you would expect twins to be. We learn that Rose takes care of Fern and always has, that their childhood was unstable, their mother was a sociopath

whose true nature only Rose could see. And we learn that Fern did something really, really bad when they were 12 and because of it her life – and future – are severely limited. After all, she can’t be trusted not to do a bad thing again. She needed protecting then and she needs it now, and Rose is right there to provide it.

Rose is struggling. Her journal tells us that taking care of Fern, dealing with their mother, and now with a husband absent on business and maybe absent for good, has taken a toll. She wants her husband to come home, she wants a baby, she wants the happy family she didn’t have as a child.

Fern, on the other hand, despite the sensory processing issues she has had her entire life, is charming and delightful. She loves her job at the library, her small circle of friends, and especially her sister, Rose. And when she meets Wally – well, I just couldn’t stop smiling at their every encounter. And at her plans for him. I wouldn’t want to have Fern’s issues, but I do wish I had her ability to use logic to get to the heart of things. No subterfuge with Fern. She is direct and honest and clear about what she thinks. She follows a straight line of reasoning: researching, analyzing and coming to a conclusion. Of course her conclusion doesn’t always fit with what society says is “normal,” but when you break it down it makes perfect sense.

So we think we know a lot about the sisters, but as we get farther into the story, we realize all we really know is that Fern has sensory processing issues. Everything else is kind of up for grabs. Everything that has happened to them, everything they say and do, is subject to interpretation. Nothing is nearly as clear as it originally seems.

And that’s the beauty of The Good Sister and what makes it thrilling, utterly compelling, unputdownable, brilliant. Rose is the good sister, right? She has sacrificed much of her own happiness to take care of Fern. Or is Fern the good sister? Because what you see is what you get, no lies, no fakes, right? The more I read the more unclear everything became, the more jumbled, the more I had to turn back to see if what I just read meant what I originally thought it did. There are lots and lots of clues hidden in the story, and as a picture started to emerge I couldn’t believe it, couldn’t stop reading, had to know which one was truly the good sister.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing an advanced copy of The Good Sister via NetGalley for my reading pleasure and honest review. I always love Sally Hepworth’s book and The Good Sister was no exception. All opinions are my own. I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it without hesitation.

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LibraryThing member Maydacat

Rose and Fern are fraternal twins. Fern has sensory issues, and Rose has always looked out for her. Their father abandoned the family early in their lives, and their mother was hard pressed to provide for them, sometimes with the help of some objectionable boyfriends. Now adults, the mother is in

institutional care, Fern is a librarian, and Rose is married. Rose is unhappy that she can’t conceive a baby, and Fern is anxious to make Rose’s dream of being a mother come true. The past holds many dark secrets, and these sisters are bound together by them. But a new man in Fern’s life is the catalyst that begins a chain of events that will free one sister while condemning the other. Told from the view points of the two sisters, this psychological thriller will have you wondering where the truth really lies. The more you read, quicker you will want to finish the story. Sally Hepworth has a knack for writing a good thriller, but she still plays fair with her readers who try to guess the outcome. Well done.

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LibraryThing member SheriAWilkinson

The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth

Fern and Rose are very close, fraternal twins who have always had a strong bond. Their Mother was not always a strong point in their lives while growing up. Fern has sensory issues which makes daily life a challenge, but she can always count on Rose. Rose yearns to

have a baby but has fertility issues. Fern thinks she has the answer to her sisters problem, a sister who has always been there for her.

The story moves at a fast pace told through alternating voices, Fern and Rose, as well as Rose's journal. The characters are well developed and (both) are hiding secrets. I liked Fern from the beginning, she has a kind heart and good intentions. Rose is the opposite. While successful, confident and no nonsense, she knows what she wants out of her life.

A great plot with twists and turns, secrets, suspense and intense moments. I was hooked from the first page. Just when I thought I had it figured out a new development occurred. I really enjoyed The Good Sister and highly recommend to those who like a good psychological/thriller/suspense.

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LibraryThing member carole888fort

The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth is a family drama with a twist. Rose and Fern are fraternal twin sisters, and there the similarities end. Fern is a librarian with sensitivities to loud sounds, bright lights and any deviation from the daily stream of things. She is very close to her sister Rose

and has supper with her three times a week. Because Fern depends on her, Rose is the domineering alpha twin. When Fern realizes that Rose is unable to conceive a child, she decides to become pregnant in order to give Rose a baby. That is how strong their bond is. The novel alternates from the twins’ adult life to their past, with their mother. But the past intrudes on their present. And their lives will be turned upside-down. This is a family drama that quickly evolves into a thriller. Each chapter reveals more and more suspenseful information, confusing the reader and leading to an explosive conclusion. The Good Sister is tense and cringe-worthy but it is also mesmerizing. Highly recommended. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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LibraryThing member gpangel

The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth is a 2021 St. Martin’s Press publication.

Fern and Rose are fraternal twins. Yet, Rose is stable and mature, while Fern is on the autism spectrum. After a tumultuous childhood, Rose looks after her sister, who works at a library. Because Fern once did something

really, really, bad, and because Rose’s marriage has hit a rough patch, Fern wants to make everyone happy again- and she knows just what she can do to make that happen. While Rose is away, Fern sets her plan in motion…

What could possibly go wrong?

I breezed through this one in record time. For a little while I was not exactly sure where Hepworth was leading me and sat nervously on the edge of my seat waiting for the other shoe to drop. Obviously, some terrible things have already transpired as we get a glimpse into the twins’ childhood. We also know that the girls were directly involved in disquieting tragedy as children, and now it looks as if trouble may be brewing again. What is so alarming is that we don’t know WHO will strike, or when, or how… for a while, at least.

The only downside to being a crime fiction loyalist, having read mysteries since I was in elementary school, is that original plots are often far and few between. The good/bad sister trope is hardly original, having been done six ways from Sunday. Once it became clear which direction the story was headed, the wind went out of my sails a little, but I was so concerned about the characters, I was turning pages at warp speed. Turns out that although I knew- and I suspect, once most readers reach a certain point in the book, they will have caught on, as well- what the big plot twist was, there were a few stunning developments I did not see coming and the last chapter was truly psycho!!

Once I had a little time to think about the story, I realized that, in hindsight, it was much more cunning than I had originally given it credit. Still, the cleverness is in the well-drawn characterizations, without which, the doubts, concerns, and suspense, wouldn’t have been possible.

This is only the third book I have read by this author- but this one is a little different, having an edgier quality, utilizing another form of suspense from what I was expecting. Some of the emotional depth and relatability were lacking here, but overall, this was an absorbing, twisted little page turner!!

3.5 stars

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LibraryThing member nyiper

Of course I couldn't put this book DOWN!!! I had tears near the end...wonderful story that just plain pulls you right in!! And the characters!!!! What's not to love with Fern and Wally????? Another delightful book by Sally Hepworth!!!! Every single one of them---perfection....I'm so envious of

people who haven't read all of her books yet!!!

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LibraryThing member BookAnonJeff

Compelling Family Drama. This one was pretty wild. On the one hand, you've got one twin sister who seems to be Autistic, though that word is never once used. Instead, Hepworth simply claims various "sensory processing disorders" (many of them very similar to this Autistic's own, fwiw) and shows

this twin taking things very literally, not reading people very well, etc. IOW, classic signs of Autism - but again, that word is never once used in the text. Which is both cool and irritating. The other twin is a diabetic that feels she must always protect her Autistic sister. Except... let's just say the twins don't always remember the same events the same way. ;) Deeper into the book, a much larger conspiracy develops that really turns the back half of the book to near breakneck speeds. And then those last words... Truly excellent book, even without the use of the one word, and very much recommended.

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LibraryThing member HeatherLINC

"The Good Sister" was an intriguing read from the first page. At first I was unsure who the 'good sister' was. Were they both good or were neither of them good? I liked how the story was from the viewpoint of both sisters - Fern through the first person narrative and Rose through her journal.

Fern's voice was present day whereas Rose gave the reader an insight into the twins' past.

I particularly like Fern with her quirky personality, her sensory processing disorder and the fact she worked in a library. I also adored her friend, Wally. Although a tad predictable there were still enough twists throughout the novel to keep me intrigued and invested in the novel and its characters.

"The Good Sister" turned out to be a light, entertaining thriller about a dysfunctional family and two complex sisters. I will be looking for other novels by Ms Hepworth in the future.

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LibraryThing member susan0316

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.

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LibraryThing member fastforward

I was very excited to read this latest book by Sally Hepworth. The first book of hers I read was The Mother-in-Law, and I enjoyed that one so much, I quickly worked my way through the rest of her catalog. The Good Sister turned out to be another good read and features a fascinating female

character.

Fern and Rose are sisters and as is the case with many siblings, they are very different from one another. Rose is the responsible one with a husband and spent most of her childhood protecting Fern from their sociopath mother. Fern is a librarian and tends to be more of a free spirit with a unique outlook on life. When the sisters were kids, Fern did something terrible, but Rose kept it a secret. The story goes back and forth between both sisters, featuring the present day plot of Rose wanting a baby, and info about their childhood when the big, bad, terrible thing took place.

This book features my favorite character out of all of the author's novels. (Am I going to reveal which character I am referring to? No way!) While the story definitely has thriller elements, I think it reads better as a regular fiction novel with strong character development. There really wasn't much that caught me off guard while reading, but I don't look at that as a negative because I still was heavily invested in watching the story play out.

If you have read and enjoyed other books by this author, I do recommend picking this one up.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

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LibraryThing member bookworm12

A rotating POV between Fern, a woman with a sensory processing disorder, and her sister Rose who is often the one who cares for her. This one flipped my expectations, left me anxious with worry for the characters, and didn't disappoint. To avoid spoilers I'll just say I was rooting for certain

characters with all my heart. The ending wasn't unpredictable, but it was still a fun ride! It reminded me a bit of Elinor Oliphant but with a bit more of a thriller twist.

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LibraryThing member bereanna

I listened to this one. A very good story though I kept thinking the diary entries should move faster. Perhaps had I read them they would have, but this was a great listen as I walked outdoors. Fraternal twins, one on the autistic scale, the other normal are now grown. One wants a baby but can’t

get pregnant, so the other decides to have one for her without telling the first. The latter chooses a guy who she begins to fall for, but her sister reminds her that she could never be a good mother because of something she did in childhood.

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LibraryThing member RuMuse

This was an entertaining read. The main character is a female librarian who is 'on the spectrum,' high functioning in most ways but terrified of inescapable social gatherings, and unable to tolerate a lot of sensory stimulation. She believes that she unintentionally murdered a friend when she was

twelve, and that she can't be trusted around vulnerable people, especially children - except in her job as a librarian. She struggles with low self-esteem and guilt and is highly dependent on her neurotypical twin sister.

It was fascinating to see the world from this young woman's eyes.

The plot thickens as she becomes friends with a young man, and her backstory is slowly revealed as present-day events unfold.

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