eARC Review – The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth

Title: The Good Sister

Author: Sally Hepworth

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Publication date: April 13th, 2021

320 pages

4/5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis

From the outside, everyone might think Fern and Rose are as close as twin sisters can be: Rose is the responsible one and Fern is the quirky one. But the sisters are devoted to one another and Rose has always been Fern’s protector from the time they were small.

Fern needed protecting because their mother was a true sociopath who hid her true nature from the world, and only Rose could see it. Fern always saw the good in everyone. Years ago, Fern did something very, very bad. And Rose has never told a soul. When Fern decides to help her sister achieve her heart’s desire of having a baby, Rose realizes with growing horror that Fern might make choices that can only have a terrible outcome. What Rose doesn’t realize is that Fern is growing more and more aware of the secrets Rose, herself, is keeping. And that their mother might have the last word after all. 

Review

The Good Sister is a gripping, new thriller with twin sisters who share a dark secret. Told in alternating POV’s with Rose’s Diary entries and Fern’s present day, The Good Sister will have you questioning what is happening up until the bitter end.

Rose and Fern have been on their own for a long time. Rose takes care of Fern, who is different and has had difficulty with navigating the world. Their mother was abusive according to Rose’s diary entries, where she details the abuse, neglect, and mistreatment before her overdose left her impaired. Fern is a librarian who loves her job, routine, and Rose. But, Fern did something terrible a long time ago and they keep this secret in order to protect her. But when Fern decides to have a baby to help Rose, she begins to see some of the secrets Rose is keeping even from her.

I flew through this thriller so quickly, it was so easy to read. It even had a romance built in, which I firmly believe every thriller should have now. I loved reading about Fern as a librarian and seeing life through her eyes. The Good Sister brings many twists and turns, without being too confusing or hard to follow. The writing flowed well and was paced very evenly, in my opinion. I enjoyed the setting being in Australia and the subtle differences in style and vocabulary.

I highly recommend The Good Sister for all thriller lovers out there, you won’t be disappointed!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Happy reading, folks!