Julie's Review: The Good Sister

Author: Sally Hepworth
Series: None
Publication Date:  April 13, 2021
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pages: 313
Obtained: publisher via NetGalley
Genre:  Psychological Thriller
Rating: 4/5
Bottom Line: Sisterly love or sisterly control?
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Summary: 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. ~amazon.com

Review: I love a good family drama and books dealing with sisters. It just solidifies that my sister and I have a completely normal relationship. The Good Sister starts off with Rose's point of view from her diaries but if I've learned anything about psychological thrillers, it's not to necessarily trust the first point of view you read. Rose is the eldest sister who always took care of her younger sister, Fern, because their mother was incapable when they were growing up. Fern also needed extra care because of her sensory issues, so Rose made sure she could be ok. 

Fern, on the other hand, has a different viewpoint. She works at a library and loves it; she credits it to her mother bringing them there all the time when they were kids. She's always been dependent on Rose and still has dinner with her 3x a week. Then she meets Rocco, aka Wally, and her view of the world and her life. She begins to think that maybe there are things other than work and her sister.

Of course, Rose doesn't quite view these changes the same. As we get to know more about their childhood, the more different things come to light. Fern has a big decision to make, her happiness or her sister's. 

I have loved all the Sally Hepworth's but I think The Good Sister might be my favorite. She weaves together a wonderful thriller that keeps you guessing until the end. 

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