Good Sister

This is definitely a well done psychological family drama. I highly enjoyed Fern’s character and thought she was well written.

June's book club read was a fast paced read, although I felt like once the reader realized what was going on the last 1/3 or 1/4 of the book the story seemed to end rapidly. We open the novel with an entry from "Journal of Rose Ingrid Castle", and Rose talks about husband Owen who left her for a job in London then she backtracks to how she changed, wants a baby now, and she is seeing a therapist who wants her to get her thoughts on paper... and Rose begins her tale of her and her twin sister Fern's messed up childhood and the event that changed everything when they were 12. The book alternates with little excerpts of Rose's diary, and longer chapters of her twin sister Fern. This is not a healthy relationship, we learn quickly, but which sister is the good sister and which is the bad sister? I laughed at Fern's passages, as I am a librarian and could so relate to her musings and thoughts on library customers, work, coworkers and love of books. It becomes evident very quickly Fern is on the spectrum, and until i got to know her i found her quirks a bit frustrating, but mid through the book I was rooting for Fern and her sweet romance with Wally. This was a good unreliable narrator story, and I read it quickly. I felt once the truth was revealed the ending was rushed and the characters lost their charms to allow the story to end quickly, but it was an enjoyable read. Book Club Questions for The Good Sister What were your initial impression of the relationship between Fern and Rose? We read the story from Fern’s first person perspective and also the diary entires of Rose. Why do you think the author told the story in this way? What was behind Fern’s decision to have a baby for Rose? Fern considers Rose her “person.” Let’s talk about why Fern was so reliant on Rose. Fern is on the autistic spectrum and deals with sensory issues while Rose has type 1 diabetes and appears unable to have a baby. But we later learn that Rose appears to suffer from a narcissistic disorder. How did Rose use Fern’s condition to manipulate and control her? Fern meets Rocco, who she nicknames Wally, at the library. What did you think about their relationship and romance? Did you start to have suspicions about Rose? Or were you surprised at the reveal that she wasn’t who she seemed? When did Fern realize she didn’t want to give up her baby to Rose? The sisters share a dark past. Fern inadvertently killed her mother’s boyfriend’s son. But we later learn that Rose had a big hand in his death. Were you surprised by this? Why do you think the police decided not to investigate it? What did you think about the ending? What happens next for Fern and Wally? Will Fern talk to Rose again? Who is ‘the good sister’ in this story?

I was pleasantly surprised by this one! I was a bit indifferent at the beginning, just not really feeling super attached to either sister and not really knowing where it was heading but by the end.. my jaw was on the floor.

Loved the perspective of someone with sensory issues on the spectrum. Loved the twists and turns and interesting bond of the sisters. Loved the character of Fern and Wally. Loved the surprise ending.

Good psychological thriller. 8 out of 10