Good Sister

This book was hard to put down. I found the complication of Fern's neurodivergence to be riveting to follow within the context of her own world. I truly cared about some of these characters, and gasped at moments, clutched my chest at others. I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys stories about complicated relationships and people who find themselves feeling a little 'different.'

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

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.

This book was so hard to put down! I really enjoyed how the different perspectives were displayed and how misleading the journal entires were. The amount of thought that went into every move Rose made was insane. A very unreliable source of information indeed. All in all, Fern is mother and I will be reading this again.

The Good Sister made me smile over Fern’s sweetness, swoon over Wally, and gasp every time Sally Hepworth revealed another layer of Rose’s manipulation. This domestic thriller delivers poisonous sisterhood, buried childhood secrets, and a villain who made me increasingly furious with every chapter. Fern Castle believes her twin sister has spent their entire lives protecting her. Rose helps Fern navigate relationships, autism sensory overload, and the guilt attached to a mysterious childhood incident. Fern sees an opportunity to repay that devotion after Rose shares her struggles with infertility. She decides to find a random man, become pregnant, and give her sister the baby. Sweet Fern approached surrogacy like a perfectly reasonable item on her to-do list. I wanted to reach through the pages and protect her innocence. Fern was such a caring and memorable character. Her descriptions of the library captured why these spaces matter so deeply. The library gives her structure, purpose, and a community that respects her needs. Her coworkers were patient without treating her as incapable. Their kindness allowed Fern to thrive on her own terms. I also appreciated the care given to Fern’s autism, sensory sensitivities, and uncertainty surrounding social expectations. Wally brought so much warmth to the book. He was thoughtful, romantic, and adorably awkward. He never asked Fern to become easier for him to understand. He listened, respected her boundaries, and found ways to make her feel comfortable. Their relationship was tender without becoming overly polished. I loved watching two people who communicate differently discover how perfectly they understand each other. Rose belongs in the psychological thriller hall of shame. Her control over Fern becomes more disturbing as the truth begins to surface. I was proud of their mother for warning Fern about custody of the baby. That was around the time I started to be suspicious of Rose's true motives. A mom always knows her kids. The final chapter confirmed that Rose remained every bit as manipulative and terrible as I suspected. It was a wicked finale. Hepworth keeps the chapters moving and reveals information at exactly the right moments. Several twists made me gasp aloud. Barrie Kreinik’s narration added suspense without overplaying the drama. She captured Fern’s directness, vulnerability, and warmth beautifully. Pick up The Good Sister if you love domestic thrillers, complicated sisters, unreliable perspectives, and shocking family secrets.