"The Good Sister" by Sally Hepworth

 

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. ~taken from Goodreads

This book had me captivated from the start and ended up being so much more than I thought it would be! We get to read the story from alternating perspectives- one from Fern's point of view and one from Rose's diary she kept from her childhood. 

Fern is on the spectrum and her life revolves around routine. She has a time and place for everything and doesn't like surprises. Her life is turned upside down when she meets a man she assumes is homeless while working her job at the library. 

Rose is Fern's protector and has been since they were born. The two are twin sisters that couldn't have been more different if they tried. Some kind of tragic event happened when the twins were younger. Rose constantly reminds Fern of this horrific event and uses it to manipulate Fern with threats of exposure if she doesn't do as she's told. 

This is one of those books that if I say too much it will ruin the experience of reading for the first time. It's a book of family secrets and drama. It has a romantic twist with suspense and surprises sprinkled throughout. 

The character development was superb and I even felt highly invested in the characters I seemed to hate. The storyline moved seamlessly from past to present and the pace of the mystery gave just enough to keep me interested but not too much that I could guess the ending. 

Thanks so much to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me an egalley to read and give my honest review! It was my first book by the author but I look forward to reading past and future books! 

"The Good Sister" is set to be released here in the U.S. on April 13, 2021 so pre-order now! It was a 5 star read for me and I know you'll love it too! 

Happy Reading!