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littlebookcastle_sam's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Infertility, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
reading_ladies_blog's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Infertility, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Child abuse, Child death, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
islanderbookbabe's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, and Sexual assault
a_lit_babe's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
If you are a lover of psychological fiction, omg, get in here fast! You will love this one. Omg, this book mind fucked me😂 I thought I was right about something but it turned around to be wrong and I totally totally loved that.
I also loved that this book showed insights into the life of a neurodiverse person and lets me see how some things that I would see as normal affect another human being. It further showed that someone does not have to be physically disabled to be a disabled person.
This book had me in my feelings. My heart was in my throat. So many times, I kept muttering "omg" as a new dawn of realization befell me or saw I realised a truth. At a point, I started to pray and begging God that there was a light at the end of the tunnel of the craziness!!
I wanted to hug Fern so bad.
I also loved that this book showed insights into the life of a neurodiverse person and lets me see how some things that I would see as normal affect another human being. It further showed that someone does not have to be physically disabled to be a disabled person.
This book had me in my feelings. My heart was in my throat. So many times, I kept muttering "omg" as a new dawn of realization befell me or saw I realised a truth. At a point, I started to pray and begging God that there was a light at the end of the tunnel of the craziness!!
I wanted to hug Fern so bad.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault, Child death, Drug abuse, Murder, and Emotional abuse
thebakerbookworm's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It's hard to say too much about this book without venturing into spoiler territory, but I'm going to do my best. I loved this story, and I think a lot of it had to do with the audiobook! The narrator was so good and I wanted to always be listening to her Australian accent haha.
The characters were fantastic. I loved the growth and development in our main character, and the romantic relationship was just adorable. I wasn't expecting a cute romance in a thriller book, but it's definitely there. The relationship between Rose and Fern was compelling and is really the backbone of this story.
I will say that the plot was a bit predictable--I figured out pretty early on where it was going to go and it didn't surprise me--but that honestly did not take away from enjoyment of the story at all. I was laughing aloud at a lot of it and grinning ridiculously at other parts and crossing my fingers that a certain character would get the happy ending they so clearly deserved.
All in all, I highly recommend this audio! Thank you so much to Libro.fm, Macmillan Audio, and the author for my ALC.
The characters were fantastic. I loved the growth and development in our main character, and the romantic relationship was just adorable. I wasn't expecting a cute romance in a thriller book, but it's definitely there. The relationship between Rose and Fern was compelling and is really the backbone of this story.
I will say that the plot was a bit predictable--I figured out pretty early on where it was going to go and it didn't surprise me--but that honestly did not take away from enjoyment of the story at all. I was laughing aloud at a lot of it and grinning ridiculously at other parts and crossing my fingers that a certain character would get the happy ending they so clearly deserved.
All in all, I highly recommend this audio! Thank you so much to Libro.fm, Macmillan Audio, and the author for my ALC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual assault
emileereadsbooks's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thank you for the gifted book Libro.fm, Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley.
I loved The Mother in Law by Sally Hepworth when I read it two years ago, and I was stoked for this book and it blew me away. I don't normally rave about thrillers. I enjoy them but rarely do they get a loved rating from me. But I adored this book. Hepworth writes thrillers that are less about the plot and more about the characters and geez oh man can she write some characters! I kept thinking I had all the complexities of this story figured out but then she introduces a little tweak and I would once again be questioning everything. Fern is one of my favorite characters in a long time and I was rooting for her against all odds. I don't want you to read anymore about this book, because I think the less you know the even better the reading experience will be. Even those people who don't love mystery/thrillers and are more literary fiction inclined will like this book.
Also, Barrie Kreinik is a gem of a narrator and I hope she always narrates Sally's books.
I loved The Mother in Law by Sally Hepworth when I read it two years ago, and I was stoked for this book and it blew me away. I don't normally rave about thrillers. I enjoy them but rarely do they get a loved rating from me. But I adored this book. Hepworth writes thrillers that are less about the plot and more about the characters and geez oh man can she write some characters! I kept thinking I had all the complexities of this story figured out but then she introduces a little tweak and I would once again be questioning everything. Fern is one of my favorite characters in a long time and I was rooting for her against all odds. I don't want you to read anymore about this book, because I think the less you know the even better the reading experience will be. Even those people who don't love mystery/thrillers and are more literary fiction inclined will like this book.
Also, Barrie Kreinik is a gem of a narrator and I hope she always narrates Sally's books.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Child abuse
Minor: Rape
danadoesbooks's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley, and the author for the gifted copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.
Fern and Rose are as close as twin sisters can be. They have dinner together multiple times a week and Rose always rescues Fern. It all started that one night at the river. Rose protected her sister then and she knows she has to keep an eye on Fern now because she's dangerous. When Rose learns that she can't get pregnant, Fern decides that she will get pregnant instead. This will be a way to pay Rose back for all she has done.
I loved The Mother-In-Law by the same author when I read it a few years ago so I was excited to read The Good Sister. Honestly, between the child abuse and the ableism, I was ready to DNF this book at 20%.
I am actually really glad I didn't. While parts of The Good Sister are incredibly difficult to read, the romance that blooms between Fern and Wally is so sweet. While this is a thriller, I found myself reading more for the romance than finding out what was actually happening!
Fern and Rose are as close as twin sisters can be. They have dinner together multiple times a week and Rose always rescues Fern. It all started that one night at the river. Rose protected her sister then and she knows she has to keep an eye on Fern now because she's dangerous. When Rose learns that she can't get pregnant, Fern decides that she will get pregnant instead. This will be a way to pay Rose back for all she has done.
I loved The Mother-In-Law by the same author when I read it a few years ago so I was excited to read The Good Sister. Honestly, between the child abuse and the ableism, I was ready to DNF this book at 20%.
I am actually really glad I didn't. While parts of The Good Sister are incredibly difficult to read, the romance that blooms between Fern and Wally is so sweet. While this is a thriller, I found myself reading more for the romance than finding out what was actually happening!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship
plantbasedbride's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Good Sister is an exciting page-turner with an eerie vibe. While a bit predictable, the novel is well written with excellent character development - especially when it comes to our protagonist, Fern, who lives with a sensory processing disorder and works as a librarian. Fern is one of the most complex, engaging, and loveable protagonists I've read about in recent years, and I loved spending this book with her.
I don't want to share too much and risk spoiling this twisty, stay-up-all-night-frantically-turning-pages thriller, so I'll end by saying, simply, pick this one up if you're in the mood for a dark mystery that is also, somehow, incredibly endearing!
I don't want to share too much and risk spoiling this twisty, stay-up-all-night-frantically-turning-pages thriller, so I'll end by saying, simply, pick this one up if you're in the mood for a dark mystery that is also, somehow, incredibly endearing!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Fatphobia, Emotional abuse, Death, and Sexual assault
skyeer's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Child abuse and Death of parent
Minor: Medical content
keri_f's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
For all fans of psychological thrillers, such as An Anonymous Girl, The Wife Between Us, and The Silent Patient, Sally Hepworth’s new novel, The Good Sister, will not disappoint. It’s the story about fraternal twin sisters, one of whom is neurotypical and the other neuroatypical with a sensory processing disorder. The story is told from each sister’s POV, one in the form of a diary and the other in her day to day life. Rose is the caring, in-control, organized, and put together sister; Fern is the unreliable, forgetful, and naive twin. It delves into complicated family topics, such as a family member with narcissistic, sociopathic tendencies. (CW/TW: child abuse, sexual abuse, death of a child).
WOW is the only word that comes to mind when thinking about this book. It is highly entertaining and a very quick read. Once I started, I just had to finish!
I finished it a few minutes ago and I’m struggling to find words (and ask anyone who knows me, I am wordy!) This book was SO well done: twists, turns, more twists. Just when you start to trust your instincts, Hepworth comes up with something else to shock the reader. I wish I could say more, but really don’t want to give anything away!
The Good Sister, by Sally Hepworth, comes out April 13, 2021. For fans of psychological thrillers, I highly recommend preordering now. This was my first Hepworth novel, but it certainly won’t be my last. I ended up giving this book 4.5 stars, downgrading a half a star just because I feel so unsettled (and I know some people want that!)
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a free digital copy of this exciting book in exchange for an honest review.
WOW is the only word that comes to mind when thinking about this book. It is highly entertaining and a very quick read. Once I started, I just had to finish!
I finished it a few minutes ago and I’m struggling to find words (and ask anyone who knows me, I am wordy!) This book was SO well done: twists, turns, more twists. Just when you start to trust your instincts, Hepworth comes up with something else to shock the reader. I wish I could say more, but really don’t want to give anything away!
The Good Sister, by Sally Hepworth, comes out April 13, 2021. For fans of psychological thrillers, I highly recommend preordering now. This was my first Hepworth novel, but it certainly won’t be my last. I ended up giving this book 4.5 stars, downgrading a half a star just because I feel so unsettled (and I know some people want that!)
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a free digital copy of this exciting book in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Ableism
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