Let’s Read: The Good Sister
*A note about my reviews. I don’t give away plot or details. I never want to spoil a good book! Also I like to tell you something I loved and something to be aware of in each review I do.*
The Good Sister
By: Sally Hepworth
In this suspenseful mystery we meet two sisters, Fern and Rose. They are twins but we soon learn are very different. Fern is a librarian who loves a routine and can easily get overwhelmed and over stimulated. Both sisters have learned the hard way what can happen if Fern doesn’t stick to routine and structure. Rose acts as the mature care giving sister who enjoys being relied upon. Rose longs for a baby but cannot have one. Fern sees that she can help her sister with this request but unexpectedly finds she is falling in love with a man she meets in the library.
The story jumps between both sisters. Beginning with Fern’s telling of daily life, her struggles with sensory processing and her straight forward approach to life. We get to witness funny happenings at the library as well as meet a cast of characters that step into Fern’s life and create community when she least expects it. Next, through Rose’s diary entries we get another picture of who the sisters are. As a way to process Rose writes memories of the sisters tumultuous upbringing with a mother who was manipulative and dangerous. A tragic accident from their childhood is always lurking on the periphery and we wait to see how it will haunt both of them and their futures.
What Hepworth does that really gives this story a twist is her use of the unreliable narrator. But which sister is unreliable? I love how Hepworth twists both sisters together and forces the reader to question who is trustworthy.
Something I loved: I instantly liked the characters. Hepworth endears both sisters to the reader. This tactic helps with the unreliable narrator.
Something to be aware of: This book is listed as a thriller, I don’t think it belongs in that category. But there was mystery and confusion along with a story to unravel.
