My first book of 2023 was January’s book club selection, The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth. This book elicited a rare 4-star rating from me. I was reading and it got to a point where I did not want to put the book down so I kept reading. Then I looked up and it was 2am. I can’t tell the last time I have found myself lost in a book in that way.
The book is about twin sisters, Fern and Rose. Told from alternating perspectives of both sisters it provides glimpses into their childhood as well as stories of their current lives. The story is neither a mystery nor a thriller but for me a story about family and the deep flaws that run within people. I enjoyed reading about the characters – they felt nuanced and well developed.
I read some reviews that did not like the way the author handled the issue of mental illness. However, I thought she did a good job of painting a picture of what it is like to live in a world where sensory stimuli can easily overload a person’s ability to cope. For people who are not familiar with anyone who is neuro-diverse I thought Fern was an excellent introduction into what that might look like.
Overall, I truly enjoyed this book. The characters were quirky and interesting. The dialogue was engaging, and several times made me chuckle. The twists were not huge but enough to keep the story moving and keep the reader interested. I look forward to reading other books by this author in the future.
