Book review: The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth

I’m not sure if you can call an audiobook a page-turner, but that is how I would describe The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth.

The Good Sister starts out as a story about two sisters – one neurodivergent – who have survived a difficult childhood with an uncaring and irresponsible mother.

When one of the sisters, Rose, finds she cannot have a baby, it only makes sense to Fern that she steps in to solve the problem.

When Fern, a librarian who is on the autism spectrum, meets ‘Wally’ in the library, the road ahead seems clear. Yet, not is all as simple as she thinks it will be.

In the background of the novel is memory of the drowning of a young boy during the sisters’ childhood – an event that is crucial to understanding the story of the family.

I listened to the story on audiobook and this is one of those stories that makes you want to go out on a walk to keep listening and find out what happens next.

I found the characters – particularly Fern and Wally – to be well-drawn and likeable. The plot was satisfying and, even though I don’t have a sister, I really liked the focus on the sibling relationship.

This is a book that I would recommend to anyone looking for a quirky, engaging and satisfying read.