Review by Booklist Review
Hepworth's latest (after The Mother-in-Law, 2019) further solidifies her place among the top domestic suspense authors. Twins Fern and Rose have protected one another all their lives, including from a mother who seems to do nothing but belittle them. They've never told their childhood secret, each safeguarding the other from the consequences. Now grown, Fern struggles with sensory issues but enjoys her life as a librarian. Rose longs to have a baby but has been unable to do so. Fern sees a perfect opportunity to support Rose by becoming pregnant herself and giving Rose the baby. But secrets have a way of coming to light and exposing those who are not what they seem to be. Narration alternates between Rose's adolescent diary and Fern in the present day, successfully revealing just enough insight into each character's motivations. Fern is drawn as smart, capable, and probably on the spectrum, and she is multilayered and relatable to readers, illustrating Hepworth's talent for page-turners with depth. Give to fans of Shari Lapena, Paula Hawkins, or fellow Australians Liane Moriarty and Kelly Rimmer.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Rose Castle and her twin sister, Fern, who share narrative duties in this addictive psychological thriller from Hepworth (The Mother-in-Law), live in Victoria, Australia. Rose is a married interior designer, and Fern is a librarian who suffers from a sensory processing disorder. When Fern discovers that Rose desperately wants to become a mother, but has been unable to conceive, she considers everything Rose has done for her, including protecting Fern from their abusive mother during their childhood, and decides to act as a surrogate. To that end, she seduces a library patron in order to get pregnant. Fearful of Fern's emotional fragility, Rose moves in with her sister to ensure the pregnancy runs smoothly. Excerpts from Rose's journal heighten the suspense by gradually revealing the abuse the girls suffered as children. Meanwhile, Fern expresses her growing discomfort with her sister's arrangements while giving insights into living with her disorder. Punchy prose helps propel the twisty plot to a creepy but satisfying conclusion. For fans of domestic dramas, this is a treat. (Apr.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
Fraternal twins Rose and Fern Castle share all but three things: Rose's diabetes, Fern's sensory-processing difficulties, and their memories of how their mother raised them. As long as Fern can remember, Rose has been angry with their mother, accusing her of rages and neglect that Fern doesn't recall. Rose has always taken care of Fern, steering her in the right direction when her social perceptions fail her. Fern trusts her implicitly. She knows that sisterhood is not perfect; it's "both sunshine and guts, lollipops and blood, good and bad." But when Fern meets a man who "gets" her--another person living on the margins of "normal" society--Rose moves to rescue her sister from certain disaster. How far will she go to keep Fern's devotion? When details of a long-ago death are revealed, each sister knows what she must do to survive. VERDICT Hepworth's latest (after The Mother-in-Law) is written from one sister's perspective with the other's thoughts in diary form. It's a warped tale of twisted memories and skewed perceptions that will make fans of psychological thrillers say, "Wow, I didn't see that coming."--K.L. Romo, Duncanville, TX
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