The Good Sister

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of gender discrimination, ableism, and child death.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What was your initial reaction to learning the truth about Rose through her final, unfiltered journal entry?

2. The Good Sister plays with the concept of unreliable narrators through both Rose’s journal entries and Fern’s perspective. How effective was this dual narrative approach in building suspense, and how does it compare to other psychological thrillers, like Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl or Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies?

3. Which character did you find yourself most drawn to throughout the novel, and why?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Fern and Rose have a complicated relationship where boundaries are often blurred. Why do think setting healthy boundaries is often challenging? What strategies might you use if you were in the sisters’ situation?

2. What spaces or environments serve as sanctuaries in your life, similar to how the library functions for Fern?

3. Through Wally’s character, Sally Hepworth suggests that “normal” is a relative concept. Have you ever felt pressure to conform to someone else’s definition of “normal,” and how did you respond to that pressure?

4. Can you recall a time when you discovered that your memory of an event differed significantly from someone else’s recollection? How did this impact your attitude toward your own memory?

5. Fern gradually learns to trust her own instincts despite years of doubting herself. What experiences have helped you develop trust in your own judgment?

6. How have societal expectations shaped your own sense of self-worth or influenced your personal goals, as they do for Rose with her body image and fertility struggles?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The Good Sister portrays neurodiversity through Fern’s character, challenging conventional definitions of “normal.” What misconceptions about neurodiversity persist in contemporary societies, and how can these be addressed?

2. The novel addresses how women are judged by their ability or desire to become mothers. What other cultural expectations do you see imposed on women today?

3. Why do you think public spaces like libraries continue to be important in today’s increasingly digital world?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. What symbols besides the matching bracelets reinforce the theme of control versus independence?

2. Hepworth uses water imagery throughout the novel, from Billy’s drowning to Fern’s swimming goggles. How does this motif contribute to the novel’s themes and character development?

3. Consider the significance of the twins’ botanical names, Rose and Fern. What do these names reveal about their personalities and relationship?

4. In what ways does Rose’s journal function as both a plot device and a character development tool, similar to the diary in Hepworth’s The Mother-In-Law?

5. The structure of the novel alternates between Fern’s first-person narration and Rose’s journal entries. What effect does this create for readers, particularly as Rose’s reliability comes into question?

6. Explain the significance of the tiny “dollhouse” Rose builds for Fern in her garden as both a plot point and a symbol.

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you were to write an additional chapter set five years after the novel’s conclusion, what do you imagine would have changed for the main characters?

2. The novel could be adapted as a psychological thriller film or limited series. Which scenes would be most important to include, and what visual techniques could help convey the unreliable narrator aspect?

3. Create a brief character sketch for Willow as a teenager, considering how her personality might be shaped by her knowledge of her family history and Rose’s actions.

Need more inspiration for your next meeting? Browse all of our Book Club Resources