Rose and Fern remember their childhood differently, perhaps because Fern is on the spectrum. Despite their diverging memories--to Rose, their mother was an ogre and to Fern, she was just their mom. Rose's journal details the horrors she experienced while an oblivious Fern depended on Rose for everything. Now, they're grown up, and Fern is a public librarian. Rose works, too, and is married to Owen. Fern hasn't dated much. She's a practical person and often single-focused. When she meets a guy she calls Wally (in the US that would be "Waldo," as in Where's) because of his hat and striped shirt, she has an ulterior motive for asking him out.

I can't say much more because I don't want to spoil the plausibly twisty plot. Let's just say there's an interdependence between Rose and Fern.

"...my sister holds the key to my sanity (even though I never gave it to her.)"

Favorite librarian Easter egg,

"...is at my bedside again, this time reading a John Grisham novel."

SOLID writing. I might become a Sally Hepworth head after this.