This was an amazing thriller - one of Sally Hepworth’s best. Kept me guessing until the end! Recommend to the women in my mystery/thriller book club and on Facebook. Can’t wait to see what other stories come next

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book.
I enjoyed the multiple perspectives, but it also made the psychiatrist scenes harder to follow. The setup was well executed and this was twisty without being over the top.

Sally Hepworth’s Darling Girls is a gripping and emotional family drama that delves into the complex layers of motherhood, sibling dynamics, and the dark secrets that bind families together. With a masterful blend of suspense and heartfelt emotion, Hepworth crafts a story that is both page-turning and thought-provoking, exploring how far people will go to protect their loved ones—and what happens when the truth threatens to unravel everything.

The novel revolves around the relationship between three sisters: Jess, Izzy, and Amanda. They are bound by a traumatic childhood spent under the care of their emotionally distant and manipulative mother, who has left a lasting imprint on their lives. When their mother is found dead, the sisters are thrust into the painful task of confronting their past, and they begin to uncover disturbing secrets that lead to unexpected revelations.

Hepworth’s writing is sharp and nuanced, and she has a particular talent for making the mundane feel significant. The sisters’ complex relationships, their individual struggles, and the deep-seated emotional wounds they carry are explored with great sensitivity. Each character is well-developed, and Hepworth is able to capture the subtle dynamics between them in a way that feels raw and realistic. Readers will likely find themselves empathizing with each sister at different points in the story, even as they grapple with their own flaws and mistakes.

The pacing of the novel is excellent, with the tension building steadily as the sisters uncover more details about their mother’s past and the secrets she kept hidden. The narrative is layered with twists and turns, making it impossible to put down as the story reaches its explosive climax. The themes of trauma, betrayal, and forgiveness are deeply interwoven with the mystery of their mother’s death, creating a compelling narrative that keeps readers guessing.

One of the standout qualities of Darling Girls is Hepworth’s ability to create characters who feel deeply real, even when faced with extraordinary circumstances. The novel deftly explores how the sisters’ bond is tested by both the shadows of their upbringing and the harsh light of truth. The emotional complexity of the characters is a testament to Hepworth’s skill in portraying human nature, especially the messy and often painful dynamics of family.

While Darling Girls is a suspenseful and tightly woven narrative, it also offers poignant moments of introspection and emotional resonance. The novel isn’t just about uncovering secrets; it’s about understanding how the past shapes the present and learning to reconcile with the people and experiences that have defined you. Hepworth explores the cyclical nature of family trauma, and how the wounds of one generation can echo across the next.

That being said, while the plot is strong and engaging, some readers may find the pacing slows down a bit in the middle of the book as the focus shifts more to emotional exploration than outright suspense. However, for those who appreciate well-rounded characters and a story that’s as much about personal growth as it is about plot, this will be a minor quibble.

Overall, Darling Girls is an emotionally charged, suspense-filled novel that is sure to leave an impact on readers. With its richly developed characters, emotional depth, and compelling mystery, Sally Hepworth has delivered another engaging read that will resonate long after the final page.

This was a good read. I liked the story but the mystery was predictable. I felt that the begging part was a little boring but once I was 60% through the pacing picked up.

Okay, so I just finished "Darling Girls" by Sally Hepworth, and, like, wow, it was definitely... something. I'm giving it three stars, because it kept me reading, but I also had some issues.

The whole "creepy childhood home" thing? Totally got me. I was so ready for some major scares, and it was definitely spooky. The sisters, Jessica, Max, and Norah, they were all messed up, which is good, I guess? I mean, they had some serious baggage from growing up in this weird house. I kept trying to figure out what happened, and there were some twists, but sometimes it felt like it took forever to get to the point.

I liked how each sister had her own voice, you know? But sometimes they just kept going on and on in their heads, and I was like, "Okay, I get it, you're sad/mad/scared!" I wanted more stuff to happen instead of just people thinking.

The big reveal at the end? It was... okay. I was expecting something, like, super shocking, but it was more just sad. I wanted a bigger bang, I guess. It was still interesting, and I did feel bad for them, but I also felt like some things weren't really wrapped up.

So yeah, three stars. It's a good book if you like family drama and spooky vibes, but don't expect to be totally blown away. It's a solid read for a rainy day.

Not my favorite Sally Hepworth book. I didn't love the format, how you don't know who Dr. Warren is counseling until the end but I can understand why she set it up the way she did. The characters were pretty unlikable. The whole story was a bit farfetched. I read this in April 2024 while boycotting SMP.

Oh, I really liked this. I just never really expected it. Now it is hard for me to give mystery/thrillers a five starr rating. I just don't typically connect with the genre like that, but this came so fucking close. This book was just the definition of a page turner to me. I just couldn't put this book down. It completely gripped me.
I totally understand some the critism towards this book though. It is not very thrilling, and the mystery is more of a secondary part of this book than the main throughline. However, I adored the main throughline. I thought the focus of this book on abuse was really well executed. It genuinely terrified me at times because it is so real. Seeing miss Fairchild just slowly get worse and worse throughout the book while also just convincing every adult in the situation that she's the sweetest human around truly gave me chills. I also liked how this book really focussed on the flaws of the foster system while not villianising foster kids not foster families. I don't have any personal experience on the foster system, so I can't fully talk for the representation but throughout the book I did feel a love and passion for the system, and the focus on its flaws was more so out of a passion for it to be better. That got confirmed to me by the acknowledgements at the end of the book.
I also just really loved our cast of 3 main characters. I thought they were very interesting leads. All three of them are extremely different but they fit together so well. Their sibling relationship is absolutely everything to me. I love how they just found each other and truly bonded together. I also thought Sally Hepworth did a great job showing the aftereffects of the girls' trauma in the 'present' storyline of this book. It was all just put together so incredibly well.
Like I mentioned before the mystery is a secondary part to this story, but it was really well executed. It is introduced very early on, and different small reveals surrounding it were done throughout so that my interest stayed peaked throughout the entire novel. The way things unraveled at the end also just kept me at the edge of my seat, and I overall just really thought this was a great book and I totally understand the hype around it.

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth is a chilling blend of psychological suspense and emotional depth, exploring the lasting impact of childhood trauma and the fierce bonds of found family. Hepworth masterfully weaves past and present, unraveling dark secrets with well-timed twists that keep you hooked.

The sisterly dynamic at the heart of the story adds warmth and complexity, balancing the darker themes. While some plot points feel a bit over-the-top, the gripping narrative and emotional core make it a standout thriller.

A dark, twisty read with heart—perfect for fans of character-driven suspense.

I can always rely on Darling Girls to give me a mystery and suspense that will keep you guessing. At times just like any mystery you want to throw your Kindle at the frustration but you also want to throw it when you did not guess the ending and it was that good. I have always enjoyed Sally Hepworth and Darling girls was added to the list of great reads.

Three non-bio sisters, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia, have a bond after they shared a childhood together in the foster care of Miss Fairchild, a narcissistic and abusive woman who presents as the "perfect" foster parent. Even into adulthood, the bond has gotten stronger as they learn to deal with their memories and their ongoing traumas from that time.

They were all contacted by the police when bones are found buried under Miss Fairchild's former home. They are asked for help from the authorities to identify the human bones and they have no idea what to expect. Told in both past and present timelines with the three sisters POVs and the therapist sessions, the book moves quickly. Some parts are harder to read than others when the mental and physical abuses are depicted but everything ties together and flows well. The twists are good to the very last one.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this eARC.

It was okay. Not my favorite sally book but not the worst. The characters fell flat for me on this one. I couldn’t seem to connect.

The idea of a loving foster home on an idyllic farm for three young girls escaping tragic home lives seems perfect. But life with Miss Fairchild, their foster mother, is not easy for Jessica, Norah and Alicia. There are rules…rules that are immutable and always enforced by Miss Fairchild, who can be very unpredictable.

The girls break free from Miss Fairchild, but their past catches up when a body is discovered under the home where they were fostered. As they revisit their younger lives, secrets will be revealed and loyalties tested. Are they witnesses or suspects? What do they remember and what does it mean?

Is this book a mystery or a thriller? It’s both. The author unfurls the clues and motivations carefully building the suspense until the final reveal.

Sally Hepworth continues to be an auto-buy for me - as I love her dysfunctional families. I really enjoyed this one told in the alternating voices of the three foster sisters and figuring out the stunning conclusion.

This is a story of found family and sisterhood. It follows three foster children who created a family for themselves based on what they had to endure as children and what happens when secrets from their past come to light.

I really enjoyed this book from one of my favorite authors. It was fast paced, entertaining and had great twists.

This was my first novel by Sally Hepworth. Darling Girls follows three main characters; Alicia, Norah and Jessica. All these girls were in the foster care system and lived in a
foster home, which only strengthened the girls bond, and they’re like sisters. I loved getting to know the sisters, their backstory and their bond.

Darling Girls is told in past and present timeline and the girls are forced to return to their past when an investigation happens.

If you like books about found family, and secrets, check this out, as Darling Girls is full of witty banter and suspense.

I love Sally Hepworth but this one didn't quite hit for me. There are some triggers such as child abuse and child sex abuse. Three young girls are in foster care with the same abusive care giver, Miss Fairchild. They end up bonding and become sisters for life. They had such closeness and tight bonds with the three girls. They were severely damaged deeply. And Miss Fairchild's cruelty was depicted vividly, with unfair punishments and abuse. Some hard to follow. Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the advance ecopy.

Darling Girls follows three foster sisters in their adult lives and their past lives, living together in what many considered an idyliic farmhouse with a doting foster mother, Mrs. Fairchild. Each girl has been told they are just so lucky to be there, to be with her, to be together. Behind closed doors, things are not what they seem, as money is supposedly so tight and cleaning chores take nearly the entire day. The girls find camraderie, both in the house and at home, despite their differences, and band together as new babies enter the home as well. As adults, while all are fairly well adjusted, there are obvious signs of their former time in the foster system at play. Jessica is very controlled, Alicia helps foster kids but sees herself unable to have a relationship or to be maternal, and Norah is violently protecting herself from, well, everything. As human remains are found at the former foster home, the three sisters are taken back to the place where their sisterhood began.

Told through four perspectives, the three sisters and an unknown fourth, Darling Girls is a twisted tale of the past and the future it has greatly shaped. The three main characters are deeply flawed from their time as foster children with Mrs. Fairchild, but their sisterly connection is truly beautiful to read. While they each hold secrets, it's interesting to watch as they revisit their past together, lean on one another, and slowly reveal, or have revealed, their secrets to one another. They join together as one, holding one another up always, and revisit the painful memories. I could not have guessed this one initially, though I figured it out by the end, as it is just so twisty. Sally Hepworth really brought this one to life and takes readers are a tangled journey.

I didn’t see the end coming with this one. I couldn’t put it down. A dark and twisted story, I enjoyed the multiple POVs and alternating timelines. This is probably one of my fave Sally Hepworth novels to date!

didn't love the last book I read by Hepworth, so I was slightly hesitant about starting Darling Girls. Luckily, this novel turned out to be my favorite of her books. Everything worked in the book: the characters, the pacing, the tension, and the resolution. Character development was well done, I enjoyed reading the two different timelines that delved into the lives of the three main characters as girls in foster care and as adults. Some of the abuse parts were hard to read, so take the trigger warnings to heart. The last third was unputdownable and I loved how the story wrapped up.