I absolutely loved this book and I devoured it within 24 hours. It is fast-paced, told from multiple female POVs, and has dual timelines. It's about a group of sisters who grew up in a foster home run by Miss Fairchild. Let me tell you her name does not match her personality.

I really connected with the sisters and the bond they had with each other. I felt their pain and their joy. Parts of this book actually made me laugh out loud, which is pretty rare. This book really draws you into the sisters and really pisses you off when something happens to them.

The ending of this book was perfect and that final chapter...woah. There are a few triggers so make sure you look them up before reading. This was an easy five stars and I look forward to reading more of Hepworth's books.

Read if you like:
​👩‍👧‍👧Sisterly Bonds
🔎 Mystery
​👓 Multiple POVs

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this eARC to review. All opinions are my own. This book will be available on April 23rd.

Oh my goodness!! I completely didn’t figure this out until they told me what happened… AND THEN… my mouth was on the ground for the ending! What a great read! This book had me from the first chapter and I finished it in one day. It also made me cry, which is rare for me!! It’s heartbreaking to read what some children go through.

This is my first Sally Hepworth novel and I can see why she's popular. She has a way of keeping you engaged, even throughout the horrible events taking place. I loved the sisterhood displayed and loved that it was emphasized that they were sisters despite not being related by blood. It was hard to read some of the abuse they endured, so please check trigger warnings!
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.
ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sally Hepworth has become one of my favorite thriller authors. Darling Girls had all the elements that I have come to love in the author's books. I sped through this book which included secrets, lies, family bonds, and a bit of humor. There were times I literally gasped, didn't see certain things coming, and didn't expect that ending!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital review copy, and for letting me share my early thoughts on Darling Girls!

LOVED! Sally Hepworth can do no wrong!

I only wanted to pick this book up and finish it in less than a day because I was so invested in the story. I loved the multiple POVs and connected with the sisters. Some parts were hard to read, making me furious with Miss Fairchild and the other adults in this story. I thought the mini glimpses of the character (I don't want to spoil) talking to the doctor was brilliant! Overall, it is such a gripping story that you won't want to put it down.

The ending left me speechless. It is going down as one of my favorite books by Hepworth!

I recommend checking CWs if needed.

I was really intrigued with the storyline right from the get go. I thought I was about to deep dive into some super twisted, chaotic story. But it didn’t turn out to be as mind-gripping and page-turning as I anticipated. I did read this whole book in one sitting, so I may have a different opinion if I allowed myself more time to digest the plot.

That said, the book was well-written- (enough to keep me in one sitting!) and I will always deep dive into a SH book as her stories help me leave reality for a bit and look in on the crazies of others

I'll be happy to provide a detailed review once St-Martins Press addresses the boycott and fixes the issue.

I normally really like Sally Hepworth books, but I couldn’t finish this one. I think the description is slightly misleading and doesn’t prepare the reader for the level of child abuse included in the story. As a mother of a young child this is a very big trigger for me and I wouldn’t have requested this book if I had know this prior.

Dive into the riveting world of Jessica, Norah, and Alicia, foster sisters bound by love, secrets, and the specter of their enigmatic guardian, Miss Fairchild. Sally Hepworth weaves a spellbinding tale of suspense, love, and familial bonds that will keep you on the edge of your seat. As the plot unfolds, secrets unravel, and the bonds of sisterhood are tested, Hepworth keeps readers hooked with her skillful prose and expert pacing.

Darling Girls is a must-read for anyone craving a gripping tale of family, betrayal, and the enduring power of love. Mark your calendars for April 23rd, and get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey filled with mystery, suspense, and the timeless bonds of family. Thank you @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the gifted galley!

This was addicting! I finished this book so fast!

I loved the characters, the story, and the writing! I think this is my new favorite Sally Hepworth book!

I really enjoyed reading from all the sisters POV of the current day and past. There was also a 4th POV that you slowly start to put together. I was so enthralled with the darling girls and their story. I was able to put some pieces together for the most part, but overall the very last chapter had me shook!

I would HIGHLY recommend!


Trigger warnings: Metal, Physical, and Sexual Abuse

This book was absolutely amazing. The way that the flashbacks unfolded the story so perfectly. The POV from Ms Fairchild, and the current day timeline. It was all absolutely perfect. One of the best thrillers Ive read in a long time becase that ending had my JAW ON THE FLOOR. Cannot recommend this book enough.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for ARC!
Pub day- 4/23/24

I really enjoyed two timelines in three different views. Ending was shocking! Too. I didn’t feel bored while reading this book. Just heartbreaking little 😭..

Overall I enjoyed this book. My second book of this author. Certainly won’t be the last!

Sally Hepworth’s books are always an auto read for me, and Darling Girls did not disappoint! I loved the sisterhood, and flashbacks between current day and the past. This book had so many twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. This story kept me guessing until the very end!

Unfortunately I had to DNF this book around the 28% mark due to child abuse in the story. I usually love Sally Hepworth's books so I was excited to read this one.

I loved this book! It kept me guessing after every chapter. I loved how the characters were complex and had their own story. It took me a minute to figure out who was talking to the psychiatrist and when I did, I wanted more! I loved not knowing who it was and the author did a great job at making several people look suspicious. Great job and I will recommend this book to others!!

Jessica, Alicia and Norah are not sisters by blood but become sisters from circumstance. They are all three placed in the same foster home at Wild Meadows with Miss Fairchild. Told in a shifting timeline between past and present, and with the narrative alternating points of view between Jessica, Alicia, Norah, and Holly Fairchild. The story is engaging and keeps you guessing. I really love the way in Sally’s books we get really complex characters that you slowly peel back and understand their past trauma just a little bit as the book goes on. Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I was honestly disappointed by this novel. Normally I am a fan of Sally Hepworth and believe she has written some fabulous thrillers in the past. However the amount of child abuse that takes place in this novel is a lot to take in, even if it is told as a memory. I have to consider this novel a DNF.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this novel.

Sally Hepworth is the queen of domestic thrillers. Darling Girls follow Alicia, Jessica and Norah, who return to their foster care home after a body has been discovered. We switch between each woman’s perspective and a dual timeline from 25 years ago to present. The book starts with a psychiatrist meeting a new patient and throughout the book we get chapters about the new patient and how it’s going. I throughly enjoyed this book. Each twist left me shocked. It had a nice pacing which left me quickly turning the page.


Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for the ARC.

DARLING GIRLS takes a look at the dark side of family life, this time tackling the bond between sisters. From the outside, Alicia, Jessica, and Norah seem like most ordinary women—but these three, sisters whose bond was forged decades ago on a farm with foster mother Mrs. Fairchild, harbor deep secrets. Secrets they're now being forced to face. Because Mrs. Fairchild, while on the surface, was an ideal foster mother...underneath, she had rules...she was unpredictable...she was never to be crossed. Dragged back into contact with her, Alicia, Jessica, and Norah must now ask themselves—can the past ever truly be buried?

I could not put this book down!! The multiple POV and dual timeline really keeps you on the edge of your seat, all three sisters have different enough tones that it's clear whose perspective you have, the lines do get a little blurred later on in the story when their relationship is so strong. But the Psychiatrist visits?? Ooooh what a vibe!!!

This is the perfect read for someone who wants a psychological thriller with strong family dynamics, great character development, and twists until the end! There are a few instances of abuse and trauma, so check for content warnings if needed.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Another winner by Sally Hepworth!
Ms. Hepworth is known for her domestic suspense novels and there's always a family at the heart. Darling Girls fits into this mold but there's a different kind of family, much as she did with The Good Sister.
After a variety of family tragedies, Jessica, Alicia and Norah were all placed in foster care at Wild Meadows, home of the crazy Miss. Fairchild. Their time there was filled with lots of cleaning, food limitations, and life with an unpredictable, uncaring woman. They all left with long term mental health challenges but that didn't prevent them from living full lives. More importantly, they also left with the strong bond of sisterhood.
As the book opens, a psychiatrist is meeting with a new female patient - but who is his client? And then, Ms. Hepworth moves on with an initial introduction to the three women. Their stories unfold in chapters that alternate between "then" and "now", which is 25 years later. There's an occasional entry from the psychiatrist and their sessions progress the storyline as well.
Jessica, Alicia and Norah's upbringings are all poignantly captured with stories about three stages of their lives: with the birth parents or grandparents; their time at Wild Meadows; and then as adults when Wild Meadows returns to their lives. While the vast majority of the book is about abuse, neglect, and negative experiences with the foster care system, there were also a few heartwarming stories. Kudos to those special social and care workers who have the best interests of their clients in mind!
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read Darling Girls in exchange for an honest review.