Three foster sisters connected for life by the trauma they endured in childhood, an abusive foster mother that is dynamic and narcissistic, and the bones of a victim found under the home where they once lived together.

Darling Girls was an excellent story. I love stories that deeply involve the psyches of it's characters. I love it even more when its thrilling and unputdownable. Darling Girls was top notch in both respects. Sally Hepworth never fails to write a page turner. Love it! 100% recommend!

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

Very typical for Sally Hepworth, entertaining , twisty and unpredicatable.
We follow the story of "sisters" who met as children when they were fostered by the same woman. A body is found at the house they grew up in and they must all return to the scene of the crime. Secrets are revealed and red herrings placed! I enjoyed this mystery which took us back and forth through time. The characters were well developed and I had my favorites as well as those I wanted to punch out.
A quick read and good for any mystery lover!

Three “sisters” are called after human bones are found under the home they lived in as foster children, called Wild Meadows. Alternating between each character AND past/present, the reader gets to see the challenging life these girls lived while under the care of their foster mother at Wild Meadows, how these experiences have shaped who they are as adults, all while working to figure out the mystery of who the bones belong to.

After being introduced to Sally Hepworth last year, I was really excited to gain access to Darling Girls. While the premise is not a bad one, there was something about this book that I couldn’t get into. Normally in books like this, I form more of an emotional attachment to the characters, especially after learning about their childhood, that makes me want to keep reading, to keep learning about what happens to them. I couldn’t form any attachments to these characters. I also wasn’t surprised by most of the twists and turns in the book, which also didn’t help me stay invested.

In my opinion, predictability in a thriller is what determines if one will ultimately like the book or not. I’m giving this book 3 stars because while I guessed most of what was going to happen in this book, I don’t think all readers will. If you can stay surprised as you read, I think Ms. Hepworth’s writing ability will not disappoint.

**Thank you to NetGalley. St. Martin’s Press and Sally Hepworth for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.**

Darling Girls follows Jessica, Norah and Alice who grew up in foster care. None of the girls knew each other before they were in foster care. But they became a family after bonding over their foster mother Miss. Fairchild. Miss Fairchild was not a good foster mother. When they girls grew up they though they had finally moved on from Miss Fairchild. But a body is soon discovered under Miss Fairchild's house and the girls are the key witnesses. But they might end up being the prime suspects. Will the truth come out?

Sally Hepworth is very hit or miss for me. The past two books I have read by her I did not like ( The Younger Wife and The Soulmate). But this book oh my gosh it was really good. I had no idea what direction this was going to go in. I will say this book did feel a little repetitive at times. I also felt like there were some parts of the plot that really were not necessary. But than that is was a really good thriller. It felt similar to other books I have read but also different. I would highly suggest this one.

Thank you Sally Hepworth, St. Martin's Press, and Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

Wow!! I was hooked from the very beginning. I took a strong interest in all the characters. And let me tell you! It was one twist after another, but when I read the last couple paragraphs , my draw hit the floor. I stood in silence for several seconds trying to process what had just happened! Amazing! What an incredible book. Thank you for allowing me an arc! Thank you!

Anything Sally Hepworth writes is going on my TBR immediately! She is just amazing. This story sucked me in from the first few pages.

A psychological thriller? Resilient characters that deal with unresolved trauma? Shocking ending? What more is there to ask for in a thriller!! I love a good multiple POV book with a dual timeline. The three foster sisters in Darling Girls were captivating and I enjoyed reading about such a resilient characters. The bond that they formed over time and in the face of adversity and challenges was very empowering to read about. The amount of twists Sally incorporated into this book are perfect and kept my attention the entire time and of course I thought I had the ending figured out but was completely wrong.

Overall I rate Darling Girls 4 bright stars! I look forward to reading what Sally Hepworth will be cooking up in the future. Thank you so much for the ARC.

Now that I've picked my jaw up off of the floor after that ending I can write a quick review of Darling Girls. You get three women who grew up together at the same foster home 25 years ago and think of themselves as sisters (definite trauma bond!). They each contribute to the dual timeline narrative with their own chapters. Pacing is steady from the first page and will keep your attention until the final few pages when you might scream or shout a few expletives!

Sally Hepworth's "Darling Girls" is a gripping thriller that delves into the lives of three “sisters by choice” who shared tumultuous upbringings in the foster system. From the very beginning, the presence of their foster mother, Miss Fairchild, looms ominously, casting a shadow over the sisters' past and present. Her abusive and intimidating nature adds a palpable sense of fear and tension, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as they navigate the complexities of their shared history. Who is to blame for the bones found buried underneath the foster home? Who can we trust?

The story kept me guessing, with quick chapters alternating between POVs and from past and present, unraveling secrets long buried and forcing the sisters to confront painful truths about their past. As the pieces of the puzzle begin to fall into place, the tension mounts, leaving readers guessing until the very end.

And what an ending it was! Hepworth masterfully crafts a twist that will leave your jaw on the floor.

Check for trigger warnings here, as this book tackles some dark and sensitive themes, including abuse and trauma.

Overall, "Darling Girls" is a captivating thriller that seamlessly weaves together the themes of family, mystery, and resilience. I loved it!

I was hooked on this book from start to finish. I loved how we got all three girl's POVs. It gave so much more perspective on the horrors and trauma that they faced. I loved the dual timeline as the past helped with putting together the pieces for the present mystery. The ending was so intense and I had no clue what to expect. The last chapter had my jaw on the floor.

Sally Hepworth is one of my favorite authors because she writes immersive thrillers with well-developed characters and family drama elements. Darling Girls is no exception.

The characters in Darling Girls are complex, flawed, and memorable. The story is told in a dual timeline with flashbacks and multi-POV. The narrative revolves around the relationships between a foster mother and the three girls in her "care." Despite the nightmare of their foster home, these foster sisters forge a strong bond that sustains them. Years later, when the childhood foster home is sold, a body is found on the property, and the three are forced to confront their traumatic past. I was drawn to the three MCs, felt for them, rooted for them, and was touched by their bond and bravery. Hepworth examines several issues in the book and does so with sensitivity.

The dual timeline structure works well to deliver the mystery and give insight into the characters' lives. There is a fair amount of suspense as secrets come out and the MCs go from witnesses to potential suspects. Hepworth is a fantastic storyteller who deftly weaves the timelines and POVs together and delivers some unexpected twists. Anyone looking for a well written and compelling thriller that is also a great character study should add this to their tbr!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the free book!

4.5 rounded up

I enjoyed this book! Sally did a great job developing characters. I loved the bond between them. Great twists. I would recommend this book.

This was another excellent book by Sally Hepworth. It’s a domestic thriller with multiple POV and a dual timeline that sucks you in right from the beginning.

The dynamics between Jessica, Alicia, and Norah were so well woven and I loved how Sally trickled the information you needed in piece by piece from the past POVs of each girl.


There was a lot going on and even when things started to feel a little predictable as things wrapped up, there were more twists in store. I really loved it. Such a great thriller and one that definitely locks Sally in as an auto-read author for me!

I am a definite Hepworth reader and thus can say this one felt a little different to me. There is a central mystery to the novel, but I felt the focus was more on the interpersonal relationships between the 3 foster sisters who have remained close and bonded into their adulthood. I liked how they have 3 distinct personalities yet such a strong bond and a willingness and desire to support one another. They also seem to deeply understand one another, which I found enviable. This book definitely gets dark in exploring events during their childhoods, but there is some good balance in the current day timeline with some lighter aspects and humor. I think this a great addition to Hepworth’s works.

4.25 stars: This was SO good! A domestic thriller that will keep you turning the pages. Darling Girls is a story of three girls, three sisters, that end up in the same foster home. They were “lucky” to end up together.
The story jumps between POV’s and past and present. There is a main mystery plot line but each of the sisters has their own story arc, as well.
Sally Hepworth does it again. I will read everything she writes. I will definitely recommend this book.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the eARC.

I posted my full review of this book on bookstagram, but just holy crap! This was one of her better books and I loved it so much! It was so compelling!

Once again, Sally Hepworth knocks it out of the park. You can assume that if she’s written it, it’s going to be entertaining.

When a body is discovered while excavating a former home for foster children, Wild Meadows, the three sisters who called Meadows their home for years, Jessica Norah and Alicia, must come back to the place they swore they would never go to again.

Each woman has her own demons to fight and the story is told between present day and while they were growing up. You also get the opportunity to learn about each girl and how she came to be at Wild Meadows.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story. I felt like it was fast paced and clear enough to be able to keep up with the story. If you are a fan of mysteries, you will not go wrong with Darling Girls. Be advised that there is mention of childhood abuse as well as inappropriate behavior by an adult male towards an adult female in the story. If those things are upsetting, take care of yourself.

Thank you so much to McMillan Publishers and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I love everything from Sally Hepworth! Her books always keep me wanting more. Quick easy read & a definite recommendation to friends and family from me.

I love Sally Hepworth books. The Mother-In-Law and Soul Mates are two favorites. This one didn't resonate as much. I had difficulty remembering which girl was which - they had different issues but for some reason I couldn't keep them straight and the POV's shift frequently. The dual timeline was well done but I didn't realize how much of the book would be set in the past. The abuse isn't graphic but I generally avoid books with any child abuse. I'd recommend this book to friends as the plot and writing are excellent.

This book had me from page 1 right until the end. Add this to your TBR today!

Jessica, Norah and Alicia are not sisters by blood, but their bond could not be stronger. They all ended up at Wild Meadows one way or another and became foster girls to Miss Fairchild (the irony of how she was not FAIR to any CHILD was not lost on me!)

The book goes back and forth in time through points of view of each of the sisters. I love this writing style and it was done very well! We learn throughout the story about how the girls were treated at Wild Meadows and how those experiences have shaped who they are today - Jessica, with her OCD people-pleasing tendencies, Norah with her sarcastic aggression and Alicia with her insecurities and fear of letting people in. When human bones are found under Wild Meadows, detectives reach out to the sisters to find out what they might know and how they could be involved.

While the pace of the story is a bit on the slow side when it comes to thrillers, I was completely captivated by it and had to keep going. Hepworth did a fantastic job balancing the heavy subject of child abuse with the strong characters who are intelligent, kind, funny and relatable.

And the twists! There were multiple revelations that had my jaw drop and a gasp escape my mouth.

This was such an incredible read and I'll say it again, add it to your TBR list today!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Sally Hepworth for an advance copy of this amazing book!

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth. Sally never disappoints BUT I think this is one of my favorite Sally books to date! This book had it all, all of the emotions, loveable characters and characters you hated. Shocking moments. I really enjoyed this book!