My first 5 star book of the year! I loved this book. From the start, I was invested and wanted to keep reading. I saw some things coming but then…nope! A very different dynamic for a family thriller.
The story follows three foster sisters through their abusive relationship with their caretaker. The timeline shifts from past to present. Each character is well developed and you feel the way the author wants you to feel about each. Add in that they each respond to their traumatic childhoods with a different set of ptsd symptoms and it’s just really well done.

Several stories within a story. Darling Girls tells the story (stories) of four foster sisters and they're very questionable foster mother. Such beautiful writing, she delves into love, addiction, abuse and so much more. I will forever be a fan!

Sally Hepworth is so so good with character development and that's why she's one of my favorite authors. I loved the three strong female leads. I also loved that this story touched on abuse and the manipulation from Miss Fairchild. Sally truly kept it well balanced with the comic relief while shedding light on a rough topic. I did predict a few of the puzzle pieces, but the twist definitely humbled me. Loved it.

Received another ARC and it’s another 5 star by Sally Hepworth! This book was everything I needed and more. I found myself picking up this book in the middle of doing anything just to get back into the story. Great story that just came to life in my head.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC! Darling Girls is the latest and perhaps most thrilling from Sally Hepworth (The Good Sister). Foster sisters Jessica. Norah, and Alicia are trying to move on with their lives and recover the the impact of their foster mother, Miss Fairchild, but a sudden call from the police brings them back to their hometown (or the nearest that they had to one) as a body has been discovered in the basement. What happened 20 years ago? Who was buried in the basement? Most importantly, who is to blame? An emotional look at the foster care system, and the impact on the children involved, but also of resiliency, found family, and recovery.

I was super excited to get a widget for this one as Sally is one of my favorite domestic suspense authors.

I would read a story by Sally about paint drying as she always pulls me in and makes me adore her characters. Darling Girls was no exception and I binged this one in a days time.

Three foster ‘sisters’ share the pov here as well as a psychiatrist’s notes (but whose?) also timeline changes. By the time I figured out what was going on here with these three sisters, I was already on their side.

An enjoyable and entertaining read!
Thanks for my early copy. It didn’t disappoint!

This is my first book from the author, and it won't be my last. I had no preconceived notions about what to expect, and for me, this started out very slowly. It took me a while to sort through the characters, and when I finally did, I really enjoyed the tale. The "sister" were well-conceived, full characters, with convincing points-of-view. This wasn't a thriller by any stretch of the imagination; it was a solid domestic drama centered around Australia's foster care system.

I really enjoyed this.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and Net Galley, and my review is being left freely.

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth is my fifth book by her. I loved the pace of this book as per usual and the character development. Her writing is always filled with twists and turns that definitely have you guessing the whole way through the book.

Brief Synopsis: Jessica, Norah and Alicia all have one thing in common, they were all in the foster care system and their foster mom Miss Fairchild gave them a loving home on a beautiful farm in the countryside. This is what was meant to happen but of course, things are not always as they seem. Ms Fairchild had many strict rules and expectations on the girls and the home they were hoping to grow up in was the exact opposite of what they wanted. The girls were able to escape but if they thought they would be free of Ms Fairchild forever you will see they were very wrong. When a body of a small child is found under the house an investigation opens up and the girls must once again revist their past.

Overall I enjoyed this book and will absolutely read more by Hepworth. It was the perfect pace and just long enough.

"Darling Girls" is a riveting The author skillfully crafts a narrative that keeps you engaged from start to finish. The seamless transitions between timelines enhance the overall storytelling experience, allowing readers to unravel the characters' complexities and motivations.

Darling Girls was so good. I really enjoyed this thriller/mystery. I also enjoyed reading all three POVS of the girls who were fostered by Mrs. Fairchild who terrorized and manipulated the girls in different ways. It goes back and forth between past and present. Fast forward to 25 years later, the girls who become like sisters are closer than ever, but a call from a detective informing them that remains were found under the home where they were fostered changes everything. They have to go back to the town they never wanted to go back to and try to help the cops find out what happened in that house and whose remains are under the house. The ending was not what i was expecting, but it still shocked me. This book has great twists and turns that have you saying WTF. I also enjoyed the therapy session chapters, where we don't find out what character is in the session until the very end. I look forward to reading more of Sally Hepworth books.

4.5 stars rounded up. This book used jumping around in time and between the main characters' POVs really well to keep things mysterious and keep me wanting to read more. The short chapters definitely added to that and kept things feeling fast even while building up suspense. The characters were fleshed out really well as their own distinct and unique people which sometimes is not the case in mystery books or thrillers. Even when I wasn't sure who I could trust, I still was rooting for all of the sisters. I also liked that there were a lot of twists and turns that kept things interesting and made it hard to put down, but they also all made sense with everything that happened up to that point and didn't feel completely out of nowhere. Honestly, I was a little worried the end would feel rushed or disappointing, but was relieved when that wasn't the case. I really enjoyed the build-up and the ending.

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

Sally Hepworth never misses for me, so when I was invited to this ARC I screamed! An honor. To no one's surprise, another bullseye. This slow-burn psychological thriller was the perfect weekend binge read.

If you're familiar with any form of manipulation or have first-hand experience with a narcissist this one just hits different. I kept becoming aware of my heartbeat quickening as I read certain parts of the girl's recollection of their abuse during their days at Wild Meadows.

My heart HURT for each character. I was so emotionally attached to them, especially Jessica. I enjoyed getting to have all three girl's point of views. It took my an embarrassingly long time to realize who the therapy inserts belonged to, but once it clicked, I loved it.

The final twist was so unsettling. True evil, through and through, with zero regrets. It made me feel uneasy in that twisted way I love.

This book was a page turner. Such a great story of foster care and all that happens. The girls in this book dealt with some extremely hard circumstances.

Darling Girls is about three foster children who lost their family members and were placed with Miss Fairchild at Wild Meadows. Jessica was the first to arrive followed by Norah, then Alicia. They were like sisters to each other protecting each other when Miss Fairchild was abusive with one of them.
…
Twenty-five years later the three of them were called in for questioning when human bones were found under the farmhouse after it was demolished.
…
Sally Hepworth wrote an excellent story about foster children and the effects of being separated from their families and it traumatized them. An exceptional read. She had me guessing the entire time. The structure which Sally Hepworth delivered the details was ideal. I was engaged with these characters and fully invested from beginning to end.

One of the best books I have read in awhile.
The bond of friendship sucks you right in and you can't put this book down till you finish it.
Three young girls from totally different backgrounds form a bond at their foster home which follows
them through the years.
A great book by one of my favorite Authors.

I really enjoyed this new thriller from Hepworth. It was pretty fast-paced and the characters were interesting. Miss Fairchild’s parts really added to the story and I kept thinking I knew how it was gonna end, but nope…totally came out of left field.

I enjoyed the story, but I felt like the ending was just so abrupt and I wanted something a little more even though it was a total surprise. Something about it still just felt rushed and unfinished.

Book Review | Darling Girls 🎀

The novel Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth is a psychological mystery focusing on three young girls, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia, who form a strong bond while living in a foster home. The story centers on their collective struggle to defend themselves against their manipulative foster mother, Holly Fairchild, who subjects them to psychological games, resulting in lasting emotional trauma. These girls endure Holly's physical and mental torment for nearly two years until the abuse reaches a breaking point, compelling them to confront the horrors they have suffered.

Fast forwarding 25 years, the narrative reveals the aftermath of their shared trauma. Furthermore, a law enforcement call informs them that remains from their childhood are discovered beneath the farmhouse they have long sought to forget. As they return to the place that shattered their innocence, they are forced to confront their painful past while being caught in the crossfire of police suspicion. Who do those bones belong to? Were the girls involved? If not them, then who?

This novel highlights the intricate dynamics of the characters' relationships, the enduring impact of psychological manipulation, and resilience. Each one of the girls resonates powerfully.

Overall, I did enjoy reading Darling Girls, as the storyline was very interesting. However, this was not a favourite of mine by her. This is not the author’s fault but more of a me thing. I can read much twisted, creepy work, but what is something I can’t handle well? Child abuse. Especially since becoming a mom, reading about children being neglected or tortured breaks my heart. Therefore, reading a book which is based on the abuse of foster children throughout their time in care and the perspective of each child for extra insight? I was left feeling quite sad at times.

However, while stories of abuse are always complex and can potentially go too dark, I thought that the book’s tone was well-balanced by giving us three characters who were also strong, intelligent, funny, and kind.

Sally Hepworth is well known for her domestic thrillers; if you enjoy her work, I recommend reading this book.

Wow what a thriller. I couldn't put this one down and raced to the ending to see if my suspicions were right. The twists in this one left me at the edge of my seat exclaiming out loud "oh my goodness what just happened?"
I never would have thought that a book that is centred around so much child abuse in a foster home would have me so riveted but it did.

This was my first book by Sally Hepworth. Without giving anything away, you can read the description on the back of the book, which I usually skip after the first sentence or two as I think book cover jackets now, give too much away.

It was darker than i was expecting, even for a mystery/thriller. I loved the different POV characters and moves between past and present. It’s done well and not confusing.

I thought each character was fleshed out really nice and each had their own voice. While sad it kept my attention. The revelations that are revealved are pretty heartbreaking. Reading about children in foster care is hard. But the author did a great job.

I will be looking into more books by this author but with lighter subject matter.

Honestly, I couldn't put this book down. As always, Sally Hepworth is amazing! I loved everything about this book!

The story is told in alternating timelines from the POV of three different women Jessica, Norah, and Alicia.

I won't really go too much into the plot for fear of giving away more than I should. I will say that Darling Girls is a fascinating domestic thriller. The story is told in such a way that you don't want to put the book down. That what Sally Hepworth does so well. She doles out bits and pieces of the unfolding story in such a masterful way. Always keeping you on the edge of your seat, wanting more. Your need for answers building with every turn of the page.

I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to read a domestic thriller with twists and turns until the very end.

Thank you, Netgalley, and the publisher for allowing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.