Sally Hepworth has penned another satisfying, twisty thriller!! Jessica, Norah and Alicia are flawed and awesome. The mystery was intriguing. The supporting cast could have been fleshed out a tad more, but Miss Fairchild definitely gave me the creeps!!!

This book was AMAZING!! I couldn’t put it down until I knew ever last detail. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I finished it in one day. The ending was mind blowing. Sally Hepworth never disappoints but with book she blew the lid off!

Jessica, Norah, and Alicia met and bonded while growing up together at their foster mother’s home. When years later bones are found under the house where they lived, they must return to their hometown and try and find out what happened and who was buried there.

This was my first book by this author and it definitely won’t be my last. The writing was well done and the story was compelling with complex characters - switching between past and present and the POVs of the three sisters and their foster mother. I appreciate when book characters don’t feel like “characters” and more like real people and I feel this did a good job with that.

I really enjoyed reading Pet in 2023 and this reminded me a bit of that.

I would classify this as more in the mystery/literary fiction genre than a thriller.

Thank you to St. Martin’s press for my digital advance reader copy.

Foster siblings Jessica, Norah, and Alicia are now adults and have largely put the trauma of their pasts behind them, but when their old foster home is demolished and a body is discovered, everything comes rushing back.

While I loved the main characters, ultimately, the plot was missing something to make it truly shine, though I’m hard-pressed to say what exactly that something is. The last twist in the final was jarring and stands in stark contrast to the rest of the book. It felt as though it was added for shock value, especially since the book abruptly ends shortly afterward.

This was not my favorite of Hepworth’s, but it won’t put me off of her future releases.

I've read other Sally Hepworth books and I've always been slightly disappointed. I’m not sure why this one didn’t work for me exactly because I usually love thrillers but something about it wasn’t super compelling for me. I didn’t feel the need to continue reading and I felt like I was dragging my way through it.

Oh Sally Hepworth, what have you done? I had this one all figured out early on. But it turns out it was all a giant shell game, and while I was guessing the middle cup over and over again, you’d long since dumped the ball in your lap. (Cue author’s evil laughter.)

I’m unsure how to classify this – (dysfunctional) family drama, coming of age, thriller, or domestic fiction. It crosses a lot of genres. The main story revolves around three orphans, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia, who are brought together in what is seemingly an ideal situation. They’ve landed at a farmhouse called Wild Meadows under the care of Miss Fairchild. As each one arrives, they are treated very well, but that is a short-term situation.

While they are very different, the three form a bond and truly become sisters. They need their relationships because they are mentally and emotionally abused by the woman who is supposed to care for them.

Fast forward 25 years, and the farmhouse is being torn down. During the demolition, bones are found on the grounds, and all of the characters converge to talk to the police about what happened when they lived there. The story is told mainly through the three sisters' POVs. But there is also an unknown narrative, as related to a psychologist. I thought the shifts from past to present and through the different narrators were done very well.

The abuse scenarios of the story got very dark. But the sisterly bonds kept the story from going too far down that hole. I thought it did a great job of exploring the long-term ramifications of abuse and how it lingered in three very different ways for Jessica, Norah, and Alicia. It also deftly handled the effects of children being in foster care.

This isn’t a fast-paced run, but the ending slapped me across the face. I did not see that coming and I loved it. I’ve read several of Hepworth’s books and will continue!

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this digital ARC to honestly review.

Sally Hepworth has quickly become an auto buy author for me and I really need to read her backlist next! Darling Girls is another twisty thriller that will have readers guessing until the end. The story centers around three women who grew up together in foster care and had to endure the difficult abuse from their former foster mother. Switching between the past and present, the book showed the view points of each woman and really conveyed how each of them had been affected by their earlier childhood. I really enjoyed how Hepworth unraveled the story and pulled readers in. This was a quick read and I would recommend to anyone who’s a fan of Hepworth’s prior work or is looking for a twisty thriller. I will note that there are descriptions of child abuse that may be difficult for some readers.

Such a good thriller! I always enjoy Hepworth’s books and this one might be my favorite. I found the storyline really intriguing, loved the character development and all the twists! There were multiple prominent characters in this book and something I really appreciated was how well everything within their personal lives, outside of the main event, wrapped up in the end. This one kept me guessing until the very end and I definitely recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

Another compulsively readable Sally Hepworth title. I accidentally read it one sitting because I just couldn't put it down. I loved the characters, and the story was carefully crafted to keep revealing information slowly and steadily.

Sally Hepworth is an auto-read author for me! I truly enjoy everything she puts out. When I saw that I was approved for an advanced copy of her newest book, I was beyond ecstatic! She really knows how to create a binge-able domestic drama with complex characters and shocking twists. This was no exception.

The story has multiple POVs and a now/then setup with a *couple* of unreliable narrators. It also touches on some pretty dark themes so check *TWs* if they bother you. It all read so smoothly though and you really cared and rooted for the 3 main characters! The character growth and past story reveal was a delicious build up that really left you satisfied in the end!

This was a slow burn psychological - mystery - thriller that packs a huge punch in the final chapters! If you’ve loved her past work… you’ll love this. If you haven’t read her novels before… you’re in for a treat!

DARLING GIRLS firmly secures Author Sally Hepworth's position as one of the masters of psychological domestic thrillers. Her amazing talent for incorporating and exploring unique relationships within a compelling plot line results in dynamic characters that resonate with readers. Brilliantly rendered, DARLING GIRLS explores the journey and unbreakable bond of three women who escaped the horrors of a demented foster mother decades earlier . . . or did they?

Twenty-five years ago, three girls from different walks of life find themselves living at Wild Meadows, an idyllic looking foster home run by Miss Holly Fairchild. From outside appearances, their life is better than anyone in their situation could hope for; however, they soon learn appearances are deceiving and things are vastly different behind closed doors. Like a chameleon, Miss Fairchild's temperament changes in a heartbeat - mild mannered and pleasant to outsiders . . . and a heavy-handed, conniving disciplinarian to those under her charge. The girls quickly bond in their efforts to survive her abusive, psychological games until the day they finally managed to escape her clutches. Fast forward a couple of decades and readers meet three intelligent women who remain sisters of the heart - each of whom struggles daily with their own demons because of their terrifying childhood experiences, secretly fearing the day the past comes calling. And one day it does in the form of a dreaded phone call from the police asking them to return to their former home to answer questions about skeletal remains found buried under the old farmhouse. They escaped Miss Fairchild's clutches once . . . will they survive another encounter?

DARLING GIRLS is a heart wrenching story that’s rendered through past/present chapters via the voices of three young girls and one mystery voice revealed through past sessions with a psychologist. Hepworth is simply brilliant at creating complex characters with unique characteristics and daring them to survive in spite of the hand life has dealt them. Over time, readers have a front row seat to the evolution of each of the three mentally abused girls as they struggle to survive, watching as they morph into women fighting daily to overcome a history of mental abuse instead of letting it define them. A dark, dire tone permeates the pages drifting into readers' homes as a growing sense of fear squeezes both characters and readers hearts. The pace builds steadily along with the girls' anxiety and trepidation to the final shocking climax which I predict no one will see coming. I applaud the author's choice of setting - a beautiful, peaceful old farmhouse with a sense of tranquility on the outside that lulls one into a false sense of security . . . in contrast to the horrors being perpetrated on the young and innocent on the inside.


Stories of abuse are never easy to read, but Hepworth does a magnificent job of balancing the dark with a story of hope with three protagonists who are vulnerable yet clearly survivors, who become strong, loyal, empowered women with bright futures in spite of their harsh beginning. DARLING GIRLS is an intense, beautifully rendered psychological domestic thriller that I highly recommend to fans of suspense thrillers and mysteries. In this readers opinion, this is Author Sally Hepworth's finest work to date.

Note: Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

Miss Fairchild lives at Wild Meadows Farms and is a foster parent. Jessica’s mother was an addict, Norah has been through multiple houses, and Alicia’s grandmother passed away in the hospital. As adults, Jessica battles with high anxiety and dependence on drugs, Norah is violent to protect herself and thinks life is a transaction of sorts, and Alicia doesn’t know how to accept love and nurture. These 3 girls are brought together at Miss Fairchild’s home and become sisters by chance. They are brought back to Wild Meadows Farms by detective Ashleigh Patel as human bones were found under the house. The darling girls, now women, are forced to return to their childhood home and relive their traumatic past.

This book pulls you in from the start and doesn’t let you stop going. It is so powerful in representing how broken the foster care system is, the different reasons children enter the system, the emotional and traumatic experiences they have, and how childhood shapes us as adults. There is always a fear to be perfect or you can get sent to a different home. It is hard to tell the truth because no one believes you. You are essentially sent to live in a house with strangers which creates so much emotional turmoil and distrust towards people. It perfectly describes Erikson’s stages of development and what happens throughout life when different milestones aren’t met. The power of sisterhood and family is unmatched as they navigate through their various personal issues. In the end, this story represents the extent to which a child will go to for love, attention, and security.

There’s nothing darling about the way Miss Fairchild treats her girls.

Miss Fairchild starts out as a caring foster parent to Jessica, a five year old girl who is placed at Wild Meadows. Soon after, Norah arrives. Norah has been in several foster home placements and has some bad experiences with the foster system. Alicia is the third girl placed under Miss Fairchild’s care while her grandmother is in the hospital. Miss Fairchild quickly shifts from the interested caregiver to something more sinister and manipulative. The girls form a bond that carries them through each encounter with Miss Fairchild and into adulthood.

The story shifts back and forth between then and now, as the women have all been contacted about human remains that were discovered at the site where Wild Meadows once was. Hepworth uses four points of view to narrate the story and create intrigue while also providing insight into each character. It was a hard book to put down because it was so riveting. There are many twists throughout this thriller and the final chapter adds in one last surprise! I couldn’t put it down.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sally Hepworth, and St. Martin's Press for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC opportunity!

This story was immense and compelling. The three main characters, Norah, Jessica, and Alicia, had a beautiful bond. I would have liked to have read more about their relationship. Trigger warning ⚠️ This book deeply focuses on the foster care system and child abuse.

I am usually not able to read about child abused, as it’s a sensitive subject for me, as I’m a therapist. I kept reading because I felt the description was sadly and unfortunately true, and I wanted to see how it ended. I wanted to see if the characters had a happy ending. I’d like to give a thank you to the author paying tribute to foster children in her acknowledgments, and speaking about how children belong to all of us, as a society, and we need better systems to keep them safe.

Pros:
Strong characters that are interesting
A mystery I wanted to see solved
I liked the ending

Cons:
It could have been shorter
Descriptions of child abuse
I would have like to have seen more about the main characters in adulthood
Lots of jumping timelines and points of view

This is my first Sally Hepworth book and definitely not my last.
I’m sure this book would have a lot of trigger warnings for ppl to warn of abuse to children sexual abuse.
This story could honestly have happened in the 90s before social media started.
A group of 3 girls who are forced into foster care due to different circumstances in their lives.
After years of trying to put the past behind them they are forced to relive their trauma when a child’s body is found under their old foster home.
A book I found hard to put down. You really get sucked into each character and wanting to make things better for each.
I will definitely be looking forward to reading more from this author.

I really enjoyed this book, I've read several of Sally Hepworth's books and let me tell you this did not disappoint. I really enjoy her writing style and the shorter chapters make it great to take breaks while you're reading or to find a place to stop. Each chapter switches between different povs which makes reading feel like a puzzle you're putting together. I read a lot of thrillers and usually can figure out the twist as I get closer to the end, and that did not happen here. I finished feeling shocked in a good way.

Dramatic, spooky, mysterious, thrilling: those are the words that come to mind when reviewing this book.

Sally Hepworth's latest masterpiece follows the story of Jessica, Alicia, and Nora, three foster-siblings who have never lost their sisterly bond. Nora is feisty and true to herself, Jessica is the "mom" of the group, and Alicia has dedicated her life to helping foster children like herself. As adults, their lives are fulfilling and solid...

Until one day, the sisters get a call from a detective. A body has been found under their old foster home. As they are taken back to explain the past to the police, the girls are forced to re-live trauma they thought they had buried. Using their strong bond and stronger wills, will they overcome these difficulties?

I loved this book and give it five shiny bright stars.

Atmosphere: Amazing, both the "thens" and the "nows". In the scenes of the foster home, you are taken into a setting where you can feel the girls' heartbreak, loneliness, fear, and drive to overcome. In present day, you can relate to their current struggles, how their pasts have shaped their present, and their individual attempts to heal.

Characters: All characters, not only the foster-sisters, were incredibly complex and moving in different ways. I loved how each one was so very different yet had humanity at their core. They all had basic human needs and similar traumas but dealt with them differently.

This book was incredible. It had me invested in every single chapter. Nothing was slow, and nothing was too fast; it had the perfect pace.

Ending: I felt this book was very unpredictable WITHOUT being out of left field! At first, I thought I was satisfied with the ending. Then I continued reading and decided I was VERY satisfied with the ending.

Sally Hepworth simply knows how to write well and produces fabulous novels, but this might be my favorite of hers.
Special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sally Hepworth is an automatic read for me. I've *almost* read all of that she has written. This is one of her better ones, but didn't dethrone the The Good Sister for me. Darling Girls follows three foster sisters and their tragic story of being under Miss Fairchild's care. As we pass back and forth to past and present we learn what has brought all of Miss Fairchild's fosters back to that retched house that will forever be burned in the girl's memory. Sally know's how to weave a good tale and I was definitely intrigued but the child abuse was difficult at times to read. I guessed the twist pretty early on but I appreciated the way she wove us through. Overall, this was 3.5 stars for me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 This will hit shelves April 24, 2o24. A huge thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Alicia, Jessica, and Norah grew up as foster children in a farmhouse called Wild Meadows, with an odd and extremely strict foster mother, Miss Fairchild. They grew to be like sisters, and treated each other as such even as they grew into adults. Now, the three have been called back to their former foster home to answer questions about human bones found buried under the house. The narrative goes back and forth between the past and present, and the creepy factor is high as the reader tries to figure out just who’s in the wrong and what’s really going on. There are a lot of twists and turns, and I really enjoyed it, but it also made me feel really sad throughout; it’s definitely not a light novel. Unlike most reviewers, I wasn’t a fan of Norah, and found her more annoying and difficult than charming, but all the character development is done well and makes it a great read that’s hard to put down. Definitely grab this when it comes out!

3.5 stars
This book was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed it. Kind of a bonkers plot at times, but what a ride. The ending was worth the wait.
I would recommend this to others.

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