Darling Girls starts off slow at first, but after a few chapters, I found it hard to put down. The three main characters have a great dynamic that helps move the plot forward. The alternating timelines reveals the plot at a good pace and the twists keep you wanting more. The ending is satisfying, with one final twist that isn’t far fetched. Overall, great read and will be looking to read more from Hepworth. (4.5/5)

While I found parts of the book predictable, I did not see the actual ending coming. There were some twists that I did not see coming, also. Overall, very good book. Sally Hepworth is an instant but for me.

This was my first book by Sally Hepworth and will NOT be my last! Darling Girls had me from start to finish. This book was unique and raw telling the story of three “sisters” who grew up in the foster system each with their own heart wrenching backgrounds and life long effects of the past. The girls are brought back to the small town where the discovery of human remains are found buried beneath the childhood home of their abusive and manipulative foster mother. Darling Girls had me on the edge of my seat with a twist I never saw coming!

Sally Hepworth writes a gripping, suspenseful tale that will keep you guessing to the end!
I kept predicting small pieces along the way, but not enough to put the whole picture together!

That’s the best! When you guess just enough to be proud of your detective skills but the author still slips one past you, keeping you humbled and in the dark for the overall picture. Like a cat toying with a mouse…and a recipe for the perfect thriller!

I’ve read and enjoyed all the books from this author and cannot wait for more!

I always look forward to Sally Hepworth's books, I have read most everything she has published, and so when I received her newest, I couldn't wait to pick it up.

Another domestic thriller, as is her trademark, that will keep you turning the pages and guessing the ending.
The story, told from the perspective of three girls with a shared foster home experience, was told in multiple timelines, which is a format I enjoy.

Of Sally's books, this wasn't my favorite but I am glad that I read it, and she will continue to be an auto-read author for me!

Expected publication date: April 23, 2024
Thank You to St. Martin’s Press for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley.

I always loved Sally Hepworth's book and this was no exception!! It kept me hooked from beginning to end. She is becoming one of my favorite Authors. This follows the foster girls living in a foster home with a eccentric women named miss Fairchild. The mystery surrounding her is intriguing. It jumps to past and present but in the end becomes apart of the story.

Darling Girls

I haven't read a Sally Hepworth book in awhile because I tend to get really disappointed in her books.

Unfortunately, this book was a tad too close to home with being a social worker. I used to work in foster care as well so it just hit differently for me and I know the ends and outs of a lot of trauma since I work with a lot of adults/children with trauma.

I also was disgusted by Dr. Warren as the therapist. Ok this was absolutely ridiculous.... I would hope to god no one ever would see a therapist like this. He was so incompetent and just awful!!!

Also, you can tell that the author doesn't have much experience with those that suffer from the mental illness OCD. I have OCD myself and it's the stereotypical "I have OCD" basic background. People need to be educated on what OCD actually looks like and how much it can be traumatizing in very different ways. It doesn't just come out as germs or the basic stuff thats stereotyped in our society.

Ugh.. I was just triggered too much in this book and ended up not reading the rest of the book.

Hope everyone else has a better experience then I did.

1/5 stars

Wow, what a ride! This is a quick paced thriller in which the reader goes for the ride of solving a crime in which a body is found under a former foster home. Bringing together the former foster girls, they must solve the mystery, while dealing with everyday life.

I’ve read several other books by Sally Hepworth and this one was my least favorite - however, she does know how to tell an enthralling story with characters I’m rooting for.

This is told from 3 POV in both present day and past. I liked the multiple POV and felt I got a lot of insight into the characters because it was also told in the past.

I had a few issues with the storyline. I just couldn’t figure out why Miss Fairchild was so bad. It didn’t really click at all. It wasn’t until the very end that it came together and that was a hot mess. It seemed like it was just all shock value.

I seem to be in the minority with my review. The writing kept me coming back because I wanted to find out what happened. It just was kind of a poorly executed story line.

Sally Hepworth is an auto buy author for me and Darling Girls did not disappoint. Three foster sisters dealing with emotional abuse, and sometimes more, from their foster mother created a bond no one could break. Once again, Hepworth has used the struction of her story in help create tension and reveal the truth until the last twist. Thank you so much for the ARC and I can’t wait to read the next book from her.

Never a disappointment from Sally Hepworth. Love the character development and loving both younger and older versions of the characters.

I loved the switching of point of views between past and current and the sisters & Mrs. Fairchild. I enjoyed the relationship between Jessica, Norah, and Alicia and how their traumas, child hood, and current struggles were all tied together. I couldn’t put down the book and had to know what was coming next!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley and author Sally Hepworth for this digital ARC to honestly review.
Omg ,I just finished reading “Darling Girls,” and I’m still reeling from the experience. This book is like a wild rollercoaster ride that you can’t get off. It’s about three foster sisters who find themselves in the middle of a murder investigation at their old home. Talk about intense!

The story is told from the perspective of each sister, which adds to the suspense and intrigue. You get to see the events unfold through their eyes, and let me tell you, it’s like trying to solve a puzzle blindfolded. The sisters are all hiding secrets, and as the truth slowly comes to light, you’ll be like, “Whoa, I didn’t see that coming!”

The writing is excellent, and Hepworth does an amazing job of creating a creepy and unsettling atmosphere. You’ll feel like you’re right there with the sisters, trying to unravel the mystery and stay one step ahead of the killer. It’s like being part of a real-life detective squad, and I loved every minute of it.

The characters are complex and well-developed, with their own unique personalities and motivations. You’ll find yourself rooting for them, even when they make questionable decisions. And trust me, there are some pretty shady moments that’ll leave you wondering who to trust.

The themes of sisterhood, loyalty, and secrecy are woven throughout the story, adding depth and emotional resonance. You’ll be forced to confront your own beliefs and biases as you navigate the twists and turns alongside the sisters.

Darling Girls” is a gripping and addictive read that’ll keep you up way past your bedtime. If you’re a fan of mystery, suspense, or just a good thrill ride, then this book is for you. So grab some popcorn, settle in, and get ready to have your mind blown!

Wow, this book is intense!!! About three women, who grew up in a horrible foster care home, this story needs a strong trigger warning for child abuse. That being said, even though it was difficult for me to read at moments, it hooked me from page 1.

I won’t do a full recap, but this story is told in two timelines and it works very well. I also appreciate how each character was developed. I love when I don’t have to keep track of who is who, because the author has created them in such a strong way.

I found the ending of this book very disturbing, but it worked. I didn't see it coming at all! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Thank you @netgalley @sallyhepworth @stmartinspress for an ARC of Darling Girls.

Release: 4/23/2024 – 5 Stars

Holy Moly! This is easily my fave Sally Hepworth novel & I guarantee it will be a smashing hit when it releases in April 2024!

This story will hook you FAST. It is told in both the present & the past. The past is where it’s at! You are going to fall in love with Alicia, Jessica & Norah & feel all the emotions for them – anger, sadness, pity.

This book is incredibly bingeworthy – it keeps a quick pace & leaving the reader dying to find out what happens next & how it all ends. And WOWZERS! That twist at the VERY end? Didn’t see that coming!

If you only ever read one Sally Hepworth novel, it NEEDS to be this one!

Click through the pics for my envisioning of each character. Not all match with Hepworth’s descriptions, but these are the faces I saw while reading.

“From the outside, Alicia, Jessica & Norah might seem like ordinary women you'd meet on the street any day of the week. Jessica has OCD, Norah has anger issues & Alicia has low self-esteem. But these three have a bond that no one can fully understand. It's a bond that takes them back decades, to when they were girls & they lived on a farm with a foster mother, Miss Fairchild. Miss Fairchild had rules, could be unpredictable & was never, ever to be crossed. In a moment of desperation, the three broke away from Miss Fairchild & they thought they were free. But the reach of someone with such power is long & even though they never saw her again, she was always somewhere in the shadows of their minds. When bones are discovered buried under the farmhouse of their childhood, they are called in by the police to tell what they know. Against their will, they are brought back to the past & to Miss Fairchild herself.”

#Thriller #Mystery #Suspense #Fiction #Adult #Contemporary #Crime #Psychological #ARC #Review #April #2024 #EarlyReview #DarlingGirls #SallyHepworth #TBR #AudioReview #Bookstagram #Booksta #Read #Books #Bibliophile #BookSlayer #Sisters #Bones #Secrets #Investigation #BooksofIG

I love Sally Hepworth’s twisty and consuming stories. This is no exception! In fact this might be a perfect thriller for me.
The three women are so flawed and so fucked up from terrifying childhoods and have trauma bonded. Even more they are each other’s family and when they have to return to their foster home after a body is found it gets WILD. I did not know where it was going, but I’m always up for a journey with Sally. Highly recommend preordering this and thanks to the publishes and NetGalley for letting me read this book in exchange for my honest opinion which is to add it to your the ASAP

🤯🤯🤯

Three girls have to relive their time at Wild Meadows after detectives make a discovery buried under their former foster home.


This book hooked me from the very beginning. I loved the multi POV. Sally Hepworth is a master at her craft.

Thank you @netgalley for a chance to read the arc.

This book had an interesting premise and though Hepworth's books are hit or miss for me, I was very curious to read this one. The story is intriguing, though the pace slower than I had hoped for. All in all, however, a solid thriller from this popular author!

Jessica, Alicia, and Norah are sisters in every way that matters. Bonded by childhood trauma, this story starts with them navigating their lives 25 years after leaving the foster care of Holly Fairchild.

When human remains are discovered under the house during its demolition, the women are forced to confront things that they thought they had left behind forever.

Several POV and time jumps work wonders in building the characters in this book without feeling like a chore. The story is compelling and page-turning worthy.

Sally Hepworth does it again! As soon as you think you have it figured out....just know that you don't. This book has twists right up until the very last page. It is a gripping, psychological thrill ride! Preorder, add to your wishlist, do what you need to do to get this book on your TBR. Thank you to St. Martin Press (through NetGalley) for the advanced copy! I cannot wait to have it physically in my hands come release day.

I could not put this book down all weekend! I love Sally Hepworth and this is her best to date! The character development is perfect! I loved (and hated) all of these characters! Don’t let this one pass you by!