I was not expecting this book to be as heavy as it was. I feel like it has more trigger warnings than her other books do. But it has her classic short chapters and edge of your seat vibe. I can see it being a BOTM pick!

This was not the caliber of her previous books. Even the writing seemed off as if it was an older less refined book of hers. I’d still read though!

I normally love Sally Hepworth books, but this one was so boring I couldn't get into it. I kept waiting for it to get interesting and it never happened. I'm so disappointed.

It has taken me a long time to get through this book. For some reason, I don't find it to be super engaging. I do love Sally Hepworth's books so I am a bit disappointed that I wasn't drawn into it.

Darling Girls is a well written psychological thriller/mystery. I have to say this book captivated my attention right from the start, and I kept wanting more time to read.

Jessica, Alicia, and Norah share more than thing in common. They all had traumatic childhoods that landed them at Wild Meadows in foster care under Miss Fairchild. At first glance Miss Fairchild seems like the picture perfect mother but she is anything but that. The 3 girls may not be biological sisters but they share a bond just as strong if not stronger. Jessica struggles with OCD, Alicia has a very low self esteem, and Norah is known to have anger and aggression issues. The development of the characters was one of my favorite parts of the book. You feel like you know each of them well and sympathize with their struggles associated with their upbringing.

The storyline goes back and forth between the past and present with a twist when a dead body is found beneath their old foster home. Whose body is it? Do the girls know more than they are telling.

I really enjoyed this book and was invested in the story and am still trying to process the ending.

Trigger warnings for child abuse, foster care, and drug abuse. Thanks to NetGalley for and ARC.

If Sally Hepworth can't get your attention, no one can!
Darling Girls is a psychological mystery following three foster sisters on a journey to discover what truly happened in their former foster home. There are definitely some major triggers in this story (abuse, neglect, negative foster care experiences) that any reader should be aware of before starting the story. I personally felt that the author handled all of this very well, however, I wish that the author's note about foster care was included in the beginning of the story rather than the end of the story. I think that perspective would really help readers that might be triggered by the negative views of foster care to go into the story prepared for any triggering content.

I really loved the dual timeline-- the pacing between timelines was perfect. I felt like I was getting just enough information in each timeline to feel intrigued, but not bogged down.

I very rarely rate thriller/mystery/psychological books higher than 4 Stars, but this one earned every single star. I'm already itching to go back to re-read to look for breadcrumbs that I might have missed along the journey the first time!
Thank you to Sally Hepworth and Netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This book was a bit slow to start, quickly picking up. There were so many twists and turns at times it was hard to follow, but once all the loose ends came together it made sense and I was looking forward to how it all wrapped up. I will say there is a lot of child abuse description in this book it was sometimes hard to get through I had to skim those parts. What I loved was the sisterhood that came out three foster girls. It shows how people can be tied together forever without sharing blood.

WHAT A CRAZY MIXED UP BOOK! this is one of those stories you almost feel bad for loving , due to its darkness, but it was a slam dunk!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I really liked the three main characters, three young women who grew up in an awful foster home that bonds them for life. I loved the character development and the growth in their adult lives. It was hard to read the abuse they suffered and at times it felt a bit overdone/over dramatic. There was also a mystery of whose bones were found under the house and where that person came from and who killed them. Overall a very good read. 4.5

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth

Darling Girls is now my favorite Sally Hepworth book. She is one of my go to authors and this one did not disappoint.

This psychological thriller centered around three grown foster sisters. The twist of who the patient was in Dr. Warren’s sessions was perfect.

Keep your eye out for this one when it comes out in April! Thank you @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the early copy.

This is the first book that I've read by Sally Hepworth and it did not disappoint! I always love a story where a character has to come back to their hometown or childhood home and discover a secret when they go back. Even more so, I love a story with multiple POVs `It was an easy read for me and I couldn't put it down. Also, it makes me want to check out more of the author's books.

Excellent thriller. I really enjoyed this book. The backstory of each individual woman involved was well written along with how their complex traumas have effected their adult lives. The story had me interested from start to finish, nothing was boring about the writing at all. I really liked the perspective of Miss Fairchild with the psychiatrist. That was such a nice touch to the story as you weren’t entirely sure who was the patient until the very end! Just when I thought the book was over, the last plot twist was amazing.

Add this book to your TBR right NOW!
It’s by far my favorite book by this author.


So far, all her books have been quick domestic thrillers.
This one was way more chilling! I loved everything about it!


Alicia, Jessica and Norah were fostered by Miss Fairchild, and they had suffered what can only be described as hell on Earth. From psychological to physical abuse - gigantic trigger warnings here!


They are all living their own grownup lives, when the police call with shocking news - bones have been discovered under their childhood home. It’s time to face their fears and go back to their childhood town.


I was thinking of reasons not to give it 5 stars and I couldn't. So, five stars it is!

"Darling Girls" by Sally Hepworth is a gripping exploration of the intricacies of human relationships and the haunting power of the past. Hepworth weaves a tale that delves deep into the lives of Alicia, Jessica, and Norah, seemingly ordinary women whose past binds them in ways unimaginable.

The narrative effortlessly oscillates between the present and the past, drawing readers into the enigmatic world of Miss Fairchild's farm, where the girls spent their childhood. Hepworth masterfully portrays the complexities of their bond, depicting each character's quirks—Jessica's OCD, Norah's anger issues, and Alicia's low self-esteem—in a nuanced and relatable manner.

The discovery of bones buried beneath the farmhouse catapults the trio back into a past they thought they had escaped. The author skillfully navigates the psychological turmoil of the characters as they confront their shared history and the enigmatic Miss Fairchild. The tension builds steadily, keeping readers on the edge as they unravel the secrets buried deep within the characters' pasts.

Overall, Hepworth's "Darling Girls" is a compelling, atmospheric thriller that skillfully blends mystery, suspense, and human drama, making it a must-read for fans of psychological fiction.

Highly recommend!

This is a heart wrenching story about three girls who end up in the same foster home. The three “sisters” are complicated, interesting and resilient. I enjoyed hearing from each woman/girl as the story unfolded.

Darling Girls is a well written book that will keep you turning pages and guessing who is buried under the house.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

LOVED it. I have enjoyed all of this author's books, so I expected to like this one just as much. And I did, even more so. I opened it while the plane was boarding and between taking a few naps, walking up and down the aisle, I read this in one session. I actually finished it while taxiing to the gate and I was hoping it would be just enough time, and it was. Phew.

What a great read. From the first page you are drawn into the story of three sisters. They grew up together in a foster home in the country and now a body has been found under the home while being demolished to build a McDonald's. It's the little details like that that make Sally's writing just extra special. She has a way of knowing how the reader thinks, and drops a few tidbits that will think she wrote the book just for you.

I highly recommend Darling Girls and each and every other book from this author. You will NOT be disappointed. No one does domestic drama/thrillers like Sally Hepworth!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC!!

This is my first read from the author and it will definitely not be my last! I literally could not put this book down and finished in less than a day. I love the writing style and how it goes between present day, past time, and some unknown time in the timeline with a psychiatrist. Also did not see the ending. Amazing book

Round of applause for Sally Hepworth. This book is excellent. Hands down this was a five star read, as it managed to include realistic and empathic characters I cared about, said characters all learned and grew, a wildly compelling storyline, twists I didn’t see coming but which were entirely satisfying, and resolutions for everyone. NOT EASILY DONE!

I loved the writing, I loved the sisters, I loved the way the book introduced each sister via her introduction to Wild Meadows, the idyllic foster home that’s in fact a nightmare due to the insidious abuse of their “caretaker” Miss Fairchild. I loved the sessions with Dr Warren. I even loved the epilogue with its final twist.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

5/5 stars, can’t wait for Hepworth’s next!

I requested this one because Sally Hepworth is an automatic read for me. This book was different than her usual ones because the "family" in this story is not as traditional as the other books she has written. The different perspectives always makes for unreliable narrators but I did find that some of the outcomes were predictable. While some topics can be triggering for some readers, I do like how Hepworth explored how people's response to trauma manifests in adulthood through the lives of the three women.

Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review,

'm a fan of Sally Hepworth and I know that thrillers are supposed to push the boundaries for the twists, but I didn't quite love this one. Her writing was great and it was a quick read (I pretty much read it in a day). Her acknowledgments and thorough research led to the story about the foster care system as a whole and I commend Hepworth for that.

Yet, I am a children's librarian and I really love kids. Reading the story about the child abuse was HARD and sad. I knew that going into reading this book and it wasn't triggering, but it wasn't a pleasant read for me. It really does make me consider fostering/adopting children in the future, so I am glad that Hepworth did shed a light on the foster care system. Obviously, not EVERY foster child goes through something traumatic, but as most systems, I think change can be possible.

I rounded it up to 3 stars, since the ending twist was really good. Did not expect that. If you are a fan of Hepworth, you may like this one - just wasn't for me.