What a twisted way to grow up in foster care. Although this is just a fictional story, it had my mind racing as to what foster children really could be going through behind closed doors.
Darling girls is written in first person with the exchange of points of view (POV) throughout the story. It gave the reader a full look into each main character's thoughts, feelings and experiences.
The story is based on a trio of foster sisters raised in Port Agatha at Wild Meadows by a wretched woman, Miss Fairchild. It showcases the past and present of these women and what became of them from their torment and traumatic upbringing.
All being called together to help investigators uncover an old crime that took place at Wild Meadows.
The storyline does go back and forth from character as well as from past to present, so attention to detail when reading this is needed.
As a reader, the story embedded suspicions of what could really have happened with regard to the situation the police are investigating and who is at fault.
The story flows together well with twists and turns that make the reader re-evaluate their original thought process.

Darling Girls is Sally Hepworth’s latest book and thanks to NetGalley. I was sent an e- copy book earl to read and review and her latest book is a thrill page turner and keeps you guessing right up until the last page. I always enjoy her books and her newest one is not to be missed. Bravo Sally🙋‍♀️🇨🇦📚🙏❤️👏👏👏

✨ ARC Review ✨

Book: Darling Girls
Author: Sally Hepworth
Genre: thriller
Format: 📕
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Synopsis: Three women formed a bond of sisterhood while in the home of Miss Fairchild as foster children. When bones are discovered under the foundation of the now torn down house, the women are called back to the town the left decades ago.

Sally Hapworth has been a favorite author of mine for awhile so getting an ARC of her next birth was so exciting. I was hooked from the first page and loved all the twists and turns throughout. I felt like I got to know the characters well and could keep track even with a lot going on.

Reading this on my kindle could be the reason for a little confusion, but there were parts that seemed to not be separated out as a chapter when they should have been. With so many POVs, it’s important to know who you’re reading and the fourth POV wasn’t named the same as the rest making it more difficult. Once I was able to decipher it, I truly enjoyed having four POVs.

Thank you to @stmartinspress, @netgalley, and @sallyhepworth for the advanced read is a great book.

Somehow this was my first Sally Hepworth novel, and I really enjoyed it! It had a great sense of creepiness and intrigue and a pretty fast pace. I didn’t grow to love the characters, but I did have a hard time reading about some of what they went through in their foster home. Even though this was a thriller, it got difficult thinking of the reality of foster care. I liked the multiple points of view, and I definitely was surprised by the last little twist.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this arc!

Trigger warnings for everything in this one, but especially for child abuse and sexual assault. A trio of sisters, raised in foster care by Miss Fairchild, a monster in disguise. A body found under a house. The lasting repercussions of childhood trauma and instability. This had me absolutely riveted and guessing until the very end = no way was I guessing the ending! A quick, engaging read.

I love all of Sally Hepworth's books but I have to say, this is probably my favorite thus far. It's not often when an author is consistent with their writing and even less often when they're books just get better and better. This story was unique and a complete page turner. I felt invested in the story and was eager to keep reading to find out what exactly happened to the body found under the house. The ending came quickly with surprise after surprise. But of course, Hepworth left another devious surprise at the end. I enjoy her books so much and I cannot wait for the next one to come out. I highly recommend Darling Girls if you're a fan of suspense.

Darling Girls was an intriguing read by Sally Hepworth that kept me guessing. There were a few turns toward the end that I didn't see coming. Possibly a bit of an eye roller but still okay with me!

The characters were easily distinguishable and each took on a clear personality. I appreciated the note in the back as well.

I will comment that I was reading a galley edition and there were a surprising number of uncorrected errors, but I ALSO know that because it is St Martin's Press, every one of them will be corrected by the time this book gets into your hot little hands!

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for an ARC of Darling Girls in exchange for an honest review.

Four solid stars!

Wow. This book kept me guessing until the very end. Told from multiple points of view, mainly three adoptive sisters, my interpretation of each character was constantly changing in the best way possible. I thoroughly enjoyed this rollercoaster of a ride while never knowing who to trust. I think it's safe to say this is Sally's best work yet!

Oh the people are not going to love this book lol. I enjoyed it and have a tolerance for a lot of the triggers but I just KNOW!!! People are going to have issues with this one. The abuse, the foster care abuse, the child trafficking, the suicide. Goodness it was a lot. The story was good and compelling and miss Fairchild is a wench.

The last few Sally Hepwoth books fell short for me. But this one hit it home! What a great read! I'm not normally a fan of open ended endings but this one worked.

Sally Hepworth did it AGAIN!! “Darling Girls” is a page turning thriller that will not only pull the reader in but also leave them in awe at the end. The sisterly bond that Norah, Jessica, and Alicia developed, as a result of their experiences living in foster care, is put to the test. When bones are discovered under their childhood home the women are forced to share the horrors of their past & confront their unpredictable foster mother, Ms. Fairchild.

It was truly beyond a pleasure being afforded to receive an ARC copy of this book via @netgalley . Ever since reading “The Younger Wife”, Sally Hepworth QUICKLY became one of my “auto-buy authors!”! Rest assured - you WILL NOT be disappointed once you pick up a copy of “Darling Girls”

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth.
Hepworth is a master when it comes to domestic thrillers. Taking on the heartbreak of the foster system, and the particular horrors of three little broken girls who survives because of their close bond with each other. I thought I had the plot figured out, but that didn't curtail my enjoyment of this book, and yet Hepworth introduced a slight twist at the end! Like in The Good Sister, Hepworth left the ending open ended for the reader to wonder if the narcissistic perpetrator once again could manipulate her way out of any consequences.
I highly recommend this book.
Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read and review this ARC.

Darling Girls
Sally Hepworth
4⭐️

If you’re in the mood for a dark & twisty character driven thriller, Darling Girls will hit the spot! Hepworth did not disappoint with this page turner! It was unique, quick, engaging, and full of twists and an ending I did not see coming. I really enjoyed the flashbacks/dual timeline and getting each sister’s POV. It added so much to the story.

What I Enjoyed:
✨ Slow Burn Suspense
✨ Dark & Twisty Stories
✨ Domestic Thriller
✨ Flawed Characters

This made for the perfect buddy read!

Pub Date 4/23/24. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved it but then again I love everything Sally Hepworth has written. I liked the character development and the story line. Well written, easy read and keeps you invested in the story.

Jessica, Norah and Alicia were three foster girls who lived at a farmhouse called Wild Meadows and cared for by their foster mother Miss Fairchild. Jessica was first to arrive and formed a bond with her. Norah was violent due to foster homes she was in that were abusive. Alicia came to the house as a temporary stay due to her grandmother’s accident. The girls formed a bond and became lifelong sisters.
Twenty five years later they are called to come back by the police because remains were found buried under the farmhouse. During the investigation they come across Miss Fairchild who they’re not happy to see. They also have to confront the past and present.
The story is told from past to present and the points of views of the women. There are parts told from an unknown woman that’s in therapy sessions.
The book shed a light on the foster care system and the psychological effects on children when they are in an abusive, neglectful, unloving home. The bond of the three women shows how family isn’t always blood related. The author did research on foster care interviewing women who were in foster care as kids and interviewed social workers and foster parents. In the author’s note she asserted there are heroes in foster care system but more is needed. So true. There are so many kids that need homes and love.
Thank you #stmartinspress, #netgalley, #sallyhepworth
Publishing: April 23,2024

This book hooked me immediately and I read it very quickly. It goes back and forth between past and present and has a great pace. It was just the right amount of messed up without being hard to read and it was a wild ride. Multiple plot twists and a crazy ending. Highly recommend to others.

Another good read by Sally Hepworth. Definitely a quick read. Some of the details were slightly unbelievable. However, the storyline overall was definitely enjoyable. Did not expect the final chapter.

I love a good Sally Hepworth and holy buckets, Darling Girls fits the bill. The story goes between three former foster children who have remained close into adulthood. They are all informed that bones have been found on the property of their former foster home, where they suffered with an emotionally abusive foster mother. The women have all handled their past in different ways, carrying different challenges into the present, but they all come together during the police investigation.

I honestly can't even describe just how twisted and unexpected this book was - I was actually taken completely by surprise in a couple of places, and I loved it. So so good!

I chose this book because of the author, Sally Hepworth. I have enjoyed her books in the past. The subject of foster care is the main plot line here. There are so many wonderful foster parents that bring up children in a loving and caring home. Unfortunately Miss Fairchild was not one of them.
Three young girls are tormented by Miss Fairchild and the foster care system fails them terribly. Their story, and later their adult lives, continue to be impacted by Miss Fairchild. Sally Hepworth has incorporated a murder mystery into this book and that part of her typical style of keeping the reader interested.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and netgalley for allowing me to read Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth. Once again Hepworth did not disappoint. This book was good the twist and turns had me on the edge of my sit the entire time.