Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth is your next thriller. Stop reading this review and go start reading it!

I loved the sisters relationships in this book and didn’t see the twists coming no matter how hard I guessed. What else could I want?

Darling Girls is a book in which we follow three women who grew up in the foster-care system in Australia. These women lived in the same home with an abusive foster mother. She is very emotional and psychologically abusive. The girls live in constant fear. This book a great representation that abuse is not always physical. There is a vast difference in the types of abuse. This book also highlights narcissism. It's filled with gaslighting and manipulation.

I've not read any work by Hepworth prior to, although I do have some of her work on my bookshelf. After reading this very different thriller, I plan to delve more into her writing.

I connected with the storyline and characters quite easily. I got confused at the end but once I realized what was going on, I was all good. Will definitely recommend to friends!

will always pick up a Sally Hepworth novel, so when I had the opportunity to read her forthcoming novel, I jumped at the chance. Her novels always have the right mix of mystery and what I would categorize as women’s fiction. Her books have just the right amount of plot to make the novel almost read itself without sacrificing interesting and complex characters. Having read a fair number of Hepworth novels, my verdict on Darling Girls is: I think this is her best novel to date!

Darling Girls focuses on three women who grew up in the foster-care system in Australia. The women, who refer to each other as sisters, all lived in the same home with an abusive foster mother. What’s interesting about the abuse is that none of it is physical. It’s all emotional and psychological. But these girls live in fear. I think this book a good reminder that sometimes emotional and psychological abuse is almost more deceptive than physical abuse because a savvy abuser will convince you that you deserve it. This book also highlights some serious gaslighting and a surprisingly unreliable narrator. I always find unreliable narrators especially creepy.

Unfortunately, Darling Girls will not be released in the United States until next year. But definitely pick this one up when it comes out. I predict you will see this book on a lot of summer reading lists for 2024.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

Three girls, sisters by choice, are forced to face their past, their foster mother, and their own ways of handling trauma when a body is found below the home they grew up in. Alternating between the girls' in the perspective of their past and present and an unknown first person perspective of a psychiatrist appointment, the reader follows the story of the girls as they grow up under the care of Holly Fairchild, how they bond and learn to protect themselves and each other and how they have "moved on" - but have they really? - from the trauma they faced and as they try to figure out who's body was found.

This might be my favourite thriller of the year so far. It's Hepworth at her finest.

This story is twisty, compelling and unexpected.

I felt equally as connected to the girls - each one is unique and endearingly broken - as I was repulsed by Miss Fairchild.

This is a story of abuse and the dark side of the foster system. A trigger warning here is important. While thrillers entering around abuse can often be quite dark, I think that Hepworth has done an excellent job of walking the line with this one. The content is dark but there are moments of levity and parts of the story that provide enough healthy space that the reader doesn't get bogged down in it. If you love dogs, they're one of the bright spots.

If you're reading it and find the beginning a little slow, buckle up because the twists at the end are 100 percent worth the wait. Just when you think you have it all figured out, Hepworth takes you on another turn. For someone who analyzes thrillers big time, to be able to be caught off guard by the ending is a really delightful experience.

Another winner from Sally Hepworth! Darling Girls is a slow burning suspense, but it was truly a wild ride from start to finish. If I didn’t have to do my silly little job I would have finished this in a single sitting.

I love Hepworth’s writing. She peppers so much charm and wit and emotion into her stories and you can’t help but love, or at least care about, her flawed characters. It’s clear she did a significant research for this book and handled some complicated subjects with a lot of sensitivity. I particularly loved the discussions around being “lucky” (read the author’s note!).

Darling Girls follows three women who grew up in the same foster home and for all intents and purposes, are true sisters. I afored the dynamic between Jessica, Norah, and Alicia and as usual with Hepworth, each character was incredibly well developed.

The girls each experienced significant trauma in childhood, and specifically in foster care, that has impacted their adult lives and relationships. I really enjoyed the past and present timelines as well as getting a POV from each sister. This is a bit more of a character driven story than Hepworth’s previous books in my opinion but I was so invested in each character I barely came up for air. I was rooting for all three girls, especially Norah!

The story is heartbreaking at times but for the most part, it’s more emotional than dark and gritty. At times, I was afraid it was too predictable but there were a few really good twists I never saw coming! Also, I’ll be processing that ending for a very long time!

4.5/5
As usual with Sally Hepworth, I couldn't put this one down!

Told from multiple point of views, Sally Hepworth somehow managed to make all three sisters likeable characters despite their flaws, making it all that more compelling of a page turner. As the story unfolds, we meet the therapist, Dr. Warren, whose character seems to exist to make the plotline more intriguing - although I did find this to be confusing at times. Both him and the detectives were less realistic characters at times. Nonetheless, I often find myself disappointed with the ending of domestic thrillers - but this one left me completely satisified.

Thanks to Net Galley for my Advanced Reader's Copy! To be published 4/2024

I really looked forward to reading Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth and I was not disappointed. The story moves along at a pace that keeps you reading for the next bit of information that will slowly unravel the mystery of what really happened in Miss Fairchild's foster home. The stories of the three young women who spent several years in Miss Fairchild's care are interwoven with the shocking discovery of a body buried beneath the house. I will admit that I believed I had a pretty solid idea of the ending about 75% of the way through the book, however, I kept reading and there is a twist. I highly recommend this book. It's entertaining as well as informative. No disappointments.

Thank you NetGalley, Sally Hepworth and St Martin's for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Loved it. There were some breathless moments. Plot twist at the end that you might see coming but was shocking nevertheless. The development of the characters was really good and I found myself caring for them and the outcome of their stories. I would definitely recommend this one to anyone that enjoys twists and turns. The storyline kept me guessing till the end! I'm looking forward to reading more books by this author.

In this heart breaking tale of three girls and their years in a foster home you learn that not all is what you think. In typical Sally Hepworth style just when you think you have it all figured out the twists and turns just keep coming.

Sally Hepworth reigns as the queen of domestic thriller characters, and her latest work, Darling Girls, continues to showcase her ability to craft compelling dynamics among her characters. She is best known for delving into various human relationships, including family dynamics, friendships, and romantic partnerships while creating multi-dimensional and relatable characters.

The central focus here is the relationship between Jessica, Norah, and Alicia, which is the story's heart. Hepworth's exceptional character development is evident, with each character possessing distinct qualities and facing conflicts that enhance their relatability. What captivated me most was the genuine bond shared among them. Despite individual battles, they remained pillars of strength for one another, embodying the true essence of female bonding.

Sally Hepworth seamlessly weaves elements of drama, mystery, and tension while delving into universal themes like love, female bonding, resilience, and personal growth, adding emotional depth to the story and allowing Hepworth to address complex and sensitive topics thrillingly. From the opening chapter to the satisfying payoff at the story's end, it captivated me, absorbing me in the pages.

I always enjoy a Sally Hepworth novel-I love how she writes female relationships—mother-daughter, wife, sisters….this one was about 3 foster sisters who grew up under awful circumstances but who found strength in each other and grew into adulthood. They are suddenly thrown back to their childhood when the bones of a child are found under the foster home they lived in, 25 years ago. Whose are they? How did they get there? What will they mean to the sisters?

have a few of Sally's books on my shelves that I haven't gotten to yet but I'll be picking them up next. This book was a quick read and kept me interested throughout. I do love a book with multiple POVs and this one went back and forth from past to present. I loved the sister relationship and Miss Fairchild was irritatingly interesting. I also liked that the end of the book wrapped it all up for the reader!

Darling Girls started off really strong, as usual Sally Hepworth characters are described in detail, I was very intrigued by the foster child storyline. This book would have been a 5 star read for me if not for the seemingly unnecessary romance side plots. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!

Please check CW before reading this book. There were some tough subjects discussed. This was a book about the insidious nature of people and what trauma can do to you. Switching back and forth between POVs kept this book feeling fresh.

Alicia, Jessica, and Norah are "sisters" who are bonded for life after living in a horrible foster home together as children. When they are contacted by a detective to ask some questions about their past, they begin to dredge up their childhood memories. What really happened at the house where they grew up? Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I am so glad that several years ago I stumbled onto the author Sally Hepworth. Since finding her first book I have devoured everything she writes. I am never disappointed.

Darling Girls is such an easy book to get lost in. I loved getting to know Jessica, Norah, and Alicia. They each has such unique stories as to how they came into foster care. I am sad to realized that the foster card system is broken everywhere. I had hoped that may have been a problem in the just the states. The girls survived so much and their bond was truly beautiful.

One thing that I truly love about Hepworth's writing is the twist and turns. I sort of figured that Miss Fairchild was not what she seemed. She seemed to be able to manipulate Jessica even so many years later. The mystery regarding the bond found under Wild Meadow had me captivated. I really loved to see how their time at Wild Meadows affected each of the girls lives.

This book was so well written and so enjoyable while being about a very sad existence for these young girls. I highly recommend this book.


Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Sally Hepworth does it again! Multiple
Timelines and POVs pulled together beautifully in this twisty read

Wild Meadows...sounds like a beautiful place. But, it is anything but for Alicia, Jessica, and Norah, 3 girls from completely different backgrounds who end up being wards of Miss Fairchild through the foster system.

The bond that forms between the 3 is strong, and when Miss Fairchild starts to take in babies to care for, they know that something isn't right. When they see the way that Amy is treated (a toddler), they know that they need to do something.

***Small Spoiler Alert***
The girls talk to their school administrator and the police become involved. But, when they go to Wild Meadows there is no evidence of Amy ever being there. How could this be? Well, you know early on that Jessica has the strongest bond of the three girls to Miss Fairchild, and she warns her that they are going to talk, allowing for time to get rid of her. This is told through a series of flashbacks.

When bones are found buried at Wild Meadows, and they are of an infant/toddler, the 3 women are called back to have a discussion with the police. Is this what happened to Amy? And, when Miss Fairchild shows up it opens a new set of emotions among the three.

This story is told from past and present timelines but it was very easy to follow. I thought all of the characters were well written, and had mixed feelings throughout. At one point I almost felt bad for Miss Fairchild. Until the end when you get the real story.

Foster children, foster parents, you get a feel for how imperfect this system can be, even though the book is fiction. I enjoyed this one quite a bit.

I am a big fan of Sally Hepworth novels and I was not disappointed with Darling Girls. I was so excited to receive an advance copy of this novel through NetGalley.

This book had me hooked from the beginning and I never lost interest! I loved the different points of view and I loved the flashbacks to the past. I will say it was hard reading what happened to the girls when they were young. It was definitely a trigger point for me, but I loved the whole mystery of the story. It was one of those books that you keep thinking about even after it's finished.