Although, I think it’s impossible for her to write a BAD book-this just wasn’t a favorite.

Jessica, Norah and Alicia share a bond that takes them back decades, to when they were girls, and they lived on a farm with a wicked foster mother named Miss Fairchild. They may not be sisters by blood, but they are as close as three sisters can be.

When bones are discovered buried under the farmhouse of their childhood, they are summoned by Police to tell what they might know.

The story opens in the office of Dr. Warren, Psychiatrist- but which woman is speaking with him?

We then alternate between the PAST and the PRESENT, examining both through the viewpoints of all three girls/women. It isn’t confusing at all, but I rarely enjoy spending half of a book with children, especially those who are being ABUSED in FOSTER CARE.

But, that’s a “me thing” as the book has all 5 star ⭐️ reviews so far!!

As ALWAYS, Sally Hepworth writes another SHOCKING ending, which will probably be met with more controversy and mixed feelings! I always ENJOY them (extra half star for the surprise reveal!) regardless of how DISTURBING or UPSETTING the ending might be.

And, I only hope that this time, she gets to KEEP the ending she wants!!

I always love sally Hepworth books! You cannot put them down and this one is not an exception! The story was thrilling without being too creepy or scary.

essica, Norah, & Alicia couldn’t be any more different, but they share the same dark past— at Wild Meadows Foster Home. Not sisters by blood, but sisters by experience, & they all receive the same phone call on the same day. There have been human remains found at the old Wild Meadows Foster Home…
The story is a little hard to follow at times, I found, and also a bit of a drag. I did enjoy the ending, and everything that led to it. I didn’t truly get into the book until about 65% though. LOTS of typos— That said, this was an ARC but still. So. Many. Typos.
This wasn’t my favorite, but it was far from my least favorite. I will more than likely give SH a second chance, because I have heard lots of amazing things about her. This book just wasn’t it for me.

As always Sally Hepworth goes to the top of my TBR pile.

In this book Sally writes an artful story about a less than conventional family. There are four POVs throughout this book, one for each of the three "sisters" and one whom is a mystery voice that is not revealed until the end. The POVs also shift from the before to the current time giving a lovely story that unfolds nicely.

Sally is skilled in the way she weaves her story but also ties up all the loose ends at the end leaving some questionable doubt in your mind as to the truth behind the story but also the leaves you wanting to read her next book. This one is the same and does not disappoint.

Ooooh, Darling Girls was SUCH a good thriller! Absolutely a 5 star read for me.

The sisters’ voices were all unique and did a great job of standing on their own. I liked the different POVs and getting all the different sides of the story…and I mean *all* of them. I enjoyed the three different timelines and seeing the sister relationship develop.

I don’t want to go too into details because of spoilers, but if you like twisty baby thrillers, Darling Girls is for you!

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this title. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was quite disturbing. The foster mother is so terrible, I couldn’t get past the first 20%. There was too much child abuse to read further. I received an advanced reading copy from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

I’ve never been disappointed with a Sally Hepworth novel and Darling Girls was no exception. Yet another well written psychological domestic mystery with lots of twists and suspense!

3 foster sisters with an incredible bond come together when bones are discovered under the house where they once all lived together. Whose bones are they? How did they end up buried in the basement? I had lots of hunches along the way but never really had it all figured out. Lots of back story is provided in past/present chapters along with bits of conversation that someone is having with Dr. Warren, a psychiatrist. It’s not instantly obvious who Dr. Warren is speaking with, which helps the story slowly unravel and come together. I also appreciated the closure chapters that were provided at the end for each of the sisters and Miss Fairchild. Hepworth certainly knows how to write a captivating story to keep her readers turning the pages!

Thanks to NetGalley for the Advanced Copy in exchange for my honest review. Release date is set for April 23, 2024

Sally Hepworth is notorious for her suspense build and twists. The last twist I did not foresee and was shocked enough to move this to a 5 star. The psychological content involves foster children that are down on their luck then they end up in an abusive caretaker's home. Miss Fairchild appeared as the perfect fit for young Jessica when she moved in. She loved her and cared for her then disturbing things began to occur. When two more girls, Alicia and Norah, moved in, as well as many others, the girls went to the police when they witnessed the abuse of a toddler, Amy. When Amy is nowhere to be found and told it was a figment of their imagination, they were resolved to forget about it.

25 years later, bones are discovered when the foster home Wild Meadows is demolished. The 3 girls had remained as close as real sisters through the years. They were terrified when summoned and interviewed by the police about the place.
Be prepared! That ending is disturbing and shocking!!
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Very solid psychological thriller, gives me hardcore silent patient vibes. Loved the twist, thought it was original and I didn’t see it coming. The characters were developed so well, and seeing their growth along the story was very rewarding and satisfying. I also liked that there was an epilogue! I truly was captivated every turn and was so intrigued. That being said there were a few minor plot points that weren’t super believable, but weren’t deal breakers by any means. I think that this is going to make an absolutely sick adaptation, hopefully hulu or hbo gets the rights and makes a show to the tune of Big Little Lies or 9 Perfect Strangers. Recommend this to all of my twisty book loving friends.

Thanks to Netgalley and st Martian’s press for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

Wow! I would rate this as my favorite Sally Hepworth book. This book sucked me in and kept me up until 3:00 AM. My heart went out to all three of the main characters growing up within the foster care system. Everything isn’t always as it seems and being placed in a home with Miss Fairchild seemed perfect to the uncaring eye. Throughout the book, you come to discover how much their childhood and traumatizing foster care experience impacted them as adults. Sally does such an amazing job at creating layered characters who you end up falling in love with and rooting for. This one was super enjoyable!




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

I was so happy to be approved for this book on NetGalley as I have loved all of Sally Hepworth's books I've read. I'm happy to say this one just much be my favorite so far.

I was immediately drawn into Jessica, Norah, and Alicia's world and could not wait to see what would happen to them next. It was also interesting to see how each of them coped differently as an adult from their time at Wild Meadows.

Definitely recommend this one.

I loved this book. The characters were amazing. It is a great view into the bonds that foster children can share. And how they look out for each other. Also helped you to understand how the foster mother became the person she was. I would recommend this book 100%.

This story follows three girls through their journey into foster care and then farther into adulthood. Jessica, Norah, and Alicia have been through so much together that they are sisters no matter what their blood says. Living in the same house and banding together saved them. The girls are all living their lives, somewhat functionally when they get the call. Bones have been discovered under the house they used to live in. The three women drop everything in their lives to return to the place that they have never wanted to go back to. They are worried that they may know whose bones were found and just how they got there.

I have been in foster care and this story was somewhat of the brutal reality that kids go through. The emotions that they feel at knowing they will not be believed even if they tell someone is a harsh truth that is often overlooked. I loved the plotline of this book. It was such a pleasure to unravel the mystery of the bones and the twists that the story took to get there were great. I could not get my jaw off the floor at the end. That was amazing. I continue to be a huge fan of Sally Hepworth after reading this one!

First and foremost, this novel has a special place in my heart for Sally Hepworth has told a gripping story built on well-researched facts from foster homes and foster children.

My heart goes out to children in this entire world!

Secondly, this novel is a mind-blowing domestic thriller that left me disheveled, bewildered and enchanted at the same time. I was fascinated by the amazing bond of sisters from another womb and repulsed by the manipulative foster parents and social workers.

Beware, Sally Hepworth acknowledgement at end of her story helped me balance my feelings and brought my appreciation for foster parents as well social workers who focus on children’s wellbeing with their hearts and minds.

Last but not least, this novel is a perfect premise to raise your appetite for more reading and more stories. Impeccable storytelling, sophisticated plot and mind-blowing twists and turn that will keep you guessing.

Thank you NetGalley!!! Love you tons 😍😍😍
Thank you Sally Hepworth!!! Aka Queen of domestic thriller. 😍😍😍

Another high five to Sally Hepworth! This novel was engaging, a very quick read, and had a nice twist at the end.

Darling Girls is consummate Sally Hepworth, but it's also a bit different. There's a mystery at the heart of it, but along the way, you're more and more drawn in by the characters--in this case, three sisters who were brought together by foster care under the same twisted roof. We go back and forth in time and get to know each of the the three girls, and the women they have become 25 years later, well. They all have issues, major issues, which follow them into adulthood, but they are moving characters and we root for them through the story's twists and revelations. There's a surprising ending (some might even call it shocking) but still, I maintain this one is more character driven than her usual.

This is now my favorite book by Sally Hepworth and I have loved every single other one I've read as well. so that's saying a lot!


Read if you love:
*Multiple POVs
*Multiple timelines
*Plot twists
*Mystery + Suspense

This is the 3rd book I read by Sally Hepworth and I really liked it. There are so many good books out there but so many similar basic storylines. This book is definitely different. The story goes back and forth in time for the 4 main characters, Miss Fairchild and 3 girls who were her foster children. There are bones discovered under the house they lived in. I really liked the backstories on all the girls and how they ended up being fostered, it also helped explain how they ended up living their current lifestyle. I really enjoyed how they were still close and basically were sisters. It was interesting to see the changes in Miss Fairchild over the years and kind of explain how she acted. Just when you think you understand it all,wham!, what a shocker! Great book!

4.5 stars! This is my first by Hepworth and whoa! I’m a fan! I have been on a big thriller kick and this did not disappoint. It kept me guessing till the end and the characters were well developed.

Past and present and different characters’ POV were masterfully woven!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC!!

As always with Sally Hepworth, another great read! I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5!! This story goes deep into the foster family system and makes you realize it really could be that BAD!!! Another surprising end to the book as well! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!!!