Thanks @netgalley and @stmartinspress for read number 128 of 2023: @sallyhepworth’s newest book to be released in April 2024. Please note that my ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely loved this mystery/suspense novel. I couldn’t put it down. Even when I thought I had it figured out, Hepworth provides a great twist. Really enjoyed the multiple points of view. A ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 read in my books.

When I see that Sally Hepworth has a new book out I automatically have to read it, because her books ARE that "EXCEPTIONAL "

With her latest book Darling Girls, Hepworth has proven once again why people flock to read her books.

Be prepared to read this one quickly, I finished this one in 24 hours.

I just could not put it down.

Twists and turns you will NOT SEE COMING!

AND THAT ENDING.....

Be prepared to have your mouth hanging open.
LITERALLY!!!

HEPWORTH IS ALL THAT! ❤️️

Thank you, NetGalley/Sally Hepworth /
St. Martin's Press/ For this Amazing e-Arc in advance for my honest review. My opinions are of my own volition


PUBLICATION DATE: 23 APRIL 2024
St. Martin's Press

One of the current queens of domestic suspense is back at it again, with another entertaining story full of secrets and lies, twists and turns. Don't trust anybody! This was a quick read for me, and I enjoyed it. It's hard to review suspense novels without giving too much away so I'll just say, read it and have fun! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a review copy.

Wow! Sally Hepworth did it again.

The twist and turns you don’t see coming. This book shows the bonds of the family you choose. A light is shone on the dark side of foster care. You do not know the monster lurking behind a smile. I could not put this book down.

This is my least favorite Sally Hepworth novel to date. I struggled to stay engaged with the story and wasn’t shocked by the big twist at the end.

3.5 stars! This book follows 3 girls growing up in foster care and their past/present storylines after a discovery of bones are found at their old foster home. I tend to fly through Sally’s books and this one was no different. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

(Read the synopsis for the book description because Im not blessed with that kind of time)
I absolutely loved our main characters, Jessica, Norah and Alicia. They were so well written, from childhood into adulthood.
I read this book in less than 24 hours and didn’t want to put it down.
The atmosphere was *chefs kiss* (albeit disturbing af), the pacing was perfect, it was suspenseful and twisty and as always, Hepworth hit us with an unexpected reveal right when you think it’s over.
10/10.
Thank you to Net Galley and St Martins Press for the early copy!

I will start off saying this started out very slow for me and it wasn’t until 35% into the book that I started to enjoy it. A murder has happened in Wild Meadows over 25 years ago and the cops find 3 women who lived there back then. They were all young girls back then raised in the foster care system so it went back and forth from when they were children to their present age of 30’s. I love all of Sally Hepworth’s books so I was determined to keep going but I found myself several times wanting to give up in the first half. I’m glad I stuck with it. Some of the young girls grew up in horrific settings and this just broke my heart. What a great story teller this author is! Loved it in the end! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review. To be published April 2024.

Wow! This book was filled with twists and turns up until the last page. I couldn’t put this book down. What a mystery filled with unreliable narration, plot twists and thrills. Such a great read! I will recommend this thriller to tons of people!

Yesss! Love Sally Hepworth-this was such a good read! I didn't see the twists coming. Fast paced and kept me really engaged. Thanks to NetGalley!

This book was SO dang good, and I can’t say that I ever saw any of the twists coming. I love Sally Hepworth, so it was amazing to get the chance to read this arc. Once I started, I was unable to stop. Another awesome book, thank you!!

This book was amazing! It lead me to believe I knew what was going on and what was going to happen, it took twist and turns however each way this turned out, I think it would of been 5 star anyways it was that good…A definite must read for the year!!!!

If I could give Darling Girls TEN stars instead of five, I absolutely would! This is easily one of my favorite books of 2023.

I’ve read several of Ms. Hepworth’s previous novels, and while I liked them, I didn’t love them. Darling Girls was a total LOVE for me, though!

I loved both the characters and the plot. The three protagonists were really compelling, as was Miss Fairchild. If you have any experience dealing with narcissistic people, especially narcissistic maternal figures, you’ll know how eerily well Miss Fairchild was written. Her character continued to horrify and surprise me throughout the novel, right down to the very last page.

What a fascinating, twisty-turny read!

Wow! Talk about a good book. Sally Hepworth's books are always so well written and keep your interest, but this one had me thinking about it days after reading.

This book was ok but probably the least compelling Sally Hepworth book I've read. The plot was just not that interesting and the twist at the end wasn't exciting to me. Maybe there were too many characters for Hepworth to try to build. Also, I know it was a review copy but there was an absurd amount of typos... many of them that actually affected the way you read a sentence or the meaning of a sentence. I have read quite a few review copies and have never seen typos to this level.

Wow, this book was even better than I was expecting! It had me hooked from the beginning, and kept getting better and better as I got further into it. The ending was really great! I can't wait to read more from this author!

Sally Hepworth's upcoming release, "Darling Girls," is a domestic thriller that's perfect for spring break escapades, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with its gripping plot and clever narrative structure. I devoured this book in only a few days and was really impressed with the sneaky way Hepworth wrapped this one up.

One of the standout features of "Darling Girls" is its pacing, thanks in no small part to the quick chapters that invite readers to devour just one more page, then another, until suddenly they've read half the book in one sitting. Hepworth skillfully uses this technique to create an almost addictive quality to the narrative, making it difficult to put the book down.

The narrative style of alternating between past and present, adds depth to the storytelling. This technique offers readers a multi-layered perspective on the characters, allowing us to understand their motivations, traumas and secrets. It's a testament to the author's skill that these transitions are seamless and never disrupt the flow of the story.

What I loved most about "Darling Girls" was how Hepworth constantly kept me on my toes. Every time I thought I had the plot figured out, she introduced a new detail or twist that threw my assumptions into disarray. The story is a tapestry of secrets, lies, and unexpected revelations, making it impossible to predict the outcome. This unpredictability is what might arguably make this Hepworth's best book yet.

As for the ending, it was a revelation I never saw coming. As I made my way to the final pages, I was initially disappointed by the ending...but that final reveal....woah.

Sally Hepworth has once again proven herself as a skilled storyteller, and "Darling Girls" is sure to captivate readers looking for a thrilling escape.

Sally Hepworth tells a unique, dark, and twisty story about three foster sisters that grew up in a cruel foster home, with the ironic name of Wild Meadows. An investigation is opened due to bones found beneath the girls old foster home and all three of them are called back to their hometown for questioning. You are taken along on their journey of remembrance, where they re-live all of their worst nightmares from 25 years ago.

While it takes a bit to get into this book as it alternates between 4 different view points as well as jumps between past and present, once you've got the rhythm of it you'll be hooked. This book is dark and involves child abuse, so should come with a trigger warning.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

The book was a quick read. I was hooked from the first few pages and it kept my attention. Highly recommend.

This was a good psychological thriller for someone who is new to the genre. It was a fast paced and engaging story. The book centers around 3 women who all grew up in foster care together and the lasting impact their foster mother had on them. When human remains are found buried at the site of their former foster home the women travel back to their hometown and face their past. Full of twisty turns and interesting characters, I was hooked right away. It should be known there is significant abuse of children depicted in this book which made it at times difficult to read