This was my second Sally Hepworth book I've read and she's quickly become one of my preferred authors.

I enjoy Hepworth's writing style and how she quickly and thoughtfully develops each of her characters, and their relationships with each other.

I find her books to be thought provoking, but at the same time easily digestible and quick to read.

I look forward to reading more by this author!

Special thanks to Netgalley for providing early access to this book. I plan to buy a physical copy once it hits the shelves!

Wow wow wow! Love this author so much. Never disappoints. The characters were so relatable and that ending was great. Thanks to Netgalley for the read.

I absolutely love Sally Hepworth and "Darling Girls" was a twisty, suspense-filled novel. Worth the read for sure.

This was my first Sally Hepworth book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I found the pacing to be just right, the characters to be fleshed out well and the story to be engaging. It was a very quick read and, by the end, I actually didn't see the twist coming (which doesn't happen very often). I'll definitely be picking up more of her books! Thank you for allowing me to read this one.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Sally is a favorite author of mine and also a favorite to follow on social media. I was excited to see that this new work was available to read early. It did not disappoint! Twisty, dark and unexpected.

The is my first time reading Sally Hepworth and I didn’t really know what to expect. What I got was a twisty mystery that left me with all the feelings. It was really good but not sure that I’ll read another.

Absolutely loved this book! Character development was unmatched. The storyline itself was unique. And Hepworth’s writing is superb. Will continue to read everything she writes!

4 stars! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own. I really enjoyed this book with its twists and turns. The subject matter of foster children was meaningful to me since I spent time in social work school working for the Department of Children and Family in Florida. The three main characters are Alicia, Jessica, and Norah, three bonded women who spent time together as foster children at the home of Miss Fairchild. They managed to break away as children but are being pulled back after bones are found under the remains of the house after it is torn down. The author made clever use of shifting perspectives and did a good job incorporating how childhood traumas can have lasting effects into adulthood. I found the final twists unpredictable which makes for a fun read. Also appreciated the author's exploration of the lengths kids go to in order to survive and live through some pretty terrible situations. Resilience is a fascinating subject and why some kids have it and some don't. So, all in all, highly recommend.

At first glance, Alicia, Jessica, and Norah may seem like your typical everyday women. However, a closer look reveals that each of them faces unique challenges. Jessica struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder, which can overwhelm everyday tasks. On the other hand, Norah struggles with controlling her anger, sometimes reacting impulsively under challenging situations. Alicia, meanwhile, tends to express her feelings of low self-esteem in unexpected ways that catch those around her off guard.

Despite these obstacles, the three women share a deep and unbreakable bond that dates back to their childhoods. They grew up together on a farm, raised by their foster mother, Miss Fairchild. Their shared experiences have created a connection that transcends their struggles, and they continue to rely on each other for support and understanding.

Sally Hepworth has demonstrated exceptional writing skills by presenting a narrative characterized by vivid portrayals of all four characters, both in the past and present, thus providing a rich, deeply engaging, and thought-provoking reading experience. The characters are impeccably crafted, enabling readers to connect emotionally with them, which contributes significantly to the story's impact and appeal. The author's ability to maintain consistent quality throughout the narrative is a testament to her expertise in creative writing.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to review this book.

I have loved everything Sally Hepworth has written that I've read. This was no exception. It was thrilling and kept my attention the entire time. You never quite know who you can trust her books and this held onto that theme very well.

While Sally Hepworth is definitely a favorite author of mine, Darling Girls was not one of her favorite books for me. There is a lot going on in this story: foster care, child abuse, murder, and drug abuse to name a few. But there is also suspense, alternating timelines (which I love), and a few twists/turns. I would have liked to see more character development in the "sisters." While this was touched upon lightly in describing their careers (home organization business and social work) and their dysfunctional relationships with other people, I wanted more. Jessica's husband was barely touched upon and it was disappointing to read that he basically swept her drug addiction under the carpet. Also, the almost voyeuristic tendency of the conversations with the therapist were a bit strange. I thought Hepworth did a great job showing how trauma affects the lives of people and their future development into adults. All in all, this was a good read but not quite the thriller I was hoping for.

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance reader edition of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Beautifully Orchestrated!
This story tells the tale of three young girls brought together and bonded for life through the misfortune of becoming foster kids. We get an insightful look at the circumstances that led them to their shared foster home, their heartbreaking struggle while living together, and a detailed look into the mental and physical repercussions of all they've endured. All alongside a "side story" and masterfully crafted mystery that brought them back to their childhood foster home.

Sally Hepworth has done an outstanding job of laying this story out in such a way that has your mind constantly engaged and craving more.

Thank you so much @NetGalley and @StMartinsPress for this ARC in exchange for my honest review

Alicia, Jessica, and Norah are three girls who survived the foster mother, Miss Fairchild and as adults remain friends and "sisters." The novel flashes back and forth from the past in Miss Fairchild's home to the present when the girls are independent adults. Suddenly called back by the police to their former foster home, they wonder about the bones of a young child found underneath the demolished house.

The focus is on foster children and how they might fare under foster parents who are abusive, controlling, emotionally unhinged. And a foster care system that might also have social workers not invested in the welfare of children they supervise.
The book becomes a mystery to be solved about the identity of the child who was buried years ago under the house they called home.

The characters are delineated carefully, their stories sometimes horrific. The novel has a twist at the end that is chilling.

NetGalley ARC - Sally Hepworth does it again! She’s a true favorite of mine, and this read clearly shows why - she is a pro at writing about family dysfunction, while making you laugh, and trying to piece together a mystery. Fun, fast and fabulous! Loved this book so much! Can’t wait for its US release, so I can buy copies for several friends. Thank you!

5 🌟
☆ Thoughts ☆
I read this on the plane and I absolutely loved this one sm! Wow I am absolutely loving multiple POV these days especially in thrillers! Something about the way Sally wrote this book was addicting and I devoured this book like seriously! The book itself is thriller but it has many heartbreaking moments and left my heart aching. I feel heartbroken for the three main characters who went through so much and how the pain they experienced traumatized them until this day just hurts me. The book does get a closure so don't worry and I am excited for everyone to read this next year!

Thank you Netgally, Sally, and St.Martins Press for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.5⭐️ love this author but this was not my favorite . The beginning caught my attention but I found the middle mediocre, the ending was good and unexpected. Trigger warning - child abuse , I felt the point would still come across with less description of abuse.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review

Sally Hepworth has written a truly delicious thriller in DARLING GIRLS, a novel that explores the intricacies of sisterhood, hidden secrets, and the haunting specters of our buried pasts.

SUMMARY
At first glance Wild Meadows appears to be a sanctuary for foster children, with its sprawling house, inviting pool, and kindly foster mother, Miss Fairchild. It all seems to be a dream come true for four-year-old orphaned Jessica. To please Miss Fairchild, Jessica is willing to do anything. However, Miss Fairchild's demands are far from ordinary. When Norah and Alicia also find themselves living at Wild Meadows, the three girls band together to navigate the harsh rules imposed by Miss Fairchild and ultimately form an unbreakable sisterly bond.

As children who have endured their share of trauma, isolation, and neglect, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia each employ unique coping mechanisms. Jessica rigidly controls every aspect of her life in a desperate quest for perfection to keep her doubts and insecurities at bay. Norah engages only in "transactional relationships," maintaining a distance from everyone except her sisters. Meanwhile, Alicia, a compassionate social worker, foregoes any personal relationships, choosing to focus only changing the foster care system that once failed her.

However, when human remains are unearthed beneath the abandoned house on Wild Meadows, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia must confront not only their past on the farm but also their enigmatic foster mother, Miss Fairchild.

REVIEW
DARLING GIRLS is a mesmerizing narrative that skillfully weave together four alternating points of view, with a timeline that seamlessly shifts between past and present. In the present, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia are complex women, marked not only by the circumstances that led them into the foster care system but also by the scars left by the manipulative Miss Fairchild and her ever-changing rules.
All four characters, both in the past and present, are vividly portrayed, offering a rich and deeply engaging reading experience. What truly sets this book apart is Hepworth's ability to create an authentically haunting psychological novel, complete with narrators whose reliability is constantly in question. Hepworth resists the temptation to rely on cheap tricks or sudden twists merely for shock value. Instead, every twist, turn, and revelation seamlessly integrates into the narrative, heightening the suspense and delivering a psychologically compelling experience. The unexpected conclusion will leave you gasping. DARLING GIRLS is a must-read for fans of smartly written psychological thrillers.

Thanks to Netgalley for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Pub Date: 23 April 2024

I greatly enjoy Sally Hepworth’s novels and while this particular novel was quite enjoyable and well written it wasn’t my favorite. However, a worthwhile read.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/127280429

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for the early release ARC.

Loved the bond the sisters have throughout the book, the family turmoil they fight their way through, and an ending that I did not see coming! Great read.

Trigger warning: child abuse/grooming

Thank you NetGalley for this arc. This was a fun captivating read and I really enjoyed it. The characters were captivating and I enjoyed the plot and twists.