Thank you NetGalley for giving me a chance to read an ARC of Sally Hepworth’s new book. I have read 4 other books by her and have loved them all. This one did not disappoint. It was very hard to put this book down. Her writing style captivates you from the first chapter.

It begins with a body that was found under Wild Meadows the house that the three sisters lived when in foster care. They are called back to the place where they broke free of the mental abuse. It formed a bond between the three girls and they became sisters. We get perspective from each sister past and present. They each have to relieve childhood memories with Miss Fairchild their foster mom as they are questioned by the authorities to find out more about who the body belongs to under the house. It will definitely keep you guessing to the very end!

Wow!!!
This book had me so drawn in I finished it in one day! The story of Jessica, Norah with an “h”, and Alicia is one of the saddest tales I have read this year.
“Darling Girls” follows the life of three sisters who are called back to their childhood home after a body is discovered under their house.
The book had my emotions in a complete rollercoaster! The ending plot twist did catch me off guard a little, but, was absolutely brilliant!

This book does cover hard topics such a child abuse, neglect and drug abuse. Also there is a lesbian couple and there is a small sexual snip of their relationship.

Overall I would consider this another 10/10 for Sally Hepworth

Whenever Sally Hepworth comes out with a new book, I put it in my to be read pile immediately! Her books are always just scary enough to be thrilling, without giving me nightmares that night. Although I found this book, engaging and suspenseful, I would say it is not my favorite of hers. The aspect of foster care and the flashbacks to when the girls were young children were hard to read for me personally… however, as usual, she kept me guessing with the twists and turns in the plot! Overall enjoyed reading this book, but it doesn’t rate on the top of my list compared with others from this author.

Jessica, Alicia and Norah are sisters in all that matters. Jessica is an uptight, perfectionist in all that she does. Alicia has a big heart working as a social worker, and Norah, is a mess, but knows her strengths. One day each gets a call asking them to return to the place that bonded them as foster sisters. The house is being torn down and a skeleton is found buried beneath it. They must relive the past to be able to move forward and that includes coming face to face to their tormentor.

Put this on your list for September 26!! It’s a good one. I love all her books, this one was a little darker than normal, but you know me, I loved that!!

I loved this book until the end. Very unnecessary to have the book end like that.
Read the trigger warnings before reading this book please.

This book is about Jessica, Alicia and Norah who grew up in a house with a foster mother. Jessica had her first and she loved miss Fairchild more than the other girls but once the other girls came, miss Fairchild didn’t give her much attention and was very mean to the girls.

The state finds a young child dead under the house and now they are interviewing everyone to see who the child was and who put her there.

The girls are forced to come together and relieve their past.

I received this book in return for my honest opinion.

This author has been one of my favorites ever since I started my reading journey. This book was great. Not my all time favorite of hers but very good. I got sucked into the characters of the 3 girls lives. Great read. Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy of this book.

A fantastic read, from beginning to end. Touches on so many topics and layers of foster care, the psychological affects your childhood can have, and some good ole fashioned narcissism. I really couldn’t put this thriller down, and really enjoyed the characters and their individual stories! The three sisters in the book will definitely have you wanting to come back to the story to learn more and more about them!
Most of the story plays out the way you may expect, but as always what’s a good thriller without a surprise twist !
A first for me by Sally Hepworth, but definitely not the last!

5/5 stars 🌟 Darling Girls is another twisty Sally Hepworth read about three “sisters” Alicia, Jessica, and Norah who bonded through their time at Wild Meadows under the care of their foster mother Miss Fairchild. As adults, the sisters are brought back to Wild Meadows after people start digging up secrets of their past - literally. Lies, manipulation, and a lot of “he said/she said” made this one a story that I devoured in one sitting.

I loved how this book was written and timed with the past and present POVs. It gives great insight into foster care and the good/bad lasting effect(s) it can have through adulthood. There were a lot of different pieces of the puzzle to put together, but for me it added to the fun of the twists and turns! Sally Hepworth is such a great storyteller. I loved seeing how it all came together in end, and the last chapter was just icing on the cake.

*I would add that there are some trigger warnings of child abuse, drug abuse and murder throughout this story.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s press, and Sally Hepworth for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review 🩷

- Pub Date: April 23, 2024 -

I read this book in one day. Different view points of the story was interesting and did not seem overdone at all. Would recommend

Wow! I love Sally Hepworth’s writing style! It is engaging, twisted, and fast paced!

Jessica, Norah and Alicia are all from separate broken homes and they were all fostered by Miss Fairchild. They are all reunited when the police discover human remains under their childhood farmhouse. While the police are trying to solve the mystery of the remains, the story bounces from each girls’ POV to understand their past and present stories. None of them have happy memories.

I love a psychological murder mystery! This one did not disappoint. Even though the ladies had tragic upbringings, I still enjoyed the story without feeling bogged down and super depressed. I felt bad for the ladies, but it wasn’t too deep to not what to read it anymore.

I can’t wait to read her next book!

Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Wow! What a great book! This hooked me from start to finish, I loved it! The book was written from each of the sisters perspective’s, flowing together effortlessly.

These three sisters bond is like no other. They each have a deep connection as they have been through a rough childhood together but continue to look out for one another through all the years.

Sally Hepworth’s books are ALWAYS good but this one is easily my favorite by her.

Thanks so much to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC copy of this book! My reviewing & platforms information is linked in my profile.

"Darling Girls" by Sally Hepworth is an absolute page-turner that captivated me from start to finish. Hepworth's storytelling prowess shines through as she weaves a tale filled with compelling characters and intricate relationships. The story is both heartwarming and suspenseful, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as secrets unravel. Hepworth's writing style is both engaging and evocative, making it easy to immerse oneself in the lives of the "Darling Girls." This novel is a testament to the power of family bonds, forgiveness, and the enduring strength of sisterhood. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment spent within the pages of this book, and I highly recommend it to anyone in search of a gripping and emotionally resonant mystery/thriller.

I have read, and loved, 3 other Sally Hepworth books. When I was that this was available to possibly review for an ARC, I was so excited. As soon as I got approved, I immediately began reading Darling Girls.

The premise of this book is a good one. 3 foster girls who must return to their foster home when human remains are found. The 3 girls, Jessica , Norah, and Alicia are brought back to a place that they'd just love to forget. This story goes back and forth with the past and present. You can't help but feel for these characters with the torture they endure at the hands of Miss Fairchild.

As the Women try to uncover the truth of what happened, you cash feel their pain, as old wounds are brought to the surface. This story will pull at your heartstrings but also leave you guessing and in suspense.

Thank you to Netgalley, and St. Martin's Press for the ability to review this ARC.

Another hit from Sally Hepworth! Darling Girls is most definitely a must read. It has been quite a while since I finished a book in one sitting, but I absolutely couldn’t put this one down. Jessica, Alicia, and Norah keep you engaged right from the start. The twists and turns are believable and written in a way that makes you feel as if you were there with the girls. From beginning to end, this book was excellent!

This is not an easy read as stories about child abuse should not be. That said, the bonding and family the sisters found/formed give the story some heart and lightness. The characters were well layered and interesting. The story flipping from each character’s voice in both past and present was well executed and paced. There were twists but nothing too dramatic or unexpected (with the exception of the one in the final pages). Interesting read that I recommend. Look forward to the next one by this author.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for a copy in exchange for a review.

A lesser Sally Hepworth is still head and shoulders over most domestic thriller writers, and though I don't think Darling Girls is her best, it's far from her. worst effort. Darling Girls is about three sisters bonded through an emotionally abusive foster mother, brought back to the site of their former home thanks to. the discovery of human remains under the house. The abusive foster mother in question is a little bit of a cartoon villain, which, while not exactly believable as a character, is a satisfying foe for the three women. I happily breezed through this satisfying thriller.

What a ride! This book had me flipping back to reread things multiple times after new information was revealed so that I could reorient my understanding of “the truth” throughout the book. There were so many complex characters who all had their version of the story to tell. I stayed up late to finish and did not expect the ending!

Another strong book from Sally Hepworth. The story was engaging, and the mystery kept me guessing the final page. I can see this one being optioned for film; the three leads were well drawn, and I can see Miss Fairchild being a fantastic role for someone to sink their teeth into.