Loved loved love. I love Sally’s book and this was no different. I loved the back stories intertwined with the present day. Typical Sally throws a curveball at the end— of course Miss Fairchild lied and she killed her sister (not her daughter). She was pretty horrible. I like how each girl got to live her true happiness at the end.

WOW WOW WOW. Thank you St. Martin’s Press for sending an ARC of this amazing book. I devoured this book as fast as I possibly could. I was sucked in from the very beginning and the ending made me go “ugh nooooo!” But in a good/twisty way. Sally Hepworth has now become an auto-buy author for me. What a great family drama story with incredible character development. Releasing 4/23/24, put it on your TBR list now so you don’t forget about it!!!

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
A thrilling read about three girls who bonded after being foster children with Miss Fairchild, What a life they had with her as she was had many moods and was unpredictable . When they thought they had finally escaped her and were free- bones were found in the basement of Miss Fairchilds? How did they die? Meeting with the police brings back a past they wish to forget!

Netflix announces, “Get ready for another twisty domestic thriller from Sally Hepworth.

No less than Liane Moriarty says, “ Sally Hepworth writes compelling, compassionate novels with characters you come to know and love. She is one of my favourite Australian writers.”

I agree with both of these blurbs. Sally Hepworth books are must reads for me. And this truly is her “twistiest” domestic thriller. Three sisters, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia tell their part of the story in alternating chapters. They loved and cared for each other when they were young and they still need each other now. They aren’t sisters by blood- they became sisters when they were placed in the same foster home. They went through a hideous ordeal together as children, and as adults they continue to truly love and support each other.

This book’s plot is amazing, “Twisted” is the word for it. The girls’ foster mother was twisted, their adult lives are twisted, and they receive twisted news about a baby’s skeleton found in the dirt underneath their foster home.
But their story is also told with grace and compassion.

I couldn’t put this book down. I noted that other reviewers agree. Dark, disturbing, yet with enough humor and love to balance the evil, this is an amazing book. You won’t know how it really ends until the last page.

Although this book presents a very troubled foster mother, and serious problems in the foster care system, the author clarifies at the end that 99% of the people involved in foster care are caring and dedicated. I highly recommend this book. Thanks to NetGallery and the publisher for an advance review copy. This is my honest review.

I find myself having a hard time writing this review. This is the 4th book by Sally Hepworth that I have read. One I hated and two I loved, well this one is both. I have really liked the style of Sally's writing in her other books but this time I found it disjointed and at times too raw. The subject of the book is much to do with the dark side of foster care and its effects on children. This was a challenging subject to read about for, me. Plus some of the sex descriptions I felt were over the top and didn't add to the story. Those are all personal traits and may not bother you.
The upside is the story itself is good, really good. The characters are well-written and even if you don't like them you want to know more about them and the reason they are the way they are. The incredible bond between Norah, Jessica, and Alicia is worth the read alone. They describe themselves as stronger than biological sisters and I can see that in the story. I want to thank Netgalley, St. Martins Press, and Sally Hepworth for an ARC of this book. This review is my thought and mine alone

I loved this book! At first I thought the subject matter, foster care, was disturbing and I wasn’t going to enjoy it, but boy was I wrong! There were alternating narrators as well as now versus ten time frames for each chapter and mixed in was one unknown person’s consultations with a therapist thoughout the entire book. Sally Hepworth made so many twists and turns through out the book and just when you thought you had it figured out, a new twist was thrown at you. The momentum of the book built rapidly and the ending was spot on! Another great read from Sally Hepworth. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC of Darling Girls! I’ve already recommended it!

Jessica, Norah and Alicia are sisters but not in the traditional sense. They actually grew up together in a foster home. They came like real sisters by overcoming some tough treatment at the hands of their foster mother. Years later and all grown up they receive a call from the police about a body found under their old foster home. They are asked to return to the city of their former home to speak to the police and answer some questions. Whose body is it and how did it get there is a mystery.

I have been an absolute fan of the authors last few weeks and couldn’t wait to read this one. Unfortunately, it was somewhat of a let down. The author did an amazing job of setting the background of each character and really focused on building each characters story. I also liked how the chapters switched between the sisters POV’s and changing storylines from past to present. However, I didn’t find a lot happened throughout the book. The book did unravel in a fast paced and exciting way and I was surprised by the very end. Overall, a good read that many will enjoy

My second book by Sally Hepworth, and I definitely see why her books are such big sellers. The plot is riveting, the characters are endearing, and the pace zips along. The style isn’t the smoothest (chapter transitions are especially rough, and often jarring considering the subject matter), and parts of the ending are a bit too quick (and, for me, concerning in ways they’re not meant to be). But as far as thrillers go, those aren’t dealbreakers, and I’ll definitely pick up this author again. A comment that doesn’t impact my rating: lots and lots of formatting and spelling errors, even for an ARC.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a digital advanced reader copy in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.

3.5 stars out of 5

Thank you to Netgalley & St. Martin's Press for an eARC of this highly anticipated book coming out next year!

And I will say right now, this is my favorite book of hers. It is centered around 3 girls that grew up in foster care. It goes back and forth between the past and present as a dead body is found beneath their old foster home.

The author takes great care in really highlighting the tragedy of foster care, the heartbreak, the bonds, the isolation, as well as the mental health responses as they grow up and age out. 💕

The twists were nice, not over the top or unbelievable. I really really enjoyed this one!

Sally Hepworth does it again! I couldn't put this one down, and the twists kept coming up until the end. This is a great peach read, pool read, or cuddled on the couch read.

What a great thriller from Sally Hepworth. A bit of a departure from her usual domestic thriller, Darling Girls focuses on three women who were once in the care of a horrific foster mother and how they all come together 25 years later to pick up the pieces of their lives and help solve a crime.

I found the characters, writing, and story so compelling, in a genre that is often rife with plot holes and cheesy metaphors.

Highly recommend this one. Thank you so much to the publishers and net galley for the arc.

New twisty thriller from one of the queens of suspense. Norah, Alicia, and Jessica survived the horror that was their foster mother. They developed a lifelong bond, they were sisters. Nothing that they wouldn’t do for each other. Now years later, the police have found infant remains buried at the foster house where they met. Can the secrets stay buried for this long?

Devoured this book on one evening. Now I did guess one twist, but man, that last twist, should have known. If you love thrillers you will love this domestic thriller.

Thanks to St Martins Press, NetGalley, and the author for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

“Darling Girls” is Sally Hepworth’s newest thriller novel. Alicia, Jessica, and Norah all shared a traumatic upbringing at the hands of their foster mother, Miss Fairchild. Miss Fairchild seems amazing at first glance, but there’s more than meets the eye. Her unpredictable moods and constant criticism make a hostile environment for the girls. This only drives Alicia, Jessica and Norah to embrace and protect each other. After trying hard to forget their unsavory past, the girls get pulled back to their childhood home when bones are found underneath the farm they used to live at.

I devoured this novel in one sitting. I’ve read almost all of Sally Hepworth’s books, and this was easily my favorite. It had an addictive quality that I just couldn’t stop reading. I loved that there was a POV from each girl, and all were equally interesting to read. I believe this is going to be one of the top novels of 2024.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this novel. “Darling Girls” by Sally Hepworth publishes 4/23/2024.

Book review of Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth
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Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this early release copy of this twisty thriller. This one will be out April 23, 2024 and you will want to read this one.
Told to us from the past and the present, you follow three girls , sisters from the same foster home as they are dragged back to their old foster home from a phone call. The police want to chat about a body that has been unearthed at their old foster home.
Jessica spent the longest time with Miss Fairchild, and now her OCD tendencies are how she earns a living. Norah still has anger issues and Jessica is always bailing her out of messes. Alicia works placing children in foster care, but has very low self-esteem. As the girls are questioned and the past is dredged up, they all have to deal with the evil Miss Fairchild. The big question is who have they unearthed and can they settle the demons of their past.
Totally dark and twisty thriller. Side note that it does deal with abuse they suffer as children.
Sally Hepworth always leaves you guessing though!
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It sounds weird to say book about an awful foster parent and the girls who had to live with her was fun but it kind of was. Each woman was different but seemed real and kind of funny. Of course there was a twist at the end but it made sense in the context of the book and gave some insight into the awful foster parent’s mind . Sally Hepworth never fails to deliver on a lively, quick paced mystery. I liked how we learned how the sisters all ended up in the end.




I didn’t get the Norah without t reference. They made it a lot. Is that a typo or some Australian thing? Google did not help.

Thrilling and DARK! Definitely her most dark yet, but loved the found sisterhood aspect. If you're a fan of her previous work, you'll love this one too!

I loved her previous book, and found this even more compelling. The characters were great and nicely developed

The plot had me guessing, invested, and anxious.

The ending was satisfying as well

That last chapter...that just clinched it huh? I definitely didn't see that last chapter coming. The whole book was twisty and I loved that the chapters bounced around the three sisters perspectives as well as the psychiatry sessions for Miss Fairchild too. It kept my attention. The other big suprise was that Zara was actually Amy and that she wasn't dead and the identity of the child under the house. All in all, great surprises, quick ready and kept my attention the whole time.

Heart pounding thriller that left me on the edge of my seat. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. Definitely one of the best books this year.

I absolutely love sally Hepworth and this book does not disappoint. I honesty couldn’t put it down at all and love the story. This one will make you second guess everything you know and still left wanting to know more. Probably my favorite one of hers so far and cannot wait to read more by her.