Sally Hepworth is one of my favorite authors, and I was thrilled to receive an advance copy of her latest novel in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book! It had all the things I love: drama, intrigue, and mystery. It kept me guessing until almost the last page.

3.5 stars rounded up ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Jessica, Norah, and Alicia share a bond that takes them back decades. When they were girls, they all lived on a farm with their foster mother, Miss Fairchild. From the outside, Miss Fairchild seemed to be the ideal mother… but inside the house, Miss Fairchild had rules; she could be unpredictable; and she was never to be crossed. Now adults who haven’t fully escaped those years with Miss Fairchild, the three women are called back to the farmhouse when bones are discovered under the property.

I was so excited to receive this ARC because I really loved The Soulmate! At first, I wasn’t sure about this story as it reminded me of another book (that I didn’t enjoy), but I’m glad I stuck it out because it was nothing like the other book. I liked reading about the girls’ past at the farmhouse with Miss Fairchild. It was interesting to see Miss Fairchild become more and more unhinged, and realizing why. The chapters with the therapist were also interesting.

Overall I enjoyed this book and I would recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Thank you Sally Hepworth, St Martin's Press, and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review. Darling Girls will be available April 23, 2024!

Sally Hepworth is one of my favorite Thriller authors and one of the things I love about her books is how she brings awareness to things. This book is no different and I think she did a fantastic job highlighting how the foster care system could use reform. There have been instances where children have slipped through the system and gone to homes that have no business caring for children, and that is unfortunate case when it comes to our three main characters in Darling Girls, This book was fast paced and it kept me guessing. Just when you think you have enough information to solve what happened, more is revealed that leaves you guessing again. Darling Girls is told from multiple POV's with a dual timeline. The ending left me reeling, I didn't see it coming. It's hard to say that I enjoyed this book, because of the heinous things the main characters had to live through. However, I will say that Sally Hepworth's writing style will hook you in quickly and have you rooting for Jessica, Norah, and Alicia. Definitely add this book to your "to be read" list!

Rating: 4.5 stars

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth

352 Pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Release Date: April 23, 2024

Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Foster Care, Adoption, Child Abuse, Mystery, Australia

There are several main characters in the book.

Jessica: home organizer, OCD and drug addiction, abandonment issues
Norah: uses sex for favors and has anger issues
Alicia: social worker with self-esteem issues
Miss Fairchild: caretaker, foster mother

Jessica is the owner of a well-known home organization company but comes under scrutiny when prescription medications begin to go missing. Her mother died when she was four years old, and she was put into the foster care system. Miss Fairchild took her in and raised her.

Norah goes on dates with the hopes of getting something from the guy. This could be anything from handyman services to money for bills and rent. She is under an order that if she commits another act of violence, she will go to jail.

Alicia is a social worker. She takes care of Norah when she gets into trouble. She puts the foster children’s needs above all else. She loves Meera, an attorney, but does not feel she deserves to be loved.

Miss Fairchild takes in children to support her farm. At first, it was just her and Jessica but once Jessica turned ten, Miss Fairchild realized she needed more income. She took in Norah and Alicia when they were about ten and then began taking in respite babies.

The story has a steady pace, the characters are well developed, and it is written in the third person point of view with first person point of view in the psychiatrist’s office. Sally Hepworth is one of my favorite authors and she did not disappoint with this book. There are twists and quirky characters to go around. I was hooked from the beginning. If you like a good drama with twists, you may enjoy reading this book.

I have just read Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth.

Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced copy to read and review.

First I must say that I have read a few books by this author and have enjoyed them all.

Her books are easy to get into, and flow well.

Darling Girls is about three main characters Alicia, Jessica and Nora who all find themselves for one reason or another at a foster home.

The foster mother Miss Fairchild is quite unpredictable, and can change her rules often.

The story is about power, attention and some hidden details.

An overall good book, with twists and turns that keep going on right up to the end of the story

I also would like to thank St Martin’s Press, and Author Sally Hepworth

#netgalley
#stmartinspress
#sallyhepworth

"Darling Girls" presents another masterfully crafted psychological mystery within the realm of women's fiction, showcasing Sally Hepworth's unwavering talent for storytelling. The narrative revolves around three kindred spirits who form an unbreakable bond under the roof of the same foster care home, united in their efforts to shield themselves from the clutches of their malevolent foster mother, Holly Fairchild. Holly employs cunning manipulations to subject the girls to a series of psychological games, leaving scars that linger long after they escape her clutches.

At the heart of this tale is Jessica, who entered Miss Fairchild's care at the tender age of five. Desperate for her foster mother's affection, Jessica unknowingly endures isolation due to Holly's controlling ways. Norah, an eleven-year-old with a propensity for violence borne out of necessity, and Alicia, a gentle twelve-year-old who joins them following her grandmother's accident, complete the trio. These girls endure Holly's physical and mental torment for nearly two years until the abuse escalates to a breaking point, forcing them to confront the horrors they have endured.

Fast forward 25 years, and the narrative reveals the aftermath of their shared ordeal. Jessica's once-successful life crumbles as she's caught stealing drugs from a client's home, succumbing to her own struggles with addiction and estrangement from her husband. Norah battles her inner demons, struggling with anger issues and facing the threat of imprisonment. Alicia, now a social worker, strives to find children safe homes while grappling with her own insecurities, hindering her chances at a healthy relationship and a family of her own.

A haunting call from law enforcement informs them that the remains of their haunted childhood are unearthed beneath the farmhouse they long to forget. As they return to the place that shattered their innocence and futures, they confront not only the painful past but also the potential for closure and healing.

Unearth the truth about whose bones lie beneath the earth, and unravel the mysteries that bind these women to their tragic past. Is one of them a cold-blooded killer? Or is an even darker force manipulating their lives?

This heart-wrenching narrative deftly moves between past and present, granting readers insight into the evolution of these three women's characters as they forge their defense mechanisms for survival. The breathtaking revelations that unfold within the gripping mystery will leave you stunned and deeply moved.

Each of the three protagonists resonates powerfully, but it's Norah's unique blend of sarcasm and vulnerability that captures the heart. Alicia's kind and caring nature endeared her to me, as she deserves the happiness she seeks. Jessica's complex layers slowly unravel, allowing empathy to flourish.

The culminating moments had me on the edge of my seat, eagerly awaiting the stunning twist that was delivered with precision. Thus, I wholeheartedly grant "Darling Girls" a resounding five-star rating. This intricate, poignant narrative sheds light on women's empowerment and mental health awareness, adding depth to its dark and sorrowful undertones.

I extend my gratitude to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for generously providing me with a digital reviewer's copy of this exceptional book in exchange for my candid thoughts.

Thank you #Netgalley for the advanced copy!

I always love a Sally Hepworth novel, after reading her last three thrillers I was looking forward to another twisted tale. In this read we follow three woman who met in a foster home many years ago and have claimed themselves as sisters. They experienced so much at the farm that would bond them for life. As adults, when the detectives called them asking them to come into town to answer some questions, they were extremely caught off guard and unsure what they were walking into. While there they learn of bones discovered on the property and want to know what could have happened on the farm. We learn about each woman's past, what led them into foster care and the twisted mind of Mrs. Fairchild. So many twists and turn right up until the end!

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this book. Sally Hepworth does it again, and I am not surprised. Three foster girls, a foster mom, and a rolling estate, can it get any better? The story goes back and forth, and this is something I enjoy. The girls all arrive at Miss Fairchild's estate with apprehension and a story. As they form their trio connection, the story begins to unfold, and the characters all have a reason to dislike their foster mother. Wild Meadows has a history and a secret; as the story continues, there is a body uncovered. Who could it be? Who would do this? Who would ever harm a child? Read on and see where this story leaves you gasping for air and wondering how this twist happened!

First off, the reader needs to know there are several triggers in this book. Child abuse, abuse in foster care, female acting out behaviors and drug addiction.
Having named them, I can safely say this book, although a difficult read because of the triggers, was really good.
Told in present and flashback sequences, it details the lives of 3 foster girls and the horrible forster mother they are assigned to. When a discovery occurs in the house they were raised in, the three are brought back to that time of horror and are made to confront the monster who raised them.

Took me a awhile to finish it, but this book is a solid 4 star read. Thanks Netgalley for the sneak peek.

Thank you @netgalley for the ARC of Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth.

This book is much darker than her books normally are. I couldn't put it down. I liked how Hepworth slowly let the story unfold and through each character's point of view. It was twisty, but not unbelievable. I appreciated how she wove the bond of the three girls into the story of the thriller and suspense. There are a lot of triggers in this book, particularly abuse and foster care.

Three girls, Norah, Jessica, and Alicia become wards of Miss Fairchild through the foster care system. Each came with their previous traumas that carried them into adulthood. The book alternates between the past and present as each girl tells their story. They are brought together as adults when bones are found under the house they grew up in.

Sally Hepworth has done it again with Darling Girls. Three young women, practically sisters, raised together in a foster home where they were mistreated are called back to the town where they grew up after bones are found under the house they grew up in. But how did they get there? Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I've been a longtime fan of Sally Hepworth's. novels. This one felt a little different/darker to me. Initially, I had a bit of trouble keeping the sisters straight but eventually they became easier to distinguish. It's not a light tale (despite the occasional dog humor) but I admired the way the sisters supported one another. Overall, a quick read.

What did I just read?! I *knew* where this was going and then BAM, Sally Hepworth throws that twist in there at the end. Wonderful read, kept me reading and wanting to make sure the ending was going to be what I thought. Which is wasn't.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this in advance.

Sally Hepworth is an author I will stop whatever i'm reading to start her newest novel. Darling Girls was no exception. This novel was great from start to finish. Hepworth kept me guessing from page #1` and I honestly didn't figure out the ending until the story was over. It was filled with suspense, emotion and hope. I couldn't recommend this book, or any other of Sally Hepworth's novels enough.

Sally Hepworth is an auto buy author for me and Darling Girls did not disappoint! I loved the premise and the different perspectives. Each "sister" was well developed and understandable given their traumas. I loved the last chapter in that I did not see that twist coming!! Once again, Sally Hepworth creates a domestic thriller that keeps you wanting to read more!

Sally never lets me down. This one was intense and emotional, I was blown away. I honestly did not see the twist until it was happening (though I will say, I THOUGHT I knew what the twist was).

Jessica, Norah, and Alicia are foster children. They live with Miss Fairchild who is unpredictable and abusive. The three girls bond as sisters. Many years later a body is discovered buried under the house they lived in. The sisters must return to a place they hoped to never see again. This brings up many memories and worries about how Miss Fairchild will manipulate the system in her favor. Who is burried?

This book is told from multiple points of view. Each sister faces challenges as foster children and this could be used against them. Who really is Miss Fairchild? There are many twists in the story and you will be guessing who is the body and who did it? It is a new exciting read from Sally Hepworth.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #SallyHepworth, and #StMartinsPress for a copy of this book
#DarlingGirls

Amazing Amazing book. This book kept me on edge the entire time and had me wondering with every page. I read this one in two sittings and had the absolute best time. This is only my 2nd book from this author, I’m currently running to her backlist.

Sally Hepworth is a go-to author of mine. I always enjoy a fun and suspenseful read, good writing, relationship connections, and twists and turns, and Darling Girls has all that and more!

The story centers around three girls that grew up together in foster care and the abuse they endured. When a dead body is found beneath their old foster home, they are called back to answer questions and confront a past they’d like to forget. The writing goes back and forth between the timelines and different points of view from each character. It's dark and sad in so many ways.

For whatever reasons, I was never quite captivated in the story or invested in the characters as I'd hope to be. I also felt the outcomes were quite predictable... Having said that, I'd recommend anything she writes and know many will love this book.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this highly anticipated book, Darling Girls publishes in 4/24..

Darling Girls was a solid story, but The Soulmate is still—by far—my favorite Sally Hepworth novel. I was expecting more suspense given her last book, but it leaned more heavily toward domestic drama more than anything for me. I found the first half dragging a bit, but the pace definitely picked up toward the end.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance reader copy.