Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an e-arc!

Jessica, Norah and Alicia are sisters-foster sisters to be exact- who would do anything for each other. The three women share a bond from the trauma they experienced at the farm estate they stayed at with Miss Fairchild. From the outside, Miss Fairchild seemed like the perfect foster parent, but only the girls she stayed with knew what happened when you would make her upset.

As adults, the women try hard to keep their hard upbringing out of their minds- something that becomes impossible when a detective reaches out to them to tell them that their old foster home has been demolished, and that bones of a young child have been discovered beneath the house. The three are called back to their old town for the investigation, but they have just as many questions as the investigators do, and not many answers. To top things off, suspicion is being thrown at one of the sisters, prompting fear that they will be blamed for something terrible.

This book instantly grabbed my attention and I couldn’t stop reading it. I couldn’t wait to find out what happened to the girls, and was so curious about Miss Fairchild and her life. Although this is more of a slow burn mystery/thriller, I recommend this to anyone who enjoys those genres. This book definitely kept me guessing!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for letting me read DARLING GIRLS. This one is out now!

I gobbled this book up in less than two days and if my pesky life didn't get in the way I would have loved to have devoured it in one sitting. I loved the relationships and characters in this book. The atmosphere was so well explained and I really felt like I was there. I highly recommend this one as well as all of Sally Hepworth's books. She's definitely on my auto read list.

Darling Girls is the story of three sisters Jessica, Norah, and Alicia and their upbringing at Wild Meadows. Bones are unearthed at the house they grew up in but whose are they? Did the girls have anything to do with it? What about Miss Fairchild? The short, fast paced chapters kept me interested and I read it quickly. When I thought I had things figured out, there was another twist. Another great read by Sally Hepworth.

Title: Darling Girls
By: Sally Hepworth
Genre: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Suspense

Red Flags:
Physical and Sexual Abuse of Children, Domestic violence, Foster care, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Childhood trauma

Memorable Quotes:
“Is there anything you are good at? " a little voice said. Not cleaning. Not sport. Not studies. You're not the most attractive, the most talented or the most helpful. What, exactly, is the point of you?”

“If you were lucky, it implied that your good fortune hadn't been earned. You couldn't question it, or take it for granted. You had to be grateful. Because what had been given to you could just as easily be taken away.”

Summary:
Holly Fairchild has a desire to foster children. Jessica, age 5, is the first of the foster girls. She is seeking love and attention, and relishes in the possibility of having a real mother who loves her…until Holly fosters Norah. Norah, age 11, has been in the foster program for years. She is smart, determined, and knows how the system works, unlike Jessica. Then Alicia, age 12, enters the picture, the third foster sister, who only needs temporary living. She is sheltered, quiet and shy. She has a strong desire to return home. How will Jessica deal with sharing Mrs. Fairchild? Is Norah willing to share her past experiences for the benefit of her sisters? Will Alicia break down her walls and unify with her sisters? A Psychological thriller at its finest with so many unpredictable twists.

Review:
The novel is a dark read, told through four different characters point of views. Personally, some of the content at times is too much, and feels very real to the reader. I am slightly more sensitive due to working with children who have been through the foster care system. A system which is negatively portrayed in this novel, as it is for some children in it. The storyline is very well written. The main characters go down a very dark path, filled with constant twists and turns, an unpredictable thriller at its finest, literally until the last chapter. I felt like the alternative voice added an extra element of suspense, as the reader tried to figure out who the person with the therapist might be. I didn’t feel like this book was Sally Hepworth's best novel, but it was still unpredictable, and worth the read for someone who is prepared for this type of novel! I recommend this novel!

Thank you to Sally Hepworth, St. Martin’s Press,, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#reluctantreaderreads
#DarlingGirls
#SallyHepworth
#Stmartinspress
#netgalley
#advancedreadereditions

Every Hepworth book I have read makes me feel like I am right in the middle of a twisty tv series. Her characters are layered and complex and her writing has you compulsively turning pages until you can peel apart the story. I thoroughly enjoyed the multiple point of views, the look into life in a foster home and her knack for a great psychological thriller conclusion. Can't wait to read more from her!

This was a perfect thriller for me. It was also accurate in regard to depictions of trauma, the foster care system, & personality disorders.

*There are vivid descriptions of child abuse*

Thank you Net Galley & to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

✨ Publication date: April 23, 2024✨

Darling Girls is a psychological mystery thriller by Sally Hepworth. This is not my first by this author who I have enjoyed in the past. She did not disappoint with this book!

Jessica, Norah, and Alicia are adults now but they bonded as foster children growing up at Wild Meadows with their foster mom Miss Fairchild.

Their upbringing wasn’t idyllic though. The three of them became sisters in all but blood. As they protected each other and learned to survive at Wild Meadows.

Years later, they are called back to the city of their upbringing. Wild Meadows was sold years ago but the new development company has knocked down the house and started construction on their project. When the bones of a child are discovered, the three women are called to give statement Ms to the detectives on the case.

They’re forced to relive those terrible years and have to come face to face with Miss Fairchild again. As then investigation continues the women discover more secrets as the try and piece together the puzzle of their childhood and how it connects to the bones.

This book is told in four different POV and goes back and forth from then and now. This one kept me intrigued the entire way and even had a twist at the end. This is a 5 star read for me and I highly recommend for any crime, mystery readers!

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #sallyhepworth #darlinggirls

Darling Girls is full of unforgettable characters. Alicia, Jessica and Norah are all relatable. Their bond propels the story and adds strength to the plot. The story is dark and at times hard to imagine. The build is slow but the ending is truly a finale worth waiting for.
The narration was excellent and brought the story to life.
Hepworth is an automatic recommendation from me.

Such an excellent read! The story is full of twists and surprises that keep you guessing. Just when you think you have thinks figured out, bam! The ending throws you for a loop!
Highly recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley for the complimentary ebook.

This is my first time reading Hepworth, and I liked the sound of this – bones discovered at the site of a former foster home and loads of suspects.

Usually the mistreatment of children or animals in stories is a hard pass for me. While there’s no question these characters are abused by Miss Fairchild, it’s more emotional than physical. She’s an evil woman who knew how to play each of them. The dual timeline is beautifully done, and I liked how the shared history of these characters is gradually revealed. I didn’t click with Jessica and Norah as adults, but choosing a career as a social worker made Alicia my hero considering everything she’d experienced. The way they stuck together and supported each other over the years is one of my favorite aspects of the story. Although not blood-related, they are sisters in every way that counts.

I had my ideas about the identity of the person responsible for the burying the bones under the house and was partially correct, but the author tosses in a last minute twist in the final pages that’s disturbing and may leave some readers unnerved. As far as the characters, the way their stories wrap up is perfect.

Recommended for readers who enjoy a fast-paced mystery, strong family bonds, and a good dose of karma.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I am a big fan of Sally Hepworth, she writes my type of twisty domestic suspense. An easy and propulsive mystery, you can never be quite sure where the story will take you. I do think there were moments within Darling Girls that the reader had to suspend rational beliefs for the story to work. It wasn't my favorite book of hers but no doubt a fun and entertaining read.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for an early digital copy to read and review honestly.

For me, this is Sally Hepworth's best book to date! Three girls raised together may seem darling, but clearly something more sinister is lurking.

Darling Girls is a slow burn suspense story about Jessica, Norah, and Alicia, three foster sisters who experienced traumatic circumstances growing up, forging a bond together that has lasted years.

Now as adults, a detective reaches out to the sisters with questions when a body is found under the foster house where they grew up. Each sister has tried to put their past behind, with different behavior and coping mechanisms, but now, they are confronted with this investigation. Whose body is under the house and who is responsible for it?

Told in alternating POVs with before and now chapters, readers learn more about each sister and others central to the plot. There are somber elements and it’s not a light story, but one that kept me interested. I listened to Darling Girls on audio, which was well-done.

'Darling Girls' was a great read, delving into the horrors and joys of foster children. I really enjoyed the storyline and flow of the book. As I went on, I found myself not wanting to put it down. I wanted to see what happened next. The last 50 pages tied the storylines up nicely, with a few twists I did not see coming. There was a great, satisfying resolution to all the characters' stories. I would recommend this book to most readers, but beware, it may be triggering to some who have gone through similar childhood trauma. I will definitely look for more books from this author. Side note: I did not deduct stars for the horrible editing of this book, as this is an advanced copy. I will note that there were so many spelling/context errors in this draft that it was noticeable. I wished I could edit as I read and send corrections to the publishing, but I assume that these will be cleaned up by the time this book is released. This DID NOT make me like the book any less.

I love Sally Hepworth!! Sadly, I had forgotten I had gotten an advance audio copy of this book so I missed listening to this one.

This book did not disappoint! It was another hard to put down twisty read from the queen of thrillers! Yes, I said it!

. I’m freaking breathless! This book held me captive from the first page until the very last! And the jaw dropping twists kept dropping toward the end, I thought I would get used to it but nope.., I LOVED the alternating chapters between characters. I LOVED even when I knew who the unknown narrator was. Hepworth is such a phenomenal storyteller that she remains at the top of my auto buy author list. Read. This. Book. You’re welcome!

Sally Hepworth writes very entertaining books…and even if you think you know where it’s going, you probably don’t. Such was the case with this one. Hepworth explores the complicated relationships of three “sisters” who spent time together in foster care and the woman who “cared” for them. As with all Hepworth books, nothing is exactly what it seems. This one might just be my favorite of hers.

Another Sally Hepworth gem that I absolutely loved! This author is so good at dropping in those twists that you don’t see coming. She had my jaw dropping right up until the very end.

This had a very cool premise and it was executed beautifully. The story focused on three foster kids that were all under the care of Miss Fairchild, their abusive and twisted foster mother. There are past and present POVs for each of them, plus some insight into Miss Fairchild herself.

The plot and the writing had me completely addicted. I finished this book super quickly because I did not want to put it down. And that ending!! Flawless.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for my gifted copy!

The Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth is a worthwhile read which sends the reader on a journey that involves many twists and turns. Three foster children are taken in by a foster mother who is both kind and evil at the same time. What happens to them as the plot progresses becomes mysterious and strange. The novel is told from the perspective of the three foster children. This novel is one that is sure to both entertain and shock the reader. Abuse, sisterhood, corruption, and possible murder are just three of the themes explored. I highly recommend reading Darling Girls. I would like to thank Sally Hepworth, netgalley, and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read Darling Girls.

Another smart, well crafted story that does include some subject that may trigger some, but are what make the story. We meet Norah, Alicia and Jessica who were all raised by their foster mother, Miss Fairchild. To outsiders she seemed wonderful and that the girls were so lucky, to the girls themselves, well they knew better. Though they’re no longer with her, she lives in their heads rent free as they move forward with their lives wanting to actually see or think about her again. Then a body is found under the house they lived in they’re all called back. Are they witnesses or suspects? It is a twisted, gripping dark story. I did at times find this a bit long winded, but otherwise a compelling read.