4.5 stars

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth tells the story of three little girls, now women, who were thrust together twenty-five years ago when they were all placed into the foster care of Miss Fairchild at a farmhouse called Wild Meadows. These three girls have to stick together to make it through the rough things that happen to them under Miss Fairchild's care - limited food, hard work, verbal abuse, etc. It's not pretty. But the girls grow up and have a tighter bond as sisters than almost any biological sisters might have. But now, twenty-five years later, they're brought back to Port Agatha and Wild Meadows when they're told by detectives that human bones have been discovered underneath the farmhouse.

The story is told mostly from their POVs, in both past and present chapters. However, we also get some chapters with an unknown POV of someone discussing her troubled past with a creepy Dr. Warren. I really enjoyed the past POVs to see how the girls met, how things changed from when Jessica first arrived to when Alicia joined them (among a bunch of other babies and toddlers - $$ Miss Fairchild is a jerk).

While stories of abuse are always hard and often dark, Ms. Hepworth did well by giving us three protagonists who were strong, smart, and loyal, all while showing true vulnerability when talking about their past trauma.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as I have all of Ms. Hepworth's other novels. While it was a different take on her usual domestic thriller (with a found family as opposed to a natural family dynamic) it was intriguing and pulled me in from the very beginning. I just love Ms. Hepworth's writing style and I think, at this point, I would read anything she writes.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Sally is a reliable author for domestic suspense and family dramas. This was one of her best, darker, fast paced and a page turner!

Jessica, Norah, and Alicia were raised together in the same foster home and are bonded as “sisters” for life. Now that they are adults some trauma from their past comes back and the girls are forced to revisit their childhood foster home again. It turns out their life wasn’t as easy as it seemed on the outside. Secrets must come to light as their past is uncovered. Great thrilling read.

This was my first encounter with Sally Hepworth and I understand her hype. The book was all kind of twisty and I had to stay up all night to finish the shocking ending. Well done 4⭐️ thank you netgalley and St Martins press

I was hooked from this story from the very beginning. The story was rich and interesting and has a very surprising twist at the end. I am usually pretty good at predicting the ending of thrillers/suspense stories as that is mostly what I read. However, when I got down to the last 20% of the book I still didn't know how this was going to turn out. I also didn't expect my feelings to be so conflicted at that point. Sally Hepworth is a fantastic writer. Her characters are well fleshed out. The story is rich with plot and details and intrigue.
In this story we meet three girls that have been adopted at different times from different families and form a sisterly bond. They come to heavily rely on that bond because their adoptive mother is intolerable. When they are grown a body if found on the land where they grew up, and the question remains, what happened to their 4th sister??
I finished this in two sittings. I highly recommend this book and I'm looking forward to reading more by Sally Hepworth.

Not one of my favorites of Sally Hepworth, but I liked it enough. Three women who survived an abusive foster home when they were young return to the town where they met when the remains of a child are found buried beneath the old farmhouse. The women are fiercely loyal to one another, but does their bond go far enough that they would cover up murder? Or whatever other secrets remain buried?

This book was dark - be warned that there are frequent depictions of child abuse.

REVIEW👯‍♀️

Darling Girls ~ Sally Hepworth
Pages: 361
Genre: Psychological Fiction/Suspense

Gist: Wild Meadows holds many secrets for Jessica, Norah, and Alicia - sisters, not by birth, but by circumstance. Their foster mother, Miss Fairchild gave them a chance at a happy family but life with her was unpredictable and tumultuous. Years later, when a body is discovered underneath the home the grew up in, they are forced to revisit the life that were able to break free from.

Thoughts: Sally Hepworth has a massive following, known for writing female-driven psychological fiction so well. I don’t pick her books up too often but this one was a BOTM pick so figured why not request it on netgalley and see.

I liked it. I don’t know what else to say. Did I want to pick it up and read it? Yes. Will it be a memorable read for me? No. I enjoyed the relationship between the three main characters for sure; I loved the idea of “sisters” born from circumstance. The content was tough as they were most certainly abused by their foster mother. And the ending was good. I don’t know - I’m middle of the road here.

Hepworth followers will love, many are even saying this is a favorite of hers. Was released April 23rd so you can scoop it up today!

𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗶𝗿𝗹𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗛𝗲𝗽𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When a body turns up under their former foster home, three sisters must confront their past to keep their names clear.

💭 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒:
First off, a huge thank you to @stmartinspress and @macmillan.audio for hooking me up with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Sally Hepworth is an auto-read author for me. She’s like a trustworthy and reliable BFF— she consistently shows up and never lets me down. I have thoroughly enjoyed everything of hers that I’ve read; I still have a few from her backlist to read (those with pub dates prior to 2019) but I’m confident I’ll love those as well.

Hepworth knows how to hook the reader from the very beginning. I always feel invested in the characters and their story. I loved Jessica, Norah, and Alicia- very different people who share a deep love for one another. My heart broke for these foster sisters and the childhood they had to endure. I’m a sucker for found family and these three are just so good for each other; I was grateful they could be there to support each other— in both timelines, during their childhood and years later as adults. Their bond was organic and powerful. Miss Fairchild is easy to hate… an atrocious human with zero redeeming qualities. Darling Girls is one of Hepworth’s darkest novels, with a heavy theme of child abuse, but I think she carefully carries the reader through it with tact. In true Hepworth fashion, it’s twisty… some you see coming and others that are most certainly unexpected.

This is a slow burn domestic suspense that teeters on the edge of psychological thriller. I enjoyed reading and listening to it (love a good Australian narrator) so pick up your copy in the format of your choice today!!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Sally Hepworth for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

This book had me hooked from the very beginning. It follows the stories of 3 foster sisters, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia, who spent many years under the care of the same foster mother - Miss Fairchild. Everyone thought they were lucky to be in such a beautiful house with a wonderful foster mother. But things were not as happy as they appeared. Miss Fairchild was far from perfect.

So years later, when all 3 foster sisters are adults, Miss Fairchild sells her house. While the new owners are doing construction, they make a horrifying discovery - human bones are found under the house. So begins the investigation into the girl’s past to discover what really went on during their time with Miss Fairchild.

It was suspenseful and hard to put down. The character development was well written and very realistic. Norah’s reactions throughout the book had me laughing out loud. I’ve always enjoyed Sally Hepworth’s books and this one did not disappoint. I highly recommend this book. 4/5 stars.

If you've loved Sally Hepworth's others books, it's save to say that you'll love DARLING GIRLS as well.

Hepworth's books are more slower burn suspense but I loved that they're still super engaging and make me forget about the real world for a little bit (who needs to work, cook or do laundry anyways?). They're the perfect escapist reads.

DARLING GIRLS is no exception. It's a big darker than her other books, but I enjoyed how it explored the relationship between the three foster sisters, both in terms of how they survived in the past and how they are (or aren't) coping in the present.

The past and present timelines, mixed in with point of view chapters from all of sisters as well as a mystery psychologist patient keeps the suspense up high as there's lots of red herrings and little reveals along the way.

I figured a few things out along the way and was disappointed at first, until I realized that those were really just the small teaser twists and that some big reveals were still coming! If you like thrillers that have reveals that make you rethink the WHOLE book, this one might be for you.

I just finished Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth and here are my musings.

Jessica, Norah and Alicia couldn’t be more different but their sisterhood bond is unbreakable…Unshakable. The tragedies they suffered in their childhood has them bonded for life. They aren’t biological sisters but foster sisters. Miss Fairchild seemed like the perfect foster mother on the outside but she has rules and you don’t ever cross her or you will pay.

Even after they have grown and moved on they have stayed close and they have all put their time in foster care behind them. That is until a body is discovered under the house they grew up in… The only question now is are the witnesses or suspects?


This book was so good I could barely contain myself reading it. I don’t often speak while I read but I found myself saying things outloud and the gasps were heard by my whole house. My husband was so intrigued he asked me about the book. He never does that.

All three sisters are so different. Not only in who they become as adults but how they coped with the things that happened to them as children. Norah is the one that seemed like she didn’t have herself all together but at the same time she really was better off because she never hid how she was feeling, no matter how angry she was. The fact they stayed so close made you wonder what happened to them to make them almost trauma bond together. It was mesmirizing to watch their characters unfold the way they did.

They are all called back to the house by police all these years later to answer questions about their time in foster care and the going ons of the house. We got the POV of all three girls in the past and the present which made for a really well rounded story but we also got the POV from an unknown person talking to a psychologist which really added depth to this thriller.

Total page turner and the ending was a real shocker. You kinda thought you knew then you find out the truth and it’s a HOLY NUGGETS, jump out your seat, mind blown ending. You won’t regret grabbing a copy today!

5 stars

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for my gifted copy

#darlinggirls #smp #smpinfluencer #stmartinspress #sallyhepworth #thrillerread #thrillerbook #5starread #5starbook #bookishreviewer #igbookreviews #netgalley #ebookreader

I love Sally Hepworth. Her stories always grip me and I sail through them. This was no exception. While I found the ending predictable, I still enjoyed the plot and story. It definitely isn’t my favorite from Hepworth but is a good summer read.

I had a really hard time reading this one. I kept trying to get through it and just couldn’t get into it which was so surprising because I have LOVED all of her books. I ended up giving up on this one but maybe I’ll go back and try again.

I’ve read a few other Sally Hepworth books and really enjoyed them, but this one hit differently. It kept my attention but the ending was just a big disappointment. None of the characters were very likable. That being said, I’ll read more from this author because I’ve enjoyed other books by her.

I was very quickly drawn into this book and read it in just a few hours as I did not want to put it down. This is my favorite Sally Hepworth book so far.

This book is dark and can be hard to read at times. It has several twists that kept me entertained for the whole book. I enjoyed the alternating time lines and POV's as they added to the story. The past story line helped you better understand the present character. The characters were well developed and I enjoyed hearing from all of them.

This is a quick read that I would recommend to readers who enjoy a literary book with thriller elements.

This book was quite a ride. The second half of the book moved pretty fast and was filled with twists and turns. This book was a little darker and more disturbing than I expected, but the author still wove a very captivating story that kept me turning the pages. There are some trigger warnings (death of a child, abuse) but I would definitely recommend this book. I received this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Norah, Jessica and Alicia first met in the care of Miss Fairchild, a foster mother in a bucolic farmland setting after their families fell apart. Now still close as adults they know that the fairy tale had a dark underbelly. Miss Fairchild was not to be crossed...underneath the facade lurked a ruthless manipulative woman prone to sudden mood swings and malicious acts. When the home is sold and demolition uncovers the skeleton of a young girl the three return to answer the police's questions concerning their childhood. Are they helping with inquiries or are they suspects. Dreading facing the memories and the woman they detest they struggle to cope. Told from three points of view across two timelines this novel is compelling and evocative. The character development is spot on ...Norah, Jessica and Alicia are very different personalities with their individual quirks and fears but bound together by their shared past. The tension builds page by page and the culminating revelation is an unforseen twist. A poignant thought provoking read. Sally Hepworth has earned her place as a big name in the pysological thriller genre. An excellent read.

I have enjoyed Sally Hepworth's books throughout the years. However, Darling Girls was not the book for me.

First of all, look for the TW. The book covers subjects that are challenging to read, and I was quite uncomfortable reading a few parts of it.
The narrative structure of Darling Girls was good. It unfolds through the perspectives of three women, weaving past and present, with a twist involving a therapist, Dr. Warren, and his mysterious patient, whose identity is revealed at the end.

Unfortunately, the story fell flat for me. I could not invest in any of the characters. However, I appreciated how Sally created these adult women's personalities based on their childhood experiences in the foster care system.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #St.Martin'sPress #DarlingGirls #SallyHepworth

Sally Hepworth has a way of drawing the reader into her novels. Fascinating characters, easy- flowing prose, and a simple- appearing plot that turns to be more than more complex than a first glance. So it is with “Darling Girls”.
Alicia, Norah and Jessica have one great thing in common: all were unwanted children put into foster care . Their care taker was a Miss Fairchild whose attitude toward those in her care brought to mind Mr. Bumble, the gruff, stingy Bailiff of the home for boys in “ David Copperfield”.( More! How dare you ask for more! )
At the opening of the book the three women , adults, are still very close friends , mainly because of the memories suffered as children in “ Mother” Fairchild’s hands. The past is brought to the forefront with news that a dead body of a child has been found buried near the home operated by that woman. The investigation will involve them all.
The story is told in chapters devoted to each of the girls/ women as they grew up and in the present. Although timelines shift, the author clearly indicates at the beginning of a chapter the time settings. As one reads, the events effect on the characters of the three orphans of the state( or provinces, however Australia calls their political sudivisions) become clearer.But the story of the identity of the bones buried in the field does not , not until the final, revealing chapters. I was surprised. I was thinking- well, never mind, I was fooled. My thanks to author Hepworth for leading me into another satisfyingly good novel.
And thanks to Net Galley for a this free digital edition of “ Darling Girls”.
Cautions : nothing objectionable. The story has strongly affecting moments of mistreatment of children. Note that I read an advance reader copy that did have a few flaws in typesetting and editing, probably not present in the finished product. Sure did not affect my appreciation of the book, though.

I had to give this Book 4 1/2 stars and the reason why it’s 4 1/2 and not five is I found abuse and food to be very triggering for me so much so that I had to stop after each chapter to read something else to help with my anxiety, but other than those few chapters I really enjoyed the book. I thought the plot was very well done I loved the character development and I did not guess the ending.