Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth is an engrossing, suspense-filled novel that masterfully combines psychological tension with a deep exploration of sisterhood. The story revolves around Jessica, Norah, and Alicia, three foster sisters whose seemingly idyllic upbringing with their foster mother, Miss Fairchild, hides dark and disturbing secrets. Miss Fairchild was not the loving guardian she appeared to be, and the trauma of their childhood continues to haunt them years later.

Hepworth excels at building suspense, as the discovery of a body beneath their former home drags the sisters back into the terrifying grip of their past. The dynamics between the sisters are complex and beautifully rendered, with their shared history creating an unbreakable bond, yet also serving as a source of pain and buried trauma. My one critique is that some plot points feel a bit predictable, but the strength of Hepworth’s character development more than makes up for it. The alternating perspectives keep the narrative taut and engaging, as each sister reveals more about their experiences with Miss Fairchild. I seriously could not put this book down until I finished!

Sally is always a must read when I see she’s got a new book coming out.

This was a tough read at times due to it being about kids in Foster care and knowing these circumstances do happen in real life. I enjoyed this one though! It really kept me guessing and every time I thought I knew what the twist might be, I was wrong!

Sally does a great job at really developing characters.

I was approved for this one before 2024 happened and I fully intended to read it, but then 2024 happened and life happened. I've gone through an unexpected divorce and sadly this book is a victim to my tumultuous 2024. I did end up getting the book on audio to listen to.

Honestly I can't remember much of what happened. I am a Sally Hepworth fan, I I remember thinking I gave it 4 stars. I will have to try it listen to it again.

Another winner from Sally! This was a slow burn - as I typically find her books to be- but worth it. I feel like it’s evident she put a ton of work into this book in both the research and character development and it shows.

Amazing.!!! That ending! OMG! Loved it! I’m officially a Sally Hepworth fan and wi read anything this author writes. Loved the multiple POVs and different timelines.

Thank you to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Jessica, Norah and Alicia are all raised by Miss Fairchild, who is an emergency foster care member, each one arriving under different circumstances.
The only thing is that life is about to change for the worse, each girl learning what it takes to survive in this house. A strong bond is formed between the three girls, which follows them into adulthood, a family of three that have always looked out for one another.
The storyline is told in back and forth chapters of past and present, with the beginning of the book starting with a gruesome discovery of their childhood home. The girls reminisce about their past and fear what implications this new finding will have on their present lives. Each one with fears and secrets that they will have to face.

I really enjoyed the different personalities of each of the women and learning their back stories through their memories. As different as they were they were a family, formed by a mutual upbringing and supported each other always.

This was just fine. I really wanted to like this but I didn't immediately like the fact that the narrators automatically came off as untrustworthy. It also made me irrationally angry when Dungeons and Dragons was IMMEDIATELY hated on. It's just one of those mean girl topics that is super outdated to make fun of. I get that's kind of the point, but it just gave me a bad taste in my mouth that stayed for the rest of the book.

As an avid fan of Sally Hepworth I look forward to her books; I was not disappointed by DARLING GIRLS.
Three foster girls all end under the foster care of Miss Fairchild. Miss Fairchild's home was a house of horrors. The girls were abused in numerous ways that did not show to the casual observer.

The girls bonded together and formed a strong union against Miss Fairchild. As independent adults the bond has continued; they take care of each other.

When the police investigate bones found under Miss Fairchild's home the girls bond together once again and unearth many secrets they were unaware of living in Miss Fairchild's house.

Sally Hepworth does not disappoint; a great read.

Darling Girls
•Author: Sally Hepworth
•Rating: ✰✰✰
•Genre: Thriller
•Book # 55 of 2024

This was a pretty good thriller that kept my attention the whole time but I have to say it wasn’t my favorite. I feel like it just needed. A bit more action maybe? Overall it was good not great.

𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙨𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨: Three women who grew up in the same foster home are brought back together in the face of tragedy. What really happened during their days at Miss Fairchild’s house?

Another winner from Sally Hepworth! I enjoyed the twists and turns in this one and as always it was a page turner. Sally is an auto buy author for me!

I love when an author switches things up, and in Darling Girls, Sally Hepworth does just that. While she sticks to her signature domestic suspense, this time the "family" is far from traditional—but just as compelling!

Twenty-five years ago, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia were brought to Wild Meadows, a seemingly idyllic farmhouse, under the care of the abusive Miss Fairchild. Now, detectives inform the women that human bones have been found buried at the property, forcing them to confront their traumatic past.

The story alternates between past and present, with rotating POVs that let us bond with each woman: Jessica, battling OCD and a secret habit; Norah, struggling with inner rage; and Alicia, whose insecurities are affecting a new relationship. There’s also a creepy mystery narrator recounting sessions with Dr. Warren.

Despite its darker themes, Hepworth balances the tone by making the women strong, smart, funny, and loyal. Norah’s fiery personality gave me plenty of LOL moments, and dog lovers will especially enjoy her dogs named Converse, Couch, and Thong!

While the pace is slow, the twisty ending is worth the wait. Plus, the portrayal of female friendship is refreshingly positive and supportive. Don’t skip the author’s note—it adds extra meaning to the story!

Sally Hepworth never misses! I could not put this book down and flew through it in 2 days. She knows how to keep me turning the pages! This book was suspenseful and at times infuriating. I loved all 3 sisters and was rooting for them to all get a happy ending. The last chapter had my jaw on the floor! I will continue to devour everything this author puts out!

4.5/5 -- Gosh, this one was a lot of fun for me. My first book by Sally Hepworth and I flew thru it in just about 24 hours. I loved the bond Jessica, Alicia, and Norah had as three foster siblings, and I think their foster mother was absolutely horrible. I can't really say that any of the twists truly shocked me, but I still felt delighted every time I came to one. Just a tight, fast-paced thriller story with a very satisfying ending. (Except for the last chapter which, frankly, didn‘t add anything for me.)

Jessica, Norah and Alicia ended up together at a foster home. People might think they were fortunate to have a pleasant place to live. They would be wrong. Miss Fairchild doesn't feed them as much as they need and she has them working on chores around the house constantly. They never know what will send her off in a fit of rage. Of course, when the social worker comes around periodically, everything looks just perfect. As if things couldn't get worse, Miss Fairchild decides to take in respite infants. Once she loses interest in them, the girls have to take over their care on top of everything that cause their schooling to suffer. When Miss Fairchild brings home a beautiful toddler and the whole situation gets untenable, the girls finally run to the police to report Miss Fairchild. They are relieved to finally get away.
The girls grow up and have their own lives, though early trauma haunts them in many ways. They are pulled back into the past after a discovery at their former foster home. Will they finally get justice or not?
This novel is difficult to read at times, but all the characters are fully fleshed out. Although Miss Fairchild is shown to be a villain, the author's notes assures us that there are many lovely foster situations. The setting is Australia where the author lives. The story could take place in almost any English speaking country. Universal issues are explored with authenticity.
I have seen many novels promoted that were written by Sally Hepworth in the recent past. I'm embarrassed to admit that this is the first one I've read. I will go back and read her back list.
Thanks to the publisher, the author and NetGalley for giving the opportunity to read this amazing novel

A book that ticks all my boxes!

Sally Hepworth has a knack for crafting compelling narratives, page-turning suspense, robust social commentary and characters you will care deeply about, all with emotional depth – and Darling Girls is the latest testament to that.

I really enjoyed this novel and its overlying theme of sisterhood. It didn't take long for me to get into it or be emotionally invested. Norah was my favourite but I found everyone to be well-written with satisfying character arcs.

The book also sheds light on a range of difficult topics, such as mental illness and the foster care system and how displaced kids slip through the cracks.

Don't miss this engrossing read with much to offer!

This was a great thriller with an outstanding storyline and intriguing characters. You can’t help but feel sorry for the girls…Miss Fairchild is not what she seems at first. Very creepy, kept me on the edge of my seat.

Not my favorite of Sally Hepworth's, I enjoyed the plot but found the writing, dialogue and character's confusing at times.

I loved this read! Specifically because it felt like a fast read for me, which always makes me feel productive.

This book follows three main characters, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia. Each of them are a bit annoying but also endearing in their own way. It also flips between present day and the past, giving insight into how these three women are bonded and their strong sisterhood.

Honestly, I have enjoyed the Sally Hepworth books on my read shelf, but this far exceeds the others in my opinion. Throughout the book, my thoughts fluctuated between how it might end, and how obvious parts of the story were. It was a good mix of being able to predict certain aspects, but a good little twist at the end. I also loved the usage of the phrase ‘darling girl(s)’ throughout the book, I feel like it wound a ribbon throughout the book that felt internally satisfying.

There were some parts that felt like they dragged on, or parts that felt cringe and unnecessary, but overall they did not taint my opinion of the book. Also think I was confused at first of the whole interaction between Holly and her therapist (is that even that right terminology?), like was that an act or…it just felt weird.

Also keep in mind: this book is riddled with trigger warnings, so if you are looking to read it I would be wary of any of those. If you are someone that is okay with the warnings, I would definitely recommend this book as the season turns to fall and a quick book is what the doctor ordered!

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and unbiased opinion.

Such a juicy and thrilling story! It captured me from the beginning and I loved all the plot twists. I loved it!

This thriller mystery gave me all the satisfaction a good one should. Foster siblings with a mean foster mom are always a vibe and I loved how creepy and suspenseful it was. Thanks to @stmartinspress for the eARC and to @macmillan.audio for the ALC. Sorry I’m so belated in getting this review out, but this summer kinda chewed me up and spit me out. This book was quite excellent though, I highly recommend to all my thriller friends! Sally Hepworth does not disappoint on this one!