Sally Hepworth has done it again. This story is so good, it kept me guessing until the end. It tells the story of Jessica, Norah and Allison and their time in Foster care.
It is told from each of their perspectives of how it was.

We are now in present day when the three of them are called back to their town where the home once stood. There has been a discovery on the premises and they need to meet with detectives.

Ms. Hepworth knows how to make us think one thing and pull the rug out from under you.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy.

Amazing book! Had me guessing until the very end and I was so wrong! Tons of character build up made me feel like I had to keep on reading to find out what happens next. Would recommend to anyone who loved a good psychological thriller, but does include some hard things to read (child abuse).

I’m literally depressed that I have to give this one 2 stars. Like where is Sally?? Is she ok? Because there is no way this is the same author as The Soulmate.

The writing was childish and choppy, and the whole story was just way too over the top. It’s literally 350 pages of (mostly) child abuse. I’m not even exaggerating. Every. Single. Chapter. I’m disgusted and feel very uneasy.

I did finish the book because I wanted to know what happened, but I would say it was fairly predictable and the ending was not very satisfying. I wish I had better thoughts 😭

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to receive this ARC of the Darling Girls!

Mystery and suspense readers will enjoy this book. The dark side of foster care comes to light as three girls bond together to endure an abusive foster mother. Told in a past and present manner, the girls share their story while an unknown character is being interviewed by a psychiatrist. The unknown becomes apparent rather quickly as the tale unravels. The three girls are obviously damaged by the abuse by Miss Fairchild dealt out. Some twists at the end will certainly surprise some readers.

4.25-4.5 stars

First, let me say I think Sally Hepworth deserves more attention! If you read Ruth Ware, Shari Lapena, Freida McFadden, Lisa Jewell, etc. you should definitely check out Sally Hepworth's thrillers!

Second - trigger warnings - abuse of minor children. Nothing terribly graphic, but could be upsetting nonetheless.

This book involved multiple POVs and alternated between the past and present, but I did not find it confusing at all. The three main characters were well developed and I liked the relationships amongst themselves.

This was definitely a readable book, but probably not my favorite from this author (definitely recommend The Good Sister and The Mother-in-Law especially).

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Expected publication date: April 23, 2024

Sally Hepworth has done it again and is definitely on my automatic read authors list!!!

Jessica, Norah and Alicia foster children that have formed a bond while at Wild Meadows under the care of Miss Fairchild. They survived their time there but are called back after a discovery is made under the house. All three girls stories are told and does alternate back and forth some to then and now. Easy to follow though.

A mystery/thriller that is written with overcoming qualities, no slow burn here, some romance, conquering a life threatening addiction and drama with a perfectly written resolution. Highly recommend this read!!

And THAT ENDING!!!

Thanks to netgalley and St Martins press for my electronic advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own!

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth
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Jessica, Norah, and Alicia were all placed in the care of Miss Fairchild, their foster mom, after tragedy stuck their families. The girls experience trauma and abuse during their stay with Miss Fairchild and finally break away. 25 years later, human remains are found at the property where the sisters stayed. They are called back to Wild Meadows and thrust back into their traumatic past.
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🔹Psychological thriller/mystery
🔹Past and present timelines
🔹Pieces of the puzzle are slowly revealed
🔹Keeps you guessing until the VERY end!
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Thank you netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book!

This was my first Sally Hepworth and I have to say it won’t be my last. I really enjoyed the plot of this book. It brought me in from the start. Specifically when the opening page was someone talking to a psychiatrist but we weren’t clued in on who it was. It was nice to see just how different the sisters are from each other but they still had a very tight bond. It was exciting to see how the past shared trauma showed up in the girls present lives. I really like the alternating chapters (and past and present chapters) because the reader got to see each girls individual thoughts. I do with the chapters were written in first person since that seems more intimate. I sometimes forgot who was speaking because of the third person POV.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

DARLING GIRLS by Sally Hepworth

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the advanced digital copy!

Jessica, Norah, and Alicia are sisters through their foster mother, Miss Fairchild. While her farm seems like a perfect placement for these pre-teen girls, the abuse they suffer is an undercurrent of the household. As adults, a body is found below the farmhouse, and the police have questions.

This is a story of generational trauma. The emotional abuse these girls went through and the gaslighting and withholding of love… plus mention of “the lucky ones” because there wasn’t physical or sexual abuse- mentioned again in the acknowledgments- no child deserves any of it. Bad/hurt people can raise children who can turn into bad/hurt people.

The short chapters, the suspense- all of it kept me in the story and I did not want to put it down. There were dual timelines and povs, but I never felt overwhelmed or confused. I thought the characters were well developed- I appreciated how each sister dealt with the trauma in a different way.

My only complaint is how everything fit together. About halfway through I figured out where I thought it was going, but then the last chapter flipped it all upside down. I think maybe this chapter was just added as a major twist / shock value, that sort of took away from the rest of the story. It didn’t ruin it for me, but I think it could’ve ended with the sisters’ “later on” parts.

Sally Hepworth is a talented writer and unexpectedly this is another entertaining thriller. Definitely going to be a popular one around Bookstagram / Goodreads!

Pretty twisted, Sal! Those last 2 pages, damn girl! Ever since I had a kid of my own, books with bad things happening to kids are hard. Consider that before reading, but this has all kinds of twists and turns and I just couldn’t stop reading - it’s a YAS from me.

Entertaining, but not earth-shattering. I liked this better than The Soulmate (which is the only other Sally Hepworth novel that I have read).

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

A story of three girls raised in the same foster home and their bond as sisters throughout their childhood and into adult life. When a body is discovered buried under the former foster home that they were raised in, thee three women will return to the small town where they were raised and help unbury secrets long since forgotten.
Sally Hepwroth did a fantastic job with each of the three main protagonists-- I felt connected and interested in each of their three stories. If you are into dysfunctional families and twisty turvy psychological thrillers, this book is for you.

4.5 ⭐

This is officially my new favorite book by Sally Hepworth! This was a very dark tale of sisterhood, secrets, and lies. The back and forth narrators voices made you question what you really know and also made you want to know more. It actually kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end and is one of the most recent reads that I have completed in less than 24 hours because I couldn't put it down. That shocking twist at the end that I did not see coming, chef's kiss. I highly recommend this one.

From Good Reads - "For as long as they can remember, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia have been told how lucky they are. As young girls they were rescued from family tragedies and raised by a loving foster mother, Miss Fairchild, on an idyllic farming estate and given an elusive second chance at a happy family life.
But their childhood wasn’t the fairy tale everyone thinks it was. Miss Fairchild had rules. Miss Fairchild could be unpredictable. And Miss Fairchild was never, ever to be crossed. In a moment of desperation, the three broke away from Miss Fairchild and thought they were free. Even though they never saw her again, she was always somewhere in the shadows of their minds. When a body is discovered under the home they grew up in, the foster sisters find themselves thrust into the spotlight as key witnesses. Or are they prime suspects?"

Thank you to NetGalley for a free ARC in return for an honest review.

Jessica, Norah and Alicia are sisters by circumstance. They were all taken out of foster care and raised by the estimable Miss Fairchild. Everyone thought they were so lucky to be chosen by Ms. Fairchild to live a life so different from the tragedies they faced with their own families. But Ms. Fairchild is not the loving motherly figure everyone one thinks she is and when the girls escape they think they are finally free of her. Then 25 years later a dead body is found at the farming estate where they lived with Ms. Fairchild and as the foster sisters are called back to confront the past and realize the truth of their experience. Thank you #NetGalley for my ARC.

Wow! This was my first book by Sally. I will definitely be reading more.

Three sisters travel back to where they grew up after a startling discovery. The book alternates between the sister's points of views and as the book goes on you get a glimpse into their pasts. So many times I thought I figured it out but was wrong every time!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I love a good multiple POV / dual timeline thriller so I knew pretty quickly I was going to really enjoy this one!

I liked the sisters and their unique personalities right away. My heart broke for each of their individual experiences entering foster care. Miss Fairchild was the worst kind of monster, and her behavior towards the girls made me physically sick at times.

I did not want to stop reading this one!! So much so that I found myself opening my kindle app whenever I could just to find out what happened next. This was an extremely bingeable story. I will definitely be checking out Hepworth’s backlist now!

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for my e-copy of this novel to read and review!

Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for my complimentary eARC and to MacMillan Audio for my complimentary audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sally Hepworth has done it again. Darling Girls is a mystery/thriller that will pull the rug out from under you on the final page. I was second guessing myself throughout the entire book trying to figure out the mystery. Once I was sure I knew the answer, Sally threw a wrench in my logic.

I was a bit uncomfortable at times, because abuse of children is not a pleasant subject and not one I would willingly read. I trusted Sally to be kind and compassionate and she was through the entire book.

I paired the audio with the eARC. It was so much worse hearing what was done to Norah, Jessica and Alicia that eventually I needed to switch to just reading.

In "DARLING GIRLS," bestselling author Sally Hepworth weaves a captivating story of sisterhood, secrets, and the haunting grip of the past. From its gripping opening pages to its shocking conclusion, this novel grabs hold of the reader and never lets go. At the heart of the story are Jessica, Norah, and Alicia, three sisters who were raised by their foster mother, Miss Fairchild, on an idyllic farming estate. While their childhood appeared charmed to outsiders, the reality was far darker, with Miss Fairchild's strict rules and unpredictable behavior casting a shadow over their lives. When a body is discovered under their former home, the sisters find themselves thrust into a web of intrigue as key witnesses - or perhaps even suspects. Hepworth masterfully crafts a suspenseful narrative that keeps readers guessing until the very end. As the sisters grapple with the fallout from the discovery and confront long-buried secrets, the tension mounts, drawing readers deeper into the mystery. The complex dynamics between the sisters, their complicated relationship with Miss Fairchild, and the secrets they each hold add layers of depth and intrigue to the story.

What sets "DARLING GIRLS" apart is its exploration of the bonds of sisterhood and the enduring impact of childhood trauma. Through Hepworth's evocative prose and richly drawn characters, the novel delves into themes of resilience, forgiveness, and the power of love to overcome even the darkest of secrets.

Overall, "DARLING GIRLS" is a riveting read that will appeal to fans of suspense and psychological thrillers. With its twisty plot, well-developed characters, and atmospheric setting, this novel is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats until the final page. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a gripping tale of family, betrayal, and redemption.

**Review of "Darling Girls" by Sally Hepworth**

Sally Hepworth’s “Darling Girls” is an exquisite exploration of family dynamics, secrets, and survival, told with the grace and empathy that Hepworth is renowned for. This novel beautifully intertwines the lives of its characters, revealing the profound connections between them through Hepworth’s signature eloquent prose.

The book shines in its character development; each of the Darling girls is portrayed with depth and authenticity, making their joys, pains, and fears palpable to the reader. Hepworth’s skill in crafting multi-dimensional characters allows the reader to become fully immersed in their world, cheering for their victories and feeling their losses deeply.

The narrative structure is another highlight, with Hepworth employing a seamless blend of past and present storytelling that enriches the plot without sacrificing pace. The transitions are smooth, enhancing the story's depth and providing a satisfying complexity that invites readers to piece together the puzzle of the family’s past alongside the characters.

Moreover, Hepworth addresses themes of love, loss, and resilience with a gentle hand, guiding the reader through emotional landscapes with her well-crafted dialogue and insightful descriptions. The setting, too, is vividly drawn, making the backdrop of the Darling family’s life as compelling as the characters who inhabit it.

“Darling Girls” is truly a masterpiece of contemporary fiction, deserving of five stars for its brilliant character portrayal, sophisticated narrative techniques, and the emotive power of its story. Sally Hepworth has outdone herself with this poignant, heartfelt novel that not only entertains but also resonates on a deeply personal level.

Arc generously provided by NetGalley.

After three girls are placed under the care of foster mother Miss Fairchild, they form a trauma bond from the misgivings of that woman. As adults, bones are discovered at the house, and the women are summoned back for questioning. Forced to confront the ghosts of the past, these women learn that the past never stays buried.