Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for this review. I'm a longtime Sally Hepworth fan and I always get excited when I receive and ARC of her work. I was expecting this book to be just as great as her other books, but I found myself struggling with this one.

Firstly, I'm not a huge fan of third person narration, but I think it can work. Here, the names were used too much so it felt like, "Jessica this. Jessica that. Jessica said. Jessica was shocked. Jessica laughed" over and over.

Second, the content felt shocking compared to Sally's typical book. There's always a level of trauma in Sally's books, and they're done in a way that lets you understand the impact of the trauma all around. While I did appreciate that the reader was shown how trauma affects everyone different, the psychological torture in this book was too heavy for me. At times it felt like it was used for the shock value and I didn't personally feel all of it was necessary for the story or for the reader to understand what the girls went through. All-in-all, this was in no way a bad book from Sally Hepworth, but likely not one I would recommend to my audience because the level of phycological abuse.

Another great one for Sally Hepworth. I really enjoyed this psychological thriller. I appreciated the way the story was told, past and present . There was a good amount of suspense and though it touched on the subject of foster children and the abuse that can occur it was done well.. Thanks to NetGalley for the privilege to read and review this book.

DARLING GIRLS is a character driven, somewhat slow burn mystery that I really enjoyed! The three POVs of foster care sisters and dual timelines were all intriguing and I found myself flipping pages quickly and listening at every chance because I needed to know what was going to happen! The sprinkled in psychiatrist sessions had me wondering all the way through how those were going to connect in the end. I stayed up late to finish— always a sign of a good one! The subject matter is probably the darkest of the author’s books I’ve read, so be sure to check for the triggers (lots of childhood trauma), but if you’re someone who can handle a darker thriller, I highly recommend it. The ending was 😳 and I didn’t see it coming.

Sally Hepworth has easily become an auto-read author for me. Darling Girls is a fantastic thriller with many twists and turns. It also broke my heart at times for these girls. The characters were well developed and felt like real people. The ending completely shocked me and left me with so many emotions. I highly recommend Darling Girls.

Expected publication: April 23, 2024

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital arc and allowing me to share my early thoughts.

This was such a fast-paced and engaging read as always! The book explored complex relationship dynamics between foster siblings and the abuse a child goes through in the foster system which was not at all easy to read. I felt so horrified reading about the kinds of abuse these poor souls are put through, so definitely watch out for trigger warnings for child abuse, neglect. I loved how the characters are multi dimensional especially as they come from such horrible circumstances - it made for a gripping story and I could not put this book down. Definitely recommend to all thriller fans who love 'on the edge of the seat' thrillers but thought provoking at the same time.

Once I started this book I couldn’t put it down But Wow! Didn’t see the twist coming at the end.. The story flowed well and I loved the relationship between the girls. All of Sally Hepworth’s new books are going to the top of my TBR pile. She’s also an author I will automatically buy. Can’t wait to read her othe books now.

I loved this book so much. The twist at the end was jaw dripping. I felt so bad for the girls feeling gaslit, but it added to the story. Great writing and great characters.

The multiple POVs and dual timelines in this story were great. There was lots of drama and I enjoyed the way the ending came together.

Something has happened at Wild Meadows and all 3 women (Jessica, Norah, and Alicia) have been called back concerning an investigation that is going on. What happened at Wild Meadows? Who's body did they find and why did it happen?

Back story: Miss Fairchild started fostering Jessica and the two of them had an amazing bond. Jessica even called Miss Fairchild "Mommy." Then, Norah came into the picture and Miss Fairchild turned on Jessica. Jessica was even told to stop calling her Mommy because it is Miss Fairchild. While Jessica and Norah didn't get along at first, they definitely stuck with each other when being bullied at school. They protected each other and they protected Alicia, once Alicia came into the picture.

I thought this was an interesting read. I feel like the backstory was a bit cold though. It didn't feel like the normal Sally Hepworth storytelling ways. I felt really disconnected and the violence that happened in that house wasn't great to read. The present time story was better though. I felt a bit more connected with the characters and enjoyed it. Overall, I did enjoy reading the book.

DARLING GIRLS takes a look at the dark side of family life, this time tackling the bond between sisters. From the outside, Alicia, Jessica, and Norah seem like most ordinary women—but these three, sisters whose bond was forged decades ago on a farm with foster mother Mrs. Fairchild, harbor deep secrets. Secrets they're now being forced to face. Because Mrs. Fairchild, while on the surface, was an ideal foster mother...underneath, she had rules...she was unpredictable...she was never to be crossed. Dragged back into contact with her, Alicia, Jessica, and Norah must now ask themselves—can the past ever truly be buried?

Years later the body of a child is found buried underneath the girls old foster home. They are drawn back to the house and the small town they grew up in to try to find out who the bones belong to. This was definitely more of a slow burn psychological suspense story. Overall, a pretty solid read that kept me reading til the end to find out all of the mysteries locked behind the doors of their old home. There were definitely a few surprises along the way and a good bit of tension. I wasn't expecting the plot twist at the end, but definitely felt it was plausible. While not quite my favorite of hers, it was still quite well done and I will continue to read anything Ms. Hepworth writes.

Thank you to @netgalley @stmartinspress for this advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book could have been really really dark, and - yes - parts were super messed up, but Sally Hepworth did so well to bring in moments of light and levity. I laughed out loud at certain parts. And could not for the life of me call the ending. A wild, quick ride - It kept me guessing the entire time!

First novel of Sally Hepworth’s that I read and it did not disappoint!
Three foster girls end up in the care of crazy and unpredictable Miss Fairchild. Jessica, who just wants love and acceptance, Norah, the aggressor and takes no crap from anyone, and Alicia who is shy and timid and just wants to fit in.
The three quickly form a tight bond when they realize Miss Fairchild isn’t who they thought she was. If you did something right, you got love and praise. If you did something wrong or stepped out of line, beware the wrath of Miss Fairchild.

I enjoyed the storyline and writing style and the perspectives from each girl. The epilogue really threw me for a loop and had my jaw dropping at the twist!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC!

Pub date: 04/22/2024

The LAYERS in this - my word! Sally Hepworth combines the life and struggles of foster children, foster families, found families, and a murder mystery with absolute skill.

Jessica, Norah, and Alicia were all, at various points in their lives, taken in by the beautiful, seemingly doting Ms. Holly Fairchild at Wild Meadows. From the outside, things look wonderful. But, from the inside, things are absolutely not what they seem. Ms. Fairchild is unpredictable at best, cruel at worst. The girls live in constant fear and tiptoe around Ms. Fairchild in an attempt to appease her and keep things calm inside the household. When Ms. Fairchild starts taking in babies for respite care, things go from bad to worse. Years later after being removed from Wild Meadows, the girls - now adults in their 30s - get pulled back into the small town and world of their former foster home when bones are discovered buried beneath the house. Whose bones are they? Who put them there?

All of Hepworth's books thus far deal with family dynamics in very interesting ways. I thought the way she explored the dynamics of the relationships within a found family, and how to navigate shared and individual trauma within those bonds was so interesting. I tore through this fairly quickly and was very satisfied in how the story progressed AND wrapped itself up.

This book is definitely a thriller that unwraps layer after layer as the book continues. It starts in modern day following three sisters through their current life. They get stopped by a phone call from the police that they have found something that their foster home. All three sisters stop what they are doing and become part of the mystery. Then the book rotates between the three sisters in modern time as well as in the past in various stages.

There are some really interesting layers to the novel. I enjoyed the characters, especially Norah. All of them were developed and intriguing though. These women are trying their best after dealing with complicated circumstances. The book is fast paced and engaging.

The things I didn't love is the topic as a whole. It is hard to process the difficulties within the foster care system, the abuse that some children experience, and the stories within the system. It was an important book that addresses these issues. There were just parts that I found a challenge to read because I felt uncomfortable.

Also I wish the ending had a little more to it. It wraps up quickly and in a frustrating way, to be honest.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy!

A wonderfully crafted psychological thriller that was paired well with Norah’s great blend of sarcasm.

Sally Hepworth's latest, "Darling Girls" takes on foster homes, found families, and murder mysteries with a delightful twist. The thing that drew me in the most about "Darling Girls" was the dynamic and description of foster family situations.
Jessica, Norah, and Alicia were all bonded in their foster home at Wild Meadows under the watchful eye of the unpredictable Miss Fairchild. Now, years later, they remain thick as thieves until their whole world is turned upside down and they find themselves right back at Wild Meadows to help solve a years-old mystery, uncovering their own personal traumas in the process.
This book was an absolutely wild ride. Hepworth uses multiple timelines and POVs to help drive the story and each chapter ends with just enough of a cliffhanger that leaves you wanting more. To be frank, I completely tore through this book at lightning speed. While Hepworth's previous works focus on families and dynamics as well, there was something stronger about the dynamic between the three foster girls and their relationship far into the future.
I know there isn't much to say to keep this review spoiler-free but I was completely caught off guard when I got to the end of the novel and it put everything in a nice bow for me. Very impressive work by Sally Hepworth and it might be my favorite from her by far.

A special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a unique read that I have nothing to compare to! I found it to be suspenseful but just a tad on the repetitive/slow side for me. It did take me close to 3 weeks to read because I wasn’t drawn in.

Jessica, Norah, and Alicia were all foster children under Miss Fairchild's care. While they found lifelong "sisters" in each other, Miss Fairchild and her moods were unpredictable at best. We jump between the past, the present, and the different points of view from the women in order to understand what really happened and how that plays into their lives in the present.

Wow, what an interesting story. We are first introduced to Jessica, Nora, and Alicia in the present because skeletal remains are found on the property of their former foster home. They find themselves in the midst of a police investigation, which cause flashbacks to the horrific times of them growing up there. I loved how foster kids were represented. Sally Hepworth said she interviewed many people who had been through the foster system when writing this book. The "sisters" in the story were still dealing with some sort of drama from it in the present, and I think it was represented tastefully. The theme of found family was also powerful. Even though these women were not related by blood, they still showed up for each other and counted each other as "sisters."

I was able to piece together the direction of the story, but it wasn't completely obvious. I also was not expecting the last chapter, which made me think differently about the entire book. Overall, it was a nicely pieced together story that kept me on my toes. I love Sally Hepworth's books, and I highly recommend checking this book out as well as other ones by her if you love thrillers.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital copy for review.

This was my first Sally Hepworth book and it won't be my last! Right from page one I felt compelled by the story and the characters and could not put this book down! I loved the sister dynamic between Jessica, Norah, and Alicia and the dual timeline going on. There was never a dull moment in this book! The only reason it was not a five star read was because there were elements that were quite predictable, but other than that I loved every moment of reading this book. Fans of mysteries and thrillers should definitely pick this book up when it is officially published!

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth

Thank you to @stmartinspress, @netgalley, and @sallyhepworth for the opportunity to read this #advancedreadercopy in exchange for my honest review. Darling Girls will be published April 23 on physical, eBook, and audiobook platforms so preorder now! 💙

She’s done it again! This book just became my fave of the year! It’s twisty, it’s thought-provoking, it’s dark, and it’s fresh! This pulled me in immediately, was filled with deeply flawed but lovable characters and took you on a gut-wrenching and nail biting journey. Hepworth is a master of twisted family dynamics and this book is no different, albeit with a non traditional family. I highly recommend for fans of a fast paced mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

TW: loss of a loved one, mental illness, g*slighting, m*nipulation, CA, SA, dr*g add*ction, more

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ - 5.5/5