Synopsis in a sentence (or two):
Alicia, Jessica, and Norah bonded as foster care children under Miss Fairchild's care at the Wild Meadows Farm. When a demolition team uncovers bones at Wild Meadows thirty-five years later, the foster sisters must meet with detectives to disclose their past and possibly work to keep some of the deeper secrets buried forever.

Pacing/Storyline:
Sally Hepworth is my go-to author for family drama mystery novels that keep me reading well into the night. I was thrilled to be able to read her latest, Darling Girls, before release day, and even more excited that it did not disappoint.

Darling Girls is way darker than previous Sally Hepworth novels. Short chapters, various timelines, and multiple perspectives within Darling Girls kept the momentum going at a faster clip. It sounds like a lot is going on; however, Sally Hepworth is a genius for doing a lot of things at one time without making the plot chaotic. I’m afraid to say too much and give away any twists. I guess it’s important to note I wished I had buddy-read this so I could have chatted about the twists along the way. If you’re looking for a book with plenty of conversation angles to discuss during book club, this is the one.

Characters:
What I loved about the characters in this one was how Sally Hepworth revealed the variations in their personalities. All three women depicted in this novel went through foster care, “cared for” by a woman named Miss Fairchild. The story shows the evolution of their history from being foster-care strangers to foster-care sisters. The girls’ histories manifest in their personalities and how they relate. Their backstories are heartbreaking, so it’s worth reviewing the TWs before starting the story. Sally Hepworth doesn’t necessarily paint any of the girls in a positive light, leaving the reader in the dark as to whether the girls had a role in the apparent murder that took place at Wild Meadows Farms.

Narrator:
I went the immersive reading route with this one, thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio. The narrator excellently executed the emotion and suspense through her narration.

Read this if you love:
📚Twisted mysteries
📚 Foster family narratives
📚short chapters and multiple POVs

Rating: 5.0

Disclosure:
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the Digital Review Copy of Darling Girls. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the audio review copy of Darling Girls. All opinions are my own.

Read if you like:
🧡 Found family stories
🌪️ BIG plot twists
💭 Multiple POVs
⏰ Alternate timelines
🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQIA+ representation

Alicia, Jessica, and Norah have stuck together through thick and thin. When a body is discovered under the home they grew up in, the foster sisters find themselves in the center of the investigation, being forced to dig up their past.

Ooooo this one is TWISTY!!! I could NOT put this one down- I read it in one day!
You’ll definitely think you have everything figured out and then WHAM- another twist. So refreshing after reading a lot of thrillers where I could guess the twist.

Thank you St. Martins Press for the gifted copy! 🧡
This one comes out 4/23 so be sure to keep your eye out!

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth was entertaining but does not hold a candle to The Good Sister (if you haven’t - please read!!). A story of 3 sisters present day who are forced to revisit their foster care days when a body is found buried on the property. I switched back and forth between the ebook and audio version and found the audio more palatable. A solid 4 stars. Pub date 4/23.

Thank you to the author (who I will meet later this month!!!!), St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Very much enjoyed this drama/mystery. Loved the before & after timeline with additional puzzle pieces added along the way. I read the book as well as listened to the audio version. Narrator is fantastic. Highly recommend this cleverly crafted story. Thank to publisher and netgalley for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth really caught me off guard in the best way possible! It's a fresh twist on domestic suspense that still keeps you on the edge of your seat. It's my first Sally Hepworth book, and I'll definitely be reading more!
Twenty-five years ago, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia end up in the care of Miss Fairchild at Wild Meadows, a farmhouse that looks like a dream but feels like a nightmare. Miss Fairchild, far from being the sweet caretaker she seems, makes life a living hell for these girls.
Now, fast forward to the present. The three women, still super close, return to Port Agatha when human remains are found at Wild Meadows. As they confront their pasts, they rely on each other to get through their present struggles.
I loved how Hepworth weaves the story between past and present, giving us different perspectives that make the characters feel so real. Despite the heavy themes, the characters are strong, relatable, and flawed in all the right ways.
Norah's spunky personality adds some much-needed humor, and while the pace may be slow at times, the twists at the end make it all worth it. Plus, the portrayal of female friendship is just heartwarming. Darling Girls is definitely a book you won't want to put down!

I felt this one started off strong and I was excited to see where this was going to go, it tracked at 4 stars for a nice while. Towards the middle, and definitely by the end, I found it falling apart and a bit forced. I enjoyed the characters of the sisters and their connection to one another but I don't feel they were ever really fully developed and things began to feel chaotic towards the end of the book. That being said, I am a bit picky when it comes to the thrillers I read. I have enjoyed this author's books in the past and I definitely plan on reading more of her works, this one just didn't quite hit the mark for me.

This story sucked me in from the beginning. Three foster women, who call themselves sisters, are heading back to their foster home where bones have been found. The story goes back and forth from when there were in the home and present time. The ending left me disappointed though. I did get the answers but still felt flat somehow.

I always love novels by Sally Hepworth, they are truly so addicting, she has not disappointed me yet! When I saw this new release pop up as an arc I just had to try to request it. Lucky me, I was approved for a free arc of both the book and the audio version, in exchange for my honest opinions.

The story follows three sisters who grew up in a foster home together. A true well-disguised house of horrors, these girls bonded over the abuse they endured over the years there. Yet now, as adults, they were contacted by police who need to talk. A body was found under the house they grew up in and the police are looking for answers. Panicked with anxiety about going back to that town, they agree to handle it together.... but are they considered witnesses, or suspects?

The story is told in two timelines past & present and in multiple points of view. We get a look at their childhood through stories told to a psychologist, and we get a look at their current lives. The characters were explained so well and I fell in love with them all. I was able to feel the anger towards their foster mother as well. It was very intense as their stories unfolded. We learn a lot about the individual characters that they don't even know about each other right away. I loved the way the information unfolded.

Hepworth is brilliant and crafts these edge of your seat thrillers again and again. The twists are placed to keep the story going until it really starts to pick up at the end. This author is an automatic buy for me every time.

Huge thanks to the publishers & Netgalley for the book!
I would also love to recommend the audio book, as it was told exquisitely. The narrator was phenomenal.

This was my first Sally Hepworth nov. it was really enjoyable. It’s very binge-able which I look for in a thriller. I liked the dual now and then timeline. The pacing and twists kept things interesting. I did guess the twist at the end but that didn’t take away from my reading experience. I was second guessing myself until the last chapter! I would definitely recommend!

Foster kids with a story no one believes. Now, a body found under a house brings them back to finally, maybe, get resolution for the abuse they lived through.

This books starts strong. The first chapter hooked me and I couldn't wait to read more. There are a few POV and I didn't love all of them. The girls are a bit prickly, really only finding safety in each other, because they spent a few years together in an abusive foster home, and they stuck together ever since. The mystery was solid and I loved trying to figure out what it all meant and what I thought happened. There were so many twists and reveals, it kept me flipping the pages and curious what the next reveal would be.

Even though I did appreciate all the conclusions at the end, I found the last chapter so disappointing.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Great book! I was hooked from the beginning. I loved the slow burn thriller and finding out how the stories and characters were connected. And that ending! I was shocked!

I love Sally Hepworth domestic thrillers. Her pacing and writing style always deliver a page turning, keep you guessing, good time. Darling Girls was an engaging read from start to finish- sisters, secrets, and suspense.

When I say I GASPED….

Read this book if you like:
👯‍♀️ Found Family
🔍 Mysteries
#️⃣ Multiple POV
⏳ past and present timelines
🤯 Shocking Reveals

This book was soooo incredibly bingeable and was soooo well written and with the changing POV’s it kept me thoroughly entertained!

This felt different, in a good way, from Sally’s prior stories I’ve read and like her others, this was full of mystery, suspense, and questioning everything especially with the bouncing between POVs.

I truly loved the found family aspect between the girls and their fierce devotion to each other which, with a foster parent like they had, no clue why they were so bonded.

I loved reading and wondering what was coming next, because man, did the foster mom serve suspicion and doubt!

I don’t want to say much more, but dang… Buckle up for a bingeable mystery!

Thank you so much to the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for my review!

I remember seeing this ARC come available months and months ago on NetGalley and squealing! I had so much fun reading The Soulmate last year and really looked forward to Darling Girls. Let’s get into it-

In Darling Girls, we follow three FMCs, former foster sisters who’ve adopted each other into their adult families. They all are having a hard time with their personal lives when they are called back to the small town where they lived in a foster home together when a body is found on the premises. Told partially in the present timeline and partially in flashbacks to their time together in their foster home, the truth behind their childhood home comes to light as everyone works toward solving the mystery- whose body is buried at the home, and who buried them?

Like Hepworth’s previous books, I enjoyed this one! There were a few twists throughout that were entertaining to puzzle out. One part I really liked was the sisters’ support and devotion to each other despite the outside pressure on them to turn on each other! That said, a few of the reveals made the disbelief suspension strain too hard, particularly one right at the 50% mark. It just made a big part of the previous story completely unbelievable! Aside from that plot issue, I did feel fatigued by the lack of character development throughout most of the book. While most of the characters had turned their issues around by the ending, they were all their own worst enemies for the vast majority of the book and it got repetitive along the way. Lastly for criticism, some parts of this book are meant to justify the antagonist’s monstrous behavior. Though this is clarified at the end of the story, it was still hard to stomach.

Overall I liked this book and recommend it to readers who have read and liked Hepworth’s previous books. Though this will not be a top-rated mystery for the year for me, I will continue reading more books from Hepworth in the future!

hat a wild ride! 😱
Thank you, St Martins Press, for the gifted copy of Darling Girls {partner}

Genre: Mystery
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 4.23.2024
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆.5

“Every human being needs someone… one person that’s in your corner. One person who’s yours.”

Honestly, I have not always loved Sally Hepworth’s books - they’ve always almost been what I was looking for but never left me overflowing with praise. I was usually left feeling like she had the potential for a great novel, but it was missing something. So, I was unsure about reading her newest book, Darling Girls.

But, y’all this was THE book. Hepworth left me wholly floored, and I felt like she was a whole new writer. Darling Girls is my new favorite. It was a roller coaster ride of twists that had me eagerly flipping the pages on my kindle, all the way to that super satisfying ending. And that ending? WOW. I was blown away by how Hepworth wrote this book and absolutely can’t wait to see what she writes next.

🗣️ Three POVs
👏🏼 Perfect pacing
🤯 That last chapter
🤩 Addicting

I recommend reading Darling Girls if you’re in the mood for a dark mystery!


______
#DarlingGirls #SallyHepworth #stmartinspress

I have always enjoyed Sally Hepworth's books and this one was no exception!

The story was told in such a way that twists and turns developed over time with a series of surprises versus one big twist at the end. I enjoyed the pacing as well as the different narrators throughout. Some of the twists I saw coming but others most caught me off guard.

If you are a fan of suspense and family drama this is a great read for you.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this new book by Sally Hepworth! I have enjoyed all of the books I've read by this author, and this one was no exception. I was a little nervous about how the foster care aspect of this book would be handled, as a social worker who used to work in that field. Sadly, there are people who get into fostering for the wrong reasons. The compelling part of this book was the connection the three girls had. I really enjoyed reading how their bond grew as they were each placed into the home and supported each other. I really liked the mystery part of this book and I definitely felt like there was some twists I wasn't expecting (obviously the best kind)! I will continue to read books by Sally Hepworth and will definitely recommend this one!

WOW... Just WOW! This is Ms Hepworth's best book yet and she writes wonderful books. This one will blow your mind. A MUST READ for thriller lovers.

We start out in a Psychiatrist's office. Someone is telling him about things that happened in their life. Throughout this story you hear more and more about this sad life. About the abuse she endured. About the horrendous things that were done to her.

There are three girls, Jessica, Norah(with a H), and Alicia. These girls are sisters. Not by blood but by life. By their lives as foster children. They were all living with Miss Fairchild. Jessica from the age of four. Norah and Alicia were a little older. Teens/preteens. Miss Fairchild was so good to Jessica until she wasn't. She could be the meanest most cruel person ever. If she found out your deepest fears. Your deepest joys. Anything that she could use against you she delighted in. She would love you dearly until she didn't....

You meet Jessica, Norah, and Alicia as adults. They are called back to the place they had lived. To the town where they had been living and fostered twenty-five years ago. There is a dead body buried under the home they lived in. Bones of a baby girl.

This book will keep you turning pages. Keep you on edge and in tears. What these girls went through is horrible. How they managed to grow up and be somewhat successful is amazing. After all they endured they have to go back to face something more. Something that may do them in. May be the most painful thing yet...

This book keeps you guess all the way. I figured out who was talking to the psychiatrist but that is about all. I came close with who the bones belonged too. But there are so many twists and turns that I was left gasping after the last word. After I finished this book. It's one that you won't forget soon. How Ms Hepworth can outdo this one will be something else indeed. This book is brilliantly written. Told in a way as to keep you turning the pages. You won't want it to end until every question is answered. You will get all of that and more.

Thank you #NetGalley, #SallyHepworth, #StMartinsPress, for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this wonderful book.

Five huge stars and the highest recommendation. You don't want to pass this one up.

This is my first novel by Sally Hepworth and will not be my last! This book grabbed me from the beginning and I was unable to put it down, not to mention the last chapter had my jaw on the ground. This is story is told from multiple points of view and has chapters in the past and present.

This story follows three girls who grew up in foster care together and the bond they formed trying to survive during their time with Miss Fairchild. When a body is found under the home they shared as children, they return to town as witnesses but also potential suspects.

Sally Hepworth's "Darling Girls" takes readers on a journey through the complexities of female friendship and the lasting impact of shared secrets. Set against an idyllic farming estate, the novel follows the lives of three childhood friends, whose bond is tested when a dark secret from their past resurfaces.

The strength of the novel lies in its exploration of the complexities of female friendship. Hepworth captures the nuances of the relationships between Jessica, Norah, and Alicia, portraying the highs and lows of their bond with authenticity and empathy. Each character is flawed yet relatable, grappling with their own insecurities and desires, and their interactions drive much of the novel's emotional resonance.

However, despite the compelling character dynamics, "Darling Girls" ultimately suffers from pacing issues. The alternating timelines between past and present can feel disjointed at times, interrupting the flow of the story and detracting from the overall narrative momentum. Additionally, the resolution of the central mystery feels rushed and lacks the emotional impact that one would expect from such a climactic moment.

That being said, "Darling Girls" still offers an engaging and thought-provoking read. Hepworth's portrayal of life is vivid and immersive, and her exploration of themes such as loyalty, betrayal, and forgiveness will resonate with readers. While it may not be groundbreaking, "Darling Girls" is a solid addition to the contemporary fiction genre, offering an entertaining blend of mystery, drama, and heartfelt emotion.