This book was quite enveloping. I was easily drawn in from the beginning. I enjoy when books jump around from different perspectives/timelines, but it can sometimes get confusing if not done well. This was easy to follow and kept me guessing throughout. I have never read a book by this Sally Hepworth before, but I will definitely have to read some more of her! Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC!

4⭐
Genre ~ psychological thriller
Setting ~ Australia
Publication date ~ April 23, 2024
Page Count ~ 368 (60 chapters)
Audio length ~ 9 hours 6 minutes
Narrators ~ Jessica Clarke
POV ~ multiple 3rd
Featuring ~ multiple timelines, child abuse

Foster sisters Jessica, Norah & Alicia lived their teenage years with Miss Fairchild, who was not a nice person at all.

Now years later bones have been found at their old foster home and they're heading back to a place they never wanted to visit again.

The alternating POV's give us a good sense of each of these women in the now and in the past. We, also, get a few chapters of psychiatrist visits that gave me mixed feelings at the end.

Overall, fast paced in now and slower in the past, but gripping nonetheless and will surely be a best seller. I love when the author has done research and she tells us about it in the author's note.

I was lucky enough to have both an ebook and the audio. Both ways worked perfectly fine.
Narration notes:
Jessica did a great job even though there wasn't too much of a variation between the characters voices.

I love Sally Hepworth books and I really enjoyed this book! It has well thought out characters, and easily jumps back and forth from character to character and past/present. I wish it did have more suspense/bigger twist but overall a great read!

Thank you to NetGalley, Sally Hepworth, and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

Anything from Sally Hepworth is an automatic must read for me - Darling Girls did not disappoint. I loved the story of shared bonds of sisterhood over the years. This was such a great thriller with a twist I didn't see coming but thoroughly enjoyed! I have read everything from this author and can't wait to see what else she writes in the future!

As an ARC reader, I had the privilege of diving into Sally Hepworth's captivating new novel, "Darling Girls," before its official release, and let me tell you, this book is an absolute gem of a thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end.

From the outset, it weaves a tale of intrigue and suspense, drawing you into the lives of Jessica, Norah, and Alicia, three sisters bound together by secrets, love, and the haunting specter of their past. Raised by the enigmatic Miss Fairchild in the idyllic setting of a farming estate, their childhood was far from the fairy tale it seemed. She deftly explores the complexities of their relationship with Miss Fairchild, painting a nuanced portrait of a woman who wielded both love and control in equal measure.

As the story unfolds, and a body is discovered under the home they grew up in, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia find themselves thrust into the spotlight as key witnesses in a chilling murder investigation. But as the lines between truth and deception blur, they must confront the dark secrets that have long haunted their past and reckon with the possibility that they may be more than just witnesses—they could be prime suspects.

What sets "Darling Girls" apart is Hepworth's masterful storytelling, which keeps readers on the edge of their seats with each twist and turn. Her characters are richly drawn and utterly compelling, their flaws and vulnerabilities adding depth to the narrative and keeping readers emotionally invested from start to finish. As you read, you feel yourself being drawn in as if you are a character in the book yourself. A captivating story, that grips you immediately.

As an ARC reader, I can confidently say that "Darling Girls" is a must-read for fans of the thriller genre. With its gripping plot, complex characters, and atmospheric setting, it's a book that will linger in your mind long after you've turned the final page. Sally Hepworth has once again proven herself to be a master of the genre, and "Darling Girls" is sure to captivate readers with its blend of mystery, suspense, and heart. A must read!

DNF so hard to rate it. I really like Sally Hepworth and the writing in this novel was good but I couldn't stomach the content. Reading about the abuse of children was too difficult.

This novel is a riveting page-turner with lots of twists and turns…up to the very last page. The story focuses on three foster children and their relationship with their foster mother, their relationships with each other and a murder. Once I started this book it was hard to stop. The storylines are split into multiple point of views and “before/after”. They flow seamlessly together and will have you on the edge of your seat. I haven’t read a Sally Hepworth yet that I didn’t like and this was no exception!

I have always found a great deal of enjoyment in the novels written by Sally Hepworth, and her latest masterpiece, Darling Girls, is certainly no exception to this rule. It was an exceptionally well-crafted piece of literature, weaving a tale that was both complex and intricate in nature.

This was the third novel I've had the pleasure of immersing myself in from her talented hand, and despite having some experience with her style and narrative, I found myself falling into the trap of thinking I could predict the plot's direction. I believed I had a grasp on the various threads of the story. While I was correct in predicting some minor aspects, I was greatly mistaken, and pleasantly surprised, about many others. The plot twists that Hepworth integrated into the story, especially those central to the narrative, were unexpected and compelling.

This level of unpredictability and depth is characteristic of a Sally Hepworth novel, and it's part of what I find most compelling about her work. Even though I frequently read and review a wide array of books, her creative storytelling and unique narrative twists continue to astonish and delight me in equal measure.

Darling Girls is Sally Hepworth's best thriller to date! This novel is a riveting page-turner with so many twists and turns. Not until the very last chapter is the truth revealed. The story focuses on three foster children and their relationship with their very flawed foster mother. Each character is dealing with their emotional scars from their childhood and their Miss Fairchild, their foster mother. I loved the characters and the captivating writing. Ms. Hepworth knows how to write a book that the reader will keep the reader entranced! I highly recommend reading Darling Girls. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

If Sally Hepworth writes it I’m going to read it. I was thrilled to receive an ARC copy of this book. This book tells the story of 3 young girls, Jessica, Alicia, and Norah, growing up in foster care in a less than desirable foster home. As adults a body is discovered under the house where they grew up. The story unfolds from here toggling back and forth from then to now. It has the right amount of suspense to keep you reading throughout the book. I loved the relationship amongst the “sisters.” The character development was fantastic and I felt connected to each of the girls. I don’t want to give anything away but I felt that the twist at the end of the book didn’t line up with what happened throughout the book, which is why I only gave this one 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this Advance Readers Copy (ARC) to honestly review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Phew, this book was one I could NOT put down and had me guessing constantly on what was happening. Jessica, Norah & Alicia’s story about their time as foster children at Wild Meadows with Miss Fairchild was so sad and hard to read at times. The amount and type of abuse they constantly received was so awful. Once they were adults and had to come back to the small town they spent years at due to a body being found under the house, I didn’t know who or what to believe as the story unfolded. I’m glad the body remains found weren’t of a toddler who Miss Fairchild was wanting to adopt. The ending and twist of Miss Fairchild’s made up story of her childhood to her psychologist was NOT what I was expecting and could have guessed. In the end, I’m glad Jessica, Norah and Alicia got the happy endings they deserved.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this book!

What did I just read??? Sooo many twists…so many secrets! This was one of those stories that hurts your brain when you’re trying to figure it out….and no, I never dreamed of that ending! Loved it!

DARLING GIRLS might be my favorite Sally Hepworth book. It is definitely her darkest though - much more a psychological thriller than the her other books which I could characterize as more of a domestic thrillers.

This story follows a group of three girls who grew up together in an unstable foster home. As adults, the women get a call that a bones were found underneath the house. Whose are they? And what really happened in that house?

I was on the edge of my seat the entire time - both the flashback chapters and the modern day. I listened to this book over the course of two days which is so fast for me!!! The narration was top notch also.

And THAT ENDING... what?!?!?!

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth is a masterful thriller which follows three foster sisters. The story is told in dual timelines, during their time in foster care and after. Each character’s story and development is well fleshed out and unique and you can tell the toll their past took on each woman. Aside from the individual character dynamics we continue to circle around a singular question, what happened at Wild Meadows and whose bones did they find? This story will take you on a ride and through the gambit of emotions as the twists unfold. My only wish is that Hepworth would have delved further into the girls’ backstories as I feel this would have been the story more impactful, Highly recommend this story.

I received an arc from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
While I really liked the connection between the girls I had a hard time staying connected to the book and storyline itself. I would not however write this author off and would definitely try another book by this author.

WOW WOW WOW !! This has to be one of my favorite thrillers of this year thus far!! Right from the first chapter, you’re hooked… then you get introduced to the main 3 characters and after that the book flies fast paced… Sallly Hepworth you really outdid yourself with this one. I’ll be recommending to all my friends as soon as it’s released.

Was it a bit predictable towards the end? Yes it was but that didn’t take away from the plot line. Has to be one of the best thrillers of this summer.

Wow, Sally Hepworth knocked this one out of the park. Three foster sisters must relive their time at an idyllic farm estate where they were given a second chance after each suffering a family tragedy. However, Miss Fairchild was not the loving caretaker she pretended to be. She was cruel abusive and used the children to enhance her own self-worth. When the sisters were older and no longer loved dependent on her, she brought new babies into the home to foster. There were cruel punishments, Gaslighting, and abuse.

Flash forward 25 years later, and the sisters are called back together when a body is found in the basement of the house they were fostered at.

Parts of this book were heart wrenching to watch this twisted cruelty play out. But you couldn’t stop reading because you needed to know what happened next and the twists were so twisted. I couldn’t see them coming. This was definitely a five star book. The author did a tremendous job with a phenomenally twisted tale.
Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to preview this Book.

Wow! Definitely my favorite Hepworth book to date! They are never predictable and the characters are never quite what they seem. I become more and more a fan of her writing with each book!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wowza, I think this is Sally Hepworth's darkest story. I haven't read everything she has written but have read quite a few of hers The content of Darling Girls is definitely not for the faint of heart. Even with all of the trigger warnings, this story was very propulsive and that feeling started at the very beginning of the book. Hepworth writes suspense really well with characters you want to figure out. If you have read and loved her books in the past and can handle more toxicity in the storyline and characters, I think you will enjoy this one too.. If you're looking at Darling Girls being your first by the author, I urge you to tread lightly and explore her backlist!

Darling Girls is out April 23rd! Thank you St. Martin's Press and Netgalley or my e-arc!

Content warnings: verbal, physical, sexual and emotional abuse; all the negatives of foster care; neglect; malnutrition; death of a child; and likely more I am forgetting at the moment!!

Darling Girls evoked emotions straight from the start with three women who became sisters when they were young in foster care. Loved the characters. The story involves a bit of mystery and crime. It was a slower story that unfolded one piece at a time with a huge surprising twist at the end. Well done.

Thank you @SallyHepworth @StMartinsPress and @NetGalley for a free e-ARC. The opinions are mine alone and not biased in any way.