"How do you deal with your feelings in the real world?"
"You bury them real deep."

"It's unimaginable isn't it; to think that someone would hurt a child?"

The cleverly well plotted Darling Girls by brilliant thriller author Sally Hepworth is proof this writer has spun her own subgenre, which I dub "subtle thriller."

She's able to immerse you into her created world where you feel all the emotions; pain, fear, anger, insecurity, even hunger. By the end your heart is weeping and your mind is blown.

In the present 3 best friends receive the same call from the police, a construction dig has unearthed human bones under their childhood foster home. They need to answer questions, and so we go back to their childhood with them.

We start with Holly Fairchild fostering 4 year old Jessica, a Chinese immigrant orphan. Subtly something is off. Holly tells Jessica she's lucky to be with her, playing into the little girl's insecurities, needing to please Holly. By the time 10 year old Norah shows up Jessica has no plans to share Holly. But Norah's survived her mom's overdose death, creepy touchy foster dads and Holly is just another wall to build her heart around. When sweet innocent Alicia arrives, after her grandma is hospitalized, Jessica and Norah are bonded over Holly's growing odd behavior, and they try to protect her, but soon they all need protection.

I was in awe of voice actress Jessica Clark
embodying the girls from childhood to adult, and then be completely believable as unhinged Holly. It's a masterpiece of voice acting.

The last of the story is not subtle; it is a mind blowing jaw dropping twist. By the end "darling girls" will be the most sinister phrase...and it's not what you think!

I received a free copy of this book/audiobook from the publishers via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Loved that you were not sure who was narrating till the end. enjoyed the development of characters and how the story unfolded.

Narration Review: 4 stars - I loved the narrator and she did a great job telling the whole story, I just wish there'd been more voice variation for the characters. I would get them mixed up while listening, not realizing which character perspective was now being shared.

Darling Girls follows three foster sisters in their adult lives and their past lives, living together in what many considered an idyliic farmhouse with a doting foster mother, Mrs. Fairchild. Each girl has been told they are just so lucky to be there, to be with her, to be together. Behind closed doors, things are not what they seem, as money is supposedly so tight and cleaning chores take nearly the entire day. The girls find camraderie, both in the house and at home, despite their differences, and band together as new babies enter the home as well. As adults, while all are fairly well adjusted, there are obvious signs of their former time in the foster system at play. Jessica is very controlled, Alicia helps foster kids but sees herself unable to have a relationship or to be maternal, and Norah is violently protecting herself from, well, everything. As human remains are found at the former foster home, the three sisters are taken back to the place where their sisterhood began.

Told through four perspectives, the three sisters and an unknown fourth, Darling Girls is a twisted tale of the past and the future it has greatly shaped. The three main characters are deeply flawed from their time as foster children with Mrs. Fairchild, but their sisterly connection is truly beautiful to read. While they each hold secrets, it's interesting to watch as they revisit their past together, lean on one another, and slowly reveal, or have revealed, their secrets to one another. They join together as one, holding one another up always, and revisit the painful memories. I could not have guessed this one initially, though I figured it out by the end, as it is just so twisty. Sally Hepworth really brought this one to life and takes readers are a tangled journey.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* this was a really great but creepy book! this is another book id love to see on the big screen lol

I will start out with this was not my favorite book but it was a twisty one. Three foster girls are now grown up and the home they were in is being torn down and bones are discovered. They are being called back to talk to the police. This brings up all sorts of memories and questions. Do they have the same memories? What about the babies? Did I say twisty? Oh yeah!

This is my first book by the author, while the audio was a bit slow at moments it kept my interest. I liked the narrators voice and I think it was enticing to keep you listening. The plot itself was thick and juicy. It was a great book.

Creepy as all get out! Three young girls are placed under the foster care of Miss Fairchild, a woman reminiscent of an old school wicked stepmother from folklore. This is not a thriller as advertised, but more a domestic horror as we learn about the abuse the girls receive under the "care" of Miss Fairchild. Another good donestic drama from Sally Hepworth, with a twisty ending her fans have come to expect.

Narrator does an excellent job, but due to the nature of the plotting, this might be best read as a print book instead.

Omg this book was incredible. Hepworth is a genius. This book was a bit creepy, but highly worth the read. The characters were so interesting and story captivating. It’s also heartbreaking as so much of this is happening in real life…

Sally Hepworth is always a go to for an edge of your seat thriller. Written in multiple POVs and jumping in the timeline, this novel will keep you guessing at every turn. This was a quick read.

The narrator did a great job of letting the listener tell the difference between each of the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for an advanced reading and listening copies of this book.

I really enjoyed this book! I thought it was fast paced and kept ‘em engaged the whole time. I will actually read more from this author because this was so well written.

really enjoyed the multiple POV’s and how it jumped from the past to the present. I truly couldn’t put it down and the twists omg they just kept coming up until the end! Such a good one.. This was my first Sally Hepworth read and it definitely won’t be my last!

I enjoyed this story, and the way it was told via multiple timelines, and learning how the past influenced the girls' childhood and adulthood. It did make me quite sad at times to listen to details of abuse. My only complaint would be that much of it felt fairly predictable and there were times in the beginning that I lost track of which girl's point of view I was listening to - but I still liked the overall story.

Recommend: YES

This may be my favorite book by Sally Hepworth so far. It truly has all the elements I look for in a great read and then some. While I was able to predict one of the twists, the final twist genuinely took me by surprise.

I appreciated how the story alternates between the perspectives of the three fostered girls. The short chapters were a great pacing choice. The characters were relatable and well-developed, and the plot twists kept me engaged throughout.

Just when I thought I had everything figured out, the narrative would take another turn. Hepworth skillfully leads you to feel one way about a character, only to shift your emotions toward another, making for a thrilling and unpredictable experience. Overall, it was an enjoyable journey that I thoroughly appreciated.

Ok, this one was amazing as an audiobook!! The voice and narration was spot on. Had me on the edge of my seat and dying to listen to more! Even speeding it up, it was still easy to understand and listen to! Highly recommend as audio!

Sally Hepworth’s Darling Girls is a chilling psychological thriller about three foster sisters—Jessica, Norah, and Alicia—whose dark past resurfaces when human remains are found beneath their former foster home. The sisters must confront buried secrets and the manipulative Miss Fairchild, who shaped their traumatic childhoods at Wild Meadows. Hepworth weaves past and present timelines seamlessly, delivering twists that keep you guessing until the end. With its strong characters and haunting exploration of sisterhood and resilience, this book is both gripping and deeply emotional.

Darling Girls delves deep into the complexities of family, trauma, and the long-lasting impact of childhood experiences. The novel centers around three foster sisters—Jessica, Norah, and Alicia—who were raised by the unpredictable and often domineering Miss Fairchild on a remote estate. As the sisters navigate their adult lives, they are forced to confront the trauma of their shared past when a body is discovered under the home they grew up in.

Hepworth gave a nuanced portrayal of the sisters’ personalities and the psychological undercurrents that shape their behaviors. The exploration of sisterhood, resilience, and the flaws of the foster care system adds emotional depth to the story, while the tension between the sisters kept me invested in their journey. Overall, I thought the multiple timelines and perspectives came together nicely, creating a slow-burn narrative that is both gripping and poignant as the sisters' pasts and present collide.

Wow, this one was a fun read! I feel strange saying that because it does involve some heavy topics (abuse and a mysterious death), but I was hooked the entire time. I really enjoyed the characters, the past and present chapters, and learning more of the backstory. At times, "Darling Girls" gave me "If You Tell" vibes, but obviously this story is fictional. The ending had me absolutely floored, just when I was so happy with how it wrapped up! I believe this is my second or third Sally Hepworth book and I am a permanent fan. Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and MacMillan audio for the opportunity to read and review this one.

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. And thank you to @macmillan.audio for a free download of the audiobook.

A Haunting and Heartfelt Tale

Darling Girls is a captivating and thought-provoking novel that delves into the complexities of trauma, friendship, and the enduring power of the human spirit. Sally Hepworth masterfully weaves together a gripping narrative that is both haunting and heartwarming.

The three main characters, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia, are complex and well-developed. Their bond, forged in the crucible of their shared past, is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. The author skillfully explores the lasting impact of childhood trauma, and the ways in which it can shape their lives.

The dual timelines, alternating between the past and the present, create a sense of suspense and mystery. The gradual unveiling of the dark secrets of Wild Meadows keeps the reader engaged.

While the pacing is somewhat deliberate, it allows for a deeper exploration of the characters and their relationships. The ending, though bittersweet, is satisfying and leaves a lasting impression.

The audiobook narration for Darling Girls is exceptional. The narrator skillfully brings the three distinct voices of Jessica, Norah, and Alicia to life, enhancing the listening experience and making the characters even more relatable.

Darling Girls is a powerful and poignant novel that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it.

4 stars

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The Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth is a compelling family drama that blends suspense with emotional depth. Set in a charming, somewhat idyllic Australian town, the novel centers around three women—Charlotte, a successful but distant mother; her two daughters, who each carry their own secrets and personal struggles; and the legacy of their late matriarch, who seems to have kept many things hidden from the family. Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC!

‘Darling Girls’ is another gripping read by Sally Hepworth. The narrator Jessica Clarke did a great job of keeping the story suspenseful.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for a complimentary audio eArc for my honest review.