Darling Girls
by Sally Hepworth
5/5

Darling Girls kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time!

This book is heartbreaking and captivating, it is a sad and beautiful story about 3 foster girls (Jessica, Norah and Alicia) who carry on their relationship through adulthood. It does a great job of weaving in some thoughtful points about trauma while never missing a beat in the fast paced story. They endured many hardships at the hands of their foster parent Holly Fairchild and are still dealing with some of it into their adult lives!

The author did a lovely job of tying up loose ends at the end and I never saw the ending coming!! Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s press, and Macmillian Audio for the opportunity to read and listen to this book! Jessica Clarke, the narrator of the audiobook, was amazing to listen to! Add this to your TBR, it is out April 23, 2024!

Audiobook version: 4.5 stars. The narrator, Jessica Clarke, did a great job too! Please be mindful this book does have some tough and sensitive subjects so check trigger warnings if necessary. I think this may be one of my favorites from Sally Hepworth. There were some unexpected twists in the end that got me. The book bounces back and forth between timelines, and I think this was well done because it didn’t cause confusion but helped explain the story as everything unfolded. I don’t think I can say too much in this review as I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone but I do think this was a pretty good thriller that was more of a slow burn with everything wrapping up quickly in the end. My rating is heavily based on the last part of the book as that’s where all the good parts of the story unfolded. This was one of those books when it finished I was left thinking “Whoa!” due to the ending. Thank you very much to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and Sally Hepworth for an advanced copy! 💕

As a fan of Sally Hepworth since I read The Mother-in-Law, it is always interesting to see what challenging topic she will tackle next. Darling Girls is a dual timeline story of three girls who formed strong bonds at the seemingly idyllic estate in Port Agatha, Wild Meadows. The estate houses foster children and is managed by Miss Fairchild. What should be a reprieve from unfortunate situations is revealed to be terrible and abusive. The wounds inflicted by Miss Fairchild has varying effects, particularly when she became displeased. Jessica is a people pleasing, organized overachiever who has veered into unhealthy territory yet still yearns for Miss Fairchild’s affections. Norah is brash and strong, but only participates in transactional relationships and whose propensity toward violence has her nearing severe legal punishment. Alicia is a social worker striving to do her best for children currently in the foster system, but keeps herself from true intimacy. Early in the book, all three are called by the police after a body has been found buried at Wild Meadows. The foster sisters travel back to Port Agatha to provide information about their time in Miss Fairchild’s care and to uncover details about this possible crime. As the story unfolds, the reader learns the perils of abuse and the lingering effects of trauma. It is amazing how an elaborate story is crafted from such a small circle of characters. I was quickly invested in what would become of the “Darling Girls” while the mystery played a secondary role. The struggles and eventual outcome was both redemptive and disturbing. Make no mistake, this is a difficult and dark story. The multiple episodes of abuse were hard to read and it is a testament to the author’s skill that it did not lead to utter despair. Normally, I steer away from books featuring child harm, however, I trusted the author enough to continue. The ending may prove divisive for readers and I am still deciding how I feel about it. The narration by Jessica Clarke was beyond just a standard reading. There were several moments where her portrayal really added to this story. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A twisty thriller that focuses on the relationships of three foster children that have been placed in a seemingly perfect foster home with Miss Fairchild - but really is NOT what it seems. You get the perspective of the three sister (not related, but close and all placed in the same home) Jessica, Nora, and Alicia. Each has suffered from the treatment in the foster home, and still struggles today with addiction, violence, and burying their feelings.
When a body is found in at the site of the foster home after it is demolished, the girls come together and return to the town to be interviewed by the police. Meanwhile, an anonymous narrator is telling a tale of parental death, remarriage and abuse to a counselor. Throughout the book we flash back to what happened in the foster home, and then hear about each young woman's struggle today. Of course, there is a twisty ending - a satisfying thriller. I listened to the audiobook courtesy of Netgalley.

This book was hard to read in the beginning as it detailed the life of 3 foster children in a terrible home. However, as the book went on, I became obsessed with the characters and the mystery, and I couldn’t put it down. I enjoyed reading about the sisters’ relationship and background. It definitely had a fun twist at the end!

I got this audiobook NetGalley widget in my email and decided to give it a shot on a bit of a whim. Sally Hepworth is a new-to-me author but I was feeling in the mood for a bit of a mystery or a thriller. Full disclosure, I've been in a bit of a reading slump and the narration wasn't my favorite, but this story held my attention from beginning to end. I wouldn't say it was particularly fast-paced, and I don't think I would classify it as my usual read, but I the *characters* absolutely hooked me.

The characters are all deeply flawed, and yet somehow I still loved them all. The incredible bond between the three main characters and the history between them had me rooting for them the entire time. The side characters popped, and I even found the villain to be riveting in her slow-burn, sadistic kind of way. While I think this was on the slower side for a thriller (I would call it more of a mystery) the reveals were perfectly paced to keep my attention fully in the world, and made me look forward to my commute.

And despite the darkness of this novel (definitely check the content warnings), I loved the hopeful ending that was just incredibly satisfying. Definitely recommended for anyone looking for a solid character-driven mystery! (4.5/5)

This was my second novel by Sally Hepworth. I'm not a massive fan of thrillers, so this book, which I wouldn't usually pick up, was outside my comfort zone. I'm attending an author luncheon at the end of April, and Sally is one of the authors who will be speaking, so I wanted to read this before hearing her talk. I'm glad I did!

I'm a sucker for alternating timelines and POVs, so this checked that box for me. The character development is strong, and you really get to know and understand the main characters.

If you have specific triggers, check the trigger warnings before reading. There's a lot that could be hard to read.

I listened to the audio of Darling Girls, and the narration is excellent. I highly recommend it in this format.

Sally Hepworth is an auto read author for me, so I was excited to be able to read an early copy of Darling Girls. I went into it without reading the synopsis, which I often do with authors I really love! This book kept me engaged with moving between current and past timelines. Everything came together so well, and I LOVED the twist at the end.
I enjoyed the audio for this book. The narrator did a great job. I will be recommending this to everyone I know for sure!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy of this audiobook.

Three sisters must face their horrific past. This novel was a fantastic read. Kept me guessing the entire time! Couldn’t wait to find out what happened to their “mom”.

The "before and present" timelines were both interesting, but I'm tired of dual timelines. I, also, didn't connect with any of the characters. The main twist wasn't a surprise, but it was still an okay read. I enjoy Hepworth's writing and will continue to pick up her books. This one just didn't sparkle.

Get ready for a dark, psychological thriller from Sally Hepworth. Set in dual timelines (the present and past) Darling Girls tells the story of three sisters, Jessica, Norah and Alicia. This novel covers child abuse and neglect, and how it impacts a life forever.
Jessica, Norah and Alicia grew up in foster care at Wild Meadows and what happened there shapes the girls for the rest of their lives. When they get a call 25 years later that a body is found under their old foster home, the old memories start to come to the forefront of their minds.
This was such a well done story and I found I could not stop listening to see what happened next with our characters. The twist at the end was phenomenal and I did not see coming at all. I felt that while this was a quick read, it packed a big punch. The characters are so well developed and the plot has just the right pace. I really enjoyed this one, even though some parts were hard to listen to. The audiobook narrator was superb and made Jessica, Norah and Alicia come to life! Thank you so much to Netgalley and Audio Macmillan for the advanced copy of this audiobook.

Written by the New York Times bestselling author Sally Hepworth, Darling Girls delves into the lives of three foster sisters who are thrust into the spotlight when a body is discovered under their childhood home. With twists and turns that will keep you guessing, Darling Girls is a masterfully crafted tale of sisterhood, secrets, love, and murder.

From the very beginning, readers are drawn into the lives of Jessica, Norah, and Alicia - three young girls who were raised by their foster mother, Miss Fairchild, on an idyllic farming estate. Despite being told how lucky they were to have been rescued from family tragedies, it becomes clear that their childhood was far from perfect. Miss Fairchild had strict rules and could be unpredictable, leaving a lasting impact on the girls even after they break away from her.

As the story unfolds and a body is discovered under their childhood home, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia find themselves at the center of a murder investigation. The plot thickens as they navigate through twists and turns that challenge their bond as sisters and force them to confront long-buried secrets. While some twists may be predictable for seasoned mystery readers, others will catch you completely off guard.

However, the one criticism we have is that some characters may feel flat or even predictable at times. While this does not detract from the overall enjoyment of the story, it may some of us readers wanting more depth in certain character arcs. Overall, not a big issue.

We listened to the audiobook of Darling Girls and Jessica Clarke's voice brings depth to each character and adds to the overall experience of listening to this audiobook. The pacing is spot-on, keeping listeners engaged from start to finish. Glad we listened to this one.

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth is a captivating novel that will keep you guessing until the very end. Whether you're listening during your daily commute or relaxing at home, Darling Girls is a compelling story that will immerse you in a world filled with secrets and suspense. Don't miss out this one.

Flew through this! Great, quick read. I loved the before and after timeline(s) and the different POV's of each of the girls as more and more of the mystery comes together. The "twist" wasn't anything crazy, but was still thought out enough I enjoyed it. A book is five stars for me when I become emotionally involved in the story and that is what happened here. Norah, Jessica, and Alicia's stories were all heartbreaking (Alicia's hit me the hardest as someone who was very close to my grandmother), but the sisterly bond they formed felt genuine and equally tugged at my heartstrings. I am a fan of Sally Hepworth's writing and enjoyed The Soulmate last year; however, I connected with the characters in this novel much more.

Three young girls become family during their stay with their foster mother Miss Fairchild. Jessica, Norah, and Alicia depended on each other as Miss Fairchild was often cruel and unpredictable. After a child's bones are discovered under the house they grew up in Jessica, Norah and Alicia go back to and we learn how they survived and conquer their troubled childhood in the end.

Thank you to Sally Hepworth, NetGalley, and Macmillan audio for the advance copy of this amazing book, The narration was flawless, giving each character their own personality. This book is at the top of my favorites from Sally Hepworth, and at the top of my favorite books have read this year.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to listen to the audiobook version of Darling Girls. This book is written in a dual timeline format, which I think is always fun. You get to see how the pas influenced current day. This story about three girls who are trapped at a foster home together and, based on their experience there, decide they are sisters in every way that matters. The mystery and intrigue begins immediately in the book when each girl gets a call from the police asking them to come back to the town where they lived in the foster home because something is happened that that may be able to help with. The middle of the story was a little slow, but I understand it was the time to develop the characters and the backstory for the present day mystery. The story twisted in a way I didn’t see coming, which I love. I enjoyed the narrator and her ability to give each character a different voice.

Darling Girls is a must read for anyone who loves a character driven novel. Hepworth masterfully crafts a conclusion that leaves readers stunned and contemplating the intricacies of the human experience. It’s a testament to her storytelling prowess and ensures that ‘The Darling Girls’ will linger in readers’ minds long after they’ve turned the final page.” I found the audiobook to be very enjoyable and really liked the narrator. One of the easiest 5 ⭐️ I have ever given. In my opinion, it’s a book everyone should have on their TBR.

This was such a uniquely gripping story that translated really well via audio!

I was really drawn into the premise of this story -- three women who grew up in the same foster home, are now in the middle of a murder case after human remains are found under their old house. There were definitely moments that had me on the edge of my seat, but for the most part the pacing was on the slower side. And while the twists at the end definitely took me by surprise, they didn't quite have the shoc factor I was hoping for with all of the build up.

But overall, I enjoyed this story and the multiple POV's and dual timelines made the audio a really entertaining listen so I would definitely recommend consuming via audio if you have the chance!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio & NetGalley for the ALC.

I ultimately really liked this book! However, it took a long time to get going and to really assess what direction it was taking. I loved how in depth Hepworth got with Jessica, Nora, and Alicia, it felt like we really got to know them as characters. This is a good mystery with lots of unexpected twists and turns, especially the one at the end! Thank you to Macmillan Audio & NetGalley for the ARC of this audiobook!

Reading Between the Wines book review #27/130 for 2024:
Rating: 3 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book: Darling Girls
Author: Sally Hepworth
RELEASES on April 23, 2024!!!

Sipping thoughts: I love Sally Hepworth. The Good Sister is my upmost favorite book of hers and the others are good. But this one just fell really flat to me. The premise seemed so cool, but nothing really happened. Yes, there was a body found. Yes, Miss Fairchild was a horrible foster parent. I was really invested in finding out what happened but the reveal was underwhelming. But there was no real mystery in my opinion. Yet, I am looking forward to Hepworth’s next release.

Cheers and thank you to @MacmillanAudio and @Netgalley for an advanced copy of @DarlingGirls.

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I read darling girls about 4 months ago. I had a change to listen to the audio and remembered why I really liked this book. If your looking for a gripping, twisty, can't put down story, you must give this a listen! Dual time lines, family drama and a shocking ending will captivate you.