DNF so hard to rate it. The writing and the narrator were both good but I couldn't stomach the content. Listening to an audiobook about the abuse of children was too difficult.

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.

The audiobook version of Darling Girls also deserves special mention. As with her previous works, it is exceptional in both production and performance, providing a captivating and immersive auditory experience that complements the enthralling tale.

This audiobook version of Darling Girls kept me
intrigued and guessing. I was able to follow along with all the different characters and points of view . The twists and turns hooked me and I couldn’t have predicted the ending. I gasped when I finally knew what happened: Portions of the book were hard to listen to as they dealt with abuse

What a twisty tale!

This is my first book read by Sally Hepworth, and will definitely not be my last!

How close are your relationships with your siblings? Would they survive murder accusations? That’s just scratching the surface of this story as well.

After hearing stories of how the fostering system works from a friend whose sibling participates in fostering children in need, I’ve learned a little about the hardships from all sides of finding suitable placement, etc. The system is there for a reason: to find and create nurturing families and households for children who may not have the same advantages and reliable family as others. With that said, what happens when people take advantage of the program?

This story really gets into your mind and you start to feel as paranoid as the different characters as the tale unfolds. It’s told in a non-linear way from different perspectives, which really allows you to get into every facet of each of the main characters.

With the descriptions of their clothing and town, I could easily visualize things during different decades. It was very easy to picture the view from the house, the sound of the children to the look of a horse.

This was an intriguing thriller and now I have plenty of other Hepworth to get to!

Thanks so much to the author, Sally Hepworth, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this arc audiobook of Darling Girls!

All I could do once I picked this book up was think about what was going to unfold next. Darling Girls is one of the better psychological thrillers I’ve read in awhile with tons of twists. The audiobook narration was great and I quite literally could not put this one down.

Story follows 3 foster children with dual timelines switching from when they lived in the foster home, Wild Meadows, to 25 years later—today, when bones have been discovered under the house. Who is the person that was found and what truly happened to them?

Definitely check the trigger warnings on this one because there’s quite a few.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this fantastic book in exchange for an honest review!

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.

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth explores three women's childhood in the foster care system and how they are managing now. I love how everything ties together and how the twists (especially the last one!!!) are revealed. I swore I knew what the ending would be, but I was delightfully wrong.

Jessica Clarke is very entertaining to listen to! She changes her tone and volume without abandon, like she's fully embraced the characters, which is entertaining to listen to! However, she swallows so loud directly into the mic that it's distracting.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ALC.

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 use the children to enhance her own self-worth. When the sisters were older and no longer loved independent on her, she brought new babies into the home to foster. There were cruel punishments, Gaslighting, and abuse.

Flash forward 25 years later, and his 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 twist were so twisted. I couldn’t see them coming. This was definitely a five star audiobook. The narrator did a tremendous job, and the author phenomenally twisted tale.
Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to preview this audiobook.

What to expect in this book:

-Various points of view
-Neighborhood thriller
-Alternating timelines
-Untrustworthy characters
-Short chapters
-Compulsive read

Thoughts

Thank you to #NetGalley and @stmartinspress for the advanced audio copy in exchange for an honest review. I have read only one of Sally Hepworth's books so far, The Soulmate, and knew that I needed to read her newest! This is such a compulsive read and will have you flying through the pages (or audio!) without even knowing it. I usually do not listen to audiobooks in 2-3 days, but this one was so fast for me. Jessica, Alicia, and Norah were rescued from family tragedies and brought into the home of Miss Fairchild to live in foster care. However, living with Miss Fairchild was not much better than living without a mother. Years later, when the three sisters are contacted by detectives for something found on the property of the foster home they lived in, they are faced to deal with the horror of what happened, and it just might be a murder.

Let me tell you, I love a slow burn. Especially on audio. And especially when the twist is unpredictable! I truly did not see anything in this book coming and found it so easy to listen to. I think this would be a great read for the newer thriller reader, especially if you are not a fan of graphic violence or details. However, I must make others aware, there are scenes depicting emotional and physical abuse of children.

I am going to need at least 3-5 business days to process the last chapter because I truly do not even know what happened. So if you have read this, please feel free to chat with me! This one publishes April 23.

I enjoyed the narrator. The Australian narrator added to the experience.

The book got right into the story. Introducing us to each of the three main characters and the mystery.

I listened to it in one day and really enjoyed it. I wasn't really sure how the story would end and found the ending surprising and satisfying.

Jessica, Norah and Alicia became sisters as they trauma-bonded in foster care tormented by Miss Fairchild, their foster mother. As adults, now each grappling with their own scars and brokenness, the girls never waver from supporting each other. When bones are found at their childhood home, the girls journey through their past to reveal the truth. What really happened in their foster home? The girls survived Miss Fairchild once, can they do it again or will the secrets of their past catch up to them?
Hepworth creates unique and authentic characters twisting together in an enthralling storyline. Darling Girls is a fast-paced psychological thriller that’s sure to please lovers of the genre. The audiobook was very well done with multiple character voices to keep the listener’s attention.

This was a suspenseful audiobook that I thoroughly enjoyed listening to. Once I reached past the half way point, I could not stop listening as I was anxious to find out how this psychological thriller would end.

This is the story of an abusive foster mother who left the three “sisters” to live highly dysfunctional lives. I may have given it a 4 star review but the ending was not what I expected but it did explain so much! Very well done especially on audio.

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of this audio. I will definitely be recommending this one.

This one was so dark and twisty and I loved it!!

The "darling girls" are three girls who grow up together in a foster home. Their foster mother is definitely out there and they all deal with issues as adults. Many years later, the house they lived in is torn down and bones - children's bones - are found under the house. Who do they belong to? And what happened? The investigation begins, the girls are questioned, and the story starts to unravel. And it's quite a tale!

And in true Sally Hepworth fashion, the ending will make your jaw drop!

I had both eARC and ALC and I found listening to it really upped the creep factor.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press for an eARC and MacMillan Audio for an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Another great read from Sally. This is a very immersive, interesting read about the pitfalls and trauma that often happens in foster care. She of course adds mystery, intrigue, and of course, murder. The audio was fantastic and I loved this take on sisterhood and navigating childhood trauma.

Thank you to @netgalley, @sallyhepworth and @stmartinspress for my #gifted copy! I listened to the audiobook!

Page-turning, fast read full of thrilling mysteries! LOVED so much!

Sisters by circumstance, 3 foster kids rally together in survival mode as they fend off their wicked, cold and abusive foster mother.

As adults, the still close sisters have come together when bones are discovered under their former home. Buried secrets come to light as the investigation ensues and the girls work together to get past their abuse.

And just when you think you know where the term "darling girl" comes from, then suddenly a new event pops in at the last moment.

This book was amazing! This is the first book I've read by Sally Hepworth and I was in a grip hold the whole time wondering what would happen or be revealed next. The narrator for the audiobook did a fantastic job differentiating between characters and drawing me in more to the story.

Jessica, Norah (with a "H"), and Alicia went through one of the horror stories you sometimes hear about with their foster home. Each one of them had a unfortunate event that led them to what they thought would be their dream foster home, but unfortunately things with Miss Fairchild didn't go as they had hoped. Their one salvation was the sisterhood they formed and brought them together and made living there more bearable. But when more children seem to be coming in and younger and younger, they band together in hopes of ensuring nothing happens to them. Then years later it's suddenly revealed that a child's bones were found under the very house they were living in.

I really loved the flow of this story and listening to it not only from each girl's perspective, but also seeing glimpes from the past tied in with the present day events. I will be adding this book to my top 10 reads for this year.

Thank you Netgalley for the e-audio ARC. I will be buying a physical copy of this book as soon as it's published. This was definitely a 5 star for me!

Wow! What a wild ride this one was. It was impossible to put down. I stayed up late into the night reading it. I have read this author before, but I think this one may be my favorite! The characters were well done. She definitely did her research about foster homes and she made it clear with her characters that not all kids who end up in care are unwanted or troubled when they get there. The main characters were sisters of sorts and I enjoyed the relationship between them. The chapters were short and went back and forth in time, adding information at a good pace. There were several unknowns and so many possibilities! There were a few bombshells I never saw coming. I also thought the ending fit the book! I listened on audio and the narration was very good. An excellent read!!

DARLING GIRLS
Sally Hepworth

10 times out of 10 I like what Sally Hepworth writes so I may not be the best judge of her latest book, DARLING GIRLS. Even when the risks are lower as in DARLING GIRLS, I still have a great time.

In DARLING GIRLS, we are following three sisters not by blood but by promise. Wild Meadows is a foster home where all three girls lived at some point in their childhood. It was run by the enigmatic Miss Fairchild. Each of the sisters has their own story of growing up with their biological families and their eventual relationship with Miss Fairchild at Wild Meadows.

Jessica is a successful Home Organizer. She represses all her unwanted feelings and is both fearful and inspired by learning and experiencing new things. Norah is tall and has brown hair and blue eyes. She is a Test Taker, and dog-lover, and is on the dating scene. Alicia is a Social Worker, she is empathetic and caring and thrives in stressful environments. She loves working with kids and is inspired by them daily.

It’s decades later and the sisters have grown up and left Wild Meadows and Miss Fairchild behind. One day a set of bones is found on the grounds at Wild Meadows. The sisters have questions to answer regarding their time in foster placement, about Miss Fairchild, and just who those bones belong to.

DARLING GIRLS reminded me of Hepworth’s earlier work. Where the risks are lower, and the twists are softer, and murder is merely implied. It is not my favorite of hers but a solid addition to her lineup of books.

The audiobook is narrated by Jessica Clarke. Although I wasn’t familiar with her narrating style, I thought she did a fantastic job with the material evoking the emotions of each character and making what could have been confusing simple and easy to follow.

I liked this one and can’t wait for the next one. Have you read Sally Hepworth before? Now is the perfect time to start.

Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copies! It was a pleasure!!

DARLING GIRLS…⭐⭐⭐

This is the first book I’ve read from Sally Hepworth, but it definitely won’t be my last. Darling Girls is a compelling story about three foster sisters who lived in an abusive household together as children. As adults they all receive word that human remains were found under the house where they used to live. Now they have to return back to that small town to figure out who died and what really happened when they were kids.

The story goes back and forth between the 3 sisters in the present day and as children. I felt like the story was well-written and the characters all had their own individual voices, I was never getting confused about which POV I was reading from. Something that I really enjoyed about the book was how much of a character study it was. While there is the plot of solving the mystery of who the body was and what happened to them, I feel like the main focus of the book was exploring how the childhood trauma the women experienced impacted them in different ways all the way through their adult lives. I found that aspect of the story to be super fascinating, but I can see how a reader who only really wants a fast paced mystery/thriller might feel let down by how much emphasis there is on character development over big, flashy set pieces.

Overall I had a great time reading this book. I was so caught up in the story that I listened to the audiobook in a single day. Definitely check this one out if you enjoy character focused domestic suspense/mystery.