This was the first Sally Hepworth book I’ve read and I enjoyed it! I felt deeply for sisters Jessica, Norah, and Alicia and all the turmoil they had to endure from such a young age. I loved the way each of them fulfilled a role within their trio and that their bond could not be broken. I enjoyed the multiple POV style to hear each sister’s perspective. This was great as an audiobook! Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the ARC.

This really didn't feel like the typical Sally Hepworth novel to me. It didn't have the propulsive plot I have come to expect from her. I didn't feel invested in the characters or what happened to them, and I didn't enjoy the abuse aspect. I wish more time had been spent on developing each sister as an adult, and I wish the mystery had been more of a big reveal.

This was my favorite Sally Hepworth book so far. There was just the right amount of mystery and twists. There was a perfect amount of overlap between character storylines and I liked the unknown of why Mrs Fairchild was meeting with a psychologist until the end. Will definitely recommend this book, especially on audio.

Darling Girls is an intense psychological mystery that keeps you guessing. Once you think you have it figured out, there's an unexpected twist. Three girls are fostered by a sadistic foster mother, and they soon bond as sisters. Because of the abuse they suffered as children, each is struggling with different issues as adults. When a body is discovered buried underneath the foster home, they're contacted by the police and travel to the place where they were brought up. Told in the past and the present, each sister is a unique voice and fascinating story. I loved them all, especially sassy Norah. There are quite a few laughs to break up the suspense. This was a great listen.

This story follows 3 women, Jessica, Alicia, and Norah. They had all faced a traumatic childhood upbringing in the foster care system. You learn how each of them come into Miss Fairchild’s care (their foster mum), what they all endured, how they banded together and how their coping mechanisms as adults came to be.

They all reunite as adults when there was a discovery found at the foster home they grew up in, an old farmhouse (Wild Meadows). The discovery: human remains.

The story takes place with two timelines: Before (girls as children in foster care) and Now (them as adults). It has 4 POV’s: Jessica, Norah, Alicia and Dr. Warren (interacting to someone unknown).

I really enjoyed this one by Sally Hepworth. It’s my favourite story of hers so far (I’ve read The Good Sister, The Younger Wife and The Soulmate).

The audiobook is great, I enjoyed the Australian accent of the narrator. It’s a nice touch considering the story takes place in Australia.

The book had a great balance between childhood vs. adulthood for all three characters. Three main characters can sometimes lead to someone not getting enough attention, but this book gave enough time and detail for each person to have a fleshed out story.

I enjoyed hearing about the ways in which they supported each other through thick and thin. Sally did a great job translating the trauma they faced as children into their behaviour patterns as adults.

I was satisfied with the ending, I liked the route she took for the three girls. I did know who the unknown person is, however I didn’t expect the very end to go where it did! What an ending!

I like that it’s labeled under Women’s Fiction in NetGalley, definitely a heavy focus on the relationships with mystery/thriller undertone so keep that in mind. Loved the journey of learning about the characters throughout the book!

Thank you Macmillan Audio & Netgalley for this ALC!

SISTERS, SECRETS, LOVE, AND MURDER...

Wow! This book 😳 I really liked the back and forth between timelines. It was so interesting and kept me really invested in the story. The three woman were so unique and had such a strong bond. I loved how they always had each others back no matter what the situation. Some parts were definitely hard to read and were very emotional but this is definitely a must read!

That last chapter 🤯

This might just be my favorite book from Sally Hepworth.

Read if you enjoy:
🔥Slow burn suspense
🗣️Multiple POV’s
✌🏼Dual timelines
💕Found family
🤐Secrets

the setup…
Jessica’s mother dies when she’s very young and is traumatized by that loss until she’s taken in as a foster child by Miss Fairchild, a lovely looking single woman in Port Agatha, a town about two hours from Melbourne. She’s loved and doted on…until she wasn’t. Soon Norah (with an “h”) is taken in, about a year younger but with a history of “violent” behavior. Lastly, there’s Alicia who was only supposed to be there temporarily until her grandmother recovered from a fall but it ends up being permanent. Each girl soon learns that the sweet and loving public veneer isn’t the woman they live with behind closed doors. But, the experience bonds them as sisters for life. Move forward about twenty years and they’re all contacted by authorities when remains are discovered under Wild Meadows, Miss Fairchild’s home…their house of mental horrors.

the heart of the story…
Honestly, what these women experienced as pre-teens at the hands of Miss Fairchild angered me as child abuse, be it emotional or otherwise, is one of my hot buttons. But! These three girls bonded as a result of it and declared themselves sisters for life. They’re the true heart of the story with three distinct personalities who would never even been friends under different circumstances. Their resilience and cleverness were admirable, all given rich characterization and considerable depth. I was invested in all of them and didn’t want law enforcement suspicion directed their way after all they’d experienced. But who was that buried under that house?

the narration…
I loved this narrator who eliminated the need for multiple performers (felt like there were several!). She was that good and quite the storyteller. Clarke is now on my favorites list.

the bottom line…
As tough as the subject matter was in this story the pain was eclipsed by these three sisters of the heart. I loved their loyalty and commitment to each other, no matter what. I had no clue as to the identity of the buried body and enjoyed the back and forth transitions between “before” and “now,” which were timed with precision. There are several twists throughout, some of high magnitude, others more subtle, which made this delicious. I’m so glad I opted for audio, too. 4.5 stars

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of this audiobook. This book was a very entertaining family drama. The author writes in multiple POV between the sisters and timelines. At first it was confusing as an audiobook with so many transitions but I got used to the way the author wrote the characters. This is a great book and look forward to reading more of this author.

Darling Girls, another great storyline from Sally Hepworth. 3 sisters, navigating life after a not ideal stint in foster care. as their childhood foster home is being torn down, they’re called back to assist in an investigation into a disturbing discovery during demolition. this story goes between each sisters point of view currently, as well as during their time in foster care. each chapter uncovering new clues, you can’t help but fly through this audio book! thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for this ARC.

Wow. This was my first book of Sally Hepworth's and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I truly believed that I had figured out the ending and yet, not so much! As a professional in the child welfare world, this book stuck in my heart. You hear (and live) horror stories and the way these girls' stories were told and honored really struck a chord with me. I can certainly see room for a sequel! *hint hint* and I definitely recommend this. Thank you to Sally Hepworth, MacMillan Audio and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this advanced reader's copy. Coming out April 2024, be sure to grab yourself a copy!

I really enjoyed this audiobook! The narrator did a fantastic job at bringing all the characters to life and even though there are multiple POVs and only 1 narrator it was still easy to follow and listen to. This book had me hooked from beginning to end and I loved all of it. I loved the bond between the sisters and loved each one of their POVs. Definitely recommend this one!

This book did not disappoint! What a wild ride! Darling Girls was a dark and twisty emotional thriller. I was constantly wondering what was going to happen next and I loved it. I love that edge of your seat feeling! The characters were great and I loved the dual timelines and povs. I was truly SHOCKED with the ending WOW!

"Darling Girls" is yet another thriller from Sally Hepworth than is compelling and gripping. Though not as profound as "The Soulmate," it had a thrilling ending and flashbacks that kept you reading. I would definitely recommend this to my friends!

Sally Hepworth is a masterful story teller and has become one of my favorite authors. I’ve still never been able to predict exactly how the story will end! She has a unique ability to really make you understand each of her characters from their perspectives (even when the character is completely nuts!), and Darling Girls was just as fabulous as her other books! I especially loved how Jessica, Norah and Alicia became a family in the midst of their traumatic circumstances.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my advance audiobook in exchange for my honest feedback.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC audiobook. This story immediately hooked me! I listened to it pretty much nonstop because I needed to know how everything played out. The narration was great which always helps when listening to an audiobook. This new novel by Sally Hepworth is probably my favorite of hers so far. Jessica, Norah, and Alicia were young girls when they were rescued by Miss Fairchild. Everyone told them how lucky they were to be in her care but it wasn't as great as it seemed. They lived on a farm estate, but Miss Fairchild had very strict rules about behaviors and made sure if they tried to tell anybody about things that went on there. When a body is discovered under the house they grew up in they go back to the town to help with the investigation. But are they witnesses or suspects?

Sally Hepworth strike again!! Oh my goodness this was excellent. Very different from others I’ve read by her, but I truly love the direction this went. The multiPOV/dual timeline worked really well for this. I was racing through this trying to get to the end. I wasn’t expecting so many twists!

The narrator was fantastic. She portrayed each character as the unique individuals that they are. The emotions were spot on too! Exactly how I envisioned it.

Wow! The narration on this book was incredible! I was hooked from the very beginning. I took a strong interest in all the characters. And let me tell you! It was one twist after another, but when I listened to the last 2 minutes, my draw hit the floor. I stood in silence for several seconds trying to process what had just happened! Amazing! What an incredible book. Thank you for allowing me an arc! Thank you!

I have thoroughly enjoyed books by this author in the past and was excited to get the opportunity to listen to this one. Unfortunately, it was a disappointment to me. It is more loosely structured than other books I've read by this author. I spent a lot of time rewinding to be reminded of which characters had done what. I found it hard to follow the story with the moving back and forth from past to present, and the characters just didn't come alive to me. As best I could tell by listening, the book was well-edited for structure and language use. The reader was expressive and fluent in her presentation of the novel. I persevered and listened to the entire book, but I really lost interest about three-fourths of the way through the book.

I really enjoyed this audiobook! It was easy to follow along as the narrator read for multiple POV and dual timelines. This story held my attention from the beginning, and I was dying to know where it was going to take me. It is character driven, which I love. The three sisters are all completely different, and I really enjoyed getting to know them. They went through so much as children. I always love an unreliable narrator, too! Thank you so much NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC!

Now that I've picked my jaw up off of the floor after that ending I can write a quick review of Darling Girls. You get three women who grew up together at the same foster home 25 years ago and think of themselves as sisters (definite trauma bond!). They each contribute to the dual timeline narrative with their own chapters. Pacing is steady from the first page and will keep your attention until the final few pages when you might scream or shout a few expletives!

The narrator of the audiobook was great. There were only a few times where I could hear her inhale/gasp but it wasn't distracting or irritating.