Member Reviews

All I can say is Wow! Darling Girls was my first book by Sally Hepworth and she did not disappoint! It had a great captivating story. I was engrossed the whole time, there are no “slow” parts.

Darling Girls is told from the girls point of views and goes back and forth between past and present. All while there is another point of view talking to a therapist(really they all should be talking to a therapist)
I really enjoyed the therapist chapters.

Jessica Clarke narrated and she really brought the story to life.

A huge 5 star read from me! I read the whole book in a day because I couldn’t put it down.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for an advance copy of Darling Girls in exchange for my honest review.

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This is another homerun for Sally Hepworth! This novel is twisted in so many ways. The characters are written so well they make the reader emotionally involved. Anger, relief, hope, more anger may be experienced during this read. The narrator did well. I applaud the author for another novel well written! And that ending...

Thank you to the publisher for an ARC of Darling Girls through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

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This story is an absolute page turner with shocking twists. Sally Hepworth wrote another psychological thriller that leaves the reader guessing how the story will end. She does a great job telling the story between two time lines, which allows the readers to really understand the characters. The 3 main girls developed an inseparable bond despite living with Miss Fairchild. This book will not leave you disappointed!

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Jessica, Norah and Alicia are sisters by choice. When the three meet in what should have been an idyllic foster home on a farm called Wildwood Meadows, the three build very strong bonds as they suffered through the manipulative psychological games played by their foster mother, Holly Fairchild. The story gives us an insight into their pasts as well as present day. Twenty five years later, the women are still battling the scars that they have carried with them, but their commitment to each other remains steadfast. When bones are discovered under the farmhouse at Wildwood Meadows, the three head back to a place they never wanted to see again. Whose bones are under the house? Are the deep dark secrets hidden at Wildwood Meadows about to be uncovered? Could one of them be guilty of an unspeakable crime? Hepworth doesn’t disappoint with this twisty good read! This was a dual read/listen for me and the narration was perfection! Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an ARC and ALC of this book.

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This boom gripped me from the beginning. I did not see the ending and loved all the twists and turns.

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This book was phenomenal! Hepworth is so good at creating unique and flawed characters that deeply hold readers’ attention. In her newest thriller, the three main characters are all foster care ‘sisters’ who survived and emotionally and physically abusive foster mother while growing up. They left the system more than 15 years ago, but when their former foster care home is razed, human remains are discovered forcing the sisters to travel back to their hometown for a series of interviews by local detectives. They are hoping to shed light on the true nature of their foster care mother while avoiding becoming suspects in this newly discovered crime.

The plot juggles multiple POVs and includes present-day and flashback timelines, yet I was never confused or unsure of the narrator’s identity. I listened to a complimentary copy of the MacMillan audiobook, and was shocked to learn the entire narration was done by one narrator, Jessica Clark!! Her nuanced performance made me feel as if I was listening to a full cast narrative performance, and she was able to capture each sister’s unique voice. Each girl’s perspective, ‘role’ within the sisterhood’ relationship dynamic, and present day personality/behavior reflect growth and reveal the lingering legacy of a traumatic childhood. There are quite a few shock-worthy gasps, and I was 100% on the edge of my seat to solve the identity and circumstances of the human remains. Readers who enjoy dark and twisty domestics thrillers with a fast pace, short chapters, multiple POVs, and a shocking conclusion will want to add this one to their TBR today.

I am sensitive to books that contain child harm and was weary to read this one, but feel Hepworth did a great job accurately depicting the downfalls of the foster care system and child abuse with care and without graphic on-page violence. However, if you are sensitive to those themes, please check a detailed list of trigger warnings.

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Hepworth weaved another twisty and layered story, yet again!

Jessica, Norah, and Alicia were all foster children in varying states of tragic situations, and are sent to an idyllic farmhouse estate to live with Miss. Fairchild. On the surface, everything seems perfect, but the girls can tell you that living there was anything but perfect. We get to see the past and present weave together in intricate layers, with sisterly bonds, secrets, and murder.

While I completely binged this book and was utterly enthralled with finding out the outcome, it was a very hard read and listen as a mother. There are some pretty severe trigger warnings, first and foremost being child abuse, but themes of addiction as well.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martins Press, and MacMillan Audio for my ARC and ALC in exchange for my honest opinion!

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'Darling Girls' by Sally Hepworth was absolutely darling! I loved! I couldn't stop listening to it. It's actually a bit of a thriller; there is quite a good mystery going on there. It was dark, creepy, twisty. Great gothic elements. I also enjoyed the audiobook narration by Jessica Clarke. Each character had a distinctive, well-developed personality.

I just loved this book and I definitely recommend it to everyone! Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing me with an early copy of this audiobook.

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Short synopsis: 3 Foster sisters returns to their expansive childhood home when bones are found under the house.

My thoughts: I’m going to keep this somewhat vague, because it was so fun to come up with my own assumptions as the book progressed. Were the 3 “sisters” witnesses or suspects in the case to uncover the details of the found bones?

The setting was perfection, Miss Fairchild not quite being who everyone assumes she was, and each of the three sisters having their own struggles and history. There were twists galore, and while I did predict some of them… the final one was completely unexpected and left my head reeling!

This one is definitely darker than any I’ve read by Hepworth, hers are generally more domestic suspense but this definitely had some dark twists! There are triggers (Child abuse, murder, trauma) so be sure to look at those if you’re sensitive.

The audio was so well done in this! The narrator told the story so well I didn’t have a hard time keeping characters or timelines straight! I recommend!

Read if you love:
- Found family/Foster care
- Multiple POV and multiple timelines
- Sisterly love
- Character growth
- Slow burn thriller

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Wow just wow! I always jump at the chance to read a Sally Hepworth book and this one did not disappoint. The story was original and kept me guessing until the very end. Highly recommend. Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the advanced copy of the audiobook

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A sad tale of foster sisters dealing with a seemingly perfect foster mother that turns out to be anything but. A gripping read that will have you rooting for the girls and unlock secrets of their time spent with Miss Fairchild. Some thoughts:
*THE ENDING! It made me audibly gasp. It tied everything together while also delivering a wicked right hook.
*Miss Fairchild wasn't the *worst* she could be but she is still a horrible person. Her mannerisms and ability to play everything off like all is fine were unnerving.
*Wasn't expecting an unreliable narrorator situation.

The narrorator was clear and easy to follow. Their tone fit the storyline.

Would recommend.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Macmillan audio and Sally Hepworth for a copy of the book. All opinions are of my own.

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Twenty-five years ago, Jessica, Alicia, and Norah bonded as sisters, living with their foster mother Miss Fairchild on the idyllic Wild Meadows estate. However, the girls will tell you it was anything but idyllic. Miss Fairchild was rather unpredictable and not a typical motherly figure. The three were able to break free from Miss Fairchild, but their scars followed them into their adult lives. When a body is found under the home on Wild Meadows estate, the girls are questioned. Is this the proof of Miss Fairchild’s abuse? The investigation will bring more questions than answers.

Wow! Sally Hepworth really did not disappoint with this one. Told in alternating points of view between past and present, we really get to know the sisters both then and now. The characters are fully developed and I came to care for each one individually throughout the story. The twists were plentiful and kept me reading to find out what happened next. I alternated between listening and reading the book and finished in less than 24 hours. The narration by Jessica Clarke was amazing. I never got confused about which character was talking when. Definitely clear your schedule for this one! I highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys thrillers! I give it 4.5/5 stars.

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This book was quite the wild ride!! I wasn’t sure about it for the first 40% or so to be honest. It was a very slow burn. But once it started moving, I was hooked and binged the rest in one sitting! There are a lot of trigger warnings for this book, and the subject matter is super tough to read about at times. I had a guess as to what was going on, and thought I was right, but then was totally thrown by the ending! That makes for a pretty good thriller in my opinion. I also enjoyed the three main characters, their sister relationship, and their growth throughout the story. I knew right away that I was going to love the narrator. She did a fantastic job and really pulled me into the story

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A dark and twisted book that is sure to capture the readers attention. Also my favorite Sally Hepworth novel to date. The characters are dynamic and captivating and a bit broken in their own way. I absolutely felt for each one of those girls.

Fantastic pacing, narrating, and plot.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and the author for my advance copy of this audiobook

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I swear Sally Hepworth keeps getting better. This was such a good book to listen too. Jessica Clarke did an amazing job reading this story. Her voice was very soothing and help me not want to stop listening. I was definitely hooked from the beginning until the end. There is a lot of traumatic experiences in this book so make sure you read trigger warnings. I was definitely surprised with the twists in this story and was super shocked by one of them. This is a fast paced psychological mystery. The girls in this story were so brave and became kick ass women. I would highly recommend this book and her other books as well. I always have a good time with Sally's books. Pull up a seat and enjoy this book!


Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to this ARC for my honest opinion.

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This is not my favorite book of the author's. It moved a little slow, and I found most of it predictable, but she does always turn out a solid domestic mystery. Narration was strong.

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Twisty. Turvy. And a little stomach turning. #SallyHepworth is a literary wizard when it comes to everyone being evil and yet everyone being a victim. I guess it goes to show you that you never know someone quite as well as you thought you did and you never know the battles they are fighting. But does any of that mean you aren't worthy of love? Join the #darlinggirls to find out.

#netgalley #arc #MacMillanAudio

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A psychological thriller with twists and turns that will have you guessing until the end. The audio version was well done and easy to follow. Thank you Net Galley for providing me with an advanced copy.

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Sally Hepworth can do no wrong. This was great! Narration was excellent. I listened every free second I had and ate this up. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

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Wild Meadows. Sounds like a nice place, right? This foster home was a nightmare. Miss Fairchild, the owner, was a narcissist who ran a tight ship and never allowed anyone to get too comfortable.

Jessica, Norah, and Alicia were pawns in Miss Fairchild's sick game, taking solace only in each other and becoming sisters in every sense of the word.

Fiercely loyal, the 3 girls are still close as adults. They are informed a body has been dug up at Wild Meadows as it recently sold and was being bulldozed into a McDonald's. They reluctantly come back to town to answer questions and look for answers themselves. They deserve some closure after all of trauma.

The quiet town that never quite understood them hasn't changed much and many of their stories from the past were called into question then, and again now. Are they telling the truth? Or did things at Wild Meadows get even messier than they initially let on. I guess we'll find out when they figure out whose body it is..

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