I love a well written psychological mystery and Darling Girls did not disappoint! The author really showed her talent for storytelling with the use of past and present timelines to leave the reader curious and intrigued. I was also surprised at how much I came to care for the characters. This is the story of three foster girls and the bonds they forged together in a dangerous home. In addition, there is a focus on mental health awareness and women's empowerment that I really valued in this story. The audiobook had amazing narration done by Jessica Clarke. Her voice really brought the characters to life and gave them an extra layer of depth.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

After listening to the audio book, the first words out of my mouth was, "Wow! What a f'n twisted bitch!!"
I enjoyed listening to the different POV's from the "before" and "now" timelines and thoroughly appreciated the bond between the "sisters".
Give this one a listen or a read, you won't be disappointed!

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Darling Girls, Sally Hepworth-I love being surprised by an author who switches things up. What a drama amazing how the 3 girls have each others backs still in their adult lives. Will a nontraditional family setting the domestic suspense was there and keep you guessing right up to the end.

Thank you NetGalley for another amazing audiobook.

Another twisty psychological thriller from Sally Hepworth, where you are never quite sure as the reader whether you're getting the true story, or whether the current narrator is going to turn out to be lying through their teeth.

Blurb: a body is discovered underneath a home where three adults (Jessica, Norah, and Alicia) were raised years ago as foster children. Their foster mother Miss Fairchild was not the loving figure she pretended to be, and each of the three girls have been dealing with their trauma as adults.

Mood Reader Guide: if you want the "where are they now" depressing version of Annie where Miss Hannigan is even more psychotic than you thought

Thoughts: I love how the author keeps you guessing as to who is really to be trusted and what the real truth of the events is. The writing is fast paced and there's lots of action - easy to read, without really any slow parts. There's plenty of suspicious characters, and Hepworth doles out the information and reveals throughout to keep you hooked. There's some dark elements, but nothing terribly graphic described on the page.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The back and forth timelines kept my interest the entire time, better shaping who each character was and the trials they went through. I listened to the audiobook and suggest doing the same as it helped better shape the characters. Highly recommend this book!

“Rescued from family tragedies and raised by a loving foster mother on an idyllic farming estate, Jessica, Norah and Alicia were given an elusive second chance of a happy family life.

But their childhood wasn't the fairy tale everyone thinks it was. And when a body is discovered under their foster home, the sisters find themselves thrust into the spotlight as key witnesses. Or are they prime suspects?”

I was briefly wondering whether this book was for me when more or less right at the beginning it got quite dark and unsettling with topics that are hard to stomach but since I knew I usually love Sally Hepworth's way of writing a story, so I read one.
And I was hooked - I just loved the three main characters and wanted them to overcome their trauma, but to get to the part where you can safely root for the characters Sally Hepworth takes you down a dark and twisty path.
This book starts out with the three main characters in their current life situation getting a call from a detective notifying them that there were bones found buried under the foster home they all used to live in.
Immediately the questions whose bones? why ? Who was involved? Did the girls have something to do with it? arise.
The story unfolds with the three girls different POV's going between the past and present and it made the book all the more engaging. I loved that all three girls had their issues and trauma had manifested quite differently but also following their individual trajectories. I loved that they stuck together no matter what happened and had each other's backs the whole time. This book should come with trigger warnings as quite heavy topics that may be triggers for some are discussed if you need details please feel free to message - otherwise read with caution !

I went into this expecting a thriller and I think my expectations were incorrect. This book wanted to be a mystery but was really a character study. We spend so much time learning about the girls an d their histories ( which were very interesting), there was not enough time for the mystery part. Don’t get me wrong, this was a very good book, but I would call it a work of lit fix, not mystery.

I really enjoyed this one. It was a slow burn mystery told in past/present and through Jessica, Norah and Alicia POV. I loved how these three girls came together through the foster care system and stuck together through the hard times. I also loved the therapy session POV and trying to figure out who was telling the story and the ending…..DAMN. There are some triggers regarding child abuse but nothing too graphic

Sally Hepworth is quickly becoming a thriller author to watch and one whose books I find myself drawn too and buying as soon as they are released. Darling Girls featured a dual timeline of the girls growing up in foster care and then the present trying to unravel a mystery. I loved the multiple points of view as well as one unreliable narrator, and the twist at the end was delicious.

Sally Hepworth does it again!

Darling Girls is a fantastic thriller that keeps you guessing right up until the last page. Just when you think you have it all figured out Sally throws in another twist for good measure.

Each character’s journey was well thought out and the topics of abuse and PTSD were handled with realism and care. I do suggest checking any content warnings before reading just in case.

The narrator, Jessica Clarke, was brilliant! There were multiple POV chapters and Jessica did a great job of creating dynamic personalities for each one.

I will be telling everyone about this one!

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and Sally Hepworth for an early review copy. These are my honest thoughts.

I'm enjoying Sally Hepworth's books and this is another good one. It shines a light on how sad the foster system can be and what it does to the children who are raised in it. The characters here are interesting and there are some surprising elements that are unexpected!

An engrossing story!

If you're looking for a gripping read, I highly recommend this novel. In just two days, I devoured the captivating story of three foster kids and their traumatic experiences with their foster mom, Miss Fairchild. The abuse they faced is not easy to read about, but it's an important and eye-opening topic to explore. As adults, the three are confronted with their past once again when a body is discovered under Miss Fairchild's house. This intriguing plot will keep you on the edge of your seat, wondering who the body belongs to and if Miss Fairchild is responsible for the death of one of her foster children.

***Thank you to NetGalley, Sally Hepworth, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***

I loved this book. It kept you thinking. The narration did an awesome job at making it exciting. You could tell which characters were speaking. Their voices were different. When you think you knew what was going on you find out you’re entirely wrong. Highly recommend

Darling Girls is full of unforgettable characters. Alicia, Jessica and Norah are all relatable. Their bond propels the story and adds strength to the plot. The story is dark and at times hard to imagine. The build is slow but the ending is truly a finale worth waiting for.
The narration was excellent and brought the story to life.
Hepworth is an automatic recommendation from me.

Absolutely thrilling!

Darling Girls is my first Sally Hepworth novel and it definitely won't be my last. This book has some trigger warnings so please be aware when going into it as some may be uncomfortable to some readers.

Sally Hepworth did an amazing job at telling a multi-POV story. Not only was it multi-POV but we alternate between timelines and it was a very easy read to keep track off after you get a couple of chapters in.

Thank you so much MacMillan Audio for this audiobook. The narration was clear, concise and the narrator did an excellent job at reading the different POVs.

Darling Girls is another edge of your seat thriller by Sally Hepworth.
It has twists and turns and it’s definitely best to go into this one without knowing too much!
A fast paced read that will keep you guessing!

Huge thanks to MacMillan Audio for the ARC of "The Darling Girls." This book had me hooked from the start with its multiple viewpoints and rich backstories that breathed life into the characters. As a social worker and mental health professional, I was blown away by Sally's precise portrayal of behaviors and interactions, particularly with the foster parents—it felt so authentic. Sally's writing had me rooting for the girls and feeling deep empathy for their struggles. However, that foster mom? Utterly despicable.

Now, let's talk about that ending. While the journey was a slow burn to get to the mind-bending plot twist, the payoff was worth every moment. The audiobook was a fantastic companion—I couldn't hit pause because I needed to uncover the mystery. Although the ending felt a tad rushed and far-fetched, overall, "The Darling Girls" is a brilliantly written book that kept me engaged and enthralled.

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth is a gripping tale set in Australia, centering on three foster sisters—Jessica, Norah, and Alicia—and their haunting past at Wild Meadows under the care of their abusive foster mother, Holly Fairchild. The narrative takes a thrilling turn when human bones are unearthed beneath the farmhouse, reigniting memories of their traumatic upbringing.

Hepworth masterfully navigates the delicate balance between darkness and light, presenting protagonists who are resilient, intelligent, and fiercely loyal despite their harrowing experiences. Through their strength and vulnerability, the author crafts characters who feel incredibly real and relatable.

The plot is expertly crafted, with tight pacing and plenty of twists that keep readers on the edge of their seats. Moments of humor, particularly Alicia's childhood jokes, provide a poignant contrast to the darkness of their situation, evoking empathy and enhancing the emotional depth of the story.

In Darling Girls, Hepworth delivers a compelling narrative that explores themes of resilience, sisterhood, and the enduring impact of trauma. With its captivating plot and well-developed characters, this novel is sure to resonate with readers long after the final page.

Sally Hepworth is one of my top go-to author's for the type of psychological thriller that I crave. She spins a tall that is so engrossing and all consuming that it makes it hard to put down. Darling Girls was certainly one of those. Although this was not my favorite of hers, it was still enjoyable to read.
The content was a bit tough reading gory details of how foster children are treated in their foster homes. How these girls lost their security and loved ones to end up being moved into homes where they are forced to keep a clean house/care of babies for their food and fractured sense of stability, if they even get food, was tough to read. The real story is how these girls persevered and became a family of their own. They are sisters, even if not by blood, and that was really the heartwarming take away from this book.
The POVs and stories developing after a human skeleton was found on the site of their old foster home will keep you guessing on who the remains are from and who put them there.

I received an advanced reader's copy and audiobook from St. Martin's Press and MacMillan Audio via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sally HEPWORTH is an automatic read for me but this wasn't her best work. I did Enjoy the narration and would listen to more of her books over reading them, this book was ok but wasn't my favorite.