I normally really like Sally Hepworth books, but I couldn’t finish this one. I think the description is slightly misleading and doesn’t prepare the reader for the level of child abuse included in the story. As a mother of a young child this is a very big trigger for me and I wouldn’t have requested this book if I had know this prior.

Dive into the riveting world of Jessica, Norah, and Alicia, foster sisters bound by love, secrets, and the specter of their enigmatic guardian, Miss Fairchild. Sally Hepworth weaves a spellbinding tale of suspense, love, and familial bonds that will keep you on the edge of your seat. As the plot unfolds, secrets unravel, and the bonds of sisterhood are tested, Hepworth keeps readers hooked with her skillful prose and expert pacing.

Darling Girls is a must-read for anyone craving a gripping tale of family, betrayal, and the enduring power of love. Mark your calendars for April 23rd, and get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey filled with mystery, suspense, and the timeless bonds of family. Thank you @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the gifted galley!

This was addicting! I finished this book so fast!

I loved the characters, the story, and the writing! I think this is my new favorite Sally Hepworth book!

I really enjoyed reading from all the sisters POV of the current day and past. There was also a 4th POV that you slowly start to put together. I was so enthralled with the darling girls and their story. I was able to put some pieces together for the most part, but overall the very last chapter had me shook!

I would HIGHLY recommend!


Trigger warnings: Metal, Physical, and Sexual Abuse

This book was absolutely amazing. The way that the flashbacks unfolded the story so perfectly. The POV from Ms Fairchild, and the current day timeline. It was all absolutely perfect. One of the best thrillers Ive read in a long time becase that ending had my JAW ON THE FLOOR. Cannot recommend this book enough.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for ARC!
Pub day- 4/23/24

I really enjoyed two timelines in three different views. Ending was shocking! Too. I didn’t feel bored while reading this book. Just heartbreaking little 😭..

Overall I enjoyed this book. My second book of this author. Certainly won’t be the last!

Sally Hepworth’s books are always an auto read for me, and Darling Girls did not disappoint! I loved the sisterhood, and flashbacks between current day and the past. This book had so many twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. This story kept me guessing until the very end!

Unfortunately I had to DNF this book around the 28% mark due to child abuse in the story. I usually love Sally Hepworth's books so I was excited to read this one.

I loved this book! It kept me guessing after every chapter. I loved how the characters were complex and had their own story. It took me a minute to figure out who was talking to the psychiatrist and when I did, I wanted more! I loved not knowing who it was and the author did a great job at making several people look suspicious. Great job and I will recommend this book to others!!

Jessica, Alicia and Norah are not sisters by blood but become sisters from circumstance. They are all three placed in the same foster home at Wild Meadows with Miss Fairchild. Told in a shifting timeline between past and present, and with the narrative alternating points of view between Jessica, Alicia, Norah, and Holly Fairchild. The story is engaging and keeps you guessing. I really love the way in Sally’s books we get really complex characters that you slowly peel back and understand their past trauma just a little bit as the book goes on. Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I was honestly disappointed by this novel. Normally I am a fan of Sally Hepworth and believe she has written some fabulous thrillers in the past. However the amount of child abuse that takes place in this novel is a lot to take in, even if it is told as a memory. I have to consider this novel a DNF.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this novel.

Sally Hepworth is the queen of domestic thrillers. Darling Girls follow Alicia, Jessica and Norah, who return to their foster care home after a body has been discovered. We switch between each woman’s perspective and a dual timeline from 25 years ago to present. The book starts with a psychiatrist meeting a new patient and throughout the book we get chapters about the new patient and how it’s going. I throughly enjoyed this book. Each twist left me shocked. It had a nice pacing which left me quickly turning the page.


Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for the ARC.

DARLING GIRLS takes a look at the dark side of family life, this time tackling the bond between sisters. From the outside, Alicia, Jessica, and Norah seem like most ordinary women—but these three, sisters whose bond was forged decades ago on a farm with foster mother Mrs. Fairchild, harbor deep secrets. Secrets they're now being forced to face. Because Mrs. Fairchild, while on the surface, was an ideal foster mother...underneath, she had rules...she was unpredictable...she was never to be crossed. Dragged back into contact with her, Alicia, Jessica, and Norah must now ask themselves—can the past ever truly be buried?

I could not put this book down!! The multiple POV and dual timeline really keeps you on the edge of your seat, all three sisters have different enough tones that it's clear whose perspective you have, the lines do get a little blurred later on in the story when their relationship is so strong. But the Psychiatrist visits?? Ooooh what a vibe!!!

This is the perfect read for someone who wants a psychological thriller with strong family dynamics, great character development, and twists until the end! There are a few instances of abuse and trauma, so check for content warnings if needed.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Another winner by Sally Hepworth!
Ms. Hepworth is known for her domestic suspense novels and there's always a family at the heart. Darling Girls fits into this mold but there's a different kind of family, much as she did with The Good Sister.
After a variety of family tragedies, Jessica, Alicia and Norah were all placed in foster care at Wild Meadows, home of the crazy Miss. Fairchild. Their time there was filled with lots of cleaning, food limitations, and life with an unpredictable, uncaring woman. They all left with long term mental health challenges but that didn't prevent them from living full lives. More importantly, they also left with the strong bond of sisterhood.
As the book opens, a psychiatrist is meeting with a new female patient - but who is his client? And then, Ms. Hepworth moves on with an initial introduction to the three women. Their stories unfold in chapters that alternate between "then" and "now", which is 25 years later. There's an occasional entry from the psychiatrist and their sessions progress the storyline as well.
Jessica, Alicia and Norah's upbringings are all poignantly captured with stories about three stages of their lives: with the birth parents or grandparents; their time at Wild Meadows; and then as adults when Wild Meadows returns to their lives. While the vast majority of the book is about abuse, neglect, and negative experiences with the foster care system, there were also a few heartwarming stories. Kudos to those special social and care workers who have the best interests of their clients in mind!
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read Darling Girls in exchange for an honest review.

While the story was a little bit cheesy, the writing was compelling. It was a quick read for me. Interesting to read about the foster system in Australia from the perspective of three foster children who are now adults and are very close with each other and consider themselves sisters. I liked how each chapter was from a different character’s perspective and sometimes in the past when they were younger and sometimes in current times. I learned that sometimes you think you know someone but they don’t reveal everything to you. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Three foster sisters get the news that a body was found at the home where they grew up. What unfolds when they return back is an uncovering of traumas and secrets that non of the girls are ready for.

This was such a page turner! Told in alternating timelines, the story unfolds in a way that makes you never want to put it down. There were several twists throughout that were well done and I was fully surprised at each of them. Highly recommend, and I’ll be checking out some of this authors backlist as this is my first!


Due to the current boycott on St Martins Press publications, I will not be posting this review on either Goodreads or Instagram until the boycott is resolved.

This was an excellent book! Sally Hepworth never disappoints. I was really rooting for the main girls/women in this story. It is the kind of book that you find so hard to put down. Superb 5 star book!!

Sally Hepworth's new book Darling Girls has all the trademarks of a good thriller and it successfully weaves in a topical subplot of foster care thus resulting in a satisfying read for lovers of mysteries and lovers of topical fiction. The pacing and characters kept me engaged throughout.

Thanks to netGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of Darling Girls in exchange for an honest review.

Not my favorite...

Darling Girls are foster girls that were under the care of Miss Fairchild. A single foster care giver who was manipulative in the worst kind. The girls have grown up and have the baggage of their earlier years. They have remained close but when they are contacted by detectives because a body was found buried, their anxiety levels rise.

The narration goes back and forth in time. Twenty five years have passed and will justice be served?

Sally Hepworth writing style is unique because she does have a twist and it came in the last scene. Giving nothing away. Not my favorite because of the disconnect...and to be honest, I am not sure why. But again, very talented writer full of surprises.

A special thank you to St. Martins Press and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

it was an interesting story, not very surprising though. i felt like the ending was pretty obvious but it was a fun read

Well, Sally Hepworth has done it again. I was absolutely captivated by this one, reading most of it in one day. It’s bingeable. It’s heart wrenching, It’s twisty. And it has a final chapter that had my jaw ON THE FLOOR. Darling Girls shows off Hepworth’s masterful storytelling skills and her ability to weave a web that wasn’t untangled until the very end. I loved it.

Not only was there a plot that I was completely invested in, Hepworth built characters along that way in such a beautiful way. They felt real, raw, and relatable in a way that it was so easy to understand the decisions they made, both as children and as adults. Using all three POVs, over both past and present timelines, added so much depth to this story.

This is an excellent look on how trauma affects different people in different ways and forms unbreakable bonds by those who experience it together. This could be very triggering to some so please reach out or take a look into trigger warnings. But overall, this was a very well written, immersive read. After how much I loved this one and The Soulmate, I will be reading everything Hepworth puts out.