I love when an author switches things up, and in Darling Girls, Sally Hepworth does just that. While she sticks to her signature domestic suspense, this time the "family" is far from traditional—but just as compelling!

Twenty-five years ago, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia were brought to Wild Meadows, a seemingly idyllic farmhouse, under the care of the abusive Miss Fairchild. Now, detectives inform the women that human bones have been found buried at the property, forcing them to confront their traumatic past.

The story alternates between past and present, with rotating POVs that let us bond with each woman: Jessica, battling OCD and a secret habit; Norah, struggling with inner rage; and Alicia, whose insecurities are affecting a new relationship. There’s also a creepy mystery narrator recounting sessions with Dr. Warren.

Despite its darker themes, Hepworth balances the tone by making the women strong, smart, funny, and loyal. Norah’s fiery personality gave me plenty of LOL moments, and dog lovers will especially enjoy her dogs named Converse, Couch, and Thong!

While the pace is slow, the twisty ending is worth the wait. Plus, the portrayal of female friendship is refreshingly positive and supportive. Don’t skip the author’s note—it adds extra meaning to the story!

Sally Hepworth never misses! I could not put this book down and flew through it in 2 days. She knows how to keep me turning the pages! This book was suspenseful and at times infuriating. I loved all 3 sisters and was rooting for them to all get a happy ending. The last chapter had my jaw on the floor! I will continue to devour everything this author puts out!

4.5/5 -- Gosh, this one was a lot of fun for me. My first book by Sally Hepworth and I flew thru it in just about 24 hours. I loved the bond Jessica, Alicia, and Norah had as three foster siblings, and I think their foster mother was absolutely horrible. I can't really say that any of the twists truly shocked me, but I still felt delighted every time I came to one. Just a tight, fast-paced thriller story with a very satisfying ending. (Except for the last chapter which, frankly, didn‘t add anything for me.)

Jessica, Norah and Alicia ended up together at a foster home. People might think they were fortunate to have a pleasant place to live. They would be wrong. Miss Fairchild doesn't feed them as much as they need and she has them working on chores around the house constantly. They never know what will send her off in a fit of rage. Of course, when the social worker comes around periodically, everything looks just perfect. As if things couldn't get worse, Miss Fairchild decides to take in respite infants. Once she loses interest in them, the girls have to take over their care on top of everything that cause their schooling to suffer. When Miss Fairchild brings home a beautiful toddler and the whole situation gets untenable, the girls finally run to the police to report Miss Fairchild. They are relieved to finally get away.
The girls grow up and have their own lives, though early trauma haunts them in many ways. They are pulled back into the past after a discovery at their former foster home. Will they finally get justice or not?
This novel is difficult to read at times, but all the characters are fully fleshed out. Although Miss Fairchild is shown to be a villain, the author's notes assures us that there are many lovely foster situations. The setting is Australia where the author lives. The story could take place in almost any English speaking country. Universal issues are explored with authenticity.
I have seen many novels promoted that were written by Sally Hepworth in the recent past. I'm embarrassed to admit that this is the first one I've read. I will go back and read her back list.
Thanks to the publisher, the author and NetGalley for giving the opportunity to read this amazing novel

A book that ticks all my boxes!

Sally Hepworth has a knack for crafting compelling narratives, page-turning suspense, robust social commentary and characters you will care deeply about, all with emotional depth – and Darling Girls is the latest testament to that.

I really enjoyed this novel and its overlying theme of sisterhood. It didn't take long for me to get into it or be emotionally invested. Norah was my favourite but I found everyone to be well-written with satisfying character arcs.

The book also sheds light on a range of difficult topics, such as mental illness and the foster care system and how displaced kids slip through the cracks.

Don't miss this engrossing read with much to offer!

This was a great thriller with an outstanding storyline and intriguing characters. You can’t help but feel sorry for the girls…Miss Fairchild is not what she seems at first. Very creepy, kept me on the edge of my seat.

Not my favorite of Sally Hepworth's, I enjoyed the plot but found the writing, dialogue and character's confusing at times.

I loved this read! Specifically because it felt like a fast read for me, which always makes me feel productive.

This book follows three main characters, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia. Each of them are a bit annoying but also endearing in their own way. It also flips between present day and the past, giving insight into how these three women are bonded and their strong sisterhood.

Honestly, I have enjoyed the Sally Hepworth books on my read shelf, but this far exceeds the others in my opinion. Throughout the book, my thoughts fluctuated between how it might end, and how obvious parts of the story were. It was a good mix of being able to predict certain aspects, but a good little twist at the end. I also loved the usage of the phrase ‘darling girl(s)’ throughout the book, I feel like it wound a ribbon throughout the book that felt internally satisfying.

There were some parts that felt like they dragged on, or parts that felt cringe and unnecessary, but overall they did not taint my opinion of the book. Also think I was confused at first of the whole interaction between Holly and her therapist (is that even that right terminology?), like was that an act or…it just felt weird.

Also keep in mind: this book is riddled with trigger warnings, so if you are looking to read it I would be wary of any of those. If you are someone that is okay with the warnings, I would definitely recommend this book as the season turns to fall and a quick book is what the doctor ordered!

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and unbiased opinion.

Such a juicy and thrilling story! It captured me from the beginning and I loved all the plot twists. I loved it!

This thriller mystery gave me all the satisfaction a good one should. Foster siblings with a mean foster mom are always a vibe and I loved how creepy and suspenseful it was. Thanks to @stmartinspress for the eARC and to @macmillan.audio for the ALC. Sorry I’m so belated in getting this review out, but this summer kinda chewed me up and spit me out. This book was quite excellent though, I highly recommend to all my thriller friends! Sally Hepworth does not disappoint on this one!

Darling Girls is a fast paced, unputdownable suspense by Sally Hepworth, that comes complete with all the feels.
Jessica, Norah, and Alicia have been together since they were tweens. All had experienced different types of family tragedies and were brought to live with Miss Fairchild, a local foster parent. But Miss Fairchild's beautiful home hid an unbelievable amount of trauma.
Now they find themselves summoned back to their hometown after a body's been discovered under their foster mother's home. They're just not sure if they're considered witnesses or suspects.

My first Sally Hepworth novel was The Good Sister, and I was instantly hooked. Ever since then, Hepworth has been a go-to author for me. Even if I don’t particularly care for the premise, I will still pick up her books because I know that she delivers on the suspense. Her latest novel Darling Girls follows three women who were raised together in a specious foster home. Having spent their formative years together, the women consider themselves sisters and are as thick as thieves. They never thought that they would find themselves returning to the home that holds so many secrets and horrors for them, but that they do when human remains are found under the home, prompting an investigation into what really went on at that house while Jessica, Norah, and Alicia were living there.

Hepworth has once again written a twisty novel of domestic suspense, which will have you making guesses left and right as to what is really going on here. I had so many theories as to what the twist may be that eventually I just gave up on figuring everything out and instead focused on enjoying the ride wherever it took me. Take me it did down a rabbit hole of foster care abuse, family secrets, and sisterly bonds.

Darling Girls is a step up over Hepworth’s two previous novels, The Younger Wife and The Soulmate, Darling Girls kept me more invested in the story and curious about the outcome without causing my attention to wane. However, I did take major issue with one way that this novel was written - there is a very confusing POV situation that was not sorted out until the very end of the book.

While listening to the audiobook production of this novel, admittedly I got very confused by the psychiatrist bits added onto the end of some of the chapters, particularly Jessica’s These pieces of narration literally come out of left field, and I kept finding myself checking the chapter name on my audiobook to figure out whose POV I was listening to. However, even the psychiatrist storyline does not remain consistent, later jumping around amongst all of the girls. Of course, Hepworth brings it all together at the end of the novel, but while I was in the midst of it, I was thoroughly confused. I don’t like feeling like I am missing something while reading a book, so I wish these segments had been more clearly delineated for the reader.

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 - proceed with caution !

When they were young, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia were foster children together. From the outside, it sure looked like these girls were lucky… the house was beautiful and their foster mother was well kept and perfect. But on the inside, the girls endured a horrific childhood. Twenty years later, bones are found buried under the house and the women must return to their foster home and confront their awful memories of their time there.

Are you ok, Sally?! This one was dark. Loved the beginning, but it fell flat at the end: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫.

Sally Hepworth did it again! Another fast pace thriller that ai couldn’t put down. I loved the twists in this one.

Loved this novel! It was well written and easy to follow! I was surprised by the ending and I LOVE when I am not able to predict the ending! I would highly recommend reading this!

3.5 stars

This was my first book by this author, and I was eager to dive in after hearing so many good things about her domestic and psychological thrillers. However, it fell a bit short of my expectations, as I anticipated it to be more thrilling. Despite that, I still enjoyed the story, and it kept me guessing about the bones they found under the house.

The plot of this book primarily centers on the broken foster care system in our country, and I appreciated the author bringing attention to such a significant issue. It's a dark and heavy story that can be difficult to read at times, especially with its descriptions of child abuse, so be sure to check the trigger warnings before diving in. Despite the tough subject matter, the writing was excellent and really drew me into the story. I became deeply invested in the characters and genuinely cared about their outcomes. I felt a strong connection to the three women and hoped they could heal from their traumatic childhoods and build better lives for themselves.

The book features both past and present timelines, along with multiple POVs. I enjoyed exploring the lives of the three women who became foster sisters during their childhood. The narrative reveals their past experiences and how these have shaped their present lives. At times, I found the past timeline more compelling than the present one. Despite the gut-wrenching and sad depiction of their childhood abuse and trauma, there are also hopeful and uplifting moments. My favorite part was watching the sisters develop a strong bond with each other, and I loved the dynamics of their sisterhood and the found family element.

The story includes some language but no explicit spicy scenes. However, it does feature a lesbian relationship with a few makeout scenes.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and appreciated getting to know the three sisters and their childhood experiences. Although it was heartbreaking at times, it kept me guessing throughout and had a surprising twist at the end. If you enjoy slower-paced mysteries that focus more on character development than on the plot and can handle dark subject matter, you might really like this book. I definitely recommend it and plan to explore more of this author's backlist.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. These are my own thoughts and opinions.

The mystery was a good one and parts of it kept me guessing until the reveal. The characters were pretty well developed, with the exception of a couple that I think could have benefitted from a little more information. It's hard to care about a person when you don't know much about them or their motivations.
Overall it was pretty good and I do like this author so I will read more from her.

Darling Girls had the potential to be a great thriller but had a few flaws. I enjoyed the portrayal of the three sisters—Jessica, Norah, and Alicia—and how their unique personalities were revealed through the various chapters from their perspectives. The nonlinear timeline was effective in showing how childhood trauma shaped them into the women they became. However, the story's tension was uneven; key plot points emerged abruptly, while less significant aspects were developed too slowly. The supporting characters were static, serving only one specific roles. Additionally, the ending felt rushed and icky. Overall, it's a fast-paced book that thriller readers will find enjoyable.

Hepworth’s best book yet! The pacing was perfect and the story was intriguing. Thank you to the publisher for a free copy in exchange for a review.