If you’re looking for a twisty domestic thriller that will grasp your attention from the very beginning look no further. Darling Girls is gripping, emotional and unpredictable all in one. It keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next. Jessica, Norah and Alicia are three foster kids who become inseparable during the period of time in which they are placed at Wild Meadows. In this story they quickly learn that all they have is each other because Miss Fairchild is not at all what she pretends to be on the outside. The ending will have you surprised!

A big thank you to both NetGalley and St. Martins Press for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was my first Sally Hepworth and what aabulous read. It drew me in quickly and kept my attention right up until the last word. Rarely does a book keep my attention through out. This will not be my last Sally Hepworth. When this is released, grab a copy,a gallon of coffee and prepare for an "all nighter".

"Darling Girls" by Sally Hepworth is a gripping psychological mystery set in the realm of women's fiction. The story follows three girls who form a strong bond while living in the same foster home, where they are subjected to psychological manipulation by their foster mother, Holly Fairchild. The scars from their traumatic experiences linger long after they escape Holly's clutches.

The narrative focuses on Jessica, Norah, and Alicia, who endured years of abuse under Holly's control. Fast forward 25 years, and the aftermath of their shared ordeal is revealed. Jessica's life spirals out of control due to addiction and estrangement, Norah battles anger issues and the threat of imprisonment, and Alicia struggles with insecurities while working as a social worker. When their childhood trauma resurfaces with the discovery of human remains at the old farmhouse, the three women must confront their past and seek closure and healing.

"Darling Girls" expertly weaves between past and present, offering insights into the characters' evolution and survival mechanisms. Each protagonist resonates powerfully, with Norah capturing the heart with her blend of sarcasm and vulnerability. Alicia's kindness and Jessica's unraveling layers evoke empathy. The narrative builds suspense, culminating in a stunning twist. This poignant and empowering story sheds light on mental health awareness and women's empowerment.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book was so good. If I read 100 books again this year, it will probably be one of my favorites. It was my first book by this author (I know, I'm late to the game!) but I am now planning to devour everything else she has written.

I am a Mental Health Counselor and was blown away by how accurately she wrote about trauma. I thought she must have some personal or professional background herself, but no- she just really did her research! She is up there with Lucinda Berry (who is a former clinical psychologist and trauma researcher.)

This book made me laugh out loud and ugly cry, and I kept picking it up every time I had a spare minute because I just had to know what happened! I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Sally Hepworth is an experienced Author who is able to craft a well thought out and twisty thriller. I have ready and loved all of her books. This book is no exception, Alicia, Jessica and Norah all have interesting individual stories to tell with twisted pasts. These three women have a strong sister-like bond which a lot of people don't understand as all of them have quirks to them.

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth is a layered thriller that her fans are sure to love. When a body is found on the site of a former foster home, all the past trauma of the women who grew up there is unraveled. Who do the bones belong to and how did they die? What happened in that house?

Releasing in April 2024, Darling Girls is one for fans of domestic thrillers to pre-order.

Many thanks to #netgalley #stmartinspress and the author #sallyhepworth for an #arc in exchange for an honest #bookreview.

#darlinggirls #domesticthriller #thriller #booksbooksbooks #thrillernovel

Sally Hepworth has penned another satisfying, twisty thriller!! Jessica, Norah and Alicia are flawed and awesome. The mystery was intriguing. The supporting cast could have been fleshed out a tad more, but Miss Fairchild definitely gave me the creeps!!!

Jessica, Norah, and Alicia met and bonded while growing up together at their foster mother’s home. When years later bones are found under the house where they lived, they must return to their hometown and try and find out what happened and who was buried there.

This was my first book by this author and it definitely won’t be my last. The writing was well done and the story was compelling with complex characters - switching between past and present and the POVs of the three sisters and their foster mother. I appreciate when book characters don’t feel like “characters” and more like real people and I feel this did a good job with that.

I really enjoyed reading Pet in 2023 and this reminded me a bit of that.

I would classify this as more in the mystery/literary fiction genre than a thriller.

This book was AMAZING!! I couldn’t put it down until I knew ever last detail. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I finished it in one day. The ending was mind blowing. Sally Hepworth never disappoints but with book she blew the lid off!

Thank you to St. Martin’s press for my digital advance reader copy.

Foster siblings Jessica, Norah, and Alicia are now adults and have largely put the trauma of their pasts behind them, but when their old foster home is demolished and a body is discovered, everything comes rushing back.

While I loved the main characters, ultimately, the plot was missing something to make it truly shine, though I’m hard-pressed to say what exactly that something is. The last twist in the final was jarring and stands in stark contrast to the rest of the book. It felt as though it was added for shock value, especially since the book abruptly ends shortly afterward.

This was not my favorite of Hepworth’s, but it won’t put me off of her future releases.

I've read other Sally Hepworth books and I've always been slightly disappointed. I’m not sure why this one didn’t work for me exactly because I usually love thrillers but something about it wasn’t super compelling for me. I didn’t feel the need to continue reading and I felt like I was dragging my way through it.

Oh Sally Hepworth, what have you done? I had this one all figured out early on. But it turns out it was all a giant shell game, and while I was guessing the middle cup over and over again, you’d long since dumped the ball in your lap. (Cue author’s evil laughter.)

I’m unsure how to classify this – (dysfunctional) family drama, coming of age, thriller, or domestic fiction. It crosses a lot of genres. The main story revolves around three orphans, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia, who are brought together in what is seemingly an ideal situation. They’ve landed at a farmhouse called Wild Meadows under the care of Miss Fairchild. As each one arrives, they are treated very well, but that is a short-term situation.

While they are very different, the three form a bond and truly become sisters. They need their relationships because they are mentally and emotionally abused by the woman who is supposed to care for them.

Fast forward 25 years, and the farmhouse is being torn down. During the demolition, bones are found on the grounds, and all of the characters converge to talk to the police about what happened when they lived there. The story is told mainly through the three sisters' POVs. But there is also an unknown narrative, as related to a psychologist. I thought the shifts from past to present and through the different narrators were done very well.

The abuse scenarios of the story got very dark. But the sisterly bonds kept the story from going too far down that hole. I thought it did a great job of exploring the long-term ramifications of abuse and how it lingered in three very different ways for Jessica, Norah, and Alicia. It also deftly handled the effects of children being in foster care.

This isn’t a fast-paced run, but the ending slapped me across the face. I did not see that coming and I loved it. I’ve read several of Hepworth’s books and will continue!

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this digital ARC to honestly review.

Sally Hepworth has quickly become an auto buy author for me and I really need to read her backlist next! Darling Girls is another twisty thriller that will have readers guessing until the end. The story centers around three women who grew up together in foster care and had to endure the difficult abuse from their former foster mother. Switching between the past and present, the book showed the view points of each woman and really conveyed how each of them had been affected by their earlier childhood. I really enjoyed how Hepworth unraveled the story and pulled readers in. This was a quick read and I would recommend to anyone who’s a fan of Hepworth’s prior work or is looking for a twisty thriller. I will note that there are descriptions of child abuse that may be difficult for some readers.

Such a good thriller! I always enjoy Hepworth’s books and this one might be my favorite. I found the storyline really intriguing, loved the character development and all the twists! There were multiple prominent characters in this book and something I really appreciated was how well everything within their personal lives, outside of the main event, wrapped up in the end. This one kept me guessing until the very end and I definitely recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

Another compulsively readable Sally Hepworth title. I accidentally read it one sitting because I just couldn't put it down. I loved the characters, and the story was carefully crafted to keep revealing information slowly and steadily.

Sally Hepworth is an auto-read author for me! I truly enjoy everything she puts out. When I saw that I was approved for an advanced copy of her newest book, I was beyond ecstatic! She really knows how to create a binge-able domestic drama with complex characters and shocking twists. This was no exception.

The story has multiple POVs and a now/then setup with a *couple* of unreliable narrators. It also touches on some pretty dark themes so check *TWs* if they bother you. It all read so smoothly though and you really cared and rooted for the 3 main characters! The character growth and past story reveal was a delicious build up that really left you satisfied in the end!

This was a slow burn psychological - mystery - thriller that packs a huge punch in the final chapters! If you’ve loved her past work… you’ll love this. If you haven’t read her novels before… you’re in for a treat!

DARLING GIRLS firmly secures Author Sally Hepworth's position as one of the masters of psychological domestic thrillers. Her amazing talent for incorporating and exploring unique relationships within a compelling plot line results in dynamic characters that resonate with readers. Brilliantly rendered, DARLING GIRLS explores the journey and unbreakable bond of three women who escaped the horrors of a demented foster mother decades earlier . . . or did they?

Twenty-five years ago, three girls from different walks of life find themselves living at Wild Meadows, an idyllic looking foster home run by Miss Holly Fairchild. From outside appearances, their life is better than anyone in their situation could hope for; however, they soon learn appearances are deceiving and things are vastly different behind closed doors. Like a chameleon, Miss Fairchild's temperament changes in a heartbeat - mild mannered and pleasant to outsiders . . . and a heavy-handed, conniving disciplinarian to those under her charge. The girls quickly bond in their efforts to survive her abusive, psychological games until the day they finally managed to escape her clutches. Fast forward a couple of decades and readers meet three intelligent women who remain sisters of the heart - each of whom struggles daily with their own demons because of their terrifying childhood experiences, secretly fearing the day the past comes calling. And one day it does in the form of a dreaded phone call from the police asking them to return to their former home to answer questions about skeletal remains found buried under the old farmhouse. They escaped Miss Fairchild's clutches once . . . will they survive another encounter?

DARLING GIRLS is a heart wrenching story that’s rendered through past/present chapters via the voices of three young girls and one mystery voice revealed through past sessions with a psychologist. Hepworth is simply brilliant at creating complex characters with unique characteristics and daring them to survive in spite of the hand life has dealt them. Over time, readers have a front row seat to the evolution of each of the three mentally abused girls as they struggle to survive, watching as they morph into women fighting daily to overcome a history of mental abuse instead of letting it define them. A dark, dire tone permeates the pages drifting into readers' homes as a growing sense of fear squeezes both characters and readers hearts. The pace builds steadily along with the girls' anxiety and trepidation to the final shocking climax which I predict no one will see coming. I applaud the author's choice of setting - a beautiful, peaceful old farmhouse with a sense of tranquility on the outside that lulls one into a false sense of security . . . in contrast to the horrors being perpetrated on the young and innocent on the inside.


Stories of abuse are never easy to read, but Hepworth does a magnificent job of balancing the dark with a story of hope with three protagonists who are vulnerable yet clearly survivors, who become strong, loyal, empowered women with bright futures in spite of their harsh beginning. DARLING GIRLS is an intense, beautifully rendered psychological domestic thriller that I highly recommend to fans of suspense thrillers and mysteries. In this readers opinion, this is Author Sally Hepworth's finest work to date.

Note: Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

Miss Fairchild lives at Wild Meadows Farms and is a foster parent. Jessica’s mother was an addict, Norah has been through multiple houses, and Alicia’s grandmother passed away in the hospital. As adults, Jessica battles with high anxiety and dependence on drugs, Norah is violent to protect herself and thinks life is a transaction of sorts, and Alicia doesn’t know how to accept love and nurture. These 3 girls are brought together at Miss Fairchild’s home and become sisters by chance. They are brought back to Wild Meadows Farms by detective Ashleigh Patel as human bones were found under the house. The darling girls, now women, are forced to return to their childhood home and relive their traumatic past.

This book pulls you in from the start and doesn’t let you stop going. It is so powerful in representing how broken the foster care system is, the different reasons children enter the system, the emotional and traumatic experiences they have, and how childhood shapes us as adults. There is always a fear to be perfect or you can get sent to a different home. It is hard to tell the truth because no one believes you. You are essentially sent to live in a house with strangers which creates so much emotional turmoil and distrust towards people. It perfectly describes Erikson’s stages of development and what happens throughout life when different milestones aren’t met. The power of sisterhood and family is unmatched as they navigate through their various personal issues. In the end, this story represents the extent to which a child will go to for love, attention, and security.

There’s nothing darling about the way Miss Fairchild treats her girls.

Miss Fairchild starts out as a caring foster parent to Jessica, a five year old girl who is placed at Wild Meadows. Soon after, Norah arrives. Norah has been in several foster home placements and has some bad experiences with the foster system. Alicia is the third girl placed under Miss Fairchild’s care while her grandmother is in the hospital. Miss Fairchild quickly shifts from the interested caregiver to something more sinister and manipulative. The girls form a bond that carries them through each encounter with Miss Fairchild and into adulthood.

The story shifts back and forth between then and now, as the women have all been contacted about human remains that were discovered at the site where Wild Meadows once was. Hepworth uses four points of view to narrate the story and create intrigue while also providing insight into each character. It was a hard book to put down because it was so riveting. There are many twists throughout this thriller and the final chapter adds in one last surprise! I couldn’t put it down.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sally Hepworth, and St. Martin's Press for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC opportunity!

This story was immense and compelling. The three main characters, Norah, Jessica, and Alicia, had a beautiful bond. I would have liked to have read more about their relationship. Trigger warning ⚠️ This book deeply focuses on the foster care system and child abuse.

I am usually not able to read about child abused, as it’s a sensitive subject for me, as I’m a therapist. I kept reading because I felt the description was sadly and unfortunately true, and I wanted to see how it ended. I wanted to see if the characters had a happy ending. I’d like to give a thank you to the author paying tribute to foster children in her acknowledgments, and speaking about how children belong to all of us, as a society, and we need better systems to keep them safe.

Pros:
Strong characters that are interesting
A mystery I wanted to see solved
I liked the ending

Cons:
It could have been shorter
Descriptions of child abuse
I would have like to have seen more about the main characters in adulthood
Lots of jumping timelines and points of view