Sally Hepworth is an auto buy author for me and Darling Girls did not disappoint. Three foster sisters dealing with emotional abuse, and sometimes more, from their foster mother created a bond no one could break. Once again, Hepworth has used the struction of her story in help create tension and reveal the truth until the last twist. Thank you so much for the ARC and I can’t wait to read the next book from her.

Never a disappointment from Sally Hepworth. Love the character development and loving both younger and older versions of the characters.

I loved the switching of point of views between past and current and the sisters & Mrs. Fairchild. I enjoyed the relationship between Jessica, Norah, and Alicia and how their traumas, child hood, and current struggles were all tied together. I couldn’t put down the book and had to know what was coming next!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley and author Sally Hepworth for this digital ARC to honestly review.
Omg ,I just finished reading “Darling Girls,” and I’m still reeling from the experience. This book is like a wild rollercoaster ride that you can’t get off. It’s about three foster sisters who find themselves in the middle of a murder investigation at their old home. Talk about intense!

The story is told from the perspective of each sister, which adds to the suspense and intrigue. You get to see the events unfold through their eyes, and let me tell you, it’s like trying to solve a puzzle blindfolded. The sisters are all hiding secrets, and as the truth slowly comes to light, you’ll be like, “Whoa, I didn’t see that coming!”

The writing is excellent, and Hepworth does an amazing job of creating a creepy and unsettling atmosphere. You’ll feel like you’re right there with the sisters, trying to unravel the mystery and stay one step ahead of the killer. It’s like being part of a real-life detective squad, and I loved every minute of it.

The characters are complex and well-developed, with their own unique personalities and motivations. You’ll find yourself rooting for them, even when they make questionable decisions. And trust me, there are some pretty shady moments that’ll leave you wondering who to trust.

The themes of sisterhood, loyalty, and secrecy are woven throughout the story, adding depth and emotional resonance. You’ll be forced to confront your own beliefs and biases as you navigate the twists and turns alongside the sisters.

Darling Girls” is a gripping and addictive read that’ll keep you up way past your bedtime. If you’re a fan of mystery, suspense, or just a good thrill ride, then this book is for you. So grab some popcorn, settle in, and get ready to have your mind blown!

Wow, this book is intense!!! About three women, who grew up in a horrible foster care home, this story needs a strong trigger warning for child abuse. That being said, even though it was difficult for me to read at moments, it hooked me from page 1.

I won’t do a full recap, but this story is told in two timelines and it works very well. I also appreciate how each character was developed. I love when I don’t have to keep track of who is who, because the author has created them in such a strong way.

I found the ending of this book very disturbing, but it worked. I didn't see it coming at all! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Thank you @netgalley @sallyhepworth @stmartinspress for an ARC of Darling Girls.

Release: 4/23/2024 – 5 Stars

Holy Moly! This is easily my fave Sally Hepworth novel & I guarantee it will be a smashing hit when it releases in April 2024!

This story will hook you FAST. It is told in both the present & the past. The past is where it’s at! You are going to fall in love with Alicia, Jessica & Norah & feel all the emotions for them – anger, sadness, pity.

This book is incredibly bingeworthy – it keeps a quick pace & leaving the reader dying to find out what happens next & how it all ends. And WOWZERS! That twist at the VERY end? Didn’t see that coming!

If you only ever read one Sally Hepworth novel, it NEEDS to be this one!

Click through the pics for my envisioning of each character. Not all match with Hepworth’s descriptions, but these are the faces I saw while reading.

“From the outside, Alicia, Jessica & Norah might seem like ordinary women you'd meet on the street any day of the week. Jessica has OCD, Norah has anger issues & Alicia has low self-esteem. But these three have a bond that no one can fully understand. It's a bond that takes them back decades, to when they were girls & they lived on a farm with a foster mother, Miss Fairchild. Miss Fairchild had rules, could be unpredictable & was never, ever to be crossed. In a moment of desperation, the three broke away from Miss Fairchild & they thought they were free. But the reach of someone with such power is long & even though they never saw her again, she was always somewhere in the shadows of their minds. When bones are discovered buried under the farmhouse of their childhood, they are called in by the police to tell what they know. Against their will, they are brought back to the past & to Miss Fairchild herself.”

#Thriller #Mystery #Suspense #Fiction #Adult #Contemporary #Crime #Psychological #ARC #Review #April #2024 #EarlyReview #DarlingGirls #SallyHepworth #TBR #AudioReview #Bookstagram #Booksta #Read #Books #Bibliophile #BookSlayer #Sisters #Bones #Secrets #Investigation #BooksofIG

I love Sally Hepworth’s twisty and consuming stories. This is no exception! In fact this might be a perfect thriller for me.
The three women are so flawed and so fucked up from terrifying childhoods and have trauma bonded. Even more they are each other’s family and when they have to return to their foster home after a body is found it gets WILD. I did not know where it was going, but I’m always up for a journey with Sally. Highly recommend preordering this and thanks to the publishes and NetGalley for letting me read this book in exchange for my honest opinion which is to add it to your the ASAP

🤯🤯🤯

Three girls have to relive their time at Wild Meadows after detectives make a discovery buried under their former foster home.


This book hooked me from the very beginning. I loved the multi POV. Sally Hepworth is a master at her craft.

Thank you @netgalley for a chance to read the arc.

This book had an interesting premise and though Hepworth's books are hit or miss for me, I was very curious to read this one. The story is intriguing, though the pace slower than I had hoped for. All in all, however, a solid thriller from this popular author!

Jessica, Alicia, and Norah are sisters in every way that matters. Bonded by childhood trauma, this story starts with them navigating their lives 25 years after leaving the foster care of Holly Fairchild.

When human remains are discovered under the house during its demolition, the women are forced to confront things that they thought they had left behind forever.

Several POV and time jumps work wonders in building the characters in this book without feeling like a chore. The story is compelling and page-turning worthy.

Sally Hepworth does it again! As soon as you think you have it figured out....just know that you don't. This book has twists right up until the very last page. It is a gripping, psychological thrill ride! Preorder, add to your wishlist, do what you need to do to get this book on your TBR. Thank you to St. Martin Press (through NetGalley) for the advanced copy! I cannot wait to have it physically in my hands come release day.

I could not put this book down all weekend! I love Sally Hepworth and this is her best to date! The character development is perfect! I loved (and hated) all of these characters! Don’t let this one pass you by!

I was not expecting this book to be as heavy as it was. I feel like it has more trigger warnings than her other books do. But it has her classic short chapters and edge of your seat vibe. I can see it being a BOTM pick!

This was not the caliber of her previous books. Even the writing seemed off as if it was an older less refined book of hers. I’d still read though!

I normally love Sally Hepworth books, but this one was so boring I couldn't get into it. I kept waiting for it to get interesting and it never happened. I'm so disappointed.

It has taken me a long time to get through this book. For some reason, I don't find it to be super engaging. I do love Sally Hepworth's books so I am a bit disappointed that I wasn't drawn into it.

Darling Girls is a well written psychological thriller/mystery. I have to say this book captivated my attention right from the start, and I kept wanting more time to read.

Jessica, Alicia, and Norah share more than thing in common. They all had traumatic childhoods that landed them at Wild Meadows in foster care under Miss Fairchild. At first glance Miss Fairchild seems like the picture perfect mother but she is anything but that. The 3 girls may not be biological sisters but they share a bond just as strong if not stronger. Jessica struggles with OCD, Alicia has a very low self esteem, and Norah is known to have anger and aggression issues. The development of the characters was one of my favorite parts of the book. You feel like you know each of them well and sympathize with their struggles associated with their upbringing.

The storyline goes back and forth between the past and present with a twist when a dead body is found beneath their old foster home. Whose body is it? Do the girls know more than they are telling.

I really enjoyed this book and was invested in the story and am still trying to process the ending.

Trigger warnings for child abuse, foster care, and drug abuse. Thanks to NetGalley for and ARC.

If Sally Hepworth can't get your attention, no one can!
Darling Girls is a psychological mystery following three foster sisters on a journey to discover what truly happened in their former foster home. There are definitely some major triggers in this story (abuse, neglect, negative foster care experiences) that any reader should be aware of before starting the story. I personally felt that the author handled all of this very well, however, I wish that the author's note about foster care was included in the beginning of the story rather than the end of the story. I think that perspective would really help readers that might be triggered by the negative views of foster care to go into the story prepared for any triggering content.

I really loved the dual timeline-- the pacing between timelines was perfect. I felt like I was getting just enough information in each timeline to feel intrigued, but not bogged down.

I very rarely rate thriller/mystery/psychological books higher than 4 Stars, but this one earned every single star. I'm already itching to go back to re-read to look for breadcrumbs that I might have missed along the journey the first time!
Thank you to Sally Hepworth and Netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This book was a bit slow to start, quickly picking up. There were so many twists and turns at times it was hard to follow, but once all the loose ends came together it made sense and I was looking forward to how it all wrapped up. I will say there is a lot of child abuse description in this book it was sometimes hard to get through I had to skim those parts. What I loved was the sisterhood that came out three foster girls. It shows how people can be tied together forever without sharing blood.

WHAT A CRAZY MIXED UP BOOK! this is one of those stories you almost feel bad for loving , due to its darkness, but it was a slam dunk!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I really liked the three main characters, three young women who grew up in an awful foster home that bonds them for life. I loved the character development and the growth in their adult lives. It was hard to read the abuse they suffered and at times it felt a bit overdone/over dramatic. There was also a mystery of whose bones were found under the house and where that person came from and who killed them. Overall a very good read. 4.5