Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth

Darling Girls is now my favorite Sally Hepworth book. She is one of my go to authors and this one did not disappoint.

This psychological thriller centered around three grown foster sisters. The twist of who the patient was in Dr. Warren’s sessions was perfect.

Keep your eye out for this one when it comes out in April! Thank you @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the early copy.

This is the first book that I've read by Sally Hepworth and it did not disappoint! I always love a story where a character has to come back to their hometown or childhood home and discover a secret when they go back. Even more so, I love a story with multiple POVs `It was an easy read for me and I couldn't put it down. Also, it makes me want to check out more of the author's books.

Excellent thriller. I really enjoyed this book. The backstory of each individual woman involved was well written along with how their complex traumas have effected their adult lives. The story had me interested from start to finish, nothing was boring about the writing at all. I really liked the perspective of Miss Fairchild with the psychiatrist. That was such a nice touch to the story as you weren’t entirely sure who was the patient until the very end! Just when I thought the book was over, the last plot twist was amazing.

Add this book to your TBR right NOW!
It’s by far my favorite book by this author.


So far, all her books have been quick domestic thrillers.
This one was way more chilling! I loved everything about it!


Alicia, Jessica and Norah were fostered by Miss Fairchild, and they had suffered what can only be described as hell on Earth. From psychological to physical abuse - gigantic trigger warnings here!


They are all living their own grownup lives, when the police call with shocking news - bones have been discovered under their childhood home. It’s time to face their fears and go back to their childhood town.


I was thinking of reasons not to give it 5 stars and I couldn't. So, five stars it is!

"Darling Girls" by Sally Hepworth is a gripping exploration of the intricacies of human relationships and the haunting power of the past. Hepworth weaves a tale that delves deep into the lives of Alicia, Jessica, and Norah, seemingly ordinary women whose past binds them in ways unimaginable.

The narrative effortlessly oscillates between the present and the past, drawing readers into the enigmatic world of Miss Fairchild's farm, where the girls spent their childhood. Hepworth masterfully portrays the complexities of their bond, depicting each character's quirks—Jessica's OCD, Norah's anger issues, and Alicia's low self-esteem—in a nuanced and relatable manner.

The discovery of bones buried beneath the farmhouse catapults the trio back into a past they thought they had escaped. The author skillfully navigates the psychological turmoil of the characters as they confront their shared history and the enigmatic Miss Fairchild. The tension builds steadily, keeping readers on the edge as they unravel the secrets buried deep within the characters' pasts.

Overall, Hepworth's "Darling Girls" is a compelling, atmospheric thriller that skillfully blends mystery, suspense, and human drama, making it a must-read for fans of psychological fiction.

Highly recommend!

This is a heart wrenching story about three girls who end up in the same foster home. The three “sisters” are complicated, interesting and resilient. I enjoyed hearing from each woman/girl as the story unfolded.

Darling Girls is a well written book that will keep you turning pages and guessing who is buried under the house.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

LOVED it. I have enjoyed all of this author's books, so I expected to like this one just as much. And I did, even more so. I opened it while the plane was boarding and between taking a few naps, walking up and down the aisle, I read this in one session. I actually finished it while taxiing to the gate and I was hoping it would be just enough time, and it was. Phew.

What a great read. From the first page you are drawn into the story of three sisters. They grew up together in a foster home in the country and now a body has been found under the home while being demolished to build a McDonald's. It's the little details like that that make Sally's writing just extra special. She has a way of knowing how the reader thinks, and drops a few tidbits that will think she wrote the book just for you.

I highly recommend Darling Girls and each and every other book from this author. You will NOT be disappointed. No one does domestic drama/thrillers like Sally Hepworth!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC!!

This is my first read from the author and it will definitely not be my last! I literally could not put this book down and finished in less than a day. I love the writing style and how it goes between present day, past time, and some unknown time in the timeline with a psychiatrist. Also did not see the ending. Amazing book

Round of applause for Sally Hepworth. This book is excellent. Hands down this was a five star read, as it managed to include realistic and empathic characters I cared about, said characters all learned and grew, a wildly compelling storyline, twists I didn’t see coming but which were entirely satisfying, and resolutions for everyone. NOT EASILY DONE!

I loved the writing, I loved the sisters, I loved the way the book introduced each sister via her introduction to Wild Meadows, the idyllic foster home that’s in fact a nightmare due to the insidious abuse of their “caretaker” Miss Fairchild. I loved the sessions with Dr Warren. I even loved the epilogue with its final twist.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

5/5 stars, can’t wait for Hepworth’s next!

I requested this one because Sally Hepworth is an automatic read for me. This book was different than her usual ones because the "family" in this story is not as traditional as the other books she has written. The different perspectives always makes for unreliable narrators but I did find that some of the outcomes were predictable. While some topics can be triggering for some readers, I do like how Hepworth explored how people's response to trauma manifests in adulthood through the lives of the three women.

Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review,

'm a fan of Sally Hepworth and I know that thrillers are supposed to push the boundaries for the twists, but I didn't quite love this one. Her writing was great and it was a quick read (I pretty much read it in a day). Her acknowledgments and thorough research led to the story about the foster care system as a whole and I commend Hepworth for that.

Yet, I am a children's librarian and I really love kids. Reading the story about the child abuse was HARD and sad. I knew that going into reading this book and it wasn't triggering, but it wasn't a pleasant read for me. It really does make me consider fostering/adopting children in the future, so I am glad that Hepworth did shed a light on the foster care system. Obviously, not EVERY foster child goes through something traumatic, but as most systems, I think change can be possible.

I rounded it up to 3 stars, since the ending twist was really good. Did not expect that. If you are a fan of Hepworth, you may like this one - just wasn't for me.

Following the lives of three sisters brought together through foster care, Darling Girls kept me on my toes the whole time. When they are called back to their old foster home to face secrets, they all cope in different ways. Going back and forth between present and past, more is revealed about their living conditions and how it shaped who they have all become. This one definitely has some triggers so check those before going into it. But the anonymous POV in the therapist office was my favorite part and thats all I have to say about that! This comes out in April 2024 and I highly recommend it. Sally Hepworth is quickly becoming an auto buy author for me! Overall I rate this book a 4/5 star!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a copy of this work in exchange for my honest review!

This author has done it again. I was fully immersed in this book and really enjoyed it. This book is a bit different from the others I have read and I really enjoyed the guessing game with who is seeing the therapist throughout the book. I liked how this book tied in the background to the present and how there is redemption at the end that leaves no loose ends. I will be looking forward to my next read from this author. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

This is my third Sally Hepworth novel, and I think she's reliably become an auto-buy author for me. I've loved everything from her I've read, and I need to prioritize reading her entire backlist. In a world of mediocre, fill-in-the-blank thrillers, Hepworth writes them with characters I actually care about and twists that actually surprise me.

All that being said, this novel fell short of the incredibly high expectations I had, based on The Mother-In-Law and The Good Sister. I felt that the decision to have three major characters readers followed, instead of the two featured in the previous Hepworth novels I read, really impacted how much time and development was given to those characters. I kind of wonder if Hepworth was trying to challenge herself with three main characters instead of two, and if so, I think it's a promising start, but needs some refining. I loved all three women individually as characters, but I think I would have loved them even more if more time had been given to each. As for the twists, I'll admit I did guess most of them, but I still absolutely loved the unravelling of the mystery and the use of dual timelines. Sally Hepworth has always impressed me with her use of dual timelines. I loved Norah the most as a character, but I personally related to Jessica the most. She's been so conditioned to people-please and hide what she considers "messy emotions" that her physical health takes a toll. I loved her character development. Alicia was a well-written character, but definitely the least interesting to me. Miss Fairchild was something of a triggering character to read about, but I also think she was incredibly intriguing and nuanced.

All in all, I loved this book and highly recommend it to lovers of thrillers and dual timelines! Hepworth seems like an author who can do no wrong. If you are able, I recommend the audiobook for the full Australian experience.

Sally’s a fantastic writer and the characters in her books have depth and are interesting. The story keeps you engaged throughout the entire book. I didn’t want it to end.

Years ago, Jessica, Alicia and Norah were foster children at Miss Fairchild's house. Her Darling Girls. But Miss Fairchild ran a strict household and she was not to be messed with. At any costs.
Now adults, the three sisters are convinced the past is behind them, until the cops contact them to discuss new findings at their previous foster house. Sometimes the past isn't burried as deep as you think.

I could not put this book down. This is my new all time favourite by Sally Hepworth. I loved the various povs and I did not see the ending coming.

This was an excellent read. The characters suck you in, and the twists keep coming until the very end.

I’m always excited for a new Sally Hepworth offering! This wasnt my favorite of hers but it was still a solid psychological thriller, this author’s bread and butter! Won’t be turning down reading one of her books any time soon.

Sally! You did it Again! I devour her books and this was yet another I couldn’t get enough of. Just enough suspense with great characters

This was probably one of my favorite reads of 2023. I loved the writing style. I love that it was told from so many perspectives but it was very clear. This book fluctuates between past and present, but I never felt lost. There is a lot to unpack in this book, but it was such a great read!

The story is about a woman named Miss Fairchild, who is a foster mother. Her home is perfect for raising kids. She fosters and ends up adopting Jessica, her first foster. Norah and Alicia quickly follow. Something changes in Ms. Fairchild, she is obsessed with cleaning and not to be crossed. Her punishments are severe. Soon after, Ms. Fairchild starts bringing in babies to increase her income. The girls end up caring for the babies. They are sisters forever and have an unbreakable bond. Fast forward to the future and bones are discovered beneath Ms. Fairchild’s home. An investigation begins and no one knows who to trust!

I really enjoyed this book, can’t wait to read more books by Sally Hepsworth! Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and the author for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. My opinions are my own.