Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Apr. 23, 2024
Alicia, Jessica and Norah in every way that counts, even though they aren’t biologically related. After spending time together at Miss Fairchild’s foster home, the three grew close as they tried to navigate Miss Fairchild’s ever-changing moods. Now, the women are adults with lives of their own, and although they still struggle with their past trauma, they have tried to move beyond it. Until the day when police officers tell them that they found a body buried underneath their old foster home. Alicia, Jessica and Norah will have to revisit old wounds, and uncover dirty secrets, in order to find justice.
“Darling Girls” is the sixth novel I’ve read by Australian author Sally Hepworth. Like “The Good Sister”, “The Younger Wife” and “The Mother-in-Law”, I found “Girls” to be compelling and engaging.
Alicia, Jessica and Norah all take turns with the narration but there is also a portion of the novel that is told by an unidentified person, whose tale is told through visits with a psychologist. As the plot unfolds, I made some speculations about who the unidentified narrator could be, and it wasn’t until the ending was near that I was able to ascertain the speaker’s identity. Hepworth has a way to keep a reader guessing, and I was immediately pulled in.
The three women are unique enough to differentiate between them, and their sisterly relationship is endearing and charming. As experiences from their past are revealed, I immediately felt a mixture of anger and sympathy, and hoped for retribution (which Hepworth delivered in spades, thank goodness).
The crimes and abuse that took place in the foster home are difficult for some to read although for me, since I work in the field, I was not affected by it (yes, I’m jaded) however I was still able to empathize and want justice for the women. I appreciate Hepworth’s research for this novel as well, and her ability not to paint all “foster kids” as “dangerous criminal in the making”. Believe it or not, this is a unique perspective and I appreciate Hepworth’s compassion.
Anything by Hepworth earns top billing, in my view, and I look forward to what she creates next!

I found Darling Girls to be a very quick and easy read. In this story, we go back & forth in time and look into the lives of 3 foster sisters - Alicia, Jessica, and Norah. In the present, when they are each notified that a body was found on the property of their former foster home, past traumas resurface. The author takes us on a journey through time to piece together the puzzle of what happened to 3 young girls... and the unidentified body.

I've struggled with this book because I absolutely adored all of Sally Hepworth's other novels and I have the biggest fan girl crush on her as a person (especially with that adorable new pixie do!) and I really really really really wanted to love this book.

But the characters we just not sympathetic to (for?) me. I know, I'm a horrible person because who hates the orphans? I guess I do.

I am so sorry Sally....

Three adult “sisters” are called back to their foster home when bones are discovered during the excavation of their former foster home. The girls were badly abused by their foster mother during their time at the home and returning to the town is bringing up those horrible memories and showing them how much that time has affected them as adults. Through the narration we also learn the backstory of the “mother” and the mysterious fourth sister. During the investigation, the girls (and the reader) try to discover if they are correct as to whose bones have been discovered.

I had a hard time with reading the scenes of the abuse of the girls (and honestly it wasn’t that bad) and I think it was just the headspace I was in at the time. This was a page turner and I stayed up late reading it because I wanted to know what happened. I enjoyed all the twists and turns and the more I think about it the more I’ve decided how much I liked this one. I am definitely going to her backlist.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC to review

“Darling Girls” is a thriller/mystery by Sally Hepworth. I’ve read a few of Ms. Hepworth’s books so I knew going in that this was most likely going to be another book I’d enjoy. What I really liked about the book was getting to know the main characters - both in the present and the past. I could see why they decided to “stick together” like sisters both back then and even currently - it seemed like survival. However, all that being said, I know that some foster parents aren’t the best - but then some parents aren’t the best. But there are also a number of wonderful loving homes (and parents) so focusing on the horribleness of foster families (and workers) just bothered me. I liked the overarching plot of this book … until the very end. I’m not sure if that was tacked on for shock value but it just bothered me for some reason. There are a number of triggers in this book, a lot of child abuse (whether mental or physical). I’d saw that it’s an interesting plot and well written, just a messed up psychological book. In the end, I’m glad that Jessica will get the help she so obviously needed - and I’m glad that her sisters will continue to support her, as they also go about living their own lives. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Wow a rare read where the characters, the setting and the plot align so perfectly you feel like part of the story.
The girls stories tug on your heart strings and yet they exude strength. Each character perfectly created to make this story flow.
Past and presents are told in a way that bring life to the story.
There is horror as we learn about the past and suspense as we await the reveal about the present.
I adored the writing and these characters. The story was a real Page turner and I found it hard to put down.
This one is a must read!

Sally Hepworth is one of my go to authors for an all-consuming reading experience. Once you start one of her books, you just *need* to finish it. That said, Darling Girls got more difficult to read as I got deeper. It got more dark and it made my stomach twist. If child abuse and neglect are a heavy no TW for you, this book will not be for you. Nothing is mentioned in graphic detail, but I’m a mom, and becoming a mom ruined my sensitivity meter. I already imagine the worst things - I don’t want to imagine more. But the twist at the end almost makes up for that pain. It doesn’t take it away, but it loosens the knot. Overall, Darling Girls was a great suspense novel. I really loved the characters and the development of the sisters.

Sally Hepworth crafted another gripping psychological thriller that will pull you in as soon as you start the first chapter. With a childhood bond that will take them back decades, Norah, Jessica and Alicia unexpectedly revisit their horrific childhood as they piece together the unforgettable memories in foster care with their evil foster mother, Miss Fairchild. After finding human remains under the farmhouse where they lived and hoped to forget, the girls make a trip back to their painful past in hopes of assisting law enforcement uncover the cold-blood killer of the discovered. Was Miss Fairchild finally getting what she deserved? Would she finally be prosecuted after all these years? This book will have you at the edge of your seat as it flashes from the past to the present and unveils the awful and traumatic childhood years of the three protagonists. I highly recommend!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Sally Hepworth and #NetGalley for the ARC and opportunity to read and review this suspenseful read!

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy to review. This book is expected to publish in April 2024.

This story is told in past and present and is told in the POVs of Jessica, Norah, Alicia and Miss Fairchild. While I enjoyed reading about the past to learn how it affected the future, I didn't enjoy the characters. The villain was my favorite character. The other characters fell flat in my opinion and I didn't feel a connection to them. Miss Fairchild was the most developed character and is very hateable. Honestly, I don't think you needed the three sisters in this story. I would have liked if the story developed more around Miss Fairchild and Dr. Warren.

WHOA I didn't see the twist at the end! Overall, it's 3 1/2 stars for me, rounded to 4 for this review.

I've been an avid reader of Sally Hepworth's books since 2019. Each of her previous books ("The Mother-in-Law", "The Good Sister", "The Younger Wife", and "The Soulmate") have touched on some element of psychology and/or therapy. "Darling Girls" is quite possibly my favorite Sally Hepworth book to date due to how masterfully each character was developed and tied into the plot (which, despite having read Sally Hepworth's other books, still managed to surprise me with a twist at the end!). I always appreciate the research that goes into creating each book, and it's clear that Sally Hepworth consulted with a number of individuals who are intimately familiar with the foster care and social work systems. This book is simultaneously heart-warming and heart-breaking, and once I got about a quarter of a way into the book, I could hardly put it down. The pacing of the story itself is excellent, and honestly, I don't have any thoughts on how it could be improved upon. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC, and I look forward to reading more of Sally Hepworth's books in the years to come!

Darling Girls
Sally Hepworth
5⭐️
Wow! What a chilling, crazy thriller! Up until the end.. I will say that it was super interesting reading about foster kids and the types of trauma/problems that they face.. made me feel so sad and wish that I could make it all better for these kids. Miss Fairchild.. ugh.. she’s the worst.

I was invested in the book the whole time! So good!

If I get a chance to ready a Sally Hepworth book early, I take it! Jessica, Norah and Alicia are bonded for life-the bonds that form when you are all alone, with no family. They were three foster sisters who came to live on a farm with their foster mother, Miss Fairchild.

When bones are discovered buried under the farmhouse of their childhood, they are contacted by police to explain their side AND have no choice but to face their past.

The story opens in the office of Dr. Warren, a quirky psychiatrist who is a bit off-putting but I’m not sure why…? The story alternates between the past and the present, sharing the point of view of the three girls and their life growing up at Wild Meadows and the secrets it holds.

Like she always does, Sally Hepworth hands us another unforeseen, jaw dropping ending that I love so much!

I gave this one a solid 4⭐️! Thank you Net Galley for the ARC, this was an enjoyable read!

Darling Girls was a super well written book! It was an easy read and hard to put down. I often read Sally Hepworth's books and found this to be a great story. just not my favorite of hers. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

Sally Hepworth’s “Darling Girls” is a masterfully crafted domestic thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. The intricate web of secrets, complex characters, and well-paced suspense make this book a page-turner. Hepworth’s storytelling is gripping, and she expertly weaves together the lives of the three women at the center of the story. The exploration of motherhood, friendship, and the dark mysteries that bind them is both riveting and thought-provoking. “Darling Girls” is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a suspenseful and emotionally charged narrative.
Thank you to NetGalley, Sally Hepworth and her publisher for this book in exchange for my honest review.

A resounding 5 stars for this one. Thanks to NetGalley for this gem of a book. Loved the alternating character chapters and timelines. Honestly I think everything about this book just worked really well. Also the ending 🫶🏼

Woah, i loved this! This book kept me guessing until the very end! The story follows 3 foster sisters as they are brought back to their foster home decades later to help uncover the truth about the remains found buried under the farmhouse. Thank you to Net Galley for my ARC.

This book is very intense. It switches between current day and the past and present the twist really catches you off guard! Sally Hepworth did a wonderful job keeping you hooked into the story.

Darling Girls is a psychological mystery that kept me guessing until the end.
Three girls, Norah, Jessica and Alicia from separate homes have formed a strong unbreakable bond. Sisters always! A non traditional family they have formed. When bones are unearthed under the foster home of Miss Fairchild, a place they all want to forget. The sisters are asked to return as the police requested of them.
A gripping, twisted mystery as the layers unfold, complex layers.
Who do the bones belong to? Were the three girls involved? If not then who?

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

Sally Hepworth did not disappoint!

Darling Girls tells the story of Jessica, Alicia, and Nora who were all fostered at the same home when they were children. After leaving Wild Meadows and Miss Fairchild, they leave behind shared trauma and doubts about what was real and not.

Wild Meadows has been demolished, and a body is found. The girls need to work together and try to remember their past while they figure out just whose body was under the foundation.

I loved how this book looked at trauma and how it can linger well into being an adult. Each sister felt a bond with the others that is stronger than any blood bond. Each has their own way of dealing with the past, and trying to make a way forward. I appreciate how this subject was approached by Hepworth.

I've read all of Hepworth's books and this one is my new favorite! The pacing was incredible, the different POV's kept me interested, and just when I thought I had it figured out, and new twist was thrown into the mix. Recently, it seems that a lot of newer books have twists thrown in that doesn't fit into the story well, luckily that was not the case with Darling Girls.

OMG! THIS ONE IS WORTH THE WAIT!

DARLING GIRLS by Sally Hepworth had me walking around because the adrenaline was coursing through my body so fast I just HAD to move.

Jessica, Norah and Alicia share an unshakable bond. They were all victims of Miss Fairchild, the sadistic, overbearing foster mother they were placed with in their early teen years. Decades later, while still close, they have all settled into their own lives and careers but the sins of the past come back to haunt them. Contacted by Detective Patel after an infant’s remains are found at Wild Meadows Foster Home, the women return to the area to answer questions about the baby’s remains. What secrets are the women hiding from that long ago and now, for each of the women has been keeping secrets from her “sisters”. And what happens when Miss Fairchild comes back into the picture, not so different from the woman they couldn’t wait to get away from.

It’s no surprise to me that I absolutely loved DARLING GIRLS as I have enjoyed every thriller coming from the mind of Sally Hepworth. Her writing is flawless, and she keeps the thrills coming with twists and turns I didn’t see coming. If you love, dark, twisty thrillers, don’t miss the latest from one of the best writers out there.

Thank you to NetGalley and Saint Martin’s press for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.