One word, amazing! From the very beginning I was captivated. Jessica, Alicia, and Norah were all portrayed so well as being raised within the foster care system. Their personal issues were very well thought out and shown throughout the entire book. Miss Fairchild was a force and kept things very interesting. Kept me guessing the whole way to the end.

Once again, Sally Hepworth wrapped her fingers into me and didn’t let go until I finished this book. What a great story about the sad state of fostering. Although this story took place in Australia, the US is also in bad shape sometimes. I know there are good people that foster, but unfortunately there are bad also. Loved this book and I loved the last twist. Thank you to Netgalley, as always for an early read.

I can’t believe I am giving a Sally Hempworth novel only two stars, well maybe 2.5. I got about halfway through this book and considered not finishing it. I kept going, and when I got to about the 70% mark things did pick up. However, after that, thanks went downhill again for me. The “sisters“ started getting on my nerves, and I really did not connect with any of them other than Jessica, maybe. The last 5% of the book had my head spinning. I didn’t quite understand what was going on, and when I finally did, it left me irritated. I think the same shocking ending could’ve been accomplished without the book being quite as drawn out as it was with the “sisters” and their ventures trying to figure out what happened to Amy. I honestly wouldn’t recommend this book at all.

This was an excellent thriller that kept me guessing the whole time! It was unexpected and fresh. I would definitely recommend this book!

This is my first, but hopefully not last book by this author. It was quick to grab my interest and kept it the whole way though, which can be hard with multiple timelines and POV’s happening at once. Characters were captivating and the character development was great. Would recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you St. Martins Press for the ARC of Sally Hepworth's Darling Girls.

What a RIDE. I loved all of the characters in this book, even if it was to love to hate them. They were all nuanced and fleshed out perfectly. The story was fast-paced and I could not put it down.

If you are looking for a twisty, shocker of a novel, look no further. Another win for Sally Hepworth!

Jessica, Norah, and Alicia became sisters in foster care. However, is their strong bond due to more than just similar circumstance, or a much deeper trauma?

***

I feel like Hepworth took a bit of a swerve on this one, and I really enjoyed it. As an author that has cornered a piece of the family drama / slow thriller genre, I really appreciate she was able to take that expertise and apply it to what felt like a very different type of plot! It was also perfectly paced, which is not something I always feel for her novels.

Jessica is the most fleshed out character of the three sisters, as we get more time with her, and she gets more time with Miss Fairchild, however, I still really enjoyed Norah's character. The only character that fell sort of flat for me was Alicia. I love her work stuff, but her personal life felt a little weirdly forced. That is a really small bone to pick. Miss Fairchild is also incredibly interesting, and I found how the story wrapped up wholly satisfying.

Definitely one of the best Hepworth books to date. Would definitely recommend if you are a fan of hers, especially The Good Sister. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance copy in exchange for this honest review.

4.5 stars!
I always love reading Sally Hepworth’s new books! Like all the others, this one had me reading in the middle of the night because I was hooked. She keeps the suspense and surprises going until the very end! Special thanks for this ARC to the publishers, NetGalley, and of course, Sally.

I always enjoy how Sally Hepworth gradually spins out a tale with multiple narrators and timelines. This one is equally windy and and full of surprises. For me, it was also a rather hard read because of all the descriptions of foster child abuse, putting the dark in dark and twisty.

I'm always a huge fan of Sally Hepworth books and this one didn't disappoint! It wasn't my favourite of hers, I'm not quite sure why, but it still held my interest throughout the novel. The pace was a little bit slower, however the characters were well developed and we had some creepy twists in there that I didn't see coming.
I wasn't 100% sure how I feel about the ending...BUT, didn't make me like the book any less.
Always enjoy a good Sally Hepworth book and looking forward to her future ones!
Thank you for the ARC copy :)

I was utterly captivated by the book, and I owe my enchanting experience to my dear friend Marie, who shared this literary journey with me. The characters became my companions, their essence so palpable that I felt their every emotion. Just when I thought I had the plot figured out, the author masterfully deceived me, leaving me in awe and earning the story an imaginary Oscar in my heart.

The ending was a whirlwind of emotions, a perfect blend of surprise and satisfaction. I found myself both saddened and overjoyed as the main characters discovered each other and forged a remarkable friendship. Their bond was so genuine that even in the face of adversity, they stood together, proving that solidarity in tough times is the most profound testament to friendship.

Throughout the book, I was moved to tears and laughter, my heart swelling with a myriad of emotions. Sally Hepworth's storytelling prowess is commendable, weaving a tale so poignant and heartwarming that it left me profoundly grateful for the experience. Thank you, Sally Hepworth, for crafting a narrative that touched the depths of my soul and left me with a heart full of emotions and a mind brimming with admiration.

Anything Sally Hepworth writes I will give a chance. Her stories are consistently bing worthy and this one was no different. I started last night and didn't stop until now. I really love the genuine bond between the sisters and how they each handled their trauma as adults. Mrs. Fairchild was sufficiently awful and a satisfactory villain for this drama. I wouldn't term this as a thriller. Maybe a light psychological thriller. The plot is fast paced and the ending fit perfectly with the book. The only corrections I would recommend before the final print is heavy correction of spelling errors, punctuation errors, and grammatical errors. If you enjoy female led thrillers/mystery/drama I recommend this.
Thank you to Sally Hepworth and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.
3.5 stars

Three women are called back to the place where they lived with an abusive foster mother when bones are unearthed there.

The timeline alternates between the past and present, interspersed with therapy sessions for a character whose identity quickly becomes apparent. While the foster sisters understandably have issues resulting from their trauma, I found the offbeat tone of the present-day storyline incongruous and distracting. The past storyline dealt sensitively with a difficult topic, but I thought the mystery was weak, using intentionally delayed information and a twist that undermined the motivations of the antagonist.

4.5/5

What an original story!
The ending was so crazy. I can’t believe it. You actually started feeling bad for Ms. Fairchild.
The story goes between then perspectives of Jessica, Norah, and Alicia. Sisters, who met in foster care under the car of Ms. Fairchild. It goes between the past and present of the three girls and Ms. Fairchild.

Definitely worth the read! Sally Hepworth doesn’t disappoint.

Well done, Sally Hepworth. I was invested in each of the three sisters and thought I knew what had happened at Wild Meadows Farm. However, as the story evolved, I kept guessing and was proved wrong every time.
I was also moved by the degree of mental anguish and relationship barriers children face as a result of their experiences with abusive adults such as these.
Thank you to the publishers at NetGalley for the advanced reader copy to review.

Sally Hepworth does it again! Darling girls is a story of the broken foster care system and the awful and often invisible psychological abuse of those in power. The trigger warnings are vast in this book, and in many parts it was very hard to read. I admit I had more than one nightmare while reading this book before bed. That said, I still give this book 5 stars for the incredible storytelling and redemption.

This is the story of three women who were in a foster home together and now consider themselves sisters. A skeleton is discovered under their old home and they come together to figure out who it is, Each woman had a very different childhood and I enjoyed each character. I enjoyed this quick read, but I found the surprise ending a little forced

I loved this book so much. About 3 sisters journey through foster care together, at one house in particular years ago, it’s been knocked down recently and they found bones under the house !? Very good book just in all I loved it. I never read books again but I would definitely love to have a copy of this book !

The story that keeps on giving until the thrilling end. So many times throughout the story I thought I had it figured out, BUT I didn’t. What a great surprise! This psychological thriller has so much energy. We travel through the lives of three foster sisters; Jessica, Alicia, and Norah. They are adults now but their earlier lives at Wild Meadows, the home of foster mother Miss Fairchild, was an unfortunate nightmare while in her care.

The girls stayed close as the years went on. They have adult lives now but childhood traumas creep into their lives daily. One day, the police investigate a suspicious circumstance that occurred at Wild Meadows many years ago. The girls must return to their old foster home and face their demons while trying to help figure out what happened.

The way Hepworth builds her characters and immerses us into their life is remarkable. It was as if I was watching a mini series and each time I put the book down and picked it back up, I was watching the next exciting episode. This is a true thrill ride that doesn’t slow down around corners.

A perfect mystery read for anyone who loves a good story that will make you laugh, cry, sit on the edge of your seat, and be thankful you aren’t one of the characters living the horror. This would be a great book to movie! We can hope!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this book.

Sally Hepworth is an auto-read author for me. This book, while not my favorite of hers, did not disappoint. The book was filled with twists and turns and kept me guessing and eager to read more. Ms. Fairchild is an odd character, and I like how the past was weaved with the present. I did not anticipate the ending. Worth a read.