I loved this book. The characters were amazing. It is a great view into the bonds that foster children can share. And how they look out for each other. Also helped you to understand how the foster mother became the person she was. I would recommend this book 100%.

This story follows three girls through their journey into foster care and then farther into adulthood. Jessica, Norah, and Alicia have been through so much together that they are sisters no matter what their blood says. Living in the same house and banding together saved them. The girls are all living their lives, somewhat functionally when they get the call. Bones have been discovered under the house they used to live in. The three women drop everything in their lives to return to the place that they have never wanted to go back to. They are worried that they may know whose bones were found and just how they got there.

I have been in foster care and this story was somewhat of the brutal reality that kids go through. The emotions that they feel at knowing they will not be believed even if they tell someone is a harsh truth that is often overlooked. I loved the plotline of this book. It was such a pleasure to unravel the mystery of the bones and the twists that the story took to get there were great. I could not get my jaw off the floor at the end. That was amazing. I continue to be a huge fan of Sally Hepworth after reading this one!

First and foremost, this novel has a special place in my heart for Sally Hepworth has told a gripping story built on well-researched facts from foster homes and foster children.

My heart goes out to children in this entire world!

Secondly, this novel is a mind-blowing domestic thriller that left me disheveled, bewildered and enchanted at the same time. I was fascinated by the amazing bond of sisters from another womb and repulsed by the manipulative foster parents and social workers.

Beware, Sally Hepworth acknowledgement at end of her story helped me balance my feelings and brought my appreciation for foster parents as well social workers who focus on children’s wellbeing with their hearts and minds.

Last but not least, this novel is a perfect premise to raise your appetite for more reading and more stories. Impeccable storytelling, sophisticated plot and mind-blowing twists and turn that will keep you guessing.

Thank you NetGalley!!! Love you tons 😍😍😍
Thank you Sally Hepworth!!! Aka Queen of domestic thriller. 😍😍😍

Another high five to Sally Hepworth! This novel was engaging, a very quick read, and had a nice twist at the end.

Darling Girls is consummate Sally Hepworth, but it's also a bit different. There's a mystery at the heart of it, but along the way, you're more and more drawn in by the characters--in this case, three sisters who were brought together by foster care under the same twisted roof. We go back and forth in time and get to know each of the the three girls, and the women they have become 25 years later, well. They all have issues, major issues, which follow them into adulthood, but they are moving characters and we root for them through the story's twists and revelations. There's a surprising ending (some might even call it shocking) but still, I maintain this one is more character driven than her usual.

This is now my favorite book by Sally Hepworth and I have loved every single other one I've read as well. so that's saying a lot!


Read if you love:
*Multiple POVs
*Multiple timelines
*Plot twists
*Mystery + Suspense

This is the 3rd book I read by Sally Hepworth and I really liked it. There are so many good books out there but so many similar basic storylines. This book is definitely different. The story goes back and forth in time for the 4 main characters, Miss Fairchild and 3 girls who were her foster children. There are bones discovered under the house they lived in. I really liked the backstories on all the girls and how they ended up being fostered, it also helped explain how they ended up living their current lifestyle. I really enjoyed how they were still close and basically were sisters. It was interesting to see the changes in Miss Fairchild over the years and kind of explain how she acted. Just when you think you understand it all,wham!, what a shocker! Great book!

4.5 stars! This is my first by Hepworth and whoa! I’m a fan! I have been on a big thriller kick and this did not disappoint. It kept me guessing till the end and the characters were well developed.

Past and present and different characters’ POV were masterfully woven!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC!!

As always with Sally Hepworth, another great read! I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5!! This story goes deep into the foster family system and makes you realize it really could be that BAD!!! Another surprising end to the book as well! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!!!

Such a page turner! Kept me guessing. Sally Hepworth is an incredibly talented author. I loved these characters and loved seeing their development.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for an advance eARC copy of Darling Girls in exchange for an honest review.

I truly enjoy Sally Hepworth's domestic thrillers, they truly feel like something you could actually witness. The multi-character narration, Australian setting, and orphan plot line make for a contemporary mystery that's easy to invest in. However, I do feel the last chapter of the book was the most exciting.

Sally Hepworth is an auto buy author for me. She has the amazing ability to hook you from the beginning. This is the story of 3 girls that were raised in a foster home. They are all called back home when remains are discovered under the home. The relationship between the girls is super endearing and I loved their connection. I went into this one blind and didn't know where it was going. Boy was I surprised!

This was so good. I have read all of Sally’s book and this did not disappoint! Twisted thriller with a shocker of an ending. Loved it!

Wow, what a good read from Sally Hepworth. This book kept me guessing until the very end. It had a lot of twists and turns which I had not predicted at all. This story is about three women who lived in a foster home growing up. These three become inseparable and consider themselves sisters. When bones show up buried under thier old foster home, the three sisters reunite and report to the police. As the story unfolds, you learn a lot about these three women and issues tbat arise because of their past. Thanks Netgalley for the advanced cooy of this book. I highly recommend this one, 4.5 stars

Yikes. I've loved every other novel from this author, but not this one. Way too dark and twisted for me. Heavy child abuse throughout the story; it felt way unnecessary.. We get it, they were abused. Overall would not recommend this story.

Great plot twists that are in Hepworth’s signature style. It was a little too disturbing for my tastes, so I had to skip some parts.

This was not my first Sally Hepworth novel but is my new favorite. I read The Mother-in-Law on a recommendation from Anne Bogel and thoroughly enjoyed it. Darling Girls is a tricky and twisty story of three ‘found’ sisters and their foster mother, Miss Fairchild. The girls are all damaged, each in their own way, but determined to help their sisters however they can. When a child’s skeleton is found in the basement, the police start questioning everyone. You have to hold on through some rough times but it was worth following their devotion to each other all the way to the end. Take a chance on Darling Girls.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC and the opportunity to post my honest review of Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth.
4 Stars – Pub. Date: April 23, 2024

Sally Hepworth is absolutely one of my auto-read author for me. I loved this one! With alternating timelines between present and growing up in a foster placement, this story outlines the lives of three girls- Jessica, Alicia, and Norah and their bond due to their shared experience. All of the girls ended up in the same home growing up and ultimately grew to become sisters, helping each other survive with a very abusive foster mother. When bones are discovered under the old house, they are asked to return to the town to help police with the investigation and ultimately to face the woman behind a lot of their trauma.

I was fascinated to read their stories of growing up- what they endured and how close they all became. This upbringing definitely impacted their adulthood- in all aspects, especially relationships. I loved how they all help each other out in different areas, some strengths will never go away.

I had some of this one figured out… I really thought I had it, but they of course our girl Sally had to throw in one final twist 🤯🤯 definitely pick this one up- you won’t regret it! Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

I love all of Sally Hepworth’s books. This one did not disappoint. It was told with multiple viewpoints and timelines which was sometimes hard to follow. I enjoyed the spotlight on the foster care system and its many flaws. Thank you for the ARC of this book!

Sally Hempworth is an entriguing author and storyteller. I was captivated from the first chapter and absolutely enjoyed where the book took me. The character development is outstanding and makes you emphasize with each of the sisters. The twist at the end was unexpected and well played. Definitely an enjoyable read!!