A masterful blend of character-driven drama and plot twists.

>Darling Girls delves into the complex lives of three foster sisters: Jessica, Norah, and Alicia.
>The foster sisters were raised by the enigmatic Miss Fairchild. Their idyllic past shrouded in secrets.

>When a body is found under their childhood home, their lives unravel. They become witnesses—or perhaps even suspects—in a chilling murder investigation.

>As the layers of secrecy peel away, we see the bonds between the sisters tested. Their loyalty, love, and shared trauma shape their choices.

>The novel explores themes of identity, trust, and the haunting power of the past. Prepare for twists, revelations, and a journey into the shadows.

🎧Jessica Clarke’s performance is gripping. She breathes life into each sister, weaving suspense and emotion.

The reveal at the end was okay but ultimately this had too much content that I am just not on board with, which is ultimately a me-problem. I probably should have just DNF'ed this one but I normally really like Sally's books. *Trigger warnings for child abuse in many forms.

As children, Jessica, Norah and Alicia were placed with Miss. Fairchild. From the outside, Miss. Fairchild was loving and life on her farm idyllic, the girls were lucky. In reality, the girls were subjected to unpredictable behavior, strict rules and abuse. Years later, the police call after finding a body on the property and want to ask the women questions. What happens is a heartbreaking and thrilling story of their childhood and what really happened with Miss. Fairchild.

What I liked: Let me pick my jaw up off the floor because that ending shocked me. I’m usually decent at guessing endings of thrillers and while the twist makes sense, I also was completely caught off guard. Way to go Sally!

I could not stop listening to this one. The flashbacks interspersed with the present-day details what the girls went through and how they are coping (or not). The story moved at a fast pace, keeping the reader engaged and guessing what would happen next.

Each character really felt like a separate person with a clear voice and motivations.

What didn’t work for me: I really liked this one, but I do think it’s darker than some of Sally’s other books and readers may want to look up content warnings before starting it. There were some difficult to listen to moments.

For the audiobook, I wish there were separate narrators for the different characters.

Who should read it: Grab this one for your beach/pool bag! You enjoy domestic thrillers and liked Hepworth’s other books.

Another amazing book by Sally Hepworth! I have yet to find one of her books that didn't impress me. The characters were so well developed and the story had me hooked from start to finish!

I feel like this book was more of a fiction book with a mystery subplot, not that this book was actually a mystery. There was nothing thrilling about this or even a little bit mysterious. I was more so interested in the characters in the story than the actual plot itself, which isnt always the best thing when you're supposed to be interested in the actual plot considering its supposed to be a mystery/thriller. I also didnt love the ending of this book. It was just a bit too slow moving for me and it felt like a slog to get through

I started reading Sally Hepworth a few books ago. I have enjoyed her books up until her last, The Soulmate, which I thought was quite awful. I debated whether to pick up her latest, Darling Girls, and am happy I did.

Darling Girls is a thriller that follows three foster sisters who all lived at Wild Meadows many years ago with their foster mother. When a body is found under Wild Meadows, the sisters must face their past and the maniacal woman who made it hell.

Darling Girls is narrated through two timelines – the past and the present, each examining both the viewpoints of all three foster sisters – along with an unidentified character telling their story to a therapist. Hepworth excels at creating multiple timelines that are easy to follow and differentiate. However, in this novel, the past timeline outshone the others and was the most interesting. I also think that switching between timelines created an inconsistent pace. Yet, I hardly noticed as I was enthralled with the story and wanted to uncover its mysteries. But, if you prefer only edge-of-your-seat thrillers, Darling Girls may not be for you.

The plot of Darling Girls is dark and ends with a twist (undoubtedly for shock value). For me, this story’s strength is the relationship between the three sisters. Although not related by blood, the three girls bond through their childhood trauma and act as a family going forward. The clear love and support they have for one another shined and ingratiated the story with me. As far as the final twist is concerned, I think some readers will love it, some will find it unnecessary, and others will start thinking of possible plot holes it causes. Your enjoyment of this novel really depends on the amount you critically examine books.

Often when a book has multiple protagonists, their identities and personalities blend together until they are undistinguishable. Hepworth created the three foster sisters with unique personalities that allow readers to easily recognize who is who. I found this to be a strong point of the book, although I wish their voices were as distinct as their personalities.

Overall, Darling Girls is a dark, entertaining thriller that will make you think both about people’s capacity for evilness and where the world redeems itself. I do recommend Darling Girls, but I acknowledge not everyone will love it.

Sally Hepworth can do no wrong in my eyes! I have loved all of the books I have read by her and Darling Girls was no exception. One of the best books I have read all year!
*I would definitely check trigger warning before reading as it does have some heavy topics.*

Darling Girls is the recent release from Sally Hepworth that focuses on three foster girls that live at the same foster care home run by Miss Fairchild. At face value everything seems perfect for the foster care home but the experiences of the foster kids is completely different. The three girls Jessica, Norah, and Alicia are abused and manipulated by their foster mother in a narcissistic environment that the girls bond over.

Each one of the girls come out scarred emotionally and mentally from their experiences in the house. As they get older they all realize that each of them have ended up suffering in their own ways. Jessica ends up with an addiction to drugs that she has stolen from the homes she works at. Norah uses her body to use men to get tasks completed at her home, and Alicia self sabotages any potential for love.

The three girls forge an unbreakable bond that is put to the test when they are forced to return to their foster home. The police notify the three that the body of a child has been discovered buried on the property. While Jessica isn't thrilled at the idea of returning, the other two are determined to find closure.

What the girls don't anticipate is running back into their foster mother as the crime scene is investigated. The return of Miss Fairchild in their lives stirs up all sorts of emotions and memories as the girls recall the past and deal with the present. During their return to the town they grew up in , truths are discovered to be lies and the girls reconnect with other foster girls that were raised at the foster home.

Through Darling Girls the narration is split between Jessica, Norah, and Alicia's past and present along with a doctor report of a patient discussing their past. As the reader delves more into Darling Girls the patient is revealed and the body of the child is revealed to be an unexpected child.

All together Darling Girls is a book that did not disappoint. In Hepworth's fashion there were some great twists and turns. All together a great suspense thriller that comes highly recommended. Until next time, Happy Reading!

This was a twisty one! I really like Sally Hepworth and was very excited to receive this ARC. I wanted to know how it would end from the first page. Already looking forward to her next book!

Darling Girls is the newest book from Sally Hepworth set in Australia. This is an interesting thriller told from the point of view of three young women, who were foster sisters living at Wild Meadows in Port Agatha. Their foster mother, Holly Fairchild, had two personas; the one the public saw as a loving women who took in young orphaned girls, and the other that was mean, emotionally abusive and more to her foster daughters. Jessica is the first foster child, 5 years old and will do anything to get Miss Fairchild's love and approval, Nora an 11 year old who has lived in several foster homes and learned how to protect herself, and Alicia who is 12 and moved in temporarily while her granny was in the hospital. When granny dies, she becomes a permanent foster child and struggles to adapt after her loving home. It is 25 years later and the girls are now adults, and don't think much about their time at Wildwood Meadows, but they all get calls from the police. Bones have been found on the property, can they come meet with the police.

Darling Girls is told in a dual timeline. We meet the girls when they are living with Miss Fairchild and what their lives were like. We also see them in the present, twenty-five years later, what they are doing, how their lives have turned out and what effect their lives as foster children had on them. They are close, calling themselves sisters and will do whatever they need to in order to help, support and protect one another. There is another POV that pops up throughout the story, that of a young woman speaking with a therapist. She didn't have a very good life and I was intrigued, yet saddened by her story. This isn't what I would call a thriller, but a suspenseful story with some surprising reveals/twists. The effects of trauma on a child, coupled with abuse (verbal, emotional, lack of food etc.) and how that affects a child plays out in various ways. The book has a slow plot, with the build up of the girls' story, then the mystery of who the bones belong to. I didn't know if I liked Norah, Jessica or Alicia very much, but based on what they went through and how it affected their lives, I sure felt for them. I was pulled into the story right from the first page and when that reveal came at the end, it all made sense to me. Besides the slow pace, and some repetition of their early life, I enjoyed this story. It wasn't a difficult read, but it does paint the foster child program in a negative light. Please read the author's notes about her research . I know not all foster parents and homes are like this one, but there are some and even one is too many.

Fast-paced mystery by Sally Hepworth! Great start to summer reading. Unputdownable! Sometimes revenge is the sweetest feeling there could ever be.

#revengeissweet #bookish #mystery #bookstagram

Thank you for the advanced copy of this book. My reviews can be read on my GoodReads account here: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1335387-kelly

I really enjoyed this one! Such a good audiobook narration. I loved the story, and it should be no surprise that Sally Hepworth wrote such a captivating one.

4.5⭐️
Love Sally Hepworth and loved this book!!

It is a story about child abuse in a foster home, so if you’re into dark thrillers... this definitely qualifies

Liked:
-Multiple POV
-Back and forth timeline
-relationship between the 3 sisters
-multiple jaw dropping moments and surprises
-each main character is dealing with things in their personal life + the main plot of the story. You feel like you really get to know each character!
-the mystery of whose bones under the house/ what happened

I guessed some of the twists, but the final moment left me shocked!!

One of my favorite authors! Her books do not disappoint, and this book is no exception! It kept me intrigued from the very first page! Such wonderful characters! This is a must read!

Darling Girls feels like a departure from Sally Hepworth’s regular books, but in the best way possible. This story weaves a web of twisted relationships, the need for love and connection and the lies we tell ourself. The three girls “thought” they had escaped from their evil foster mother until a child’s body is found under their old foster home as it is demolished. This brings them back home to help with the investigation and share what happened to them in their home as well as the missing 2 year old Amy who vanished one day while they were at school.

I'm a big fan of Sally Hepworth's! I had read many of her books. This one has been called gritty and dark - more than her other books. If you enjoy reading her books, I suggest you pick this one up.

I appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a review.

I love Sally Hepworth’s books, and this one is no exception! All I can say is, wow - that ending!

Check for trigger warnings before starting this story.

This story is told from the perspectives of Norah, Alicia, and Jessica. They were foster children who ended up together in the same placement. The story begins when they are contacted by the police because a body has been found buried under the location of the foster home they grew up in. The police have questions. This brings the girls back to a time and place that they never wished to return to, and back into contact with Miss Fairchild, their foster mother. Let’s just say, they don’t have fond memories or a wonderful relationship with Miss Fairchild.

The story bounces back and forth between the past and the present. The reader really gets to know Jessica, Norah, and Alicia, and all of their secrets and traumas. I really liked getting to know them and their stories. This book was hard to read at times, but handled very well by the author.

I really thought that I knew where this was headed. There were a lot of twists and turns - but the ending will take your breath away!

Thank you to NetGalley, St.Martin’s Press, and MacMillan audio for the opportunity to read and listen to this fantastic book! The audiobook and narration is incredible. This one is already out, so pick it up. I highly recommend this one!

The beginning is slow but the last 100 pages kept me so intrigued. I wanted to know how it ended but the pacing was a little difficult.

This book was intense.

I love the author’s writing, I don’t think I’ve ever been disappointed in a book by Sally Hepworth. However, I wish I had more insight into the books topic prior to reading. As a new mother, some of the book was extremely hard to absorb. I understand this is the reality of many children, foster care and otherwise, but it is a still a very difficult topic to see play out.

Overall, I loved the book and can’t wait to see what great work comes next?!