Thank you NetGalley for this opportunity!
I really enjoyed this title: Sally Hepworth is a thriller/twisty writer I typically gravitate towards, and this was no exception.
Told in multiple POVS and Dual Timeline, this tells the story of three sisters forced to re-live childhood abuse at the hands of their foster mother when bones are unearthed from their childhood home. I thought each of these characters was SO well fleshed out: the damaged perfectionist Jessica, violent and troubled Norah, and loyal Alicia. I really loved how the story focused on each of them, on the abuse they endured, and what their upbringing, plus their birth stories, contributed to their trauma in the past and in the present. Hepworth did such a great job making the foster mother unbelievably creepy, almost hauntingly so, and the dropped-in POV's of her therapy sessions were so intriguing.
I thought the twists in this, particularly dealing with both 'versions' of the character Amy, were really well done. I kept trying to guess what was going to happen next but really couldn't figure things out. The epilogues really brought just a little bit of questioning into the end of the story: nothing was QUITE wrapped up, and I loved that.
Overall, a really good twisty story!

I thought this book was a fine read, but I wasn't in love with it (maybe a 3.5?) The premise is interesting and I really enjoyed the sisters and their relationship, but I thought in some ways that the book seemed to pull its punches.

I think the problem is I read a lot of thrillers, so I have pretty high expectations of a good one. I guess, ultimately the problem for me was this book wasn't really a thriller, but more of a domestic drama.

Miss Fairchild is awful and clearly messed up, but (to me) not really scary. I never felt like any of these children were truly in danger. So that took some of the steam out of the question of "who's the dead body?" This was somewhat compounded by the fact that she's still bouncing around town chatting with the girls in the present.

This also meant that when things took a twisty turn, I wasn't necessarily buying it. The present tense conversations with the therapist seemed a little contrived. I thought the final reveal was interesting, but given what I'd felt thus far about that character, didn't really land like I wanted it to.

I guess, while this was a good book, I think the marketing confused me. I would have happily read about a book about these sisters, their challenging past, and how they're learning to recover. As a thriller though, it fell a little flat for me personally.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Tons of twist and turns that I've always loved about her books while still making me think about our foster system that sometimes doesn't work for our youth. I found myself counting down the hours until I could get home to finish and see what really happened while the girls were with Miss Fairchild, who was telling the truth about the bones found under the house, and how they could work through their past horrible childhood experiences. The format where she moved between the girls childhood, the present and also the conversation with the therapist kept it interesting and was easy to follow.

Thank you to the publisher for my copy - all opinions are my own.

I LOVED this book, which is very delicious mix of character drama with an underscoring mystery, and a dash of twists to keep you glued to the page from start to finish.

Everything about this story is exceedingly well crafted, from the personalities of the three foster sisters who are each tremendously unique and suffering from their own individual traumas as the outcome of their upbringing, to the moving viewpoints of each sister which help reveal layers of the story with perfect timing, and the jumps from present day to their past stay at the foster home which was the catalyst of their meeting and drive the plot to the conclusion of whose bones were found on the property and how they got there. It's the kind of story that is built to genuinely keep you flipping chapters rapidly in a bid to see what happened, to who and how the whole thing will blow up in the end.

This one really will be served best going in blind, and settling in for a wild ride - and an enjoyable ride at that. Compulsively readable, darkly atmospheric and gripping realities will make this a not-to-be-missed release!

I enjoy reading Sally Hepworth's books so I was excited to read her latest book "Darling Girls". It is a thriller about three "sisters" not related by blood but as close as sisters can be. They all spent time at Miss Fairchild's home as foster children enduring her physical and mental abuse for years until their successful departure.
Twenty five years later they are all called back to their former home when bones are discovered buried underneath the house.
This narrative moves back and forth between the past and present and will keep you reading until the last satisfying page.
Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin's Press. And the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Sally Hepworth's 'Darling Girls' proved to be a captivating read that exceeded my expectations. Right from the outset, it delves into the lives of three remarkable women as they navigate their intricate pasts. What truly shines in this narrative is the profound bond these women share, vividly portrayed through the distinct perspectives of each character. Hepworth's adept character development makes them feel genuine and relatable.

What sets 'Darling Girls' apart is its ability to tackle a complex issue without resorting to disturbing content, all while maintaining a high degree of realism. The narrative seamlessly shifts between the past and present, enhancing our understanding of each character's journey. Unlike some books that can leave you bewildered with their timeline shifts, this one is effortlessly comprehensible.

The story is so engrossing that I found myself racing through the pages, eager to uncover the secrets it held. To my pleasant surprise, my initial assumptions were proven wrong, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the narrative. 'Darling Girls' left me hungry for more of Sally Hepworth's work, and I'm excited to explore her other books in the future.

If you're in search of a mystery that keeps you guessing, 'Darling Girls' comes highly recommended. It's a masterfully crafted tale that will keep you hooked from start to finish.

Darling girls was such a whirlwind!!! Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen, something came from left field that made me reconsider everything up until that point!!!! And the ending!!! OH MY GOSH. I didn't see ANY of those final twists coming!!!!!! This one definitely pulled at the heart strings with the history of the sisters in foster care, but that made it draw me in so much more- I wanted to know what had happened!!!!

This book may be my favorite Hepworth book! From the first chapter it sucked me in. I became so engrossed in the story I kept staying up late to finish it. The real depiction of the challenges of foster families was excellent. The twist at the end was chilling. I highly recommend this one!

I found the beginning to this book really well written. I highly enjoy books that are written in multiple perspectives. I feel like it helps me connect with all the characters a bit better and in this case it definetly did.

Alicia, Norah and Jessica all recieve the same call, bones have been discovered where their old foster home was.
This is a typical everyones dark history is uncovered thriller but I do like the foster care angle because the conditions the girls went through feel accurate to the struggles foster kids do face daily. I didnt have any trouble getting invested in the story.

In fact I could hardly put it down. The details of their past with Miss fairchild explains the deep bond the 3 women now share.
Highly intense thriller, the horrors of what these three women went through with physical and psychological abuse tied in perfectly on how they turned out as adults. I enjoyed how it showed what happens in childhood shapes you later in life.
When the detective calls the three women return together to be interviewed. But just what all will be uncovered on this trip back to a place they never wanted to return to?

I loved the twists the story throws at you. Just when youre convinced youre putting it together you get thrown for a loop.
And I never once saw that ending coming. It stunned me in the best way.

I will add in a trigger warning for child abuse and neglect.
But if you enjoy suspense youll defintely enjoy this book.
Thank you to net galley and

This is easily one of the best thrillers I've read in the past few months and it doesn't even come out until April! Sally Hepworth does it AGAIN! She's incredibly talented!

Anytime I see a book from Sally Hepworth, it goes to the top of my list, and Darling Girls is no exception. Three sister retell their childhood growing up with Miss Fairchild. The chapters are short and in each sister’s perspective, which is truly my favorite. Twists I thought I knew were coming was changed and left me wondering until the end.

This was another success from Sally Hepworth, who is highly skilled at writing psychological thrillers and mysteries, adeptly putting in twists here and there that do not easily reveal the "truth" until the end. Holly is an abusive foster mother to three girls (Jessica, Norah, and Alicia), playing emotional and mind games with them that leave invisible scars years later. The abuse they suffered naturally impacts their future lives, as well. Jessica is an addict, Norah is angry and facing imprisonment, and Alicia is deeply insecure. Then they get a phone call that brings them back to their childhood - and bones that were buried underneath a farmhouse on the property. I liked how the characters' voices were shared through past and present, piecing together a story, their lived experiences, and how they became the people in the present day.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Darling Darling Girls should know to never keep secrets from Miss Fairchild and Miss Fairchild should know never to replace her Darling Girl.

This look was FULL of twists and turns! I thought the book was over, but then it kept going and going...I was not expecting the ending. This truly is a psychological thriller, making you question to motives of every. single. character. Sally Hepworth kept my attention throughout the entire book offering three young women perspectives to keep the book engaging.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth did not disappoint. From the begining it is a compelling story about three women navigating their past. The relationship they have with one another is vital and this is brought through clearly from each character. The characters are well-developed and believable. Sally Hepworth took a complex issue and created a story that was not disturbing yet very realistic. The "then" and "now" developed each character and were easy to follow as at times with certain books I have been confused when they go back then forward. This was an easy read that kept me hooked, it was a quick finisher as I wanted to know what happened and my guess was incorrect. Which made it even more intriguing to read. I plan on reading more of her books in the future. I highly recommend this book if you want a mystery that keeps you guessing.

4.5 stars-Three girls grew up in foster care. One since she was four years old and the other two as teenagers. It is years later and the three are as close as can be. Out of the blue the each get a phone call from a detective wanting to speak with them about their time in care. Their old foster home has been demolished and a skeleton was found in the ruins. The story follows two timelines, the past and the present. I was so intrigued by the story and the invested in the characters that I could not put this one down. Not only did the plot keep me guessing, there was also some hilarious moments. Jessica has 3 large dogs that she brings to the police station. She tells the detectives that they are emotional support animals, one for each of the sisters. Why do you need them the detective asks. For irritable bowel syndrome. Three separate diagnoses, you can call our doctors. This is definitely one of the best of Sally Hepworth’s books! A special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. It was a privilege to read and provide an early review.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Wow that ending!!!!

This is my 2nd book by Sally Hepworth and this one did not disappoint. Told from multiple POV's and past/present time line. Man this book was filled with so much thrill as suspense even had some dark moments.

Highly recommend this book!!!!

Darling Girls is a chilling read about three sisters who became bonded while in foster care. Twenty-five years later, they are forced to relive their childhood traumas when a crime is uncovered at their former foster home. Their story is told through alternating points of view, both past and present. It is both heroic and heartbreaking. This book kept me intrigued and guessing until the end. Having read all of Sally Hepworth’s books, Darling Girls is by far my favorite!

Thank you to the author, NetGalley and St.Martin’s Publishing Group for an advanced digital copy of this book

This was a phenomenal, heartbreaking story that will stick with me for a while. Told from several different P.O.V's as well as the past and present, this was already a five star read halfway through the book. There came a certain point that I had to put this down for a moment in fear of what may happen next. It was disturbing to say the least. But the bond between the sisters was absolutely beautiful and inspiring. Although I have only read a couple books by this author, this is by far my absolute favorite. This was written with such heart by a clearly seasoned author that I found myself so completely invested in this story while also thinking about what happens everyday around the world with foster children. While there was so much tragedy going on in this, there was also light and hope. I could not recommend this enough, just do your research before diving in if you have triggers. Five Stars.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

Sally Hepworth is one of my go to’s for mystery and thrillers, and this is my favorite yet! I was kept on my toes until the final page! A story of three girls who lived in what looked like the perfect foster home on the outside, but was really a nightmare on the inside. The girls have to return when human remains are found under the house. They have to face their past, try to heal, and get some answers along the way. Thank you, Sally for another story full of twists and turns.

Wow what an ending!!

Darling Girls is another mind blowing book with twists and turns that take you on a wild ride til the very end. This book isn’t for the faint of heart and will have you feeling big emotions and jaw dropping moments. Sally Hepworth never disappoints.

Three girls arrive at the foster home; one by one, all for different reasons and end up becoming the “sisters” they all needed. It was supposed to be a safe place for them but it was everything but. 25 years later they get a call that changes everything.