This story was overall good in my opinion, and I didn't know what to expect as I progressed through the book. The stories main characters Jessica, Norah, and Alicia who all were raised by the same foster mother, Mrs. Fairchild. It goes from current to past points of view. I sometimes felt it was challenging to keep up with all the characters but figured them out pretty quickly.

Thank you NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for an ARC of "Darling Girls" by Sally Hepworth.

I am a Sally Hepworth fan so I was thrilled to receive an ARC of Darling Girls. Thank you Netgalley & St Martin's Press! I have really mixed feelings about Darling Girls. I found parts of it very disturbing with regard to the child abuse and manipulation, but at the same time I kept reading it and cruised through this one very quickly. I spent most of the book not liking it but decided to add a star to my rating due to the surprise ending. Looking forward to more from Sally Hepworth in the future though!

Sally Hepworth never fails to impress me with her writing. I was immediately drawn into this because she did such a good job of developing the characters. Each character was so interesting and distinct and had a journey I wanted to follow. I loved the relationships between the sisters and watching their story play out and justice be served was wonderful. The scenes with the therapist really shocked me at the end and that final twist really threw me for a loop. Miss Fairchild was a twisted woman but it was very entertaining watching her get what was coming to her. There wasn't a dull moment in this book and it was full of intrigue. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Definitely a favorite from Sally Hepworth! Had me hooked from the beginning and kept me intrigued until the very end. Really enjoyed this one!

🎁 📚 𝓐𝓡𝓒 𝓑𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀 🎁📚
3.75/5 🌟

Happy pub day to Sally Hepworth! This was my first Hepworth novel and I read it in one day - which rarely happens to me! It’s relevant to note that I read it on a day I was traveling (the 3 hour plane ride helped) but the book proved to be a compelling page turner.

This one centers around Norah, Jessica and Alicia, three women who spent time as adolescents in the foster care of Miss Fairchild at the idyllic-sounding - but far from idyllic in reality - Wild Meadows estate.

The now-grown women have been close since their traumatic experiences there, and are forced to revisit the past when the police uncover some incriminating evidence on the grounds of the old estate.

I loved the relationships between the 3 (foster) sisters, the relatable writing and the nicely placed twists. Hepworth creates a believable story through well-defined characters and a smooth storyline. I was fully invested in each of the sisters and seeing how their shared trauma plus each of their own unique resilience led them down different paths and made them the adults they became.

It’s definitely a dark look at the foster care system and mental health, but treated in a way that was integral to the story, and not gratuitous. I’ll absolutely be reading more of Hepworth’s novels!

QPTD : If you’re an avid reader of Sally Hepworth, which would you recommend I read next?

This one is out today, 4/23, and it’s a good pick if you want quick and engaging.

My thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the advanced readers copy in return for my honest review.

#bibliophile #stephsalwaysreading#bookstagrammer#bookstagram#tbrlist-#arcreview#darlinggirls#sallyhepworth#whatshouldireadnext

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of Darling Girls. This book centered on three young girls raised in the same foster home. They bonded through their share trauma inflicted by their foster mother, Mrs. Fairchild. Years later, a body is found under the house they were raised in. The three women return to recall the trauma they endured while uncovering who was buried and why. Another great thriller by Sally Hepworth!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6439782375

Sally Hepworth, known for her poignant explorations of family dynamics and complex relationships, delivers another compelling narrative in her latest novel, "Darling Girls". Set against the backdrop of picturesque coastal Australia, Hepworth weaves a tale that intricately examines the bonds between sisters and the secrets that threaten to unravel their lives.

At the heart of the story are Fern and Rose, fraternal twins who, despite their close connection, harbor deep-seated differences. Fern, the quieter and more introspective of the two, struggles with a traumatic past that has shaped her present. Rose, on the other hand, exudes confidence and appears to have it all together—a successful career, a loving husband, and a seemingly perfect life.

However, beneath the surface lies a web of lies and unspoken truths that threatens to destroy their carefully constructed facades. When a shocking revelation shakes their family to its core, Fern and Rose are forced to confront long-buried secrets and reckon with the consequences of their choices.

Hepworth masterfully delves into the complexities of sisterhood, exploring themes of identity, betrayal, and forgiveness with sensitivity and depth. The characters are vividly drawn, each grappling with their own demons and insecurities, making them relatable and compelling. The author skillfully navigates between past and present, gradually unraveling the mysteries that bind Fern and Rose together.

The pacing is taut, keeping the reader engaged as the tension builds towards a climactic revelation. Hepworth's prose is evocative, painting a vivid picture of the Australian coastal setting that becomes almost a character in itself, adding richness and texture to the narrative.

"Darling Girls" is not just a story about secrets and their consequences; it's a poignant exploration of the ties that bind us and the lengths we go to protect the ones we love. Hepworth's insightful storytelling and deft handling of complex emotions make this novel a compelling read that will resonate with readers long after the final page.

In conclusion, "Darling Girls" reaffirms Sally Hepworth's status as a masterful storyteller, adept at crafting gripping tales that delve into the depths of human relationships. Fans of domestic fiction and psychological drama will find much to savor in this poignant and thought-provoking novel.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 (rounding up)

• foster care & childhood secrets
• sinister, dark plot
• power of sisterhood

This one took me a minute to get into, but I really got invested in the story and what the heck happened. The trauma and dysfunction these girls suffered... just heartbreaking. A very well-written and character driven suspense. I didn't see the twists coming! Psst: available in KU.

🗣 Thank you to netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this book via gifted eARC! All opinions are honest and my own.

Darling Girls by @sallyhepworth was quite the wild ride. I stayed up until the wee hours last night to finish it because I needed to know what happened.

The multiple timelines and POVs worked really well here to build suspense and lead us to the big reveal. There was a moment when I literally gasped from shock!

I definitely enjoyed reading this one. This time of year always has me thinking about beach/vacation/pool reads and this is perfect for that. There’s a darker element to it but it wasn’t so detailed or disturbing that I struggled with it. It was done in a way that built the sinister atmosphere but wasn’t too upsetting.

Book Review:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Darling Girls solidifies Sally Hepworth as the queen of Thrillers/ Suspense!

Jessica, Alicia, and Norah may not be biological sisters, but their time together at Wild Meadows solidified their bond. After enduring years of abuse at the hand of their foster mother, the girls were finally removed. Decades later they can’t escape their past when they receive word that bones have been discovered on Wild Meadows property.

*Disclaimer: this book deals extensively with emotional, mental, physical, verbal, and sexual abuse.

Historically I am not a huge thriller/ suspense reader. I tend to gravitate to books on the lighter side. But when I want to read a book outside of my comfort zone, Sally Hepworth is an author I always turn to.

This book caught me completely off guard. I thought I knew how the story would unfold, but boy was I wrong. It wasn’t until the final chapters, when Sally spells it out for the reader, that I understood who was responsible for the death and the circumstances leading up to it!!!

I am in awe of Hepworth’s writing!!! While I can’t go too much into detail without giving away spoilers, it must be said that she is a brilliant storyteller. Not only is she meticulous and purposeful, she uses every literary element in her toolbox when constructing novels.

Special thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Sally Hepworth for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Really enjoyed this story, with the intermittent story being told to a psychiatrist, about 3 girls in foster care in a horrible situation and a body found on the premises of the torn down home. Enjoyed watching the relationships grow with the girls, and their present lives intertwining. Good surprising resolution.

Twisty…there’s no other way to describe this story. Did I figure out the main twists? No. Do I suspect the twists? No. Way to keep me on my toes reading this, Sally Hepworth, darling girl!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this story.

This story centers on sisters Jessica, Norah and Alicia who at one time lived with the same foster mother. We see events from their different perspectives, and you can appreciate their relationships to each other as well as how their past traumas shape their adult lives. There is a current timeline, as well as when they were younger. Sally Hepworth does a good job of creating suspense, with lots of secrets and twists along the way. This was a fun, quick read, if a bit forgettable. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced e-galley. 3.5 stars

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 5/5⭐️⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
𝗪𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝: This one might just be my favorite Hepworth novel yet—and that’s saying something because I enjoy everything she writes!

My consistent feedback about Sally’s writing is that I adore the way the lies and secrets unravel and weave throughout her storytelling. She lays breadcrumbs throughout for readers to pick up and figure out where the story is going just as she’s telling you herself; but even when you see some of the twists coming, you’re compelled to keep flipping the page. She has a way of creating storylines that slowly come together and always leave me incredibly satisfied.

This was Hepworth’s darkest book yet, and while it had the family drama that I’ve always enjoyed in her books, this one was a bit more sinister. I favor alternating perspectives and timelines in my mystery reads, and each character in this book had their own unique trauma that was weaved intricately throughout. With four points of view, both in the past and present day, it’s hard to put this one down at any point without needing to know what happened next. I finished it in two sittings.

The Author’s Note gives additional insight into her research for these characters, and I found her fixation on the word “lucky” to be really harrowing and memorable.

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞: Stories of abuse are always hard to stomach, but Sally balances the tone of the book by giving readers three resilient protagonists while maintaining a highly realistic level of vulnerability.

I’ll admit this wasn’t my favorite Sally Hepworth. Even though the abuse the girls suffered wasn’t graphic it was disturbing. I also don’t like the life choices the women were making later in life. This had some interesting twists but overall it wasn’t the most compelling story.

I've read many a Saly Hepworth novel. They're usually twisted, psychological stories, sometimes slow burners and altogether wild. And I liked them. This one? This one I LOVED. It may be her best one yet. I exists in dual timelines, there are multiple POVs, and plenty of moments that are twisted. But this was her most straight forward effort thus far. Really excellent setting up the store, excellent execution of said story and the pacing was to die for. I flew through this one reading it in two days.

For as long as they can remember, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia have been told how lucky they are. As young girls they were rescued from family tragedies and raised by a loving foster mother, Miss Fairchild, on an idyllic farming estate and given an elusive second chance at a happy family life.

But their childhood wasn’t the fairy tale everyone thinks it was. Miss Fairchild had rules. Miss Fairchild could be unpredictable. And Miss Fairchild was never, ever to be crossed. In a moment of desperation, the three broke away from Miss Fairchild and thought they were free. Even though they never saw her again, she was always somewhere in the shadows of their minds. When a body is discovered under the home they grew up in, the foster sisters find themselves thrust into the spotlight as key witnesses. Or are they prime suspects?

As said, I LOVED this reading experience. BRAVA!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital advanced copy. The novel is available NOW!

I thought this one was just ok. It was not as good as some of her others that I've really enjoyed. I found it a bit disjointed. The three women came from the same abusive foster home. As adults, as body is found there and it goes back and forth in time telling the story of the past and the present as it explains what happened. I just found I wasn't really invested in the outcome.

Thank you for the ARC. Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth was an interesting read. However, it was a little slow at times for my liking. I did figure there would be a twist with Amy. However, I was surprised about a twist with one of the main characters. I think I enjoyed the "then" chapters better than the present day chapters. Al in all, a very enjoyable read. Four out of five stars.

Thanks to Netgalley for the pre-release copy of Darling Girls. I highly recommend this intriguing read.

Three girls, all from different family backgrounds, end up in foster care together. They bond and become sisters. Now, as grown women, each has developed survival traits created out of necessity in order to survive their childhoods and that care. After a body is found, they are forced to return to the place none of them ever wanted to see again.

This story is full of twists and turns and you're never quite sure who is telling the truth until the very last chapter. Read it.

"Darling Girls" by Sally Hepworth offers a gripping premise that initially draws you in with its promise of secrets, sisterhood, and suspense. I think that the story succeeds in building suspense and intrigue, and I enjoyed the writing as well. Overall, this is an enjoyable book with a solid foundation and intriguing characters, but it doesn't quite reach the heights of Hepworth's best work in my opinion. The overall mystery fell a little flat for me by the end. I think that fans of psychological thrillers and domestic suspense will find much to appreciate, even if it doesn’t fully deliver on all fronts.