What an ending, completely mind blowing. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book where I felt so dumbstruck and shocked at the very end. I would say Darling Girls has the best ending of any book I’ve read. It made me rethink and question the whole story. I can’t say what happened as that would spoil the book so you will have to read Darling Girls yourself to see what I mean.

Darling Girls is told from dual time lines and from the POV of four people; Alice, Jessica, Norah and Miss Fairweather. Miss Holly Fairweather opened her home to foster care children and Jessica, Norah and Alicia were the unfortunate girls who suffered under her care. Or I should say lack of care. Miss Fairweather from the start was an unlikeable woman. A master manipulator, an abuser and a psychological tormentor. Her behaviour towards Jessica, Norah and Alicia was tragic and heartbreaking. If I could have jumped into the book and dealt with Miss Fairweather myself, I would have!

I loved the sisterly bond between Jessica, Norah and Alicia. Growing up in an abusive foster home made the girls band together like sisters to try and cope and survive. They had one another’s backs. Jessica was the thinker and mastermind, Alicia was the one who tried to cheer her sisters up with witty jokes and Norah would raise her fists at anyone who threatened them. In other words, Jessica was the brains, Alicia the heart and Norah the strength. Their bond and relationship was special and made me root for them. To escape the wrath of Miss Fairweather and get the justice they so deserve.

Darling Girls was heavy at times due to the abuse the girls suffered. But it was also beautiful seeing how they attempted to work through their traumas while supporting one another, both as kids and 25 years later as adults.

Thank you St Martin Press, NetGalley and Sally Hepworth for providing me with an electronic arc in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 5⭐️
Publish Date: April 23, 2024

Wow! What a page turner! I was up half the night glued to this book trying to find out what happened. It is a bit heavy on childhood trauma and abuse so check trigger warnings before reading. The mystery was great and I could not figure out what was happening. And then that twist at the end left me mind blown. One of my favorite from Hepworth!

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I predict this will be one of the top thrillers of 2024. This was unputdownable. I was reminded many times of the complexity and emotional tone of Tana French's thrillers. This was marvelous. I loved every second of it and it kept me guessing long into the night. HIGHLY recommended!

"DARLING GIRLS" by Sally Hepworth is a psychological mystery that lures readers into a world of three foster girls placed under a corrupt foster care system.

The narrative unfolds with an immediate sense of urgency, as we are introduced to the three girls who have, in a moment of desperation, been “lucky” enough to be placed in the care of Miss Fairchild. Yet, as the story unravels, it becomes clear that maybe the girls aren’t as lucky as they’re made out to be and there may be more sinister intentions behind Miss Fairchild’s decision in accepting these girls.

The crux of the plot revolves around the discovery of buried bones beneath their childhood foster home, which forces the three girls back into a past they've long tried to forget. The police's call for their involvement sets the stage for an emotionally charged and suspenseful journey through the complexities of their shared history and the trauma all the girls need to overcome.

One of the novel's strengths lies in its ability to delve into the depths of human desperation and resilience. The author poses compelling societal issues throughout the narrative, such as: the abusive foster care system, drug addiction and unhealthy sexual relationships amongst much more. These thought-provoking themes add depth to the storyline, making it much more than a typical mystery.

The characters are skillfully developed, with each of the foster girls carrying a unique set of scars and secrets that make them relatable and endearing to the reader. Miss Fairchild, on the other hand, is a character shrouded in chilling mystery. Her presence looms large even when she is not physically present she is a driving force that keeps the pages turning.

In conclusion, "DARLING GIRLS" is a mesmerizing psychological mystery that challenges readers to confront their own demons while taking them on a thrilling and emotionally charged journey. This book is a must-read for fans of psychological mysteries and those who appreciate well-crafted narratives that linger in the mind long after the final page is turned. Hepworth has crafted a compelling tale that will leave readers eagerly anticipating their next work.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this amazing book! I look forward to reading more from this author in the near future.

4.5/5 stars - Great mystery, really tough read.

This was easily one of Sally Hepworth's best books in terms of thrillers, twists and turns. It was well paced, contained multiple POV's and jumped between past and present. It was executed flawlessly. However, it was also one of the hardest to read as it contains child abuse and a good bit of it. The ending was quite satisfying, but it was a hard pill to swallow reading how these children were abused by their foster mother who was supposed to protect them. It also touches on how the trauma affects them in adulthood and how their current relationships struggle because of the childhood trauma. Knowing that this does and has happened in the past in real life is also a hard pill to swallow so while I was super engaged and interested in the mystery, I was also repulsed by the number of people who could have intervened and didn't and how this is still a real issue in today's society. Personally, I would appreciate if Sally Hepworth put a resource guide at the end of this book for those who may be experiencing abuse.

Thank you so much NetGalley for the e-ARC of Darling Girls, I can’t recommend this one enough!

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

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth is a gripping thriller that will leave you gasping and out of breath. The story revolves around three women: Alicia, Jessica, and Norah. They may seem very different on the outside, but they have something in common. Back when they were children, they were fostered by Miss Fairchild at a desolate home in the middle of farm country. When human remains are discovered in their foster home, the three have to meet with police and confront the ghosts of their past. Whose body was buried? And who did it?

Here is a gripping excerpt from Chapter 1, which is from Jessica's point of view:

"“May I ask what is missing?”
Debbie glanced back toward her Pilates friends, suddenly less assured. She lowered her voice and leaned a little closer. “A bottle of Valium.”
Jessica pulled herself up to her full five-foot-nothing height. She felt humiliated, as well as appalled for service people everywhere. “I can assure you, Mrs. Montgomery-Squires, I have not taken anything from your bathroom. But, if you are concerned, I’d be very happy for you to search my bag.”
She held out the bag, glancing away, over her shoulder as if she couldn’t bear to watch."

Overall, Darling Girls is a character-based thriller that will appeal to fans of Room or Everything I Never Told You. One highlight of this book is how engrossing it is. It is like a trainwreck, and I couldn't look away. I had to keep reading and reading. I ended up finishing the whole book in one day.

One content warning I must give is that it is a horrifying tale of child abuse and how childhood trauma affects people as adults. Another highlight of this book is the explosive and satisfying ending. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of thrillers in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in April!

The first thing I said upon finishing this book was …Wow! Quite the ending! We have three girls who were fostered by a single woman. Years later they’re sisters (not by blood), who still face demons from their childhood. Throughout the book you will hear from each sister from what they endured as a child, to how they “cope” as an adult. When their childhood home is demolished, remains that have been buried will be discovered. With that comes a whole can of worms that will surface. I read this in one sitting. It was engaging & eye popping. And, like I said. that ending…..whew!

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book!

Sally Hepworth....H-O-L-Y---W-O-W!!! I think my jaw is still on the floor. LOVED LOVED LOVED it, I was hooked from beginning to end and devoured it under 24 hours! This is my favorite Sally Hepworth book hands down and my favorite thriller of the year! An absolute MUST read!

Sally Hepworth is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Another amazing story that kept me on the edge of my seat! Darling Girls is about three girls (Jessica, Norah, and Alicia) in foster care. They all end up with Miss Fairchild at Wild Meadows, which appears to be a nice , idyllic home but actually was a home full of lies and abuse. In adulthood, they each took their own path but they have an unbreakable bond. When a body is discovered under Wild Meadows it reopens all the old wounds. Twists and turns and just when I thought I had it figured out; the last chapter made me gasp out loud!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.
After reading and loving The Soulmate and now Darling Girls, Sally Hepworth is fast becoming one of my must-read authors. I know she has a ton of other books so I realize now that I’ve been missing out!

In Darling Girls, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia have a special bond, when they were girls they were raised for a time by their foster mother, Miss Fairchild. The girls had to follow Miss Fairchild’s strict rules and try to anticipate what might set her off. They had to walk on eggshells because they never knew when she might dole out one of her unique brands of cruel punishments.
Basically, the girls lived in fear and vowed to be there for each other. True sisters.
Eventually when they were taken to the brink of fear & anxiety, they were able to get away from her.
But then bones turn up buried under the house they lived in and they have to face it all again. It’s been years but when the police call, they must confront their past and the dreaded Miss Fairchild.

I thought this was very well done. I was drawn in by all the sisters’ storylines and the evil workings of Miss Fairchild. The story definitely gripped me and had me turning the pages to see how it all turns out. I also think the author handled the serious subject matter of childhood trauma very well. All the girls were affected in different ways by their childhood and I felt completely invested in their stories and truly cared about them.

It’s a compelling read that I highly recommend.

TW: child abuse

Even though this book doesn’t come out until April 2024, I was so excited to read it and the cover was giving summer vibes so I wanted to squeeze it in before summer was over. Despite its cover, this book had absolutely nothing to do with summer so feel free to read it whenever. I was pulled into the story from the beginning. The intrigue was persistent throughout and I thought the pacing was great! The ARC needed a lot more editing, which was hopefully taken care of in the published version. The last chapter was wild and a little too much for me but I’m sure some people will like it. This book did something that I HATE (I won’t say what because of spoilers) but other than that, this was a solid thriller and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Sally Hepworth for the ARC ebook. Darling Girls will be published April 23, 2024.

This is a masterly woven story of Jessica, Norah and Alicia as they all were foster children at Wild Meadows with Holly Fairchild. Jessica is the first to arrive and she craves love, and acceptance she does everything asked of her to make her mommy love her. Jessica leads a very isolated life with no friends to play with and only her mother. Then soon two more girls arrived.

Holly manages to control the girls by fear .They learn to do what she says or there will consequences. The girls try and protect themselves as best they can. They try and tell the authorities what is going on but no one believes them. Now, all are grown up but didn't get over the traumas they went through.

Now, years later a body has been discovered under the house. Everyone is brought. in and questioned about what went on in the house.

You can't help but get caught up in the story and wondering how it is all going to end. Corruption, scandal, secrets, abuse, mystery, murder all intertwined to make this is a compelling read.

Darling Girls was a thrilling, edge of my seat, fingernail biting read for me. I could not put this down and read it late into the night. Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen, then Sally threw in one of her famous twists and I was completely shocked.
I liked how the story slowly unfolded and was told from each characters point of view and perspectives. The story went back and fourth so that each of them could tell their own story.

If I could sum up Darling Girls in one word, it would be GASLIGHTING. Domestic thrillers are Sally Hepworth's specialty and once again, she nails it. Told from alternating perspectives in alternating timelines and locations, Darling Girls really boils down to the importance of sisterhood. I truly loved Alicia, Jessica and Norah -- despite wildly different upbringings and personalities, the three of them had an inseparable bond. Even with the alternating timelines, this was a fast-paced thriller, with an arguably pitiable villain. Simply genius!

SYNOPSIS:
- Alicia, Jessica, and Norah are all foster kids. They forged a lifelong bond after they ended up being placed in the Miss Fairchild’s dysfunctional, abusive, and volatile home.
- Years later, the women still are close and are sisters by choice. Bones are unearthed under Miss Fairchild’s home, and the trio receive calls from a detective.

MY THOUGHTS
- Sally Hepworth has done it again. She has quickly become one of my favorite authors.
- I couldn’t put this book down, and I stayed up late reading it.
- Hepworth shines at character development, and she does an impressive job making the main characters relatable, flawed, likable, complex, and real. I loved seeing how the foster care system, as well as the placement in Miss Fairfield’s home, impacted each of the women.
- The story alternates between present day & the past, and both timelines are equally evocative.
- Multiple POVs (Jessica, Norah, Alicia, & a patient’s session with their psychiatrist)
- Well-plotted with lots of twists
- Top-notch writing
- Fast-paced
- Quickly got invested in the characters

TL;DR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Another gem by Sally Hepworth. Excellent character development. Finished this one in under 36 hrs.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. It will be published on April 23, 2024.

One thing about me - if Sally Hepworth writes it, I am going to read it. I absolutely devoured this one. Like seriously I could not put it down. Hepworth's books are always engrossing and quick reads. This wasn't my favorite of hers, but was still a solid book. I will always recommend a Sally Hepworth book!

Sally Hepworth is a go-to author for me so I was so excited I got to read this early.

This story was told in the past and present from the POV of three sisters, Jessica, Norah and Alicia, who grew up in foster care with Miss. Fairchild.

The character development was so so good and I couldn’t help but root for and love these three sisters. The last half of the book I could not put down so I stayed up way too late and devoured it.

Thank you so much NetGalley for the e-ARC of Darling Girls, I can’t recommend this one enough!

Darling Girls is dark and at times disturbing and revolves around three girls who grew up together in the foster system in the same household. Bonds are formed because of this, and they consider themselves sisters to the end. The horrors that go on in the house are heartbreaking and when the book moves forward 20 some years, much of this is exposed. This book will keep you on edge right till the end.

Great book!! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one! This book had a bit of everything!! It had great suspense, action, murder, mystery, intrigue, a fantastic who done it, abuse, mental abuse, gas lighting, revenge, great plot twist and many crazy twists and turns! The storyline was so very interesting and had me glued to my Kindle! I highly recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Sally Hepworth does is again! "Darling Girls" is full of suspense and will keep you on the edge of your seat - don't be surprised if you finish this in one sitting!