I really loved this book! I enjoyed the alternating timelines and POV that the book featured. It also gave a look into the complex foster system and its issues while also discussing the traume it caused the main characters.

I enjoyed the journey this took me on and valued the story building as well as the surprise ending!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for thr eARC!
Sally Hepworth does it again and continues to prove she is an auto read author for me! I loved this creepy, dark story about growing up in the foster care system. It had me guessing up until the end- some parts were a little predictable but the twist at the end I didnt see coming- I didnt want this book to end! Will be highly recommending this book

Dark, tragic, and suspenseful, this is my favorite Hepworth yet. I wouldn’t say I was particularly shocked by any of the twists, but I loved the intricacies of each plot line and how well-thought out it was. I felt the back and forth between past and present and the multiple point of views played perfectly in telling the story of Jessica, Norah, and Alicia. The characters are complex and multi-dimensional and made this more than just your typical mystery/thriller.

Darling Girls
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Sally Hepworth

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: 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?

My Thoughts: This was a captivating tale of sisterhood love and secrets, and what happens when you test the boiling point with murder. Jessica, Norah, and Alicia were pulled from their homes and placed with Miss Fairchild, the best foster mother that the system had, living on an exclusive large farm called Wild Meadows. However, their childhood was not the fairytales that everyone believes. Miss Fairchild had rules and was highly unpredictable. When the trio finally broke away, they thought they were free. When the farm is sold and a body is found, they become the key witnesses, or suspects?

The story is set in Australia, which I love. The three girls get a call from law enforcement about discovering a body under the place they called home for a few years. They all return for interviews with the detective, but also to hopefully get some closure and healing. The story is narrated in both present and past tense of the three girls. The narrative really gives an insight into what happened to these girls, how they grew through the process, and how they had to do anything to survive. I really love how the story focused on three girls, united by fostering, but kept a sister bond through their lives.

The story is narrated in a third person POV. The narrators are primarily Jessica, Norah, and Alicia, with a fourth unknown person having discussions with a psychologist. Jessica’s life is deteriorating when she is caught stealing pills from a client home and struggling with demons of addiction and being estranged from her husband. She is complex, and we start to discover the layers to her character. Norah has her own demons, struggling with anger and the thought of facing jail time. She is sarcastic and her character’s vulnerability really penetrates my heart. Finally, Alicia, is now a social worker, although she is very insecure and has been unable to have meaningful relationships with anyone. She has a very kind and compassionate heart. The characters were well developed, fleshed out, were mysterious, secretive, and intriguing. The author’s writing style was complex, multilayered, twisty, suspenseful, and just brilliantly written. Our characters were built up in a slow burn manner, the plot is developed in twisty layers, and the ending is brilliant.

TW: emotional abuse, physical abuse, and addiction. Hepworth’s new novel is everything you expect from her. It was captivating, compelling, twisty, dark, and gripping. This psychological thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat. This heart-wrenching novel will be a top book for this year. I have read other Hepworth books before, but I thin this is the best one yet. I highly recommend picking this up today! Please read the author note after the story, it provides the context for this novel.

"Darling Girls" by Sally Hepworth is a riveting domestic thriller that delves into the complexities of sisterhood, secrets, and the blurred lines between past and present. With alternating points of view and timelines, the story unravels the lives of two sisters, revealing hidden truths and shocking twists along the way. As the narrative unfolds, you are drawn deeper into a web of deception and betrayal, ultimately culminating in a gripping finale that will shock you.

Despite a bit of initial confusion with multiple POVs and timelines, once you're acquainted with the characters, it's smooth sailing. Hepworth's trademark plot twists are as sharp as ever, leaving you stunned yet again. If you're after a quick, gripping read that won't keep you up at night, look no further.

Five stars from me, and Sally Hepworth continues to reign as the queen of twisty thrillers!

Sally Hepworth is one of my favorite authors and once again, she does not disappoint.

The main characters of the story are 3 foster sisters: Alicia, Jessica, and Norah. They were all placed in what appeared to be an idyllic farm setting with Miss Fairchild. The keyword there is appeared - because it was not all as it seemed.

The story is told in multiple timelines and perspectives. Covering the time the girls spent with Miss Fairchild, Miss Fairchild’s life before the girls, and the present when bones have been discovered at the farmhouse. Sometimes I find multiple timelines confusing, but in this case each character is so different, it is easy to keep things straight.

Trigger warning for child abuse - not so much violence, but a lot of psychological. The methodical way that Miss Fairchild tried to break the will of the girls.

Lots of twists and turns, though I did figure out a couple of them. Held my interest through the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher or a chance to read and review this book. I had read a previous book by this author and liked it. This one was no exception. I found it held my interest throughout and had enough intrigue/mystery in the storyline to make me keep reading. The characters were likeable and I found that I had empathy for them as a result. The story is basically around 3 foster children (Jessica, Norah and Alicia), who are living with Miss Fairchild at her home. Things are not great for them while living with their foster mother. The story goes from then and now timelines with different POV's. We get, for example, "Jessica - Now", "Norah - Then" types of chapters. This was a format that I liked and found really worked at developing the tension. There were a couple of twists at the end and then a bigger, more surprising one at the very end! Very well laid out story and great ending that I hadn't seen coming at all. 4.5 stars!

This is my 2nd Sally Hepworth book and unfortunately I think we just don’t vibe well. I found the premise interesting but for the entire the middle section I just tuned out. The ending was interesting but I didn’t like the pretty bow put on it.
It’s not you, it’s me.


2.5

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Darling Girls is a mystery/thriller about Jessica, Norah, Alicia and Miss Fairchild. Jessica, Norah & Alicia were told they were “lucky” that Miss Fairchild took this in as foster kids and gave them a loving home, but was it actually so loving? Walking 45 minutes one way to school each day and spending their years cleaning Wild Meadows from top to bottom.

When the three girls decided to band together to finally tell someone what they’d experienced while in Miss Fairchild’s care they thought they’d be free from her forever. That was until bones were discovered underneath Wild Meadows and they were all being questioned. They had to return to Port Agatha which brought up unwanted memories. Would Miss Fairchild and her narcissistic ways come back to haunt the girls?

Thank you to NetGalley, Sally Hepworth & St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of Darling Girls.

I started with the ebook and then switched to the audio. Thank you Netgalley and MacMillan audio for providing the ebook and audiobook.

Jessica, Alicia and Norah were foster sisters raised by Miss Fairchild. Their childhood was not so sweet contrary to what the outside world saw. Years later, the girls are approached by a detective in response to finding a child's body buried under their home. Miss Fairchild is playing innocent, blaming the girls. What we don't know is that the girls have some secrets too.

The book is slow-paced. The excitement doesn't kick in until the second half. And then it becomes interesting. A lot of time was taken to establish the relationship between the sisters which tested my patience. It still keeps you engaged though. The final few chapters did justice, the mystery was solved and it wasn't how I thought.

I was super excited to get this book from netgalley as I have enjoyed Sally Hepworth’s books in the past. Darling Girls revolves around three sisters who were all raised in the same abusive foster home. The police call them because they are investigating a body that was found under the home they grew up in. The book flips back and forth between their time growing up in the foster home and the present day investigation of the body that was found. It was a little slow to start, but once I got into the book I was super curious of get to the truth of the story. This is another good one by Sally Hepworth. Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy!

Hepworth’s novel are always page turners and Darling Girls is no exception. Jessica, Norah and Alicia are foster children whom are placed with Miss Fairchild at Wild Meadows. They are hoping to be lovingly cared for, but instead, their lives are full of fear, abuse and manipulation. Later, as adults, they return to Wild Meadows when a body is found buried on the property.
The author tells the story through multiple POV’s, during both the past and present, which added to the suspense. And while some of the twists weren’t necessarily shocking, the very end was surprising and made this worth the read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy of this book!

Sally Hepworth’s books are hit or miss for me but this one was a hit! It felt different from her previous books in a good way. It was packed with twists, featured multiple POVs, and the ending will leave you stunned! Hepworth has crafted a dark mystery that thrilled readers should not miss!

A fun sweet read! Highly recommend.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my ARC.

"Darling Girls" by Sally Hepworth is a gripping / twisty tale woven with layers of secrets, sisterhood, and suspense. From the idyllic backdrop of their childhood on a farming estate to the chilling discovery of a body beneath their former home, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia's journey is one of intrigue and mystery. Hepworth masterfully navigates the complexities of family dynamics, showcasing the haunting influence of their enigmatic foster mother, Miss Fairchild. As the sisters grapple with their past and present, they are forced to confront the shadows lurking within their own minds. With each page turn, the tension mounts, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the shocking truth is finally unveiled.

Hepworth's writing draws you in with its authenticity and relatable characters, making you feel like you're right there with them, unraveling the mystery. If you love a good psychological thriller with a twist of family drama, "Darling Girls" is the perfect page-turner for you. This is my favorite of hers that I’ve read!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

I am a member of the “I will read whatever Sally Hepworth writes club” and I am never disappointed. Not only does she tell a wickedly good story but she plumbs the depths of some often ugly social issues. Wild Meadows - we are told that:

“the media love the juxtaposition of the whimsical country estate and the atrocities
that happened therein. They also love anything to do with foster children.”

Now if that doesn’t suck you into a story …. Three young women return to their foster home and relive “loss, shame and hate.” They are separate but a unit by what they have endured and this is their story with its losses and triumphs. Told in multiple times lines and POVs - the narrators are tricky, very tricky. Hepworth employs the timeless notion how the abused will return to the abuser, seeking recognition, approval, anything positive. Oh this was so good, so well told with great one liners and terrific smirk worthy dialog and inner ruminations.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a copy.

"Darling Girls" is another gripping mystery from Sally Hepworth that had me hooked from the start. This isn't just any mystery—it's a deep dive into a chilling past that intertwines the lives of three foster sisters, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia, who find themselves entangled once again when bones are discovered at the home where they grew up under the tyrannical Miss Fairchild.

Hepworth has a real talent for creating characters. The sisterhood between Jessica, Norah, and Alicia is palpable; they're bonded not just by their shared trauma but by the kind of deep-seated loyalty that only comes from surviving together. Each character is beautifully flawed, making their personal revelations all the more touching as they rediscover the strength in their unity. And then there's Miss Fairchild. She's the villain you love to hate, Hepworth knows how to play the villain card just right, keeping the tension high and the pages turning.

As always, Hepworth delivers a story that’s as much about the heart as it is about the mystery. I found it hard to put the book down, needing to know what would happen next. "Darling Girls" is a testament to the power of sisterhood, the secrets of the past, and the healing that comes with confronting them. Grab your favorite cozy reading spot and dive in; this is one story you won’t want to miss.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced readers copy in exchange for a thoughtful and honest review.

I enjoyed this one! It was well done. I had no idea where we were going with this one but when we finally got there I was happily surprised!!

Darling Girls is the first book that I’ve read by Sally Hepworth and it won’t be the last. I thought this was a well written, immersive, and twisty mystery-thriller.

The story follows Jessica, Norah, and Alicia who were all in the same foster home growing up under the care of the cruel and abusive Miss Fairchild. Years later, when the three women are adults, they return to their foster home after learning that human bones were discovered outside the home.

The story is told from the point of views of Jessica, Norah, and Alicia. I don’t usually like multiple POVs but I enjoyed reading from all three perspectives. The three women were all interesting characters and I loved the close bond between them.

I thought the mystery was very intriguing and I loved the multiple twists in this book. This was a real page-turner and I loved Hepworth’s writing.

I recommend Darling Girls to fans of twisty, intriguing mysteries.

Another unsettling domestic thriller by Sally Hepworth!
This book follows three fosters sisters who grew up in an abusive environment thanks to Ms. Fairchild. When bones are discovered on the property the girls are brought back to that dark place to find out what happened.

The theme of this book is one in which I think can be very sensitive and at times very difficult to read about. I usually do not have a hard time reading about sensitive subject matters, but for some reason this one got to me. I loved the three sisters(especially Norah's sarcasm!), and thankfully I did not have a hard time following the different POVs and timelines.
My one complaint, and it's a complaint that I have been having in many thrillers lately is that there is not enough suspense and twists spread out throughout the book. It all happens at the end in one big final “surprise” twist.