Darling Girls is a slow burn suspense story about Jessica, Norah, and Alicia, three foster sisters who experienced traumatic circumstances growing up, forging a bond together that has lasted years.

Now as adults, a detective reaches out to the sisters with questions when a body is found under the foster house where they grew up. Each sister has tried to put their past behind, with different behavior and coping mechanisms, but now, they are confronted with this investigation. Whose body is under the house and who is responsible for it?

Told in alternating POVs with before and now chapters, readers learn more about each sister and others central to the plot. There are somber elements and it’s not a light story, but one that kept me interested. I listened to Darling Girls on audio, which was well-done.

'Darling Girls' was a great read, delving into the horrors and joys of foster children. I really enjoyed the storyline and flow of the book. As I went on, I found myself not wanting to put it down. I wanted to see what happened next. The last 50 pages tied the storylines up nicely, with a few twists I did not see coming. There was a great, satisfying resolution to all the characters' stories. I would recommend this book to most readers, but beware, it may be triggering to some who have gone through similar childhood trauma. I will definitely look for more books from this author. Side note: I did not deduct stars for the horrible editing of this book, as this is an advanced copy. I will note that there were so many spelling/context errors in this draft that it was noticeable. I wished I could edit as I read and send corrections to the publishing, but I assume that these will be cleaned up by the time this book is released. This DID NOT make me like the book any less.

I love Sally Hepworth!! Sadly, I had forgotten I had gotten an advance audio copy of this book so I missed listening to this one.

This book did not disappoint! It was another hard to put down twisty read from the queen of thrillers! Yes, I said it!

. I’m freaking breathless! This book held me captive from the first page until the very last! And the jaw dropping twists kept dropping toward the end, I thought I would get used to it but nope.., I LOVED the alternating chapters between characters. I LOVED even when I knew who the unknown narrator was. Hepworth is such a phenomenal storyteller that she remains at the top of my auto buy author list. Read. This. Book. You’re welcome!

Sally Hepworth writes very entertaining books…and even if you think you know where it’s going, you probably don’t. Such was the case with this one. Hepworth explores the complicated relationships of three “sisters” who spent time together in foster care and the woman who “cared” for them. As with all Hepworth books, nothing is exactly what it seems. This one might just be my favorite of hers.

Another Sally Hepworth gem that I absolutely loved! This author is so good at dropping in those twists that you don’t see coming. She had my jaw dropping right up until the very end.

This had a very cool premise and it was executed beautifully. The story focused on three foster kids that were all under the care of Miss Fairchild, their abusive and twisted foster mother. There are past and present POVs for each of them, plus some insight into Miss Fairchild herself.

The plot and the writing had me completely addicted. I finished this book super quickly because I did not want to put it down. And that ending!! Flawless.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for my gifted copy!

The Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth is a worthwhile read which sends the reader on a journey that involves many twists and turns. Three foster children are taken in by a foster mother who is both kind and evil at the same time. What happens to them as the plot progresses becomes mysterious and strange. The novel is told from the perspective of the three foster children. This novel is one that is sure to both entertain and shock the reader. Abuse, sisterhood, corruption, and possible murder are just three of the themes explored. I highly recommend reading Darling Girls. I would like to thank Sally Hepworth, netgalley, and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read Darling Girls.

Another smart, well crafted story that does include some subject that may trigger some, but are what make the story. We meet Norah, Alicia and Jessica who were all raised by their foster mother, Miss Fairchild. To outsiders she seemed wonderful and that the girls were so lucky, to the girls themselves, well they knew better. Though they’re no longer with her, she lives in their heads rent free as they move forward with their lives wanting to actually see or think about her again. Then a body is found under the house they lived in they’re all called back. Are they witnesses or suspects? It is a twisted, gripping dark story. I did at times find this a bit long winded, but otherwise a compelling read.

excuse me THAT ENDING?! it’s giving VERITY vibes… 🫣

🌟 rating: 4.5 — reeeally liked! rounded up to 5
📖 genre: thriller
📄 pages: 359
✍🏼 same author as: THE GOOD SISTER, THE SOULMATE, THE YOUNGER WIFE, and more!
🤓 read if you like: psychological thrillers, slow burn mysteries, wild endings, alternating past/present storyline, multi POV

sheeeesh! what a wild ride this was. i predicted some of the twists, (not all), and that LAST CHAPTERRR?! didn’t see that coming 🫨🫨 this is definitely my fave i’ve read yet from this author. it’s much more of a psychological thriller which is different than her previous books, which are more of domestic thrillers.

although the story was DARK at times, i couldn’t peel my eyes from it! i was invested in all three MCs, both the past/present storylines, and genuinely had no idea how it would end!

highly reco this to the thriller reader who can handle darker subject matter (tw- child abuse). the story is about 3 foster sisters who went through some pretty traumatizing stuff at the hands of their foster mother, Miss Fairchild (CERSEI LANNISTER VIBES YOU GUYS). a couple decades later when the sisters are fully grown, human remains are found under their old foster home. this book isn’t for the faint-hearted but i found it soo addicting.

here’s how i’d rank it next to the other SH books i’ve read:
🥇 DARLING GIRLS - 4.5🌟
🥈 THE MOTHER-IN-LAW - 4🌟
🥉 THE SOULMATE - 4🌟

thank you NetGalley & St. Martins Press for the ARC!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the free ARC via Netgalley in exchange for a review. This one is out now!

Mystery/Physcological Thriller. Jessica, Nora, and Alicia are all foster sisters who were bonded forever when they spent their childhoods at Miss Fairchild’s home. Attractive and sunny looking on the outside, Miss Fairchild was anything but, and the sisters still cope with that trauma as adults. Their world is rocked when human remains are found on the property of Miss Fairchild’s former estate, and brings the sisters back to the scene of their childhoods to find out who was responsible for death, and if there was foul play.

I loved Hepworth’s last novel, The Soulmate, but this one just didn’t draw me in. Each of the sister’s personalities felt a little too over the top for me. The girls missing school for days on end wasn’t a big red flag for the school? They thought 3 girls all shared the same delusion? The twist at the end was decent, but I didn’t love reading Miss Fairchild’s POV. All in all this was an okay read for me.

This is a story of three girls who thanks to the foster system are soon like sisters. Jessica, Norah and Alicia meet which is the only good thing that comes out of their time in foster care At Wild Meadows. Miss Fairchild seems great to start with but it soon becomes obvious that she has issues. The girls become closer to survive and finally are able to get away. Twenty five years later the three of them have to go back and relive the horrible experiences at Wild Meadows. This book hits all the feels! It is creepy at times and heartwarming at other times. I really enjoyed this book! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second Sally Hepworth novel I've read, and I loved this one even more than the other! A page-turner told in different perspectives with twists and turns and many surprises. I was in suspense until the very end. Like others have said, the final reveal was a shocker!

Sally Hepworth is one of my top go-to author's for the type of psychological thriller that I crave. She spins a tall that is so engrossing and all consuming that it makes it hard to put down. <i>Darling Girls</i> was certainly one of those. Although this was not my favorite of hers, it was still enjoyable to read.
The content was a bit tough reading gory details of how foster children are treated in their foster homes. How these girls lost their security and loved ones to end up being moved into homes where they are forced to keep a clean house/care of babies for their food and fractured sense of stability, if they even get food, was tough to read. The real story is how these girls persevered and became a family of their own. They are sisters, even if not by blood, and that was really the heartwarming take away from this book.
The POVs and stories developing after a human skeleton was found on the site of their old foster home will keep you guessing on who the remains are from and who put them there.

I received an advanced reader's copy and audiobook from St. Martin's Press and MacMillan Audio via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love Sally Hepworth and this one just wasn't a favorite of mine. It was ok but not great. I will Read every book she puts out always and hope that th next one is another good one.

This book is billed as "SISTERS, SECRETS, LOVE, AND MURDER" - how could I NOT love it?!

"Oh my darling girls." That's how the lovely Miss Fairchild always refers to her foster care charges - Alicia, Jessica and Norah (with an h). But does she really treat them as if they are her darlings? And what are these young, unstable, nervous girls going to do about it? 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?

What a fun, fast read. I loved the alternating perspectives and the time jumps, and I thought the characters were well-drawn out and had you rooting for them.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I thought this was a great read. The stories of Jessica, Norah, and Alicia sucked me in immediately. The author did a great job of fleshing out each character and showing how the trauma from their childhoods affected them in such different ways.

The story goes back and forth between their childhood with their foster mother and their present lives. There were great twists along the way and I loved the ending. Great read!

My absolute favorite thing about Sally’s books is that they are so 👏 dang 👏 readable! I started this one morning and read it straight through. I almost never read a book in one day, so it’s a true testament to her fabulous writing!
•
My favorite parts of the book were the ‘psychiatrist’ sections. They had a level of mystery to them and several things I didn’t catch on to. I also loved the twist/reveal in this section.
•
The majority of the book is narrated by the sisters (Jessica, Norah, and Alicia). I liked that they each had their own mini dramas going on, but ultimately I wanted the part involving them and their past to be more twisty. 😆
•
I gave this book four stars and think Sally is a top tier domestic thriller author! Thanks so much to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the arc!

Very suspenseful. I loved the characters and the way it told the characters history. I liked that it was a time jumper and the snarky comments. I liked the mystery and I loved the way it ended and that all the ties wrapped up and ended.

Ebook/Mystery: I struggled through this book. I wanted to like this book, but again, the duel unreliable narrators in duel times becomes too confusing, especially if your like me where it may be a few days in-between reading sessions. Did I guess the ending? No, but only because I didn't care. None of the women were relatable to me, but that probably had to do with the time going back and forth on top of multi narrators.
I know this is "the thing" in publishing right now, but I hate it, and The Ruins is my favorite book!

this was almost a little too dark for me at times, and yet i could not stop. having a child almost the same age as the “adopted” baby made it all a bit too real. generally i am not a fan of thrillers with children but this was so good. definitely darker than her previous books!