DISTURBING, BINEGABLE, UNPREDICTABLE

This book was a delightful surprise, with so many elements I love bundled into one unexpected package. The final twist was like a perfect bow on a gift, leaving me stunned and amazed!!

Jessica, Norah, and Alicia were raised by their foster mother, Miss Fairchild, after traumatic family events. Despite the appearance of a happy family, Miss Fairchild was strict and unpredictable behind closed doors. The sisters broke away from her control, but the memories remained. When bones are discovered under their childhood home, they become key witnesses, or suspects?

We get to know these well developed characters, each with distinct personalities, through multiple POV and timelines, adding depth and suspense. The story digs into the lives of these women and the lasting emotional impact from their childhood trauma. As the gripping mystery unfolds, it prompts questions about their past and integrity while they strive to uncover the truth. I loved the narration with its Australian accent, plus added humor balances the harsh realities of the what some experience in the foster care system with moments of light heartedness.

Darling Girls | Author: Sally Hepworth
Genres: Mystery Thriller, Psychological, Women’s Fiction| Rating: 5★

“But we’re sisters in every way it counts.”

While we wait for her next book, we can all laugh along on her page @sallyhepworth, she’s hilarious and I could hear her voice in this one 😂

Omg my favorite Sally Hepworth book to date. This was such an amazing book from start the finish. I never knew who to trust and what was going to happen next. I had such an amazing time reading this book! Was one of my favorite reads last month and will be a contender for my top thriller reads of the year. I loved the concept of this book. I truly came to hate their foster mother by the end of this book and also hated everyone around them that believed her BS lol.

This was so good! I was so intrigued by the dynamics between the sisters and their foster mother. Loved the “flashback” scenes of the first mother’s experiences of her own childhood. The ending shocked me!

💀𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬💀

Happy Monday sweet friends! I finished Darling Girls on audio this weekend thanks to @macmillan.audio and the narration was top notch! I devoured it!!

Sisterhood, secrets, and a foster home gone terribly wrong, Darling Girls is a thriller that will without a doubt pull you in immediately!

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?”

I overall loved it but I hated how you have this impending doom/sense of unease the whole time while your reading😂

💀Readers beware: Darling Girls will get under your skin!!💀

Have you read this one yet?! Is it on your TBR?!

This is a page turning book that will keep you reading until late into the night with so many twists and turns. Three girls raised through the foster system that consider themselves sisters. As adults they are brought back together after a dead body is discovered at their home where are they are raised. The ending shocked me!!

Sally Hepworth's latest novel is fantastic! The mystery was well-written with each character's POV feeling separate and fully fleshed out. The plotting was well done and the twists and turns kept me guessing the entire story.

This was disturbing and hard to read but I also couldn’t put it down! Another addicting read by Hepworth!

This book was quite a wild ride! I thoroughly enjoyed following the stories of Norah, Jessica, and Alicia. I thought their characters were well crafted and felt like they each had a story to tell. The flashbacks to their time with Miss Fairchild were dark and intense at times. I flew through this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. However, it didn’t have that extra spark which would have made it a five ⭐️ read.

For Readers Who Like:
- Multiple POVs
- Skeletons in the closet
- Found family

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review!

If you're ever looking for an author that brings the drama and mystery, look no further than Sally Hepworth.

"Darling Girls" is a compelling and unsettling read. The novel's exploration of childhood trauma, foster care, and the complex relationships between sisters makes this a binge worthy read. The dark and emotional tone of Hepworth's newest book kept me on the edge of my seat from page 1.

I had no trouble getting through this book, as it was easy to read and I was invested in the characters. I did struggle a bit with the child abuse scenes, but it didn't turn me off of reading it. The sisterly bonding was great to read about and as I got to know the characters, I liked them more. For example, at first I hated Norah but she quickly grew on me. That being said, I am not a fan of last-minute "jokes-on-you" sort of "twists". This book didn't have the kind of villain that should get a sneaky final page, if that makes sense. So I was disappointed in that. My finally thoughts are 3.5/5 stars, I would recommend it with a warning about child abuse, and yes I would love to read more Sally Hepworth because I think she is a truly talented writer and I am never bored or struggling to get through her work.

Jessica, Norah, and Alicia bonded through the time spent with their foster mother, Miss Fairchild. In every sense of the word, the three became sisters, always looking out for each other due to Miss Fairchild's unpredictable moods and abuse. Once out of her care, the three never thought they would have to come face to face with that town again… that is until 25 years later, the police contact all three women in regards to a body found buried on the property.

Darling Girls unfolds via alternating timelines between the past and present and through all three POVs from the sisters throughout the story. This story was addicting, it's full of twists and turns and drama galore. As the story unfolds the more horribly interesting the book gets. The ending had me shook, jaw on the floor shook.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC!

Sally Hepworth delivers another captivating novel with 'The Wild Girls,' a gripping tale that explores the bonds of sisterhood forged in foster care and the lingering effects of trauma. Following the lives of Jessica, Norah, and Alicia, readers are transported between past and present as the women confront the haunting secrets of their childhood at Wild Meadows Farm.

Hepworth skillfully weaves together dual timelines, allowing readers to witness the sisters' formative years under the care of Holly Fairchild and their reunion years later when bones are discovered beneath their former foster home. The narrative unfolds through the perspectives of all three sisters, offering a nuanced portrayal of their individual struggles and strengths, as well as a chilling glimpse into the mind of a character undergoing psychotherapy.

As a fan of Hepworth's previous works, I found 'The Wild Girls' to be a refreshing departure from her typical domestic thriller format, yet equally compelling in its exploration of found family dynamics. Hepworth's writing style remains as captivating as ever, drawing readers in from the very first page and keeping them enthralled until the final revelation.

In conclusion, 'The Wild Girls' is a testament to Sally Hepworth's talent for crafting intricate narratives filled with suspense and emotion. With its unpredictable twists and relatable characters, this novel is sure to delight fans old and new. I eagerly await Hepworth's next literary endeavor and would highly recommend this book to anyone in search of a gripping read. Thank you to St. Martins Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This is my first read by Sally and she left me wanting more. I suppose I was entertained the past and present gave insight the character names were perfect. i enjoying the set up, the build up and character building. the pacing was slighting uneven but hey you cant win them all lol

Well well well, this was quite the refreshing pallet cleanser I needed after a slump and too much romance overloaded. Call me cynical but sometimes you need a good murder to get you back into a good reading space.

Darling Girls follows along a dual timeline of foster sister during their time in care and now as adults. Raised in what appears to be an picture-perfect home, the girls know the horrors that truly lie behind closed doors. Let's take a moment to appreciate the deep character development that happens throughout this read. Not just as children but even as adults, each of these women really grow into themselves and the story. This led to places I really didn't see coming and while I had a few guesses on what may have happened, I reached the end and still felt like I wasn't sure if that was the ending or not. What do you even believe?

While I wouldn't say this is as intense of a read for the lovers of thrillers, this does scratch that itch and leads readers on the rollercoaster of what is happening while leaving an uncomfortable note throughout. An enjoyable change of pace from Hepworth.

I’ve always enjoyed a well written book by Sally Hepworth. This book was really enjoyable with the storyline and characters. The past and present chapters made it easy to follow and gave insight on the three foster girls who grew up with an unbreakable bond. We learn how each girl comes to live at the foster home and how their lives changed forever, being raised by a manipulative, abusive foster parent.
I would recommend this book to an audience that enjoys mystery/thrillers.

Thank you NetGalley and St.Martins Press for providing me with an arc in exchange for my honest review.

This book started off really strong and I had really high hopes, but then kind of tapered off a little for me. Still overall a good book that I would recommend to certain friends that I know their reading preferences and I know they might enjoy, but not my favorite work by this author. I will still continue to read the books this author publishes because I have enjoyed them previously.

This book had a slow start to me but it definitely gets better! This was my first book by Sally Hepworth and I plan on reading more of her books.

This book follows three foster sisters that are pulled back to their foster home years later because bones were found under the home. This book was written in the perspective of all three sisters, which was great because we got everyones POV.

The story keeps you reading but is overall very basic. The ending is pretty predictable but still a great read.


Thanks Netgalley for this ARC

ALWAYS looking forward to the next sally hepworth book. this one did not disappoint. i liked the theme of sisterhood and all throughout any age, the girls always had eachother's backs. hepworth writes entirely different characters, just like irl friends have differing personalities but they all care for eachother by the bonded experience they shared in mrs fairchild's care.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the advanced reader's copy of this publication.
Sally Hepworth delivers a twisted story. Highly recommend for a great read with a twists and turns along the way. Don't stop reading this one just keep turning the pages.

This missed the mark for me. I wasn’t that interested in the characters and lost interest midway. This just felt slow. Overall if you love domestic thriller this is the book for you