5😁, 5👏 and 5⭐.

Sally Hepworth really has a way with dysfunctional characters and domestic suspense. I adored The Good Sister and Darling Girls was equally brilliant.

Here we have sisters, not biological, but bonded through their childhood in foster care. The girls suffered trauma which is reflected in their adult lives, but because they had and still have each other, they grew up with a support system and are much better for it.

When bones are found in their childhood foster home and the police come knocking, the girls are suddenly reliving the very memories they tried to forget.

The author of this book has a fantastic sense of humor. She's able to make laughable moments without undermining the girls' situation.

The woman who took them in, Miss Fairchild, was not without her own issues and her backstory is interwoven throughout the book.

There were a couple twists I didn't see coming- one in particular that made my jaw drop.

At the end of the day, we have a mystery, well developed characters, well placed humor, and a whole lot of crazy. I highly recommend this novel!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC! I loved it! Review to be shared on Amazon, Bookstagram, Barnes and Noble and Goodreads.

This was a great thriller and an interesting view of growing up with intense trauma. Sometimes stories built around foster care and connection can be difficult to read but this one really balanced the topics well. The ending surprised me and I was on the edge of my seat until the final page, great book! Thanks to Sally Hepworth, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is my first Sally Hepworth book and will not be my last. I absolutely loved this book. The chapters were short and it flew by. Thanks so much for the review opportunity!

Excellent Twisty Thriller With Uniquely Broken Characters Will Be Far Too Difficult For Some. Straight up, I loved this one. It was so *oppressively* dark, yet done in such a way that even though there is truly little light to be had and also with no supernatural element to the darkness at all... you still want to see exactly what happened to make this tale this way.

The reason it will be difficult for some, perhaps many, is because of the *rampant* child abuse, including some sexual abuse and even a rape - though while "on screen" it is more "dark room" based. Still described, but not as... vividly... as it could have been. Showing that Hepworth *does* show restraint when going even more explicit doesn't add anything further to the actual story. There is also a rather horrifying birth scene, though this is far from the "splatterpunk" / "horror" that one reviewer described it as. Though going further would perhaps spoil what happens there *too* much, so I'll show the same restraint in the review that Hepworth did in the text. If such scenes are difficult for you... this may not be the book for you.

The reason I actually enjoyed the book though was because of how the central characters - three chosen sisters bound not by blood, but by shared trauma and survival- were both broken... and how they used that brokenness as adults, showing that even some of the most difficult times, the darkest times of someone's life, *can* be overcome to varying degrees. Not that any of our adults are truly "normal" healthy - again showing a great deal of reality here - but that they're still, to use a term used to describe Autistics that I truly despise but fits here, "functional". Ish.

Ultimately this is one of those books that will likely prove divisive in at least some groups, but I thought was done well, with the author using so many real world horrors (and yes, in my own work through my church as a teen and just generally being an observant adult, I've seen this and so much worse on occassion) to craft the story she is trying to tell... while showing restraint where further graphic details don't add any more needed information to extract the desired emotions from the reader. Showing that Hepworth truly is a master of her craft, even when she is somewhat intentionally pushing some buttons of some people.

Very much recommended.

I love Sally Hepworth! In Darling Girls, we follow three sisters as they are forced to face their childhood foster home after a body is discovered there. The characters were great and the scenes were emotional, thrilling, and, at times, shocking. This book kept me captivated for sure! Thank you, NetGalley.

Well that was underwhelming. I tend to love Hepworths books, but unfortunately this one fell short for me. There was no real suspense and it was such a slow burn. The child abuse was so sad to read about. Honestly. My least favorite by Hepworth

A big thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with an early copy to read and review.

This novel was such a twisty psychological mystery that had me quickly captivated. While I could quickly figured out one piece to the puzzle, I was guessing on some parts to the very end. A great, solid read and I can’t wait to read more from this author.

Three young girls - Jessica, Norah and Alicia - are placed in foster care. They all end up at Wild Meadows and their foster mother is Miss Fairchild. The girls grow close and consider themselves sisters. To the outside world, it looks like the perfect set up, but looks can really be deceiving.

Miss Fairchild is anything but a loving mother. She believes in tough discipline and the girls try desperately to survive each day. When the situation gets out of control, the three are able to get away from her and never look back. They stay closer than any biological sisters could ever be, but the memory of Miss Fairchild’s abuse always hangs over their heads.

The girls are now adults when the unthinkable happens. The police find a body buried under Wild Meadows. Not only do they want to find out the identity of the body, but they think the three women know more than they are saying or possibly even be responsible for the dead body.

Talk about a page-turner! There were so many twists and turns throughout the book. I couldn’t figure out what was going on until the end. I was engrossed until the late hours of the night. The story alternates between the past and the present. It’s so well written and the characters are well-developed.

I’ve only read a couple of Sally Hepworth’s books, but I’ve loved each one. She always manages to hook me in from page one.

Hepworth has become an “auto buy” author for me.





FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Quick and Dirty
-domestic thriller
-contemporary setting with flashbacks
-multi-POV
-sister story
-reads like an Annie retelling

Swipe for the full synopsis!

What Worked
I’ve read and enjoyed Hepworth novels before, so I had no doubt that this book would work for me. She has a knack for creating a suspenseful story with compelling characters that are not too gory or scary (which I prefer). And Darling Girls was no different. The sister storyline was really well done, and their current-day relationship felt authentic and lived-in. Miss Fairchild was a perfect villain, hot then cold and always keeping the girls on their toes much like Miss Hannigan (IYKYK). I found myself easily drawn into the drama and guessing at plot twists the entire listen. And though there were multiple PoVs, I never found it confusing to switch between character narratives. There were MANY things about these character stories that I found FASCINATING from a social worker’s perspective, so anyone with a clinical background will likely enjoy this one. I wanted to be everyone’s therapist. 😂 I found the ending super satisfying, especially the twist on the final pages (no more spoilers I swear).

What Didn’t Work
If I’m being honest, my only issue with this book is super nitpicky. There were several occasions during the flashbacks we are led to believe that a very young child has the reasoning and judgment skills of an adult. As a clinician, this was really hard for me, and I found myself momentarily distracted from the plot. Again, this is very clinical of me, but I struggled with this aspect of the narrative. Other than that, this one worked well for me. It did exactly what a domestic thriller should do!

Darling Girls is a captivating read, with alternate timelines and 3 POVs for our sisters that met in foster care the story sucked me in and wouldn't let me go until I turned the last page. While the tale of how our characters met is sad and horrifying I loved the bonds they built with each other that lasted the test of time. I don't want to say too much about this as I think going in blind will give you the best reading experience. But I will say I loved how the relationships between the sisters, the tension that built when they had to return "home", and all the twists and turns that had me glued to the page. Sally Hepworth has done it again in delivering a compulsively readable story and I can't wait to see what she's going to come out with next!

This book was truly amazing, another page turner from this author. Thrilling, character-driven, twisty, full of secrets and impossible to put down.

Thank you St. Martin's Press Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this gifted copy.

https://www.instagram.com/booksandcoffeemx/

This book has a compelling mystery that surrounds three sisters. As the tale unfolds we get glimpses into their experiences as foster children and why their bond is so strong. This storyline centers on a hard look into the dark side of the foster care system. All three characters were well developed and I found myself eager to pick up the story to find out what would happen next.

Ah yes. Sally Hepworth has done it again. This was a cleverly written domestic suspense novel. It had a different feel as the primary characters met in a foster home and that lent to the development of the overall storyline.

The book is told in alternating timelines and also from alternating perspectives. All of this helps to give the reader tid bits of information that they otherwise wouldn't have. It all helps to build the case for what the story is in the present day. Yet, there are some nice twists along the way as well.

I hesitate in saying too much in this review because I strongly believe this book should be enjoyed without too much advance knowledge. I will say it was a fun read and kept me entranced.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The narration was perfect for this book. The voices truly captured the characters and were different enough to help follow the change in characters during the story. 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for early copies of both the audiobook and ebook.

I really enjoyed this book! I thought that the pacing was really nice and the entries from the psychiatrist aligned really well towards the end as everything was coming together.

I was a little bummed at the end thinking really? That’s it? But omg the last chapter changed those thoughts completely!

I also really liked how we got the point of view of each sister but also that we were left guessing the twists and turns till the very end!

Overall I loved this book and I’m so glad that I got to read it.

"Darling Girls" is a captivating story that explores the complexities of sisterhood, the shadows of foster care, and the haunting nature of long-buried secrets. Sally Hepworth expertly weaves a narrative that spans both past and present, revealing the intricate lives of three women who are bound by their shared childhood experiences. Hepworth's narrative is a maze of twists and turns, with each revelation more surprising than the last. The characters are well-developed, with unique personalities and believable relationships forged in adversity. The dual timelines are skillfully handled, maintaining suspense and intrigue throughout the novel.

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sally Hepworth is another go to author that hardly disappoints me.

This story is about three girls, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia, who are sent to a foster home. Miss Fairchild was their foster mother and they lived on an idyllic farm. Jessica was the first of the girls to arrive and was eager to make Miss Fairchild happy and they quickly formed a bond until the next girl came. Miss Fairchild quickly manipulated the girls against each other and employed evil tactics to make sure she kept them in line. The girls still formed a close and unique bond over the years and tried to put the past behind them. Until one day they get call informing them that the remains of a body have been found at the foster home they grew up in. They’re asked to go back and answer questions and they have to relive and uncover all the years of abuse they endured while at that house. Each sister is dealing with their own personal issues as they try and figure out who this body is. Could it have been one of them? That’s what I quickly wanted to learn. Told in alternate POVs and timelines, the story quickly unfolds.

I found it gripping, fast paced, easy to follow, and full of mystery. I loved the bond the three sisters formed out of a traumatic childhood. I loved the psychological thrills in this story that kept the compelling storyline feeling even more heartfelt for the girls. If you love this author’s other books, I think you’ll enjoy this one too.

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the opportunity to read this book in advance in exchange for my own opinions.

This book was so good I managed to finish it within three days 🙈 I found myself so engaged that it was hard to put down ! This one is definitely my favorite Sally Hepworth novel. I’m not usually a fan of domestic thrillers but I really loved this one. I really enjoyed this one all the way through but the ending really caught me by surprise !

Hepworth is exceptional at taking very different characters and weaving their stories together in such a way that just feels dare I say, perfect. This story is no different. Jessica, Norah (with an H) and Alicia could not be anymore different but they all find themselves in the foster care of one, Miss Fairchild. We witness these three strangers whether through trauma and turmoil to forge a bond of sisterhood that would last them in to adulthood. Beautiful and thrilling who done it. Just and all around good and easy read. I enjoyed it so much, I even bought the audiobook when it came available🫣

i had well and truly written off this book as i pieced at all together it was obvious, and i felt that way up until the last 1 pages. WHAT!!! this book had me entertained but it felt predictable and like something was falling short or not adding up. but then there it is as the finale! alicia, jessica, and norah are forced to return to their foster home when bones are found under the house 15 years later. they all had different but terrible experiences there that impacted how they grew up, and returning unleashes all those feelings again.

Jessica, Norah, and Alicia have been told by their social workers that they’re lucky to be in the care of Miss Fairchild at the Wild Meadows foster home, but they soon find out that it was a lie when their foster mother turned into an abusive monster.

Now twenty five years later, they’re all summoned back to Wild Meadows because a body was found underneath the home and homicide detectives want to hear their story. Bringing those traumatic memories back to the surface gives readers a glimpse back in time from each of the women and shows how the girls went from strangers, to bonding for safety, and finally becoming sisters.

I’ve only read one other book by Sally Hempworth, but this one felt genuinely dark and twisty. The layers of suspense kept me reading, the rotation of memories kept me guessing, and the ending was breathtaking. This book is one of the best that I’ve read all year!