As adults, Jessica, Norah and Alicia are as close as sisters. Jessica is a successful professional organizer. Norah, who is the smartest of the group, is paid to take other people's employment competency tests and deals with anger issues. Alicia is a gentle and kind social worker. The women refer to one another as sisters as they spent part of their childhoods living at Wild Meadows Farm with Miss Fairfield, their cruel foster mother. Years later, after Wild Meadows was sold, human remains were discovered under the house. The three friends had to return to Port Agatha, Australia to be questioned by the police and face their childhood trauma. With the timeline shifting from the present to their awful time under the abusive Miss Fairfield, their sad stories are revealed as the mystery of who is buried under Wild Meadows comes to light. Was it murder and if so, who is to blame?

Sally Hepworth is the type of writer whose mystery thrillers hook me right from the start. In Darling Girls, my heart broke as the horrible Miss Fairchild inflicted such pain on the three girls who were left in her charge. We learn from the onset that the three "sisters" broke free and survived even as internal scars remained but there is a lot we don't know. As the story progressed, it kept me guessing. I enjoyed the creative twists as I sat on the edge of my seat. What a ride!

4.25 stars.

Darling Girls was a good, quick read told from multiple viewpoints and timelines. I thought I had the situation figured out about 3/4 of the way through and the book kept me thinking that until the end when I realized I was wrong. Happens to the best of us, right?! The twist was good, but it wasn’t jaw dropping so this one gets a 4 stars from me. There are some trigger warnings so check those out ahead of time if need be because there are a few unsettling parts.

Sally Hepworth did it with this one! The alternating POVs, timeline, and shorter chapters made this book a quick read. The topics at hand were difficult but intriguing. This book is a good one if you like to read about found family, family drama, psychological issues, and mental health.

Sally Hepworth has done it again with another unputdownable psychological thriller. I was fully engrossed in this story from start to finish. The more I read, the more I wanted to uncover…even though I knew deep down it would become even more disturbing 😳. The dual POVs, alternate timelines, and meetings with the psychologist thrown in made the story that much more interesting. The twists were utter perfection throughout and in true Sally Hepworth fashion, the shocks occurred through the very last page. In addition, the ending was delivered in a perfectly wrapped bow 🎀.
Thriller lovers - run for this!

Thank you NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for a #gifted eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Sally Hepworth's thrillers are always heavy on the drama, so if you are looking for a book that will have you invested emotionally - you have found the one! It does everything a bingeable thriller should do: the prose is simple and easily digestible, characters are built well enough to make reader actually care about them, the plot is moving at decent pace and there is a somewhat satisfying twist at the end.

If you are a sensitive person, I suggest you check out trigger warnings prior to reading (the main one would be child abuse). Otherwise, dive right in and lose a couple of hours in this story without regret.

I wanted to read this book because I love stories about foster siblings and revenge, but I stayed because I fell in love with the characters.

I won’t claim to know anything about the foster system, being a foster child, or being a foster parent. I’ve only known one foster kid (that I can remember( in all my life, and I met her right after she’d aged out of the system. I live in America, so I don’t even know how similar the systems between here and Australia are, but I don’t imagine being a foster child in any country is something I could come close to understanding. That didn’t stop me from absolutely falling in love with Jessica, Norah, and Alicia, the three foster sisters at the center of this novel. It also didn’t stop me from loving to loathe their foster mother, Miss Fairchild, who for some reason reminds me of a slightly younger (and non-magical) Professor Umbridge in many ways. Miss Fairchild is a memorable and loathsome antagonist in this complex book.

The most prevalent themes in this book surround the trials of the foster system and how it can affect different children, depending on how they came to be in the foster system, the environment they lived in before the state had to take them in, how long they’ve been in the system, how many different homes they’ve been in, and what abuse they might have suffered during their time in the system. It gives what could’ve been another formulaic domestic thriller a really emotional base that caused me to really become invested in the outcome. I was really pulled in and willingly went along for the whole ride.

Well-paced with a great plot and cohesive storyline, I found I couldn’t put this one down.

I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: 5 Star Review/Domestic Thriller/Murder Thriller/Psychological Fiction

I don't know what Sally Hepworth does when she writes her books, but after reading Darling Girls, I can confidently say that she's got a magic touch!
In Darling Girls, Sally Hepworth takes heavy topics like abuse, grief, and drug abuse, and finds a way to mold them into a story of found family, sisterly love, and overcoming past trauma in search of a fulfilling present and future.
This story focuses on the past and present of three female characters, all of which are written with unique personalities that find ways to endear them to the reader. These characters are flawed, frustrating, and can break the heart of the reader, allowing for depth and emotional connection to the story.
There is a mystery discussed throughout this story, but Hepworth has created such compelling characters, that the mystery doesn't need to take center stage. Don't get me wrong, the mystery is interesting and I desperately wanted to figure it out, but her characters really and truly shine, which I think says so much about Hepworth's talent.
I would highly recommend this book to those who enjoy mystery/thriller, but also to those to a looking for well done characterization and character development.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Sally Hepworth is one of my favorite authors, so of course I wanted to read this latest one. I have to admit it was a little slow and at times a little confusing.
We see three children growing up in a foster home. A foster home that isn’t so great but the three girls become sisters trying to survive. .This bond is still with them as they get older and are confronted with the mystery of a child’s bones found on the very site they have lived.on. In lies the question of who is it and what happened back then.
Needless to say I did get drawn in and thought I knew what was to come. The author did develop the characters and clues to help but only if you realize what they mean. I was not ready for the ending to be what it was.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for providing with an advanced readers copy. I loved it !

I received a copy of this in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley.

I don't read a lot of thriller / suspense books these days, but for some reason, this book caught my attention a lot the last few weeks.

I really did like the idea of the plot line here. 3 sisters who shared a rough foster home with a horrid, abusive foster mother. This and other things have obviously caused them to have extensive trauma.
They eventually find out that bones were found under that foster home. The rest of the story is based around that.

I liked that the story bounced between the past and present. For me, that really helps break up the story and help me stay engaged with longer books.

Overall, the book about a 3.5-ish for me. But I rated up to a four.

🌸Darling Girls🌸

Sally Hepworth has been an auto-read author for me for a few years now so I was absolutely ecstatic to get the chance to read an advanced copy of her latest, Darling Girls. I went into this one fairly blind which really works for me, but please note, this story handles some very difficult subject matter such as child abuse so please do look up the content warnings if you have any concerns. This one is a tough read.

With all that said, Darling Girls absolutely gripped me. My heart absolutely broke for Jessica, Norah and Alicia and what they went through in their foster home. Miss Fairchild would give a certain professor from a series about wizards that I don’t mention on here a run for her money. Damn. Through all that though, their sisterhood they developed was really such a beautiful part of the story in the midst of the horrors they were going through.

I loved that the story was told from each girl’s point of view in both the present and the past. It really was a great way to tell the story and had me trying to guess what would happen as the story twisted and turned.

I don’t often give thrillers 5 stars but damn did this one ever earn it. I am still thinking about it a week later. Definitely a difficult one but so impactful.

A huge thank you to @netgalley & @stmartinspress for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Darling Girls is out on April 23rd!

⭐5/5 stars⭐

Thank you St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for a copy of this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, Sally Hepworth does it again. This is close to the top for one of my favorite books written by her. I listened to most of the book on audio and loved it. The suspense in the writing was amazing. I loved how quick the chapters were because it felt like I was flying through the book even though I mostly listened to it. AND THE ENDING! I was not expecting that twist. This was a great book that many could probably finish in one sitting. I would highly recommend to mystery and thriller lovers.

Oh my. God. I'm completely in shock.

I've been a fan of Sally Hepworth's books for a while now, but I never imagined this one would become my top favorite.

First of all, I think it's important to say that this is a story centered around children who grew up in an unsafe environment, facing abuse and humiliation. If this is a sensitive topic for you, I suggest approaching the book with caution.

The characters' journeys had me completely hooked. From the very beginning to the very end, our emotions are taken on a wild ride. The search for the truth about the body buried beneath that house is electrifying. Every time we feel like we're getting close to finding answers, another unexpected twist occurs. There are suspicions everywhere!

The repercussions of the sisters' childhood traumas are still felt in their adult lives. Addiction, violent tendencies, struggles with self-worth, and the constant search for validation all play a part. But it's also moving to see how they try to help each other and fight to overcome all of this.

The conclusion is haunting. My heart was in my throat until the final page.

I absolutely love it! I highly recommend it.

* Thanks to St. Martin's Press for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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

After reading Darling Girls, I feel like I have to keep an eye out for more Sally Hepworth thrillers! Personally, I would consider this more of a mystery/drama since it wasn’t as fast or showy as other thrillers I’ve read, but the story was paced and pieced together really well.

When it comes to thrillers, I enjoy multiple perspectives and/or multiple timelines, so I was pleasantly surprised that this book had both. Following all three sisters with each of their different personalities and upbringings especially in the foster care system was interesting to say the least. On another note, I also love when an author nicely wraps up their mystery/thriller, but then proceeds to obliterate everything you thought you knew with one final chapter or an epilogue. Since this story didn’t consist of plot twists in every chapter, it was a nice touch to have an ending that did shake things up. Overall, I was impressed and will be on the lookout for more Hepworth novels!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the arc!

This was a unique book with a crazy twist at the end I didn’t see coming.
We follow Jessica, Norah, and Alicia who were once foster children under the care of Miss Fairchild. After bones are discovered under the house, the girls are called back for the investigation.
The chapters alternate between POVs of the three girls and between past and present timeline.
I’m really glad we got the POV of all three girls, I feel like it gave a good sense of each of their characters. The past and present timeline was also interesting and gave a lot of details and depth to the story.
The story had a lot of twists and turns and things that I never could have predicted. I couldn’t put the book done and I finished in less than 24 hours. It is definitely a book that you’ll want to keep reading to discover what is going to happen in the end.
I really enjoyed this one and highly recommend!
Thank you again to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy!

Three girls end up in the same foster home and experience mental and physical abuse before getting out and starting lives together. Their stories are told years later when they get a call that the foster house was being demolished and bones were found - and they needed to come in for questioning. I thought this was going to be a thriller but it was actually a heart breaking story of foster care corruption and abuse. The underlying story of finding the body wasn’t talked about much until the end. That’s not to say the book wasn’t good, it just wasn’t what I expected it to be. But I got absorbed reading about these women and how the experience affected each of them differently. Each chapter is in a different POV, including the foster mom and her story. I will be recommending this book on my social media accounts. You can see more reviews on TikTok @jillandjackets

Jessica, Norah, and Alicia were always told how lucky they were to grow up at Wild Meadows foster home. After all, it was an idyllic looking farm, but looks can be deceiving. Their foster mother, Miss Fairchild, could be unpredictable. Her moods could go from happy to terrifying in seconds.

One day, the girls make a break for it and successfully leave the foster home and don’t lay eyes on Miss Fairchild again….until the police come calling about a body found under their former foster home.

At no point during reading this book did I know what was going to happen. It kept me in suspense and on the edge of my seat the whole time. I usually try to figure mystery and thriller books out before the big twist, but I absolutely could not with this one!

I have read all of Sally Hepworth’s books and she has an amazing way of letting the story unfold by feeding you only morsels at a time without giving anything away.

The story is told through multiple points of view and it jumps back and forth in time, but it was not confusing at all like some books can be.

I’m already feverishly anticipating Ms. Hepworth’s next thriller!

A well written domestic suspense novel set in a foster home with three young women and the “mother” as the principal characters. The storyline has enough twists to put each of the characters under the suggestion of some level of suspicion throughout the book. Each chapter puts one character in direct focus and they switchback throughout the book between “before” and “after”. An easy read, engaging, good character development, and it sustained my interest throughout. Highly recommended!

With thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for access to this advance copy e-read.

Thoughts

I always really enjoy Hepworth's books, so I was super excited for this one too. And I think it was a solid thriller. The back forth timeline was done really well and helped build the suspense.

It isn't one that will wow you but is worth the read because it is entertaining. It does deal with heavy topics of child abuse and addiction so please be aware of that.

If you are a fan of this author I think it is a must read to complete her catalog. Or if you are just looking for a found family thriller this could be the one for you.

Thanks to @Netgalley for the eARC.

𝗬𝗢𝗨’𝗟𝗟 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 𝗜𝗙:
• You like multiple POVs with dual timelines 🔁
• You want something with lots of twists 👀
• You’re craving sisterhood, secrets, love, & murder 💔

📚 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. 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. Years later 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 love Sally Hepworths books, she writes the ultimate slow burn suspense! 👏 This book was GRIPPING, although it was definitely hard to digest the abuse towards the three main characters as kids. Miss Fairchild was in a league of her own (in the worst way) and it was scary how good she was at manipulating the people around her. This book was the perfect balance of twists, shock and point of views (I loved the therapy chapters). If you’re looking for a fantastic domestic thriller - this one’s for you! 🤍

"Darling Girls" by Sally Hepworth was my fourth read by her, but it didn't grab me as much as her previous works. The constant back-and-forth between timelines made it hard to stay engaged, even though I usually enjoy multiple perspectives. The bond between the foster sisters, despite their dark past, was a highlight. They loved each other like sisters and had each other’s backs. Miss Fairchild's cruelty was depicted vividly, with unfair punishments and abuse. Some were difficult to read. The sisters were told they were lucky to have found this place but they were reallylucky to have each other.
The therapy sessions interspersed with the narrative were a bit confusing at first, but I caught on eventually. The discovery of human remains at the foster home early on was intriguing and I wanted to know how this plays out. The way the ending is revealed wasn’t much of a big surprise because you’re able to piece it through ahead of time. So for me, it wasn’t a shocking twist. I appreciated the three sisters’ journeys though.