Sally Hepworth’s Darling Girls delivers a dark and gripping tale of family, trauma, and buried secrets that keeps readers turning the pages. The story revolves around three foster sisters—Jessica, Norah, and Alicia—whose shared childhood under the manipulative foster mother Miss Fairchild leaves them with scars that resurface years later when human remains are discovered beneath their childhood home.

Hepworth excels in creating complex, flawed characters, and the sisterly bond between the women is the emotional core of the novel. Their shared history is compelling, filled with moments of heartbreak, resilience, and fierce loyalty. The alternating timelines and multiple perspectives add depth, slowly unraveling the truth about their past while maintaining a steady sense of suspense.

However, while the plot is undeniably engaging, some twists feel a little too predictable or far-fetched. The pacing occasionally falters, particularly in the middle sections, where the narrative lingers on repetitive elements of the sisters’ trauma. Additionally, Miss Fairchild, while chilling, at times comes across as a caricature rather than a fully realized antagonist, which diminishes the impact of her role in the story.

That said, Darling Girls is a solid psychological drama that fans of domestic suspense will likely enjoy. It’s an emotional and intriguing read, even if it doesn’t quite deliver the knockout punch it promises. If you’re looking for a book with sisterly bonds, dark secrets, and a touch of mystery, this one is worth a try!

3.5/5 stars

I always enjoy multiple perspectives and this was not any different. It was a heavy book as you learned more about their experiences in the home with Miss Fairchild.

Sally Hepworth does it again. Darling Girls caught my attention from the very beginning and I really enjoyed this book. Both the characters and the story kept me turning the page straying to figure out the twists and turns. I always look forward to anything Hepworth writes!

I am a big fan of Sally Hepworth, and this kept the theme going. The beginning had been a little slow, keeping track of all the people coming and going, and the timelines, but the second half was near perfect. I liked how supportive the sisters were of each other, how each one's story finished out, and how the twists were revealed.

This was provided to me by St. Martin's Press and NetGalley

Creepy as all get out! Three young girls are placed under the foster care of Miss Fairchild, a woman reminiscent of an old school wicked stepmother from folklore. This is not a thriller as advertised, but more a domestic horror as we learn about the abuse the girls receive under the "care" of Miss Fairchild. Another good donestic drama from Sally Hepworth, with a twisty ending her fans have come to expect.

A great thriller to enjoy

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this review copy and the opportunity !

I received an advanced copy of Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth from the publisher St, Martins Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What It’s About: Jessica, Norah, and Alicia have always been told how lucky they are to have found each other. As far as the world thinks they were rescued from family tragedies and raised by a loving foster mother, Miss. Fairchild, on an idyllic estate. But their childhood wasn’t a fairy tale. Miss. Fairchild had rules, was unpredictable, and was never to be crossed. Desperate, the three broke away from Miss. Fairchild and thought they were free, but when a body is discovered under the home they grew up in, they are pulled back in.

My Thoughts: I’m not quite a Hepworth completist, but I’ve read every book she’s written since The Mother In Law. Hepworth writes domestic fiction like nobody else and this is her darkest yet. This book follows three foster siblings who have been raised by a monster of a foster parent and are pulled back in when the body of a baby is found. This book is dark and our three characters are so likable that I felt anxious that they might have done something bad or might get into trouble. This book is compelling and dark but I really could put the book down. There are so many twists. The only problem I had with this book was sometimes the timelines were not being clear and a bit hard to follow but overall this was minor and I thought this was quite good.

Who Should Read It: People who like domestic thrillers. People who are okay with darker books. People who have enjoyed Sally Hepworth in the past.

Summary: Three foster sisters are brought back to their former life when a body is found at their former home.

Amazing book. pages were turned so quickly. Def one of my top books in 2024.
the ending caught me in a chokehold.
Sally, you did not disappoint

I really enjoyed this book. The twist and turns were perfectly placed. the author does a great job of pulling you in to the mystery and keeping you invested. I recommended it to all that enjoy thriller type books.

Darling Girls is a gripping domestic thriller that delves into the dark side of the foster care system and the enduring bonds of sisterhood. The novel follows Jessica, Norah, and Alicia—three women who became sisters through their shared experiences in foster care under the unpredictable and controlling Miss Fairchild. Years later, when human remains are discovered beneath their former foster home, the sisters are drawn back to confront their traumatic past and uncover long-buried secrets.

Hepworth intertwines past and present narratives, gradually revealing the complexities of the sisters' relationships and the psychological scars left by their upbringing. The story is filled with suspense and unexpected twists, keeping readers engaged until the very end.

This novel is recommended for fans of psychological thrillers and domestic suspense, particularly those interested in stories that explore family dynamics and the impact of childhood trauma.

Sally Hepworth books are always well written, fast paced, and binge worthy - this was no exception! I always look forward to her books

There is something about Sally Hepworths writing that I always find so addictive and hard to put down!

This story follows three foster sisters who are forced to return to their foster home when a body is found on the premises. While growing up, they were told how lucky they were to have been taken in by Miss Fairchild, but it turns out behind closed doors things were dark for the girls.

The twist at the ending definitely bumped this read from a three star to a four star! I would have liked to see the ending be a bit longer though as I felt it ended a bit abruptly. You can’t go wrong with a Hepworth book though!

Great book, lots of twists and turns! Definitely recommend! I love the dual timeline you were really able to get more in depth with the characters. I was on the edge of my seat just waiting for the story to unfold.

Sally Hepworth’s “Darling Girls” is intriguing and twisty. I enjoyed the main plot and how the three main *darling girls* each had a subplot lurking that only added—and did not detract—in any way from the main action. I found some unexpected humor in it as well. Overall, Hepworth continues to deliver interesting mystery suspense novels that you cannot help but try to solve along with them and I look forward to what she puts forth next.

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth is a chilling and emotionally gripping novel that masterfully blends suspense with deep, character-driven storytelling. The story follows three foster sisters who are drawn back to their childhood home when human remains are discovered, forcing them to confront the dark and traumatic past they shared under the roof of their manipulative and abusive foster mother, Miss Fairchild. Hepworth’s writing is both sharp and deeply empathetic, delving into the complexities of sisterhood, resilience, and the lasting scars of childhood trauma. The alternating timelines build tension as secrets unravel, keeping me hooked until the shocking conclusion. Equal parts haunting and heartfelt, this book is a riveting exploration of survival and the bonds that hold us together, even in the darkest times.

Darling Girls is about girls who become sisters through circumstances. They all ended up at the home of Miss Fairchild, and continued as sisters into adulthood. They're all pulled back to their childhood home when a body is found on the property.
Sisterhood is a trope I always tend to enjoy in books, and I liked getting the perspective of the three women. I cared for the three women fairly equally and was never annoyed when in each of their perspectives. I was on the edge of my seat until the very end, and never guessed the plot twists. Sally Hepworth is a very entertaining author, and I will continue to read her novels.

This was a quick read. I finished in one day. I am a big fan of Sally Hepworth. I’ve read several of her books so I was excited to get into this one. However this was not one of my favorites. The beginning started off slow and I was a bit confused with all the switching of characters. It started to pick up but I wouldn’t call this a thriller.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this advanced reader's edition. Unfortunately, I will not be able to give it the time required to write a thorough review and will be unable to read it for this purpose.

Small Hepworth never fails. Her writing is too good. I really enjoyed this one. It was a very unique read. This was a slow burn thriller with a little action spaced throughout. I was truly shocked along the way while reading this one. At times I thought the three main characters were delusional. But the ending was very vindicating! Highly, highly recommend this one!

This wasn’t my favorite sally hepworth book. I found it hard to follow at times and I wasn’t a huge fan of any of the characters.