I enjoyed this and love all of Sally Hepworth’s books! Her books keep you guessing until the end. Thank you for the opportunity to read this.

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I’ve read most of Sally Hepworth’s books and enjoyed them, so I was excited to receive a review copy of her newest release.

The story features three narrators, each alternating between the present and their childhood. While that could be confusing, it’s actually well-executed, with the shifts between timelines feeling seamless. The timing of these shifts works well, never feeling contrived for the sake of holding back secrets for a twist.

And those twists? They’re big, and one in particular made me gasp out loud. While they were surprising, they made perfect sense, leaving me thinking, “I should have seen that coming.” That said, I did feel a bit frustrated by the final twist. I’m starting to tire of a specific depiction of women that seems to be a recurring theme in psychological thrillers, and this book doesn’t escape that trope.

In terms of representation, there’s a lack of racial or ethnic diversity. However, the book does feature one bisexual sister pursuing a relationship with a woman, and one sister dealing with substance use issues, while another has anger management struggles. I found the portrayal of foster care and the foster system is both realistic and sensitive, and especially appreciated learning that Hepworth conducted research with adults raised in the foster system. As someone who works in addiction and recovery, I found the representation of substance use disorder to be authentic and tasteful.

Overall, this is a gripping psychological thriller set in Australia, with enough twists and intriguing characters to keep you turning the pages. While readers may not relate to all of the characters, the juicy plot is sure to keep them engaged. Recommended for fans of psychological thrillers.

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✨ Sally Hepworth: The Queen of Psychological Thrillers! 👑

If you haven’t picked up a book by this talented Aussie author yet, you’re seriously missing out. With 9 books and counting, Sally Hepworth has mastered the art of twisting the suspense and delving deep into complex family dynamics. I’ve devoured 6 of her books and am constantly left craving more!

My top 3 favorites (so far!) - The Mother-in-Law, The Soulmate, and The Younger Wife 📚💥

💬 Let’s chat! What’s your favorite Sally Hepworth book? Or, are you planning to read any? Drop your thoughts below! 👇

Tag a thriller lover who needs to read Sally Hepworth!

Jessica, Norah, and Alicia have always been told how lucky they are. Rescued from terrible family situations and brought into the loving care of Miss. Fairchild, those girls are lucky. At least that's what it looks like to outsiders. 

Inside the home, the girls feel anything but lucky, with Miss. Fairchild's unpredictable nature and strict rules. Eventually, the girls escape, and grow up. Now, a body's been discovered under Miss. Fairchild's escape and the women are called back to the home. Are they witnesses, or suspects? Just when you think you've got it figured out, Sally Hepworth throws in one of her signature twists and leaves you with your jaw on the floor. I love the multiple-viewpoint, multiple-time period telling of this story, as Hepworth weaves a fabulous story and draws you right in!

This book starts a bit clichê, then it goes into a more interesting vein as the flashbacks are interwoven with the present time.
Characters development was hit-and-miss. Some characters' motivation was all over the place while others were well-done. But I think that's usually the case when a writer chooses to write in so many different POVs in the same story. It's doable, but the characters need to be more fleshed out, so it doesn't get so messy sometimes.
Then we get to the end, Fairchild's resolution happens, and I was like, WTH? What a psycho! That's all I can say without giving away spoilers. You are warned!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sally Hepworth has a remarkable ability to captivate readers from the very first page and keeps them engaged until the last word. I appreciate a thriller that allows you to delve into the minds of the characters rather than relying solely on fast-paced action, which often leaves me feeling disconnected. Darling Girls is told from multiple points of view, allowing readers to understand the thoughts and emotions of the main characters, making it much easier to connect with them.

Jessica, Norah, and Alicia share a strong sisterly bond after spending time in foster care under Miss Fairchild at Wild Meadows, a house that looks beautiful from the outside. However, the inside of the house held many horrors that the girls endured over several years, including physical and mental abuse. Twenty-five years later, they are summoned back to Port Agatha to assist with a police investigation into bones that were discovered beneath the house when it was demolished. The story's dual timeline lets readers witness the traumas the girls faced and how they have coped with them over the past quarter-century.

I loved the ending of the story, especially discovering what happened to the girls after the investigation. I was completely taken by surprise at the very end with Miss Fairchild's revelation and now find myself wishing for more, even though the story wrapped up nicely. I can't wait to read more by Sally Hepworth in the future.

4.25 Stars

Sally Hepworth does it again. A great family drama mystery that keeps you invested until the very end.

This book is bingeable and had some twists and turns that I didn’t expect. I will say that the child abuse and neglect portions of the story are tough, but the writing style and character devleopment help the story unfold in a way that keeps you turning the pages. I would recommend this story to anyone who likes murder-mystery books with twisty ends, but be forewarned about the abuse portions of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I stopped reading about halfway through, the subject matter was a little too much for me emotionally

Anyone who works with children and love them deeply will have a difficult time with this story, because the tale of abuse is so powerful and complete. That said, this mystery is deep and heartbreaking, quick and detailed. Well worth the time for those that can stomach the trauma.

Um no thanks. I don’t really have anything especially nice to say I’ve read other books by her I enjoyed but this one just isn’t my cup of tea.

Thank You to NetGalley for the e-ARC.

Three girls, Norah, Alicia, and Jessica, grow up in a foster home run by Miss Fairchild. They band together and call themselves sisters to survive. Everyone tells them how lucky they are and what a great foster home they have. As adults, bones are discovered underneath their former foster home the girls head back to where their foster home was. They see their former foster mother, are interviewed by police, and the reader learns more in-depth about each child, how they entered the foster care system, their time at Miss Fairchild's, and how their lives have turned out. Who do the bones belong to? How did they get there? Will anyone believe Norah, Alicia, and Jessica or what they've been through?

I loved this book! I couldn't put it down. It pivots from past to present and the story is told from Norah's, Jessica's, and Alicia's points of views. The book is great about denoting time frame and character. I loved Norah, Jessica, and Alicia and thought they were well developed characters. The were a number of twists and turns, thrillers, and some great suspense. I will definitely be reading more by this author.

Twisty and interesting thriller with deep layers about foster care and sisterhood. It will entertain you but also you will keep thinking about this months after.

What the f—- was that ending?!?! I was so caught off guard, thought everything has wrapped up and BAM! I should’ve known better, but that twist was great.

The characters had great connections with each other and felt relatable. The plot had me constantly guessing what was really going on, but at no point did I see that ending. Another great book by Sally Hepworth!

Three girls left to foster care, became so close they considered themelves sisters. Years later they receive a call about the house, and the body found under it. This brings back so much to these young women. THis book takes you through so much emotion as well as twist and turns..

This was a little bit of a more darker book then what Sally Hepworth usually writes. BUT, it was still awesome and it showed me that she can write pretty much any genre with ease.
The darling girls are 3 girls who were rescued when they were little and then grew up in the foster care of Miss Fairchild. Miss Fairchild was anything but fair if you get my drift. The girls though are forced to have the attention on them when a dead body is found under their childhood home.

I don't want to give a lot more away other than its a whole did they, didn't they, did she, didn't she?

Thank you again NetGalley for the arc!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth is a heart wrenching thriller. I was supposed to review this novel when I first read this but rated it and forgot. Here I am now better late than never.
As I said before this thriller is a heart wrenching story. It feels more like a mystery than a thriller when reading this novel. You are kept in the dark as the reader and the sisters are not always the most honest with each other so it takes a long time to learn what is going on yourself. For the most part that mystery is what creates the suspense but sometimes it started to feel frustrating as a reader.
Overall, this is a great mystery thriller novel that I would definitely recommend to anyone who loves a good mystery.

A thrilling page-turner of sisterhood, secrets, love, and murder by New York Times bestselling author Sally Hepworth.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review an advanced readers copy of this book. This in no way affects my review, all opinions are my own.

Suspenseful, captivating, shocking, and thrilling, this book really had it all! Sally Hepworth does an incredible job of balancing the different characters and their personalities while still delivering a gut-punching story told through varying timelines. This story follows three sisters who grew up together in a foster home called the Wild Meadows. Because of this, I would exercise a lot of caution before you decide to pick up this book. I'm not a mother, but my stomach was turning reading about the abuse the sisters suffered as children, so if that sort of content can be hard for you I might avoid reading this one.

However, I do appreciate how Hepworth is able to incorporate so much humor into such a dark story. The sisters are funny and entertaining, if not a bit exaggerated in their individual antics (cough Norah cough). I did appreciate the growth each sister showed throughout the story and how we got to learn more about them through each chapter up until the very end. This book is frustrating, shocking, and really well-done. I love Hepworth because she always keeps me guessing and I find it so hard to anticipate her twists! That last chapter had my jaw on the floor. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading what Hepworth writes next!

I received an ARC of Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth through NetGalley. Having read several of her books, I was eager to dive into this one, and it did not disappoint. Darling Girls follows the story of three foster sisters—Jessica, Norah, and Alicia—who are brought back to their traumatic past when human remains are discovered at their childhood foster home, Wild Meadows. Raised by their abusive foster mother, Miss Holly Fairchild, the sisters endured years of psychological and physical torment. As adults, they are contacted by Detective Patel to assist in the investigation of the remains found at Wild Meadows. The narrative alternates between the past and the present, gradually revealing the extent of the sisters' traumatic experiences. In the past, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia were taken in by Miss Fairchild, who initially appeared loving but soon revealed her true, cruel nature. The sisters bonded over their shared suffering and attempts to protect each other from Miss Fairchild's unpredictable punishments. In the present, the sisters are forced to confront their past as they return to Wild Meadows. Jessica, now a successful home organizer, struggles with addiction; Norah, who has a history of violence, is being extorted; and Alicia, a social worker, grapples with forming healthy relationships. As they delve deeper into the investigation, they uncover shocking secrets about Miss Fairchild and the true identity of the remains. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters in Darling Girls. Hepworth's ability to create complex, relatable characters is evident in the sisters' distinct personalities and their emotional journeys. The alternating timelines and multiple perspectives added depth to the story, making it a compelling read. The exploration of themes such as trauma, resilience, and the long-term impact of abuse was handled with sensitivity and depth. While some plot twists were predictable, the overall execution and strong character development made this book a standout. Hepworth's writing is engaging and evocative, drawing readers into the sisters' world and keeping them invested in their fate. I highly recommend Darling Girls to fans of psychological thrillers and character-driven stories. I look forward to reading more from Sally Hepworth in the future. #netgalley #darlinggirls

Wow, this one was a fun read! I feel strange saying that because it does involve some heavy topics (abuse and a mysterious death), but I was hooked the entire time. I really enjoyed the characters, the past and present chapters, and learning more of the backstory. At times, "Darling Girls" gave me "If You Tell" vibes, but obviously this story is fictional. The ending had me absolutely floored, just when I was so happy with how it wrapped up! I believe this is my second or third Sally Hepworth book and I am a permanent fan. Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and MacMillan audio for the opportunity to read and review this one.

Whose body is buried under the house? This thriller drags you in and keeps you reading til the end, a page turner. The characters bring so much to the story as it unfolds. An easy weekend read.

Thank you to Sally Hepworth, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Reviews being posted to B&N and Amazon upon approval.