This is a thrilling mystery, but more of a slowed down character study- which totally worked for me! I thought the pace and buildup was great and I was throughly intrigued and surprised by the ending!

Sally Hepworth always delivers a fantastic thriller that immediately captures readers and keeps them flipping the pages until the very end! While The Mother-in-Law will probably always be my favorite novel by Hepworth, this one still satisfied and would be a great summer reading pick!

If you are a more sensitive reader I would recommend reading trigger warnings before picking up this novel.

Sally Hepworth does it again!! I love her writing style. I flew through this book! A few of the scenes were uncomfortable (check trigger warnings) but overall, I really liked this book! Highly recommend

Thought it was fine. It'll get the job done if you're looking for a contemporary mystery marketed to women, complete with the "unexpected" twist at the end.

Three foster sisters return to their hometown 25 years after they left when a body is discovered under the home in which they grew up. Whose body, and why was it there? That's the primary mystery. Their stories are told in alternating chapters that focus on their present circumstances (none of them are particularly well-adjusted, even if they seem so on the surface) and how they first got placed at their foster home.

A second, related mystery is the identity of the woman who is speaking with a psychologist about her troubled childhood in other chapters. Readers will surely know who it is within a few chapters.

Not a lot of new ground here, and the final twist feels like a clumsy and obligatory epilogue. I acknowledge I might not be the audience for this book, so if you are fans of Lucy Foley or Ruth Ware, this might be a book to pick up.

3.75 stars

This was my second book from Sally Hepworth, but having loved The Soulmate, this one fell flat in comparison. It didn't read much like a thriller, and had more of a women's fiction spin to it with the plot of foster sisters and how they dealt with the trauma of their childhood as adults.

Jessica, Norah, and Alicia were all foster children at the strange Holly Fairchild's farming estate, Jessica having arrived as a 4 year old, and Norah and Alicia as preteens. Miss Fairchild psychologically abuses them, until the day they finally escape her care and go to the police when she attempts to drown her newest charge. Upon investigation, there is no trace of the child, and the girls are gaslighted into believing they made up her existence at all. Now, as adults, the farm has been sold, and upon the demolition of the house, bones are found buried underneath, and the women are called back to rural Port Agatha to assist in the investigation. About halfway through the book I started getting mad that I figured out the twist, and I did have the first few reveals pegged. The final twist in the last page I should have seen coming, so was mad about that too, but it felt both rushed and lackluster, like an afterthought to attempt one final "gotcha". Lots of triggers in this one with abusive childhoods, gaslighting, narcissistic parent figures, and drug abuse. The pacing was very quick and kept me motivated to read, but moreso to see if I was correct in my theories than caring about any of the characters.

Thanks to Saint Martin’s Press for gifted access via NetGalley. All opinions below my own.

I can’t believe this is my first Sally Hepworth Bouk, I’m sure I have at least three of them on the shelf waiting to be read. This one takes place in Australia giving us two timelines. One in present day where three foster sisters are contacted by the police when a body is found at their former foster home. And the other flashing back to their childhoods. We learn about their various upbringings and how they were bonded together by the unusual moods of their foster mother. I’ll stop there because I don’t want to give any spoilers.

I was very invested in these characters, despite being quite a few of them to get to know. The harness of the foster makes it a bit of a hard read because I’m sure there are many people living this reality. What I really loved was the bonding of the three sisters. Also, the twists were pretty good. There’s a last chapter one that was absolutely perfect. This is a great beach or pool read for the summer.

My thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for the advance copy of Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth. I usually enjoy Sally’s books and this was no exception. 4.25 stars…it’s a thriller, which means I may forget about it a few weeks from now, but it was well-executed and it went down super easily like a milkshake. Content warnings for childhood abuse and trauma. Please note…there were a ton of typos in the advance copy, so I hope the editors clean that up before publication.

I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again and again and again…Sally Hepworth truly is the queen of domestic suspense. I absolutely love listening to her novels because they grab my attention immediately, and hold it right till the very end. I usually save them for a massive housecleaning day which makes tackling chores more bearable. I’ll gladly disinfect the entire bathroom while listening to the drama, mystery, and tension that Sally creates.

I loved the storyline/set-up of Darling Girls. Three foster sisters return to the home that they grew up in for a less than ideal circumstance. Human remains were found on the property, so family members were brought in for questioning. But the big question is: Are the women merely witnesses? Or are they prime suspects? I went back and forth for the majority of the novel, pointing my finger at pretty much every single character.

READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:

- Multiple perspectives and timelines
- Foster family stories
- Sisterhood and female bonding
- Murder mysteries
- Twists, turns, and suspense
- Dark and heavy reads
- Flawed and complex characters
- Australian setting

If you’re a big fan of Hepworth’s work, then there’s no doubt that you’ll enjoy her latest. It’s classic Sally, and will keep you guessing and stressing! I recommend the audiobook, of course. Sally’s books always have the very best narrators with the most gorgeous accents. Give this one a listen! Darling Girls releases on April 23rd, and it gets 4/5 stars from me!

Darling Girls is one of those books with multiple points of view in alternating chapters. It includes a "then" and "now" aspect, and an underlying mystery. It has all of the elements of an engrossing novel and for the most part, I was very taken in by the mystery. I felt like I understood the characters and their motivations. I sincerely disliked Miss Fairchild and that never changed. I had a hard time reading the parts about her. There is no justification for child abuse.

I received this as a digital copy and an audiobook, and enjoyed the narrator's Australian accent. However, I feel like this was a missed opportunity for an ensemble cast! Also, in audiobook version, it was difficult for me to keep up with all of the characters at first, and I would reference the digital copy, so it was helpful for me to have both.

Thanks to NetGalley for early access to this novel!

3.5 STARS - I've been a fan of Australian author Sally Hepworth for many years. Darling Girls, the ninth book I've read by her, has a different feel than some of her previous books.

While not a suspense read per se, I'd label this book as contemporary fiction with emotional (possibly triggering) issues and a bit of mystery when bones are found on the property of a former foster home.

The story is told using past and present plot lines. Through her three main characters, foster sisters Jessica, Alicia and Norah, Hepworth takes readers back to their childhood and their experiences at the mercy and mercurial emotions of their abusive foster mother. In present day, readers are privy to sessions between a (not overly professional or competent?) psychiatrist and an unknown female patient which add to the mystery.

I'll be honest, this was a hard and emotional read for me because much of the book focuses on the abuse and manipulation of children and the resulting trauma, giving the story a very dark, uncomfortable feel. The ending was over-the-top and not quite satisfying, but my big takeaway will be the unbreakable bond between the three sisters.

While this was a good story, it was not a darling of a read for me. That said, I remain a fan of Sally Hepworth and strongly recommend her work which balances tension, social issues and interesting characters.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to St Martin's Press for the advanced digital copy of this book which was given in exchange for my honest review.

This was sooooo good! I could not put it down and finished it in two days!! All the characters are engaging and well thought out (even precious Phil). The plot is enticing and twists in ways you don't expect and the ending is just thriller gold.

Thanks to Netgalley, Sally Hepworth and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this ARC.

Jessica, Norah, and Alicia grew up in foster care at Wild Meadows. Because of what they endured they became close and into adult hood remain sisters. Together they have to revisit their childhood in order to help the police.

This was a solid 3/5 stars in my opinion. The story is fast paced and engaging. It definitely kept the pages turning. I liked the main characters but got lost or confused with the side characters.

The ending was pretty good but didn’t have the shock value I was waiting for.

When a book by Sally Hepworth comes out, I will want to read it. I don’t need to know anything about it, I am going to get my hands on the novel and read it cover to cover within a day. And she never disappoints. Darling Girls was an excellent read about three girls growing up in foster care. The book goes between past and present and keeps the reader hooked until the very end.

Here is the plot:

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?

Don’t miss this novel, it comes out April 23

Darling Girls is the story of three "sisters" whose horrific backgrounds bind them together. Each was dumped on the steps of a monster by an unscrupulous child welfare worker. There are some very disturbing scenes in the book, but probably nothing that the reader cannot cope with.

Skip forward many years and the girls are still bonded. One is married and has a successful house-organizing business - but has some pill popping issues. Another is a social worker with a huge heart. The third sister hasn't quite found her place yet and suffers from anger issues as well as a bad habit of trading sex for help around the house. When the two converge she finds herself before a judge on assault charges. Since this happens on multiple occasions she is facing jail time for the latest assault.

When each of the girls gets a call from the police in the town where they grew up in foster care, they are asked to come in and give statements regarding their period in care. As it turns out, the house where they lived is being torn down and construction workers have uncovered the remains of a baby, buried under the house. It is unclear when the baby was buried there and since the (same) unscrupulous child welfare worker brought the Foster Mother a steady stream of babies for short stays while the sisters were in her care, the police were looking for clues of the baby’s identity and the circumstances of its death.

Although I don't need to have all my t's crossed and i's dotted, Hepworth rarely leaves any loose ends open for interpretation in her books. This is true also of Darling Girls. I'd say, in fact, that despite the cruel treatment the sisters suffered at the hands of the wicked Foster Mother, they each had their personal issues satisfactorily resolved by the end of the book - and even learned to love.

Sally Hepworth is a brilliant author and I think that this might be her best book to date (or maybe tied with The Good Sister). Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this novel for my honest review. Darling Girls is due to be published in five days, and I recommend reserving your copy now!

Three "found" sisters via the Australian foster care system and many buried secrets. Darling Girls is a mystery of childhood trauma, perceptions of truth, and the ties that bind even as adults. Told in 4 POVs (3 sisters and one unknown), the secrets unravel as a body is found on the grounds of their former foster home. As the secrets unravel, so do the sisters in each their remarkable ways. In some ways, I felt voyeuristic as their childhood experiences were revealed. If you are sensitive to abuse or see these types of domestic stories as trauma porn, this may not be the book for you. There was a twist at the end that made me feel a bit gullible... but being gullible makes you human I suppose.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Jessica, Norah, and Alicia were raised as sisters, all foster children of the seemingly loving and perfect Miss Fairchild. However, behind closed doors, Miss Fairchild was strict, unpredictable, and cruel. After escaping from her care, the girls thought they’d never see her again until years later police discovered the remains of a dead body beneath the home, and they are pulled into the investigation and back to the place they’d hope to never return.

This latest novel from Sally Hepworth is a dark, twisty ride! The three sisters were all damaged girls with flaws, and the author did an exceptional job developing each one and telling their stories and history through the dual timeline format. There were some great twists along the way, and it was an incredibly engaging read. I’d definitely consider the sensitive material in terms of child abuse and neglect, so that’s something to take into consideration prior to reading. Overall, this was an intense and suspenseful read!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my gifted e-ARC!

Wow this was a great book by Sally Hepworth! It will keep you guessing.

This story follows Jessica, Norah, Alicia, and their foster mother Miss Fairchild. You get to see the trauma these girls faced in foster care. This may be a little dark for some people. I really loved seeing all the points of view and watching the characters develop. Great book and would recommend!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Sally Hepworth is quickly becoming a favorite thriller author for me. Each book I pick up of hers is just as good, if not better, than the last.

Darling Girls was not only a heartbreaking story, but it was also a masterfully crafted thriller. I loved how Hepworth decided to switch up narrators as well as timelines. This technique kept me fully engaged in both timelines. The reveals were breadcrumbed throughout the book. I would keep thinking I knew what happened and then she would throw another curveball. I was definitely kept on my toes which is something I enjoy about thrillers.

The subject matter is hard to read at times. I felt the anguish and shame and anger that the women relayed about their childhood. It was interesting to see how each one coped with these feelings as adults.

I can’t wait to read more of Hepworth’s backlist. She has been added to my auto-buy author list!

I have to be honest, I actually read this one last November, so I really should have reviewed it when the whole story was much fresher in my mind. However, it comes out on April 23, so naturally, I procrastinated until the end.

I’ve read several of Sally Hepworth’s novels and enjoyed them, but this one was a bit of a departure from her normal psychological thrillers. With The Good Sister, The Soulmate or The Younger Wife, you know what’s going on and it’s pretty clear who the culprit is early on in the novel while you wait for the main character to get there. Darling Girls was such an unexpected ride!

For the first half of the book, I’m not sure I even fully understood what was happening and it was a little slow-paced. Once I hit that halfway mark, however, the story started unraveling and I couldn’t put it down. Then, every time I thought I got it, I got hit with another twist! I never want to give away any spoilers, but this was a doozy and my favorite of her novels so far!

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮:
👯‍♀️Enjoy domestic thrillers
👯‍♀️Love a found family
👯‍♀️Can handle reading about child abuse and trauma (it wasn’t intensely graphic, but reading about child abuse is never easy)

Fantastic psychological thriller!! I have become a Sally Hepworth fan over the last few years, so it was no surprise to me that this book was amazing from the first sentence.
The plot takes place in Australia, in a foster care home called Wild Meadows. Such a serene looking place and the name just brings peaceful thoughts. But is that really the case inside the walls of the old home?
The story is told in multiple person pov. I felt like the story was easy to follow, with the chapters being titled by the pov being told. The trauma, the drama, the lies, the grief.... it will bring you into a heartbreaking story but one you can't put down. We start with girls in the foster care home, then as the story unfolds it brings us into their adult life when they each receive a phone call from the police department in the town they grew up in. They're needed for questioning. A body has been found under the home they were raised in. What do they know? What are they willing to tell? I loved the feeling of 'sisterhood' that these girls had.
If you've never read a Sally Hepworth book, then it's time you picked up this awesome author. She won't make you regret your choice.


Thank you to NetGalley, Sally Hepworth and St Martin's Press for allowing me this arc eversion copy to read in exchange for my honest opinion.