Norah, Alicia and Jessica forged an unbreakable bond at a long-term foster home named Little Meadows, which helped them to survive years of abuse. Decades later, human remains were found on the grounds of Little Meadows and the women became suspects in the crime.

I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!! This was a super dark, twisted read and it broke my heart several times over. Although it covered some pretty tough subject matter, it was also a beautiful story about sisterhood and resilience. Miss Fairchild was a vile human being and I hated her with a fiery passion. However, I loved all three of the main characters. They were flawlessly executed and had their own distinct personalities, which made it easy to distinguish between them. The story moved seamlessly between past and present timelines, and the twists were the cherry on top!

Read if you like:
✨ Found family
✨ Traumatic childhoods
✨ Multi-POV storylines
✨ Emotionally charged reads

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this ARC!

A copy of this review will be posted to my Instagram account (whats.amy.reading) during the week of April 15th.

I was sucked into this book from the moment I started. I loved the different characters and how their stories were all woven together through the flashback chapters.

Sally never fails to entertain! Part mystery, part coming of age, part women’s fiction- this book has it all. The sisters were interesting and unique characters. The story was a low unraveling of wild tale. There are many forms of child abuse in this book, so please be aware as you go into it. I absolutely loved the sisters bond and getting to know each one. The ending was shocking and I never saw it coming!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this advanced reader copy of Darling Girls in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

25 years ago three young girls are brought together through the foster care system and are put in the care of Miss Fairchild. The girls bond through the trauma caused by their foster mother. The day the girls can break free from their foster home, Wild Meadows cannot come fast enough…but will they ever truly break free? When all is seemingly left in the past, the girls get a call from a detective saying human remains were found buried at Wild Meadows. Who could it be? What else will be dug up besides a body?

I would label Darling Girls as more of a domestic drama than a thriller. I found the mystery to be pretty predictable. I enjoyed the storylines of each sister and Sally Hepworth’s writing style.

I definitely did not expect the ending! I was rooting for the girls the entire book. I would definitely recommend this book to others, but it wasn't my favorite

I received an ARC in exchange for a review.

The story begins with an introduction to Jessica and her two sisters, Norah and Alicia. Jessica runs a successful organizing business, while Norah is known for her fiery temper, which often leads to trouble. Alicia works in social services, supporting children under the care of children's aid.
Shortly thereafter, we discover that the three were foster children who endured significant mental anguish and abuse in their foster home.
This is the third book I've read by Sally Hepworth, and I am amazed at how each of her books presents a unique narrative and intricate storylines. I loved the loyalty and connection between the three sisters.
The story is laden with darkness, which keeps you engaged until the end. While not frightening, there are many potential triggers related to abuse.
I enjoyed this book and am grateful for the opportunity to read another work by this author. I am looking forward to seeing where her creative journey takes us next. I recommend this book to those who enjoy domestic thrillers and want to be engrossed in a story until the very end. There are some excellent twists that will keep you guessing.

I’ve been excited to read this book since I was approved for the ARC from NetGalley and it definitely held up to the first book by Sally Hepworth I read!

I really enjoyed all the different POVs, especially the creepy anonymous voice who’s telling their story to a therapist.
I didn’t find the twists to be overly predictable, although I did see one coming early on. The one at the very end got me especially.
I loved the sisterhood the main characters developed and how realistically their trauma was portrayed.
This was a hard book to put down. It was thought and emotion provoking and I was gripped the entire time.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for this ARC.
Publication date 4/23/24

One of the best Sally Hepworth yet! Three young girls who find each other exactly when each desperately needs the support of one another. Their childhood is dark and somber, with rules and punishments. And then the dead body shows up. They are thrown into an investigation as they are all in the midst of their own lives trajectory. Fast-paced and darkness at every turn. Well done!

I will not be leaving a review on this book until the boycott is over. as a mother of black children and a Muslim I am personally affected by such negative disrespect from the comments of your worker and lack of accountability and apology.

Thanks Netgalley for an ARC of this book. I always enjoy this author’s books & this was no different. I will say this book should have a trigger warning for child abuse- some of it is a tough read. This novel centers around 3 foster children & their foster mother, Miss Fairchild. It’s told alternately in the past when the girls were in Miss Fairchild’s care & the present day when the girls return to town due to the discovery of bones under Miss Fairchild’s house. I wouldn’t necessarily call it a thriller, but more of a mystery & it was definitely entertaining although some parts were a bit drawn out.

𝒟𝒶𝓇𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒢𝒾𝓇𝓁𝓈 𝒷𝓎 𝒮𝒶𝓁𝓁𝓎 𝐻𝑒𝓅𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓉𝒽
𝘊𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘍𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 • 𝘔𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘺 • 𝘍𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮
𝘎𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘶𝘮𝘢 • 𝘈𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘢
eARC • 𝘗𝘶𝘣 𝘋𝘢𝘵𝘦 23 𝘈𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘭 2024

I’d classify Darling Girls as crime fiction, family drama, and contemporary fiction. It pulled me in from the jump when the bones of an unidentified child are unearthed at an estate that formerly housed foster kids. Three foster sisters (“darling girls”) find themselves at the center of the murder investigation when they are called as key witnesses along with their not-quite-right foster mother Mrs. Fairchild. The girls, now adults, all have secrets, some shared and some of their own. They are thick as thieves, bonded through shared past trauma, while each having very distinct and differing personalities, interests, and looks. All, however, share the incapacity to form meaningful, trusted relationships with others. But are they responsible for the death of a child and what lengths will they go to keep their secrets buried forever?

I especially enjoyed the Australian setting which alternates between Melbourne and Port Agatha. This book also highlights how the foster care system is very broken worldwide, not just in the US. Dual timelines and multiple POVs, including interviews with a psychologist, kept the book interesting and allow for a deliberative unveiling of answers to the mystery shrouding the Wild Meadows Estate. The final chapter left my jaw on the floor.

The scenes involving child abuse were hard to listen to, so check the trigger warnings: Child Abuse, Domestic Violence, Rape, Sexual Assault, Drug Abuse, Addiction

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 St Martins Press for the digital ARC & MacMillan Audio 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘓𝘊! All opinions are my own.

This story had multiple view points which made it fast paced and impossible to put down. It was twisty with a slightly sinister feeling and quite a ride! The reader is taken through the life of 3 foster children. We are shown their lives prior too and during placement with Miss Fairchild and the present as adults. Hepworth weaves their stories together past and present and I thought this was done very well. I highly recommend it!

Jessica, Norah, and Alice are survivors. They had to survive living in foster care with Ms. Fairchild. Their childhoods weren't the best. They tried leaving it all behind until one day each of them got a call saying they found a body buried underneath the home. Now the three of them must go back to where their story started and figure out just who is buried under the house.


The story is told in past and present in multiple POVs, which I love. It was nice being able to get Jessica, Norah, and Alice's sides of things. You got to feel them grow up and then become adults. Alice was my favorite one! As adults each of them had their own thing going on, their own demons to face, but they were still just as close as when they were kids.

I am one of the few but I didn't LOVE this book. I thought it was good, and I did want to know how the story ended. If you've read Sally Hepworth before, I would totally suggest reading this!! She did a great job.

I listened as I read and the narrator did a good job! It kept me engaged. Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for the copies of this book, in exchange for my review.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest thriller by an absolute favorite, Sally Hepworth, with the audio perfectly narrated by Jessica Clarke. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Twenty-five years ago, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia, became as close as sisters when they shared a foster home called Wild Meadows, run by Miss Fairchild. Now, they are both shocked to receive a call from detectives that human bones were discovered buried under Wild Meadows. Who do the bones belong to? And did the girls have anything to do with whatever happened?

Told in the POV from each of the women, in both past and present timeframes, as well as from an unknown person talking with a psychologist, Dr. Warren. I was immediately drawn into each woman's story, and both timelines were intriguing. Hepworth is a master at creating characters that are realistic, strong, intelligent, and funny. While the subject matter of childhood abuse is never an easy one, you will still find yourself laughing out loud at many points along the way. This book showcases how childhood trauma spreads so deeply into a person's character, yet also presents us with strong characters who are always there for each other. Another must read by Hepworth!

Jessica, Norah, and Alice grew up as sisters with their unpredictable and abuse foster mother, Miss Fairchild. Although they escaped this home as teenagers, when a dead body is found under the house, they are all thrown right back into the past.
Told from multiple perspectives through the past and present. Great read with many twists and turns! Highly recommended!!

* I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for my honest review.

Darling Girls was no different! It kept me entertained and that ending truly shocked me! I truly enjoyed the characters in Darling Girls and loved the humor mixed in. Some parts felt a little slow and the pacing didn't feel consistent, but overall I would recommend this one to Hepworth fans & think this one would be a fun vacation/summer/weekend read!

5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What an emotional rollercoaster! “Darling Girls” by Sally Hepworth kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The storytelling through multiple perspectives added depth to the characters, making their journey through the foster care system & the subsequent investigation into Wild Meadows incredibly gripping. Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, Hepworth throws in twists & turns that will leave you speechless. I never could have predicted the outcome of this intense thriller! Sally Hepworth has once again solidified her place on my must-read list with this captivating novel. An absolute MUST read for thriller fans out there!

Publication Date: April 23, 2024

Thank you #NetGalley, #stmartinspress, and #sallyhepworth for the ARC. My review is honest and voluntary.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me an eARC for review!!

I was so intrigued the entire time! The family dynamics of the foster girls with the foster parent was crazy. I think the research done on the foster care system was incredible and brought a lot of insight to the things that could be improved.

Overall, it’s a page turner for sure. The ending got a tad bit too dark for me, but it made the story even crazier.

*I would be aware there are quite a few trigger warnings like: emotional abuse, child abuse, foster system abuse, and another one at the end that spoils the book but just knows it’s really sad!

Loved this one. Starts off quick and strong and I was invested in the story immediately. The story follows 3 women and jumps back and forth in time, but is super easy to follow. This is my second book by Sally Hepworth and I look forward to reading more.

3.5 Stars ⭐️

Darling Girls was very enjoyable and it really kept me engaged throughout the entirety of the book; however, some of the twists and turns were easy to pick up on before they were revealed. The ending did shock me some and I also appreciated that we find out how Jessica, Norah, and Alicia ended up. I would recommend this book and will definitely read more Sally Hepworth in the future.