Entertaining, but not earth-shattering. I liked this better than The Soulmate (which is the only other Sally Hepworth novel that I have read).

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A story of three girls raised in the same foster home and their bond as sisters throughout their childhood and into adult life. When a body is discovered buried under the former foster home that they were raised in, thee three women will return to the small town where they were raised and help unbury secrets long since forgotten.
Sally Hepwroth did a fantastic job with each of the three main protagonists-- I felt connected and interested in each of their three stories. If you are into dysfunctional families and twisty turvy psychological thrillers, this book is for you.

4.5 ⭐

This is officially my new favorite book by Sally Hepworth! This was a very dark tale of sisterhood, secrets, and lies. The back and forth narrators voices made you question what you really know and also made you want to know more. It actually kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end and is one of the most recent reads that I have completed in less than 24 hours because I couldn't put it down. That shocking twist at the end that I did not see coming, chef's kiss. I highly recommend this one.

From Good Reads - "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?"

Thank you to NetGalley for a free ARC in return for an honest review.

Jessica, Norah and Alicia are sisters by circumstance. They were all taken out of foster care and raised by the estimable Miss Fairchild. Everyone thought they were so lucky to be chosen by Ms. Fairchild to live a life so different from the tragedies they faced with their own families. But Ms. Fairchild is not the loving motherly figure everyone one thinks she is and when the girls escape they think they are finally free of her. Then 25 years later a dead body is found at the farming estate where they lived with Ms. Fairchild and as the foster sisters are called back to confront the past and realize the truth of their experience. Thank you #NetGalley for my ARC.

Wow! This was my first book by Sally. I will definitely be reading more.

Three sisters travel back to where they grew up after a startling discovery. The book alternates between the sister's points of views and as the book goes on you get a glimpse into their pasts. So many times I thought I figured it out but was wrong every time!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I love a good multiple POV / dual timeline thriller so I knew pretty quickly I was going to really enjoy this one!

I liked the sisters and their unique personalities right away. My heart broke for each of their individual experiences entering foster care. Miss Fairchild was the worst kind of monster, and her behavior towards the girls made me physically sick at times.

I did not want to stop reading this one!! So much so that I found myself opening my kindle app whenever I could just to find out what happened next. This was an extremely bingeable story. I will definitely be checking out Hepworth’s backlist now!

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for my e-copy of this novel to read and review!

Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for my complimentary eARC and to MacMillan Audio for my complimentary audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sally Hepworth has done it again. Darling Girls is a mystery/thriller that will pull the rug out from under you on the final page. I was second guessing myself throughout the entire book trying to figure out the mystery. Once I was sure I knew the answer, Sally threw a wrench in my logic.

I was a bit uncomfortable at times, because abuse of children is not a pleasant subject and not one I would willingly read. I trusted Sally to be kind and compassionate and she was through the entire book.

I paired the audio with the eARC. It was so much worse hearing what was done to Norah, Jessica and Alicia that eventually I needed to switch to just reading.

In "DARLING GIRLS," bestselling author Sally Hepworth weaves a captivating story of sisterhood, secrets, and the haunting grip of the past. From its gripping opening pages to its shocking conclusion, this novel grabs hold of the reader and never lets go. At the heart of the story are Jessica, Norah, and Alicia, three sisters who were raised by their foster mother, Miss Fairchild, on an idyllic farming estate. While their childhood appeared charmed to outsiders, the reality was far darker, with Miss Fairchild's strict rules and unpredictable behavior casting a shadow over their lives. When a body is discovered under their former home, the sisters find themselves thrust into a web of intrigue as key witnesses - or perhaps even suspects. Hepworth masterfully crafts a suspenseful narrative that keeps readers guessing until the very end. As the sisters grapple with the fallout from the discovery and confront long-buried secrets, the tension mounts, drawing readers deeper into the mystery. The complex dynamics between the sisters, their complicated relationship with Miss Fairchild, and the secrets they each hold add layers of depth and intrigue to the story.

What sets "DARLING GIRLS" apart is its exploration of the bonds of sisterhood and the enduring impact of childhood trauma. Through Hepworth's evocative prose and richly drawn characters, the novel delves into themes of resilience, forgiveness, and the power of love to overcome even the darkest of secrets.

Overall, "DARLING GIRLS" is a riveting read that will appeal to fans of suspense and psychological thrillers. With its twisty plot, well-developed characters, and atmospheric setting, this novel is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats until the final page. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a gripping tale of family, betrayal, and redemption.

**Review of "Darling Girls" by Sally Hepworth**

Sally Hepworth’s “Darling Girls” is an exquisite exploration of family dynamics, secrets, and survival, told with the grace and empathy that Hepworth is renowned for. This novel beautifully intertwines the lives of its characters, revealing the profound connections between them through Hepworth’s signature eloquent prose.

The book shines in its character development; each of the Darling girls is portrayed with depth and authenticity, making their joys, pains, and fears palpable to the reader. Hepworth’s skill in crafting multi-dimensional characters allows the reader to become fully immersed in their world, cheering for their victories and feeling their losses deeply.

The narrative structure is another highlight, with Hepworth employing a seamless blend of past and present storytelling that enriches the plot without sacrificing pace. The transitions are smooth, enhancing the story's depth and providing a satisfying complexity that invites readers to piece together the puzzle of the family’s past alongside the characters.

Moreover, Hepworth addresses themes of love, loss, and resilience with a gentle hand, guiding the reader through emotional landscapes with her well-crafted dialogue and insightful descriptions. The setting, too, is vividly drawn, making the backdrop of the Darling family’s life as compelling as the characters who inhabit it.

“Darling Girls” is truly a masterpiece of contemporary fiction, deserving of five stars for its brilliant character portrayal, sophisticated narrative techniques, and the emotive power of its story. Sally Hepworth has outdone herself with this poignant, heartfelt novel that not only entertains but also resonates on a deeply personal level.

Arc generously provided by NetGalley.

After three girls are placed under the care of foster mother Miss Fairchild, they form a trauma bond from the misgivings of that woman. As adults, bones are discovered at the house, and the women are summoned back for questioning. Forced to confront the ghosts of the past, these women learn that the past never stays buried.

I am always excited for a new Sally Hepworth book and enjoyed “Darling Girls.” There was a good flow between the different character viewpoints and the past and present storylines. I really liked the characters of Jessica, Norah, and Alicia. It was easy to sympathize with them, but they also had unique personalities that made them likable. There were well timed twists and turns up until the last page. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the digital ARC of ”Darling Girls” in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was not invested in the story. At almost 25% of the way through the book, I was still having trouble identifying who the main characters were. Unfortunately, it did not hold my attention long enough to finish it. This is disappointing because I feel that it would have been interesting if I wasn’t sorting through so much to get to the main details of the book.

This story was incredibly written. When I say I felt connected to the characters, I felt connected! I felt angry for them. I felt sad for them. I felt just as confused for them. Page after page I kept diving in for more. I couldn’t stop guessing throughout the entire book. The last chapter left me shell shocked!

The foster care system/families, multi-POV of the three main foster girls (Norah, Jessica, & Alicia), emotional/physical abuse and a mystery of who is at fault for the bones beneath their old foster care house is what can be anticipated for Darling Girls.

My first Sally Hepworth! This was definitely a page turner especially with the multi-POVs and before/now timelines that had the reader on their toes as the past unravels where the present divulges into the mystery of who is at fault. As the beginning sets up, I was fully invested as a reader to learn more about the girls and how they grew up with Miss Fairchild. However, as we approached the middle, it had lost quite a bit of steam. There was a lack of character depth to each character which felt repetitious in the character's actions/narrative throughout the rest of the story. Also the ending left me a bit unsatisfied? I wish there was a bit more grit and suspense.

As always, my biggest thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Netgalley and Sally Hepworth for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for my always honest review. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

I am a huge fan of Sally Hepworth! I loved this book so much! The past/present timelines, the characters were lovable, the mystery in this book, and OH that ending was unexpected! This is definitely tied with "The Soulmate" as my favorite Hepworth book!

Great book I love all of her books and the jaw dropping twist always keep me in ahh I did have a little hard time bouncing back and fourth from present to past or before with each character but all in all I really enjoyed this

Sally Hepworth does it again with a well written story, wonderful characters and a plot twist you don’t see coming.

Holy guacamole! This story has so many twists and turns that at least one of them will take you unawares. Probably more. You will follow these three foster "sisters" closely as you try to figure out what happened and what will happen. Couldn't put it down!

3.7, so rounded up to 4. I didn't know what to expect, but I've enjoyed some of her other books. This one fell flat as a mystery, and the characters were a bit underdeveloped. I liked it enough to finish it, but the ending was disappointing. Thank you #netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

While the story kept my interest I was a little disappointed in this one. Other books by this author were more compelling, more mysterious. There are a couple of twists though. One of them I was starting to figure out along the way. So I was sort of unimpressed with the big reveal. However, in true Hepworth form, that big reveal may or may not be the only big reveal. I don't want to spoil anything but the epilogues tie up the story nicely. Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an Advanced copy. I will definitely keep Hepworth on my must-read list.