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.

Sally Hepworth did not disappoint with another amazing book jam packed with twists and turns! It even had some snarky humor. I couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend this book and well all of her books!

Darling Girls is a whirlwind, mind boggling, heart wrenching novel that makes you second guess everything.
A Multi-POV thriller that keeps you on your toes. Each backstory to tie together the whole story of a who-dunnit after a body was found under the Foster home the main characters lives in for a period of time.
I highly recommend this story to anyone who loves a great plot, character development with plenty of twists.

Thank you for the early advanced copy! I was very invested in the setup of the story and couldn't wait to dig into the mystery it promised. The pacing at the beginning hooked me right away, and I was sure the body under the house was going to be Ms. Fairchild. The final twist about Ms. Fairchild was great. Turns out she was the real monster all along!
But then things kinda slowed down once we found out she was alive. It felt like the story lost its steam in the middle.
Rating this one was tricky because it had me glued to the pages, but it also left me feeling pretty disturbed. I liked how the author switched between past and present with the foster children storyline—it kept things interesting. However, I think they dwelled a bit too much on the abuse stuff, and I wish she'd spent more time developing the characters. Overall though, the story flowed well, and there were some surprises I didn't see coming mixed in with the stuff I could predict. It's definitely a book that'll keep you turning pages, even if it's a bit heavy at times.

I recently finished Darling Girls , and I must say, it took me on quite the journey. From the very first page, I was hooked by its intricate plot and dynamic characters. The author skillfully weaved a web of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end.

What I loved most about the book were the unexpected surprises sprinkled throughout. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, another curveball was thrown my way, leaving me eagerly turning the pages to uncover the next revelation.

And oh, the ending! It was nothing short of shocking. Without giving away any spoilers, I’ll just say that it left me reeling and contemplating the story long after I turned the final page.

In conclusion, I wholeheartedly recommend Darling Girls to anyone who enjoys a gripping, suspenseful read filled with surprises. It’s a rollercoaster ride of emotions that you won’t want to miss.

I was lucky enough to snag an audio and e-book copy and I'm so glad that I had the chance to experience both. The narrator was wonderful, and I easily followed along with who was who within the story. The sister element is a favorite of mine and this was multi-layered. The past and present timelines were well done and tied the story together and the addition of the therapist notes added a twisty element. This was a story that kept me guessing and still found a way to shock me at the end. Well done.

Miss Fairchild has a had a history of taking in foster girls. Jessica, Norah, and Alicia we raised in Miss Fairchild home but have differing memories of growing in the household. With the discover of a body, the girls must re-examine their memories to face the truths of their past.

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth--Thriller fans will likely enjoy this upcoming release (April 23) by Sally Hepworth. Norah, Jessica, and Alicia spent several years together as foster children in Miss Fairchilds' abusive home. Now as adults they still consider themselves sisters bonded by their childhood. Then they are contacted by police about bones being found under their foster home and drawn back into the story of their childhood. Flashbacks are used to fill in the story. I liked that the chapters were short and fast-moving. The twist ending wasn't super shocking but maybe I've just read too many thrillers.