Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. Darling Girls is my favorite book so far by Sally Hepworth. It was a slow burn, but the plot was intriguing enough to keep reading. I didn’t want to put it down. It follows the story of three sisters who all spent time at the same foster home. Twenty-five years later, they are back in the same small town because of a body that was found under their previous foster home. Darling girls does mention child abuse, so it may not be for everyone.

When a body is found under their former foster home, Jessica, Norah and Alicia are brought back to face the darkness they experienced by their foster mother, Miss Fairchild. Miss Fairchild had rules and she was not to be crossed. Although everything looked wonderful from the outside, the girls were prisoners but they had each other. As they travel back to their foster home, each sister is confronted by their past and present struggles.

Sally Hepworth is the Queen of Domestic Thrillers/Suspense. Her writing just flows so well and her stories capture your heart. I will say this was my favorite book so far by Sally Hepworth and I have read almost all of them. I loved everything about this book but most of all the bond of the sisters.

I will admit that it’s been almost half a year since I read this book. I was so excited to read Sally Hepworth’s Darling Girls that I read it months before its publication date. Even though it’s been a while since I read the book, I still remember it clearly.

Jessica, Norah and Alicia were fostered under the care of Miss Fairchild, who was emotionally and physically abusive. The book takes place 25 years later when someone’s remains were found at the foster home. We get to know each of the three women through a series of flashbacks and how their past has shaped their present.

I enjoyed the relationship between the three “Darling Girls.” It was nice to read a story where female friendships are portrayed in a positive manner. Miss Fairchild’s character was also well-written, especially as we learn more about her past. The ending was definitely a shocker, and the book came together in a very satisfying way.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Couldn’t wait to read this one and I’m glad I did!! Three sisters form a bond in a foster home with a controlling foster mom. They’ll do anything not to upset her. They finally break free of her. Years later, they are contacted by police because bones are found under the foster house they grew up in. They’ll need their sisterly bond to get through this. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc.

This was the second book I’ve read by Sally Hepworth (although I’ve had a few of hers on my TBR for a while) and I enjoyed it!

Some parts were a little long and I think it could have been about 50 pages shorter, but the story itself was really good and I loved how the narrative was organized. The chapters flash back and forth between the current timeline and flashbacks from the past from all the sisters. It was really easy to follow and added to how the story unfolds.

I also loved the dynamic between the sisters and how they each had their strengths and shortcomings. Their relationship was heartwarming in an otherwise dark story!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Darling Girls
by Sally Hepworth
5/5

Darling Girls kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time!

This book is heartbreaking and captivating, it is a sad and beautiful story about 3 foster girls (Jessica, Norah and Alicia) who carry on their relationship through adulthood. It does a great job of weaving in some thoughtful points about trauma while never missing a beat in the fast paced story. They endured many hardships at the hands of their foster parent Holly Fairchild and are still dealing with some of it into their adult lives!

The author did a lovely job of tying up loose ends at the end and I never saw the ending coming!! Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s press, and Macmillian Audio for the opportunity to read and listen to this book! Jessica Clarke, the narrator of the audiobook, was amazing to listen to! Add this to your TBR, it is out April 23, 2024!

Darling Girls is the sorry of 3 foster sisters raised at Wild Meadows by Mrs. Fairchild. From the outside looking in their lives and home look a fairytale but inside is a much darker reality. Years later the girls must return to their hometown when a body is discovered under the home they grew up in.

I loved the past/present time lines and how the story was told from multiple points of view. I loved seeing a glimpse into the background of each sister, what led them to foster care and how it in turn left them with their individual issues and struggles. I love a thriller and while this was a fast paced and fun read, the thrilling aspect fell a little flat for me- I was hoping for more of a wow factor ending. Not my all time favorite but overall it was a good book that I would recommend.

This is my 3rd Sally Hepworth novel. They always have women with strong and unique personalities and complex relationships. This one was similar, but I didn't care for it much. The relationship between the three foster sisters who were dealing with such different situations as a result of their childhood trauma was interesting, but the plot with remains being found and police investigation seemed contrived. There was the tease of a secret the girls shared, but once revealed it was truly underwhelming. True to Hepworth's other novels, there was a sinister character, but that was revealed from the beginning.

Jessica, Alicia and Norah are 'sisters' as a result of coming into foster care at the home of Miss Fairchild. They are somewhat isolated on a farming estate in Australia, and quickly become aware that their caregiver is cruel and unpredictable. They finally find freedom from her, only to discover as adults that there is a dead body under the home they were raised in. They return to answer questions about what they know and may be suspects themselves. All the while, their own lives have been significantly impacted by the way they were treated in her home and by their emotions around seeing her again.

I knew going in that this book would be an emotional, dark story about foster children who were mistreated in care. It is a difficult read and sensitivity warnings abound for child abuse, sexual assault, violence, depression, addiction, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt, mental health disorders and trauma.

I thought the pace was medium - fast and the characters were well developed. I also liked that the setting was a smaller community, but the plot centered around Miss Fairchild and the Darling Girls throughout. It was almost an isolated mystery in certain ways as they rarely left the house as children..

I think the author did a good job of depicting the long lasting implications and effects of child abuse on adult behaviors and mental health. Clearly, she did her research and depicted the impact of child abuse in the characters dialogue and thoughts. I wanted a little more depth to the writing and found the ending somewhat predictable. I did appreciate that the author took great care of these sisters and showed how that bond really created compassionate and loving women. This is my second novel by this author and it won't be the last for sure.

This was like a Freida McFadden page turner with much better writing. I guessed some of the twists but others took me by surprise. Overall an easily digestible book (I read in 48 hours). Trigger warnings abound so look into those if needed. I read The Soulmate last year which was underwhelming but this novel was so much better. I think this one will be all over the place this spring/summer as it is a perfect beach thriller. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Darling Girls is a five-star read that showcases Sally Hepworth’s exceptional talent as a storyteller. With its multiple points of view, seamless transitions between past and present, and a jaw-dropping ending, this novel is sure to captivate readers from beginning to end.

Would recommend for fans of…
💫 Apples Never Fall
💫 Big Little Lies
💫 No One Can Know

Darling Girls follows three women who grew up in foster care and are forced to revisit the past when a body is discovered in the home they grew up in. While the prose maintains the light domestic suspense tone that Sally Hepworth is known for, the subject matter is much, much darker than her previous works, given how much of the novel is spent discussing child abuse, so please proceed with caution if you choose to read this.

Overall, this was a fairly middle of the road read for me. The bond between the three main characters – Jessica, Norah, and Alicia – was easily my favorite part of the book. Seeing how they supported each other as children and adults was lovely. I also appreciated the humor they all maintained, even when going through difficult circumstances.

Honestly, the biggest reason this wasn’t a winner for me was because of the subject matter. I found it really hard to read all of the flashback chapters with Miss Fairchild, and the ending, while optimistic, was still a bit too sinister for me. I’m sure fans of Hepworth will eat this one up, but I’d recommend The Soulmate over this one.

Darling Girls is out April 23rd. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book had me hooked from the beginning. It was tough to read about the mistreatment of these children at times but I enjoyed it otherwise. A bit twisty although I kind of figured it out beforehand.
I’d recommend it for sure

Would most definitely recommend this book. Another Sally Hepworth triumph. Jessica, Alicia and Norah are so easy to relate to and I became invested in their stories and experiences. The ending was not expected and totally blew my mind. This was an amazing story and one that will stay with me for a long time. 100% recemmendation to anyone. Can’t wait to read the next Sally Hepworth book ❤️❤️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another domestic thriller from Sally Hepworth! Some good twists and turns in this one. I recommend for a quick read. It comes out in a few weeks so snag a copy soon! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

Reading Between the Wines book review #27/130 for 2024:
Rating: 3 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book: Darling Girls
Author: Sally Hepworth
RELEASES on April 23, 2024!!!

Sipping thoughts: I love Sally Hepworth. The Good Sister is my upmost favorite book of hers and the others are good. But this one just fell really flat to me. The premise seemed so cool, but nothing really happened. Yes, there was a body found. Yes, Miss Fairchild was a horrible foster parent. I was really invested in finding out what happened but the reveal was underwhelming. But there was no real mystery in my opinion. Yet, I am looking forward to Hepworth’s next release.

Cheers and thank you to @StMartinsPress and @Netgalley for an advanced copy of @DarlingGirls.

#DarlingGirls #SallyHepworth #StMartinsPress #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers #GeneralFictionAdult

4.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this novel. I am a big Sally Hepworth fan. I really enjoy her writing style and how she tells a story. This may be my new favorite Sally Hepworth novel. I was so invested in this story. I loved how it was told. Usually when there are a lot of POVs, I have one that I don't like as much as the others, but that wasn't true for this one. I enjoyed reading from all of the girls' points of view. I loved how little bits of the story were revealed to us. It was really fun to put it all together at the end. I thought Miss Fairchild was such a great "villain." All of this said, this book definitely needs some trigger warnings. There is a lot of child abuse throughout. I don't usually get too bothered by anything in books really, but there was one scene in particular in this one that was tough to read (even though it was very very brief). This book felt a little more like a traditional psychological thriller where I there her other novels feel a little more domestic thriller. I really enjoyed this book a lot.

I enjoy reading Sally Hepworth thrillers because she draws from a variety of cultural scenarios and relationship dynamics to create a unique mystery for each book. Darling Girls focuses on three women brought together by the foster care system and their shared childhood trauma. The narrative is told through multiple POVs, which some readers may find disruptive, but manages to maintain a sense of foreboding that keeps the reader engaged.

Sally Hepworth does it again! She has written another twisty, character-driven story that grips you from beginning to end. This one surrounds three orphans who grew up together in a foster home. Their childhood was not easy. They suffered physical and mental abuse (definitely heed content warnings here) as well as severe gaslighting. They have not returned to the area grew up but, years later, are asked to come for questioning as the police have found a body under the home where they stayed.

The strength in Hepworth's writing is her layered, flawed, real characters. They have fully formed personalities. I enjoyed slowly getting to know each sister, along with the challenges each faced as they dealt with consequences from both their life before the foster home as well as their life in the foster home. I loved the way that they bonded. Women supporting women is always a win for me. The story itself, while truly disturbing at times, is engaging and intriguing. I had several ideas on which way this one would go but was never really sure.

The narration is true to the locale in Australia and very well done. The narrator handles each character well and is able to portray the emotion throughout all the interactions and events of the book. I have been a longtime fan of Hepworth's writing and continue to love what she puts out. I look forward to each and every release.

This is powerful (and disturbing, check for trigger warnings!) on so many levels--getting into issues related to foster care, emotional abuse, addiction, the varied reactions to trauma, and also just a wonderful bond between three girls who grew up together in such a difficult situation. 
*
I loved seeing this story told through the multiple perspectives and alternating between present day and the girls' childhood - it was fast and engaging and completely sucks you in. Most of the twists were interesting but not particularly shocking, except for the last one, which I loved! 
*
I really enjoyed this one! It was really dark but such a compelling read!