I'm just going to come out and say it, this is the author's best work.
I've read several of the author's books, which are known for their strong character development. And this book is no different on that front. But added to that is a plot that was addictive.

The foster care system in the US is quite frankly, a disaster. It breaks my heart. From the sound of it, Australia has a similar problem, that leaves many children in the care of really bad people. In this book, that bad person is Holly Fairchild. Her foster care home, known as Wild Meadows, is under investigation after bones have been found underneath it. That case reunites the "darling girls" who lived there for a period of time.

Told in the past and present, the story focuses on three girls, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia, who spent their years surviving under Ms. Fairchild's care. That care seemed to vary based on Ms. Fairchild's moods, which varied depending on if she didn't get the love/attention she felt she deserved (should have been the other way around, but this woman was a piece of work). While the past centered on their years of coping with emotional and physical abuse, the present centers on reflecting - how their time in the home shaped who they are now, and also trying to determine whose bones may have been found. There is one additional POV, and it wasn't clear for a while who the POV was. However, once revealed, it provides some interesting insight to the story and whose bones were found.

The author did a great job of connecting me to each of the three girls, who have varying degrees of trauma from their past life. Equally, I grew to loathe Ms. Fairchild. Knowing what I know now, I hate her even more.

It should go without saying at this point, but I think this is a MUST READ for fans of thrillers/mysteries. Go check it out!

I read this in 2 days.
I always enjoy Sally Hepworth books and I think because of the subject matter it was harder to say I “enjoyed” it. Seeing kids struggle is tough. But I loved the sisterhood that the characters developed. It was a quick read and I was eager to see how it was going to all turn out. I loved the twists at the end. Thank you so much for the advanced copy.

Loved, loved, loved this book. Hepworth has become one of my favorite authors and I also enjoy following her on social media.

A dark and twisted thriller about three girls in foster care under the thumb of a narcissistic, abusive foster mother. The story alternates between the present, where the adult women are still incredibly close but are each struggling in different ways, and the past when they were living with Miss Fairchild. In the present day, a dead body is discovered under Miss Fairchild's house, and the women return to their childhood town to confront the truth of the past. The heart of this story is the affection and care between the women, and that's what kept me going through the darker parts of the story. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a digital review copy.

Title: My Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth
Publication Date- 04/23/24
Publisher- Macmillan
Overall Rating- 4 out of 5 stars

Review: Review copy given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Audio review: The narration was great, engaging and well performed. If you do audio that’s a great way to intake this book.

Review: Finally a good book. I’ve been on a dry spell recently and My Darling Girls broke that. This is the story of the foster care system, sisterhood and bonding through difficult times. All you need to know going into this is that there are two timelines happening. There’s the present adults who have found out that their foster care home is being dug up and through that process bones are found. In the past you follow three girls who survive together through a terrible experience in the foster care system. Throughout the story you don’t know who has died and how they died, was it murder? If so, who did it and who could be the victim?

This was a very entertaining read with a good twist. I wouldn’t call the twist super shocking and for me it wasn’t the main point of the story. Some readers may feel that this is not thrilling enough for them, it does lean heavily into the characters and their relationships which really worked for me. For me, that was the main driver of the story and I wanted to know more about what happened to them and how they survived. Alongside that I was often wondering and thinking about who could have died and who would have been the murderer if it were a murder. So there is wonder happening and a thrill to pull you forward while you are going through a heavy story with these girls.

Sally Hepworths writing also really works for me. The way she tells stories, builds plot and characters is just easy reading for me. I didn’t give it a full 5 stars because I wasn’t obsessed or felt that I would read this again but I did really enjoy it and at no point didI I want to DNF it. I think most fans of Sally Hepworth will enjoy it.

All in all I would recommend this for people who like thrillers that have more character exploration. Everything is building up to one moment and one answer but it may feel slow for some getting there if you aren’t interested in hearing about the journey in the past.

I LOVE SALLY HEPWORTH, her thrillers just keep getting more and more interesting and more engaging (how is that even possible). These characters were all so twisty and fascinating. It really kept me guessing. I will never stop recommending her work because it just feels so real and twisted. They characters are always are always so real and grounded, I feel their humanity while going through the plot and it pulls me in. Brava.

Oh my gosh, you guys HAVE to read Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth! This book is so intense and twisty - I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. It alternates between timelines and characters' perspectives, which really adds to the suspense. The topics are definitely not for the faint of heart, but the writing is so gripping. I couldn't stop thinking about the characters and what was going to happen next. From the very first page, I was hooked. The emotions it evoked in me were just wow - I was shocked over and over again. If you love books that get your blood pumping and leave you guessing until the end, then this is absolutely the one for you. Seriously, do not look up anything about the plot - just dive right in. You will NOT be able to put it down once you start! Thank you @netgalley @stmartinspress for being able to review this ARC

Another "can't put down" story from Sally Hepworth.

Darling Girls is told in both the present and the past, unveiling the story of just what happened inside the walls of a foster home. When human remains are found under the home, the girls who stayed there dredge up old memories buried deep and realize just how much it has impacted their life today.

Read this story in one day because I just had to hear what happened in the end. Just when you think you know the full story, a last minute twist with major shock value.

This book was quite enveloping. I was easily drawn in from the beginning. I enjoy when books jump around from different perspectives/timelines, but it can sometimes get confusing if not done well. This was easy to follow and kept me guessing throughout. I have never read a book by this Sally Hepworth before, but I will definitely have to read some more of her! Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC!

4⭐
Genre ~ psychological thriller
Setting ~ Australia
Publication date ~ April 23, 2024
Page Count ~ 368 (60 chapters)
Audio length ~ 9 hours 6 minutes
Narrators ~ Jessica Clarke
POV ~ multiple 3rd
Featuring ~ multiple timelines, child abuse

Foster sisters Jessica, Norah & Alicia lived their teenage years with Miss Fairchild, who was not a nice person at all.

Now years later bones have been found at their old foster home and they're heading back to a place they never wanted to visit again.

The alternating POV's give us a good sense of each of these women in the now and in the past. We, also, get a few chapters of psychiatrist visits that gave me mixed feelings at the end.

Overall, fast paced in now and slower in the past, but gripping nonetheless and will surely be a best seller. I love when the author has done research and she tells us about it in the author's note.

I was lucky enough to have both an ebook and the audio. Both ways worked perfectly fine.
Narration notes:
Jessica did a great job even though there wasn't too much of a variation between the characters voices.

I love Sally Hepworth books and I really enjoyed this book! It has well thought out characters, and easily jumps back and forth from character to character and past/present. I wish it did have more suspense/bigger twist but overall a great read!

Thank you to NetGalley, Sally Hepworth, and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

Anything from Sally Hepworth is an automatic must read for me - Darling Girls did not disappoint. I loved the story of shared bonds of sisterhood over the years. This was such a great thriller with a twist I didn't see coming but thoroughly enjoyed! I have read everything from this author and can't wait to see what else she writes in the future!

As an ARC reader, I had the privilege of diving into Sally Hepworth's captivating new novel, "Darling Girls," before its official release, and let me tell you, this book is an absolute gem of a thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end.

From the outset, it weaves a tale of intrigue and suspense, drawing you into the lives of Jessica, Norah, and Alicia, three sisters bound together by secrets, love, and the haunting specter of their past. Raised by the enigmatic Miss Fairchild in the idyllic setting of a farming estate, their childhood was far from the fairy tale it seemed. She deftly explores the complexities of their relationship with Miss Fairchild, painting a nuanced portrait of a woman who wielded both love and control in equal measure.

As the story unfolds, and a body is discovered under the home they grew up in, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia find themselves thrust into the spotlight as key witnesses in a chilling murder investigation. But as the lines between truth and deception blur, they must confront the dark secrets that have long haunted their past and reckon with the possibility that they may be more than just witnesses—they could be prime suspects.

What sets "Darling Girls" apart is Hepworth's masterful storytelling, which keeps readers on the edge of their seats with each twist and turn. Her characters are richly drawn and utterly compelling, their flaws and vulnerabilities adding depth to the narrative and keeping readers emotionally invested from start to finish. As you read, you feel yourself being drawn in as if you are a character in the book yourself. A captivating story, that grips you immediately.

As an ARC reader, I can confidently say that "Darling Girls" is a must-read for fans of the thriller genre. With its gripping plot, complex characters, and atmospheric setting, it's a book that will linger in your mind long after you've turned the final page. Sally Hepworth has once again proven herself to be a master of the genre, and "Darling Girls" is sure to captivate readers with its blend of mystery, suspense, and heart. A must read!

DNF so hard to rate it. I really like Sally Hepworth and the writing in this novel was good but I couldn't stomach the content. Reading about the abuse of children was too difficult.

This novel is a riveting page-turner with lots of twists and turns…up to the very last page. The story focuses on three foster children and their relationship with their foster mother, their relationships with each other and a murder. Once I started this book it was hard to stop. The storylines are split into multiple point of views and “before/after”. They flow seamlessly together and will have you on the edge of your seat. I haven’t read a Sally Hepworth yet that I didn’t like and this was no exception!

I have always found a great deal of enjoyment in the novels written by Sally Hepworth, and her latest masterpiece, Darling Girls, is certainly no exception to this rule. It was an exceptionally well-crafted piece of literature, weaving a tale that was both complex and intricate in nature.

This was the third novel I've had the pleasure of immersing myself in from her talented hand, and despite having some experience with her style and narrative, I found myself falling into the trap of thinking I could predict the plot's direction. I believed I had a grasp on the various threads of the story. While I was correct in predicting some minor aspects, I was greatly mistaken, and pleasantly surprised, about many others. The plot twists that Hepworth integrated into the story, especially those central to the narrative, were unexpected and compelling.

This level of unpredictability and depth is characteristic of a Sally Hepworth novel, and it's part of what I find most compelling about her work. Even though I frequently read and review a wide array of books, her creative storytelling and unique narrative twists continue to astonish and delight me in equal measure.

Darling Girls is Sally Hepworth's best thriller to date! This novel is a riveting page-turner with so many twists and turns. Not until the very last chapter is the truth revealed. The story focuses on three foster children and their relationship with their very flawed foster mother. Each character is dealing with their emotional scars from their childhood and their Miss Fairchild, their foster mother. I loved the characters and the captivating writing. Ms. Hepworth knows how to write a book that the reader will keep the reader entranced! I highly recommend reading Darling Girls. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

If Sally Hepworth writes it I’m going to read it. I was thrilled to receive an ARC copy of this book. This book tells the story of 3 young girls, Jessica, Alicia, and Norah, growing up in foster care in a less than desirable foster home. As adults a body is discovered under the house where they grew up. The story unfolds from here toggling back and forth from then to now. It has the right amount of suspense to keep you reading throughout the book. I loved the relationship amongst the “sisters.” The character development was fantastic and I felt connected to each of the girls. I don’t want to give anything away but I felt that the twist at the end of the book didn’t line up with what happened throughout the book, which is why I only gave this one 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this Advance Readers Copy (ARC) to honestly review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Phew, this book was one I could NOT put down and had me guessing constantly on what was happening. Jessica, Norah & Alicia’s story about their time as foster children at Wild Meadows with Miss Fairchild was so sad and hard to read at times. The amount and type of abuse they constantly received was so awful. Once they were adults and had to come back to the small town they spent years at due to a body being found under the house, I didn’t know who or what to believe as the story unfolded. I’m glad the body remains found weren’t of a toddler who Miss Fairchild was wanting to adopt. The ending and twist of Miss Fairchild’s made up story of her childhood to her psychologist was NOT what I was expecting and could have guessed. In the end, I’m glad Jessica, Norah and Alicia got the happy endings they deserved.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this book!

What did I just read??? Sooo many twists…so many secrets! This was one of those stories that hurts your brain when you’re trying to figure it out….and no, I never dreamed of that ending! Loved it!