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!

DARLING GIRLS might be my favorite Sally Hepworth book. It is definitely her darkest though - much more a psychological thriller than the her other books which I could characterize as more of a domestic thrillers.

This story follows a group of three girls who grew up together in an unstable foster home. As adults, the women get a call that a bones were found underneath the house. Whose are they? And what really happened in that house?

I was on the edge of my seat the entire time - both the flashback chapters and the modern day. I listened to this book over the course of two days which is so fast for me!!! The narration was top notch also.

And THAT ENDING... what?!?!?!

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth is a masterful thriller which follows three foster sisters. The story is told in dual timelines, during their time in foster care and after. Each character’s story and development is well fleshed out and unique and you can tell the toll their past took on each woman. Aside from the individual character dynamics we continue to circle around a singular question, what happened at Wild Meadows and whose bones did they find? This story will take you on a ride and through the gambit of emotions as the twists unfold. My only wish is that Hepworth would have delved further into the girls’ backstories as I feel this would have been the story more impactful, Highly recommend this story.

I received an arc from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
While I really liked the connection between the girls I had a hard time staying connected to the book and storyline itself. I would not however write this author off and would definitely try another book by this author.

WOW WOW WOW !! This has to be one of my favorite thrillers of this year thus far!! Right from the first chapter, you’re hooked… then you get introduced to the main 3 characters and after that the book flies fast paced… Sallly Hepworth you really outdid yourself with this one. I’ll be recommending to all my friends as soon as it’s released.

Was it a bit predictable towards the end? Yes it was but that didn’t take away from the plot line. Has to be one of the best thrillers of this summer.

Wow, Sally Hepworth knocked this one out of the park. Three foster sisters must relive their time at an idyllic farm estate where they were given a second chance after each suffering a family tragedy. However, Miss Fairchild was not the loving caretaker she pretended to be. She was cruel abusive and used the children to enhance her own self-worth. When the sisters were older and no longer loved dependent on her, she brought new babies into the home to foster. There were cruel punishments, Gaslighting, and abuse.

Flash forward 25 years later, and the sisters are called back together when a body is found in the basement of the house they were fostered at.

Parts of this book were heart wrenching to watch this twisted cruelty play out. But you couldn’t stop reading because you needed to know what happened next and the twists were so twisted. I couldn’t see them coming. This was definitely a five star book. The author did a tremendous job with a phenomenally twisted tale.
Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to preview this Book.

Wow! Definitely my favorite Hepworth book to date! They are never predictable and the characters are never quite what they seem. I become more and more a fan of her writing with each book!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wowza, I think this is Sally Hepworth's darkest story. I haven't read everything she has written but have read quite a few of hers The content of Darling Girls is definitely not for the faint of heart. Even with all of the trigger warnings, this story was very propulsive and that feeling started at the very beginning of the book. Hepworth writes suspense really well with characters you want to figure out. If you have read and loved her books in the past and can handle more toxicity in the storyline and characters, I think you will enjoy this one too.. If you're looking at Darling Girls being your first by the author, I urge you to tread lightly and explore her backlist!

Darling Girls is out April 23rd! Thank you St. Martin's Press and Netgalley or my e-arc!

Content warnings: verbal, physical, sexual and emotional abuse; all the negatives of foster care; neglect; malnutrition; death of a child; and likely more I am forgetting at the moment!!

Darling Girls evoked emotions straight from the start with three women who became sisters when they were young in foster care. Loved the characters. The story involves a bit of mystery and crime. It was a slower story that unfolded one piece at a time with a huge surprising twist at the end. Well done.

Thank you @SallyHepworth @StMartinsPress and @NetGalley for a free e-ARC. The opinions are mine alone and not biased in any way.

This one was so dark and twisty and I loved it!!

The "darling girls" are three girls who grow up together in a foster home. Their foster mother is definitely out there and they all deal with issues as adults. Many years later, the house they lived in is torn down and bones - children's bones - are found under the house. Who do they belong to? And what happened? The investigation begins, the girls are questioned, and the story starts to unravel. And it's quite a tale!

And in true Sally Hepworth fashion, the ending will make your jaw drop!

I had both eARC and ALC and I found listening to it really upped the creep factor.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press for an eARC and MacMillan Audio for an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Another great read from Sally. This is a very immersive, interesting read about the pitfalls and trauma that often happens in foster care. She of course adds mystery, intrigue, and of course, murder. I loved this take on sisterhood and navigating childhood trauma.

Ⓑⓞⓞⓚ Ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝔻𝕒𝕣𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔾𝕚𝕣𝕝𝕤
𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗛𝗲𝗽𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵
Thriller
368 pages

Sʜᴏᴿᴛ Sʏɴᴏᴘsɪs
Darling Girls tells the story of several women who lived in the same foster home as girls, a house of secrets and abuse.

When a dead body is discovered under that home years later, all of these foster children are interviewed by the police.

The three women who lived there as teens have a lot of baggage from childhood, especially because the police didn’t believe there were issues when they reported them as children.

Mʸ Tᴴᴼᵁᴳᴴᵀs
This book is loaded with emotion and mystery, telling the story of foster children who were abused and the trauma it caused them as adults.

The connection between the women in this book is intense. Each has issues and triggers and helps each other through them. They consider themselves sisters.

The story alternates between the present and the past, displaying the damage the past caused while slowly showing the reader what happened to them as children.

I read this in a day, needing to know what happened to these girls. Though sad and sometimes cringeworthy, the story is told so well that I couldn’t put it down.

The ending throws out some surprises and wraps up all of the loose ends.

💕Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing this ebook for me to read and review.

This is my first time reading this author, although she is a familiar name with a proven track record for writing good thrillers. If this book is any indication, I will read her again.

Tweens Jessica, Norah, and Alicia form a sisterly bond over the abuse they suffer at the hands of Miss Fairchild in foster care. Afraid of being separated if they report psychological abuse, they cope as best they can instead of trying to fight a broken social services system. Would anyone believe them or do anything?

Flash forward to the present: bones have been found under the house where they were in care, and the trauma the three suffered and dealt with in different ways comes rushing back. Now, as adults, they have another chance to address the wrongs they were dealt in their childhoods. But will they be believed even now?

This fast-paced book, which travels back and forth in time and is told from multiple points of view, is gripping and poignant. I rooted for the three and was saddened by their helpless position. This is a psychological thriller with a couple of twists, but it is more of a look at the problems of children stuck in social services and how powerless they feel. I also found myself relating to their situation and remembering my dysfunctional childhood more than I would have liked. Overall, this is a satisfying read. 3.5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is April 23, 2024.

Thank you to @netgalley, @sallyhepworth and @stmartinspress for my #gifted copy!

Page-turning, fast read full of thrilling mysteries! LOVED so much!

Sisters by circumstance, 3 foster kids rally together in survival mode as they fend off their wicked, cold and abusive foster mother.

As adults, the still close sisters have come together when bones are discovered under their former home. Buried secrets come to light as the investigation ensues and the girls work together to get past their abuse.

4 stars.

This book was full of shocking twists and kept me on the edge of my seat. I think another thing that stood out was the relationship/bond that the girls had with each other and I enjoyed seeing how the developed over time.