This is my first book by the author, while the audio was a bit slow at moments it kept my interest. I liked the narrators voice and I think it was enticing to keep you listening. The plot itself was thick and juicy. It was a great book.

Creepy as all get out! Three young girls are placed under the foster care of Miss Fairchild, a woman reminiscent of an old school wicked stepmother from folklore. This is not a thriller as advertised, but more a domestic horror as we learn about the abuse the girls receive under the "care" of Miss Fairchild. Another good donestic drama from Sally Hepworth, with a twisty ending her fans have come to expect.

Narrator does an excellent job, but due to the nature of the plotting, this might be best read as a print book instead.

Omg this book was incredible. Hepworth is a genius. This book was a bit creepy, but highly worth the read. The characters were so interesting and story captivating. It’s also heartbreaking as so much of this is happening in real life…

Sally Hepworth is always a go to for an edge of your seat thriller. Written in multiple POVs and jumping in the timeline, this novel will keep you guessing at every turn. This was a quick read.

The narrator did a great job of letting the listener tell the difference between each of the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for an advanced reading and listening copies of this book.

I really enjoyed this book! I thought it was fast paced and kept ‘em engaged the whole time. I will actually read more from this author because this was so well written.

really enjoyed the multiple POV’s and how it jumped from the past to the present. I truly couldn’t put it down and the twists omg they just kept coming up until the end! Such a good one.. This was my first Sally Hepworth read and it definitely won’t be my last!

I enjoyed this story, and the way it was told via multiple timelines, and learning how the past influenced the girls' childhood and adulthood. It did make me quite sad at times to listen to details of abuse. My only complaint would be that much of it felt fairly predictable and there were times in the beginning that I lost track of which girl's point of view I was listening to - but I still liked the overall story.

Recommend: YES

This may be my favorite book by Sally Hepworth so far. It truly has all the elements I look for in a great read and then some. While I was able to predict one of the twists, the final twist genuinely took me by surprise.

I appreciated how the story alternates between the perspectives of the three fostered girls. The short chapters were a great pacing choice. The characters were relatable and well-developed, and the plot twists kept me engaged throughout.

Just when I thought I had everything figured out, the narrative would take another turn. Hepworth skillfully leads you to feel one way about a character, only to shift your emotions toward another, making for a thrilling and unpredictable experience. Overall, it was an enjoyable journey that I thoroughly appreciated.

Ok, this one was amazing as an audiobook!! The voice and narration was spot on. Had me on the edge of my seat and dying to listen to more! Even speeding it up, it was still easy to understand and listen to! Highly recommend as audio!

Sally Hepworth’s Darling Girls is a chilling psychological thriller about three foster sisters—Jessica, Norah, and Alicia—whose dark past resurfaces when human remains are found beneath their former foster home. The sisters must confront buried secrets and the manipulative Miss Fairchild, who shaped their traumatic childhoods at Wild Meadows. Hepworth weaves past and present timelines seamlessly, delivering twists that keep you guessing until the end. With its strong characters and haunting exploration of sisterhood and resilience, this book is both gripping and deeply emotional.

Darling Girls delves deep into the complexities of family, trauma, and the long-lasting impact of childhood experiences. The novel centers around three foster sisters—Jessica, Norah, and Alicia—who were raised by the unpredictable and often domineering Miss Fairchild on a remote estate. As the sisters navigate their adult lives, they are forced to confront the trauma of their shared past when a body is discovered under the home they grew up in.

Hepworth gave a nuanced portrayal of the sisters’ personalities and the psychological undercurrents that shape their behaviors. The exploration of sisterhood, resilience, and the flaws of the foster care system adds emotional depth to the story, while the tension between the sisters kept me invested in their journey. Overall, I thought the multiple timelines and perspectives came together nicely, creating a slow-burn narrative that is both gripping and poignant as the sisters' pasts and present collide.

Wow, this one was a fun read! I feel strange saying that because it does involve some heavy topics (abuse and a mysterious death), but I was hooked the entire time. I really enjoyed the characters, the past and present chapters, and learning more of the backstory. At times, "Darling Girls" gave me "If You Tell" vibes, but obviously this story is fictional. The ending had me absolutely floored, just when I was so happy with how it wrapped up! I believe this is my second or third Sally Hepworth book and I am a permanent fan. Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and MacMillan audio for the opportunity to read and review this one.

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. And thank you to @macmillan.audio for a free download of the audiobook.

A Haunting and Heartfelt Tale

Darling Girls is a captivating and thought-provoking novel that delves into the complexities of trauma, friendship, and the enduring power of the human spirit. Sally Hepworth masterfully weaves together a gripping narrative that is both haunting and heartwarming.

The three main characters, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia, are complex and well-developed. Their bond, forged in the crucible of their shared past, is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. The author skillfully explores the lasting impact of childhood trauma, and the ways in which it can shape their lives.

The dual timelines, alternating between the past and the present, create a sense of suspense and mystery. The gradual unveiling of the dark secrets of Wild Meadows keeps the reader engaged.

While the pacing is somewhat deliberate, it allows for a deeper exploration of the characters and their relationships. The ending, though bittersweet, is satisfying and leaves a lasting impression.

The audiobook narration for Darling Girls is exceptional. The narrator skillfully brings the three distinct voices of Jessica, Norah, and Alicia to life, enhancing the listening experience and making the characters even more relatable.

Darling Girls is a powerful and poignant novel that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it.

4 stars

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #stmartinspress #macmillianaudio darlinggirls #sallyhepworth

The Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth is a compelling family drama that blends suspense with emotional depth. Set in a charming, somewhat idyllic Australian town, the novel centers around three women—Charlotte, a successful but distant mother; her two daughters, who each carry their own secrets and personal struggles; and the legacy of their late matriarch, who seems to have kept many things hidden from the family. Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC!

‘Darling Girls’ is another gripping read by Sally Hepworth. The narrator Jessica Clarke did a great job of keeping the story suspenseful.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for a complimentary audio eArc for my honest review.

I really enjoyed the story and getting to know the three sisters individually. I thought the mystery was ok, and I wanted to find out how it would all end but it didn't think that the ending was that exciting. I think the journey and how we got there was the best part of the book, and how everything unfolded worked well. I think this was one of my favourites from this author, and the narrator did a great job of bringing life to the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio books and the author for the ARC of this book.

This book was such an interesting premise of past/present of growing up in the care of Miss Fairchild, after each girl suffered a family tragedy. Of course, Miss Fairchild is not the loving foster carer that she initially presents to be, but now their childhood has come back to haunt the girls who escaped.

I loved the dual timelines of reading about what happened in the past as it corresponds to what is happening currently. Slowly, but surely the puzzle pieces are revealed to the reader to put together across time.

The three girls we follow all have varying trauma responses in their current life that bring them back together as a group to get closure on their upbringing.

Some points of the book are incredibly distressing, while Hepworth also added some super punny, laugh out loud moments as well; making this book a very enjoyable read. It was also very easy to invest in the three girls, however different they were (especially Norah for me with her sarcasm). The characterization was well thought out and developed.

I didn't have a particular opinion on the narrator of this book. I didn't love or dislike her.

The only reason that I knocked off a star for this book was the very last bit of the ending. I can’t say why without revealing too much, but I just didn’t like the thread left untied.

For my level ratings:
Level of excitement: 5
Ease of reading: 5
Overall rating: 4

This one has wildly dramatic. I couldn't get enough. This book was really dark also more so than this author’s other books. I loved the back and forth with the different POV's from the sisters.
Please be aware of all the triggers in this one, because I wasn't aware of any of them. Also keep in mind this isn't necessarily a thriller, so don't have that mindset going in.

I am not always a fan of slow burn mysteries, but Sally Hepworth is pretty good at balancing that with compelling characters.

Jessica, Norah and Alecia all end up as foster children together with a foster mom that is less than ideal. She looks the part on the outside but is abusive to the girls. These three, a mystery person, and a psychologist tell the story in the present, where a body has been found at their home, and the past, where the girls met.

I liked that each of the three girls have such distinct personalities. It made the unraveling of their lives and secrets much more fascinating. Not all are likable but they had something about them that I wanted to know more. They are strong and battling their past.

Jessica Clarke did a good job of balancing the seriousness of the plot with the compelling characters. She expertly brought all the voices to life.

Sally Hepworth does it again! This was another well written book! It kept me drawn in and guessing until the end.