I have read another of Hepworth's books and so I knew I liked her style. While this book got off to a slow start, the tension continued to build. I was surprised how much I loved it. I read at every free moment to find out what would happen next. Very enjoyable story. Well written and fantastic, intentional devices used to prolong the reader's suspense and curiosity.

My appreciation of Sally Hepworth’s work has hovered between average (The Younger Wife) and pretty good (The Soulmate). Darling Girls levels out at pretty good. But I can’t wait to read one that is outstanding.
Jessica, Norah, and Alicia met in foster care under the tenuous and harsh care of Miss Fairchild. Told to be happy that they had been saved from tragedy, the girls toil on an idyllic farming estate. Their trauma keeps them bonded into adulthood and the present day. When the women find out that a body is discovered at the estate, all the pain, secrets, and lies come to light. Who is the dead body? And who killed them?
The story is framed in three timelines. The first is the present when the women find out about the body at the house. The second is the past when the girls stayed there. And, the last, is an unknown talking about her past with her therapist. These threads weave together to tell several stories that affect the story as a whole. The back story takes over the mystery in the beginning, leaving the reader slogging through. When it finally reaches its apex, things start moving quickly.
There isn’t enough time spent on the girls’ relationships now besides the mystery at hand. I would have liked more of that. I wanted to see the tightness and how things were between them. This would have had more emotional impact to something that happens towards the end. But above all this was an enjoyable thriller. I savored each twist and turn Hepworth took me on, as well as seeing who the mystery narrator actually was.
Darling Girls may not be the best psychological thriller, but it is still solid. Also, try this one on audiobook. The narrator does an amazing job with the characters and supplies great beats to twists.

HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!!
I just happened to finish this audiobook the day of its release, and I am SO GLAD I had a headstart and did not have to wait to read this book.

I don't think I have read a book this mind-boggling and frustrating to grasp (in the best way) in a very long time. It is really something when the worst of the worst people find ways to use power, manipulation, and lies to make themselves look like the victims - but when someone is on to that person and what they are doing, it compounds how frustrating that can be.

Miss Fairchild (ironically named, IMO), was anything but fair to her foster children in need. Three girls in her care found the strongest bond, even beyond typical sisterhood, when they had to join forces to survive the hell they were thrust into. In between their lives as children, flash forwarding to adults meeting up to meet with police after remains were found under their childhood foster home, you also get glimpses into the upbringing of their foster mother. Perhaps this explains the bizarre method of her parenting style? With twists and surprises, Sally Hepworth did a phenomenal job of keeping the reader speeding through the pages/audio to find out what happens next.

As someone who had grandparents that fostered children from the time my dad was a toddler, I felt very interested in this story. Today is the publication day, and I think every person who likes thrillers needs to get their hands on this book NOW.

Sally has a knack for crafting intricate characters that truly captivate and deeply connect with readers, and this latest one is no exception!

It’s such a character driven story but it also flawlessly blends a plot centric narrative that results in such a haunting and complex page turner!

We experience the perspectives of three sisters navigating survival and grappling with the trauma of foster care, while unsettling revelations continue to surface, leaving us utterly heartbroken and disturbed.

It’s totally bingeable and that ending?! 👀

Don’t sleep on this one!

DARLING GIRLS review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25/5

🩵Anyone else a Sally Hepworth fanatic?! ✋ I’ve read 8 of her books and they’re all so good in their own way!! Her older work leans toward women’s fiction where as her newer books are more suspense/family drama. DARLING GIRLS had no shortage of family drama and I was immediately invested in the story!

🩵Here’s a summary of the plot:👇
Jessica, Norah, and Alicia were raised by the same foster mother as children. The horrible treatment they suffered bonded them as “sisters” for life. Now a body has been discovered under the house they grew up in and everyone wants to know what really happened at their foster home?!

🩵Holy plot twists! The final ending of this book had me 🤯. I thought I knew where this story was headed (and I was partly right) but the final twist at the end left my head spinning! This book is Hepworth’s darkest yet and definitely check content warnings! I really enjoyed this one overall and Hepworth is absolutely an auto-read author for me!

🩵Thanks @stmartinspress and @macmillan.audio for my advanced copy! DARLING GIRLS is available now (happy pub day)!!

I couldn't stop listening to this book! What grabbed me first was the three sisters. Each having such a different story but their bond was like no other! I loved that no matter their problems or flaws they supported each other no matter what. What they experienced together in Miss Fairchild's foster home was so sad and so abusive. Thank goodness they had each other to get through it. Miss Fairchild's character was definitely a puzzle and the twist at the end put the cherry on the top for me! This would make for a great book club read! A great one to discuss with others! I would highly recommend this book!!

Thank you to Macmillan audio for the audio arc of the book.

This book was an absolute rollercoaster! I couldn't get enough of this gripping thriller that had me hooked from start to finish. Every spare moment I had, I was diving back into its pages, eager to uncover the next twist and turn. It's rare for a thriller to hit me right in the feels like this one did - I even found myself shedding a tear or two along the way.

Centered around three foster sisters and their haunting past at a foster house in Port Agatha, the story unfolds through their distinct perspectives. The clever narrative structure, with intermittent therapy sessions shrouded in mystery, keeps you guessing until the very end. Flitting between past and present, the storytelling remains seamless, never once losing its momentum. When the sisters return to Port Agatha years later to confront their foster mother and unearth buried secrets, the tension reaches a boiling point.

What I loved most was how each sister brought their own personality to the table, grappling with their trauma in different ways. The raw portrayal of the foster care system's dark realities hit me hard and left me reeling. It's a tough read at times, with potential triggers for some readers, so proceed with caution.

Overall, "Darling Girls" is an absolute gem with its beautifully crafted narration. And the cherry on top? The innovative reading and listening experience that adds a whole new layer of immersion. Count me in for more like this!

This one is well-crafted with a dual timeline, told through the perspectives of the three sisters and an unnamed perspective whose speaker isn’t revealed until closer to the end of the novel. The characterization was so well-developed that, even if the sister had not been named at the beginning of each section, I still would have been able to tell which one was speaking.

Their shared experiences at Wild Meadows bond them and they choose to remain family long after their foster care experience has ended. It was interesting to see how their experiences as children shape who they are as adults, and I think their trajectories mapped out by Hepworth are entirely believable.

The way the story is crafted kept me engaged, but as a parent, there were many parts that were difficult to listen to. While the setting of their upbringing appears idyllic, the reality is far from it.

Jessica Clarke’s narration captures the emotion of the characters as well as the icy and abrupt changes in the foster mother’s demeanor. If you pick it up, I highly recommend listening to this one on audio.

I received an advance copy of the book from Macmillan Audio and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.

I had a great time with this book! I thought that the mystery was solid and loved that the story kept me guessing until the very end. This story is about 3 girls, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia, who grew up together in foster care with Miss Fairchild. We meet these girls in the present day after a body is found at their old home and get to know their pasts, both in foster care and the time leading up to placement. I found this book almost impossible to put down once I started reading.

I liked Jessica, Norah, and Alicia but I wasn’t entirely sure if I should trust them. All 3 women were obviously still dealing with the events from their past. They consider themselves to be sisters and have remained very close in the years after leaving Miss Fairchild’s care. Miss Fairchild seemed loving at first but as the story progressed, it became obvious just how difficult she would be to please.

I listened to the audiobook and thought that Jessica Clarke did a fabulous job with the narration. I love the way that she was able to bring this story to life through the character’s voices which seemed to contain just the right amount of emotion. I found her voice to be very pleasant and had no issues listening to this book for hours at a time. I am certain that her performance added to my overall enjoyment of this story.

I would recommend this book to others. I was quickly hooked by this mystery and couldn’t wait to see how things would work out. I grew to care about the 3 women who grew up under Miss Fairchild’s rule and wanted to see good thing happen for them. I will definitely be reading more of this author’s work in the future.

I received a review copy of this book from Macmillan Audio and St. Martin’s Press.

Phenomenal book! Kept me captivated and engaged with every twist and turn!! This is a must read! Loved it.

CLEVER AND CAPTIVATING DRAMA TURNED MYSTERY

SUMMARY
Three young and unrelated girls named Jessica, Norah, and Alicia were saved from family tragedies and placed in foster care. They were fortunate to be placed with Miss Fairchild, who appeared to be a loving and caring foster mother. She had a beautiful and welcoming home in the countryside; however, things are not always what they seemed. The girls had to endure several years of difficulty and hardship before they were finally able to escape from the clutches of Miss Fairchild. But the emotional scars caused by Miss Fairchild will last a lifetime.

Many years later, the three foster sisters, now grown women, are still very close. One day, the police reached out to inform them that a dead body was found under the house where they were raised. They request that the three return to their foster home for interviews. The sisters are shocked and frightened. Are they the key witnesses to the crime, or are they, in fact, the prime suspects?

REVIEW
DARLING GIRLS is a clever and captivating novel by Sally Hepworth. The heart-racing story is a drama-turned-mystery, and the writing is well-structured and atmospheric. Hepworth flawlessly blends the past and present.

The characters, including Jessica, Norah, Alicia, and Miss Fairchild, are all well-developed and intriguing. The book also explores the heartwarming story of female friendships that can offer support during the most challenging times and last a lifetime. DARLING GIRLS is a highly enjoyable and fast read. I listened to the audiobook and found the performance by narrator Jessia Clarke delightful.

I would like to thank Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Publisher St. Martin’s Press
Published April 23, 2024
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

Darling Girls is Sally Hepworth’s latest thriller. This is another fantastic book by this extremely talented author. It is told in dual timelines and multiple point of views. Fast paced and engaging this is a compelling story of three girls/women and a murder that happened decades ago. Ms. Hepworth will keep you on the edge of your seat with many twists that are perfectly placed. The characters are well developed, flawed, damaged and relatable. There are some sensitive subjects but this author handles them well without taking away from the story. I read and listened to this one, the narrator added to many of the thrills. I highly recommend this book and wonderful author, she never disappoints.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, MacMillan Audio and Sally Hepworth for this page turning domestic suspense to read and review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
#netgalley #stmartinspress #macmillanaudio
#sallyhepworth. #darlinggirls. #arc #domesticsuspense

Wow, I couldn't stop listening to this dark, twisty, character-driven mystery thriller! I appreciated seeing all the perspectives since the story was told through the alternating POVs of foster sisters Jessica, Nora, and Alicia, as well as a mystery person. It also includes past and present timelines. Each of these characters was complex and interesting on their own. While narrator Jessica Clarke doesn't significantly vary her voice for the three women, it was easy to follow who was speaking. Clarke's chilling portrayal of Miss Fairchild was incredible!

I loved the bond between the three sisters. These women remain loyal to and support one another long after leaving Miss Fairchild's house, no matter where they are.

This powerful, dark, wild ride of a thriller was a great listen you'll think about long after finishing it!

3 "sisters" who grew up with their foster mother, Ms Fairchild try to come to grips with their childhood at the country manor when a body is found on the estate. This book pokes hole with the foster care system. The climax and ending threw me for a loop. Jessica Clarke did a fantastic narration.

Darling Girls followed 3 foster sisters, Jessica, Norah (“with an h” 😉), and Alicia who live with Miss Fairchild at Wild Meadows. The girls have anything but a good start in life. Fast forward to 25 years later and we get an update on where they are and how they are coping. They are still very much looking out for each other. Things take a turn when there is a call from the police detective informing the girls that a body has been found buried underneath their old house. Are the girls witnesses or suspects??
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We hear a voice from all three sisters, which I really enjoyed. I was happy with how things wrapped up. I’m not a big fan of books with some sort of child abuse, so I was treading lightly with this one. But it was hooked right from the start and never let go! I ate.this.one.up. 🔥
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The narrator had an Australian accent and spoke quickly so there was no speeding it up. But Jessica Clark delivered a solid read. I would enjoy listening to another read by her.
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Darling Girls reads very quickly. Highly recommend for thriller lovers!

"Darling Girls" by Sally Hepworth is about three young girls in the Australian foster care system. Jessica, Norah, and Alicia are all put in the care of Miss Fairchild. This placement seems like a "lucky break" to their social workers, who only see a beautiful house and a sweet foster mom. The adults are very wrong; Miss Fairchild is a master manipulator. The girls form a powerful bond while helping each other through their time at Miss Fairchild's. When they finally escape, they vow never to go back. But years later, when the police find a body buried on the property, the girls have no choice but to go back and revisit old memories that they wanted to leave far behind them.

This storyline was incredibly interesting. I enjoyed the pacing of the plot and the multiple POVs. The characters were well-developed, and even though they weren't very likable, I still cared about them - which isn't always easy for an author to accomplish. Hepworth was able to put us deep in these characters' heads, which I appreciate. This was an excellent psychological thriller, and it kept me guessing! I may have figured out one twist, but I was surprised by many more that I didn't see coming. If you enjoy books by authors like Gillian Flynn or Paula Hawkins, I think you'll find "Darling Girls" to be a compelling read. Sally Hepworth is definitely an auto-buy author for me after this one!

The narration was excellent; I had no trouble following changes in POV. Jessica Clarke really brought the story and characters to life. I will be looking for other audiobooks by this narrator!

Tropes: found family, sister bonds, buried secrets, multiple POVs, dual timelines.
Trigger Warnings: child abuse, foster care abuse, addiction.

4.5/5
Sally Hepworth has done it again! I've yet to read anything by this woman that I did not devour and Darling Girls is no exception. The novel follows three foster sisters, now adults, who return to the town they lived in with their abusive foster mother when bones are found beneath the house they escaped from as children. The story seamlessly flows between the perspective of each sister, flashes back to their childhood memories, and explores the complicated, terrifying relationship they had with their foster mother, as well as the bond of sisterly love that develops between them. This book will tug at your heart strings, make you incensed, and desperate to stay up all night to finish. Hepworth is a master at creating raw, flawed characters that are so real and relatable, you feel like you know them. This is everything you want in a mystery thriller.

Jessica, Norah and Alicia have been raised in a foster home by Miss Fairchild. On the outside, it looks like they are so lucky. They live in a nice home on a farming estate. But, all is not as tranquil as it seems!

These three sisters have grown up now and have their own lives. They have stayed very close. So, when the cops find a dead body on their foster home estate, these three circle the wagons and become very tight lipped and protective.

All three of these young women have issues from their time in foster care. And it all goes back to Miss Fairchild and her unpredictability and her insane behavior.

I have only read a couple of books by this author and they have been 3-4 star reads for me. BUT YALL! This book is so good! I could not stop listening to it. You just knew something creepy and evil went on, you just couldn’t quite put your finger on what. You think you know…but do you???

The narrator, Jessica Clarke, nailed it! I love a narrator that is strong and steady!

Need a good thriller which will have you guessing till the end…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

A psychological mystery that has it all!! It reminds me of gone girl but is way more entertaining and keeps ahold of your attention! Darling girls is another winner for Sally!!! She is a master of suspense !

DARLING GIRLS - SALLY HEPWORTH

4.5⭐

PLOT
Jessica, Norah & Alicia were rescued as young girls and Ms Fairchild raised them foster kids on her farming estate. But it wasn't a fairy tale everyone thinks their life was.
Now a body is discovered under the home they grew up in and these three sisters are under spotlight as key witness or even prime suspects?

MY THOUGHTS -
This book will keep you hooked from page 1 and guarantee you will binge read it. The best part it was told in alternative Pov and timelines. The final twist was something which I didn't see coming but what I liked the best was that each character had a perfect resolution this making it very satisfying !!
Would definitely recommend audiobook for this one it was so well done!