When a Sally Hepworth novel comes out its a auto read! I've been lucky enough to get arcs to read her asap!


Holly Fairchild
The foster mother to the outside she's fantastic. To her foster children shes....


Jessica, Norah, Alicia
Jessica was the 1st and things seem alright in the beginning and then you realize miss Fairchild is using the fact Jessica wants to be loved against her. Then when money gets tight she brings in another child a few years later enter Norah who's had a lot of bad run ins at other foster families. Then Alicia is supposed to be a short term foster why she waits for her grandmother to get out of the hospital. The 3 girls become a trio and look out for each other.

They stay together long after they got out of Miss Fairchild's care and are true sisters. They try to put the past behind them until they get called from the police about bones found under the house and they are pulled back into there past lives and have to relive there childhood.

Now they have to stick together to understand the past and what all went wrong.


I received an E-ARC/Audio Arc from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I loved this book, it is right on the edge of a 5-star listen for me. It was intriguing from the start with the premise of three young girls who end up in foster care at the same home with the same new mother, and develop a bond as close as sisters. Nevertheless, their foster mother isn't exactly what she presents herself to be to social workers and any outsiders.

This book developed into a twisty, mysterious novel built around the bond of these three women and their desire to get answers about their childhood home. I really enjoyed the alternating viewpoints of time in foster care vs. the current mystery they were facing.

Each child developed into a woman with her own set of challenges, all very obviously driven by their upbringing, which created unique and dynamic characters. I loved following the mystery along with them and watching them overcome their traumatic past to find closure and growth into the rest of their lives.

And of course, that ending! Fantastic way to keep the twists coming until the very end. I thought the book might be headed in that direction, the ending was such a great twist and final knockout punch.

I have thoroughly enjoyed Sally Hepworth's other works before this, Darling Girls is a new favorite for me.

As someone who frequently works with children in foster care, I found Darling Girls particularly chilling. We follow three women who had became sisters to each other in every sense of the word while in foster care with a particularly vengeful foster mother, from their respective perspectives in both the present and past timelines. Each still feels the effects of their past trauma on their present lives, but they must reopen old wounds when the police calls and tells them a body has been found under their old foster home. That discovery unearths long-buried secrets about what really happened at Wild Meadows.

Each of the three main characters is unique and easily distinguished, with some trait that both allowed them to survive their past ordeals and makes them interesting to follow, while Miss Fairchild is vile indeed. Hepworth throws in some wicked twists and loops that make this a fascinating and enjoyable read. Jessica Clarke does an amazing job narrating the story. Thank you to the author, Macmillan, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Darling Girls (out this Tuesday, 4/23/24!)

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Sally Hepworth is an auto-read for me since “The Mother-in-Law” and “The Good Sister” a few years back, and so I always look forward to her newest releases.

Jessica, Norah, and Alicia are sisters in all but blood, growing up together in the foster care system under the care of Miss Fairchild. While all seemed perfect on the surface, Miss Fairchild was unpredictable (to say the least), and each girl had their own issues to overcome. When a body is found underneath their foster home decades later, the sisters are thrust back into the past. Are they the key witnesses or are they the suspects?

In true Hepworth style, readers get short multiple POV chapters that keep you wanting to turn the page, several unexpected twists, and a wild-til-the-last-page-ending. These are the reasons I’ll keep picking up her books each year!

The one piece of this book that I couldn’t quite get over though was how laissez-faire the ancillary adults in past chapters were; no spoilers here, but I found it hard to believe some of the behavior in the house was left unchecked for so long. I found this continued into present day with the police (why are all the suspects hanging out in a bar during the middle of an intense investigation?). These things left me scratching my head the entiiiire time I was reading.

Gripes aside, I really liked the stylistic element of a first-person unknown narrator talking to their therapist in between POVs. Trying to guess who this person was kept me on my toes, and per usual, I sped through this book. It is probably #4 on my list of her books after MIL, GS, & “The Soulmate”, but I do recommend this if you’ve been a fan of her in the past!! Thank you to @netgalley for the early copy to review 🩵

3.5⭐

I can see why early reviewers, in general, are rating Darling Girls highly. If consistently tense mysteries/psychological thrillers are your jam, I definitely can recommend this one for you. On the other hand, because the subject matter is especially sensitive (largely involving children), I advise special reader caution. Content warnings include abuses within the foster system, kidnapping, child abuse, sexual blackmail, drug abuse, murder, and gaslighting, at least.

Throughout the story, which is set in Australia, psychiatrist Dr. Warren seems to get his jollies from his patient's description of the abuse they endured. Besides being wildly unprofessional (not to mention unhelpful), it's a gross kink. The vague treatment of the timing of the psychiatric visits seems a bit underhanded. However, I take no exception at the location being kept secret—it's in service to the plot tension.

The foster sisters stick together and support each other throughout their lives, including after bones are discovered under their childhood home.

The combination of my early (and almost complete) anticipation of the twists—along with the repetition of certain descriptions and the prolonged trauma of so many characters—dampens my enthusiasm a bit. As you can see, though, I still rated the book above average. It kept me hooked—I had to see how it would all end.

This unbiased review is based on an audio ARC supplied by the publisher—Macmillan Audio. Publication is expected April 23.

Truthfully, the cover of this book had me thinking this was going to be some kind of beach-read thriller (is there such a thing?). I wasn’t sure what to expect but I’m almost always willing to give a thriller a try. I’m glad my first impression of the book was wrong!

First Jessica, then Norah, then Alicia. These three girls were taken in at different times by someone whom they were told was a loving and caring foster mother. This is especially true for Jessica who, for a time, was the apple of Miss Fairchild’s eye. Things begin to change when Miss Fairchild takes in two other girls, and later, some younger children. The three older girls forge a strong bond, knowing that getting through the day under Miss Fairchild’s roof relies on teamwork.

In the present-day timeline, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia are grown and have lives of their own. It’s been years since they’ve seen Miss Fairchild. When a body is found under the house they grew up in, they must confront their pasts. Whether it’s as witnesses or suspects, none of them are certain.

I loved the foster sister relationships in this book. I love how much these girls/women looked out for one another. Though I was more invested in the past storyline, I was quite interested in the mystery in the modern setting as well. I found Miss Fairchild to be an intriguing antagonist right up to the end. Without getting into spoilers, I will admit that I was left a little perplexed by her motives aside from the obvious character traits she displays.

Were the characters particularly memorable and unique? No. Did I enjoy the vibes? Absolutely. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator, Jessica Clarke, does a fantastic job delivering the story.

A huge thanks to Macmillan and NetGalley for inviting me to read a free audio ARC of the book!

Took me a little while to get into this book due to the past and present / different characters. I thought the narration was great. There were a lot of unexpected aspects of the book. Thought I had it figured out, but I was wrong! I would definitely recommend this book! I will probably listen to it again soon.

Really enjoyed Darling Girls!
Beware to check trigger warnings for child abuse.
Overall the pace was good, it didn't feel like it had many lulls. I liked all of the different POVs and the jumping timeline. That really helps get the book going. The twist at the end was good and I didn't see it coming!

I really liked this book! The story was great, and it was very fast paced. I really liked all of the characters, and it was easy to feel sympathy for them. I really liked the different perspectives, and I feel like the author did a great job of embodying the different personalities of the girls. This was a really easy read, and I never felt like it was dragging at all. It moved throughout the whole story. I will definitely be reading this author again!

Three girls raised in a foster home by mean Miss Fairchild develop a special bond and call one another sisters.
They are contacted years later by police because a child’s remains were found buried under the house that the girls once lived.
The girls go back to help with the investigation and the mystery unravels with shocking twists!
Thanks to @NetGalley and @St.Martin’sPress for the opportunities to listen to this audiobook.

Sally Hepworth does it again! This book is TWISTED but Sally still keeps it light by weaving in humor. I think this would make a great show! I loved the narrator.

Darling Girls is the story of three women who grew up in the same foster home. Jessica, is a pathological people-pleaser. Norah, who doesn't take shit from anyone. And Alisha, who questions her own self-worth.

When a body is found on the property of their former foster home, the women reluctantly return to the home they grew up in and are forced to face the demons of their past.

With chapters alternating between the three women (NOW and THEN) and an unnamed woman meeting with a therapist and talking about her childhood, we're given bits and pieces as the story unfolds. All the while, the women have to deal with their personal demons both from their traumatic childhood and their adult lives.

This book shows that a seemingly perfect home can still hold dangerous secrets. And seemingly wonderful people are less wonderful behind closed doors.

I listened to the audiobook version and, as an American, the Australian accent of the narrator was at first jarring, but I quickly adjusted and enjoyed her reading of the story.

I left Jessica, Norah, and Alicia feeling like I was saying goodbye to new friends. And that ending. Oof. I didn't expect that. Wow!

I absolutely loved this one! I devoured it within 2 days (which is crazy fast for me). I thought the characters in this book were so great. The three main characters grew up together in an abusive foster care situation, and I loved their relationship with each other and how close they became. Each girl has her own flaws, but they are all so interesting. I especially liked Norah's character.

The mystery in the book is a slow burn, but I was enthralled the whole time. There were so many great twists that I didn't see coming, and I thought the ending was excellent.

Jessica Clarke is a great narrator (I'm always partial to narrators with accents). She was really easy to follow and understand, and although there are multiple POVs and timelines, I didn't find myself getting lost at all.

I highly recommend checking this one out when it publishes, and I hope you like it as much as I did! Be sure to check content warnings!

Sally Hepworth is an author whose books I always buy without hesitation. Her domestic suspense novels are full of unexpected twists and turns that keep me guessing until the end. In her latest book, Darling Girls, Hepworth shifts away from her usual domestic suspense genre and delves into a more intense and darker mystery, but she keeps all the twists and turns that we’ve grown to expect (and love) from her.

Highlights:
✨Three MCs: Jessica, Alicia, and Norah are foster sisters. Their past and present timelines demonstrate that adopting a survival mode during childhood has long-lasting effects on adulthood. Out of the three, Norah is my favorite. Her sarcasm is always on point and provides lots of laughs. If you enjoy the found family trope, then you will definitely love reading about these three sisters.
✨Darker than previous books: Here, Hepworth weaves an unsettling mystery around the underbelly of foster care. The story contains a few heartwrenching scenes, so check the trigger warnings.
✨Narrator: Jessica Clarke skillfully manages multiple POVs and a dual timeline, resulting in a captivating audiobook. I binged Darling Girls in one day and highly recommend this format.

Sally Hepworth did it again! Darling Girls is the latest novel from Hepworth and somehow her plots never cease to get old. She finds ways to construct stories that are vastly different from one another. Admittedly, it took me a bit to get into this one and thankfully I had access to both the e-book (thank you St. Martin's Press) and the audiobook (thank you Macmillan Audio) and the audiobook quickly sucked me in while the book took me longer to engage with.

As of recently, I have found I love combining reading and listening to my books. It allows me to switch from one space to another without having to "put the book down:"

The narration also added to my enjoyment of this audiobook. If you are a fan of Sally Hepworth, I would recommend reading this one!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Darling Girls
By: Sally Hepworth
Narrated by: Jessica Clarke
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Pub Date: 4/23/24
Sally is hands down one of the best writers out there today. This is probably my favorite out of all her books so far.
Three young girls are all in foster care and one at a time they have arrived at Miss Fairchild’s home, Wild Meadows Jessica comes first. At just 5 years old. She’s alone at first. There are no other children there. She calls Miss Holly Fairchild, Mommy. She’s very isolated and develops a cleaning obsession at a young age.
Norah comes along second, she’s eleven. Brought up in a rough environment she has had to be violent out of necessity.
Lastly Alicia joins them when she’s just 12. She had been raised by her grandmother but following her grandmother's accident and death she entered foster care. She had the roughest adjustment having come from a loving home. For two long years the girls dealt with her abuse until Miss Fairchild began to bring babies in for respite care. She needs the money to keep the house going only she isn’t the one taking care of the babies. The girls are. When a little girl shows up and Holly reveals that she’s adopting her. That’s when the girls finally go to an adult about the abuse. When the police arrive they don’t find a child or any of her things.
Jumping forward 25 years the girls are all adults now. You learn how each of their adult lives were impacted by their shared abuse. Jessica is stealing and abusing drugs from her clients in her home organization business. Norah struggles with anger issues and the possibility of imprisonment if she can’t get herself under control. Alicia is now a social worker herself trying to find safe homes for the kids and her care.
The police from Port Agatha reach out to let the girls know the body of a child has been found buried under the house. As they return to Port Agatha, they are not only confronting their childhood abuse, but they come face-to-face with Miss Fairchild. Who is the child under the house? Is it one of the babies or is something more sinister at play?
This was a great read. The flow and pacing were perfect. This book kept me reading, I had to know the answers! Thanks to Macmillan, Sally Hepworth and NetGalley for the ARC

Thank you Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for this Arc copy of Darling Girls.

Awesome read but not for the faint hearted. Deals with some serious subjects and you can feel heartbroken by the end.

The audiobook has an Aussie narrator which did a great job on delivering the story.

Not a Summer read but good for Fall into Winter reads:).

🫶🏽What I enjoyed
Where do I start??? The way this story unfolds was so clever!! Even with multiple POV and the then/now timeline, it’s easy to follow because you spend enough time reading from each POV in the beginning to learn how that sister is different from the other two. The dialogue during therapy sessions in between the then/now timeline kept it extra engaging. There’s definitely a strong theme of resiliency and loyalty among these sisters. Their ending was so perfect, while being relatively realistic and I legit teared up. After reading about their horrific childhood with this foster mom, it was the type of ending my heart needed for them. The end with Aaron and Theo 🥹🥹🥹🥹 But also, THAT ENDING 🤯🤯🤯🤯 I’m trying to keep this all vague enough to prevent spoilers but it was jaw dropping.
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🤷🏻‍♀️What didn’t work for me
Nothing to report here! All the stars. Highly recommend
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🎧Audio Review
The audio was full of emotion and wonderfully performed. I binged this in 2 days and it only took that long because of my silly full time job getting in the way 😜

Wow, this book was something. Very psychological and really messes with you! The story is heart-wrenching for these women who faced neglect and abuse during their stay in the foster care system. It really goes to show how broken that system is and how it does not protect these young children well enough. The book is eerie and intriguing and that ending, WOW, not what I thought was going to happen in the end. It was a great read!

I appreciated the flow of chapters, shifting in both POV and time period, all to see the full picture by the end; and an unexpected picture it provides! I thought the pacing was a bit slow in the beginning, but I felt like everything after made sense and were creative choices for the mystery. I look forward to this author's future novels!