"Sally Hepworth's 'Darling Girls' offers a glimpse into the complexities of sisterhood and secrets, blending mystery with family drama. While it was an enjoyable read, especially for fans of Hepworth's previous works, I found it to be slightly less engaging compared to her other novels. The narrative delves into the lives of sisters, unraveling hidden truths and confronting past demons. Hepworth's signature storytelling style shines through, but the pacing felt a bit slower, and the characters didn't grip me as intensely as in her other books. Nonetheless, 'Darling Girls' still delivers a satisfying tale of family bonds and the enduring power of sisterhood."

Wow!! Where do I even begin!!

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Jessica Clarke. The narrator brings depth to the characters as she unravels the secrets and complexities of their lives. The idyllic façade of their childhood home is shattered as the sisters confront the truth about their past.

As the story continues it unravels the complex lives of Jessica, Norah, and Alicia, who were raised by their foster mother, Miss Fairchild. The story takes a surprising turn when bones are discovered in their former home, leading to revelations about their upbringing.

The unexpected twists and turns that end in a shocking reveal. Through Jessica Clarke's voice, the emotional depth of the characters and the suspense of the plot are vividly portrayed.

If you're looking for a captivating audiobook that explores the bonds of sisterhood, the weight of secrets, and the consequences of love and murder. This is a must-listen for fans of suspenseful family dramas.

Another absolute banger from Sally Hepworth! Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy of this book because it was an absolutely wild ride.

From the jump, I wasn’t really sure where the plot was going to go in either timeline (we had a past and present timeline in this story with POVs from all the core characters) which made this very fun; I was hooked and stressed and anxious as the story unfolded because I NEEDED to know what was going to happen with Jessica, Norah and Alicia. I’ve gone back and forth on who my favorite character was and I think it’s Alicia - she felt the most relatable to me.

I will say that the ending was kind of meh but that’s my only complaint (and trust me - it’s a minor whine because this book was solid otherwise) so all in all this is a definite recommend!

Three women were raised by the same foster mother as young girls, and the terrible experiences they went through in their childhood have bonded them for life. In the present day, a body is found under the home they grew up in, and the girls and their former foster mother come face to face for the first time in years.

This psychological thriller is a slow burn told in dual timelines. The past timelines show some of the abuse the girls endured as kids, which was heartbreaking to read. Their past clearly formed their current personalities, with the women forming a clear bond that seems unshakeable. I thought the characters were each well written and fully formed, with distinct characteristics and personalities.

Narrator Jessica Clarke takes on a doozy of a story for a single narrator. The multiple timelines and multiple POVs didn't work for me with a single narrator; I would have preferred a larger cast to be able to keep the storyline straight. I struggled with the audio format here and ended up switching to an ebook form instead.

The storyline itself seemed to drag on for me, leading to my rating of 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed listening to the audiobook of Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth! The story was a wild ride from beginning to end. The chapters alternate between past and present, sharing the stories of three different girls living in foster care with Miss Fairchild. I adored each of the girls (so close they call themselves sisters) and the women they came to be, despite their hardships and flaws. The undying love the sisters have for one another is remarkable, especially considering their upbringing. That being said, their upbringing was rough and have a ripple effect into their adult lives. This book deals with a lot of hard topics including child abuse, sexual abuse, abandonment, harsh punishments, violence, etc. Reader (listener) be aware.

When a body is found underneath the house where they grew up, the sisters return "home" to try to figure out what happened and pursue healing for themselves. The story did not progress as I was expecting - there were crazy twists and turns that were highly entertaining and captivating. I especially liked how more of the story was revealed through the inclusion of snapshots from therapy sessions for... someone. (That someone is revealed later in the book, of course!) Though I was a bit disappointed with the last twist at the end, I enjoyed the book overall. I just kept wanting to listen to it! The narrator was great too, kudos to Jessica Clarke.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this advanced audiobook. All opinions are my own.

This was another fantastic thriller by Sally Hepworth. I had a hard time putting this down and felt like the pacing was perfect. At a point I thought I had this story figured out but I didn’t! Which was a fun surprise at the last second. Highly recommend to any fan who loves thrillers.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for my #gifted copies of Darling Girls!

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐇𝐞𝐩𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟐𝟑, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

★★★★★

This book has it all! Sally Hepworth has done it again and if you are a fan of domestic thrillers, you need to pick this one up ASAP!

Jessica, Norah, and Alicia were all rescued and raised by Miss Fairchild at Wild Meadows Farm. Miss Fairchild was anything but loving, and was very unpredictable. Now, as adults, the three women are called back to the house because it’s in the process of being demolished and human bones have been found. Who do the bones belong to? And what secrets still remain?

This book is like a rollercoaster, alternating between the past and the present, and told between POVs of Jessica, Norah, Alicia, and an unknown patient meeting with Dr. Warren during a psychiatric session. I could not get enough. To note, there were themes of abuse in this book, but it never felt too heavy. There were also some funny moments throughout, including moments with a lovable dog. Hepworth kept my attention the entire time and I loved the ending!

🎧I started with the physical book, but switched to the audiobook, narrated by Jessica Clarke. I loved my time listening to the audiobook, and felt like Clarke did such an amazing job bringing this story to life. I will definitely be looking for more audiobooks by Clarke to listen to in the future. I felt like she nailed this performance and I highly recommend the audio format of Darling Girls!

Posted on Goodreads on April 9, 2024: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around April 23, 2024: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on April 23, 2024
**-will post on designated date

This is hands down my favorite book by Megan Miranda. It was easy to get consumed by the creepy and dark atmosphere setting with a gripping, twisty tale about a terrifying childhood and a town filled with secrets. Hazel inherited her father’s house after his passing, but her two brothers, Caleb and Gage, are upset that she is now the sole owner of their father’s house. While Hazel is in town, two cars submerged from Mirror Lake, and Hazel is now determined to discover what happened to her mother.

The writing of this book was incredible and well-constructed. It took me only the first few pages to get hooked, and I was compelled by the story the entire time. Miranda’s atmospheric description of Mirror Lake, combined with unraveling dark family secrets and shocking twists, made for a book that is hard to put down. Jessica Clarke was fantastic narrating the story.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for giving me a copy

The story begins in a Psychiatrist’s office and at first it is hard to tell which woman is the one seeing the psychiatrist.

Then the story moves between past and present, centering around three foster girls; Jessica, Norah and Alicia. They immediately form a sisterly bond that gets carried on into their adult years. As the book moves between the “now” and the “then”, we get a look into each girl’s life and their own personal experiences of living in the foster home under the care of their evil foster mother, Miss. Fairchild.

Years later some bones were discovered under the foster home. Who’s are they? This brings Jessica, Norah and Alicia back to where it all started, with so many questions.

The book is a bit suspenseful. It can be triggering in regards to child abuse. It was a good read… although I do feel that the last twist was not really needed. The book would have been just fine without it.

I would like to thank MacMillan Audio and Net Galley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Darling Girls
Sally Hepworth
4⭐️

If you’re in the mood for a dark & twisty character driven thriller, Darling Girls will hit the spot! Hepworth did not disappoint with this page turner! It was unique, quick, engaging, and full of twists and an ending I did not see coming. I really enjoyed the flashbacks/dual timeline and getting each sister’s POV. It added so much to the story.

What I Enjoyed:
✨ Slow Burn Suspense
✨ Dark & Twisty Stories
✨ Domestic Thriller
✨ Flawed Characters

If you're an audiobook fan, give this one a listen! Jessica Clarke’s voice and narration was so perfectly matched with Hepworth’s twisty tale.

Pub Date 4/23/24. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for allowing me to listen to this book.

It was a fun thriller to read. I really enjoyed all of it. It was suspenseful. The ending surprised me and had no idea it was coming. I love a good thriller book that I can’t guess what will happen. Lots of twists to this book and I love what the author did with it.

Highly recommended.

What a fun, twisty story! Loved the multiple perspectives and the dual timelines! I love Hepworth's thrillers and this one is no different! I'll definitely be sharing more about this one!

In Darling Girls, Sally Hepworth masterfully weaves a psychological mystery within the realm of women’s fiction. I was hooked from the start and as we got to know each character, I was using my creative imagination to picture each in my mind. The narrative revolves around three kindred spirits—Jessica, Norah, and Alicia—who share an unbreakable bond forged under the roof of the same foster care home. Their lives were shaped by the enigmatic and controlling foster mother, Holly Fairchild.

As young girls, they were rescued from family tragedies and raised by Miss Fairchild on an idyllic farming estate. But their childhood wasn’t the fairy tale everyone believes. Miss Fairchild had rules, and her unpredictable behavior left scars that lingered long after they escaped her clutches.

The heart of the story lies with Jessica, who entered Miss Fairchild’s care at the tender age of five. Desperate for her foster mother’s affection, Jessica unknowingly endured isolation due to Holly’s manipulative ways. When a body is discovered under the home they grew up in, the foster sisters find themselves thrust into the spotlight as key witnesses—or perhaps prime suspects.

Hepworth toggles viewpoints and timelines, revealing how each girl was placed at Wild Meadows and showcasing Holly’s erratic—possibly even murderous—behavior. Hepworth's vivid prose supports the plot’s momentum, although the unrelenting descriptions of child abuse can be grim and worthy of trigger warnings.

Darling Girls is a gripping exploration of sisterhood, secrets, love, and murder. Sally Hepworth’s storytelling talent shines through, making this a compelling read for fans of suspense thrillers and mysteries. The twists and turns this takes you on will be memorable and you will find yourself unable to look away. I was sprinting to the finish line which is always such a sure sign of a great read for me.

If you enjoyed The Younger Wife and The Soulmate, you won’t be disappointed with this latest Hepworth thriller.

I listened to this book in short segments mainly to and from my way to work. I was quickly engrossed in the story, and on some days I sat in the parking lot for a few more minutes to see what would happen next.

Three foster sisters, now grown women, have to revisit the past when human remains are found at their former foster home where they suffered abuse. Each of the three sisters has a distinct personality, and I thought that the depth of the characters was well done. I enjoyed getting to know the sisters and encountering the twists and turns of the plot. The narrator did a solid job of reading the story.

I received a free audiobook from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sally Hepworth writes creepy, spooky stories involving families, and I have friends that swear by her, but this is the first of her books that I’ve read. My thanks go to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the invitation to read and review. This book will be available to the public April 23, 2024.

Jessica, Norah and Alicia are closer than most sisters, even though they are not biologically related. All three spent most of their formative years at an Australian foster home called Wild Meadows, under the gimlet eye of Miss Fairchild, an abusive foster parent. Miss Fairchild was adept at keeping up appearances, but once a visitor—an infrequent occurrence—was gone, the place got dark. The woman was cruel and unpredictable, dreaming up horrifying punishments for even slight perceived infractions. Open rebellion was unthinkable. But it was when she began accepting babies that they resolved to turn her in. Now all are grown, but they remain tightly bonded, and the call comes in: bones have been found under the foundation of the razed house. They must all report to the local police, which in turn means returning to the vicinity of Wild Meadows.

I can see why this author has such a loyal following. The way the narrative flows is flawless, and although we transition often from the past to the present as well as between the three girls’ stories, there’s never even momentary confusion. The list of characters is kept manageable, and all of them are believable. I begin reading via audiobook because that’s the version that was offered me, but once I began, I asked for and received the digital galley also. Usually this is a necessity in order to keep up with what I am hearing, but I scarcely needed it. Narrator Jessica Clarke provides the perfect listening experience.

For me, the joy of this well written novel is somewhat dampened by the horrors of the girls’ experiences. The child abuse is so cruel, and so specific that I sometimes stopped listening early and went away with a ball of lead in my gut. I suspect that this is something most likely to be experienced either by those that were themselves abused as children, or—like me—those that have worked with such children. Although part of me still wanted to know what came next, another part of my thought that if I wanted this kind of nightmare, I should just go back to work!

Reader, you probably know what you can read and what you should stay away from. If this sort of novel is unlikely to haunt you, go for it. I doubt there are many that can do this thing better. With that caveat, this book is recommended to those that enjoy the genre.

This book had me feeling all the feels, and I think it’s so fitting that it’s being released during Child Abuse Awareness month!

The three sisters, Jessica, Alicia, and Norah were brought together through the fostering system, after all three girls were placed at Wild Meadows under the care of Miss Fairchild! The experiences and hardships they endured together, created an unbreakable bond between these three sisters!

Years later, these three women may have their own relationships and careers but still remain closely connected! Now they have called back to their old childhood home, where human remains have been discovered, and the events and secrets of the past are also starting to be unearthed!

This book jumps back and forth from the time the girls spent at Wild Meadows and the present. Both timelines revealing information and emotional details of what the three sisters experienced, and the influence on who they are today. With hard conversations, and a deep look into the past, will the truth of whose bones were buried on the property be uncovered?

This book has the perfect amount of mystery, suspense, and emotional depth! It was written extremely well and I would highly recommend it!

Thank you to #netgalley and @macmillan.audio for the advanced reader copy of this audiobook!

In this story, we get a mixture of modern crime with past trauma (please check TW if you are sensitive). Our three main characters are adult women forced to deal with the terrible foster home they lived in as children when bones are found on the property. Along the way, we are also given the perspective of someone's therapy sessions. As the story unfolds, the reader is led to wonder who the bones belong to, who the liar is, and if the wrong person might get blamed. The three sisters (by choice) each show the damage from her childhood in her own way, but we get to see some healing, too. I also appreciated the author's note at the end explaining why this story matters to her. Her writing is propulsive, and I felt the narrator did an excellent job bringing all the characters to life. An enjoyable read dealing with tough subject matter, but impossible to put down.

Darling Girls
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wow, Sally did it again! Great book that made you want more till you figured things out. It was so good. She NEVER disappoints her readers!! Great characters and dynamics.
Thank you NetGallery!!

This is my third Sally Hepworth book ever and it easily became my favorite. This story is so intense that I once I put my Kindle down, I had to listen with my headphones on.

Three girls form an unbreakable bond when being put together in the same foster home.
Jessica entered Miss Fairchild’s home at only five, thus creating a strong attachment to the woman. Norah entered the home at eleven, and was known to be a feisty and problematic.. Lastly came Alicia, twelve, after her grandmother and caretaker became ill.

This is a story of the horrors and mental + physical abuse the three endured. Although the good times in that home were rare, they knew they had each other always. Sisters by choice.

I loved how this story jumps back and forth in time, slowly helping us uncover things. I enjoyed getting to know them as children and adults. The twists just kept coming and I ate them up. Everything about this book was calculated and chilling, as every great thriller/mystery book should be.

Each character was carefully written and complex in their own ways, yet, the three of them were ultimately charming and you couldn’t help but to like them. I must admit I questioned one of the characters’ motives until the very end, which made reading it even more fun.

I was on the edge of my seat the whole time while reading this book. You guys seriously need to add this one to your TBR; one of the best books that I have read this year so far.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and the author for this ALC.
Pub date: 04/23/24

It was so good I couldn’t stop myself from what thing to know the ending and then the ending comes with another twist. Was it necessary? Yes and no but either way it was good.