Loved Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth; there were twists and turns while making the book realistic and relatable. Hepworth does not disappoint. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

I love Sally Hepworth novels; she’s an auto-buy author for me, but Darling Girls was not my favorite. Honestly, for the first 50% it felt like foster care ab*se trauma p*rn with super dysfunctional adults narrating their flashbacks. Once the mystery really set in, this was engaging, but I felt uncomfortable with most of this story, both past and present timelines, and if I hadn’t been listening to the audio, I may have DNF’d. Like any Hepworth, there’s an excellent twist, and this novel covers some very important topics like child ab*se and addiction, but I felt kind of haphazard and voyeuristic for me. I guess if you’re in the childcare space, be it social work or foster care, or if the mistreatment of children doesn’t bother you. I’d still recommend this one, but other Hepworth novels are better.

I listened to the audiobook version of "Darling girls."

To begin, I want to start my saying that I love Sally Hepworth's books in general. I get great joy out of reading/listening to them. This book, however, wasn't as great as the others. There were a few unlikable characters, a storyline that is traumatizing to listen to in certain areas, and the plot just wasn't what I was expecting. With all that being said, I would say it was pretty average-not great, and not terrible.

This book is set in Australia and I loved the narrators Australian accent. It really brought the book to life.

I’m a huge fan of Sally Hepworth’s writing because she is so funny. She tells a mystery/thriller in a way that made me laugh out loud at some of the dialogue. The witty comments along with the multiple POV kept me engaged from start to finish. This is a must read book!

4.5/5 rounded up

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy!

Content warning: child abuse

SYNOPSIS -- Jessica, Norah and Alicia grew up with foster mother, Miss Fairchild, on a beautiful country estate. Each was rescued from sad situations and brought together... how lucky are they?! From the outside, very. From the inside, though, things are very, very different. Miss Fairchild seems kind, but, in truth, she's very unpredictable. With ever-changing rules and expectations, as well as a heavy hand at punishment, Miss Fairchild is anything but the sweet foster mother they wanted. Years later, a body is discovered underneath the house they grew up in. When Jessica, Norah and Alicia are pulled away from their complicated adult lives, they're not sure if they're there as witnesses, or suspects.

I LOVED this book!! From the very start, I was absolutely hooked. I've heard great things about Sally Hepworth for years, but was disappointed by the first book I read of hers -- THE SOULMATE. This one, however, blew me away. With multiple points of views and timelines, plus quick chapters, I could not put this book down. There was tons of new information on every page and so much mystery, making this into a wild whodunnit guessing game. Each character was unique in her own way and they all developed with such depth by the end that I was super invested. Miss Fairchild was such a complex character and, even though I hated her, I also somehow wanted more of her. The twist was TWISTY and I found myself shocked at the way things turned out. The therapeutic perspective is always really interesting to me and I loved the way these sessions were shrouded in mystery, too. Overall, this was a really great thriller and I can't wait to go back to Sally Hepworth's back list!

3.5 stars, rounded up. I figured most of it out but there were some good surprises.

Jessica, Norah, and Alicia are three girls who consider themselves sisters. They grew up in foster care under the watchful eye of Miss Fairchild, their foster mother. They went through a great deal of harsh treatment by Miss Fairchild, and eventually were able to move on as they grew up, but they have always stayed close. When they discover that human bones have been discovered when their old foster home was recently demolished, the three venture back to speak with police as the police try to unravel just what happened there.

I really liked the mystery of this book, but in all honesty it took a back seat to the relationship between the girls (and then as women) and how, by the end of the book, they were able to work through their trauma and move toward lives of healing and growth. I don't want to give away too much about what happens after the bones are found, because it could venture into spoiler territory and it's best to just let the book unfold. There are some good twists that come at unexpected times, just enough to keep the reader invested in the story.

It was difficult to read about the abuse that occurred, and some humor in the present day storyline helped to balance out the more horrific elements in the past. I listened to this as an audiobook and the narration is incredibly well done. I look forward to my next domestic drama read by Sally Hepworth.

The story of three foster sisters, and learning what happened in the past when a body is found at the foster home they grew up in. Def dark topics being brought up, but this was a page turner for me and I couldn't wait to find out what happened. Sally Hepworth is a repeat author for me, and she has yet to really disappoint me!

I am ashamed to say that I am really late to the Sally Hepworth train. However, after reading Darling Girls, I’m excited there’s a whole back catalog I can go back and read/listen to!

Darling Girls was an absolutely can’t-put-down psychological thriller that kept me guessing the entire time. I listened on audiobook and thought Jessica Clarke was an excellent narrator.

This is a mesmerizing tale of three foster sisters—Jessica, Norah, and Alicia—whose seemingly idyllic childhood concealed dark secrets beneath the surface.

On the surface, the girls were incredibly fortunate to be rescued from tragic circumstances and raised by their caring foster mother Miss Fairchild on a beautiful farm estate. However, Hepworth slowly peels back the layers to reveal that their childhood was far from a fairytale. Miss Fairchild’s rigid rules and unpredictable behavior marked their lives in ways they still don’t even fully comprehend as adults looking back.

Just when the sisters thought they were finally free of their traumatic upbringing, a grisly discovery is made – a body buried beneath their childhood home. Suddenly, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia are thrust back into the darkness as they find the spotlight shining on them once again. But this time, are they being regarded as key witnesses to a crime, or are they themselves the prime suspects?

With incredible skill, Hepworth doles out twists and turns that will leave you frantically turning pages (or, in my case, popping in your headphones every chance you get). She creates an atmosphere thick with chilling tension and mystery. The complex, flawed characters also ring incredibly true-to-life. This unputdownable thriller is a must-read, so grab your copy of Darling Girls now.

I honestly don’t have too much to say about this book. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it either. We follow three women, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia, who were raised by a foster mother, Miss Fairchild, when they were young. Now adults, they are called back to Wild Meadows when the body of an infant is found on the property. In my opinion, it seemed to take far too long to find out anything at all in the present timeline. I would say 70% of the book was a reflective look at the past and how horrifically Jessica, Norah, and Alicia were treated as children. I thought it would be a murderous thriller / whodunit with respect to the body that was found, but this didn’t seem to become the focus of the plot until the very end. I would definitely read another of Sally Hepworth’s releases; maybe my expectations just weren’t well suited to this read.

Did anyone else picture Miss Fairchild as Miss Trunchbull?

4.25 stars. Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this Audio. It wouldnt be a Sally Hepworth book if you didnt finish the book and say What the F*$K because that is exactly what I say everytime I finish her books and let me tell you this is the 6th book I read by this author. Even when I was like ohhh I got it now I know whats gonna happen now because its obvious. Sally said nope not today let me do this other little twist over here. I will never again be able to hear someone say Darling Girl and not hear Jessica Clarke's voice.

Jessica, Norah, and Alicia became sisters through their foster home with Mrs. Fairchild. Now, years later, human remains is found underneath the house they experienced so much trauma in. As they all come back to the house and town, a years old mystery starts to unravel,

Sally Hepworth really knows how to pull you into a story and she does this so well here. The three sister each have such unique personalities that really drive the story and mystery forward. The mystery itself was well-laid out and had me guessing for a while there. This isn't a fast paced mystery but a slow-burn psychological thriller where you really dig into the lives of the girls.
The narration of this was really well done. I loved how she was able to change her voice, especially for the younger characters.

Overall, a good slow-burn thriller!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!

Wow. This story kept me on edge the entire time. There were so many times that I thought I knew what the twist would be and then things changed. The girls in this story were so amazing. Tbeir stories were heartbreaking and brave. That ending was just mindblowing!

This psychological thriller kept me interested the whole story. These three girls were failed so many times by our foster care system,law enforcement and society more times than not. Their relationship they formed between the three of the is both heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. The pacing and character development were great. I really enjoyed this book.

This book had me shooketh from start to finish, like seriously, I couldn't put it down for a second! Sally totally nailed it with this one!

Jessica, Norah, and Alicia are these foster sisters. They had this kinda messed up childhood, but you wouldn't believe the stuff they went through. They were rescued from some serious family drama and raised by Miss Fairchild, their foster mom, on this dreamy farm. Sounds perfect, right? WRONG! Miss Fairchild is super strict and unpredictable. Like, she's always lurking in the shadows, and you never know what she's gonna do next.

What I loved most about this book was its ability to seamlessly blend darkness and humor. It delved into some heavy topics, yet there were moments of dark humor that provided much-needed relief and added depth to the narrative.

The story jumps back and forth between different points of view and timelines, but it's super easy to keep up with. I was just dying to know what happens next! And the characters? Ugh, don't even get me started! Jessica, Norah, and Alicia felt like friends I'd known forever. I laughed with them, cried with them, and held my breath during every heart-pounding moment. Norah, especially, stole my heart with her strength and vulnerability.

And OMG, that twist at the end? I swear, I nearly fell off my chair! Sally knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat, for real!

So if you're looking for a read that's gonna have you shook and glued to the pages 'til the sun comes up, "Darling Girls" is where it's at.

I received an advance copy of this as an audiobook via NetGalley, but I have not been compensated in any way for listening or providing my review.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book! I was unfamiliar with the author and haven't listened to other books which are based in Australia, so I covered a couple firsts with this book.

The narration was wonderful - the voice changes were enough to understand when a different character was speaking, and it was easy to understand what was being conveyed. The narrator did a great job on communicating tone, emotion, and non-verbal expressions.

The story itself was well-written and fairly easy to follow. I was a little lost about some of the flashbacks, but I eventually figured it out. I loved the queer positivity wherein characters could just be themselves, free of judgement or opinions of others regarding their sexuality. Each character was really well designed and memorable. Cheering for the underdogs is easy to do, but these protagonists were not the expected heroines - they were humans with foibles and flaws who made mistakes while also struggling to rise above their raising after having been failed by the adults in their lives over and over.

This was an interesting tale, and while it was a bit slow at times, I enjoyed the comradery and connection I felt with the 3 sisters who became family by choice rather than blood.

P.S. I learned Australians say, "vale," rather than, "RIP," when someone has passed away. That bit of lingo was really appreciated!

Three foster children (now adults) receive a call from a detective regarding something alarming found at their former foster home. The book switches between the foster sisters' past and present lives, sharing how they ended up in foster care and their current lives.

I really liked this thriller and I'm looking forward to reading more of Sally Hempworth's books. Despite the main character's flaws, I found them likable, and I especially enjoyed their sisterly bond. The plot was full of suspense and unexpected twists, especially at the end.

I listened to the audiobook version of this book. I liked the narrator, but at times, it took effort to follow the story with the different points of view and timelines. That said, I still recommend the audiobook, as the narrator did a good job setting the tone for the book.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I have yet to read a Sally Hepworth book that I haven’t loved. She is a master of keeping a hidden twist til the bitter end.

In Darling Girls-the author introduces three foster girls and the woman who fosters them. Several years after all the girls had left the property, they are contacted and questioned when the authorities find the bones of a toddler under the house, thus forcing them to relive all of the trauma and unanswered questions they’ve harbored for years.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Sally Hepworth has become an auto-read and favorite author of mine and 𝘿𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙂𝙞𝙧𝙡𝙨 did not disappoint. I started this audiobook on our roadtrip to my parent's house then switched to my kindle because I didn't want to wait for the trip back to finish it since I was already so invested. It's definitely more of a slow-burn so don't go in expecting an instant thrill. I love how her books are largely character driven but also have a solid plot. So it takes a while to get to know the characters and differentiate them (this one is multi-POV) but after you do, then the plot picks up and you won't be able to put it down.
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Norah, Jessica, and Alicia grew up as foster sisters living in a seemingly happy home with Miss Fairchild. Now grown, they each receive a phone call from police requesting they answer some questions because human remains have been found under their childhood home. What follows is a multi-POV and dual timeline story of what life was actually like for the girls living under Miss Fairchild's roof, and the future repercussions.
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In my opinion, this one will be great in any format. But I will say I especially enjoyed the audio as it's set in Australia and the narrator, Jessica Clarke has a lovely accent and I felt she added to the authenticity 🎧🤍

3.5

Miss Fairchild opened her large rural home to a foster child, Jessica, after her mother died. Everything was perfect- until it wasn't. After several blissful years, Miss Fairchild changed overnight. Gone was the perfect mother- instead was a cruel woman who loved to manipulate. A few years later, Miss Fairchild takes in Norah. Norah has had a really tough life and has anger issues. But Miss Fairchild wants the income, so she takes her. Then comes Alicia. The three girls are very close in age and bond as sisters as they live in their secret nightmare. They stay close to this day, some thirty-ish years later. And when a body is found underneath their former home, they make the journey back there. And all the buried secrets are revealed.

I really, really enjoyed this in the beginning. But the second half, less so. I can't exactly pinpoint why- but I went from not wanting to put it down to getting regularly distracted. Part of it was because most of it was not hard to figure out. I think also the appearance of one particular character in the present day made it less fun to read. Not every character has to be likeable, but I found them both unlikeable and uninteresting in the present day. It is weird, but my feelings were completely different regarding this character in the "then" versus "now" chapters.

Jessica Clarke narrates the audiobook. No complaints on her performance- I just wish multiple narrators were used since this is mainly told from the three sisters' POVs.

I received an advance audio book in exchange for an honest review.

alc audiobook review

I ATE THIS UP. This is my first Sally Hepworth book, and it was a fun one! (In a dark, thrillery way...) Three adolescent girls meet in foster care and quickly connect to cope with their caretaker, Miss Fairchild. As adults, the women are called by a detectives because human remains are found buried under their former home. Whose bones are found, and who put them there?

This may be a good fit if you enjoy:
- strong, resilient women
- found family
- toxic relationships

I finished this audiobook in one day because I didn't want to stop listening. The narrator was fantastic! The well-labeled chapters made it easy to transition between perspectives and timelines.

Rating: I really liked it! (4.5)

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an early copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.