I loved the narrator of this book! At times I was bored with the story line and it slowed down but the narrator kept it going for me. Sad and creepy with new twists until the end.

Darling Girls

Wow I was so shocked by the ending. The whole story is a messed up but compelling story. I was so captivated by the girls stories of their childhood in Meadow Farms home. I loved the way we had both the present and past time lines as well as Amy’s mothers past together. It made the story go fast and left me wondering the whole time. Definitely wasn’t expecting the ending but loved that we got that last twist to it. The narrator was fantastic.

I have read quite a few Sally Hepworth books at this point. Her stories are always entertaining and move quickly. This one did just that, as I started and finished it in the same day.
I was given a copy of the audio book for Darling Girls from Net Galley. As her novels do, the story had may twists and turns and although I could see them coming, they entertained all the same. I appreciated the back and forth from the flashbacks and the foster sister dynamic. The audiobook narrator did a great job distinguishing between the various characters and keeping it interesting.
I would give this 3.5 stars. Many thanks to New Galley!

I would describe this book as a literary mystery thriller although it is classified by the publisher as women’s fiction. I both read and listened to it.. The audio performance hit all the right notes and fully brought me into the story.

This author has a true talent in weaving suspense and drama to create a narrative that is both emotional and riveting. The two timelines and multiple perspectives worked very well in this instance. I had no trouble keeping it all straight and bonding with the characters. I enjoyed learning about their histories and present-day challenges. But most of all, I thought the mystery was exceptionally executed. It had me on the edge of my seat towards the end.

The plot involves three women who grew up in foster care together at Wild Meadows Farm. When a body is discovered buried in the backyard of the home in which they lived, it brings them back together and is a reminder of all they went through. The three "sisters" take the opportunity to revisit the past while helping with the police investigation.

Thank you #Netgalley and #MacMillanAudio for an audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
#DarlingGirls

This was my first book by the author, and I am definitely interested in reading more from her! This book kept me guessing, right up until the final twist. It was suspenseful and well-written, and had a great conclusion that wasn’t an entirely happy ending.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

𝑴𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔:
Woah. Sally Hepworth does it again with another gripping and shocking character driven story! What I really love about all of her books, is that the reader is truly left guessing right up until the very end. While there were aspects of this particular plot I was able to guess fairly early on (maybe because I’ve been on a psychological thriller/mystery kick lately), the main twist in the story I didn’t pick up on until near the ending of the book. To me, that’s a sign of a great story and a good author. Also, without giving away the veeeery ending - just woah. Of course that twist left me speechless!

When it comes to the actual plot points in this one, it needs to be pointed out that there are quite a few twisted and triggering things which happen to numerous of the characters in the book. While I was really captivated, and kept wanting to stay up way past my bed time to read more, I would definitely recommend others check out the content warnings before reading just to make sure this is the right book for them.

Now on to the characters - I found all of the main characters to be interesting in their own unique ways. They each had qualities which made me really like reading from their POVs, but they all also had moments which infuriated me and left me questioning them a little. Having these three strong women characters and the main POVs, made me more interested in the story line.

In the end, I really enjoyed reading this book and will continue to read more from the author in the future. Anyone who loves a twisted character drive book, will really love reading this one.

𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒇 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝑳𝒊𝒌𝒆:
- 🔍 Decade long mysteries
- 👥 Character driven storyline
- 😲 Shocking plots

𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝑷𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈: Chianti - Ruffino Chianti🍷

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with both an audio ARC and a digital ARC, in return for an honest review.

Sally Hepworth quickly became a favorite of mine when I read The Good Sister in 2021. What I love about Sally Hepworth’s book are the twists that I never see coming, how binge worthy they are & the shocking endings!

Darling Girls was no different! It kept me entertained and that ending truly shocked me 🤯 I truly enjoyed the characters in Darling Girls and loved the humor mixed in. Some parts felt a little slow and the pacing didn’t feel consistent, but overall I would recommend this one to Hepworth fans & think this one would be a fun vacation/summer/weekend read!

4⭐️

This was a difficult one for me to rate. Like all Sally Hepworth books it's well written, the characters are well developed, and the plot moves quickly. I liked the back and forth between past and present chapters and the intrigue of trying to figure out who the bones are as well as who the psychologist was interviewing. That being said, the topic of child abuse was very hard to read/listen to. I normally read all sorts of horrific things from murder to rape, but for some reason child abuse just hit me differently. And the twist at the end really left me disappointed. I know that not all evil people get their comeuppance, but I don't want that in my books, especially in a throwaway chapter at the end. It didn't have me shocked and was just a bad vibe to end the book on. I might recommend it to others but with a heavy HEAVY warning on child abuse being a major plot line.

Jessica, Norah, and Alicia supposedly had a childhood straight out of a fairytale. Raised on a farming estate in the country with their foster mother Miss Fairchild, the three girls did what they could to survive. Now each woman is dealing with their own set of issues as adults—one has a prescription drug problem, one serious anger management problems, and one relationship issues. When a body is found under their foster mother’s home, the three women head back to place they never wanted to see again to help with the police investigation. Stepping back into their past triggers all kinds of feelings for the women, but most importantly they need to know exactly whose bones are under the house.

Alternating timelines between the present-day murder case, and the girls’ early days with Miss Fairchild, we learn how Jessica, Norah, and Alicia’s personalities were shaped by their traumatic childhoods. The bond between the three women is unbreakable, and the circumstances that created it is devastating. Watching the three adult women continue to fight for agency over their own lives is heartbreaking to say the least. Though very different, the three foster girls are all interesting, and as it usually goes Miss Fairchild, our resident villain, is the most interesting of all.

Sally Hepworth does an excellent job with pacing with this psychological thriller. There are several plots twists that will certainly keep the reader guessing. One I figured out half way and never saw coming, and another towards the end that provides a perfect ah-ha moment. If psychological thrillers are your jam, definitely pick this one up next month when it is released!

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and the author Sally Hepworth for the advanced copy of the audiobook. Darling Girls is out in audio format on April 23rd. All opinions are my own.

I'm not typically a fan of back and forth timelines, but this one worked for me. Alicia, Norah, and Jessica formed a trauma bond that kept them together for life, even though they are very different people. They all overcame the trauma to live a life that finally made them happy. Growing up in the same foster home, the girls only had each other. When all those years later, bones were discovered under their old foster home, all of their suspicions rested with their foster mother, Holly Fairchild. So many twists and turns and that last chapter...shew! What a ride.

The audio version enhanced this story by having a narrator that spoke with an Australian accent. Really made me feel like I was back in Australia and reminded me of how they say some words differently and reminded of others they have that we don't. The narrator helped me to feel like I was right there watching it all unfold in front of me. The characters were memorable and relatable. The mystery plot gave you just enough each chapter to want to not stop listening. It was easy to know which chapter I was on or left off with and not having to look at the app.

Three women who grew up together in foster care find themselves under suspicion when a body is discovered underneath their old house and the truth comes out about their foster mother Miss Fairchild who wasn’t quite the idyllic parent everyone thought she was. It kept me entertained and had a good twist at the end, but pretty run of the mill as far as mystery/thrillers go.

3.5 stars

I enjoyed this on audio and was very interested in where it was going. The change in POVs and the therapy session were so interesting. However, part way through I knew where the ending was going (even though it did go a bit off the rails).

Overall, a very enjoyable read. I've been loving reading all of Hepworth's books!

Huge thank sot NetGalley, St Martin's Press and MacMillan Audio for advance copies in exchange for an honest review.

Oh this one is GOOD. It is perfectly twisty and full of heart. I sped up listening to the audiobook because I was so invested. The narrator brings the story to life and the ending is incredible.

Darling Girls is a wonderful example of what I want when I turn to Sally Hepworth. I got a great well paced plot, interesting female characters with whom I could relate, good writing and, this time, I had the entire thing read to me in a lovely Australian accent. I enjoyed the story with its various twists and turns and appreciated the dogs as well as the well developed characters. I loved the four narratives that moved the plot along without repetition and found the ending quite satisfying. I'll definitely turn to audio again in order to get a sneak peek at the newest Hepworth. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher. Jessica Clark is a narrator new to me and I highly recommend her. I hope she reads the next one too.

If you were ever a fan of Christina Crawford's Mommie Dearest, of VC Andrews's Flowers in the Attic, and/or of Gregg Olsen's If You Tell, you will definitely want to read (or listen to) Sally Hepworth's latest gripping thriller - Darling Girls! Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillian Audio for the ARC audiobook. Hepworth has woven a dark psychological mystery/thriller centering on the lives of three “sisters” (Jessica, Norah, and Alicia) who were fostered by the same “mother” (Miss Fairchild), together during their youth. While they continued to keep tabs on each other as adults, they are brought back together to help police when a body is found under their childhood home.

Being a big fan of Hepworth's previous novels, I am happy to say this one did not disappoint, especially with Jessica Clarke as the narrator, as she seamlessly transitioned not only between past and present, but between four points of view. And while small portions of the novel were a tad predictable, I must admit I was not prepared for the ending! I just hope we (here in the US) do not have to wait a whole year to get our hands on her next novel!

★★★★★
Sally Hepworth writes some of my favorite books, and it only took reading one of them for her to become one of my auto-read authors. Her ability to create distinctive characters while blending humor into sensitive subject matter is remarkable.

I was thrilled to get my hands on advanced copies of both the audiobook and eBook versions of "Darling Girls." I find it more relaxing and easier to retain information when I follow the digital copy while listening to the audiobook.

This novel has a few surprising plot twists, but the ending makes it phenomenal. I thought my jaw might hit the floor when I read the final page! The story follows three young girls-Jessica, Norah, and Alicia-who form a close bond while under the care of a manipulative foster mother. Despite or because of their difficult childhood, that bond carries through to adulthood. We hear from each girl between dual timelines and unique therapy sessions with an unknown woman.

Sally Hepworth is a cunningly gifted thriller writer!

Thanks to Macmillan Audio/St. Martin’s Press for providing copies of this book through NetGalley. As always, all opinions are my own and left voluntarily.

#DarlingGirls #SallyHepworth #MacmillanAudio #SMPinfluencers #stmartinspress
#NetGalley #justfinished #ARC #honestreview #thriller #bookreviewer #thrillerbookloverspromotions #thrillerfriendsunite #thrillerobsessedbookishclub #ReadersOfTheLateArc #TalkWordyToMeTeam #lovetoread #bookworm #lovebooks #booknerd #readaholic #bookstagrammer #booktok #booktoker

This was my first Sally Hepworth book, and I really enjoyed it. I found myself changing my dinner plans because the last 90 minutes or so (audiobook) I couldn't stop listening so I skipped the grocery store! More of a psychological thriller or mystery with great characters. It took me quite a while to piece it together, and I still didn't figure it all out before the end. I've read some reviews where people have actually lowered their rating because they don't like the idea that "all" the foster care providers in the book are depicted in a negative light, or they didn't like just how evil a particular character was. I am not sure what people are expecting when they see genre tags of "thriller" and "psychological mystery," but I fully expect it to be dark. So if the subject matter would be upsetting, sit this one out. Otherwise--dive in and enjoy the pieces coming together. This was my first time with an ARC of an audiobook, and I'm particular about my narrators, so I was nervous. But I am happy to say that I did enjoy this one. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Matin's Press for the ARC and the opportunity to share my review.

Oh my goodness!! I completely didn’t figure this out until they told me what happened… AND THEN… my mouth was on the ground for the ending! What a great read! This book had me from the first chapter and I finished it in one day. It also made me cry, which is rare for me!! It’s heartbreaking to read what some children go through.

I'll be happy to provide a detailed review once St-Martins Press addresses the boycott and fixes the issue.