Sisters Jessica, Norah and Alicia. Not sisters by blood, but sisters in every way that matters. As someone with four sisters, I can attest to the fact that there is an unbreakable bond. These three girls have that bond, a bond that was forged after being fostered in a home by a woman known as Miss Fairchild. They were only three of dozens of other fostered children, but as adults, some of the issues that led them to foster care, as well as living in a less than ideal foster home, has brought them even closer together.

New construction is taking place - in a very old place. It was Wild Meadows, the foster home run by Miss Fairchild. When a body is discovered, the girls are faced with a past none of them want to relive, but they are witnesses to whatever it was that happened that eventually led to that body being discovered. The question is: are they witnesses or or are they suspects in a death that was no doubt a murder?

Darling Girls is the fifth book I have read by Sally Hepworth, and as before, I was really pulled into the drama in this story. Secrets, lies and murders are the fiber of this story, but equally so are love and sisterhood. There is trauma. There is drama. And with four points of view the story moves at a fast pace, especially as it was excellently narrated by Jessica Clarke. I definitely loved her performance.

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Darling Girls is a fast-paced thriller told through the viewpoints of several characters. The three main protagonists are fully formed with strong voices. The antagonist, Miss Fairview is a well written villain. Completely riveting story with excellent narration. Recommended.

I love Sally Hepworth, so I jumped at the chance to review this one. I can't say I'm the biggest fan of the audio, but I did like the story. It's very triggery, check the warnings if you have any.

That being said, I enjoyed having several POVs to follow on this one. I loved the bond of the girls/women as they grew.

Sally Hepworth is quickly becoming one of my favorite suspense authors. This book follows three women, former foster sisters, as they learn their foster home is being torn down.

The characters are well-drawn an interesting and the book has plenty of plot and twists. I cannot recommend this author enough.

Darling Girls is a gripping, difficult read about child abuse. I knew that coming into it, but I thought I'd give it a try after all the reviews. Unfortunately it turns out it wasn't for me.

The characters fell flat, they lacked depth. The only thing that was being portrayed about them was victims of abuse, and we know there's so much more to a person than that. I just felt like it was glorifying abuse and I did not like it one bit.

The plot was not that interesting, and the twist wasn't exciting. I actually think the twist made me drop it one star. Like what was the point… It just wasn't for me, but I can see why it's for a lot of people and all the raving reviews.

🎧 The narration by Jessica Clarke was good, but it did not grip me like other narrators do. I do have trouble keeping interested when someone has an accent I find it hard to follow. I was still able to finish it, but it did take a lot from me to do so.

✨️ Thank you to @netgalley & @macmillanaudio for my free ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Every Sally Hepworth book delivers fascinating characters, twisty plots, and surprise endings. This book is no exception. A somewhat darker turn for the author, this book focused on an absolutely hellacious upbringing in a foster home that looked great and rich on the outside, but was filled with darkness and abuse on the inside. Definite Flowers in the Attic vibes from the cold matron of the house who harmed and neglected the children in ways that were sometimes hard to read about, But as always, Sally Hepworth brings a through line of feminine strength, resilience, and hope, particularly from the three foster sisters, as well as a shocking and satisfying conclusion. 4.5 stars.

Oh boy was this a heavy read. It has quite a few trigger warnings such as child abuse, SA, and neglect. But with those warnings, there was also found family, sisterhood, and love. I actually enjoyed the multiple POVs in this when I usually stay away from more than two POVs. The women in this story being as devoted to each other as they are was really heartwarming. They protected each other in childhood and continue to do so in adulthood. I also really liked the uniqueness of a story of children in foster care and the trauma of that. The ending didn’t disappoint at all. Very good!

Thank you, NetGalley for letting me listen to this early release. I absolutely LOVED this audiobook and binged it in a matter of days! 🙌🏻🩷

This book was everything and I can’t wait for everyone to get their hands on it!

The author did it again and should be so proud of herself for this work of art!

This book is probably going to best Thriller of the year. It's definitely going to be a hard one to beat! I loved all the main characters in the book this novel was told in flashbacks as well as present time and is told from the viewpoints of each of Three Sisters. All very different in personality, and motivation, this book dove into the tragic side of foster care, and the Deep connections that we can form with people that become our family. This book was both infuriating, as the antagonist was so easy to to hate and feel enraged about. And in contrast the three sisters were interesting, smart, and I just loved hearing from each of their viewpoints. Excellent read the narration was fantastic. I will be recommending this book.

A fun read flipping between multiple narrators and multiple times. The mystery has great twists and surprises and was not predictable, but still fit together perfectly. Really enjoyed listening to this one!
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the ARC.

I didn’t know what to expect from this book at first..but I was HOOKED. The ending had my mouth wide open!! I need more of these sisters in my life. Thanks Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for the free audio book ARC!

Darling Girls was my first Sally Hepworth book & I am hooked. This audiobook definitely held my attention, right up to the twist at the very end. While there are some hard subject matters in this one (i.e., child neglect/abuse), I still wanted to finish to find out what happened. Nice dual POV- which I love & plenty of unexpected twists & turns. Excellent narrator for this audio - a must for me to hold my attention. Some books just feel more appropriate for certain seasons & I found this one to be a great summer thriller.

Thank you to #nNetGalley #MacmillanAudio & Sally Hepworth for a free copy of #DarlingGirls

I loved the twists at the end. Sally Hepworth can do no wrong! This audiobook easily held my attention through the whole story.

Definitely darker than her previous books but it was one of those ‘can’t look away’ types of dark. I just had to know how it was all going to wrap up even with the tough subject matter of child neglect/abuse all throughout.

3 girls met while at an abusive foster home and became bonded sisters. The story is present day when they are adults and bones are found under the house they lived in and goes back to when they lived in the house under Ms. Fairchilds care. Who was buried under the house?

I listened to the audiobook and it had me hooked from the beginning. Different points of view, present day and past. You become invested in the “sisters” lives. You feel for them.
I had no idea what direction this book would go. And was surprised where we ended up!

It was somewhat confusing at times with the dual timelines but because easier to understand as the book progressed.

This is my second Sally Hepworth book and now I have to read all of them!

I enjoyed the narrator as well. Easy to listen to.

Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to listen to the audiobook.

This book was uncomfortable to read at times, but ultimately gave me one heck of a twist at the end which I didn't see fully coming. Alternating and past and present, you are able to see the three girls, Jessica, Nora and Alecia grow up in a foster home that was less than ideal. Now that they are grown, they all have some sort of issues because of growing up the way they did. When they get a call that bones were buried under the home that they lived in, the girls must go back and face their past to uncover the secrets lurking there. There were so many times that I felt disgusted reading this, but was also happy that these girls got away from the monster they lived with. It made my heart hurt for foster children and them being placed with people who are less than ideal. Twist after twist until the last chapter had me saying out loud.. OMG.
You think there are always explainations for people being psychopaths.. but sometimes they just are and wow that's where we were with this one.
Thanks to Macmillian, Sally Hepworth and Netgalley for an early audio copy.

🎧Song Pairing: Million Reasons - Lady Gaga

💭What I thought would happen:

Maybe a pool drowning and future events circle around this (not close. Like not even at all)

🗯Thoughts/sassy musings:

Sally has a delicate way of bludgeoning me in the back of my head with her endings and this was one no different leaving me mystified 😂 please don’t stop Sal

I don’t have much to say. Enjoyed myself well enough. Great summer thriller. People will fangirl for this one. Kiss kiss darlings!

Thank you Net Galley for the advanced copy of this Audiobook coming out April 23, 2024. It was a great Sally Hepworth book and did not disappoint. It was heart wrenching at times (foster care, abuse) but also very heart warming of the bond the 3 girls in her care forms to become sisters. I personally didn't care for the twist ending but overall a great read with great narration.

Another suspenseful novel from Sally Hepworth filled with twists and turns. I have read one of her other novels so I went in knowing a little of what to expect, but there were definitely some surprises. My heart went out to the girls, when all they wanted when they found themselves in foster care (and still want) was a familial connection with someone and a place of belonging.

There are times in this book where your heart will break for the characters, and their situations- just stick with it, and let the story continue to unfold! I couldn’t stop wondering what was coming next, and didn’t want to put it down.

The narrator of this audiobook was excellent - she told the story with enough emotion, but not too much that it was distracting.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley; all opinions are my own.

I've seen Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth described as a thrilling page-turner, and that is absolutely not how I would describe it. If you go in expecting a fast-paced thriller, you will likely be disappointed. However if you are looking for a psychological thriller, this might be for you. I typically prefer plot-driven books, and this one leans heavily on the characters. However, I was hooked from the start. I have not read Sally Hepworth before, but in this case, she wrote characters who drew me in. I wanted to know more about them and cared what happened. I won't say anything specific about the plot, as I think it's best not to know too much going in. If you like stories that look at the human experience, familial bonds, shifting loyalites and uncertain circumstances, give it a try!

The narration was good as well.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for a free copy of #DarlingGirls by Sally Hepworth. All opinions are my own.