This story was intriguing with no plot holes. The characters were thoroughly fleshed out. The plot twists were perfect. And I was left with no unanswered questions. This is everything that makes a book perfection for me! Narration was engaging and the tone and pacing were perfect to keep me invested throughout the story.

I have had quite a few Sally Hepworth books on my TBR for a long time but Darling Girls was the first that I have gotten to and now I am hooked--upon finishing I immediately downloaded a few more to binge.

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth is a great psychological thrill. When three foster sisters must face their past after something is discovered at their old foster home the reader is taken on a wild adventure.
I loved the multiple points of view and all three of the main characters.
The past to present was a little confusing at times when listening and I found sometimes I had to listen extra hard to figure out whose point of view was being told and if it was the past or the present, but I loved the thrill of this book and the mystery.

This is an absolute must read!
- Foster Care (lots of triggers)
- Past and Present
- Multiple POV
- Nature vs Nurture vs Monster
- Crime Scene
- Mind Blowing Ending
Similar Vibes:
- Verity
- The Next Mrs Parrish
- The Inmate

Thank you @stmartinspress @macmillan.audio for a copy of this book. Before you read this, be aware that there's depiction of child neglect and abuse that is heartbreaking. This story is told in 3 POV of the "sisters" that grew up in a foster home together. It's told in past and present and gives you a good backstory of each of these ladies. The story is interesting and I think the author did a good job depicting that not all foster homes were safe. I got a little muddled in parts of the story with so many POV in audio. The narrator did a foot job and the last 1/3 of the book really picked up and tied the story together.

3.5 stars

I'm a huge fan of this author, I was so excited to see she has another book out.

I loved the multiple POV/timelines. The plot kept me intrigued and wondering where it was all heading and how it was going to come together.

It took me a bit to get into listening to the audiobook and I think it has to do with the fact that one of the main characters has the same 1st name as me and I felt like that name was said A LOT. But other than that I did enjoy the book and definitely will be recommending to others!

I listened to this as an audiobook, which was amazing! As it’s set in Australia, the narrator is also Australian, which was super fun to listen to! The narrator did a great job differentiating between characters enough to build their personalities and differences, too, on the audiobook. It was hard to pause the book!

It follows three women who have chosen each other as family after having been raised together as foster children in a terrible home. Having survived a monstrous woman, the story shows what life was like as kids as well as the consequences they live with as adults, for better or worse. As adults, they’re brought back to their foster home when a baby’s body is found buried under the house, looking for answers and possibly sharing secrets to uncover the truth behind the baby’s death. The plot is twisty and keeps you guessing until the end!

5 stars...obviously.

I can't get enough of Sally Hepworth, and it's no surprise that I couldn't restrain myself from reading this one way sooner than my spreadsheet should have allowed. No regrets, though. This is the best one yet.

Jessica, Norah, and Alicia are sisters who share perspectives throughout the course of this gripping novel. Hepworth moves seamlessly between each woman's story not only in the present but also in the distant past, and the organizational fortitude is exceptional, not to mention the well-timed revelations that unfold throughout these coexisting timelines. These women arrive at their sisterly bonds in a somewhat untraditional manner: as foster children under the charge of the fiercely memorable, deeply disturbing, and ironically named Ms. Fairchild. Ms. Fairchild's brand of torture is creative and sinister, and the impacts are obvious not only on the girls who face it directly but also on the women they become.

While all of the characters are well drawn and memorable, Norah is a highlight. Even the way she names her dogs is awesome. It's impossible not to root for all of the sisters, but the variations in their presentation make them especially appealing to different audiences, and this is another wise move on Hepworth's part.

My goal is always to know as little as possible about the books I'm reading, especially when they're penned by someone whose work I adore, and that was the correct approach with this one. The reveals are part of what makes this novel a real standout among an already stellar collection of Hepworth's works. I recommend this one highly, though folks sensitive to child abuse in any form should be mindful of the content. The primary focus is a combo of psychological and emotional child abuse, but there are also descriptions of physical abuse and mentions of sexual assault and rape.

*Formatting note: I had the opportunity to read an ebook and listen to the audio and highly recommend the audiobook, when and where available. The narration adds so much to this already excellent narrative!

Darling Girls is the story of 3 young girls that were brought together in the foster home run by Miss Fairchild. Though each girl has come from different family backgrounds, they form a sisterhood that no one could break. Miss Fairchild starts out loving and kind as Jesssica is first brought into the home and we see Miss Fairchild as a loving foster care mom, but something seemed off to me as she was too nice. The story adds a twist as someone is being interviewed by a psychiatrist Dr. Warren. We hear of the cruel treat she had to endure from an abusive stepfather and a mother that looked the other way. Then we go back to the foster home as Norah enters the scene. We start to see another side of Miss Fairchild, and it get worse as Alicia is brought in. The case worker is just as bad, dropping off more and more babies and the three older girls are left in charge of caring for them. Jessica, Norah, and Alicia finally have enough and try to go to the police about the abuse, but their plan fails. Years later when all three are call back to the town because a body is found on the grounds, more twists and adopted children come forward.
I have to say this book kept me reading to see who was talking Dr. Warren, who was bones they found and who killed this person. The abuse and bad light shed on the foster care system is a bit disturbing. What helped was the way the girls formed their bond as we get to see them as young, mistreated girls and then as adults struggling to move on from their past. I gave this a 4-star review. A thriller with many twists that I didn't see coming.
Thank you NetGalley for this copy.

I have read or listened to many psychological thrillers and I would place this one at the top of my list. This story kept me guessing all the way with a twist I did not expect at the very end. The plot was intriguing yet devastating at the same time. I found myself feeling sad and anxious as the novel progressed but I could not stop listening! The author wrote in such a way that I felt I was directly present within the story. I recommend this novel 100%.

There’s nothing quite like sisters and secrets — and this psychological mystery is full of both. One by one, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia find themselves in foster care under Miss Fairchild, a seemingly idyllic and loving foster mother, who they quickly realize is anything but. Escaping as teens, the three women have moved on years later, each taking their own path. But when remains are discovered at the home they grew up in; secrets are unearthed once again. Throughout the novel, there’s pieces of a session between a woman and a psychiatrist…but much of the novel keeps you guessing as to who, and there are plenty of twists even in the final pages.
The narrator did a great job, from making each woman’s personality stand out, to the chilly demeanor of Miss Fairchild.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth.

Sally Hepworth knocks it out of the park again with this novel, it was so much fun.

First, I loved the sisters, the patchworked way they became sisters, and their ongoing relationship. Should all siblings have such unconditional love for each other. I thought that the way the story was pieced together, especially with the psychiatrist visit interjected was very clever. And the main plot, the mystery, had everything you could ask for, twists and all.

Well worth the read if you like a mystery with rich story and heart.

Unreliable narrators and multiple points of view builds this story of three “sisters” who grew up in a horrific foster care situation. They each have issues all related to trauma, and it all comes to the forefront when human remains are found on the property of the foster home. The little twist ending surprised me. I think Sally Hepworth is becoming an auto-read author for me!

The audio was wonderful. The narrator had an even pacing, and she changed her cadence during more tense parts which made the experience of listening even better.

3.5 stars! I found this book very interesting with some unique twists. Many times throughout the book I found my self questioning “what the heck did she just say?” Literal jaw dropping situations that are so crazy that you need to keep reading to discover what will happen. I listed to the audio version and found the narrower to be likable and pleasant to listen to. Not my favorite Sally Hepworth book, but overall I did enjoy it.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC.

This book was so fantastic! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. It was like watching the layers of an onion being peeled back slowly one by one, each one uncovering yet another layer of disturbia. Every time I thought I saw something coming I was wrong. Every twist was so well crafted and shocking. The audio narrator was spectacular. I wanted to lock myself in my room and never leave until I was finished with this book. Unfortunately I have children so that wasn’t an option. 😂

Fans of Shari Lapena and Liane Moriarty will eat this up!!

Thanks so much NetGalley for the ARC!

For as long as they can remember, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia have been told how lucky they are. As young girls they were rescued from family tragedies and raised by a loving foster mother, Miss Fairchild, on an idyllic farming estate and given an elusive second chance at a happy family life.

But their childhood wasn’t the fairy tale everyone thinks it was. Miss Fairchild had rules. Miss Fairchild could be unpredictable. And Miss Fairchild was never, ever to be crossed. In a moment of desperation, the three broke away from Miss Fairchild and thought they were free. Even though they never saw her again, she was always somewhere in the shadows of their minds. 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 are they prime suspects?

Told from the past and present timelines in each of the girls’ points of views, it allows us to see exactly where they are coming from and why they are the way they are now. The bond between the sisters was heartwarming, even though they weren’t sisters by blood. A gripping popcorn thriller that will also tug at your heartstrings. I recommend this novel!

I will read every book Sally Hepworth writes. However, this wasn’t one of my favorites. This story follows three girls who grew up in the foster system. The things they went through growing up was quite disturbing and was difficult to hear. I quite enjoyed the format of the book rotating between many points of view as well as past and present. I kind of knew where the story was going so the ending wasn’t as much of a shock to me. Still a solid read from Hepworth! 3.5⭐️

Thank you to netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this advance reader copy.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this audiobook. Sally Hepworth is one of my must buy authors and this book was no exception. The subject matter of child neglect/abuse and foster care was a bit of a frustration/distraction but it was ultimately necessary to craft yet another excellent book by Hepworth. 4.5 stars.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this early listening copy! I was so excited to get this early release - I've read 4 of Sally Hepworth's books, and they can always be counted on as a solid thriller. This one was no exception! Darling Girls felt darker than some of her past books, and I really enjoyed seeing the story unfold through multiple POVs and timelines. It had me guessing, and really trying to figure out who was who the whole time. The very last big twist came as a total shock to me, but made perfect sense with the story and characters she built. Overall, a great read/listen!

This is my second Sally Hepworth and I'm sad it took me this long to read from this author. Darling Girls was an engaging mystery that kept my attention throughout. Jessica, Alicia, and Norah were well thought out individual characters. I felt connected to each one. You can tell Hepworth put effort into researching foster care and victims of abuse. Big trigger warnings for child physical and sexual abuse.

I was so close to giving this 5 stars until the final chapter. I absolutely hate the ending. It took a believable story and just demolished it. I hate when big twists at the end of a book negate large plot points. If Hepworth would just delete the last chapter before publishing this book and it would perfect. I'm still giving Darling Girls 4 stars because I did enjoy the rest of the book.

I listened to this novel on audio. Jessica Clarke did a fantastic job narrating. I found her voice to easy to listen to.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC.

I very much enjoyed this story. The twists and turns had me keep on listening. I finished this book in less than 24 hours. I enjoyed the narrator as well.