I always enjoy books by Sally Hepworth, but this is definitely a personal favorite of hers that I have read. This genre of books is one that I tend to read when I need a quick read that doesn't require a lot of thinking power and I can multitask as I listen. This book was one I did not want to push the pause button and found myself listening again to portions to make sure I didn't miss anything. From the beginning I was drawn to the story of the girls and want to know what really happened in their childhood. The story follows two timelines, one when they were younger and the second as adults, bouncing back between the two. Often with this book genre, especially if I have read many books by the author, I can find myself losing interest 2/3 through or able to guess the ending before I reached the conclusion of the book. That was not the case with this one. It was so well written, and the story lines and pieces tangled and woven. Although there were a couple pieces, I figured out on my own, there was so much still to figure out and piece together all the way until the end. thank you NetGalley and McMillan audio for the arc of this book.

I adored the accent of the narrator. Such a perfect choice for this book. Set in Australia, the book follows the stories of 3 foster children who become sisters of the heart and the abuse they suffer at the hands of their foster “mother”.
The only issue I had in the way the book changes POV from chapter to chapter was trying to keep everything straight in my head. It all wanted to blur together.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan audio for the audio arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was a fantastic read and narration. The narration made it easy to follow and stay present in the world that was created.

While I figured out the twists fairly early on it was not because anything was obvious. I loved how it was laid out and how you got to know the characters.

I can’t say much without giving spoilers except I loved reading a book taking place in Australia, something I haven’t read before. I loved the foster care aspect, unreliable narrators and suspense. I also love how everything didn’t turn out with roses. It showed realistic consequences as well as triumphs for the various main characters.

Think also that I’ve worked in the social service system that reading this I could completely see this fictional story being realistic so to many situations in the systems no matter the country.

I started this before bed last night and then changed my plans for today so I could work on something whilst listening to finish it.

This will be definitely read again down the road and recommended to friends who enjoy this genre.

Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6347481542

In all the books I’ve read by Hepworth it seems she’s very good at diving deep into traumatic events and self reflection. The women in this story had so many things to unpack l, which was very interesting l, and I appreciated the found family narrative. The twist at the end wasn’t surprising but was done well so overall I think it was on par with what I’ve come to expect of Hepworth’s work. I tend to find her books good but not excellent, so if you’ve previously enjoyed her books I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the alc and St. Martin’s Press for the arc via Netgalley.

Wow this one was great! I loved trying to piece the story together! I like how it was told in dual timelines and multiple POV I did guess a few things but I felt like I clicked it in place when the author wanted me to! I really enjoyed this one and will definitely be recommending

I did like this book throughout and was interested in the storyline but I was really let down by the ending. I did really like the narrator for this story.

If you're looking for a fast-paced thriller, this is not the book. It started off rather slow for me and was just a slow burn throughout. The ending, however, made this book a four star read for me.

Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and one of my favorite authors, Sally Hepworth, for an advanced copy of this audiobook. Also, Jessica Clark was an amazing narrator.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ Whoa! This book was SO great! I loved it so much!! I am a huge fan of Sally Hepworth and this is her best book yet. (For me anyway)
Wow! It had everything you want in a psychological/domestic thriller. It had suspense, multiple POVs, mind games, twists upon twists, etc. I just absolutely loved it. I can’t recommend this enough. I was fortunate enough to be sent this arc from @netgalley and @stmartinspress. And I loved it so much that when I saw the audiobook for it, I knew I had to experience this book again, but now listening to it. So thank you again to @netgalley and @macmillanaudio. This audiobook was awesome!! The narrator did a fantastic job!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 But I am telling you, when this hits shelves in April, you need to run out and buy this book. I know I will be getting my copy.
Very quickly, for those not familiar, this is a book about 3 girls who grow up in a foster home with a woman who runs the place like an institution of sorts with all her strict rules for the girls. The woman is just awful in every sense of the word. However, now the girls are grown up and there’s been a discovery of a body buried under their old foster home. The three women are taking in for questioning. And that’s all I want to say. Just giving you a small taste. But trust me, you will also love this one. You won’t be able to put in down.
Again, RUN to get this book in April when it comes out. It’s on NetGalley now, request it if you don’t want to wait. It’s so good.
This was definitely ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars for me.
Thank you to @netgalley and @macmillanaufio and @sallyhepworth for this audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed it immensely.
Pub Date: April 23, 2024

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ALC of Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth. I was SO excited to dive into another domestic thriller by one of my favorite authors. Right off the bat, I will say this book tackles a lot of domestic and child abuse as a trigger warning. I love the strong bond that the three main foster sisters have. Norah, Alicia, and Jessica have been through hell and back and their stories are inspiring. While the book is dark, Sally always throws in laugh out loud moments which just really give it a special touch. I found this book unputdownable and wanted to know who was buried under the house and who would be arrested - the ending did not disappoint! I recommend this book!

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan for the chance to read this early!!

This is a book told in past/present timelines following three women, sisters through fostercare. They still keep in touch with each other all these years later after having dealt with what they went through. When there are bones discovered under the farmhouse they want nothing more than to forget, they are talking with the detective telling them what they know while also confronting the past.

Unearth the truth of what happened, whose bones they could be, unpack the childhood trauma….

TW: abuse

Sally Hepworth is an author I am always excited to read.

I was immediately invested in these characters. I liked that everyone had a small villainous streak, with a sprinkle of a redeeming quality or a trauma that allows you to empathize with them (and rethink your guess at who committed the crime.)

Just when you think the story is wrapped up with a neat bow, Hepworth pulls the rug out from you and produces one final jab. Which made this a fun and quick read.

Never will there be a Sally Hepworth book that I will not be running to read. This is my fifth book by the author and one of my favorites. I keep finding myself thinking about the story of the sisters and Miss. Fairchild. The ending was very well done. Highly recommend!! Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy.

This was the first Sally Hepworth book I’ve read and I enjoyed it! I felt deeply for sisters Jessica, Norah, and Alicia and all the turmoil they had to endure from such a young age. I loved the way each of them fulfilled a role within their trio and that their bond could not be broken. I enjoyed the multiple POV style to hear each sister’s perspective. This was great as an audiobook! Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the ARC.

This really didn't feel like the typical Sally Hepworth novel to me. It didn't have the propulsive plot I have come to expect from her. I didn't feel invested in the characters or what happened to them, and I didn't enjoy the abuse aspect. I wish more time had been spent on developing each sister as an adult, and I wish the mystery had been more of a big reveal.

This was my favorite Sally Hepworth book so far. There was just the right amount of mystery and twists. There was a perfect amount of overlap between character storylines and I liked the unknown of why Mrs Fairchild was meeting with a psychologist until the end. Will definitely recommend this book, especially on audio.

Darling Girls is an intense psychological mystery that keeps you guessing. Once you think you have it figured out, there's an unexpected twist. Three girls are fostered by a sadistic foster mother, and they soon bond as sisters. Because of the abuse they suffered as children, each is struggling with different issues as adults. When a body is discovered buried underneath the foster home, they're contacted by the police and travel to the place where they were brought up. Told in the past and the present, each sister is a unique voice and fascinating story. I loved them all, especially sassy Norah. There are quite a few laughs to break up the suspense. This was a great listen.

This story follows 3 women, Jessica, Alicia, and Norah. They had all faced a traumatic childhood upbringing in the foster care system. You learn how each of them come into Miss Fairchild’s care (their foster mum), what they all endured, how they banded together and how their coping mechanisms as adults came to be.

They all reunite as adults when there was a discovery found at the foster home they grew up in, an old farmhouse (Wild Meadows). The discovery: human remains.

The story takes place with two timelines: Before (girls as children in foster care) and Now (them as adults). It has 4 POV’s: Jessica, Norah, Alicia and Dr. Warren (interacting to someone unknown).

I really enjoyed this one by Sally Hepworth. It’s my favourite story of hers so far (I’ve read The Good Sister, The Younger Wife and The Soulmate).

The audiobook is great, I enjoyed the Australian accent of the narrator. It’s a nice touch considering the story takes place in Australia.

The book had a great balance between childhood vs. adulthood for all three characters. Three main characters can sometimes lead to someone not getting enough attention, but this book gave enough time and detail for each person to have a fleshed out story.

I enjoyed hearing about the ways in which they supported each other through thick and thin. Sally did a great job translating the trauma they faced as children into their behaviour patterns as adults.

I was satisfied with the ending, I liked the route she took for the three girls. I did know who the unknown person is, however I didn’t expect the very end to go where it did! What an ending!

I like that it’s labeled under Women’s Fiction in NetGalley, definitely a heavy focus on the relationships with mystery/thriller undertone so keep that in mind. Loved the journey of learning about the characters throughout the book!

Thank you Macmillan Audio & Netgalley for this ALC!

SISTERS, SECRETS, LOVE, AND MURDER...

Wow! This book 😳 I really liked the back and forth between timelines. It was so interesting and kept me really invested in the story. The three woman were so unique and had such a strong bond. I loved how they always had each others back no matter what the situation. Some parts were definitely hard to read and were very emotional but this is definitely a must read!

That last chapter 🤯

This might just be my favorite book from Sally Hepworth.

Read if you enjoy:
🔥Slow burn suspense
🗣️Multiple POV’s
✌🏼Dual timelines
💕Found family
🤐Secrets

the setup…
Jessica’s mother dies when she’s very young and is traumatized by that loss until she’s taken in as a foster child by Miss Fairchild, a lovely looking single woman in Port Agatha, a town about two hours from Melbourne. She’s loved and doted on…until she wasn’t. Soon Norah (with an “h”) is taken in, about a year younger but with a history of “violent” behavior. Lastly, there’s Alicia who was only supposed to be there temporarily until her grandmother recovered from a fall but it ends up being permanent. Each girl soon learns that the sweet and loving public veneer isn’t the woman they live with behind closed doors. But, the experience bonds them as sisters for life. Move forward about twenty years and they’re all contacted by authorities when remains are discovered under Wild Meadows, Miss Fairchild’s home…their house of mental horrors.

the heart of the story…
Honestly, what these women experienced as pre-teens at the hands of Miss Fairchild angered me as child abuse, be it emotional or otherwise, is one of my hot buttons. But! These three girls bonded as a result of it and declared themselves sisters for life. They’re the true heart of the story with three distinct personalities who would never even been friends under different circumstances. Their resilience and cleverness were admirable, all given rich characterization and considerable depth. I was invested in all of them and didn’t want law enforcement suspicion directed their way after all they’d experienced. But who was that buried under that house?

the narration…
I loved this narrator who eliminated the need for multiple performers (felt like there were several!). She was that good and quite the storyteller. Clarke is now on my favorites list.

the bottom line…
As tough as the subject matter was in this story the pain was eclipsed by these three sisters of the heart. I loved their loyalty and commitment to each other, no matter what. I had no clue as to the identity of the buried body and enjoyed the back and forth transitions between “before” and “now,” which were timed with precision. There are several twists throughout, some of high magnitude, others more subtle, which made this delicious. I’m so glad I opted for audio, too. 4.5 stars

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of this audiobook. This book was a very entertaining family drama. The author writes in multiple POV between the sisters and timelines. At first it was confusing as an audiobook with so many transitions but I got used to the way the author wrote the characters. This is a great book and look forward to reading more of this author.