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THIS BOOK WAS FANTASTIC! I posted my full review on bookstagram; but just holy crap I couldn’t stop reading!

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This was an intriguing psychological thriller set in Australia, featuring three women who grew up together in the same foster home. They faced awful conditions in terms of food withholding, isolation, and psychological/emotional abuse committed by their foster mother. They developed a strong bond to help them cope and survive the circumstances.

As adults, they each receive a phone call letting them know that bones have been unearthed on the property of their old foster home, which brings back painful memories. They travel together to the town and participate (only somewhat willingly) in the investigation. Each of the women has unique struggles in their current lives that stem from their difficult childhoods, and we see how these issues play out within the narrative.

The novel is more revealing character study than fast-paced thriller, but still compelling, and with a twist at the end that I did not see coming. I listened to the audio, and while definitely well-done enough for me to immerse myself in the story, the one element lacking was enough vocal diversity to distinguish more easily between characters. This only detracted slightly from my enjoyment, and mostly at the beginning when the characters were still being introduced and I was learning their individual backstories.

Definitely recommended for those who like character-driven psychological dramas.

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This book had me from page 1 right until the end. Add this to your TBR today!

Jessica, Norah and Alicia are not sisters by blood, but their bond could not be stronger. They all ended up at Wild Meadows one way or another and became foster girls to Miss Fairchild (the irony of how she was not FAIR to any CHILD was not lost on me!)

The book goes back and forth in time through points of view of each of the sisters. I love this writing style and it was done very well! We learn throughout the story about how the girls were treated at Wild Meadows and how those experiences have shaped who they are today - Jessica, with her OCD people-pleasing tendencies, Norah with her sarcastic aggression and Alicia with her insecurities and fear of letting people in. When human bones are found under Wild Meadows, detectives reach out to the sisters to find out what they might know and how they could be involved.

While the pace of the story is a bit on the slow side when it comes to thrillers, I was completely captivated by it and had to keep going. Hepworth did a fantastic job balancing the heavy subject of child abuse with the strong characters who are intelligent, kind, funny and relatable.

And the twists! There were multiple revelations that had my jaw drop and a gasp escape my mouth.

This was such an incredible read and I'll say it again, add it to your TBR list today!

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and Sally Hepworth for an advance copy of this amazing book!

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I had recieved the advanced copy for this book but I just hadn’t gotten around to reading it. So when I was gifted with the audio version I started listening the same day. The narrator did a great job. There was lots of mystery and a few twists and turns, it kept me interested. It was interesting to see inside each sisters head and their perceptions of being raised in the same foster home. Thank you betgalley for this free advanced listen for my honest opinions.

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Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth. Sally never disappoints BUT I think this is one of my favorite Sally books to date! This book had it all, all of the emotions, loveable characters and characters you hated. Shocking moments. I really enjoyed this book!

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this book kept me hooked the entire journey! there are a few characters you need to follow but as the story goes along it’s easy to keep track of them. i thought it was so enjoyable the entire time!

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Another domestic, family-drama filled thriller from Hepworth. I really enjoyed the POVs of the three “sisters” as they recount their time under in foster care. I had a feeling where it was headed but enjoyed it nonetheless!

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Sally Hepworth has become an auto read author for me, so it was a no brainer to request this audio arc from Netgalley. This one has multiple pov's and characters, and past and present storylines, so the fact the narrator successfully sold the story to me without me having to put in any effort as a listener, is a win.

Childhood trauma, and trauma bonding, can be a trigger, so go into this one with eyes wide open. My caveat on this one is - it was difficult for me because I deal with my own childhood trauma and my therapist has warned me about the material I put into my brain. I recommend Darling Girls, but, for me, it's a one time deal and I would not re-read it.

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As a huge Sally Hepworth fan, I was very much looking forward to diving into this book. And, while I enjoyed Darling Girls, in my opinion it wasn't at the same level of awesome as were The Mother-In-Law, The Younger Wife, or The Good Sister - but I'm a total sucker for a domestic thriller and I'm not sure I would classify this one as that, so that could have something to do with my opinion.

The story was very well-developed and kept my attention. With alternating past and present timelines and viewpoints from all three main characters, it was still easy to follow and, at times shocking. The twist at the end really got me, as I thought I had it all figured out until the very last minute... Crazy - literally!

Overall, this was a great audiobook experience - excellent narration and an overall solid and enjoyable story. Maybe not a 5-star read for me, but definitely not one to pass on either!

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Sally Hepworth is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors and I gave this a 4.5⭐️.
Darling Girls was a well written emotional mystery-suspense that made me care. The situation these darling girls were in just broke my heart. I was anxious and nervous through most of the story. I did listen to some of the novel on an audiobook that was narrated by Jessica Clarke. She was a perfect voice for the book and she did an excellent job.
Thanks St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio via NetGalley.

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Sally Hepworth is a genius at writing thrillers, in my opinion. I am a huge thriller reader, and like many others, I try to figure out the twist, the ah-ha moment, and how it all fits together. This book literally had me until the last page!

Norah, Jessica, and Alicia are sisters by happenstance. They were foster children in a home of horrors, and their experiences together bonded them for life.

They all continue to have issues with love, trust, and relationships (with others - not between each other) but have tried to move on in life. But their past comes back to haunt them. Human remains are found underneath their childhood foster home, and they must return to Port Agatha to find some answers. But are these girls involved in the death of the person whose bones were found? Sally Hepworth kept you guessing!

The book is told from multiple points of view, which I love, especially when so much is happening. It has present and past points of view.

This book had me on page one and kept me guessing until the very end.

Psychological thriller at its best. I listened to the audible, and the narrator did a fantastic job differentiating each character's voices.

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I am a huge fan of Sally Hempworth. She has a way of making you feel like a part of her stories!! I felt like Jessica, Norah and Alicia were friends I would have known from school. Darling Girls tells us the story of these 3 main characters as they were placed and raised in Ms. Fairchilds foster home and later as adults living with the effects of growing up in that environment. While I did figure out one clue as the story’s climax began I did mot figure out the additional twists that Ms. Hempworth wove into the ending!
Thank you Net Galley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to get an early copy of this audiobook!

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All I can say is Wow! Darling Girls was my first book by Sally Hepworth and she did not disappoint! It had a great captivating story. I was engrossed the whole time, there are no “slow” parts.

Darling Girls is told from the girls point of views and goes back and forth between past and present. All while there is another point of view talking to a therapist(really they all should be talking to a therapist)
I really enjoyed the therapist chapters.

Jessica Clarke narrated and she really brought the story to life.

A huge 5 star read from me! I read the whole book in a day because I couldn’t put it down.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for an advance copy of Darling Girls in exchange for my honest review.

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This is another homerun for Sally Hepworth! This novel is twisted in so many ways. The characters are written so well they make the reader emotionally involved. Anger, relief, hope, more anger may be experienced during this read. The narrator did well. I applaud the author for another novel well written! And that ending...

Thank you to the publisher for an ARC of Darling Girls through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

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This story is an absolute page turner with shocking twists. Sally Hepworth wrote another psychological thriller that leaves the reader guessing how the story will end. She does a great job telling the story between two time lines, which allows the readers to really understand the characters. The 3 main girls developed an inseparable bond despite living with Miss Fairchild. This book will not leave you disappointed!

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Jessica, Norah and Alicia are sisters by choice. When the three meet in what should have been an idyllic foster home on a farm called Wildwood Meadows, the three build very strong bonds as they suffered through the manipulative psychological games played by their foster mother, Holly Fairchild. The story gives us an insight into their pasts as well as present day. Twenty five years later, the women are still battling the scars that they have carried with them, but their commitment to each other remains steadfast. When bones are discovered under the farmhouse at Wildwood Meadows, the three head back to a place they never wanted to see again. Whose bones are under the house? Are the deep dark secrets hidden at Wildwood Meadows about to be uncovered? Could one of them be guilty of an unspeakable crime? Hepworth doesn’t disappoint with this twisty good read! This was a dual read/listen for me and the narration was perfection! Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an ARC and ALC of this book.

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This boom gripped me from the beginning. I did not see the ending and loved all the twists and turns.

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This book was phenomenal! Hepworth is so good at creating unique and flawed characters that deeply hold readers’ attention. In her newest thriller, the three main characters are all foster care ‘sisters’ who survived and emotionally and physically abusive foster mother while growing up. They left the system more than 15 years ago, but when their former foster care home is razed, human remains are discovered forcing the sisters to travel back to their hometown for a series of interviews by local detectives. They are hoping to shed light on the true nature of their foster care mother while avoiding becoming suspects in this newly discovered crime.

The plot juggles multiple POVs and includes present-day and flashback timelines, yet I was never confused or unsure of the narrator’s identity. I listened to a complimentary copy of the MacMillan audiobook, and was shocked to learn the entire narration was done by one narrator, Jessica Clark!! Her nuanced performance made me feel as if I was listening to a full cast narrative performance, and she was able to capture each sister’s unique voice. Each girl’s perspective, ‘role’ within the sisterhood’ relationship dynamic, and present day personality/behavior reflect growth and reveal the lingering legacy of a traumatic childhood. There are quite a few shock-worthy gasps, and I was 100% on the edge of my seat to solve the identity and circumstances of the human remains. Readers who enjoy dark and twisty domestics thrillers with a fast pace, short chapters, multiple POVs, and a shocking conclusion will want to add this one to their TBR today.

I am sensitive to books that contain child harm and was weary to read this one, but feel Hepworth did a great job accurately depicting the downfalls of the foster care system and child abuse with care and without graphic on-page violence. However, if you are sensitive to those themes, please check a detailed list of trigger warnings.

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Hepworth weaved another twisty and layered story, yet again!

Jessica, Norah, and Alicia were all foster children in varying states of tragic situations, and are sent to an idyllic farmhouse estate to live with Miss. Fairchild. On the surface, everything seems perfect, but the girls can tell you that living there was anything but perfect. We get to see the past and present weave together in intricate layers, with sisterly bonds, secrets, and murder.

While I completely binged this book and was utterly enthralled with finding out the outcome, it was a very hard read and listen as a mother. There are some pretty severe trigger warnings, first and foremost being child abuse, but themes of addiction as well.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martins Press, and MacMillan Audio for my ARC and ALC in exchange for my honest opinion!

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'Darling Girls' by Sally Hepworth was absolutely darling! I loved! I couldn't stop listening to it. It's actually a bit of a thriller; there is quite a good mystery going on there. It was dark, creepy, twisty. Great gothic elements. I also enjoyed the audiobook narration by Jessica Clarke. Each character had a distinctive, well-developed personality.

I just loved this book and I definitely recommend it to everyone! Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing me with an early copy of this audiobook.

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