Darling Girls: A Novel

8.5⭐️ - rounded down for Bookclubs I was thoroughly surprised by this one. Not necessarily by the outcome but by how much I enjoyed it. It took a few chapters to get into things but the set up of the perspectives and the characters was very well done. I wouldn’t say the girls are completely likable as adults but the “before” chapters were gripping and had me feeling so much more for Jessica, Norah and Alicia. There’s a lot of references to some dark themes but there’s nothing too detailed on the page which made it suspenseful but not overly scary or creepy; I liked that. The one thing that bothered me wasn’t the story’s fault but rather on the editing. I’m not sure if it was just my copy or because Sally is an Australian author but there were several grammar errors. Normally I’m fine with it and just skim over letting my brain get the picture, but there were enough to make me slow down and that was fairly frustrating. All in all though, highly recommend for thriller lovers!

Another hard to put down book that is both thought and emotion evoking. As with her other books, Darling Girls is well written, well thought out, gripping, twist filled, moving and shocking. You won’t be able to put this down.

Three girls, Norah, Alicia and Jessica are placed in the foster home of Miss Fairchild. All seems fine to the outside world, but behind closed doors it is a nightmare. They suffered together under the highly unpredictable, extremely strict, and often cruel and abusive Miss Fairchild. When small infants were placed in Miss Fairchild’s care, the girls would take care of them and try and keep Miss Fairchild happy so they were not abused. The three girls figured that they needed to stick together to get through this. They formed an unbreakable bond. Now as adults they’ve kept that bond alive, always vigilant for one another. They still wondered what happened to the infants that they had to leave behind once they “aged out” of foster care.

The women, Norah, Jessica and Alicia are contacted by police when bones are found buried under Miss Fairchild's former home. Miss Fairchild and the sisters return as requested by the police. Maybe they’ll find some answers of their own. Could this be one of the foster children that was there before them? After all they did find clothes and toys with “Amy” on them in the basement.

Sally Hepworth wrote such a gripping and suspenseful story with this one, that it will keep you guessing until the end. THE END!! Oh boy, it got me. I could have never guessed.

This was an emotionally gripping read that delves into the complex lives of three foster sisters—Jessica, Norah, and Alicia—who bonded during their time at Wild Meadows, a seemingly idyllic farmhouse run by Miss Fairchild. The chapters alternate between their traumatic past and their present struggles, revealing the deep scars left by their childhood. As adults, they are summoned back to Wild Meadows when human remains are discovered, forcing them to confront their painful memories and the lingering effects of their shared trauma. The narrative is a slow burn, filled with suspense and emotional depth, as it explores themes of sisterhood, resilience, and the long-lasting impact of childhood experiences. The characters are well-developed, each grappling with their own demons, and the plot is tight, exposing the flaws in the foster care system and the strength of their bond as they seek closure and healing.

I have read all of Sally Hepworth's books and this one grabbed me from the beginning. It did not disappoint. Hepworth is a great storyteller, and she has crafted a suspenseful mystery involving 3 foster children and their malevolent foster mom. Sadly, Holly Fairchild manipulates the young girls
that leave lasting scars on all of them.

The 3 girls all came into Jessica's care at different times, but they lived together about 2-3 years. Jessica was the first child at age 5 to be in Jessica's care. She was so desperate for affection and love. Then came Norah, 11 years old and an aggressive, sometimes violent child. Alicia, the last girl to join the others while her grandmother was recovering from an accident, was sweet and funny. The 3 girls were about the same age, so they were in Jessica's care for different amounts of time. The girls all experienced Jessica's physical and mental abuse. Twenty-five years later, each girl receives a phone call from law enforcement about a mystery buried at their childhood house. As they return to the house, they are forced to confront their past and the terrible tragedies that occurred there.

Told in flashbacks and present day from all 3 POV's, we learn the background story for each girl. This added to the story by giving insight into each character. Each girl is well developed and has her own personality. The writing style was perfect. I wanted to keep reading. Even though it is serious subject matter, Hepworth does a good job sprinkling in humor throughout the story. I also liked the letters to the psychiatrist. They kept me guessing as to who the author was. I did not see the twist at the very end. I really liked this story. It was a fast, intriguing read with unique, well-developed characters, past and present.

The ending!👀 I knew more was to come, but I never would have guessed that! Such a good read! I loved the non-linear timeline, character traits, and just about everything else.🤗