Reviews tagging 'Death'

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth

43 reviews

creadsfantasy's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Body shaming, Child abuse, Addiction, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Domestic abuse, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Adult/minor relationship, Trafficking, Mental illness, Rape, Fatphobia, Body shaming, Suicidal thoughts, and Incest

rachelwierick's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Confinement, Death of parent, Child abuse, Alcoholism, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Death, Suicide attempt, and Murder

lmm0's review

challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC!

This is the 3rd Sally Hepworth book I’ve read, after The Soulmate (4/5 stars) and The Younger Wife (3/5). It was an entertaining read, and the last 1% made my jaw drop - but that’s about it. I thought it was pretty slow, there could’ve been quite a bit taken out. I will say that the insight into the foster care system made it evident that the author did her homework on the subject, which I can appreciate. At the end of the day, it was an OK read - probably not something that will stick with me months down the line. Definitely read the trigger warnings before diving in, as there were some uncomfortable and tough parts to read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Drug abuse, Death, Drug use, and Child death

Moderate: Alcoholism

Minor: Vomit

soobooksalot's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Addiction, Alcohol, Murder, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual violence

kimveach's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Dark, creepy, and I couldn't put it down.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Addiction, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Mental illness, Murder, Rape, Self harm, Torture, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Grief, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Violence, Cursing, and Death

laurenalippincott's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Body shaming

Moderate: Pregnancy, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Addiction, Vomit, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, and Excrement

Minor: Alcohol, Death, Child death, Grief, Terminal illness, and Death of parent

lauradanby's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Thoroughly enjoyed this novel, however covered some hard hitting topics and treatment of children in the foster system.  

I felt that Hepworth does a great job at creating complex characters with clear motives. 

I really enjoyed the plot twist in the final chapter. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Addiction, Sexual assault, Rape, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Drug use, Child death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, and Grief

skersnick's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Death, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Rape, Body shaming, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Bullying, Pregnancy, Confinement, Kidnapping, Fatphobia, and Vomit

acarolinabelle's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

Multiple POV, multiple timelines, so the story comes out in pieces with a twist at the very end. The characters are former foster sisters, now adults, and the foster mother, a narcissistic abuser.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death of parent, Child death, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Alcohol, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Child abuse

mtnest's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

As a fan of Sally Hepworth since I read The Mother-in-Law, it is always interesting to see what challenging topic she will tackle next. Darling Girls is a dual timeline story of three girls who formed strong bonds at the seemingly idyllic estate in Port Agatha, Wild Meadows. The estate houses foster children and is managed by Miss Fairchild. What should be a reprieve from unfortunate situations is revealed to be terrible and abusive. The wounds inflicted by Miss Fairchild has varying effects, particularly when she becomes displeased.  Early in the book, all three are called by the police after a body has been found buried at Wild Meadows. The foster sisters travel back to Port Agatha to provide information about their time in Miss Fairchild’s care and to uncover details about this possible crime. As the story unfolds, the reader learns the perils of abuse and the lingering effects of trauma. It is amazing how an elaborate story is crafted from such a small circle of characters. I was quickly invested in what would become of the “Darling Girls” while the mystery played a secondary role. The struggles and eventual outcome was both redemptive and disturbing. Make no mistake, this is a difficult and dark story. The multiple episodes of abuse were hard to read and it is a testament to the author’s skill that it did not lead to utter despair. Normally, I steer away from books featuring child harm, however, I trusted the author enough to continue. The ending may prove divisive for readers and I am still deciding how I feel about it. The narration by Jessica Clarke was beyond just a standard reading. There were several moments where her portrayal really added to this story. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Confinement, Child death, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Pedophilia, Alcohol, Death of parent, Murder, Death, Body shaming, Grief, Mental illness, Rape, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship