Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth

322 reviews

arieljanellereads's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Death of parent

golf_17's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse

Minor: Drug abuse

thissagreads's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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What a story! The bond of the sisters, the twists, and the underbelly of child welfare created a story that had me on the edge of my seat.

I think the author did a really good job writing characters who had personality, and it made me root for the sisters at every page.

I think the author also did a solid job writing about narcissism the dangers about what can happened when social workers and care providers are too tired and too exhausted to do and be better. Like Sam, the sisters’ social worker.

He was essentially buying and selling kids within the foster care system! Taking babies from parents and threatening them with lies about what could happen to their child if th ey didn’t cooperate with him! May he rot. And then Ms. Fairchild’s therapist. He was too overworked because he would inappropriately encourage her to tell LIES about her upbringing. He was more entertained by the fake story rather than setting boundaries and truly seeing how narcissistic Holly Fairchild was. Because of his lack attention to the details and need for entertainment, he’s bad silly going to get Ms. Fairchild out sooner from the mental ward, and she deserves hard time in prison! She was so evil to the sisters! She deserves to rot too.

but alas I think it was written this way because it’s closer to a lot of peoples reality’s- getting away with crimes and/or not really getting the proper justice.

Because even the cops didn’t believe the sisters when they tried to tell them they were being abused. Furthermore, they didn’t investigate deeper when all  3 girls were telling the cops that there was a fourth foster child Amy. How could all 3 be lying!? Why didn’t they further look into Ms. Fairchild or Sam!?

Total rubbish!

As frustrating as it was to read at times -especially about Ms. Fairchild- I appreciate the refreshing and more honest take on a system that needs a complete overhaul. Bonus points for the narrator’s enthralling storytelling. So, I’d highly recommend this novel and I look first to reading more from Sally Hepworth.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Gaslighting

Moderate: Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Murder, Sexual harassment

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual violence

caldalex's review against another edition

4.5

dark reflective tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Death of parent

waltersb's review against another edition

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Gaslighting

Moderate: Rape, Pregnancy

tamaras_bookishthrills's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This was my first book by Sally Hepworth and it did not disappoint! This book had me feeling all of the emotions; talk about an emotional roller coaster! I loved the POVs from each of the sisters. Dual timelines is one of my favorite features in a book and this was so well done. I love how we see the flashbacks of each girls’ experiences while at Mild Meadows. I will say that the first half felt a bit slow to me, but it did pick up pace for the second half. And the ending…I did not see that! I thought I pieced it together so well, but nope! Such a good book!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death

kayla_hehe's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Sexual harassment

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Rape

taking_tea_with_the_hatter's review against another edition

3.5

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Gaslighting

juanat77's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Multiple timelines and POVs. Adrenaline fueled psychological mystery thriller about three women who consider themselves sisters and grew up in a foster home together run by a less than ideal caretaker, Miss Fairchild. Their traumatic experiences at the home set forth a life-long unbreakable bond. This book portrayed the post traumatic effects of being raised by an abusive/narcisstic foster parent. Miss Fairchild was very manipulative— not only to her foster children but to everyone else in her life. Tragic. Secrets. Twisty—-especially the last chapter!  I did not see them coming. Excellent character development. Definitely my favorite Sally Hepworth. I’d love to see this as a movie. Recommend!

5 stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail

amanda_b35's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Rape