Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth

41 reviews

amysalwaysreading's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

Darling Girls begins with the discovery of a body buried beneath their childhood foster home brings three foster sisters back to the place they swore they'd never return. What unfolds will keep you guessing until the very last page.

I am a huge Sally Hepworth fan and couldn't wait to read her latest book. It's fantastic. While more character-driven than the previous novels I've read of her catalog, this was a very propulsive store that kept me on the edge of my seat. I couldn't flip the pages fast enough to unravel the twisty story of Darling Girls. This story is dark (please check content warnings!) but had some hilarious bits thrown in as well. The sisterhood bond displayed was also great. This would be a great book to toss in your beach bag, take on an upcoming, or sink into by the pool.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review..

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Cursing, Death of parent, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Gaslighting, Confinement, Kidnapping, Mental illness, and Self harm

foster care, adoption

kiwichill's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Character flaws caused by a chaotic upbringing in the foster care system.   The scenarios in this book may seem to be far-fetched but unfortunately they are not.  The whole system needs an overhaul because there are far too many kids with psychological damage from the foster care system 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Death, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Gaslighting, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Rape, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Bullying, Pregnancy, Grief, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Murder, Death of parent, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Sexism, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Slavery, Cursing, Alcohol, and Body shaming

cyndi1966's review

adventurous dark mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Child abuse, Child death, Grief, Mental illness, Murder, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Drug use and Drug abuse

Minor: Kidnapping, Pregnancy, and Panic attacks/disorders

amanda_reads89's review

dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Gaslighting, Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Confinement

Minor: Rape, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, and Sexual assault

princessblueyes's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Bullying, Mental illness, Death, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Violence, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Grief, Drug abuse, Child death, Addiction, and Alcohol

cmvilleneuve's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

TW: abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, foster care 

Holy. Sh!t. This book had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Part of the twist I did figure out about half way through but my jaw is still on the floor from that ending. 🤯🤯🤯🤯

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Kidnapping

sariereads's review

challenging dark mysterious fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Death, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug abuse, Child death, and Confinement

0ldoini's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Abandonment, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Bullying, Incest, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Body shaming, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Cursing, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Violence, Drug use, Murder, Suicide, Addiction, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Torture, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Rape, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, and Pedophilia

blueeyedshook's review

dark

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Child death, Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Cursing, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Bullying, Drug use, and Abandonment

Minor: Sexual content

LGBTQ character/romance

ashleyjean6'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

4.0

I had to knock a star off for content; it's so difficult to read. A lot of child abuse, gaslighting, emotional trauma. I wasn't aware how vivid that would all be. But as always, she's a really excellent writer and I flew through it. Audiobook is really excellent. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Body shaming, Rape, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Murder, Addiction, Death, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug use, Gaslighting, Vomit, Domestic abuse, and Grief