A review by brittandwaffles
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth

5.0

Hepworth’s latest novel follows Jessica, Norah, and Alicia, three foster sisters with trauma to spare even decades after they get away from their abusive foster mother. From the outside looking in, they’re told how lucky they are to live in such a picture perfect foster home, but no one sees the horrors the girls face within. Told in alternating timelines, we dive deeper into what really happened at Wild Meadows back then, and whose bones are now buried under the house. 

I really enjoyed this story and got sucked in. The alternating timelines kept me engaged, and getting a POV from each of the girls helped develop them as individuals and sisters. Each of the girls brings long held secrets and trauma from their time spent with the neurotic Miss Fairchild. I loved the perspective of the dark side of the foster care system, as heartbreaking as it is. The ending was simultaneously what I expected and not at the same time, which I just loved.

Thank you to Sally Hepworth, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review. This book is due to be published April 23.
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