A review by astoriareader
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth

challenging dark mysterious 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

SYNOPSIS:
  • Alicia, Jessica, and Norah are all foster kids. They forged a lifelong bond after they ended up being placed in the Miss Fairchild’s dysfunctional, abusive, and volatile home.
  • Years later, the women still are close and are sisters by choice. Bones are unearthed under Miss Fairchild’s home, and the trio receive calls from a detective. 

MY THOUGHTS
  • Sally Hepworth has done it again. She has quickly become one of my favorite authors.
  • I couldn’t put this book down, and I stayed up late reading it.
  • Hepworth shines at character development, and she does an impressive job making the main characters relatable, flawed, likable, complex, and real. I loved seeing how the foster care system, as well as the placement in Miss Fairfield’s home, impacted each of the women. 
  • The story alternates between present day & the past, and both timelines are equally evocative.
  • Multiple POVs (Jessica, Norah, Alicia, & a patient’s session with their psychiatrist)
  • Well-plotted with lots of twists
  • Top-notch writing
  • Fast-paced
  • Quickly got invested in the characters 

TL;DR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Another gem by Sally Hepworth. Excellent character development. Finished this one in under 36 hrs.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. It will be published on April 23, 2024.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings