Darling Girls: A Novel

4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars | 22,260 ratings

Price: 14.99

Last update: 11-28-2024


About this item

SISTERS, SECRETS, LOVE, AND MURDER... Sally Hepworth’s novel Darling Girls has it all.

For as long as they can remember, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia have been told how lucky they are. As young girls they were rescued from family tragedies and raised by a loving foster mother, Miss Fairchild, on an idyllic farming estate and given an elusive second chance at a happy family life.

But their childhood wasn’t the fairy tale everyone thinks it was. Miss Fairchild had rules. Miss Fairchild could be unpredictable. And Miss Fairchild was never, ever to be crossed. In a moment of desperation, the three broke away from Miss Fairchild and thought they were free. Even though they never saw her again, she was always somewhere in the shadows of their minds. When a body is discovered under the home they grew up in, the foster sisters find themselves thrust into the spotlight as key witnesses. Or are they prime suspects?

A thrilling page-turner of sisterhood, secrets, love, and murder by New York Times bestselling author Sally Hepworth.

“Sally Hepworth writes characters you love.” —LIANE MORIARTY, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF APPLES NEVER FALL


From the Publisher

Darling Girls Sally Hepworth
Darling Girls Sally Hepworth
Darling Girls Sally Hepworth Bookpage quote

Top reviews from the United States

Leigh Callaway
5.0 out of 5 stars Holy Cow!!
Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2024
Well, THAT was a heck of a ride!! Way.to.go. Sally!! ???????????????????????? *chef’s kiss* ???? Ah-mazing!!
I started this book around 8 pm, and it’s definitely been worth every minute of the time I’ve been reading! I was flying through the chapters so fast that it’s not even 11 pm yet!!
These sisters… these girls, y’all! My heart hurts to know that there too many “darling girls” who are living quite similar lives each day at this moment, and who upon aging out of the foster care system carry similar scars as they try to navigate a vastly unfair world. The only thing that can heal children like these girls is love and acceptance. There will always be scars, but the way we treat one another each day is part of what determines how well all of us eventually heal. No one makes it to adulthood without some type of trauma, but with enough love and kindness all of our scars can become nothing more than light silver shadows that eventually help us become better people.
So, so absolutely wonderful to read!! Twisty and fast paced, with three sisters a reader could swear they have met before, somewhere out there. A fabulous read!! Don’t wait to get started - go READ!!
Mrs. B. Librarian
4.0 out of 5 stars Different
Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2024
This was another great book by Sally Hepworth. A compelling read about the foster care system with a murder mystery thrown in. Miss Fairchild has to be one of the creepiest characters in a long time. The ending was definitely a surprise.
mnmloveli
5.0 out of 5 stars OUTSTANDING !
Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2024
24 - 5 STARS

DESCRIPTION : From the outside, Alicia, Jessica and Norah might seem like ordinary women you'd meet on the street any day of the week. Sure, Jessica has a little OCD and Norah has some anger issues. And Alicia has low self-esteem that manifests itself in surprising ways. But these three have a bond that no one can fully understand. It's a bond that takes them back decades, to when they were girls, and they lived on a farm with a foster mother named Miss Fairchild. Miss Fairchild had rules. Miss Fairchild could be unpredictable. And Miss Fairchild was never, ever to be crossed. In a moment of desperation, the three broke away from Miss Fairchild, and they thought they were free. But the reach of someone with such power is long, and even though they never saw her again, she was always somewhere in the shadows of their minds. When bones are discovered buried under the farmhouse of their childhood, they are called in by the police to tell what they know. Against their will, they are brought back to the past, and to Miss Fairchild herself. DARLING GIRLS asks the questions: what are we capable of when in a desperate place? How much can we hide the demons inside us? And can the past ever truly be buried?

REVIEW :

Previous books by this author were The Soulmate (‘23 - 3 Stars), The Younger Wife (‘22 - 4 Stars), The Good Sister (‘21 - 5 Stars), The Mother-in-law (‘19 - 4 Stars) and The Family Next Door (‘18 - 4 Stars).

Sales $11.99 (-3.00 Kindle Rewards); reg 14.99

The author is great at getting you interested in the characters right away. For anyone that child abuse is a trigger, you should definitely skip this one. Quite a few times in the book something was mentioned almost as an afterthought that made me go “oh no” or “a oh”; simple sentences that could be easily missed. I loved how the whole story unfolded; very original. Even though there was child abuse, I loved how the 3 main characters bonded together forever and worked through their awful beginnings. I went with 5 Stars because of the never-ending connection of the main characters, even though they were so different. I definitely loved these girls and would love to see another book with them.
Kory Wells
3.0 out of 5 stars entertaining and written well
Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2024
I thought the characters were developed well. It kept the story going but it wasn’t my favorite sally hepworth book.
carolrnjd
4.0 out of 5 stars Psychological Mystery!
Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2024
I usually don't read "domestic thrillers," but somehow I found and read this one. I was annoyed for much of the first half, since I know a good bit about the "real" foster system, at least here in south Jersey. But then I finally began to be sucked into the plot and the story. It didn't end the way I thought it would, but I was fairly satisfied. And the author is talented and skillful, in my humble opinion. So if you like domestic thrillers I think you might just love this one.
Linda Bruckner
5.0 out of 5 stars unpredictable twists and turns
Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2024
Very good read! The author handles, the tough subjects of child abuse and narcissistic behavior in a very clever way. I was drawn into the unfolding story from the beginning. The narrative left me guessing and wasn’t obvious!
Well done!
Janet M.
4.0 out of 5 stars Humorous and engaging
Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2024
I really enjoyed this book, loved the humorous slant and also a nice twist at the end.
Shonna913
5.0 out of 5 stars easy read
Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2024
On the edge of my seat through entire book. Easy read. Great story line. Keeps you guessing through entire book.

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