A review by sarah_reading_party
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth

dark 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

4.25

I enjoyed listening to the audiobook of Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth! The story was a wild ride from beginning to end. The chapters alternate between past and present, sharing the stories of three different girls living in foster care with Miss Fairchild. I adored each of the girls (so close they call themselves sisters) and the women they came to be, despite their hardships and flaws. The undying love the sisters have for one another is remarkable, especially considering their upbringing. That being said, their upbringing was rough and have a ripple effect into their adult lives. This book deals with a lot of hard topics including child abuse, sexual abuse, abandonment, harsh punishments, violence, etc. Reader (listener) be aware.

When a body is found underneath the house where they grew up, the sisters return "home" to try to figure out what happened and pursue healing for themselves. The story did not progress as I was expecting - there were crazy twists and turns that were highly entertaining and captivating. I especially liked how more of the story was revealed through the inclusion of snapshots from therapy sessions for... someone. (That someone is revealed later in the book, of course!) Though I was a bit disappointed with the last twist at the end, I enjoyed the book overall. I just kept wanting to listen to it! The narrator was great too, kudos to Jessica Clarke.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this advanced audiobook. All opinions are my own.
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