Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5/5)

Dates Read: 12/2/23 - 12/3/23

    Alicia, Jessica, and Norah may seem like ordinary women with their individual quirks, but their bond runs deep, stretching back to their childhood on a farm with the strict foster mother, Miss Fairchild. Breaking away from her rules in a moment of desperation, they believed they were free, only to find the past catching up with them when bones are discovered under their childhood farmhouse. As the police investigate, the trio is reluctantly drawn back into their haunting past with Miss Fairchild. 

    Hepworth has a talent for spinning a plot that is completely captivating. I found myself drawn in, especially by the three main characters—Jessica, Norah, and Alicia. I really enjoyed the format of "then" and "now" chapters. 

    The 'then' parts were my favorite. Seeing the characters when they were younger made their current struggles more emotional. Despite facing tough times, the friendship between Jessica, Norah, and Alicia stayed strong from their youth to adulthood.

    I don't feel like the very ending twist was necessary though. There didn't seem to be much of a mystery here to me. Nothing really surprised me, so the last twist felt like it was just for shock-value. Despite the lack of a mystery, I couldn't put it down simply because of how interested I was in the plot.

    I enjoyed reading Hepworth's note at the end where she discusses her research for the book. It added a special layer to the whole story. To be straightforward, deciding on a rating is hard. Despite the confusing twist at the end, the story was still really engaging. Overall, I enjoyed this and can't wait to see what's next from Hepworth.

    Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. "Darling Girls" is set to publish April 23, 2024.

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