Review: Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth | A Morning Reading Corner
“Even after all these years, yearning for the love and attention of someone who couldn’t give it to her was much more comfortable than actually receiving it.”
Book Description: Three girls grew up as foster children at the home of Miss Fairchild. While their time in the home was tumultuous, the girls relied on each other to survive and were eventually able to escape. The past was behind them, and they could look forward to a life free of their foster mother and her erratic moods and rules- right? As adults, they are thrown back into Miss Fairchild’s world when a body is discovered under the house they grew up in. Was Miss Fairchild really as frightening as they remember? Do they know whose body has been under the house this whole time? And are they witnesses to the murder- or suspects?
This review can be summed up nicely as: I would have loved it if it had been my first Sally Hepworth book. I rave about her and call myself her biggest fan in this article. So I eagerly dug into Darling Girls, wanting a palate cleanse after a disappointing thriller DNF (did not finish). Sally could fix my book slump. Sally always fixes my book slump.
This is the third book I’ve read by her. Seeing as she’s one of only two authors I’m following on Goodreads, my expectations for my favorite psychological family thriller writer were high.
The first half of the book drug on in a kitschy, orphan Annie way. I had a hard time reading through the endless amounts of abuse the girls dealt with. While I felt for the younger girls, I was ready for them to move into taking more action as the adult versions of themselves. Sally’s twists and family drama angles that have hooked me in the past felt repetitive of her other stories. I usually have to put down her books mid-chapter to contain my shock, this one only left me with only a moderate amount of surprise.
Are any Sally Hepworth fans mad at me yet? I’m a little mad at myself as I write this, to be honest.
The last half of the book picked up, and I demolished it in two days. Typical. I did like the ending, and the book was absolutely worth the read in the end. However, I didn’t find myself lingering in the character’s world for days after, like I did with The Good Sister and The Soulmate.
I still recommend this read, I just don’t feel quite as excited about it as I thought I would. But maybe you’ll be stunned by the last few chapters if this book is your introduction to Sally’s world.
Am I alone here? I want to hear if anyone agrees or if you think I missed the mark on this one.
(Also, Sally, I still love you and can’t wait to read The Mother-in-Law next time I’m in a reading funk. You’re still who I’m looking for to revive me. It’s really okay if you reuse all the same surprises again- I’m still in.)
My rating: 3.75/5
Content warning: Child abuse
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Didn’t make it to any new bookstores this week, but here’s a look at my cozy early-morning reading view at home. I try to get some reading time in with my coffee and morning sun before I leave for the day. “Try” is the key word here. Happy reading this week!
