Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth

SISTERS, SECRETS, LOVE, AND MURDER... Sally Hepworth’s new novel 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.

Kindle Edition, 368 pages

Expected publication April 23, 2024

 by St. Martin's Press

3.5/5 stars

Reviewing this book is a bit tricky for me. I've been a fan of Sally Hepworth since her first book, but I've had mixed feelings about some of her later works. So, I never really know what to expect. However, I finished this book in just a day and a half, which says a lot about how I felt about it. I was genuinely intrigued by the mystery and couldn't wait to see how it all played out.

I quickly connected with the three young girls, especially enjoying the backstory more than the present-day plot. Norah (with an h) was my favorite along with her three dogs. They added a nice touch of humor, although given the serious subject matter feels somewhat insensitive of me.

The story is told from the perspectives of each in both the past and present, with an additional mysterious narrative from an unknown character. While this added an interesting element, I did find the story to be a bit long-winded at times. As the book wrapped up, I had to suspend my disbelief and rethink some earlier parts, which left me feeling a bit disappointed with the ending.

Overall, this book touches on some sensitive topics that may require trigger warnings for some readers. However, to say what they are would feel like spoilers.

My thanks to St. Martin's Press for a digital ARC in exchange for a honest review.

The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth

Get ready for a thrilling, addictive novel about marriage, betrayal, and the secrets that push us to the edge in Sally Hepworth's The Soulmate.

There’s a cottage on a cliff. Gabe and Pippa’s dream home in a sleepy coastal town. But their perfect house hides something sinister. The tall cliffs have become a popular spot for people to end their lives. Night after night Gabe comes to their rescue, literally talking them off the ledge. Until he doesn’t.

When Pippa discovers Gabe knew the victim, the questions spiral...Did the victim jump? Was she pushed?

And would Gabe, the love of Pippa’s life, her soulmate...lie? As the perfect facade of their marriage begins to crack, the deepest and darkest secrets begin to unravel. 

Kindle Edition, 336 pages

Expected publication: April 4th 2023 

by St. Martin’s Press

4/5 stars

Released in Australia last fall, Sally Hepworth's new book does not release in North America until April 4, 2023. This book starts with a bang when a woman is pushed/fell/juumped off a cliff behind the home of Pippa and Gabe. As the story unfolds, secrets are revealed, and it becomes clear that there is more than meets the eye.

I went into this book blind, which always makes for a more intriguing read. I was not disappointed with this domestic suspense mystery as it deals with many complex subjects that I will not reveal here (spoiler.)

Told from two different points of view. One is current day Pippa as she recalls her life with Gabe, her soulmate, how they met, and the story of their relationship is revealed. The other is from the woman who met her demise on that cliff, which was a unique viewpoint that gave a wider view as to what was going on.

The Soulmate is a story of family, past hurts, and secrets. It was intricately woven with some surprises along the way. It also had an unexpected ending that kept me on my toes. Hats off to Sally Hepworth for crafting such an engaging and captivating read.

My thanks to St. Martin's Press via NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth

Stephen Aston is getting married again. The only problem is, he's still married to his first wife, even though she is in a care facility for dementia. But he'll take care of that easily, by divorcing her--even if his adult daughters protest.

Tully and Rachel Aston look upon Heather as nothing but an interloper. Heather is the same age as Rachel and even younger than Tully. Clearly she's a golddigger and after their father's money. Heather has secrets that she's keeping close, and reasons of her own for wanting to marry Stephen.

With their mother unable to speak for herself, Tully and Rachel are determined to get to the truth about their family's secrets, the new wife closing in, and who their father really is. But will getting to the truth unleash the most dangerous impulses...in all of them?

Kindle Edition, 352 pages 

First published October 26, 2021

by St. Martin's Press

3/5 stars

I have been a die hard Sally Hepworth fan since her first book, The Secret of Midwives was first released.  

Hepworth knows how to grab this reader's attention.  That opening chapter had me itching to read more and unravel what was going on.  With alternating POV it shows a family with lots of secrets.  Though I couldn't really connect with these women I did get to know them.  There were twists and turns, numerous times I thought I knew what was going on only to be foiled again.

I wouldn't call this a thrilled but rather a domestic drama.  Women with issues and to be honest I get the root of these issues for 2 of them but not the other - maybe I missed something important but I don't think so.

The Younger Wife is a story of relationships, tons of gaslighting and over coming.   I don't expect my books to have a happy ending all the time but I do like a solid conclusion that leaves me feeling satisfied and unfortunately this one didn't.  In fact I would have giving this book 4 stars and maybe even more but I feel cheated and let down (for so many reasons that I can't go into).

Australian author Sally Hepworth will continue to be a go to author for me.  I did love the acknowledgements and the seeds that planted this book.

My thanks to St. Martin's Press (via Netgalley) for an advanced digital copy in exchange for a honest review.

Review: The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth

From the outside, everyone might think Fern and Rose are as close as twin sisters can be: Rose is the responsible one and Fern is the quirky one. But the sisters are devoted to one another and Rose has always been Fern's protector from the time they were small.

Fern needed protecting because their mother was a true sociopath who hid her true nature from the world, and only Rose could see it. Fern always saw the good in everyone. Years ago, Fern did something very, very bad. And Rose has never told a soul. When Fern decides to help her sister achieve her heart's desire of having a baby, Rose realizes with growing horror that Fern might make choices that can only have a terrible outcome. What Rose doesn't realize is that Fern is growing more and more aware of the secrets Rose, herself, is keeping. And that their mother might have the last word after all. 

Kindle Edition

Expected publication: April 13th 2021

by St. Martin's Press

4.5/5 stars

Everyone has a dark side.

Lately I have been accidently and sometimes on purpose reading books with a bookish bent so I'll get this out of the way first.  With one sister a librarian I loved all the literary references - from the library setting, references to books that I've read, ones in my tbr pile and others that made it to said pile.  Australia has some wonderful authors that are hard to come by in North American and I enjoyed the plugs for them.  Don't get me wrong this book isn't a walking advertisement but a fun glimpse into the inter workings and whats on the mind of a librarian.

Sally Hepworh also has a bent towards relationships and family which continues here.  Twin sisters, Fern and Rose alternately tell the story reverting at times to the past and the horrific events that moulded them into who they are today.

I loved the mystery that kept me on my toes.  I felt the injustices and slights directed at those who were deemed 'different'. And I tensed at what I foresaw, having to read faster and eventually with one eye closed as the last pages drew near - surely I'm not the only one who just barely peeks because you know whats going to happen but don't want to watch but you know you have to?

I've been reading Sally Hepworth since her first book, The Secrets of Midwives and haven't looked back.  This book doesn't release in North America until April, 2021 and available for preorder now.  Also since it's out to the rest of the work no, The Book Depository has it available for purchase.

My thanks to St. Martin's press (via Netgalley) for a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

Review: The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth

Someone once told me that you have two families in your life - the one you are born into and the one you choose. Yes, you may get to choose your partner, but you don't choose your mother-in-law. The cackling mercenaries of fate determine it all.

 From the moment Lucy met Diana, she was kept at arm's length. Diana is exquisitely polite, but Lucy knows, even after marrying Oliver, that they'll never have the closeness she'd been hoping for.

 But who could fault Diana? She was a pillar of the community, an advocate for social justice, the matriarch of a loving family. Lucy had wanted so much to please her new mother-in-law.

 That was ten years ago. Now, Diana has been found dead, leaving a suicide note. But the autopsy reveals evidence of suffocation. And everyone in the family is hiding something...

 From the bestselling author of The Family Next Door comes a new page-turner about that trickiest of relationships.

Kindle, 352 pages

Published April 23rd, 2019

by St. Martin's Press

*****

The Mother-in-Law releases today and thanks to St. Martin's press I was given an advanced copy. I read this book over the space of a couple days and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Told in present day, the past and some snippets of the very past the author weaved a story about relationships. Beginning with the death of Diana the author went back to the beginning of the relationship between daughter-in-law and mother-in-law, Lucy and Diana. It was a weird relationship and seeing it from both points of view gives a clear picture of what happened. How different everything could be if we just walked in other people's shoes for a bit and knew their true stories.

This is a great read that kept me captivated and as the story unfolded I found myself enjoying a storyline that was unique, authentic and believable.

The Mother-in-Law is the story of relationships, it was not just between daughter in law and mother-in-law but also mother and daughter, husband and wife as well as siblings. It’s about discovering who you are, purpose and who you can count on.

The ending was perfect and well....yeah I guess I should stop there. Definitely a book and author I recommend.

This is Sally Hepworth’s 5th novel. Click on covers below to take you to my thoughts.

Review: The Mother's Promise by Sally Hepworth

A new poignant and breathtaking novel from the author of The Things We Keep and The Secrets of Midwives.

With every book, Sally Hepworth becomes more and more known for her searing emotional portraits of families—and the things that test their bonds. In The Mother’s Promise, she delivers her most powerful novel yet: the story of a single mother who is dying, the troubled teenaged daughter who is battling her own demons, and the two women who come into their lives at the most critical moment.

 Alice and her daughter Zoe have been a family of two all their lives. Zoe has always struggled with crippling social anxiety and her mother has been her constant and fierce protector. With no family to speak of, and the identity of Zoe’s father shrouded in mystery, their team of two works—until it doesn’t. Until Alice gets sick and is given a grim prognosis.

Desperate to find stability for Zoe, Alice reaches out to two women who are practically strangers, but who are her only hope: Kate, her oncology nurse, and Sonja, a social worker. As the four of them come together, a chain of events is set into motion and all four of them must confront their sharpest fears and secrets—secrets about abandonment, abuse, estrangement, and the deepest longing for family.

Imbued with heart and humor in even the darkest moments, The Mother’s Promise is an unforgettable novel about the power of love and forgiveness.

ebook, 336 pages

 Expected publication: February 21st 2017

 by St. Martin's Press

*****

It's not often that I can finish a book within 24 hours of starting but with The Mother's Promise I couldn't put it down. Though it isn't a long book it was the story that drew me right in and I just could not stop reading until I finished.

This is the third book by Sally Hepworth , I enjoyed her first two books and jumped at the chance to request the arc from Netgalley when I saw it was available.(The Secrets of Midwives and  The Things We Keep click on titles for links to my review).  I will admit that I don't always read the synopsis for certain authors, which happened here. To be honest I might even have shied away from this book if I had known what it was about, cancer is such a scary thing and with my son finishing his last chemo treatment six months ago everything is still fresh in my mind. So needless to say I found this to be a very emotional story, one that grabbed me and would not let me go.

One of the scariest things of being a parent is when something happens to your children and you have no control over it. But what if the roles were reversed and something happened to the parent, add no family or friends for support creates a bad situation. Such is the case with Alice Stanhope when she is diagnosed with stage III ovarian cancer. Her daughter Zoe has serious anxiety issues and only 15 years old. Nurse Kate has her own issues as well as social worker Sonja.

With chapters alternating between characters it was easy to get absorbed in their lives, to care for them and feel their fears. Anxiety disorder it's something that I have never really heard of before and I think the author did a great job of portraying it and how it affects people. This book was a perfect example of being sensitive to other people because you don't know what is going on in their lives just like they don't know what is going on in yours.

The Mothers Promise is a story of love, devotion and heartbreak and one that will stay with me for a while.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy (via netgalley).

My best of 2015

I surprised myself with how many books I read last year,150 to be exact. I didn't plan on that many it just happened.

Some interesting facts:

-the longest was 1059 pages with Voyager (Outlander #3) by Diana Gaboldon and the short with 34 pages was Kika the Upside Down Girl Jessica Tudos
-43 were audio books
-54 were new authors to me
-12 new series started
-12 series that I got caught up with or finished
-still plugging away at (Outlander)
-51 books reviewed for netgalley

My top 10 audio books of 2015 - in random order

1) The Secret Life of Violet Grant by Beatriz Williams
2) Lyrebird Hill by Anna Romer
3) The Wild Girl by Kate Forsyth
4) Shadow on the Crown by Patricia Bracewell
5) The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
6)  Inside the O'Briens by Lisa Genova
7) Castles, Customs and Kings by various authors
8) Dolores Claiborne by Stephen King
9) Misery by Stephen King
10) Mr. Mercedes/Finders Keepers by Stephen King
notice a tread there, sadly that trend was broken when I tried Revival in audio

My top 10 (actually 13) books of 2015 - remember in random order

1) A King's Ransom by Sharon Kay Penman
2) The Lake House by Kate Morton
3)  Lost in the Barrons by Farley Mowat
4) The Ones We Trust by Kimberly Belle
5) The Particular Appeal of Gillian Pugsley by Susan Ornbratt
6) Helen of Sparta byAmalia Carosella          
7) The Things We Keep by Sally Hepworth
8) Medici's Daughter by Sophie Perinot
9) Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole
10) Lady of the Eternal City by Kate Quinn
11) The Tapestry by Nancy Bilyeau
12) The Voyager by Diane Gabaldon
13) To Catch a Falling Star by Anna Belfrage

So that's my year, how was yours?

Review: the things we keep by Sally Hepworth

Anna Forster, in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease at only thirty-eight years old, knows that her family is doing what they believe to be best when they take her to Rosalind House, an assisted living facility. She also knows there's just one another resident her age, Luke. What she does not expect is the love that blossoms between her and Luke even as she resists her new life at Rosalind House. As her disease steals more and more of her memory, Anna fights to hold on to what she knows, including her relationship with Luke.

When Eve Bennett is suddenly thrust into the role of single mother she finds herself putting her culinary training to use at Rosalind house. When she meets Anna and Luke she is moved by the bond the pair has forged. But when a tragic incident leads Anna's and Luke's families to separate them, Eve finds herself questioning what she is willing to risk to help them.

Kindle edition, 352 pages

January 19th, 2016, St. Martin's Press

arc from publisher via netgalley

**** 1/2

I finished this book last week, but had to give myself some time to write this review up - it had that much of an affect on me.

Taking on the subject of Alzheimer's is no small task.  It is a disease that we see far to often with its affects reaching past the one diagnosed.

I found The Things we Keep to be a meaningful and compelling story.  Here are 2 adults in their mid 30's when the symptoms start.  There are 3 different POV's here, one of them is Anna, which I found very interesting, the author showed her frame of mind, thoughts and feelings as the disease took a stronger hold on her.  It wasn't hard to feel her confusion. I loved that special relationship with Luke and the way it played out, definitely an eye opener.

The other POV's were from Eve and her young daughter Clem. There was the added time change - Eve's begins 16 months after Anna's which I found unique especially at the end of the book.  Clem is only 7 years old and her young age provided the innocence that meshed well here, especially when interacting with the other residences.

I was totally captivated here, taking only 2 days to read this book.  The authors writing style made it hard to put down.  This is Sally Hepworth's 2nd book, my review of The Secrets of Midwives can be viewed by clicking on the title.

Be sure to visit the authors website.

The Secrets of Midwives by Sally Hepworth

A novel about three generations of midwives (a woman, her mother, and her grandmother) and the secrets they keep that push them apart and ultimately bind them together

THE SECRETS OF MIDWIVES tells the story of three generations of women devoted to delivering new life into the world—and the secrets they keep that threaten to change their own lives forever. Neva Bradley, a third-generation midwife, is determined to keep the details surrounding her own pregnancy—including the identity of the baby’s father— hidden from her family and co-workers for as long as possible. Her mother, Grace, finds it impossible to let this secret rest. For Floss, Neva’s grandmother and a retired midwife, Neva’s situation thrusts her back 60 years in time to a secret that eerily mirrors her granddaughter’s—a secret which, if revealed, will have life-changing consequences for them all.

 Will these women reveal their secrets and deal with the inevitable consequences? Or are some secrets best kept hidden?

Hardcover, 320 pages

Published February 10th 2015 by St. Martin's Press 

borrowed from library

*** - I liked it

This is Sally Hepworth's debut, I love debuts it's no secret.

Each chapter alternated between Neva, Grace and Floss as each of these ladies share their story.  I liked the premise of this book, it intrigued me, add in the unknown, the secrets and it had the makings of an entertaining book.  A relatively fast read with only 320 pages I was able to finish in a matter of days.  Though  I liked the story I was aching for more, I would have loved for more depth to Neva, Grace and Floss's character.   The story of Floss was the one that interested me the most and I would have loved to read more about her journey to America.

The way the author portrayed Midwifery especially with the conflict between doctors was spot on and I liked the realism there.  The passion these ladies had for their jobs was evident and the authors knowledge showed too.

At times a little rushed and predictable but all in all a solid debut and definitely an author I will read again.