Book Review: Dear Pen Pal (The Mother-Daughter Book Club, #3) by Heather Vogel Frederick

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Dear Pen Pal (The Mother-Daughter Book Club, #3)  by Heather Vogel Frederick  is the third book in a middle grade book series that is being rereleased. Chaos erupts in this third installment as the daughters in the book club get themselves into trouble. Each of the girls have big changes in their lives:  Jess is going to boarding school; Megan's grandmother comes to live with her; Emma starts a campaign against school uniforms; Cassidy has a lot of unexpected change coming to her family. Will the mother daughter book club stay together? I'd like to thank NetGalley, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of Dear Pen Pal  by Heather Vogel Frederick with it's upcoming rerelease to the public. I always love a good book that involves books, even if its target audience is children between the ages of eight and twelve. It wasn't until I reached the end of the book that I realized that it...
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Book Review: Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth

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NetGalley ARC Book Review of Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth is a story of love and secrets and what family will do to protect each other.  Jessica, Norah, and Alicia have been told over and over how lucky they are to be placed in such a loving foster home.  People on the outside don't realize that Miss Fairchild, their foster mother, is an absolute nightmare.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth.  Hepworth is one of my favorite authors, so I was ecstatic to be approved to read this book.  I received it for free in exchange for my honest review.

Hepworth’s latest novel is an intriguing story told from multiple perspectives and alternating timelines between the past and present. I found myself enjoying the “past” chapters more than the “present” ones because they give readers a deeper look into who the main characters were as children and how those experiences shaped the people they eventually became. The shifting viewpoints and timelines are handled extremely well, so there’s no need to worry about getting confused while reading.

At times, Darling Girls reminded me of a novel by V.C. Andrews, which I personally considered a bonus. While the story moves a bit slowly in places, it remains an engaging and compelling read. There is a twist involving the character Amy, but an even bigger twist emerges later with another character.

All in all, Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth is a fantastic read, especially for readers who enjoy suspense and mystery. Four out of five stars.


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