“I worked hard for everything I ever cared about, & nothing I ever cared about cost a single cent.”
If you’re an avid reader of contemporary fiction that delves into complex family dynamics, emotional twists and deeply human characters, Sally Hepworth is an author you need to have on your radar. Renowned for her ability to craft gripping, heartwarming and sometimes chilling tales, Hepworth has become one of the most successful novelists in the world. Whether you’re drawn to her stories of marriage, motherhood or dark secrets hiding behind closed doors, each book offers an unputdownable reading experience. Which is why we here at What We Reading thought we would take you through all of Sally Hepworth’s books in order, to help you discover the perfect place to start or catch up on the titles you may have missed. From her early days in romantic fiction to the bestselling successes of psychological dramas like The Mother-in-Law, find every single Sally Hepworth book in one place!
Love Like The French (2014)
First up on our list of Sally Hepworth books is 2014’s Love Like the French, a charming and heartfelt novel about love, self-discovery and the unexpected lessons life has to offer. The story follows Australian wedding planner Mia Moretti, who prides herself on her ability to craft perfect love stories for her clients, even whilst her own love life crumbles around her. When her fiance suddenly ends their relationship, Mia takes a spontaneous trip to Paris, the most romantic destination in the world.
In the French capital, Mia encounters the enigmatic Paul, who challenges all her preconceptions about love and life. As she navigates the breathtaking streets of the city, she begins to question her beliefs about relationships and what it truly means to love as the French do.
The Secrets Of Midwives (2015)
The Secrets of Midwives tells the story of three generations of women devoted to delivering new life into the world – and of the secrets they hold that threaten to change their own lives forever. Neva Bradley, a third-generation midwife, is determined to keep the details about her pregnancy – including the identity of the baby’s father – hidden from her friends, family and co-workers for as long as possible.
Neva’s mother, Grace, finds it impossible to let this secret lie. For Floss, Neva’s grandmother and a retired midwife, Neva’s predicament sees her whisked back six decades to a secret that eerily resembles one that she can still vividly remember. It’s a secret that, if it gets out, will have life-altering consequences for all of them. The Secrets of Midwives is a novel about three generations of midwives, and the secrets that continually push them apart and ultimately bind them all together.
The Things We Keep (2016)
Anna Forster is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, despite only being thirty-eight years old. She knows that her family have her best interests at heart when they take her to Rosalind House, an assisted living facility. She’s also aware that there is only one other resident her age living there, Luke. What she doesn’t expect, however, is the love that blossoms between her and him, even as she resists her new life at Rosalind. As she begins to lose more of herself to the disease, she struggles to hold on to what she knows, including her newfound relationship.
When Eve Bennett is suddenly thrust into the role of a single mother, she finds herself putting her culinary training to use at Rosalind House. There, she meets Anna and Luke and is instantly moved by the intense bond they have forged for one another. But, when a tragic accident leads to Anna and Luke’s families separating them, Eve is forced to wrestle with what she is willing to risk to help them.
The Mother’s Promise (2017)
Another one of the best Sally Hepworth books for exploring the complexities of family life and dynamics, readers are introduced to Alice and her daughter Zoe in 2017 The Mother’s Promise. Zoe has always struggled with social anxiety, and Alice has always been her staunchest defender. With no family to speak of and the identity of Zoe’s father a mystery, the pair’s life is upended when Alice receives a grim diagnosis.
Desperate to find stability for her daughter, Alice reaches out to two women who are practically strangers, but who are nevertheless her only hope: Kate, her oncology nurse, and Sonja, a social worker. As the four come together, a chain of events is set into motion that leads to them all confronting their deepest fears and longing for family.
The Family Next Door (2018)
The first mystery thriller by Sally Hepworth and the first book to be set in her hometown of Melbourne, The Family Next Door takes readers to the small suburb of Pleasant Court. It’s the sort of place where everyone knows their neighbours, and children play in the street. Isabelle Heatherington knows that she doesn’t fit into this picture of family paradise. Husbandless and childless, she soon catches the attention of three Pleasant Court mothers.
Yet Ange, Fran and Essie all have their own secrets they’re keen to keep buried. Such as the reason behind Ange’s compulsion to keep every aspect of her life controlled, why Fran won’t let her husband near her new baby, or why Essie took her daughter to the park and returned home without her. As their obsession with their new neighbour intensifies, the three women’s secrets begin to spread wildly out of control.
The Mother-In-Law (2019)
One of the most famous Sally Hepworth books, The Mother-in-Law opens with Lucy meeting her husband’s mother, Diana. Diana was exceptionally polite and properly friendly, but Lucy was acutely aware of how she wasn’t what she was expecting. Diana had been a pillar of the community, an advocate for social justice who had helped female refugees assimilate into their new culture. Having been married in bliss for decades, Lucy wanted nothing more than to please her new mother-in-law.
Fast forward five years, and Diana is discovered dead with a suicide note being found close to her body. She claims that she no longer wants to live with her ongoing battle with cancer. Only, the autopsy finds no trace of cancer. However, it does find traces of poison and suffocation. The Mother-in-Law is a twisty mystery thriller where Lucy’s secrets and relationship with Diana only grow more complex and sinister with every chapter.
The Good Sister (2020)
The Good Sister introduces Fern and Rose, twin sisters who couldn’t be more different from one another. Fern is a librarian who thrives on routine and struggles with sensory sensitivity, whilst Rose is the responsible and protective sister who has always done what she can to look out for her.
When Rose reveals her struggles with having a baby, Fern decides to help her sister out by becoming a surrogate. However, as Fern sets out on this altruistic journey, long-buried secrets about their family are brought to light. Delivered through alternating perspectives, the novel unravels the layers of the sisters’ tricky relationship, revealing that all is not as it first seems.
The Younger Wife (2021)
Stephen Aston is a respected heart surgeon who decides to marry Heather, a woman significantly younger than him. This comes despite still being legally married to his first wife, Pam, who is suffering from dementia.
Stephen’s daughters, Tully and Rachel, are immediately wary of Heather’s intentions and begin to unearth unsettling truths about their father’s past. As the wedding draws closer, long-hidden family secrets are revealed and the thin line between victim and villain starts to blur. Like other Sally Hepworth books, The Younger Wife is a pulsating and layered psychological thriller told through alternating perspectives that explores themes of power, deception and the lingering scars of trauma.
The Soulmate (2022)
Gabe and Pippa Gerard live in their dream home in a sleepy coastal town. Yet, underneath the sloping lawns, walking paths and beautiful flowers, their forever home hides something dark and sinister. The tall cliffs around them have become a popular spot for individuals to end their lives. Over the past few months, Gabe has come to their rescue, literally talking them off the ledge.
Until, one day, he doesn’t. When Pippa discovers that Gabe knew the latest victim, question marks and suspicion start to mount. Would Gabe, the love of her life and perfect soulmate ever lie to her? As the facade of the perfect marriage begins to peel away, the pair’s deepest and darkest secrets begin to unravel. Because, as 2022’s The Soulmate reveals, sometimes the most convincing lies are the ones we tell ourselves.
Darling Girls (2024)
Perhaps the most haunting Sally Hepworth novel to date, 2024’s Darling Girls follows three women – Jessica, Norah and Alicia – who were raised in Wild Meadows, a group foster home run by the enigmatic Miss Fairchild. Whilst they have all tried to move on, their shared experiences inside the home have left them with deep emotional scars.
When human remains are found buried underneath the foster home, the women are drawn back to Wild Meadows as police begin their investigations into this chilling case. As they reunite, long-buried memories surface and the dark truths of their past are brought to light. Each woman must confront what happened in their childhood, and how it has shaped their life in unexpected ways.
Check Out The Best Books Like Darling Girls
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
