Summary
A lot happened at Wild Meadows—some good but mostly bad. When three former foster sisters learn that human remains have been found as the house is being demolished, they’re dragged back to their old house of horrors and forced to relive everything that happened there twenty‑five years ago, this time with adult eyes.
Jessica, Alicia, and Norah—with an H—all return to Port Agatha to meet the detective investigating the discovery and to reconcile with their past under the tyrannical rule of Miss Fairchild at Wild Meadows.
After losing the only families who cared for them, the girls were placed with Miss Fairchild. First came Jessica, just four years old, the eldest and the one who spent the longest time there. Next was rule‑breaker and fighter extraordinaire Norah, who arrived after kicking her previous foster brother in the balls. Finally came Alicia, technically older than Norah but the last to turn up; she was meant to stay only until her Grammy recovered—but Grammy never did.
Miss Fairchild offered the girls a mirage. Once inside Wild Meadows, nothing about their circumstances was good or wholesome. Unpredictable and obsessively controlling, Miss Fairchild’s emotions swung wildly, and the girls tip‑toed around her to keep the peace. When the revolving door of foster babies finally stopped and a newly adopted infant ushered in even scarier circumstances, the sisters had to make a decision that might save their lives.
They left Wild Meadows and Miss Fairchild vowing never to return—but we all know what they say about good intentions.
Character Summary
- Jessica—the oldest, responsible, organized one—lost her mother very young and has no memory of her father. Thrown into foster care at four, she was the only child to form a genuine bond with Miss Fairchild. Though her stay was meant to be temporary, Jessica clung to Miss Fairchild and did everything she could to stay in her good graces—until Norah showed up.
- Norah (with an H) arrived after being booted from her previous foster home. She quickly mastered Miss Fairchild’s rules and excelled at school, but her rebellious spirit and sharp tongue clashed with life at home. Norah was often the target of Miss Fairchild’s wrath and bore the harshest punishments. Her troubled childhood bled into adulthood, complete with police run‑ins and a community‑corrections order for assault.
- Alicia, sensitive and meek, came to Wild Meadows after her Grammy’s bad fall landed her in the hospital. What was supposed to be a short stay stretched until Alicia was thirteen. Unlike the other girls, she struggled to adapt: the obsessive cleaning, limited food, and forty‑five‑minute walk to school (Grammy used to drive her) all came as shocks.
My Thoughts
Quick read. Straight‑to‑the‑point plot, borderline predictable. Honestly, I picked it up only to earn Goodreads’ Poolside Puzzlers badge.
I can’t say I liked this book, but I didn’t hate it either. So why two stars instead of three? Because I hated the characters—every single one. None were likable.
Jessica is a pill‑popper who steals meds from her clients. If you’re going to risk prison and your business’s reputation, at least leave a few pills behind! Taking the entire bottle with the client’s name on it? Amateur hour. Her dismissive attitude toward her husband—while rolling out the red carpet (and her wallet) for her sisters—was maddening. Phil was too good for her; he should’ve filed for divorce.
Then there’s Norah (with an H). She stuffs three gigantic dogs into her sister’s new car and plays coy when asked where she’s taking them—ugh. She drags those dogs everywhere under the guise of “service animals.” News flash: your dogs are not welcome everywhere and shouldn’t be hauled around like rag dolls.
If anyone was remotely redeemable, it was Meera and Ishir.
Narration‑wise, the book felt chaotic. Each chapter is titled as though that sister is narrating, but it’s written in third person, so you’ll get Jessica’s voice creeping into Alicia’s chapter. Jessica’s chapters also contain intercuts of psychiatrist Dr. Warren’s sessions with Miss Fairchild—why weren’t those separate chapters? Though the pacing is decent and the chapters are short, the dialogue and narration felt disjointed.
Finally, the last‑act reveal fizzled. I predicted the first twist immediately. The final twist, while unexpected, didn’t shock me; it was more of a shrug than a gasp.
Final Verdict
Predictable, with a cast of unlikeable characters who do little to move the plot. Maybe Alicia grows on you—but only a little.
Wouldn’t buy. Wouldn’t reread. Wouldn’t recommend. Will I try other books by Hepworth? Sure, but this one was a miss.
whitneydaniell 
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