I've been a big fan of Sally Hepworth ever since reading The Family Next Door. I've rushed to read her subsequent books as soon as I can.

I love her signature style of sunny domestic drama with sharper edges.

The Soulmate is a little bit different.

Gabe and Pippa are happily married with two young daughters, living in their dream home, with stunning cliff tops views. They only found out the cliff was a known suicide spot after falling in love with the house...

Fortunately Gabe has a talent for talking potential jumpers into stepping back from the brink, until the one time he can't save the victim.

It comes out that Gabe recognised the victim, and there are hidden secrets to be discovered and unravelled.

There are chapters from the victim's point of view, both from her life, and in the present, post-death as a liminal conscious presence. This seems to be a bit of incidental trend, this being the fourth book doing something similar that I've read this year, and sorry to say, The Soulmate didn't utilise it in as interesting a way as some the other books. The victim's presence is mainly used as a witness to ongoing scenes with the other characters.

It felt a little slower and more somber than Sally Hepworth's three previous books. Is this somber mood inevitable in a book that opens with a suicide?

The pace is moderate, it does build up, but it takes a while to get going. There is definitely some depth to the plotting, there is plenty to discover, and some good twists as it unfolds.

Interesting, and worth a read, but sorry to say I was missing some of that Sally Hepworth sparkle.

Thanks to Netgalley and St.Martin's Press.

Another 5 STAR !!!!!
I have been telling everyone about this book !
Absolutely loved it and canceled my plans to keep reading it

Talk about an unexpected ride. The Soulmate was an exceptionally quick read that kicks off with a shocking introduction. We are first introduced to our main narrator, Pippa, who lives with her husband and young daughters near a cliff that is known as a popular suicide spot. Within the first few chapters, an unknown woman presumably jumps to her death from the cliffs behind Pippa’s home. Pippa witnesses the incident from a distance, while her husband claims that he tried to save the woman to no avail, from that point forward, the chapters alternate, with some narrated by Pippa, while others are narrated by the mysterious, deceased woman, Amanda. What follows is two parallel stories surrounding the difficulty of marriage, the secrets spouses keep for each other, and the frailty of trust. Although the book certainly reads like a fast-paced thriller, it often focuses more on character development than plot. This book is extremely addictive. Once you sink into the mystery of Amanda’s death, you won’t be able to set it down.

Rating: 4.25/4.5 stars
Pace: Fast
Reminds me of: The Lying Game - Ruth Ware, Rock Paper Scissors - Alice Feeney
Read if you like: thrillers, twisty mysteries, stories of betrayal and loyalty, murder

I absolutely devoured this book in two sittings - easily could have binged in one session. From the first chapter I was hooked. Rather than one shocking discovery at the end (which, there is one), the book contained the perfect cadence of smaller twists and surprises throughout the story, which kept my interest the entire time. There were lots of small moments that kept me engaged as a reader - and surprisingly I was not bored once. I really enjoyed the seamless transition between points of view and periods of time. It gave the story a natural rhythm and was easy to follow.

This book is written from two POV's - a wife, and a dead woman, and bounces back and forth between two periods of time - "before" and "after" 0r "then" and "now"... It is a story of Amanda and Max, and Pippa and Gabe. For one couple, it was a marriage of convenience and status. For the other, it was a marriage of passion and devotion. For both, there is a test. How far would you go to protect your family? How many excuses are you willing to make? How many lies would you tell? Would you kill for the ones you love? When all is said and done...who is left standing?

There may be triggers for some (listed below) and there is discussion of suicide and mental health.

Synopsis:
The book opens with the death of a woman. Pippa and Gabe Gerard are the proud owners of a beautiful beach house along the cliffs of Australia. It appears to be the perfect place for them to start over with their two little girls. Unfortunately for the Gerards, the scenic views are not the only attraction. The cliffs are a popular place for people who wish to end their lives. Gabe develops a reputation in the town as the "local hero" who has talked many people off the ledge, literally, with his natural effervescence and charm. Until Amanda.

While Pippa calls the police, Gabe appears to try and talk the woman out of jumping. When Pippa looks up, the woman is gone, and Gabe is standing at the edge of the cliff with his arms reaching out towards the ocean. The woman's death is ruled a suicide, and Pippa prepares to finally be the one taking care of her husband, as he is always taking care of everyone else. However, there is something in the back of Pippa's mind that she can't quite understand. Why were Gabe's hands facing the cliff? Why does the woman's husband insist she didn't jump? Who is she?

Through the perspectives of Pippa and Amanda, Sally Hepworth guides the reader through the investigation and all of the events in the past that lead to the moment of Amanda's death. Each character has a story to tell, and the reader will constantly question who is telling the truth - is it the golden boy, with the reputation of a saint? Is it Amanda's business mogul husband, who hosts charitable events on mental health and suicide? Or, is it the dutiful wife, who would do anything to protect her husband?

TW/CWs: suicide, murder, mental illness, affairs (bipolar/psychosis)

Book: The Soulmate
Author: Sally Hepworth
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Pub Date: April 4, 2023

Oh my word!!! This my friends is a great book! Sally Hepworth hit it off of the cliff with this one! (You’ll get it when you read the book.) She is one of my favorite authors and I didn’t even realize this book was on the horizon until seeing it on NetGalley. I finished this book in two sittings. This book is definitely a domestic suspense thriller and I loved all the twists and turns! This book really draws you in and keeps you there until the end. This is a definite must read! Well done!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this sneak peak! Publication date is April 4, 2023

Thank you so much NetGalley and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for the early e-copy of The Soulmate. This book was unputdownable! So many clever twists and turns, I flew through the pages in anticipation of the next discovery. My first novel by Sally Hepworth, now I must read all her previous books.
Highly recommend.

To say I was elated to get to read the new Sally Hepworth book would be an understatement! I read this book in one day, I started it and immediately was hooked. The Soulmate is a domestic thriller filled with lies, betrayal, and murder. However, I appreciate how this really looked at relationships and how we all value different things in our relationships. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the opportunity to read this ARC! I will definitely be recommending it when it debuts next year!

A twisty domestic suspense. Pip and Gabe's marriage seems perfect with their two adoring daughters, but underneath the facade things are far from ideal. They live near a suicide cliff, but Gabe is known for talking troubled people out of taking their own lives. Until Amanda goes over the cliff. But, what really happened? And why is Gabe being so secretive?
The Soulmate is an interesting concept. Written in different POVs between then and now, it offers readers a glimpse into what really is happening between the two marriages (Pip/Gabe and Amanda/Max). Plenty of secrets, lies, and unpredictability.

I was offered the opportunity to read The Soulmates and I’m so glad I did. Sally Hepworth has done it again! I love how her books have twisty plots and secrets that keep you guessing until the end. This is a quick read as you won’t be able to put it down! As always, I am looking forward to what she comes up with next.

I read this SO quickly and loved it! I haven't read anything by Sally Hepworth before but Ive seen her name a ton. I was excited to be able to read her upcoming domestic thriller novel. The cover with the beach drew me in and Im so glad I had the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this. It kept me on my toes and had me guessing until the very end. Which is exactly what I look for in a thriller. I was quickly invested and captivated the entire time!

One day read that I could not put down! Sally Hepworth is a go-to author for me and this might be her best one yet! A fun and twisty thriller about two seemingly perfect marriages that end up having a LOT of secrets and lies! This is a page-turner that builds to the last amazing pages! So so appreciate if NetGalley and St Martins Press for making this available as a read now selection. Five big stars!

Pippa and Gabe’s beautiful seaside cottage seemed like the perfect place to raise their two daughters. But darkness lurks right outside the home, where a cliff overlooking the ocean has become a popular suicide spot. Gabe has a gift for talking potential jumpers off the edge, making it his mission to save as many as possible— but one day, he’s unsuccessful. When Pippa discovers that they have a connection to the latest victim of the cliff, the woman Gabe didn’t save, their lives begin to unravel.

I could NOT put this one down! The way the author gradually reveals more of the story, like throwing out breadcrumbs, is so beautifully done. It really draws you in. I didn’t see most of the twists coming, making it such an enjoyable read. Highly recommend this book if you like domestic suspense— Sally Hepworth is a master of the genre!

Read this if you’re interested in:
💍 Marriage
🔍 Mystery
💔 Betrayal
🪦 Murder

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Soulmate literally took my breath away and made me cancel my entire Sunday plans! I just sat as my face glued to my e-reader, excitedly devouring each chapter till the late night.

This book has tragic love stories, reflecting dark sense of humor of Hepworth perfectly! Twists are mostly surprising and unforeseen! Especially the last one: broke my heart and made me scream a lot!

This book is about what women can do when they hopelessly and a little madly in love! It’s great approach to the anatomy of toxic and dysfunctional relationships, real pain and deep suffering to deal with mental illnesses!

It affected me more than I expected! This is great psychological thriller but also heart wrenching romance story!

Here’s quick recap of the plot:
Pippa and Gabe Gerard are happily married for seven years, with two adorable daughters, buying their dream house that resides at cliffside in a sleepy, small coastal town outside Melbourne. Pippa’s family including her parents, her newly expecting sister and her wife living close to them. They seem like picture perfect family.

Gabe is stay at home father, taking care of their children after a tragic incident he’s getting through and Pippa is estate lawyer, practical fixer, breadwinner of the family.

They didn’t realize their house is located so close to the cliff which is a POPULAR SUICIDE POINT to jump off! One day Gabe sees a person close to the cliff and he approaches to talk with him. After nearly seven hours later, the man walks away! Gabe saves his life! And he convinces six other people not to jump, too! He becomes a local hero, giving an interview to the newspaper!

But one day a woman in early fifties approaches to their house. Pippa watches Gabe and the mysterious woman through the window: seeing her husband arms outstretched, palms facing out, standing close to the woman. And woman falls down! Did she really jump or was she pushed down? But her kind hearted husband cannot be involved in something so sinister, can he?

Could Pippa see things from different perspective? Even though the woman’s death is ruled as suicide, there’s something rattling Pippa that she cannot put finger on!
When she learns the identity of the woman, her heart sinks! She knows the woman before and this information can ruin everything about their lives.

We’re going back and forth and read the events from two POVs including Pippa and Amanda ( dead woman)! Their perspectives give us enough information about secrets, lies they kept about their marriages. Nothing as it seems and get ready to expect the unexpected!

Overall: as always I give any Sally Hepworth book five stars! I’m loyal to my tradition so I’m giving my well deserved, five deliciously twisty, heartbreaking, psychological thriller stars!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this AMAZING digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

Pippa and Gabe and their two daughters live in a gorgeous house on the end of a cliff. The views are perfect, but the spot is known for people in despair who plan to jump off the cliff and end their lives. Gabe has talked several people off of the edge, and one night he goes outside to approach and help a woman standing there. But when Pippa looks out the window, she sees Gabe standing there alone, with his hands out in front of him.

What really happened on that edge of the cliff? Who was the woman? Is there more to the story? This book was full of twists and turns as new clues are uncovered and different connections are revealed.

Sally Hepworth has become a master of suspense novels, and I think this her best yet.
Pip and Gabe have a beautiful house by the sea but unfortunately their cliff is the spot where people come to commit suicide. Gabe has successfully saved 7 people by talking them out of jumping until the night a woman shows up. Pip watches from the window as Gabe talks with the woman, but she turns her head away for a second and missed the woman jumping. Both are devastated,, and even more so when they realize the woman is Gabe’s ex boss wife. Coincidence or not?
We learn about the two marriages through the eyes of the wives, past and present, developing a fuller picture of each relationship. Filled with complex characters, intricate plot and full of non stop twists and turns up until the end, this is a must read.

I always enjoy her books and was excited to read this one. I felt like it was solid—she is great at elevating domestic and relationship drama into the mystery/suspense arena. However I think there was some structural issues and one tangent that should have been more fully developed.

Rather than flipping back and forth in both woman’s timeline, it would have been better to have to open with Amanda at the cliff then go back in time to lead up to it with the timeline converging like 2/3 in then going forward in the present time. None of the reveals were that shocking so they felt anticlimactic in just because of how they were written out of order. They would have hit better if written in chronological order.

I also felt like the Mei storyline was truncated. She worked at the same business and knew of the illegal activity. Did her wife know? What was their relationship actually like? Did Mei hide things from her? Did her sister know Mei worked for a sketchy company? How did their parents end up with two daughters who’d marry people with dubious morales? I felt like the ball was dropped a little here. Maybe Mei shouldn’t have worked there at all since it wasn’t explored.

That said, I enjoyed the book a lot and the setting was a lot of fun.

I was gifted an advanced copy of this book by the publisher, and given that Sally Hepworth is one of my favorite authors of psych thrillers, I could not wait to start reading it. It did not disappoint…those pages turned quickly! Such a gripping mystery filled with lots of fun twists and turns, and perfectly paced. As a mental health therapist, there were a couple of times I thought, “c’mon, you can do better than that!” to the mental health professionals in the book, but that was my only small frustration. A most intriguing and satisfying story…strongly recommend!


Thank you very much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I'm a fan of Sally Hepworth’s novels. In this one, Pippa looks out her window and sees a woman standing at the edge of a cliff where people have been known to jump to their deaths. While Pippa calls the police, her husband Gabe goes out to see if he can calm the stranger. Something strikes Pippa as odd in how her husband holds out his hands when the woman drops to her death, but she doesn't mention it to the police. I kept reading to find out if her husband had pushed the woman and I wondered if Pippa would tell the police what she saw. The author is so skilled at writing about relationships and the complex nature of marriages. I loved how she drew us into the characters’ lives and felt as if I was living in a house at the edge of a cliff, holding my breath, not sure what would happen next. My only negative comment is I thought the pace slowed with “Then” and “Now” chapters and "Before" and "After." We’d just get going chasing the story question and “then” we’d go into what felt like a slower backstory chapter. But I can see why the author wrote it that way. A great ending and I loved the book!