The Soulmate is the story of Pippa and Gabe, a couple who lives by the sea and frequently save people from jumping. Until they couldn't save Anna, and their life starts to unravel. Gabe, Pippa and Anna are more closely tied than they realize, and the lies and history in their past just may be the end of their happy little family.

The story itself was fine, but I felt as though so much of this was unrealistic. There was gangs and shady violence. Ultimately, I understand why the ending comes about and I think it was believeable, but what seemed far-fetched to me was that Gabe's mental illness goes unrecognized for what it is, despite it being classic symptoms of this diagnosis.

I also disliked the way much of this book demonizes mental illness. As if people can't be good partners with mental illness, and people are just waiting for their partners to realize that they don't deserve to live with someone with mental illness. It was just really troubling and ultimately the annoying mystery, plus the demonizing of mental illness, ruined this book for me.

This is my first book by Sally Hepworth. I don’t usually enjoy contemporary mysteries, but became surprised at how quickly I dove right into this plot. I needed to know what was happening in this family! This book is a good selection if you want a book that will hook you quickly and make you keep coming back to see every bit of resolution.

Sally Hepworth nailed it with The Soulmate. I was riveted from the beginning with the loving couple, Gabe and Pippa and their dream house looking out to the water. Unbeknownst to them, the edge of the property is a steep cliff frequented by people looking to end their lives. That seems like a huge liability, but Gabe has a way to talking to these individuals and turn them around until one of them jumped.

Told in dual voices, Pippa and the deceased woman, past and present. This is a great perspective and adds to the suspense as secrets and relationships are slowly revealed. I literally could not put this book down! The pacing is accelerated by short chapters that fly by.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press.

Sally Hepworth’s The Soulmate is a twisty domestic thriller that explores marriage, mental health, and the secrets we keep from those closest to us. When a woman dies near the cliff behind Pippa and Gabe’s home, questions arise—and so do suspicions.

Hepworth’s writing is sharp and emotionally layered, with characters who feel real and flawed. The psychological tension builds steadily, and the ending delivers a satisfying punch.

Perfect for fans of:

The Wife Between Us
Domestic thrillers with emotional complexity
Stories about love, loyalty, and betrayal

𝙈𝙮 𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝙈𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨:

This one had me flipping pages fast, but it also left me with that deliciously unsettled feeling Sally Hepworth does so well—where you think you know what’s happening, and then realize you absolutely do not. The setup is instantly compelling: a house on a cliff, a woman in crisis, and a husband whose “help” might not be what it seems.

I liked how the dual POVs let us sit inside both Pippa and Amanda’s minds, giving texture and tension to the mystery as it unfolded. The theme of soulmates, and how love can teeter on obsession or control, was handled with nuance—and just the right amount of creep factor. Some reveals felt a little convenient, but the pacing and emotional undercurrents kept me hooked all the way through.

A smart, twisty domestic suspense that explores the cost of loyalty and the lies we tell ourselves to keep our lives intact.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Sally Hepworth for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Soulmate is available now!

1000/10 recommend! I LOVED this one. I'm such a huge fan of Sally and her last couple didn't hit as hard for me, but when I read this one I thought, "She's back!" It will definitely be a top read for me this year.

Sally Hepworth is an author I tend to turn to when I want an easy suspenseful mystery that I know I will get lost in. Her writing style is easy to read and flows nicely. The story effortlessly goes from start to finish without all that extra fluff.

Sally Hepworth is an amazing writer and I think this may be one of her best books. It has wonderful characters that you can cheer for (or wonder what secret they are hiding). I enjoyed the multiple POV and dual timelines.

It was good- twisty, and fast paced. Kept me wondering and guessing. Not my top thriller of the year, but definitely liked it.

This book made me a Sally fan. I was not sure if it was something I would enjoy based on the synopsis, but after seeing so much hype about this one, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it.

3.5 stars

Gabe and Pippa buy their dream home in a small village overlooking a cliff, where Gabe stays at home with their two daughters. Over time, Gabe builds a solid reputation for saving people who want to die by suicide off the literal ledge.

However, after Gabe fails to save a young woman (Amanda) from jumping to her death, and Pippa realizes that they actually had a connection to Amanda, everything begins to spiral out of control.

Told from the alternating viewpoints of Pippa and Amanda, this is a quick read, although it felt more meandering than twisting. The supposed big twists just weren't shocking, especially with how much I didn't like one of the main characters from the beginning.

Trying not to give any spoilers here, but this may be a slight one, so stop reading now if you don't to know, but I will vaguely say that as the characters’ backgrounds were revealed, I struggled with whether there was a good explanation as to why anyone, but especially Pippa, kept trusting Gabe (especially with their children, businesses, money, relationships, etc.), and I never found one.

This was an interesting premise, but it did not live up to the promise of a thriller that would keep me on the edge of my seat.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. It did not influence my opinion.

The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth offers a warm, emotionally driven story exploring the unexpected connections that can shape our lives. The writing is heartfelt and engaging, and the central relationship is relatable, though the narrative occasionally meanders and leans into familiar tropes. While the book is comforting and enjoyable in parts, it lacks the emotional depth and intrigue that Hepworth’s best work provides.

Sally Hepworth does it again - her books are always a must read for me and she never misses. The characters were all really interesting, the backstories built up in a great way, and the reveal came at just the right time!

I have come to expect a great read that I cannot put down anytime I pick up a Sally Hepworth book--The Soulmate was no exception. The different POVs made this one very intriguing. Overall I will continue to pick up Sally Hepworth's books every time they come out.

The Soulmate has a very good plot. Pippa and Gabe buy a house on a cliff that turns out is a common spot for suicides. Gabe gains some local notoriety by literally talking people off the ledge. But one day, a woman he talks to goes off the edge of the cliff. It's ruled a suicide, but was it? As Pippa learns more about the woman, she discovers Gabe knew her and starts to question if the woman jumped or if Gabe pushed her. I thought this book was excellent, well written, and had a compelling storyline.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of The Soulmate in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Gist

Sally Hepworth’s The Soulmate promises a suspenseful domestic thriller with emotional depth, but it struggles to deliver on both fronts. The premise is intriguing: Pippa and Gabe, a married couple, live in a house perched near a cliff where people often come to end their lives. Gabe has a reputation for talking people down—until one night, a woman falls. The mystery of her death drives the plot, but unfortunately, the execution falls flat.

The Details

The story alternates between two points of view: Pippa, the wife dealing with the aftermath, and Amanda, the woman who died. This dual narrative should build tension, but instead it slows the story down. Pippa’s inner monologue quickly becomes repetitive, and Amanda’s chapters—told from beyond the grave—feel more like exposition than insight.

Hepworth attempts to explore themes like mental health, trust, and forgiveness, but these threads never fully develop. The characters’ decisions often don’t make sense, even within the emotional logic of a thriller. Gabe is supposed to be charming and complicated, but his personality shifts so often that he ends up feeling hollow. Pippa, on the other hand, seems passive and disconnected. She spends more time thinking in circles than taking action, which makes it hard to root for her.

The pacing also suffers. Moments that should be suspenseful are bogged down by long flashbacks or conversations that don’t move the story forward. The twists arrive late, and most of them feel predictable. What could have been a gripping psychological unraveling instead turns into a slow march toward an underwhelming conclusion.

One of the most frustrating elements is the emotional disconnect. Hepworth has handled complex family dynamics well in her previous novels, but here the relationships feel surface-level. Even the central marriage—meant to be layered with love, lies, and betrayal—comes across as thin and hard to believe.

In the end, The Soulmate tries to do too much. It wants to be part mystery, part domestic drama, part moral reflection. But by trying to cover so much ground, it doesn't do any one thing particularly well. The story has a strong hook, but the characters lack depth, and the plot lacks urgency.

The Verdict

Overall If you're a fan of fast-paced thrillers with sharp twists and emotionally complex characters, this one may disappoint. The concept is strong, but the storytelling just doesn’t live up to the promise.

Sally Hepworth is such an incredible thriller writer and this story is no different. I am a fan and enjoy all that she has written. Highly recommend

I enjoyed this, and will keep reading Sally Hepworth. She’s a trusted author and soulmate was interesting. A book I’d recommend.

A fun quick story full of mystery. Very well written and characters you can't help but love. Sally Hepworth always gives us an addictive mystery and will always have a place on my shelf.

This is story is by an author that I have enjoyed reading from the first book I picked up. I enjoy her writing style that make her characters come to life on every page. This is a well written story about Pippa and Gabe. They own a dream home that has been known for people to kill themselves. Gabe has been talking some down until one day he doesn't. This is where the thriller really kicks in and the story takes a turn. You don't want to miss out on what happens with them next. I enjoyed these characters and how easy they made the story to read. They are strong characters that had me wanting to know more. I enjoyed watching the growth of this story throughout which just added to the story's entertainment value. I found this book to be fast paced, engaging and hard to put down. I look forward to seeing what is next for this author. I highly recommend this book.