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.

The Soulmate

A Novel

By: Sally Hepworth

Publish Date: April 4, 2023

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Mystery and Thrillers

200 Book ReviewsProfessional Reader

I would like to thank both NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

Book Review:

I really enjoyed this book, and I gave it 4 stars. It wasn’t what I expected in the book. This book is about a young family who has moved to a house that is close to a cliff, and they have had several people come by to take their lives. Gabe the husband has been able to talk the people out of jumping. Then one day a lady comes to the cliff and Gabe is talking to her, but she goes off the cliff to everyone’s surprise. Who is she and why did she jump? Pippa is worried because she soon finds out that they knew her so now she doesn’t know what to think.

What I like about this book is the surprises in the story that come up. I also like the fact that Pipa’s family is there to help them and support them. I like the fast pace of the story and the intricate details. The families in this story aren’t perfect and that makes for a great story.

I really loved to premise for the story. A couple moves into a home that is right next to place commonly used for people to take their own lives. The dichotomy between the beautiful beach and the disturbing act committed there creates a very spooky feeling. There is also a feeling of hope because her husband is able to talk people off the ledge. However, that all changes one day when he isn't able to stop a woman. There are many twists and turns in this book but I felt some of them were easy to see coming.

Pippa realizes her husband, Gabe may not be as great of a person or father as everyone thinks he is. Pippa learns of Gabe's secrets, but still maintains he's a good person. I enjoyed this book and it was full of twists and turns until the very end!

DNF at 30% I’ve tried so hard to finish Sally’s new books but nothing has hit as hard as The Good Sister did. I’m disappointed.

Solid 3.5 ⭐️ for this psychological thriller which kept my interest throughout. I enjoy reading this author and this book was no exception.

A twisty and wild ride. The ending will stun you.

A beautiful house with a beautiful view. The downside: a cliff that's known as a suicide hot spot.

Pippa and Gabe are in love and busy raising their family. Since moving to this house, Gabe has become a local hero for talking strangers into stepping off the ledge and to safety. When a woman shows up to the cliff and Gabe tries to talk her down, Pippa watches a struggle and then the woman falls over the ledge. Did she jump? Because it may have looked like she was pushed?

Amanda is said to be having a hard time. We know she ends up at Pippa's house, but was her death an accident or murder?

We follow both women on this path to the truth and will encounter details and uncover facts that will make you gasp.

This was a fast paced thriller with a unique look at marriage and love. Will make you question you concepts of marriage and devotion. How far would you be willing to go for the person you love ? Would you murder for them?

Soulmate by Sally Hepworth is a gripping
domestic thriller that delves into marriage,
mental health, and the secrets we keep
from those we love. The story follows
Pippa and Gabe, a seemingly perfect
couple living by a cliff known for attracting
people in distress. When one woman's
death raises unsettling questions, Pippa
begins to unravel the truth about her
husband and their life together.

Hepworth expertly blends past and
present narratives, building suspense
while exploring the complexities of love
and morality. The novel's psychological
depth and unexpected twists keep readers
engaged.

Soulmate is an emotionally charged, thought-provoking read perfect for fans of psychological suspense.

Thank you, Netgalley and St Martin's Press, for this opportunity to read Soulmate by Sally Hepworth

The Soulmate is a fast, easy read that sweeps you right along. The novel is beautifully layered. Alternating narratives add depth and insight to the characters. Hepworth does an amazing job of incorporating components of mental health into the plot. Toss in a completely unexpected plot twist for good measure, and you have a book that will be tough to put down! I highly recommend The Soulmate for your next weekend read.

Rating: 3.0

Review:

I have read several Sally Hepworth novels in the Past with Darling Girls being my absolute favorite. I will always read books by this author and her books have always been between 4 and 5 stars. I'm trying to figure out why.The premise appealed to me but I will say that my interest waned about 2/3 in and it wasn't a long book. The setting was good, the characters were just ok and the ending left my shrugging my shoulders in a "whatever" sort of way. I will say that this book won't deter me from reading more from this author in the future.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for a free copy of this book.

Blurb:

Picture a lovely cottage on a cliff, with sloping lawns, walking paths, and beautiful flowers. It’s Gabe and Pippa Gerard’s dream home in a sleepy coastal town. But their perfect house hides something sinister. The tall cliffs have become a popular spot for people to end their lives. Over the past several months, Gabe comes to their rescue, literally talking them off the ledge.

Until one day, he doesn’t. When Pippa discovers Gabe knew the victim, the questions spiral. . . .Did the victim jump? Was she pushed? And would Gabe, the love of Pippa’s life, her soulmate . . . lie? As the perfect façade of their marriage begins to crack, the deepest and darkest secrets begin to unravel. Because sometimes, the most convincing lies are the ones we tell ourselves.

This mysterious thriller was such and amazing page turner that kept my interstest for the whole read. The characters were like nothing I have ever read. I loved the how tragic they ended up being intertwined with each other.

Love Sally Hepworth! Her books are thriller, mystery, intrigue. She will always have a spot on my TBR list.

Gabe and Pippa move into their dream house, but there’s a catch, their home is right by The Drop, a set of tall cliffs that is a popular place for those wishing to end their lives. After talking several people down from the ledge, Gabe becomes a local hero, until one night when he cannot save a woman. The death is ruled a suicide, but Pippa discovers that Gabe knew the victim. I really struggled to get into this one. None of the multiple POVs really resonated. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the free copy.