Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: April 4, 2023
I have had the pleasure of reading the last three novels (of seven) by best-selling Australian author Sally Hepworth, and was overjoyed to receive her newest work, “The Soulmate”. An emotional look at suicide and mental illness, and the promises and commitments we make to those we love, this novel is engaging, addicting and thought provoking.
Gabe and Pippa have moved to a beautiful cliff side home with their two daughters, hoping for a new start. But as they soon discover, their house by the bluffs is also a popular suicide location, bringing locals and tourists alike to their own deaths by jumping over the edge. Gabe seems to have a natural knack for literally talking people off the cliff, and has been publicly praised for his life saving abilities. Until the day when Amanda Cameron falls. Pippa sees the woman fall, and Gabe, once again, claims he tried to save her but failed. But when Pippa uncovers the identity of Amanda, and realizes that Gabe knows her better than he claims, Pippa begins to question if Amanda really did jump, or if something more nefarious took place. How far will Pippa go to protect her husband and her idyllic life?
“Soulmate” is narrated by both Pippa and Amanda, before and after the jump (Amanda narrates from an in-between afterlife state), but each section is clearly labeled and it is easy to identify who is telling the story. Hepworth is able to provide the nitty-gritty details of both womens’ marriages by telling the story this way, adding to the mystery and suspense of the plot.
Gabe struggles with mental illness, and Hepworth’s depiction is fraught with reality and compassion. As Pippa creates her entire life around Gabe, to protect him and their children, Hepworth is still able to generate empathy for Gabe, and sympathy for Pippa, while showcasing the devastating familial effects of a serious mental illness. Just in this aspect alone, Hepworth gets my full respect.
The story itself is fast paced and gripping, and I flew through the pages. There are enough twists and turns to keep you guessing, and when the ending finally comes it hits with an unexpected punch. Hepworth has yet to write a disappointing novel, and “The Soulmate” is just another one of her creative, entertaining and suspense-fueled reads that leaves me anticipating her next novel!

Kept me hooked the whole book trying to figure out what actually happened. Rooted for the characters and so happy with the ending!

Alrighty so for this one, I’m giving it 3.5 stars. This wasn’t a bad storyline, I just couldn’t really seem to connect to it or the characters. I really wouldn’t classify this one as a thriller, but more of domestic suspense as this centers around marriage, betrayal, and secrets that all come to light in this book. I’ve read some others by this author that I’ve enjoyed a bit more; this one just wasn’t one of my favorites. There’s a lot of great reviews for this book, so I wouldn’t discourage anyone from checking this one out.

Gabe and Pippa finally bought their dream house on the scenic cliffs in England. Sadly, the scenic cliffs have become a well known spot for folks to end their life. In their short time since moving Gabe has gained a reputation for saving folks considering jumping. However, one night when he goes outside the person still jumps. However, things get messy when Pippa finds out that Gabe knew the person who jumped.

It's been awhile since a book has had me up late into the night trying to squeeze in just one more chapter. Sally Hepworth is an amazing author and I had high expectations that this book exceeded! Not only is this book full of twists it tugs at your heartstrings and exudes raw emotion. I would not be shocked if this is one of the best books in 2023.

When I initially found this book posted I knew I had to read it, because I have enjoyed Hepworth’s previous books so much. It was no surprise to me how much I loved this book. Hepworth knows how to grab your attention, keep you invested in the storyline and leave you with your jaw dropped. I found myself going back and forth on how I felt about the characters. I really enjoyed the different perspectives in which this story was told. The ending really brought it all together. I will definitely be recommending this to my fellow reading friends!

I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

Sally Hepworth is an amazing author and she does it again! Lots of twists and you really feel for the characters throughout the whole story.

I will read anything Sally Hepworth writes! I love her short chapters and compelling stories with characters you aren’t sure whether you like or dislike. This story is so propulsive and I love that she give you a few twisty breadcrumbs at a time to keep the story moving quickly. The ending really surprised me, which I loved! I can’t wait to see what else she writes.

This thrilling tale of true love and heartbreak was a real page turner. I’m usually good at predicting how the plot will go, but this one left me guessing. I also liked both of the main characters. Phipps made a few bad choices, but she learned from them by the end. I don’t mind characters who make mistakes because it makes them more relatable. Amanda was also a likable person. Her advantage was that she was an omniscient entity which helped to pull the story together. On a mine note, I appreciated how the kids were so realistic. They were a mix of good and misbehaved like all kids. The ending really tied it all together. Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy.

This story had me hooked for the first 30% I couldn’t read fast enough but then it kinda dragged for me. The overall story was good but I just wish there was more twists and turns throughout or it be a shorter story.

I love the tension in Sally Hepworth books! I'm not sure why I enjoy being stressed out in this way, but apparently, I do. This one starts with a dark, ominous feeling almost from page one. We have a couple that has recently purchased a home on a cliff. It has a beautiful view, but also has an unfortunate reputation for being a known suicide spot for cliff-jumpers. One of the new homeowners, Gabe, has taken it upon himself to try to talk people down from the ledge on several occasions. Until, one day, he is unsuccessful. As the story progresses, we learn that things aren't quite what they seem and nearly everyone has a secret relating to this suicide.

I read over half of this book in one sitting. I thought the pace slowed down a bit in the middle, but the twists and secrets kept me interested. I also did not predict the ending and I love to be surprised. 4 stars!

*Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an ARC for review purposes.

This is the first novel I've read by the Australian writer Sally Hepworth, but certainly not my last. This author seriously brings everything to the table. There were so many twists and turns that I found myself thinking that there was no possible way that the book could be tied up in a satisfactory manner, but it definitely was.

Pippa and Gabe live on the coast with their daughters just across the road from a cliffside known as "the Drop" that is known to be a popular spot for suicide jumpers. Gabe has managed to talk a number of them out of jumping, but one night things go wrong.

This novel is about two marriages and the deep connection that each couple has with one another. It is a wild ride, and I can easily imagine an excellent tv series made from it. Highly recommend for lovers of puzzles and tangles, and thrillers that have just the right amount of tension. Good luck putting it down!

Thanks very much to the publisher, MacMillan, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC copy.

Pippa, a lawyer, is married to Gabe, currently a stay at home Dad of two.
They have 2 daughters Freya and Asha. They moved to Portsea into a coastal home that is near a deadly cliff that several people come to jump to their suicidal deaths.

One night after dinner, Gabe & Pippa see a person through their kitchen window and Gabe goes to see who it is.

Max is married to Amanda. Max is also Gabe’s ex-boss.
His wife comes to the cliff and falls to her death.

It’s a slow burn of domestic suspense,filled with murder and mental health stuggles. It did take me a while to get into it.

Much thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and Author for this ARC to read and review, I did enjoy it very much.

3.5 Stars

The Soulmate
A Novel
by Sally Hepworth
I did LOVE this mystery very much. I gave a very crushing review, not meant for The Soulmate at all. My deepest apologies to the writer Sally Hepworth, the publisher, and NetGalley. This book was so very very well written. It did have me locked into each page. I saw how so many people went down the wrong road and things became tragic. I was jaw-dropped in the last few chapters.
Again, my apologies, as I was posting for another on Amazon and realized my huge mistake!!

This book was a page turner. I couldn’t put it down. So many unexpected twists and turns. The plot was very unique and kept my interest throughout the entire book !

I’m a big fan of Sally! I love the way she writes books & how she develops characters. I always think she does a fantastic job! I also really love that the chapters are pretty short- that usually allows for you to get through her books faster IMO!

This book was just not it for me. It was a thriller, it wasn’t mysterious, or even suspenseful. I didn’t care for the story line, or for the voice of someone who was dead. (I found that pretty odd.) I thought the ending of fine, but didn’t send shock waves like her books usually do. I also felt like This book had more curse words and more sexual content than her other books did..

My favorite characters were the two little sisters- they were sweet as pie.

Thank you St. Martin's Press, Sally Helpworth and NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Thrilling. Addictive. Captivating.

This book was a true, heartbreaking, tragically beautiful love story of two couples who in the end found happiness of their own accord .

In this book Sally explores the misrepresentation of marriages and the difference between what you see, and whats actually going on behind closed doors .

All the details are carefully planted via the "before" and "after" of Pippa and Amanda . Each has their own story to tell . And you get little drops of the entirety that leaves you hanging on and begging for more . The short chapters help with the over all flow and easygoing nature of reading this book.
Though heavy material, the story keeps you hanging on for dear life .

Trigger warnings include mental illness.

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the killer ARC !

“Sometimes, the road to our destination leads us in a direction we don’t want to take. But does it matter, in the end, if it gets us where we want to go?”

Is there anything you wouldn’t do for your soulmate?

Praise for Sally Hepworth! In her newest novel, The Soulmate, which examines marriages – the good, the bad, and how far you may go for your family, Hepworth delivers a page-turning domestic thriller. This gripping tale follows Pippa and Gabe, living in what they thought would be their dreamhouse, but which looks out onto a cliff, known as The Drop, where numerous people come to end their own lives. Gabe, charmer he is, has convinced 7 people not to jump – until one night, when a woman commits suicide with Gabe standing nearby. However, when Pippa finds out that the woman was Amanda, Gabe’s old boss’s wife, she has more questions – especially because Gabe lied to the police about knowing the jumper.

Told in dual point of views from Pippa and Amanda, this book had it all! – drama, twists, infidelity, money, power, and love and family. Filled with dramatic, domestic suspense, this is a thriller that you will quickly read and enjoy. As more information comes out, Pippa and Amanda both learn how “dangerous it can be, thinking that you know someone.”

I was consumed by this book from page one and read it within a two-day period – which is rare for me with work and kid’s activities. Hepworth’s characters stand out, and she really tries to convey what it is like for individuals living with mental illness – and the toll on the immediate family as well. “Funny how love can remain, despite everything.”

I’m surprised I didn’t put the ending of the book together sooner, but that just goes to show you how well Hepworth writes! This book combines love and marriage with the deeper aspects of marriage, such as truth, trust, loyalty and the like. Reminds me that things are not always how they appear on the outside looking in. I will recommend this novel and buy it when it comes out in April 2023 to pass around my friends to read. 4.7 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC! All opinions are my own – my only complaint is that I didn’t read it sooner!

“We trust people based on the strangest, most arbitrary things, none of which have any bearing on whether or not you are inherently good.”

Hepworth does it again!

When Gabe and Pippa move to their dream cottage off near the edge of a cliff, they find themselves waking up to breathtaking views ... but also? The cliff is a known place for individuals to take their lives. Gabe quickly becomes known as a savior, having talked numerous individuals out of jumping....

.... until he doesn't.

..... and there is a connection to that person that both Gabe and Pippa have.

I could not put this book down! The ending was shocking (I'm still not fully sure what to think) and everyone wasn't who you thought they were. I love Hepworth's ability to divulge just enough throughout the book to keep engaged (and unable to put the book down).

Thank you, Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

While I enjoyed the fast-paced nature of this book, I overall did not feel like it fit into either mystery or thriller for me. too many small twists are incorporated throughout the story that once The Big Twist was revealed at the end, it offered no shock value or real relevance to the story. I did like the dual perspective narration from two women in vastly different marriages, and thought the exploration of their relationships with their husbands and their roles in their marriages was an interesting theme.