Thanks to NetGalley & SMP for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sally Hepworth is a worthy readalike for Liane Moriarty, and, like Moriarty, she has been venturing more and more into suspenseful plots. She also seems to like leaving the reader in a bit of a muddle at the end (The Younger Wife did this well, leaving nothing wrapped up in a bow at the end), and it sort of happens in this book, too, with some plot points left unresolved.

Gabe & Pippa meet cute and fall in love. We start off in the present day, where they live in their dream house, situated near a cliff overlooking the sea. Unfortunately, it's a popular spot for people to jump off and kill themselves - Gabe has saved 7 people to date, talking them off the cliff edge. Because, we are led to understand, that's just how Gabe is: he's charming and is the kind of person everyone automatically likes.

We go back and forth in time, going over Pippa and Gabe's relationship and its ups and downs, and there are UPS and DOWNS. Gabe can't seem to stick at one job. When he's feeling successful in work, he ends up going out and drinking to excess with coworkers after hours, sometimes not coming home till the next morning. Eventually, he comes home obviously having been undressed (he's missing a sock), and admits to Pippa that he's had a one-nighter with a barmaid. Pippa is devastated, but Gabe is the love of her life! They move past it.

Gabe goes on ADHD medication, and that helps a little, but eventually his behaviors start ramping up again. Meanwhile, in the present, a woman has stood at the edge of the cliff outside their house, but jumps? while Gabe is talking to her. Her reason for jumping (?) is that her husband has been unfaithful. The cops show up, but Gabe lies to them, telling them she was a stranger. He also lies to Pippa. The woman is his former boss's wife. We are led to understand that there was an incident between Gabe's boss and Pippa. and Gabe lies to Pippa so she doesn't feel guilty. Who does this? It's ridiculous.

We continue in this fashion, until Gabe and Pippa have a baby, who is then joined by a baby of Gabe's - his one night hookup has DIED and her child needs parents, and Gabe is technically the parent (surprise!). Pippa accepts this baby into their family. She loves Gabe and he is her soulmate! Gabe gets fired from his high paying executive job, but luckily Pippa is a lawyer so money is no problem. Gabe sinks into depression, barely getting off the couch, but finally is diagnosed with bipolar disorder (ding ding ding give that doctor a cookie, how did no one see this? I realize that it's not unusual for bipolar to go undiagnosed but, damn! I thought we'd come further than this). He goes on to be a stay at home dad to the two kids and they move to the dream house.

Pippa's family members move too, to be close to them, but then we find out that her sister and her wife, as well as Pippa's parents, moved bc they know that Gabe is unwell and they are concerned for Pippa. Yikes!

We also get chapters from Gabe's boss's dead wife, both before and after her death, so we understand how she came to be up on that cliff. That whole things is a bit of a letdown, but basically revolves around a misunderstanding. But it leaves us understanding that Pippa "feels guilty" about what is basically a non-incident with the boss, but will forgive Gabe anything, possibly even murder.

I can't say I didn't enjoy this book, but it's SO far-fetched. It's frustrating to watch Pippa making decisions and acting on the basis of "Gabe is my soulmate! I love him!" I'm sure there are women who do this, but Pippa forgives more than the average person would ever forgive, by a large percentage. The ending is inevitable, but still left me feeling a little cheated. She endured cheating, a love child, etc. etc. but they split up in the end? And Gabe is his boss's dead brother's kid? OK, sure. Well, it's a book. It's supposed to be entertainment. This was entertaining, and I will continue to read Sally Hepworth, but I do hope she reins it in a little next time.

“If the facts are with you, argue the facts. If the law is with you, argue the law. If neither is with you, confuse the issue.” is a quote attributed to many lawyers, including Oliver Wendell Holmes. It’s a favorite with law professors as a way to teach upcoming trial lawyers how to argue a case.

The writing of this book adheres to the above. It was Total Confusion. The plot was weak (at best), the characters wandered in and out of their prescribed personas, and what was the conflict?

The big question was “did she jump or was she pushed?” The second question was “and why?” Neither of which was worth 300+ pages.

The style of the book was alternating chapters of Then and Now (or maybe it was Before and After) and utilized at least 2 POVs to tell the story and various backstories. That only served to throw the entire plot (or lack thereof) into chaos.

There were endless literary devices utilized to keep the reader reading, but even those didn’t save this book. I’ve enjoyed others by Sally Hepworth, but not this one.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I wish my review could be better.

This is one of my favorite reads of 2022. I had never read a book by Hepworth before and after finishing THE SOULMATE, I bought two more books by Hepworth. Interesting to see how she’s improved as a writer in style and technique (though I really enjoyed her earlier novels as well). There were several lines in this novel that blew me away - I had to stop reading for a moment to take them in. Outstanding book.

4 stars. *

I've been a fan of Sally Hepworth ever since I discovered her while on a beach holiday and found one of her books on a shelf in the villa we rented. I'm pretty sure I've read everything she's written and they have all been gripping.

The Soulmate might be her best yet.

All of her books take place in Australia and they are domestic thrillers. This one features an unusual marriage, mental illness, infidelity, attempted suicide, and a fantastic head-scratching twist.

I HIGHLY recommend this one to my friends who enjoy thrillers.

*with thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for this honest review.

This was really easy for me to read, the author caught my attention from the very beginning. I wasn't able to predict what was coming, I kept changing my thoughts on who was involved and why. I really enjoyed the authors written style and how she slowly revealed the characters history together. Thank you NetGalley for the advance readers copy.

Thank you NetGalley, the publishing team, and Sally Hepworth for allowing me to read this ARC. Holy moly - that was a delight! I’ve read two of Sally’s books, but this one takes top! Once I started this, I couldn’t put it down. It wasn’t major twists that leave your jaw dropping, but it was a well constructed story that will keep you hooked to the very last word!

This was such a fun read. This is my second read by Sally Hepworth, and it didn't disappoint. There were a lot of twists and turns that I wasn't expecting, and had me thinking about the book long after I finished reading it.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley, and Sally Hepworth for the ARC. I will definitely be recommending this book to everyone I know!

I was so excited to have been approved for this book through Netgalley. The description had me hooked. I have been looking for something "twisty" for a while and found it. Just when I thought I had predicted what would happen, she would throw in another twist. Right up until the end. I'd love to see this turned into a movie on hulu/netflix.

Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy.

Sally Hepworth has become one of my go-to authors when it comes to suspense. I would not classify this book as a thriller, but more of a domestic suspense novel.
Mainly set on the edge of a cliff, Gabe and Pippa live just at the edge of a suicidal hotspot. Gabe has a track record of talking people down from jumping. One night a woman jumps from the cliff, but Gabe was unable to stop her. Did Pippa seem him push the lady? Or did she see him grabbing to save her? Did he know the victim?
This was a twisty and gripping novel that left you needing to know what was coming.

I read this book in one day and it was very fast paced. I did not find it predictable, which is always something Hepworth is good at. Hepworth's novels always bring such an element of surprise that I can never predict what is happening next. A great, solid, quick read with drama, suspense and betrayal. How well do you know the person you are married to?

Anyone who's ever been married has surely experienced some ups and downs in their marriage, but hopefully nothing like what these people have gone through! You may even feel a little better about your own relationship after embarking on this wild ride by Sally Hepworth, the queen of domestic drama. The characters in this book have some deep secrets that will have you madly turning pages to discover. We delve into their mental illness, and develop empathy for their struggles, but also realize that mental illness is not necessarily an excuse for poor choices and bad behavior.
Is it worth the cost for the breathtaking view and beach access afforded to the residents who live at the cliffside drop? Did Amanda jump, or was she pushed? Who is really to blame for this tragedy?

First, thanks to @netgalley for the advance copy! Secondly, ummmm wow!!! I kept thinking I knew what was going on, but I didn’t. I couldn’t figure it out and as you know, that’s always good in my eyes.
The story centers around a family whose husband seems a tad erratic and a wife who’s overly protective. Then everything just continuously fall apart. What I found I liked most about this story is the protagonist seems to be willfully unaware of what’s really going on around her and you just really wanted her to wake up! I won’t say when she does, but I found myself saying, “well it’s about damn time!” 😂 Anyway, very good story. Highly recommended. Can’t wait for the US release so I can get me a physical copy.

Happy Reading 📖

Sally Hepworth. I fell in love with her books when I read The Mother In Law, then I had to have more and I thank my lucky stars I received an ARC on NetGalley so I didn’t have to wait until next year to read it! This was SO GOOD!

Hepworth is the master at the twisty, domestic drama, suspense that is a slow build to a big crescendo. I really enjoyed this one! I love that Sally peppers in real life issues with the funny, banal, daily happenings of family life. You could tell, if you follow her Instagram, that she added in funny mannerisms, anecdotes and behaviors from her kiddos and husband.

Our story follows Pippa and Gabe as they move to the coast and buy a house overlooking The Drop…an infamous suicide spot. Gabe finds his calling in talking people off the ledge, literally, until one day he doesn’t and things quickly unravel into something more sinister. Was there foul play, does Homicide get involved, or was this simply another lost soul lost to The Drop? Hepworth craftily weaves a story of suspense, mystery and drama to all come to a head in the final pages that I for one never saw coming.

This was a fun ride! Thank you Sally for yet another smash hit of a book!

All the thumbs up!
1. Love Sally Hepworth and everything she writes - this did not disappoint!
2. The plot has secrets, betrayals and lots of twists!
3. Fast paced, character driven


Trigger Warnings: Discussions surrounding suicide, murder, adultery, substance overdose, and mental illness.

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

Expected publish date: March 2023

This book had me from the start. It was suspenseful and yet held a lot of compassion. Do yourself a favor and read this book.

This book exceeded my expectations, I could not put it down! It starts out with what seems like an idyllic family living on the coast and turns into a shock so surprising I didn’t see coming!
Pippa is a hardworking mom just trying to provide a good life for her family. With what seems like the perfect husband to support and love her what could go wrong? But not all is what it seems....

The author introduces the topic of mental health. Hepworth does a great job of portraying that this disease not only effects the person battling it, but also those around them. That even the best of us can deal with mental health and how to love for one going through this.

I give this book a 5/5 stars. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the e-book ARC of “The Soulmate” by Sally Hepworth.

The Soulmate is the latest psychological thriller by bestselling author Sally Hepworth. Gabe and Pippa seem to have a picture perfect life, beautiful daughters, supportive family and a dream home set on the picturesque seaside town. However, they quickly realize that living by ‘The Drop’ is not what it is cracked up to be, in fact the place is known where suicides occur. On one fateful night Gabe and Pippa’s lives change forever and new lies, betrayals and dangers arise and slowly erode the once seemingly perfect marriage.

What I like about this book:
-dual timelines of past and present, as well as alternating chapters told by different characters
-beautiful and quaint seaside Australian town especially the cottage belonging to Gavin and Pippa
-excellent character development, thought flawed they were likeable
-the twists and turns that I did not see coming! It kept me wondering what will happen next

What I didn’t like
-I would have preferred less of the business/work side but it does add to the unfolding of the plot

My rating: 5 stars out of 5

Trigger Warning- suicide, mental illnesses

My final takeaway: I highly recommend this twisty domestic thriller, it is well written with great characters and will keep you guessing until the end.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for this eARC.

Ah, I wanted to love this, but it ended up being just okay. I did enjoy it, and the short chapters made it really easy to read. I did not see the twist coming, and I wish there was more about that than just a quick explanation at the end, because the second half of the book got a bit repetitive. Still worth a read!

Pippa meets Gabe when she is at her worst. But he is drawn to her and she to him. Thye marry and eventually sett le in a beautiful house with their children - but the cliff side home near Melbourne has "The Drop" - a notorious location for people who are ready to take a final jump. As we get to know the gorgeously charming Gabe, Pippa ad their family - we learn there is a multitude of trouble in paradise. In trye Sally Hepworth fashion there are many twists, turns, and surprises. I couldnt wait to get back to reading this one. I love Sally's books - as her writing style just works for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the digital ARC of ”The Soulmate.” After reading my first Sally Hepworth novel in 2019 I was hooked and read all of her other novels thanks to my amazing library. I was thrilled to get the ARC of her latest book and it did not disappoint. I was immediately hooked by the plot and the alternating viewpoints of Amanda and Pippa were very effective. Alternating between past and present also helped tell the story in an effective way that kept me guessing as to what really happened. I think the strongest part of Hepworth’s books are her characters and how relatable they are. They have their strengths, flaws, and authentic relationships with others. I highly recommend this book!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the advanced readers copy.

There is plenty that made this a really enjoyable read. Distrust and secrets within relationships, death, and accident vs murder. Each of these characters had their secrets, and in a way many of these secrets influenced other characters.

Secrets, drama, and suspense we’re all present in a fast-paced read.