Sadly this one was underwhelming for me!

The concept is fascinating, and Sally's writing very tense. I enjoyed the dual pov/four timelines, and how they all wove in and out of each other, and it all seemed to ramp up to something big. However... there weren't any really big plot twists, save one good one that surprised me about 3/4ths of the way through. The whole premise of the book relied on some rather big misunderstandings that were pretty underwhelming. I wanted MORE--more motivation, more reasons behind everything, more twists. More tension. Max and Amanda were compelling characters, but I had such a hard time with Pippa, and didn't want her to have a happy ending, haha.

Also, the random insert at the beginning and in the middle about Covid/vaccines/etc was very jarring!

Sad to not have loved this one, but thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this arc!

-A

When Pippa and Gabe find their dream home in a sleepy coastal town, Pippa thinks it’s the new beginning they both need. However, their new home is located near a well known suicide spot called The Drop. At first it seems that Gabe has found a new purpose after literally talking several people off the ledge. However, Gabe can’t talk everyone down and when a woman he knows commits suicide, Pippa must face the truth that some things can’t be ignored and the love of her life might be a liar.
The Soulmate is a complicated murderous love story that you won’t want to put down! I love how Hepworth was able to spin a suspenseful tale while also bringing awareness to the importance of mental health. As always, her characters are quirky, genuine, and endearing. Pippa and Gabe reminded me a little of Lily and Ryle from It Ends With Us. I had lots of feelings over the ending of this one. The story isn’t wrapped up neatly and the characters have to make some hard choices to protect the ones they love. You might need a few days to think about this one!

Sally Hepworth is at the top of her game with this latest domestic thriller! The Soulmate is a complicated murderous love story that you won’t want to put down!

✨𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨✨

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: The Soulmate
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Sally Hepworth
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs:
If Sally Hepworth writes it, I’m absolutely going to read it. I went into The Soulmate blind, and I’m so happy that I did! She’s absolutely the queen of domestic suspense and this one did not disappoint!

Pippa and Gabe have just moved into their dream home, but they soon find out that there is more than just the house on their property. What locals refer to as “the spot,” lies at the back of their property, where people will go to end their lives. Gabe has become somewhat of an “angel” for many people that have gone to The Spot - spending time talking with them and quite literally walking them off of the ledge. However there comes a night where he couldn’t save someone. And to make it even more interesting— the woman that he couldn’t save was connected to him. Pippa questions what she sees through the window.. why were Gabe’s arms outstretched like he may have pushed her? And when he lies to Pippa saying that he didn’t know her— suspicions rise. Pippa works to uncover the truth, and so many more secrets are revealed.

This book touches on so many real issues including mental health struggles and infidelity. Told in alternating POVs between Pippa and Amanda (stuck in limbo before passing on) I found myself enjoying both POVs equally and needing to know exactly how all of the pieces were connected.

This book publishes in April 2023 — be sure to add it to your TBR! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

In The Soulmate, lovebirds Pippa and Gabe, and their two little daughters, move to a lovely coastal cottage, without fully realizing that the picturesque cliff is a popular suicide spot. They discover that Gabe has an uncanny ability to talk people down, though, and he prevents seven suicides simply by talking to them. The eighth stranger who turns up upset and alone on their cliff turns out to be less of a stranger…

Overall, The Soulmate was just ok. I think it will definetlt reach a certain audience just don’t think I’m in it. It has that wonderful tense Sally Hepworth feel of wondering who to trust and who’s twisting the truth, who done it etc, Yetit kinda felt like the whole book was a fakeout. I like to be able to guess a little bit of a thriller, but it’s less interesting when the baddie is too clear and obvious. For that reason it didn’t keep me engaged to keep reading yet when I was reading it was ok Ian’s just not a strong desire to finish. Like I said this will be a hit among many Hepworth fans, I’m just not one of the gung ho ones!

Hepworth delivered an intriguingly twisted book complete with a fascinating plot, memorable characters and a dark sense of humor that I absolutely loved and devoured.

There are very few books that grab my attention from the jump and then keep it. Talk about a top notch page turner. Hepworth did a FANTASTIC job at leaving subtle cliffhangers at the end of each chapter leaving you guessing and wanting more. There were several little twists leading up to the big twist at the end- each one having me come to a different conclusion only to find out in the end that I was totally wrong. Isn’t that what we all want in a mystery/ suspense book?

This book is written in two POV with a now timeline and a then timeline which seems overwhelming but it’s written so well that it’s not confusing. Having both perspectives gives you enough insight on the lies and secrets that these marriages are carrying that you…just…can’t…stop…reading until you know the whole truth. Be prepared for the unexpected in this heartbreaking, twisty, emotionally charged physiological thriller.

I will definitely be binging the rest of Hepworth’s books and keeping an eye out for any new ones!

This is my first book by this author and I’m a fan!
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This was a twisty, turny domestic suspense read that centers around two women, their marriages, and a death.
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I really enjoyed it. Each chapter was a new turn or twist in the story. I found myself not sure who was the “good guy” and who was the “bad guy”, it definitely kept me on my toes.
It was a page turner for sure!
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This book will not disappoint readers!!
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Thank you @netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book!

The Soulmate was such a good book! I love books with a plot twist that I didn't see coming and this one fulfilled that for me for sure. I was already a fan of Sally Hepworth because of her books, "The Good Sister" and "The Younger Wife". After reading "The Soulmate", I will go back and read the rest of her published books because she is THAT good.

Love love loved! I did a lot of ignoring of my family members because I didn’t want to put this book down. Loved the character development. Loved the twists and different story lines. Loved the shifting perspective between then vs now and the two female characters. Really enjoyed this one!!!

I've read and enjoyed books by Sally Hepworth before, so when I first heard about The Soulmate it had me intrigued. I'm always partial to domestic thrillers and this story is filled with murder, mystery, and marital woes. However, not everyone's woes are out in the open. The characters in this story have a knack for keeping things to themselves (isn't that always how it goes?) and that's part of what keeps the story moving.

The Soulmate focuses on two couples whose lives are intermingled, and yet as a reader you don't really get the full story until the final chapter. There's Pippa and Gabe, a young married couple who share two children and have just started their new lives in a beach cottage on the cliffs. And then there's Max and Amanda, a middle aged couple who have worked hard for the lavish life that they live, and won't let anything get in the way of that.

I liked that the story was told in alternating voices because it really helped my to understand where Pippa and Amanda were coming from. Throughout the story things unraveled slowly, which meant that I really didn't want to stop reading and devoured this book in just a few days.

I enjoyed that while something felt off about the relationships in this story, I couldn't quite put my finger on why. I remember that being the same way with another Sally Hepworth book I read called The Good Sister. The information is divulged little by little and as a reader you just have to hurry up and keep reading to find out.

I recommend this book if you too enjoy thrillers about ordinary couples doing, well... less than ordinary things. I felt the ending was satisfying and can't wait until the release in 2023 when I can recommend this book to all of my reader friends.

Sally never disappoints and this was no exception. Very well written and absorbing the story kept me up late into the night reading! She is a great author.

Yet again Another wonderful book! Totally recommend you’ll love this story or Gabe and Pippa. Sally knows how to talk about hardships in life but does it in a light sense of way so it isn’t as heart reaching but you get the just of things. I always wish her books were longer! I’m a nurse so the way she wrote this book I was able to understand and say she wrote it perfectly right on point!

Soulmate is another winner from the Queen of Domestic Thrillers. Sally Hepworth has undoubtedly earned her place as a must-read author. The story is gripping as the view of the perfect family situation starts to disintegrate with new events and a background that comes into focus.

Gabe and Pippa move to a new home outside Melbourne with picturesque coastal views and a calm atmosphere where they live with their two daughters. The only danger is that the house is situated at a local location known as The Spot – where the high cliffs provide the ideal place for unfortunate people who want to end their lives. Even that aspect, Gabe manages to turn into a positive as he earns the reputation for talking people back from this ultimate choice.

From inside the house, Pippa watches Gabe approach another person looking to jump, and she more or less expects him to do what he has always done and talk her back to safety. Only this time, as she glimpses back, she sees the woman gone, and Gabe in a stance that seems complicit in what she has imagined has just happened. The mental turmoil she feels, wondering if her husband could be capable of killing someone, wondering if his mental state, which has always been a cause for concern, has broken down.

Sally Hepworth structures the story brilliantly as she slowly unravels the characters and motivations, with reveals enticing us to read and discover more. Gabe has a complicated past, and their marriage is also recovering from an affair. There are many surprises as we learn that Gabe knew the woman as his previous boss’ wife. The police have questions, and they uncover more questioning details. Gabe’s old boss, Max, is a powerful man and would have the means for retribution if he thought Gabe was involved in his wife’s death.

Soulmate is a great story but not exceptional, hence the four stars, but there is much to enjoy, and Sally Hepworth certainly knows how to tell an intriguing and twisty tale. I want to thank St Martin Press and NetGalley for providing a free ARC in return for an honest review.

Wow I loved this book! Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy! I loved the psychological and domestic aspects of this thriller and the inside look we got into two very different marriages. I thought that the alternating timelines between past and present gave a particularly interesting view into the lives of these two couples, and it was fun to try to piece together what had happened in the past to get these couples to their tumultuous lives in the present. I also appreciated the mental health representation and how Gabe’s bipolar disorder was depicted. I don’t have bipolar disorder myself, but I felt that this representation was accurate.
There were so many fun twists and turns that I didn’t see coming which made me really happy because I enjoy being surprised. Plus I loved how these characters were morally grey but you still wanted to root for them. This is truly one of my favorite thrillers I’ve read this year (and favorite books in general) and I can’t wait to buy a copy when it comes out!

The multiple timelines keep this story intriguing. The fast-paced plot and the complicated layering of the characters kept me engaged. Quick read full of twists and turns.

The trouble with being such a recognizable and popular author that readers expect all of your books to be winners. This one missed the mark. A family buys a home overlooking a cliff. Even with a few reservations, because of the dangerous cliff), it was quite a good deal in a great neighborhood with spectacular views. Then the day came when a woman was seen at the cliff's edge, and everyone is afraid she'll jump (like others have been known to do in the past).

I wasn't invested in the story OR the characters (well, maybe the grandparents) and didn't feel the urgency to keep reading until I was about 3/4 though the book. I have to say that it was a disappointment to me after reading her other books.

Rating: R mostly for language
Reviewed on FB so far. Amazon says that this book cannot be reviewed! ??

Thank you St. Martin's Press, Sally Hepworth and Netgalley for providing me this arc.

This was a fast paced read that leaves you wanting answers to many questions. Everything you begin to think, you find out you’re wrong about, it was an easy to read thriller.

Two couples. A suspicious suicide. Secrets and betrayals are exposed in this twisty, page turner by Sally Hepsworth, which reminds readers that nothing is ever quite as it seems.

Told through alternating perspectives, The Soulmate centers around two couples - Pippa and Gabe and Amanda and Max. And in this story, love is patient; love is blind.

Our guides on our journey are Pippa and Amanda. An attorney by day, Pippa lives with her husband, Gabe, and their two children in a idyllic coastal town. Their lives appear to be almost perfect - if only they didn’t have a popular suicide spot in their backyard! Locals consider Gabe to be somewhat of a hero, as he has a penchant for talking people off the ledge, literally and proverbially. But there’s one person he’s not able to save. Enter Amanda. Amanda, tells her story from… SPOILER ALERT… beyond the grave (don’t worry, this is a quick reveal). As the story unfolds, readers will inevitably wonder, did Amanda jump or did Gabe push her to her death?

If there was a soundtrack for this novel, The Chords’ Sh-Boom would almost certainly be the main theme, playing beautifully in the beginning and distorting as we near the end. I can almost hear it playing on an old record player behind me as I write this review:

“Life could be a dream.
If only all my precious plans would come true.
If you would let me spend my whole life loving you.
Life could be a dream, sweetheart (do-roo-do-do, sh-boom).”

Hepsworth is at the top of her game, and it shows. I loved the way this novel slowly manipulated my senses - clouding my judgment and leaving me wanting more. Hepsworth has crafted a beautiful mystery that asks the question, “How far are you willing to go for the ones you love?”

“Sh-boom. If I could take you to a paradise up above.
Sh-boom. And tell me, darling, I'm the only one that you love.
Life could be a dream, sweetheart.
Hello, hello again.”

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for providing an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a fan of this author. She has a way with a twisty thriller that has hear. I think The Soulmate is her best yet. A plus thriller. It was unputdownable. I thought the way she constructed the story was brilliant! I highly recommend this book and this author.

I will read anything Saly Hepworth writes & The Soulmate did not disappoint! I enjoy her writing style & how she structures her books. I love how she always captures relationships in a realistic way. Loved it!

Another page-turning domestic thriller by Sally Hepworth that I couldn't put down! The short chapters and storyline pulled me in immediately, and I read it in just a few days. Big thanks to NetGalley for the Read Now digital ARC!