This is a story with many layers. A sweet couple with beautiful young girls live in what seems like idyllic little ocean side cottage, except that the ocean is at the bottom of the cliff they love atop of. So already, it's some serious foreshadowing of the downhill slide the picture perfect family slides. There was a lot of mention of different types mental health issues, mainly ADHD and bipolar. With PTSD and depression. If any of this is hard for you to read, this is not the book for you. The illnesses are painted in such a way that it should not be a mark against someone's character. That the sufferer needs support and guidance. I truly enjoyed this book.

I absolutely love Sally Hepworth books, and her writing!
This book was no disappointment. This is a suspense novel along domestic lines. The couple in this tale, Gerard and Pippa have moved into their dream home in a small town outside of Melbourne.
They wanted somewhere where they could raise their two daughters and give their marriage a refresher. Every time something seems too good to be true, it is usually the truth. There is a cliff by their house that Gerard has found an uncanny ability to walk people back from using that cliff to commit suicide. He is unable to save one woman, and that changes the course of things.
Thank you to #netgalley for the opportunity for this #arc

The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth

A seemingly perfect family in Australia happens to buy a home next to the infamous spot called “The Spot,” a cliff where people are known to come to commit suicide.

The husband Gabe has become a local celebrity for his ability to talk people down from the ledge, but one night he isn’t able to stop a woman from jumping. Initially he says the woman was a stranger who was distraught over her husband’s infidelity, but as time goes on and the police continue to investigate the situation, more and more is revealed about Pippa and Gabe that complicate this narrative.

I always love that Sally Hepworth writes about adorable Australian towns, with short quick chapters and multiple POVs. I don’t think this is my favorite of her novels though, mostly because I wasn’t sold on the ultimate motive or the ending. However she’s always one of my absolute favorites and I will automatically read everything she writes, she writes fun mysteries with a lot of character-driven family drama.

When a book keeps you up all night even with all the lights on and a Disney show playing in the background, you know it's been done well. Sally Hepworth builds a world and then intimately dismantles it leaving you guessing and panicking with every twist and reveal. I will be thinking about this story for weeks.

The Soulmate is set to be published on April 4, 2023. Thank you to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley and the author for the ARC.

Thank you for an advanced copy of this book! It was a great quick read, with lots of twists and turns you don’t see coming. 5/5 stars!

Gabe and Pippa Gerard move into their cliffside home believing that this is the dream house for their family; but, there is one caveat, at the edge of the property is a cliff also known as the “the drop” and a well-known suicide spot. Over time, Gabe becomes well-known for his abilities to change the mind of those who visit “the drop,” saving countless lives. Until, one day a familiar woman shows up and Gabe is unable to save her as she steps over the edge into the sea below. Pippa, his wife, sees this from the window and what she sees doesn’t add up. When the woman’s identity is revealed, questions flood in from multiple sources; but mostly from Pippa. As she works to unravel this mystery, her life as she understood it is turned upside down.

This was an engaging, fast-paced book with short chapters and an intense plot. For me, there were elements of the book that were hard to love: infidelity and suicide and while the ending made sense given the title of the book, I just didn’t like it. I feel like there was quite a bit of conflict in the book, and not great resolution which sometimes works but sometimes doesn’t. I encourage others to give it a try as I’ve seen a lot of 5 star reviews for this one.

Very interesting premise that got me hooked in the beginning. The first half was intriguing and I wanted to see where it was all going, but then the pacing got really slow and all the chapters felt similar and I felt like I was reading the same sections over and over.. I didn't particularly like any of the characters (except for the little girls - they were cute) so I wasn't as invested in what happened to them as I wanted to be. Overall, I'm glad I tried it out but not my cup of tea.

I had high hopes for this one. I've enjoyed some of Sally Hepworth's work in the past and the premise of this one sounded promising. Unfortunately, it didn't quite get there for me. None of the characters were sympathetic - and most of their actions didn't make a lot of sense. (ex. Who moves to a house next to a notorious suicide cliff and assumes their small children won't get too close just because you said so?!) The whole dead woman speaking from beyond the grave thing didn't work.The "twist" was borderline silly. Not her best work, I'm sorry to say.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an eARC. The following is my honest review.

This is my first Sally Hepworth read and I don’t believe it will be my last. It’s a dark, twisty thriller that will leave you guessing up until the very end. It is told in multiple POVs and past/present tense.


Trigger Warnings: Suicide, Mental Illness, Infidelity

A fast paced, one of a kind story. I loved all of the twists and turns of this thriller/love story about marriage and loving yourself.

I really enjoyed this read! Wow!

With every new chapter, a new twist was waiting. I enjoyed the different perspectives of Amanda and Pippa, then and now. It was 4 different perspectives but was super easy to follow.

I always enjoy a perspective from the dead, I think because it is so unique in books and hasn’t been done often.

Definitely recommend this read, it was a wild ride!

This was a great read. A slow unfolding of the relationship dynamics between two couples resulting in a crescendo of dark secrets. Well done.

Book Title: The Soulmate
Author: Sally Hepworth
Publisher: Saint Martin’s Press
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Pub Date: April 4, 2023
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⚡ Stars!

Gabe and Pippa Gerard are so excited to be moving into their dream home with their 4 year old daughters – Asha and Freya. It is a cliff side cottage in a sleepy coastal town in Portsea located a few hours out of Melbourne. At edge of their property is a sandy path knows as “Millionaires Walk’ as it has both million-dollar views and million-dollar homes.
This dream house is located on a cliff known as “The Spot” - a place where people went to commit suicide. In a years’ time Gabe has actual been able to talk seven people down. He is known as the “Suicide Whisper“- he has always been - a run toward a burning building kind of a guy.

However, one night he tried but wasn’t successful. Pippa was watching from their home. The death was ruled a suicide; it seems the victim was devastated over her husband’s infidelity. However, when Pippa was watching she saw Gabe’s arms outward – palms down - not in a grabbing position (which is something told NOT to do as the victim can pull you down) but what looked like pushing.

Pippa finds out Gabe knew the victim. Now confused as to what really happened that night.
Does Gabe has secrets and can he be trusted?

Story is told from the POV of Pippa- then & now; and Amanda - then & after
Story kept me guessing just as things develop ~ switch ~ yep POV goes to the other person.
Love the twists and turns.

Aww Another great Hepworth read!

As always I love reading the ‘Acknowledgements’.
Sally Hepworth tells us about her original idea for this story and how it ‘morphed’ into something else.
Her last comment in the ‘Acknowledgements’ shows us her sense of humor.

Want to thank NetGalley and Saint Martin’s Press for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 4, 2023

Wow-excellent!! The Soulmate is so much more than expected, I could not put it down! Told from two different viewpoints and from past and present . The story line grabs your interest and keeps you wanting more until the very end. I appreciate the opportunity to read an ARC from NetGalley and the publishers.

Book synopsis:

“Gabe and Pippa Gerard have just moved into their dream house: a cliffside cottage in a sleepy coastal town outside Melbourne. It’s a fresh start to their marriage, and the perfect place to raise their two young daughters. But the house’s perfect façade hides something more sinister: The Spot, where the tall cliffs have become a popular place for those wishing to end their lives. After talking someone down from the ledge, Gabe becomes a local hero, saving person after person… until one night, he doesn’t. And Pippa sees Gabe the moment after it happened, standing alone at the cliff’s edge, arms outstretched, palms facing out.
The death is ruled a suicide— Gabe said it was a stranger devastated over her husband’s infidelity. But when Pippa discovers that Gabe knew the victim, she has more questions than answers.”
- - - - -
This book was very unique in the domestic drama/ mystery genre.
Flipping back and forth between point of views and timelines, kept me guessing for the whole book. It also had the unique aspect of providing a point of view from a dead person. I loved that. It gave the reader direct first person insight and knowledge into the victim and their history.
The biggest thing about The Soulmate is no one is as they seem. There are many secrets, lies and psychological issues in Gabe Gerard’s life, and each piece of his history unravels even more of the mystery.
EVERYTIME you think you know something, guess again!

Four stars, great story!
Read if you enjoy psychological thrillers, mysteries, domestic dramas with multiple points of view and duo timeline.

I was immediately sucked into this book. It has both alternating narrators and multiple timelines. It also starts with an event you don’t fully understand. All this adds up to a book I can’t put down. When every chapter ends with questions, I must know!!

Pippa, Gabe, Max and Amanda. Everyone has a secret. Just when you think something isn’t adding up a twist hits. A ghostly narrator also gives this book depth you wouldn’t get otherwise. You are there like a fly on the wall. Very creative.

This book had so many twists and turns. As soon as I thought I had a character figured out they changed.

This was a great book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope she writes more! I am totally hooked!

All I can say is READ THIS BOOK!! I could not put it down. The Soulmate is so much more than I expected!

I love Sally Hepworth’s books and The Soulmate was exceptionally amazing. An idyllic family enjoying their new start in a small, charming beach community is suddenly thrown into life-threatening chaos. Through an appropriate amount of twists and turns, the truth of their past lives unravel as it all catches up with them. The Soulmate was full of suspense and surprises, and the characters and relationships Sally creates are incredibly engaging and complex. I’ll definitely recommend this to my friends!
Thanks to Net Galley, Sally Hepworth, and St Martin’s press for the advanced copy to read and review!

I would probably read Sally Hepworth’s grocery list if she published it. She is a master of domestic suspense novels and this one is no different.

Tons of twists and turns, kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Puppy has the perfect husband…. Or does she?