Pippa and Gabe and their two young daughters live in a home close to a cliff known for prior suicides. Since they moved in, Gabe has saved multiple would be jumpers simply by talking to them. But there’s one, at the opening of the book, he fails to save. What happens after is the basis of The Soulmate, the forthcoming book by Sally Hepworth.

The Soulmate just didn’t do it for me. I just could not get invested in the plot nor did I find myself caring for what I thought were superficially drawn characters. The big reveal? Meh.

My thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing an ARC of the book.

Wow! I absolutely loved this book. I enjoyed reading from different character perspectives going from past to present day. I loved how original the idea of telling the story was, the kickoff pulled me right in. This was a true 5 stars for me. Without giving away too much, I really liked how we got to still hear from one certain character after she was gone.

The Soulmate was my first read from this author, so I really didn’t know what to expect going in. But I picked this up while in a thriller mood and it kept my attention. This is less thriller and just a domestic suspense that centers around 2 women and their marriages. It’s also has a dash of “was it murder or suicide?”

Pippa, her husband Gabe and their young children, moved to their cliffside home in Portsea, a sleepy coastal town a couple of hours out of Melbourne, a year ago. And in that year, Pippa has had to make 7 phone calls to the police about people lingering near the edge of the cliffs. Being from the city, they weren’t aware of the notoriety of “The Drop”, where the tall cliffs outside their home had become popular among those wishing to end their lives. Gabe had always been able to talk the people away from the cliff, he was even featured in a newspaper article about it. But at the beginning of the story, the woman he goes out to talk to at the cliff’s edge this time ends up at the bottom, and Pippa isn’t quite sure what she saw… When Pippa learns that Amanda was not a stranger, things get even more complicated.

We follow the lives in past and present of both Pippa and Amanda, the woman who fell off the cliffs. We even get some after chapters from Amanda, when she has already died, which was interesting. Lies, struggles, the good and bad sides of marriage, secrets, domestic disputes, raising children, mental illness, work stresses, and how long women are willing to try/how much they’ll overlook for the men they love. The characters were hard to root for or get invested in because they weren’t really like-able, but psychologically it was interesting to watch unfold. I think some of the work story in the middle got a bit much and I was always waiting for something more or something bigger to happen (it never did). But this was a quick read, which I appreciate it!

Thank you to the publisher (St. Martin’s Press) for an e-ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts in this review are my own. The Soulmate has a publish date of April 4, 2023.

My thanks to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a copy of this novel.

Pippa is madly in love with her husband Gabe, his magnetism is undeniable. They’re raising two young girls in their new home, located next to the Drop, a dangerous cliff where people have taken their own lives. Gabe has successfully talked multiple people into safely retreating, until one night one woman winds up over the edge. But when it’s uncovered Gabe knew the woman their seemingly perfect lives begin to unravel.

This is the perfect twisty domestic suspense novel. Short chapters, alternating perspectives and timelines kept me engaged and turning pages quickly. Hepworth kept surprising me with new information that constantly shifted my perspectives of the characters and kept me on my toes, ending the story in a way I never expected.

4.5 stars for this one. Highly recommend!

This was the best book I have read in awhile! I couldn’t stop reading and the ending was not what I was expecting but SO much better! I highly, highly recommend reading The Soulmate! It had me hooked from the very beginning and I love when a book gets my attention that early on.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my ARC in exchange for my feedback!!

Overall, The Soulmate was just OK. It has that wonderfully tense Sally Hepworth feel of wondering who to trust and who’s twisting the truth, but it 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. Disappointing "reveal" and disappointing ending. I’ll still get the next Hepworth domestic thriller, though, because I loved The Good Sister and The Mother-in-Law so much!

Another simply fabulous Hepworth story. If you have read any of her others and liked them, this is definitely for you. And if this is your first, be prepared to be blown away.
Pippa and Gabe Gerard seem to have it all: two gorgeous little daughters, a great house overlooking the sea and a very loving supportive family. The only downside is that the house faces a cliff that is known for its suicide jumps. Gabe is considered a local hero who has managed to talk down several jumpers until the night he fails and the stranger, a woman, jumps to her death.
Or does she? The police begin investigating and the story absolutely takes off as secrets begin to come out in to the open and all of a sudden the real question is: who WAS the stranger and did she really jump?
Great characters, terrific storyline with murderous undertones.
Riveting and completely unable to be put down.

As soon as I see Hepworth’s name on Netgalley, I immediately hit request! She has quickly become one of my favourite authors the last few years & her thrillers are so amazing.

The book starts with what appears to be a perfect couple. So right away you ask, what’s really going on & how long till the other shoe drops? And it drops big time. Hepworth is one of the best at writing about people having secrets & the slow unraveling of them. The unique choice of having the couple live next to a popular suicide spot was so intriguing. As all the mysteries & secrets are unwrapped, I was quite shocked by some. The main four characters are not what they seem! So much to unravel but I’ll leave it vague so as not to spoil anything.

You really can’t go wrong with reading Hepworth’s books, she’s one of the strongest authors I’ve read & I look forward to future works. Read this one & the run out & read her other stuff!

Ok, I will admit, I started this book thinking I knew the ending. Boy was I wrong. Hepworth had so many twists and turns I had no idea where the book was going to end up. I loved the surprises. In fact, I might venture to say Hepworth might be the author who has surprised me the most with unpredictability. Definitely worth picking up if you are a thriller fan.
One of my minor criticisms is that in the first half of the book the idea of Pippa’s soulmate description of her and Gabe is a bit unbelievable. In the second half, it is no longer the focus and the book improves immensely.

I found this book to be enticing very early on. The before and after dialogue was simply to follow. All the characters had a charm and features to both feel distrust for but care about also. I hated to have the book end and have already recommended it to others,

Sally Hepworth is a master story teller. She weaves tension and drama, and passion and suspense so seamlessly throughout the book. My "go-to" genre is romance/rom-com... which SH is not. BUT I never miss a chance to read her work and am rarely (if ever) disappointed. The push/pull, will they/won't they keeps me entertained and on the edge of my seat. I like how Hepworth's characters are strong women and a poor decision or unwitting mistake doesn't change that. The Soulmate is a story of love and questionable choices. It's the heartbreaking reality of mental illness and the impact it can have on everyone around. Definitely a must read!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book had a hold on me and I just couldn’t let it go. It’s emotional, all-consuming, and I loved every minute of it. The author noted that this book is “an unconventional murderous love story” and I couldnt agree more.

It’s a very character-driven story and they are all fully fleshed-out. The lines between good and evil are blurred, with many of the characters relatably flawed. The story largely functions in this grey area through the in-depth look into the characters’ lives and impulses. We are taken along on their journey towards growth and realization. The relationships are complex; the connections and revelations that come to light are delightful. And there are lines of humor that had me laughing out loud, offering comedic relief between all the darker moments.

There are multiple perspectives simultaneously coalescing to create the bigger picture. The plot is thought-provoking and it touches on many important themes. I found myself constantly asking what I would do in certain situations. This story really brings to light the idea that we shouldn’t make assumptions or judgements because we never truly know everything that’s going on in a person’s life.

I thought the representation of mental illness was done tastefully and respectfully. We get to see how mental illnesses can affect a person’s work, home, and social life, as well as the nuances of misdiagnoses and misunderstandings. I really appreciate the acknowledgement that a person is not defined by their illness and their illness cannot be used as a reason or excuse for violence. In the media (movies in particular), caricatures of the stereotypically worst-case symptoms are often used as a plot device and it really gives a bad rep for the many individuals who, in reality, suffer on a spectrum. Personally, I don’t agree with exaggerating mental illness as a way to heighten the dramatic effect, and this can be a sensitive topic for readers, so I was pleased that this story stuck to a more clinical context.

Recently I’ve been reading a lot of mystery-thrillers and have noticed the use of tropes for plotting that can be repetitive or too predictable - but not with this one. I was really trying hard to guess what was going to happen next and I never could figure it out. I loved being truly surprised, especially when those surprises were so plausible that I couldn’t believe I didn't see it coming. So many times I was left wondering how I was still being shocked. This was such a fun experience and kept me turning the pages.

This book wholly deserves all five stars! I can’t wait to hear everyone else’s thoughts. I feel like this is going to be a story that everyone will be talking about. It’s an exciting ride that will absorb you and leave you hanging onto every word.

When I read about a cliff behind a cottage that was known for people jumping off to their untimely demise, I said, “Sign me up (to read it)!” But I was soon disappointed to find this was just the background of the cliff and not really where the story was focused. The story instead was about a woman who suspected her husband was up to no good. And, without giving spoilers, there are secrets in the tale, but not the kind that get me excited.

I didn’t care for either of the narrators (duo timelines were OK, though). But the story just didn’t go the way I had hoped and also some of the dialogue and scenes seemed unbelievable (wait til you read the way the main characters met).

This was a fast read. I read it in two days, so all in all, not bad! Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan for allowing me to read this ARC!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Sally Hepworth, and NetGalley for gifting me an advance reader's copy of The Soulmate!

Sally Hepworth's novels are always on my list of books to read due to the suspense and family drama. The Soulmate has a great cover and premise.

Here is the setup: Gabe and Pippa have moved into a home in a coastal town on the side of a cliff in Melbourne. They are so excited about the opportunity to raise their children in this town. However, there is an unusual place near their home called "The Spot" where people are jumping off a cliff to end their lives. Gabe has been getting local attention due to his ability to save people from "The Spot." However, one day an unusual thing happens where Pippa sees Gabe out near the cliff and begins to have some questions. A woman has died and her death is ruled a suicide but when Pippa finds out that her husband knew the victim, she goes on a deep dive to find out what really happened.

This story kept me on the toes as I anxiously read to find out what was really happening in this story!

The overall storyline and premise of the book were good, but it left much to be desired.

Pippa and Gabe moved to a new house on a seaside cliff. They learned quickly that the location was less than ideal because it was a popular spot for people wanting to commit suicide. Gabe is a stay at home dad who was always home and able to meet the few people who came to jump. Gabe has talked the previous people out of wanting to jump, until one day Amanda shows up.

The book is told in alternating views between Amanda and Pippa. There are a few twists, but overall nothing huge. I was hoping for a major twist or a major thriller and it just wasn't there. In addition, the characters were bland and hard to connect with. There was also a lot of repetition so many times where I just skimmed because things had already been said or described.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my advanced reader copy.

There is not a book of Sally's I would not read. She is so very talented. It feels like I have it figured out then I am shocked by the end. It makes me realize what people do when they are crazy in love!

5*. I highly recommend this book. This fast paced psychological thriller begins with the apparent suicide of an unknown woman behind the house of Pippa, her husband, Gabe, and their two little girls. The cliff behind their house is known as a suicide spot. Most recently, Pippa’s husband has made a local reputation of being the suicide whisperer and talking several would be jumpers off the cliff, literally. When the couple spots a woman on the cliff who appears to be a would be jumper, Gabe rushes out to speak to her. While Pippa watches out the window, Gabe takes some unusual actions that are not recommended when talking to suicide victims. After being momentarily distracted and looking back, Pippa realizes the woman has jumped and her husband appears devastated. Although the cops appear to believe it to be a suicide, Pippa has some lingering doubts about what she saw. The story that unfolds after the apparent suicide is a twisty thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end. The story is told from the alternating view points of Pippa and Amanda, and is set in both the present and the past. It’s an engaging mechanism that works well for this story. Once you get started on this book, you will have a hard time putting it down until the very end.

This was definitely a different read. I found myself enjoying it though. Family drama, suspense, and work drama all tied into one complicated story. It also focused on life questions and dealt with the tough issue of suicide and tough family issues such as infidelity and many more. It is going to take me a while to process this one.

My new approach to disliking books by authors I have previously loved is to simply blame all of their latest releases on Covid. Sally Hepworth has been a go-to-gal for me and I’m the first to tell people they read her books wrong if they don’t’ like them. But not really, though, because I am nothing but kind and forgiving ; ) Really I blame the marketing. Her stuff is always released under the moniker of “thriller” or “domestic suspense” – which I guess is sorta true, but I have found once I get invested in the families she writes about I often forget there’s been a superbadawful that will eventually be explained.

Unfortunately that wasn’t the case with The Soulmate. I always love Hepworth’s characters and I immediately didn’t like either Pippa or Gabe. And the entire premise that there’s some “suicide death leap” (utilized by an absolute bevy of people every year because the hubbo has made a name for himself for being able to stop from taking their final leap since the couple moved in) that (1) hasn’t been secured in some fashion either by fencing or at least by some seriously bright lighting and surveillance to act as a deterrent or (2) that you would willingly move there (no matter what your finances) with two small children thinking they wouldn’t plummet to their own deaths just because you said stay back??? Well . . . . .WHO DOES THAT?!?!?!?!

“The Spot” most certainly was NOT a perfect place to raise their daughters as the blurb states. And the twist??? Meh. Not great, Bob. All that being said, this sucker is currently sitting at a 4.29 on Goodreads so I’m obviously the wrongreader here and your mileage most definitely may vary.

2.5 Stars.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!

I could not put this book down! The multiple povs helped put the story together and built on the suspense! A must read!