This was the first book that I've read by Sally Hepworth. I was excited to read this book after reading many glowing reviews of her writing style. Within the first pages I could see exactly what people were raving about. This book kept me hooked from the first page until the last page. The intertwining story lines, character development, and flashbacks kept the story moving and exciting. I went into this blind and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys thrillers/domestic thrillers. 5 stars, hands down. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

I am writing this while I still feel the surge of adrenaline this book gave me!

<b>The Soulmate</b> is an absolutely unputdownable suspense novel that caused a hot flush of irritation, combined with an icy chill with every insight I made page by page.

Every family certainly have their fair share of troubles and dysfunctional relationships, but The Gerard’s packaged up as a happy family step well out of line! They live in a meshwork of mental illness, infidelity, and criminality - way out of what I dared to imagine!!

The ending made me feel a bit sentimental *sniffing*.
Didn’t see that coming at all, though I had umpteen scenes swirling on my mind as to how the story could end. Not a chance!

This is my first novel by Sally Hepworth whilst I tremendously look forward to reading more of her impeccable writing!

Easy 5 stars! Highly recommend!

Thanks for NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honey review. 🙏

I’m honestly not sure how to feel about this book. The dark, rainy atmosphere really set the tone and pulled me in. I loved reading Pippa and Amanda’s POV. Both women were so different but they shared a common goal of standing by their husbands, Gabe and Max, no matter what. This book was very suicide heavy and discusses topics such a mental heath, infidelity, lies, corrupt business, postpartum depression, and so much more. I enjoyed the past and present writing style, but the story itself didn’t completely drag me in. I absolutely love how therapy and mental health is so normalized throughout the book because it is such an important topic, but I felt it was a bit overplayed, especially regarding Pippa. There were no jaw dropped moments for me. I feel like nothing happened most of the book besides learned how each of the characters past and slowly piecing everything together in the present. Although the book is marketed as a thriller, nothing thrilling or mysterious stood out to me or twists. I was dying for a little action or tension but never felt any even in the end. I wasn’t very satisfied with the ending but I am happy with the very little growth Pippa had. Overall, I thought it was an interesting concept and enjoyed getting to know each of the characters, but it didn’t quite meet my expectations

⚠️: suicide, infidelity, postpartum depression, mental health issues, ADHD, bipolar disorder

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- {THE SOULMATE - Sally Hepworth}

I love how this book came to be. Sally wrote it during the Melbourne lockdown, inspired by her WhatsApp chat with her girlfriends about the marital strains going on in their respective households. Needless to say there were endless discussions and suggestions on how to (jokingly) murder a spouse and Sally started writing this book 📖

Two marriages: one hot and heavy bordering obsessive from the get go,
the other slow burning and calculated, stemming from money but rooted in loyalty.
The drop is a local suicide spot on the cliffs behind one of the couples homes. When one of the wives falls to her death off the drop its ruled just another suicide, but as time goes on more secrets of the couples past and their connection to each other emerge and it seems it could have been a murder. Domestic suspense at its best told from the point of view of both wives past and present.

My only critique is that the “ah-ha” moments were more of just “ah” moments, nothing really got my pulse racing but I was still very interested in the drama!

Thanks to @netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The ups and downs of marriage, the meaning of soul mates and true love, mental illness, postpartum depression, bonding with babies, escaping life through alcohol and sex, criminal acts to gain money and power, suicide, the meaning of family and extended family, how secrets can ruin relationships and little kids that say and do the darndest things are all issues and ideas woven throughout this book. Despite the amount of issues, the reader is not overwhelmed. They are all puzzle pieces slowly falling into place as the mysteries are solved.

Through multiple character povs, we learn that the wife of Gabe's business partner has fallen from a cliff after talking briefly with Gabe...a cliff that is known for suicides. Was she pushed? Did she jump? Why was she there behind Gabe and Pippa's house in the first place? One thing we do know is that she died from the fall and she sticks around telling her parts of the story along with the other povs.

There were several twists and turns that kept me guessing what really happened. It generally had a good pace and kept me interested and involved.

I gave this 4.5⭐️ and will most definitely read more of this author's work.

Read mother in law straight through and loved it but this one lacked some story for me.. the story was way too predictable to even be enjoyable.

Most suspense thriller books it is pretty easy to understand what is going on and the plot from the beginning. It is easy to know who is bad what happened and know the end before we get to the end. However, this is not that type of book at all and was having me being surprised all the way till the end. Every time I thought I knew what was going on their would be a change to the story. I highly recommend this book and would say when you start this book I would make sure you have quite a bit of free time set aside as it will be hard to put it down (you will want to read it in one sitting). I am ashamed this was my first book of hers I have read and now I am starting book number two from her. Excellent read one of my favorite this year (was book #47).

If you enjoy a page turner, The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth is certainly worth reading. It doesn't take many pages to get pulled into the story line. This is a story of a marriage, loyalty and fidelity. It is soon obvious that Pippa and Amanda are dedicated wives. What happens when a death takes place? The author has a believable story line that keeps you reading. Mental Health is also a thread throughout this novel. The ending has a surprising twist. I would give this book a 4 star rating. Each chapter focused on a different character either in a "before," now", or "after" scenario. Although this was a cleaver way of presenting the story, It sometimes caused minor confusion.. Sally Hepworth did a nice job keeping my interest.

Book 167 of 2022

Sally Hepworth continues to put out solid, reliably good writing. So many things to like in this one!

🌊 Dual POVs - This story revolves around 4 characters (Pippa & Gabe, Amanda & Max). I love having multiple perspectives as I read. I like how it makes me question everything & I never know who I can trust.

🌊 Dual Timelines - I used to not be a fan of this, but it’s grown on me, and I’ve come to really enjoy it. For this story line, it works really well. You’ve got puzzle pieces from both “Then” and “Now” to put together & the dual timeline helps you [slowly] put it all together.

🌊 Short Chapters - If you know me, you know I love short chapters. They keep the story moving & make it hard to put the book down.

🌊 Quick to Read - This could easily be read in one sitting. I read it over a couple days & it would take me a minute to remember where I’d left off & what was going on. I almost wish I’d saved it for the weekend when I could read it in one day.

🌊 Twists & Turns - While there were definitely a couple surprises, I wouldn’t say any of them were jaw-droppers. Did I see them coming? No. Did they floor me? Also no. This is what took it from a 5-star read to a 4-star read. That said, it’s still a solid 4 stars.

Overall, I was very happy with this book & craved the time I could set aside to sink into it.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Be sure to check this out when it’s published in April 2023!
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Format: ARC

Wow! This was such a good story. We get the story from two different characters from two different time periods. Before and after the suicide. The perspective of the woman who dies is very interesting and we find out why she is there giving us a perspective at the end and it is not what you think. There are a lot of twists right from the start and keeps you guessing about what happened. As the story ends, you get a glimpse at one year after and I think the way it ends works. It had an ending that didn't wish you knew more or left you with more questions. Thanks, Netgalley for this copy! Add to your TBR list now!

The Soulmate tells the story of love, betrayal and sacrifice.

I loved this book. Sally Hepworth has never let me down. All of the characters were complex and the story twisted and turned in ways I didn't expect. I am not a very fast reader but I finished this book within days.

I was given this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you to NetGalley and the published for this ARC.

Sally Hepworth writes compelling characters. Even minor, secondary characters are well-developed and realistic. I couldn't put this book down. I didn't anticipate much of the action, either. I loved how the narrative shifted from past and present, character to character. Seeing how the action unfolded and how the threads tangle kept me turning pages. I liked the strong female characters. I liked how mental health drives the story without being cliche or trivialized.

From the publisher:
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. Plus, the woman’s husband swears she wouldn’t have jumped. Why would Gabe lie about not knowing her? Why would she have been at The Spot, if not to jump? And did she really jump… or was she pushed? As Pippa works to uncover the truth, the foundations of the life they’ve built begin to crack and their deepest secrets start to unravel.

The Soulmate is a twisty domestic suspense novel that proves nothing—and no one— is ever as it seems.

Thank you, NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Sally Hepworth for allowing me to rate and review this e-ARC title.

I like the premise of this book, I’ve never read about a local suicide spot. I was led different ways throughout the book on how I felt about the characters. I enjoyed this read and would recommend it.

First off, thank you so much to #Netgalley, the publisher and especially the author for this ARC!

Let me start off by saying WOW WOW WOW!!! This is my second book by this author and this book blew the other one out of the water! (The last book was a 4 star for me, this was an easy 5 star!) I loved the alternating timelines and viewpoints throughout the book and this book kept me guessing until the last page, I read it all in one sitting! Do yourself a favor, go in blind and enjoy the ride!

Another great book by Sally Hepworth!

This book twists and turns through Pippa and Amanda's viewpoints and timelines. It was easy to follow and the delicious little nuggets of information it would randomly drop made me want to devour the text as quickly as possible.

Pippa is married to Gabe and they have two little girls. The move to a cliffside house which sounds perfect, except that their backyard is a known suicide spot. Gabe quickly becomes a savior, talking people out of jumping when they visit his backyard. However, when Amanda visits it ends with her dead and the result of her death unpacks a lot for Pippa, Gabe and Amanda's husband, Max.

The character development is amazing in this book, and as more secrets unfold you feel like you're hanging out with this people. Pippa's family and girls play a large role in the novel, and I wouldn't mind being a member of their family.

I am appreciative to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book ahead of publishing.

Loved this! I read a lot of the same genre so it was refreshing to see a different take on the story. While I didn't find it to be a heart racing thriller, it kept me interested until the end!

It is absolutely impossible for Sally Hepworth to write anything that is not utterly fabulous! She makes it hard to getting anything done as I can’t put her books down. The Soulmate focuses on two couples - Pippa and Gabe, Amanda and Max. These four are intertwined in many ways, including the witness of one of their deaths. I loved the alternating view points as well as the back and forth between past and present. An excellent story about the ups and downs of marriage and family life.

Wow! So much was packed into this book. Mental illness is never an easy topic to tackle. Family secrets have a way of coming to haunt us. We don't ask for what we need in relationships. This book never went where I expected it to go., but I was so glad I stayed with the book til the end.
Gabe and Pippa live in a gorgeous home with a view of what's come to be known as 'The Spot." Locals choose this spot to jump off the cliffs. Gabe has become known for talking people down from their suicide attempts. He does not manage to keep one person from jumping to her death. Pippa questions what she thought she saw. When the victim's name is released, Pippa really questions what happened, along with the victim's spouse.
This book is full of twists and turns that leave you guessing. I was amazed, thrilled, and saddened by this book. I had no clue what to expect as this story moved along. I am so grateful I was allowed to read this story. So very grateful to NetGalley and the publisher.














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The Soulmate follows Gabe and Pippa who live in the dream home. However, their dream home is right by a cliff where people have been known to jump off of to harm themselves. Gabe has been known to talk people down from hurting themselves. But one day Gabe tries to talk someone down and they end up falling off the cliff. The death is ruled self harm. However, Gabe knew the victim. And soon people start to think that Gabe might be responsible.

***TRIGGER WARNINGS: Suicide***

So I don't think Sally Hepworth is the author for me. I have read three books by her and I only liked one of them. So I probably won't read anything else by her. I feel like she overlooked how big of a deal suicide is. Using that as a plot point was not a good idea. It was a good enough thriller but left me bored. I just did not care for the overall characters. I felt like there was too much to keep up with as well. I just did not enjoy this one.

Thank you NetGalley, Sally Hepworth, and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book.

Sally Hepworth has done it again - and I think this might be my favorite one yet! I pride myself on being able to almost always figure out the twists in thrillers, but they just kept coming in The Soulmate and taking me by surprised.. I was impressed how everything was wrapped up, how well the characters were developed, and the interesting story structure. It felt fresh and was well-executed. Highly recommended!