Skip to main content

Member Reviews

This will be one you’ll want to take with you on your spring break vacation - perfect for a plane or a beach! This is a quick read with a great opening that made me gasp and left me wondering what was going to happen next. How fun is that?! Thanks to St Martin’s Press for the advanced copy.

Was this review helpful?

The Soulmate is a domestic suspense that is told through the dual perspectives of two wives and explores the twists and secrets of their lives and marriages.

The Soulmate grabbed my attention in the very first chapter. While there are twists and suspense in this novel, it is definitely not a thriller, so don’t go in with that expectation. There are still great reveals throughout the book that I didn’t see coming. I really enjoyed the short chapters that made the book seem like it was progressing more quickly than it probably was while I was reading. I have become a fan of Hepworth’s writing over the past few years, and I always look forward to her new novels.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

Was this review helpful?

4.25 stars, rounding to 4.
The Soulmate follows Gabe, Pippa, and their family in their beautiful new home as they start fresh in a new town. One night, a woman comes to the cliffs and ends her life, but the following events unravel their secrets and lead them to the brink. This story was just wow. I have been reading through Sally Hepworth's current titles and have really developed a love for the way she weaves her stories together. This was no exception. I enjoyed the dual POV and dual timelines, I enjoyed how all the twists and turns came together, and I enjoyed how great of a picture is painted in the writing. There are so many layers and twist, but in my eyes very believable twists (not just twists to have them), that it easily became a book to read in one sitting. This upcoming release is well worth the wait!

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

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely loved this book and I can’t wait until it’s released so my friends can enjoy it too! It’s about a marriage that has some broken pieces that don’t quite fit the puzzle after being glued back together. Mental illness weighs heavy on the relationship and it causes many problems that gets swept under the rug. The plots and twists will keep you wanting to read more. This book is in my top 3 that I’ve read so far this year, it’s now a favorite.

Was this review helpful?

The Soulmate is a domestic thriller centered around a married couple, Gabe and Pippa Gerard. The couple along with their two daughters just moved into their dream home; a cottage located in a small coastal town outside of Melbourne. But, the house's seemingly perfect facade hides something much more sinister. The house is located next to a giant cliff that drops into the ocean. The cliff is a notorious spot for those wishing to commit suicide.

Gabe becomes a local hero after taking several people down the cliff. Until one night the couple spots a lady preparing to jump. Gabe rushes to her side as Pippa watches from the window. The moment after it happens, Pippa sees Gabe standing alone with his arms outstretched, and palms facing out. Positioned in a way that looks as if he pushing her.

The Soulmate alternates between two timelines and is told through two different points of view, Amanda’s and Pippa’s. The Soulmate is a slower-paced story that centers around a mystery. Overall I enjoyed reading this one and I liked playing detective and trying to solve the mystery before it was revealed. There are also a couple of twists that I did not see coming. However, I did feel as if the ending was a little underwhelming and it left more to be desired. I think readers of domestic suspense will enjoy this one though. Especially fans of Hepworth’s prior works.

The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth will be available on April 4, 2023. Many thanks to St Martins Press and Netgalley for the gifted arc in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

The book does good work of giving a past vs present perspective on the main 2 characters. And does well on keeping the twists into the end. It was harder to get into, but glad I stuck with it for the twists!

Was this review helpful?

Hepworth's latest introduces us to the married couple Pippa and Gabe, who have recently moved into a seaside house near The Drop. The Drop is a cliff where people commit suicide. Gabe has rescued several people from this fate. But one day he doesn't succeed, and Amanda commits suicide. When Pippa looks, she thinks she sees her husband almost push her. So what happened? Is Amanda's family linked to Gabe and Pippa in some way?

The pace of this novel is fairly fast. There is some time jumping and perspective jumping, between Pippa and Amanda. I would have liked to hear from Gabe. I think his perspective would have been a welcome addition.

The characters were fairly surface, and you're definitely not going to get the deep characters of a literary novel.

I'm rating this 3 stars because it will not be noteworthy in my mind a year from now, or even a month from now. It's a standard domestic thriller.

I liked the ending, just think there needed to be more links from the penultimate chapter to the last chapter.

Triggers for suicide and mental health abound here.

Was this review helpful?

This is my fifth book by this author, and she never lets me down!

Gabe and Pippa move into a cliffside cottage where the tall cliffs around their cottage are popular for people wishing to end their life by jumping off. Gabe is a local hero having talked down several people who decide not to jump until one night he doesn’t. It also turns out Gabe knew the victim. Did the person jump or was she pushed?

I love this author’s writing style. It’s not forced, the pages aren’t filled with filler, and she has a way of pulling you in with her story telling. The story is told from the perspective of Pippa (NOW) and the jumper, Amanda (THEN). The author weaves a story of deep love, lies, deception, the love for family, murder, and mental disorders. The characters were so complex and complicated, and I found the author’s portrayal of the mental disorder very realistic. There are several shocking twists sprinkled throughout that kept me turning the pages.

What sealed the 5-star rating for me was the ending. I literally gasped and had to catch my breath. What a powerful ending!

I predict fans of Sally Hepworth will devour this new release!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my e-ARC.

Was this review helpful?

Sally Hepworth writes unusual thrillers, and they are all well-written and compelling. The Soulmate is the third book by Hepworth I've read and reviewed (The Good Sister (5 Stars) The Younger Wife (4 Stars)) and I looked forward to relaxing on my comfy couch to enjoy her latest release.

I would call The Soulmate more a novel of psychological suspense than a thriller. We view the inner workings of two seemingly stable marriages and the tragic events that bring them together and then put them at odds. The story is told in alternating chapters from two points of view--one from a living wife, and the other from a wife who has died. Those chapters are further broken into separate narratives describing past and present events until the mystery unfolds.

This book would have been a five-star read for me except for the frequent changes in past/present POV timelines. Other readers will probably feel differently. Considering the hundreds of five-star reviews this novel has received, they do. With The Soulmate, author Sally Hepworth brings her readers another deeply moving novel and a recommended read. I look forward to her next release.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for providing an ARC to read and review. This review will appear on Bayside Book Reviews at https://baysidebookreviews.com and its Instagram page on release day. *NetGalley Top Reviewer*

Was this review helpful?

Sally Hepworth does a fine job of building suspense, undermining trust, and still creating sympathetic characters in The Soulmate. The characters were revealed via two different viewpoints that were shared in a" before and after" timeline. This is a solid read for Hepworth fans, domestic suspense readers, and women's fiction seekers. It's quick to get through and has a very satisfying end. And the bonus is that--as messed up as he is--Gabe is not a hateable character, just a flawed one.

Was this review helpful?

Wow, wow, wow!! I don't give many 5-star reviews, but here it is. This is not the first time Sally Hepworth has hooked me with a fantastic plot. I honestly couldn't put this down. The setting, characters, just all of it is fabulous and adds up to the perfect cozy thriller read. Loved this one!

Was this review helpful?

Love, infidelity, suicide, toxicity, mental illness; with lots of twists and turns. This kept me on my toes the entire time, and I managed to spend one night and one morning to finish it.

I want to see this novel become a movie.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC.

Be on the lookout for this book in April 2023!!!

Was this review helpful?

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press.

Story is told from point of view of different characters - past/present - even after death; somehow it all works. Characters' lives intertwine in unexpected ways sometimes catching the reader by surprise.

I loved that the plot is something different - and the "ghost" perspective was great. An enjoyable read. My first Hepworth but I will be reading others.

Was this review helpful?

Would you live at The Spot? The exact point on a cliff where many go to commit suicide. This thriller set in Australia was a real page turner! A woman jumps…or was she pushed? That is the main question throughout the whole book. Told with flashbacks, the plot and the characters were interesting. I would recommend this to anyone who likes a good, twisty thriller.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the Kindle ARC. Sally Hepworth is very quickly becoming one of my favorite suspense/thriller authors. I first read The Mother-in-Law and enjoyed it and have read a couple of her other books since then. The Soulmate tells the story of Pippa and Gabe - a married couple with two young girls, living near The Drop - a cliff on the coast of Australia. Their marriage seems great from the outside but Pippa's family suspects all is not well between them. Gabe's behavior is erratic - extreme highs and lows. His boss, Mark and his wife also have secrets. The book is very suspenseful - a cliffhanger, so to speak, with great dialogue and settings. I will look forward to Sally Hepworth's next stunning thriller.

Was this review helpful?

4 stars. Read quickly. Fast paced, thought the story line about A. Springs didn't really fit in but then loved the way the author pulled it all together at the end.

Was this review helpful?

The Soulmate is a story of marriage, secrets, appearances, family, and loyalty. It's fast-paced and addicting. It's twisted. It's surprising. I loved it!

Was this review helpful?

I'm a huge Sally Hepworth fan, so I'm *always* eagerly anticipating her next book! What I loved most about THE SOULMATE is that she doesn't save up twists until the end: She keeps them coming from the very beginning, swiveling the story in unexpected directions until you're hanging on her every word. Grateful to the publisher & Netgalley for a chance to read this one early! Every Hepworth book is a must for fans of domestic suspense.

Was this review helpful?

☆ ☆ ☆. ✰/5
The Soulmate was a satisfactory read for me. In this story, I saw Pippa’s greatest weakness. Her love for her husband Gabe. She was madly, stupidly, and blindly in love with him that she missed all the red flags.
I liked that it was told with two women’s POV, and different timelines as well.
I didn’t like the ending too much, I felt more sad for the secondary characters. I don’t want to spoil anything for the other readers so I recommend you guys to read it.
Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the ARC! ☺️

Was this review helpful?

Twisty and turning, The Soulmate was a great read that kept me guessing as to what really took place on the cliff. I loved the back and forth telling of the story from then and now and from the different narrators. So many layers and ways this could play out. A great read!

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

Was this review helpful?