When Gabe and Pippa Gerard settle into their seaside house, they discover it has a sinister side. The cliff overlooking the sea has been the site where several people have chosen to end their lives. But since they’ve moved in, Gabe has stepped up and talked several people off the cliff, literally saving their lives.

Then one day, Pippa witnesses Gabe unable to stop a woman and then it turns out he knows her. And Pippa knew her husband. Pippa’s suspicions about what she observed grow and she begins to question many things. As the investigation continues, cracks form in the Gerards’ marriage.

Would Gabe lie about what happened? What did he and the woman talk about that day on the cliff? Why was she there? Did she jump? Can Pippa and Gabe move forward?

Author Sally Hepworth brings a real talent to building the suspense and tension, adding layers through the Gerards’ history and how it is affecting their present and future. See if you figure out the ending!

Woah! I devoured this book!! I couldn’t put it down. It gripped me right in and I needed to get to the end!! Another great thriller from sally Hepworth!

Many thanks to the publisher for my review copy. This is my honest opinion.

I typically love fast-paced, plot-driven thrillers. Sally Hepworth is definitely an exception. Despite being less twisty and more character-driven than the mystery/thrillers I usually read, I have loved both of the novels I've read by her. Her writing is so gripping and enjoyable.

The Soulmate had dual points of view and split timelines, and I think Hepworth did an amazing job with these techniques. It had the potential to be confusing but it wasn't at all. She revealed each information at just the right point in the book. One of the points of view is from the woman who dies at the very beginning of the novel which I thought was such an interesting perspective.

Not only was this a suspenseful and addictive and domestic suspense story, but it was also a heart-wrenching exploration of mental illness and the way it affects not only mentally ill people but also their loved ones. I so badly wanted the best for Pippa and her daughters.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Soulmate and would highly recommend it to fans of domestic suspense.

I've heard nothing but good things about his book and I'm left wondering if we read the same thing. This was horrible. Literally nothing happens. It's 75% "should we tell them the thing?" but never actually telling them the thing. The reveals were lack-luster. The relationships sucked. I know we're supposed to challenge the fact that Pippa and Gabe look to have this perfect relationship by all standards but in fact it's Max and Amanda who are true soulmates (not my definition by any means), but I just spent the whole time wanting to slap Pippa because she thought Gabe was so great and he actually sucked. But for what it's worth she really sucked too. So maybe they are made for each other.

Hated the fact that Pippa straight up lied to Gabe, and for what?! Also, just casually drop in that Gabe freaking killed someone. Come on. The whole thing was completely unbelievable. And then the final "twist" of the connection between Gabe and Max was just dumb.

But what really pissed me off was the portrayal of BPD. Hate that the author continued the negative stereotypes against those with this diagnosis. The only redeeming factor was that she did reference the common misdiagnosis that BPD folk tend to experience. Otherwise, the use of this as the villain was cringe.

Overall an extremely lack-luster story that was extremely put-down-able, that I only finished because it was my bookclub's pick for the month, and a trash portrayal of someone suffering from BPD.

To quote my friend: "Soulmate... more like NOmate"

I am grateful that the publishers gave me the opportunity to read and review this book. I was hooked from page 1 and found that I did not want to stop reading! I loved how the author used Amanda’s perspective after death to share Max’s side of the story. I was really satisfied with how their story wrapped up in the end. The only part I found lacking was the very last “one year later” chapter. I felt that it was almost too drastic and quick of an ending and left me feeling disappointed after being so invested in the book and not wanting to put it down. Overall though, I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone looking for an “unputdownable” summer read!

Thank you St. Martin's Press for the gifted copy!

It’s a truth universally* acknowledged that I will read anything and everything Sally Hepworth writes. She’s the queen of domestic drama and The Soulmate delivers that in spades.

Hepworth's writing is engaging and accessible, with a keen eye for detail and an ability to capture emotions that jump off the page.

The atmospheric setting of the cliffs automatically creates tension as we dive into the two POVs and timelines told by Pippa and Amanda. At times, I struggled understanding how Pippa didn’t “get” what was happening with Gabe. But that’s her journey and nothing is black and white.

Amanda’s present day perspective is told in a unique way that adds an element of levity to some heavy topics.

The book tackles a lot- mental illness, death, infidelity, family issues and of course murder and secrets.

What ties it all together and what keeps me coming back for more is Hepworth’s storytelling. She’s truly a master and it’s always a delight to read her work.

This was my first Sally Hepworth book and it will not be my last. The Soulmate was riveting from start to finish and as much as I was trying to guess what was going on, there was another turn. I love how it was told from multiple point of views so could see everything coming together from every angle.

A domestic-suspense novel with fascinating relational dynamics and a compelling ending that will have you tempted to re-read the whole book in a different lens. The Soulmate is my personal favorite book I’ve read by Sally Hepworth. The characters are well-crafted and the narrative structure added an interesting element to the plot reveals.

The Characters

Pippa and Gabe Gerard are married and have two daughters, Freya and Asha. They recently moved to a coastal town into a house at the top of a cliff. Gabe is a stay-at-home dad in the present timeline, though he has held different jobs in the past. Pippa’s sister Kat and her wife Mei live nearby. Mei and Gabe were formerly co-workers.

Amanda and Max Cameron are married and childless. Amanda met wealthy Max when she was waitressing an event he was at. They have been married for over two decades when the events of the book take place.

The Plot

Pippa and Gabe Gerard have recently moved their small, happy family to their dream home in a sleepy coastal town set at the top of a cliff. The cliffs are beautiful and dangerous, and they learn after moving in that they are a popular destination for those looking to take their own lives.

Over the past year since they moved in, Gabe has taken on the role of the helper to the lost souls who come there. He has saved several lives, spending hours talking to the individuals until they are ready to come back off the ledge to safety.

Until one day, a woman comes to the cliffs and Gabe isn’t able to save her. In a twist of fate, this woman isn’t a random stranger. Her name is Amanda Cameron, and it turns out Pippa and Gabe knew her. When Pippa learns who the woman was, she begins to replay the scene over and over in her mind, trying to make sense of it.

Gabe is her soulmate, after all… would he lie to Pippa? As details emerge, the dynamics between the Gerards and the Camerons become more twisted. What really happened to Amanda Cameron? And will the survivors be able to live with the truth when it is revealed?

The Structure

Told in alternating timelines to before and after the death of Amanda, The Soulmate is a fascinating character-study in a beautiful and terrifying setting. Chapters are narrated by both Amanda and Pippa, and we learn more about each woman—how they met their partner, what drew them to him, and what their life has been like since. The timelines and different perspectives unfold until the shocking and emotional conclusion.

Overall Thoughts

I really love Sally Hepworth’s writing and The Soulmate might be my favorite book I’ve read by her. I’ve seen some readers talk about whether they expected more or less from the twists based on early reviews so I want to talk a bit about the genre. The Soulmate is full of twists and turns throughout the book that cause the reader to rethink their assumptions about the story and the characters at each turn. I think some readers of psychological thrillers expect every twist to be jaw-dropping and “WTF?!” style twists, and those are a lot of fun.

What I would say is that isn’t Sally Hepworth’s style. Her books are more suspenseful, domestic fiction in style. Her twists tend to occur from learning new information that alters your perspective on what you think is happening and where the book may go. They are real life type twists (though heightened), and they are dropped in as secrets revealed, or new information learned. They come through the delicate and complicated weaving of narratives. They are explosive in their impact on characters you’ve grown to love, because they change the direction of the story. Her ending twists tend to be delicious morsels that round out the theme of the book in a way that satisfies the broader message of the story.

The Soulmate revolves around two couples, and the book opens with the death of Amanda, and then explores how these two couples knew one another and how their stories are intertwined while also separate. Pippa and Gabe take the bulk of the story, because we not only learn their past and how they came to meet and grow their family, but we are also watching them deal with the fallout of the incident on the cliff. Amanda and Max are a secondary though equally compelling story that begins with Amanda’s death and the questions surrounding it, then backtracks to their very beginnings.

Both relationships are immensely complicated and beautifully messy. These feel like real couples—ones you’d know and maybe even be friends with. Pippa and Amanda are very different characters, as are Max and Gabe. I enjoyed both narrative but I found Amanda’s story particularly compelling. Never forget the title of the book is “the soulmate”—but part of what we are seeing unfold is what that really means in the lives of these four people.

The characters and relationships are expertly developed. Each twist and turn changed what I thought was happening. By the end, I was actually less concerned about the answer to Amanda’s death that sparked so much of the events of the book than I was about the people and their stories. The ending was satisfying, emotional, and compelling. The epilogue rounded out the story in just the right way. A must-read for fans of this style of book!

i enjoyed this one!! i was in like with it but not in love with it. i didn’t see a lot of the twists coming, and did feel blind sided by them. i wish there was a little bit more lead to the big punch.

Another winner from Hepworth. The dual narrative by Amanda and Pippa was very well written and the storyline flowed nicely. The plot twists makes this such a rapid page turner you will want to read this in one sitting.

I gave this a one out of five stars. It was an okay read but I didn’t love it. It felt like mindless reading. That as long as I was reading the story was in my head but I would forget what I read.

Gabe and Pippa with their two daughters live on a beautiful house on a cliff overlooking the ocean. Unfortunately, it’s also a popular spot where people commit suicide. Gabe has been able to talk people off the ledge until now. Amanda has died but was or suicide or did Gabe push her?

This book was addicting! Gabe and Pippa seem to have the perfect life and Amanda’s death seems like a suicide but once you dig into the past you start to question everything. Told in the past and present by both Pippa and Amanda. It’s fast paced, entertaining and twisty. If you enjoy domestic thrillers than this one is a must!

The Soulmate captured my attention right from the beginning and kept me guessing throughout. The novel gives us several different viewpoints, and revelations throughout which make you wonder who is reliable, and who isn't?

The end could've been wrapped up a bit more quickly, however...we do get some great psychological nuggets towards that side of the house that really keep thinking about the novel as a whole well after we are finished.

Overall I'd recommend this one as a next read if you like thriller novels, fast paced plots, and some great twists which you definitely won't see coming.

Thank you to @Netgalley for an advance e-copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review!

Well, that was one wild ride! I was hooked from beginning to end. Lots of maritial drama, secrets, mental health issues, and deception with lots of twists and information revealed throughout the book that kept me reading. I honestly had no idea where the story was going to go. There were even quite a few twists at the end that I didn’t see coming. The audiobook was a fantastic experience with dual narrators that both had Austrailian accents so highly recommend. While The Good Sister is still my favorite from Sally Hepworth, The Soulmate is a very satisfying domestic thriller!

Thank you so much St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for the gifted copy.

This book kept me guessing the entire time with the secrets that everyone was carrying. I enjoyed the multiple POVs, which kept me intrigued. There was even a twist at the end that I never saw coming!

For quite a long time while reading this book I was confused on where we were going. I was enjoying my time reading it, although I felt like not much happened but I just had a hard time seeing the point of it all. And then once the reveals happens and the answers come around I just feel like they weren't really that special. I won't say I saw them all coming, because I didn't, but they still felt like the easy answer. I wasn't shocked, or the reveals didn't put in more action or anything. I just kind of felt "meh" throughout the entire thing. That's why I don't have too much to say about it. I guess, this book was an enjoyable enough read, also a pretty quick read, but I just don't feel any particular way about it, and I truly think this will be completely wiped from by brain in a few months.

Gabe and Pippa are living in their dream home - a beautiful cottage, near the edge of a cliff, in a sleepy coastal town. This area of the cliff is notorious for suicide. Gabe comes out every night to save these individuals. Except, one night he doesn't. He lets the individual plummet to their death.

Pippa soon finds out that Gabe knew the victim. She begins questioning everything - did the victim jump or did Gabe push her? Does Pippa really know her husband?

I think it's important to go into this novel knowing it is not a true thriller. I may have not chosen to read this one, had I'd know. I would more or less classify it as a domestic drama. There were no jaw-dropping moments. The reveal and ending were average. My biggest issue with this book is the poor portrayal of mental illnesses. I was quite disappointed and was left feeling a bit ick...

I did enjoy Hepworth's writing style. She is a great storyteller. It was a super fast read, so if you are interested in domestic dramas, definitely give this one a read. However, if you are looking for a thriller, this is probably not for you and you will be disappointed in the lack of thrills and excitement.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest. Forgot to post my review when I finished reading this one!

I seriously can’t go wrong with sally hepworth books. They are all so similar because they are GREAT! Sorry for the late review- I read her books so quick and forgot to review.

Sally Hepworth is one of my favorites and definitely an autobuy author for me, but this was not one of my favorites of hers. I really liked the premise, but I didn't connect with the characters.

Half a "bullshit, cockamanie, histrionic" star !!

Thanx to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press. This was released April 2023. I am providing an honest review.

To say that this is a terrible read would be an understatement.

The prose was written in a simplistic and dumbed down fashion with short chapters that gave you a development from two women. One alive and one dead and their relationships with their respective soul mates in now and then fashion. Each chapter presents a piece of the puzzle to keep the story going in a very cheap and lazy fashion. The psychologies are inconsistent and labile and vacuous. The misdiagnosis is abysmal....a first year psychiatric nurse would have done a better job...hell a sixteen year old would have done better with their high school psychology text...hell a women's magazine quiz....you get the picture.

I guessed every single twist...not because I am savvy but because it was so damn predictable...all I knew that it had to be both ridiculous and unbelievable...I only did not get the final cliffhanger (hint hint) and when my poor reading eyes read it I actually laughed out loud...like severely. Be still my failing heart.

This book is an utter fail in every which way except for that gorgeous cover, interesting premise and the lovely idea that we all have a soulmate...

The half star is because I had to find out if I was correct about this shitshow...thankfully the novel was short or I may have had to visit that cliff myself...