Sally Hepworth's latest novel, The Soulmate, shares the story of two separate marriages and how they intersect. There are plenty of edge-of-your-seat moments, partly because the one couple, Pippa and Gabe, live in a seaside home that literally resides on the edge of a cliff. Gabe has made a name for himself because he has talked many a suicidal stranger off of the said cliff and saved them. Then comes the day when he tries and fails to save a woman who plunges to her death.

This is an unusual book because it reads like domestic fiction but carries elements of a thriller within it. There's secrecy around what Gabe does for a living and his mental state. There are doubts about his and Pippa's whirlwind romance and unstable marriage.

Chapters alternate between Pippa in the past and the present as well as another female character in her past and present. In fact, the other woman is the woman who plunged to her death. In those chapters, you find out how she knew Gabe and Pippa and how all their fates are intertwined.

While my suspicions were off in many ways, I wasn't terribly shocked by the reveals. It's not that they weren't good. A few times, I did gasp or wonder what would happen next, but they weren't as earth-shattering when all the pieces of the puzzle came together.

One thing that I felt should have been more prominent was all the people who didn't plunge to their death. I wanted to know more about what Gabe said to them to make them stop, turn around, and not jump. What were their stories--I thought that would be the bulk of the book. I felt that this part of the novel could have been more developed and play a more central role.

If you're looking for true suspense, this may be a little tamer than you're looking for, but it is a good examination of marriage and what it takes to survive. It may surprise you with what the author comes up with. I will say that it isn't slow and kept me entertained, but I still feel like it was missing something for me. Not my favorite of the author's, but I enjoy her books and never miss one.

Love Sally Hepworth! This book was more mystery than thriller and very atmospheric. Loved the setting of the big house on the cliff where many have fallen to their death. Was it accidental or not? Great beachy read!

•BOOK•REVIEW•

Title: The Soulmate
Author: Sally Hepworth
Genre: Thriller

•Quick Deets•
Cliff
Suicide?
Intertwined lives

•Rating•
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 stars
I recommend this book!

•Review•
Sally Hepworth always writes page turners. There are not lulls in her books, you just keep turning those pages. Another great book by her with some pieces you don't see coming!

•Simililar Recommended Reads•
The Silent Patient
Look Closer
The Lies I Tell

This book was a delight to read - I always like Sally Hepworth's writing but I think this exceeded expectations. I have already read The Mother-In-Law, The Good Sister, and The Younger Wife, so I was genuinely excited to read The Soulmate. While this book doesn't truly deviate from Sally's previous troupes/themes, The Soulmate was a bit darker than her other books. I think the plot was well developed, there was a unique twist that I hadn't seen in Sally's books before, and the characters were compelling. I think I would've liked to see a little more into the love stories of both couples rather than the immediate adoration of the wife to the husband. Sally is always great with the dark humor, and I love that there was a lot of that in the book. Overall, I would recommend The Soulmate!

“The Soulmate,” by Sally Hepworth, is an intriguing Australian fiction about two couples who live near the precipice of a mountainous cliff that has a local reputation for suicidal leaps. As a point of fact, Gabe and Pippa’s new ‘family dream home’ sits directly across from this notorious spot for disheartened jumpers.

Soon, stay-at-home dad Gabe takes upon himself the mantle of responsibility as protector for everyone who approaches the dangerous area. Gabe’s heroics work perfectly until one day they don’t.

That day, Pippa looks across and sees an attractive woman talking to Gabe near the rocky edge. Within seconds, both the woman and Gabe each have arms outstretched towards each other. Suddenly, the woman tumbles backwards over the rocks towards the ocean.

What exactly happened? Did the woman fall or was she pushed? Who was the woman? Did Gabe know her?

TheBookMaven

Imagine everyone knowing about the "perfect spot" to end it all. This location is in a small town on an obscure cliff. Gabe has a sixth sense when someone has made this decision and has saved more than one life. However, this time he failed in his objective. More than that, Gabe knew the person who died. Gabe's soulmate Pippa starts to be more than curious about any role he might have had in the victim's death. Thus, the next thrilling ride by Sally Hepworth begins.

Who are Gabe and Pippa. They are married and have two daughters and have just moved into a cottage in a small coastal town. Gabe gains notoriety very quickly as he has been successful when helping people on that cliff. This time, however, Pippa is standing at the window and sees what happens, and it rather makes Gabe look more than a bit guilty. Doubt sets in with regard to Pippa and she questions Gabe over and over again as to what actually happened, especially when she learns that he once knew the victim.

I loved the narration of this book, especially with two narrators. The setting was already tense, and the wonderful narration made it all that much better. If you like great domestic thrillers with more than a few twists, then be sure to pick up The Soulmate. You won't be disappointed

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Pippa and Gabe think that they’re finally going to be okay. After a few rocky years, they move into their dream home: a small house on a cliff. But they quickly discover that this particular cliff is a popular place for people to go when they want to jump. Gabe begins, literally, talking people off the cliff- until one person still decides to jump. But Gabe knew this woman. Pippa begins to unravel- did the woman jump? Or did Gabe push her? Does she even know her husband at all? “Soulmate” by Sally Hepworth is about soulmates and how far we would go for them before it pushes us over the edge.

This book was tense. Immediately we are presented with two sets of soulmates: Pippa and Gabe, and Amanda and Max. The couples are similar in that they each have a promise they make each other. For Pippa and Gabe, it’s loyalty. For Amanda and Max, it’s fidelity. These promises feel similar, but are different, especially with how each couple’s story plays out.

Hepworth doles out the twists over and over in this book, revealing tiny pieces of the full picture with enough pacing to keep you enthralled. Even towards the end there were pieces that I wasn’t quite sure of, but that I found completely satisfying for a read.

Overall, this book was a solid 4 star read for me. It was interesting and thrilling. It kept me guessing. And it wrapped up into a satisfying ending.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

3.5 stars

SHORT CHAPTERS!!! Wooo. So much family drama, twists near the end and pretty unlikable characters. I think the writing kept me engaged far more than the story itself. I liked it up until the end where it sort of just felt flat.. like... wait that's it!?

Thank you netgalley for the earc I'm exchange for an honest review

Thank you to the publisher and author for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Holy crap she did it again! I am in love with Sally Hepworth's writing. The way she can weave a story with twists and turns at every corner is something that never gets old. There's not even an accurate way to describe this book without giving something away, just read jt if you like twisty thrillers!

This is the second book I've read by her and I am so hooked on her writing!

🪨 I am a fan of Hepworth’s books, but strangely each new book that comes out I seem to like a little less than the previous one. The Soulmate fell into the middle of the road for me.

🪨 I think my biggest personal issue with this book was that I didn’t engage with any of the characters. I felt outside of the story from start to finish. I can’t really pinpoint why I felt this way, either. But since I didn’t connect, I also didn’t really care what happened.

🪨 I did like the incorporation of Amanda’s perspective (the dead woman). I thought it was a brilliant way to give us a different side of the story. It could have been corny (since I didn’t really expect a paranormal aspect), but it wasn’t. It worked for me.

🪨 I have come to expect some crazy twists from Hepworth, and there were definitely some here, but they weren’t as impactful this time as in her previous books. I think if I’d cared more about the characters, I might have appreciated the plot twists more.

🪨 It isn’t a bad book. I liked it, I just didn’t love it… and I wanted to love it.

Thank you @Netgalley and @stmartinspress for an eARC of this book, which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

First off, I loved the setting of The Soulmate. Coastal island vibes always get me, especially in thrillers. The book pulled me in immediately and I couldn't put it down. It dragged some in the middle and I wasn't sure what was going on with the husband and boss and job. It picks back up in the end and the twists keep coming. I really enjoyed reading this one and the audiobook was fantastic! Would recommend!

Another domestic suspense that grabs you and wants to keep you reading till the last page. Thank you netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this one! A solid thriller with multiple twists I didn’t see coming. Also great representation of mental health. Thank you so much for my copy!

This book was easily bingeable with some unexpected twists and turns. I loved the setting and really enjoyed that the dead woman had her own POV, I don’t see that often in books. Unfortunately, something about the way Hepworth writes mental illness gives me the ick. Between this and her last one, I am not sure I’ll be continuing to read her work.

5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Totally unpredictable!!!
The Soulmate is a domestic/psychological thriller with all the feels! Pippa & Gabe appear to be living a fairytale life until a woman commits suicide at the cliff by their house. Obviously shocked by this horrific tragedy their lives begin to unravel bit by bit. Insecurities begin to surface not only for Pippa & Gabe but soon their/Pippa’s family start expressing concerns.
The character portrayals were great & relatable for the most part, with a lot of different personalities emerging as the storyline progresses. The ongoing suicide investigation begins to take a turn revealing secrets & questioning behaviors of several main characters.
There are a lot of twists & turns along the way… which will keep you glued to this book! Once the pieces start fitting together the OMG’s begin to appear & the story soars!!!
Happily ever after for Pippa & Gabe??? You will have to find out for yourself. All I will say is that I would have NEVER predicted the outcome!!!
Another well done novel by Sally Hepworth who is now on my automatic read list!
Thank you #NetGalley #stmartinspress & #sallyhepworth for the ARC. This is in my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This was such a great domestic thriller! A complete page turner for me!

Gabe and Pippa buy an Oceanside mansion that overs popular cliff used for suicide. Gabe starts talking people off the cliff until one day he can’t. Pippa watches but can’t be 100% sure what she actually sees. She later finds out that Gabe knew the victim, and wonders what other secrets is he hiding.

This was so well written. I loved the alternating pov’s and loved the was each character was written. I thought I knew what was going to happen, but was very wrong! The twists and turns had me not wanting to put this book down even for a minute! This was fast paced and an amazing book! Defiantly must read!



📘: The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth
🗓️: April 4, 2023

Thank you to NetGalley, Sally Hepworth, and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

*Reviewed on NetGalley and Goodreads.

4.5*

Thank you to Netgalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Gabe and Pippa are doing well for themselves and buy an oceanside mansion with a view and a cliff...which is a popular suicide spot. Gabe is the perfect husband who talks many people off the ledge until there is one woman who is he unable to talk down. Pippa finds out that he knew the woman and flashbacks explore the nature of the relationship, but it's not what you think.

I couldn't put this book down at times. I enjoyed the alternating chapters between Pippa and the victim but it got a little much between the "now and then" and "before and after". This was a juicy domestic drama that dives deep into the complications of marriage and almost every one of the short chapters ended on a cliffhanger (pun intended). You don't find out what *really* happened until the last chapter or two.

I definitely recommend for a page turner and something you can't put down and just need to get to the bottom of (pun intended).

Does marriage mean unconditionally trusting someone? Especially when there are kids in the picture... Is it possible ignore certain signs just because you have been married for some time? Do you believe that both parties keep their promises? Or do you need to be a soulmate to be able to do all of these?

A woman jumped off of a cliff that was considered a suicide spot. Gabe was standing right next to her. Pippa saw him trying to convince her not to. But also she could not really tell what Gabe's hands were doing. After few days, Pippa had a realization. She knew the woman and this knowledge was going to complicate things a lot. because Pippa thought Gabe was her soulmate and husband of this woman believed the same for their relationship. After this point, it was all going to be about whose bonds were stronger.

There are twists and turns. Ending is definitely not what you expect. I liked it, but I didn't love it. It was a fast paced, quick read in between chunky books.

I really wanted to like this. I like her writing style and the chapters that get shorter as the tension builds. However, this missed the mark for me. This was the definition of an average thriller; if you can even call it that. I enjoyed dual perspective/dual time line, however the storyline and twists were very underwhelming. I will continue to read from her. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3 for NetGalley.

Sally Hepworth does an amazing job at creating twisted edge-of-your-seat drama. You will find yourself flipping through the pages to discover what clue will be presented. The thread of mental illness and how it affects those who are part of their lives was handled well. The secrets and betrayals buried throughout the pages keep you invested in the story. Told from a dual timeline and from dual perspectives was interesting and easy to follow.

I enjoy Sally Hepworth’s writing style and her well done story lines. I’m looking forward to her next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

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