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Member Reviews

Overall, I quite enjoyed this novel. I found I was intrigued right away and it kept a hold of me the entire way through.

I enjoyed the exploration of (mis)perceptions of perfect marriages and how it's not always how it seems. I also enjoyed the shifting perspective between timelines and Pippa and Amanda - the omnipresent perspective of Amanda's ghost was a really interesting twist for me.

I also enjoyed the exploration of mental health and how it can impact a family for generations.

What gave me pause:
- the mystery of it wasn't really a mystery, it seemed fairly predictable.
- the idea that a person is untrustworthy due to their mental illness (I found this came through with Gage and Pippa's family.

Again, overall, I really enjoyed going on for the journey of these characters. I look forward to reading more of Sally Hepworth's back list and newer books.

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The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth kept me turning the pages to find out what really happened.

The story is told by two narrators, Pippa and Amanda, in both past and present day. Each woman's perspective adds to the facts of what has happened to lead two families to the point where the story began, with each chapter unraveling new twists.

The book highlights the stories of two couples and their entanglements, with each wife asking herself how much she trusts her husband.

Great thriller! Thanks to the publisher, the author, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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When Pippa sees a woman near the tall cliffs just past their backyard, she fears the woman is there to end her life. Since Pippa, her husband Gabe, and their two daughters have moved to their dream home in a sleepy, coastal village, several people have come to the cliffs to end their lives and Gabe has talked them down every time. But this time not only is Gabe not able to stop the woman from jumping, but Pippa learns that Gabe knew this woman. Who was she? How much is Gabe hiding? Will all their dark secrets be revealed?

I’m a huge fan of Sally Hepworth’s writing. She writes suspense unlike any other author I have read. You won’t get big shocking twists and turns in Hepworth’s books, but you will go deep into the characters’ lives and motivations. There’s always a sense of unease and each chapter ends in a way that begs you to read on.

The Soulmate is no exception. I loved this book! I think The Younger Wife is still my favorite, but this was pretty darn close. Unlike many thrillers I read, everything makes logical sense by the end and all the various plot threads are wrapped up nicely.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced, character-focused, unputdownable story, then I’d highly suggest picking up The Soulmate!

*Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital arc. All opinions are my own.

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Sally Hepworth is a master alchemist of genres. She melds family dramas and suspense, unlike any other author. I love family drama, but they’re often slower in pacing, and I adore suspense reads for their quickness. Hepworth manages to paint families in a way that time slows down while she builds the characters and quickly ratchets pace as the plot unfolds. I love that she writes suspense in such a way that I'm excited to uncover the end, yet I never want to skip pages to get there.

The storyline in The Soulmate depicts a young family who has recently moved into their picturesque cliffside home. Unbeknownst to them, ‘The Drop,’ a well-known spot where many have chosen to end their lives, rests only steps beyond their backyard. The MC, Gabe, becomes a local hero as he manages to talk everyone down from ‘The Drop.’ The plot begins when Gabe fails to change someone’s mind at ‘The Drop.’ Suspicions and questions surround why Gabe was unable to save this particular woman.

I adored everything about this read. The alternating viewpoints and dual timelines, coupled with short chapters, made this book unputdownable. Hepworth built the characters so that there was enough depth to know them well, yet the plot didn’t feel weighed down with descriptors. I also loved number of utterly, untrustworthy characters.

The Soulmate was a 5 for me and a novel I’d recommend to readers who love Lisa Jewell or Jodi Picoult. If you’re looking for a fast-paced family drama or an intense, suspense read with depth of character, The Soulmate is a worthwhile spring read. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending this DRC for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

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Pippa and Gabe have moved into a cottage perched on a steep cliff along the coast, but when I woman suddenly appears there one day and falls to her death, it sets in motion an investigation that starts to unravel the fabric of what seems like a perfect family life.


This story is told through dual POVs and alternating timelines, and there are a lot of twists I did NOT see coming. What really stood out to me, though was how moving I found some of the character’s backstories - and love stories - to be. The characters were flawed yet authentic, and it was hard to get a read on their intentions - do they mean well? Are they dangerous? In the end, I really respected that every character was neither good nor bad but rather fated to be driven by the trauma and circumstances of their own past.


Hepworth is a master at domestic thrillers, and I found this one especially moving.


This is out today, and I highly recommend it!


Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

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𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 4/5⭐️⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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𝗪𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝: The setting of this most recent Hepworth novel was so atmospheric and eerie, and really set the tone for another entertaining domestic suspense. I really love how Sally blends family drama, motherhood, and marriage issues; and upon completion of this book I think I can confidently say that last one is my favorite of her themes.

I always favor alternating perspectives and timelines in my mystery reads, and this book pulled it off flawlessly. The added element of Amanda’s perspective from beyond-the-grave really helped to tie everything together and gave readers a sought-after POV: the all-knowing perspective of the victim.

My favorite thing about Sally’s writing is the way that the lies and secrets unravel and weave throughout her storytelling. Even if you see some of the twists coming, you’re compelled to keep flipping the page. She has a way of creating storylines that slowly come together and always leave me satisfied.
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𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞: There is a lot of manic behavior throughout the book that, at times, felt uncomfortable to read about. But I appreciated the author’s care in acknowledging that she utilized sensitivity readers within the Author’s Note.

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Sally Hepworth is known for her domestic suspense novels with complex family storylines. In this book, it is about two intertwined married couples. No different from her other books, this book is bingeable.​​​​​​​​
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The two wives tell the story, but it's Amanda - After POV that pulled me in, seeing everything through a new light. It was so unique and well-done. I am not going to say more about this POV, but it was easily my favorite.​​​​​​​​
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As for the twists and surprise factor, I was expecting more. Or maybe I was missing something. And the final twist, I predicted correctly pretty early on. Bummer!

Thanks to @netgalley for the early copy!

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This is my first Sally Hepworth book. It will not be my last! The book opens in a small coastal town of Portsea about two hours from Melbourne. Pippa, a stay-at-home lawyer works from home, is married to Gabe who is the primary caregiver for their two children. The family moved there from Melbourne and bought a home that backs up to a cliff where there have been several suicide jumpers. Pippa’s parents and her sister have moved to Portsea too so they can be close to the grandkids. A woman, Amanda, has successfully committed suicide. Gabe was not able to talk her down. Previously, he was successful in stopping seven people from taking their lives. The story is told by Pippa Then and Now and Amanda Before and After.

I really liked the short chapters as it kept me reading to see what would happen next. I did think the book slowed down at about the thirty percent mark to the sixty percent mark. I was surprised by several twists. It has been a couple of weeks since I finished the book, and I am still thinking about Hepworth investigates family, mental illness…… This would be a good book for a book club to discuss. My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.

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The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Happy Pub Day to this novel! Many thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this EARC!

I very much enjoy Hepworth’s writing, and this was no exception. I love the way the author crafts relationships in her books and explores what it means to be family. This one examined the goods and uglies of marriages, and I found it engaging and unabashedly realistic.

I also enjoyed the POVs in this book. It moved the story along and kept the reader just off enough. The dichotomies of the POVs (then, now, before, and after) were interesting and a great way to tell the story. As a reader, I had no problem following this format.

If you’re on the fence about this one, I recommend you pick it up. I read it in two settings and enjoyed it tremendously. This was another successful Hepworth read!

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Sally Hepworth is one of my favorite domestic suspense authors so I was super excited to read The Soulmate. She does such a great job of keeping her readers guessing while writing family drama in an original and intriguing way.

The story is told from Pippa and Amanda’s perspectives both in the past and present. Amanda’s “after” parts were a clever way to tell us parts of the story we wouldn’t have gotten otherwise, and I thought Hepworth’s decision to include these chapters was so clever.

It’s hard to say too much about this book without giving anything away so I’m just going to say that even though it was a bit of a slow burn, I really enjoyed this story and how it all came together in the end. Plus there were some great twists I didn’t see coming.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

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Twisty plot whodunnit

I thoroughly enjoyed The Soulmate, if enjoyed is the right word. Another multi-point of view, twisty plot thriller from Ms Hepworth, this book kept me up all night to finish. 'Just another page...' So, add my voice to those who recommend The Soulmate, along with all Ms Hepworth's books!

Thank you to the publisher who lent me a time-constrained e-arc via Netgalley. This review is optional and y own opinion.

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Whew! I do not want to give away the plot, but this was a doozy! Deception, murder, financial crimes, a touch of romance…this one had it all. Loved it!

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𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙳 𝚃𝙷𝙸𝚂 𝙸𝙵 𝚈𝙾𝚄 𝙻𝙸𝙺𝙴/𝙻𝙾𝚅𝙴/𝚆𝙰𝙽𝚃:​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
◾️Dual POV
◾️Then and now / before and after timelines
◾️Short/quick chapters
​​​​◾️Mental health
◾️Murder mystery
◾️Marital/betrayal/loyalty issues

​​​​​​​​𝙱𝙻𝚄𝚁𝙱 𝙾𝙽𝙴-𝙻𝙸𝙽𝙴𝚁: Get ready for a thrilling, addictive novel about marriage, betrayal, and the secrets that push us to the edge.
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𝙼𝚈 𝚃𝙷𝙾𝚄𝙶𝙷𝚃𝚂: I listened to this on audiobook and thought that the narrators, Barrie Kreinik and Jessica Henry-Douglas, did a wonderful job with their performances of Pippa and Amanda.

Sally is the queen of domestic family thrillers, and this one was no exception. They always have multiple plot twists that I can never figure out, and this one had me wanting to listen at a higher speed so I could finish it faster, but my ears/brain can’t handle anything greater than 1.5x. 😅

I love domestic thrillers like this to break up my spicy romances/romcom books! I think this one would get you out of a reading slump if you can’t find yourself sticking to a book.

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The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth is a must read if you like domestic suspense. This is a fast paced, well written story that will keep you on the edge of your seat! A roller coaster ride filled with twist and turns about marriage, betrayal, secrets and friendship. Ms. Hepworth also carefully adds mental illness into it and the affects on the person and those around them. It is told in multiple perspectives and timelines and even some from the grave. The characters are well developed and just so good! Ms. Hepworth’s descriptive writings in this one is highly commendable, she places you right on that cliff with the characters, then you get to that OMG ending that will put your jaw on the floor!!! Highly recommend this one and all Ms. Hepworth’s books, I am becoming a huge fan!!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Sally Hepworth for this highly addictive and compelling story to read and review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
#netgalley #stmartinspress. #sallyhepworth
#thesoulmate #arc #domesticsuspense

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Such a twisted and thrilling read! Sally never disappoints and her newest is sure to keep you guessing and turning the page for more! I loved tragedy and suspense this book brings along with all the crazy twists we come to expect! You won't be disappointed!

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4 stars! Hepworth keeps getting better & better! This novel really drew me into the story & the short chapters kept me flipping pages. I really wanted to figure out what was at the heart of this mystery & I guessed the big twist a bit before the reveal. I did find the Pippa character a bit annoying & frustrating but overall I really liked it a lot - Hepworth is such a good writer. My sincere thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the "read now" complimentary advanced digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

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A seemingly perfect relationship is exposed to include so many secrets that the question is will it be able to stand and survive. The love between Pippa and Gabe is so sweet and tender that at times it was not believable. But then that was part of the point of the book. The second relationship between Max and Amanda was more realistic but also sad at times because of the secrets they kept. Told with multiple points of view and in dual timelines, it took me several days before I really got engrossed in this book but once I did, it was hard to put down. At first I was a little confused and had to make sure I knew who was the current narrator and which time was being represented in order to understand the storyline better. The plot is complicated and multi-layered, with some unexpected twists and actions by secondary characters that blew my mind. I really enjoyed how the mystery of what was really going on was methodically revealed, in a way that kept me guessing and engaged. I can’t say that I really liked any of the characters except perhaps the little girls. All of the characters had qualities that made them somewhat unredeemable in my eyes and all of them had secrets and lies that they were determined to preserve at a high cost to their personal relationships. The pace was moderate but not really what I would consider fast. The suspense was low key but I didn’t really note any thrills in the story. It is a good read with a decent story and a mystery that grabbed me once I found out what the mystery was.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

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From my blog: Always With a Book

I just love Sally Hepworth’s books. She writes domestic suspense/family drama like no one else. Her books are always such readable, binge-worthy type reads and I find that once I start them, I have such a hard time putting them down and this latest one was no exception.

Right from the start this story grabbed me and I found myself completely invested from that point on. I loved the twists and turns this one takes – ones I definitely did not see coming – and I highly recommend going into this one as blind as you can, so I’m not going to say too much here about the plot because this one is just too good to spoil.

This book quite literally pushed me to the edge so many times…and I loved every second of it. I’m always amazed how an author is able to delve into the psyches of a marriage so vividly and that is exactly what Sally Hepworth has done here with not just one marriage but two. And she shows us just how messy and complicated marriages are, though from the outside things might look fine. I also loved how this story shows what it’s like to be in a relationship with someone who struggles with mental health. All the characters had issues and I loved how the author explored not only what was going on in the present with them but also their past. It all played a part in the story.

I loved this book. I think it might be my new favorite of Sally Hepworth’s…though I have a habit of saying that with each new book! I can’t help it as I just love her books. Read this if you love domestic thrillers, a good murder mystery and a quick read!

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Star rating: 4⭐️

Read if you like:
▪️domestic thrillers
▪️dual POVs
▪️past/present timelines
▪️ocean cliff setting
▪️marital drama

I have read several books by this author and I think this might be my favorite by her so far! I loved the short chapters, the shifting perspectives, and the alternating past and present timelines. The setting was also really atmospheric—house on a cliff next to the ocean—and that definitely added to the suspense. I also really enjoyed all of the twists, several of which really surprised me. Overall, this is a quick, twisty, and bingeable read. It’s perfect for reading in one day by the pool or ocean this summer!

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Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this arc.

I’ve always enjoyed Sally Hepworth’s books and The Soulmate was no different. It was entertaining from beginning to end and highlights suicide and mental health, pointing out how mental illnesses can affect the people around those who struggle with them.

In this book, Pippa moves with her family to a house that is on a cliff and this cliff happens to be a place where people go when they wish to end their lives. Her husband is the one who tries to talk people down, and he becomes very successful in doing so. But one night a woman jumps, and when Pippa looks out the window she sees her husband with his arms outstretched, palms facing out like he pushed this woman off the cliff. Did he really push her? What really happened?

The story jumps back and forth in time and it is told in dual perspectives, by Pippa and Amanda, the dead woman. I liked seeing the story being told by the deceased. I think it was smart and creative. Both narrators share with the reader their secrets, lies, and their perspectives of their marriages. The book is also full of twists and turns and the last twist was very unpredictable.

This is a character-driven novel that depicts dysfunctional relationships, pain, suicide, love, mental health, and how far you will go to protect the person you love. I love how the author writes beautifully about these dark and sensitive topics. There is no cliché, there is meaning behind everything she writes. Sally Hepworth is an auto-buy author for me and I can’t wait to read more from her.

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