Skip to main content

Member Reviews

This tragic tale told by two women-one alive and one dead- takes some surprising twists, including a surprise near the end. Pippa has know there are problems in her marriage and that Gabe has issues (to put it mildly) but he's a good dad. They live at the edge of a cliff, a cliff where Gabe has talked down multiple people but this latest, well there's a bit of confusion as to exactly what happened and what Pippa saw. It was Amanda who went over and Amanda, as it turns out, was the wife of Max, Gabe's former boss and a man with whom Pippa had an affair. Pippa knows there's something more to the story, especially since Gabe isn't talking, and Amanda provides that insight. What starts as a fairly straightforward tale turns quite different,. Hepworth has a good way with characters; even the little girls are realistic and distinct. I felt for both Pippa and Amanda, Gabe not so much. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. The story telling is good and it's a page turner - a very good read.

Was this review helpful?

Trigger warnings: Mental Illness and Suicide

I enjoyed Hepworth's book. I think she hit it out of the park with this book. It is a marriage, murder and love story all in one.

Pipa and Gabe have moved to the beach and live in a house on a cliff. This cliff is famous in a diabolical way. There have been a lot of suicides there. Gabe and Pipa see someone on the edge one day. Gabe goes to talk them down, but something happens unexpectedly.

How well do you really know your partner? How much do you hide from the world about them? How much do you really love them? All these questions are what will go through your head, when you read this book.

Tentative publish date April 4, 2023

Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for the E-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

😊 Happy Reading 😊

#netgalley
#stmartinspress

Was this review helpful?

I always enjoy Sally Hepworth’s books. This one was no exception. I flew through this one in two days ! It pulled me in and I felt drawn to the different characters, especially Pippa and Amanda. This physiological thriller touches on the the subject of mental illness and suicide. It really was heartbreaking to witness Pippa’s struggles in her marriage throughout the novel due to mental illness. I enjoyed the alternating chapters between the two characters perspectives. The twist at the end was good and I did not see it coming ! Highly recommend this book.

Arc provided by Netgalley and St.Martin’s Press for an honest review. Thank you !

Was this review helpful?

I've enjoyed a couple of Sally Hepworth's other novels, so I was looking forward to checking this one out. The story started strong right out of the gate, but it took a long time to unpack all the secrets and lies. There wasn't so much one big reveal (we knew right away someone died), but rather many small reveals, connections, and twists. Enjoyable book that I read in one evening!

Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martins for the complimentary digital review copy of this title.

Was this review helpful?

Really enjoyed this one! Solid and feisty domestic suspense that I also found moving by the end of it with a few characters

Was this review helpful?

Synopsis: Gabe and Pippa live in their dream house near the sea. Unfortunately, these breathtaking cliffs are also a popular place for people to end their lives. Gabe has made it his mission to talk people down from the ledge again and again. Until, one day, he doesn’t. Questions begin to spiral as more and more secrets are revealed. How well do you really know your soulmate?

This was such a compelling domestic suspense story! The dual POV, including one from beyond the grave 😳, really added to the intrigue. The entire plot was very cleverly written and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it! This is my first novel by Sally Hepworth, but I’ll definitely be reading more of her books!

Special thanks to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for sharing an ARC with me in exchange for my honest review. This title officially releases April 4th!

Was this review helpful?

This book was great. By chapter 3, I was hooked. Twists, turns, red herrings, etc. The end was heartbreaking but beautiful. I loved the little girls, and how we hopped perspectives between Amanda and Pip. They both were amazing female characters and I loved them both.

Was this review helpful?

I’ve been reading Sally Hepworth’s books for years now, and must say that her writing gets a little more dark and twisty with each new release. She has a moody vibe going on, and I like it. She truly is the queen of domestic suspense, and I really love how she blends family drama, marriage issues, motherhood, mystery and uncertainty so fabulously. In The Soulmate, Hepworth gives her readers a “behind closed doors” look at two marriages. Both are unraveling, intense, and extremely complicated. In true form, the author isn’t afraid to get down to the nitty gritty, and really dissect these two complex relationships. I’m not going to say very much about the plot because Hepworth’s novels are best enjoyed if you go in blindly. I’m quite certain that you’ll be pleased with the author’s latest if you’ve read and enjoyed her work in the past. I gotta say that the conclusion/big reveal was a bit anti-climactic in my opinion. I was expecting something with a little more shock value, so that was a bit of a bummer. But oddly enough, I didn’t mind all that much because the build-up was just so well done. If you’re able to go the audiobook route for this one, I say go for it! The narrator did a phenomenal job as her voice matched Hepworth’s moody vibe just perfectly. My attention didn’t waver one bit. Overall, this one was a winner for me, and I highly recommend it. The Soulmate releases next week - Tuesday, April 4th! I give it 4/5 stars!

Was this review helpful?

I've never read a Sally Hepworth that I didn't love. There's just something about her writing style that just makes it so easy for me to fall into the story and completely immerse myself into the characters' lives, and The Soulmate might be my favorite yet. Not only does Sally confront the issue of mental illness in a way that is both heartbreaking and realistic, but she also interweaves the complicated relationship between Gabe and Pippa and creates a totally additive novel that definitely kept me flipping pages, The Soulmate is a one-sitting bingable novel that I loved and will be recommending to all my bookish friends. I can see it being on beaches and poolside everywhere this summer!

Was this review helpful?

I'm a ride or die Sally Hepworth fan. I was overjoyed to receive an arc of The Soulmate. Alas, The Soulmate was not MY soulmate. That isn't to say that I didn't like it. I just didn't love it. It had all of the things I've come to love about her writing like the short chapters that keep you saying, "just one more, " and the cookie crumb way of doling out twists. I typically enjoy the way her mysteries follow a more domestic way of everyday life but this one fell a little bit flat for me. It could be that I finished another domestic thriller recently that wasn't my cup of tea and something with similar themes so soon wasn't my best choice. None of the characters were likeable and by the end, I honestly didn't care what the truth was. Regardless, I still turned the pages and think it would make an enjoyable beach read. 3.5 rounded up.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy of Sally Hepworth’s newest thriller, The Soulmate!

The Soulmate is a mysterious thriller about marriage and the secrets that both keep them together and tear them apart. Gabe and Pippa have a seemingly perfect life—two beautiful little girls and a perfect cottage overlooking the ocean. But one night, a strange woman is seen outside their home, standing at the cliff edge about to jump. Gabe runs out to try to save her as he’s done many times before, but this time, he can’t. As the police begin to investigate the apparent suicide, it seems as though something isn’t quite right. Is Gabe telling the truth about what happened that night on the cliff? And what does Amy of this have to do with Pippa?

Told through alternating viewpoints and dual timelines, The Soulmate is hard to put down. I was immediately drawn into the story and wanted to keep reading the short chapters to find out what was happening and how all these characters were lead to this entanglement. Overall, I thought it was and entertaining and engaging read!

Was this review helpful?

THIS BOOK.

THE TWISTS.

Did I see any of it coming? No.

I would have read it in one sitting if I wasn't a mom with a 6 month old baby. Everyone should rush to grab a copy of this book as soon as it releases. It was the perfect thriller that I needed.

This book jumps around to different character's viewpoints and different time-frames throughout the story so you need to pay attention. It reminded me of The Guest List by Lucy Foley in the way the perspectives change and how it tells you the backstory.

Pippa and Gabe have finally found their dream home when they realize that the beautiful view provided by the cliff behind it also functions as the perfect place for people to take their own lives. Gabe has a gift to talk people off the ledge (quite literally) and is successful seven times, and featured in the local news... until one day he is unsuccessful. A woman falls to her death, and Pippa can't stop thinking about how Gabe's arms were outstretched when she went over the edge...

Did she jump or did he push her? This book will keep you guessing the entire time.

I loved Amanda and Pippa. These ladies commanded your attention, and were great at telling you every aspect of the story without giving away what was coming. It was captivating and there were so many times I said "WHAT?!".

This book starts in the middle and then proceeds from there with chapters also going back to give you backstory and fill you in on missing details. I liked how not even all of the characters knew everything or understood the full story. It was engaging and such a fun ride that I would recommend to all my friends.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to my partners, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, and the author, Sally Hepworth. I appreciate the gifted ecopy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily!

1. Sleazy - I just got a sleazy vibe from both Gabe and Max throughout much of this story. I guess I just didn’t feel that “soulmate” connection Pippa and Amanda did. However, my feelings for them definitely changed as the story continued. Appearances can definitely be deceiving!

2. Deceit - This story is really full of deceit, but it is written in a way that makes it easy to forget about all of it. It is the basis for the entire plot; yet, who would guess the actual inner-workings of it all!

3. Short Chapters - I love short chapters! And this book does not disappoint! I love the change of voice with each chapter and how the chapter titles expressly tell you who is speaking and when (then vs. now)!

4. Mental Illness - A huge part of this story. I feel like Hepworth did a fantastic job with her research into this part of the book. For me, it seemed like an accurate look into a part of humankind that often isn’t thought about by many.

5. Whopper Of A Shocker - Whoa 🤯 I did not see that twist a comin’! And then another one followed it. Everything sure did come together at the end. I just can’t decide how I feel about what happened after the revealing moment…..

Was this review helpful?

A gorgeous and seemingly benign man who has addictive personality and psychotic episodes with a loving, trusting wife, who believes they’re soulmates, trying to hold the family together with a suicide or homicide looming over their heads makes for an interesting story! Hepworth’s writing is captivating from the beginning and the action, details and intertwining events didn’t stop. The characters are perfectly flawed and capable of anything. Hepworth always delivers and The Soulmate is no exception.

Was this review helpful?

I LOVED IT! I loved it so much, I'm buying myself a copy right after I submit this review. This is my fourth Sally Hepworth book (The Family Next Door was THE book that got me into domestic thrillers), and she never disappoints. I thought the pacing in which everything was unveiled perfectly done, and I didn't see the twist at the end coming. Beautiful, beautiful. Every character got their perfect-fit ending. This was a fast-paced, satisfying read I couldn't put down. I'd give it more than 5 stars if I could!

Was this review helpful?

Phew! Much better than The Younger Wife! This was my 2nd novel by Sally Hepworth and dare I say she grew on me a little bit with The Soulmate? I liked this one a lot. It was suspenseful, twisty and while the characters made me roll my eyes a few times I still liked the storyline. I listened to the audio for this one and it was great!

Was this review helpful?

The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth is a highly recommended twisty domestic psychological thriller.

It has been a year since Gabe and Pippa Gerard, moved into their house on the cliffs in Portsea, Australia with their two young daughters, Freya and Asha. The cliffs are well known for the breathtaking views, but are also a known as a spot for people to end their lives. So far Gabe has managed to talk several people out of it. When the latest person, a woman showed up, Pippa called the police and Gabe went out to talk to her.

Gabe was unsuccessful in talking her out of jumping, so now there is an investigation into the death. Pippa happened to be looking out the window when the woman jumped, but Pippa is uncertain about what she seeing. When it comes out who the woman was and that Gabe knew her. Everything quickly becomes much more complicated and now secret after secret and twist after twist start being revealed.

The Soulmate is fast-paced and you will be riveted to the pages as the intriguing, tense, and complicated plot unfolds. The narrative is organized into Now and Then chapters from the viewpoint of Pippa and Before and After chapters from the point of view of Amanda, the woman on the cliff. The entire plot is centered around many, many secrets and numerous twists. Some of the twists require you to suspend disbelief, but they do propel the plot forward with a whole lot of drama.

The characters are all well-written and presented as complicated individuals. Both women married their soulmates and love and support their husbands, but can they trust each other. In addition to the twisty plot, this is a novel about marriage, secrets, lies and betrayal. Really, trust no one, question everything.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of St. Martin's Press via NetGalley.
The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, Google Books, Edelweiss, and Amazon.

Was this review helpful?

This is my fourth Sally Hepworth novel and it is the fourth one that I have loved. Her thrillers are unputdownable and keep me reading way too late into the night. Her stories are so well told that they do not seem contrived or unbelievable. This novel is told from the point of view of two women in two different timelines, who may or may not be protecting their husbands. The short snappy chapters pulled me in and the rising tension kept me reading. I really wanted to know what happened.!
Thanks to #StMartinsPress and #Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Was this review helpful?

The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth
Entertaining domestic thriller as always with this author. Provided a bit of a puzzle but not a real mystery. In this story there is a lot of guilt going around and most of the adults should have felt guilty about something but some were much worse than others.
The wrong diagnosis was very annoying because the correct diagnosis was so obvious. I did think the twist was going to be something slightly different. Still. the ending was satisfying

Was this review helpful?

Told from two different points of view in the past and the present, the short chapters keep you flipping pages or tapping your Kindle as the story unfolds and you discover that things are not as they appeared. A little too much was made of Gabe's perfection (I picture Dan Draper!) but as time went on his persona became more tarnished. Also, I admit that the author incorporates a device that I normally dislike into the book from very early on but in this case I wasn't rolling my eyes as much as usual until near the end. I did not like the ending but that's all I'll say. The less you know in the beginning the better.

My thanks to St. Martin's Press via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: April 4, 2023

Was this review helpful?