Reading Between the Wines book review #27/115 for 2023:
Rating: 3 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book 🎧: The Soulmate
Author: Sally Hepworth
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
RELEASES on April 4, 2023!!!

Sipping thoughts: I enjoyed how this book was written. I don’t remember reading a book that has been written by the POV of someone who has died (from the beginning of the story). I did not expect the connections of the characters to play out like it did. I don’t think this is a typical psychological thriller more of a domestic thriller. This is also not a favorite of Hepworth’s books but I enjoyed it enough.

Cheers and thank you to @NetGalley and @StMartinsPress for an advanced copy of @TheSoulmate.

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Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for ARC of The Soulmate for my honest review.
What a tragic story that took my breath away! This story follows the dual POVs of Pippa and Amanda before and after. This story takes place near Pippa and Gabe’s home outside Melbourne near a cliff where many suicides have occurred. I don’t want to give too much away in my review. Just want to note there are very hard topics that are discussed in this book, such as mental health and infidelity.
The secrets, lies, and criminal action kept me turning the page. So many twists throughout the story and an unforgettable ending. Just give it a try you will not be disappointed. This was fast-paced page turner that checked all my boxes. 5 star

Another fantastic thriller by Sally Hepworth. She is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I thought I knew what was what in this book, then things get turned on their head. This book kept me engaged and had a great ending, which is always important in a thriller. Enjoyed this book!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for providing an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 stars for the fabulous Sally Hepworth! I’ve only read one (or maybe two?) of her works in the past, but the synopsis of this one immediately enticed me. I do enjoy a sneaky “not everything is as it seems” in a domestic thriller, and this one didn’t disappoint. It was fast paced, told in both the past and present timelines and through the viewpoints of Pippa and Amanda (<— that was a unique touch, loved that). Definitely recommend for those that love a good domestic thriller with a bunch of secrets!

Thank you again to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC! Pub date is coming soon, April 2023!

I'm sorry WHAT?!?!? Holy cow Hepworth knows how to write a dark domestic thriller. No matter how many times I tried to put this down there was NO WAY absolutely NONE. I was sucked in from the very beginning and as more doubts arose the sooner I needed answers. So the pages of these short chapters continued to turn faster and faster. And the way this story was told in double pov with each pov having a now and then timeline, COOOMMME ONNNN, it is soo addicting. Also the atmosphere, OMG did this book pull me in making me question where I was at times. One minute I had water splashing on my face, high heavy winds making it impossible to hear things going on around me surrounded by police tape and officers and the next I was on my couch fully emersed in this book reading. AMAZING. AND that ENDING, I was absolutely not ready for all of that to unfold the way it did. Round👏of👏applause👏 Hepworth👏! She killed it with this one (pun intended) and I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next. I'm addicted and I just can't enough.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the free advanced eGalley in exchange for my honost opinions.

4.5 stars

I don't think I've ever read a book with the dead person's POV. It was a shock and I must say I'm here for it.

This is my favorite Hepworth book so far. The multiple POVs and timelines worked so well and I really wasn't sure where it was going to lead. The ending seriously surprised me!

Thanks to NetGalley & St Martin's Press for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review

I have to admit that I waited about a month to write the review after reading the book. Fortunately, like all of Sally Hepworth’s books it sticks with me because it’s such a good read. I love all of her books, and The Soulmate did not disappoint.

Marriage can be difficult under the best of circumstances. Add lies and mental illness and you have an entire new level of difficulty.

Gage and Pippa have been married for seven years and have two little girls. After some problems (the reader discovers these as they read), they move to a beautiful home by the ocean Unfortunately, it is by a cliff where people have been known to jump to their death. Gage is known by the police and others that he has saved a few people from jumping. He sees them, and then talks them “off the wall” so to speak. However, one day something seems different. Gage goes out to talk to a beautiful woman, and Pippa watches his movements. He doesn’t appear to be the same “talk” and soon the woman falls to her death. However, did Gage help or hurt by giving a little push. Gage is insistent that he did not push her. At first, the police seemed convinced but then the story starts to unravel.

The story is a great thriller with many twists and turns. Amanda (the dead woman) is Gage’s boss’s wife. Does this matter? Maybe? THe story is told from the point of view of Gage, Pippa and Amanda pre and post death.

If you love a thriller please get this one. You won’t be disappointed

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review.

YES!!!!!!!! I loved this book!!! I was in quite a book slump and it was really getting me down, but this one revived me! I loved Pippa. I loved Amanda. I was completely invested in both characters and how things were going to unfold. I found The Soulmate very easy to follow, even with all of the twists and turns and multiple main characters. I absolutely will be recommending this one!

Pippa and Gabe live in Australia and have recently moved into a house along the coast with their two daughters. Unfortunately behind their house is an infamous spot known as “the drop” where multiple people have jumped to their deaths. Pippa is a lawyer and since moving from Melbourne, Gabe has been a stay at home dad. He wasn’t always though and his job recruiting investors for a big company had a lot of ups and downs. Gabe has talked many people down from the drop but one day someone from his past shows up there. After Gabe is unable to save them, Pippa looks out the window to see Gabe’s outstretched hands and she can’t help but wonder if it was in fact a suicide or did Gabe push them? And if he did then why?

it’s so hard for me to write my summary of this book because there is truly so much to unpack and so hard not to give anything away. i loved this book! it had short chapters which always earns points for me, it had multiple twists that i didn’t see coming, and the ending ALMOST had me in tears. i thought this book was really well written and i will definitely be reading more sally hepworth books!

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

This book was not what I was expecting at all. I did enjoy it a lot however I do think it was filled with a lot of fluff and some parts I did not personally find relevant. Overall it kept me on my toes and question what next

Such an intriguing thriller! It has short chapters, multiple twists I didn’t see coming and is fast paced. I really enjoyed the different perspective between Pippa and Amanda!

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

This for me was good but not great. I will still give it a 4 star review as I really enjoyed the big twist at the end.

I sometimes find with thrillers sometimes there not much info or movement in the first half or even 3/4 into the book, and unfortunately I did find the same thing here.

I really liked the premise, I did guess a few things of what was going to happen but the last 20% of the book had me on my toes. I couldn’t put it down.

I really liked that Sally mentions quite a lot of mental health issues in this novel. It definitely helps create a background and how common it is to be misdiagnosed. It really does affect not only yourself and your mood, but people around you. Sometimes it’s a make or break situation. And therapy is so important to work through life in these types of situations.

Again overall I did enjoy the book, just wish there was a bit more twists in the first half of the book. But Sally Hepworth really did a good job overall, I love her writing. And I loved the dual perspectives. Especially from Amanda who is the character who dies. I found that really interesting!

Gabe and Pippa love their cottage by the sea. The only problem is the clip behind the house is a well known spot to die by suicide. Gabe has successfully talked 7 people off the ledge and saved their lives, but when he can’t save Amanda, everyones secret start to be revealed.

This one was more of a family drama/mystery to me than a thriller, but I did enjoy it! I found both the story of Gabe and Pippa and Amanda and Max fascinating as well as tragic. Both Pippa and Amanda were people that would do anything for the love in their life, and take on more than their fair share of crap to deal with. I really liked that the story switched between then and now, and between the pov of Amanda and Pippa. As always, Sally Hepworth writes a great book.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. I was fortunate to receive this one in audio and ebook so I listened in the car and read at night! The story starts out in a very unique way- a couple has purchased a home near a cliffs edge, a place where many people have given up on life and jumped from. But when Pippa and her husband move in, he is able to stop all the jumpers. Until he doesn’t and Pippa thinks she sees her husband push the woman from the cliff. But she lies to the police and then things take a drastic turn, Pippa and her husband know the woman who jumped. Did he push her? If so, why? As Pippa uncovers the truth and more lies, she starts to question if her husband is a kind man after all…This story kept me intrigued until the very end. I’ve always been a Sally Hepworth fan and this one did not disappoint.

This addictive domestic suspense will leave you not being able to turn the pages fast enough. I was hooked by the lies, coverups, and marriage issues. One of the things I love of Hepworth is her ability to describe mental illness so well and immerse the story with it. I loved how you would get small details throughout the book but you won’t figure out the whole picture until the very end. The end left my jaw on the floor.

Do yourself a favor and read (or listen to) THIS BOOK! You definitely won’t be sorry.

***** Many thanks to Macmillan Audio, St Martins Press, Sally Hepworth, and NetGalley for the #gifted copy as it was provided to me in turn for my honest opinion.

The Soulmate is a cautionary tale of what one can expect when two broken people latch on to a toxic relationship instead of walking away. I didn't particularly care for either of the main characters but the fast-paced writing hooked me - I just needed to know what was going to happen next! The twists were delicious and I did not see most of them coming. Gabe and Pippa have been married for about seven years when the events in the book begin to take place, it just goes to show that we never quite know who we share a bed with! I loved the alternating points of view as it offered an interesting glimpse into the way a certain character came by her introspection. Would definitely recommend this book to anyone giving Sally a read for the first time!

I really enjoyed this book. Lots of twist and turns that I really didn’t see coming. Enjoyed the different perspective between the two women characters. Would definitely recommend

The Soulmate was my first book by Sally Hepworth and it lived up to the hype. The Soulmate is a domestic suspense that explores how much we really know our spouse and how we are often too close to realize who our spouse actually is. The story starts with a woman’s suicide and unfolds between flashbacks and present day from the perspective of the woman who jumped and the woman who lives at the cliff house. As secrets are revealed and both women start to question their husbands, Hepworth throws several twists and turns at the reader to keep them guessing. I didn’t find any of the characters likable and had a hard time caring about what happened to any of them. And while I think exploring mental health issues is important, it felt like Hepworth relied more on cliche and stereotypes instead of giving a more nuance portrayal. Overall though this was an enjoyable, twisty read that fans of domestic suspense will enjoy.

What does it mean to be a soulmate? Marriage to one’s soulmate should be perfect, right? THE SOULMATE by Sally Hepworth examines the marriages of two very different couples, Pippa and Gabe and Amanda and Max. The lives of these four will clash under extraordinary circumstances raising questions about love, loyalty and trust. An absolute page turner full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the last page.

2.5⭐

Pippa and Gabe Gerard move to a cliffside cottage in a scenic coastal town on the outskirts of Melbourne with their two daughters with hopes of starting over. Their new home is close to the edge of a cliff, "The Drop" – an area frequented by those who chose to end their lives. Gabe, a sensitive person who has struggled with mental health issues, has made a name for himself by being able to persuade people from jumping to death. On one fateful night, Pippa sees a woman hovering close to the edge and calls the authorities as Gabe approaches the woman to talk to her. Pippa sees them talking but in a tragic turn of events, the woman plunges to her death and Pippa notices Gabe standing with his hands outstretched, which he later tells her was so that he could try to save the woman. Pippa isn’t quite convinced but chooses to believe her husband. Then it is revealed that the woman was none other than Amanda Cameron the wife of Gabe’s former employer Max Cameron – a fact that Gabe had not shared with Pippa initially. Was there more to what transpired that night of which Pippa is unaware? What is Gabe hiding from her and why?

The narrative is shared from “Now” and “Then” (from Pippa’s Pov) and “before and “After’ (from Amanda’s PoV). The author touches upon themes of love, marriage and fidelity and mental health among others. None of the characters are particularly likable though I could sympathize with Amanda to an extent and Gabe for his personal struggles. On this note, I had serious issues with how the topic of mental health was handled in this story, especially in the context of Gabe and Pippa’s marriage. We are told that Gabe was receiving professional help but as the narrative begins to shed light on past events, I thought Pippa, a lawyer by profession who has dealt with Gabe’s past indiscretions and mental health issues in the past, chose to ignore or rather was in denial over the gravity of the situation in the present timeline. With two young children at home, one would expect her to be circumspect and act on it, instead of wishing her troubles away and second-guessing her suspicions. As a plot point, I found this aspect of the story utterly unconvincing.

The author packs a lot into this story - dysfunctional relationships, mental health issues, lies and secrets and ambition with a few surprises along the way but the result is more family drama than domestic thriller and as that too, isn’t quite a satisfying read.

I’ve enjoyed Sally Hepworth’s domestic thrillers in the past and was happy for the opportunity to read an advance copy of her latest offering. Unfortunately, The Soulmate did not work for me. I know I am an outlier here but I honestly struggled to finish this one. I did not find the plot engaging, and though I was surprised a couple of times (always a good thing!) a few of the so-called twists felt contrived and overall, I missed the tension and the absorbing build-up I enjoyed in the author’s previous works.

Many thanks to Sally Hepworth, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel is due to be released on April 04, 2023.