𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤!

I love Sally Hepworth books, every one is unique and different in their own way but fantastic. This story was twisty, dark, disturbing and kept me at the edge of my seat from start to finish. I loved it!

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this complimentary audiobook.

https://www.instagram.com/booksandcoffeemx/

Thank you to Netgalley, McMillan Audio and Sally Hepworth for allowing me to listen to an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book for an honest review.

✨ Trigger warnings: mental illness, suicide, and depression. ✨

Every family has secrets, right? Even families with a couple that considers themselves to be soulmates, right?

Gabe and Pippa have been soulmates for years. They’ve poured every ounce of their being and existence into each other…or so they thought. They make a leap of faith and purchase their dream house in a quaint, sleepy coastal town in Australia despite one large concern. A cliff behind their home, rumored to be the perfect place for someone to end their life.

Once they move into their home, they wonder how they will keep their daughters safe, as well as individuals wanting to end their life behind their house.

Gabe becomes known as a local hero for talking to and guiding people away from the ledge of the cliff almost every night until one day he wasn’t able to save, Amanda. Why wasn’t he able to save this woman? What was different about this situation? Is Gabe connected to Amanda. Did he push her off the ledge? Is there adultery within their marriage? What other lies haven’t come to the limelight?

I found this story to be less of a thriller than a family/domestic drama with some surprising twists. However, it was still very enjoyable and the drama within the family kept me guessing consistently throughout. The secrets and twists were slowly revealed with one big revelation at the end.

What I liked:
💕 The concept that a couple can be soulmates and have an unwavering love regardless of lies and infidelity.
💕 The slow unraveling of secrets. The reader was given tidbits throughout and the characters were often shocked by new secrets.
💕 The setting: Australia (loved the reference to Tim Tam Cookies, yum!).
💕 Love the curiosity and wonder found within Gabe and Pippa’s daughters.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for accepting my request to audibly read and review The Soulmate.

Narrators: Barrie Kreinik; Jessica Douglas-Henry
Published: 04/04/23

It's publication day -- Sally Hepworth did not disappoint me. I'm going to discuss the elephant in the room: I did not notice two narrators. I was not confused at any point. Does that mean the narrators did a great job? I think so. Getting the name for this review is when I saw there were two.

From page one I was hooked, and was really happy to see the storytelling play out. The story is not over-the-top. After I finished I was playing the book back in my mind, and realized there really was only one possible cringe-worthy moment, but that is debatable and for spoilers sake and really because this is new being released today, no details. The story makes sense, and as a reader these are my favorite books. I love good storytelling. Imagine meeting your neighbors for the first time and over the years all that you share. That is this book.

Hepworth does throw in a few F words, and I was stymied. I had to take a minute after the second one, and lose the conversation I was having with myself about quotas and are authors paid a few extra bucks for using profanity. She used them in a juvenile way. I was asked my thoughts thus far during some YouTube reading sprints, and the hosts laughed. I explained an automatic loss of one star for F words. Standards are subjective.

Overall, I enjoyed The Soulmate, and my time with the book was well used.

Sally Hepworth is a must read author for me and she always delivers. She serves up relatable characters, complex plots, and twists I never thought to expect.

The Soulmate was an interesting read and pretty unique. The characters weren't particularly likeable but they were definitely human and I kept wanting to give Gabe passes because he was a good dad. But, this is one of those novels that's an onion and as each layer is peeled, you just know you don't have the full story yet. I was so frustrated with Pippa for her naivety but in true Hepworth fashion, I was still rooting for her.

I loved peeling back the layers on this one and it went places I never would have expected at the beginning.

I listened to the audio and thought the narrators were great. They do have Australian accents (which is a plus for me!) but I listened a bit slower than my usual speed just so I didn't miss a single word.

If you love a fast paced, contemporary novel with a bit of thrill, Hepworth is your gal and The Soulmate will be a stellar choice.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy,

Sally Hepworth can be hit or miss for me. I loved The Good Sister and thought a little less of The Younger Wife. This one falls between the two for me. It is a solid story and I love her writing style. It is just so easy to read. But It seems like mental illness gets the short end of things in this one. I thought she was phenomenal when writing an on the spectrum character in The Good Sister. She showcased Fern’s struggle in life without making it a social issue, while in this one mental illness gets the bad end of the stick. I did read about her research and personal experience on the subject and still felt this way. But that was really all I didn’t like.

She does such a good job of setting the scene of the house on the cliff. I felt like I could see and feel it. So many secrets and lies and I didn’t see some of them coming. She is so good at giving you all the details you need to know and framing them in a way that you can’t piece the truth together until the end. The dual POVs of Gabe’s wife and the suicide jumper does a great job of showing Gabe’s actions without him being a narrator.

Not only are we reading about the suicide cliff, but the inner workings of the marriages of the two couples and how mental issues can affect a marriage. While I didn’t love the characters, I was caught up in how this one would play out and I read it in a couple of days.

I was lucky enough to have both a reading and listening copy and loved both equally and flipped back and forth as my schedule permitted. I’m such a sucker for accents and thought both Barrie Kreinik; Jessica Douglas-Henry did a great job of making the story come alive.

As always I was entertained and can’t wait to read her next book.

The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth


Special Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for providing me with an Audiobook copy of The Soulmate.

Other than being familiar with the genre, I went into this title blind. I feel like the experience is better for me that way. I thought this book was great. I love how not only does the story bring you in and take you on this journey that is intense on so many levels that literally had me on the edge of my seat and the characters on the edge in the story as well lol.

I love how the book had multiple point of views. In my opinion multiple POVs give the story and characters more depth. I appreciate that because it make the story more authentic (even though its fiction lol) and enjoyable to me. Both marriages had struggles which is also accurate in real life and I liked how the author depicted that in the story as well. I am not gonna lie though, I was not ready for the ending. The twists that take place in this book are totally unanticipated and will literally having you feeling like someone just pulled the floor from underneath you! But if you're like me, you love that experience when reading.

This was my first time reading a book by Sally Hepworth, I am looking forward to checking out more of her work. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and I appreciate very much the chance to read it. 4 stars.

I finished this one this morning. This book pulled me in almost immediately! It was a very quick and twisty read, I did not see most of the twists coming. I loved the short chapters as well. I really enjoyed listening to this book.📕 Both of the narrators did a fantastic job. Check your trigger warnings before heading into this one, it has talk of suicide and mental illness. Aside from the way some of the mental illness was portrayed this was a very enjoyable and entertaining read for me. I gave this 4.5⭐️‘s.

Their dream home is located on the cliff where people come to make the hardest decisions of their lives. Gabe, the hero of the community, is able to talk the visitors out of their hard decisions, but the last visit has ended in a tragic way. The worst part - the victim was actually a mutual acquaint of Gabe and Pippa. Questions begin to rise in Pippa's mind: why out of all visitor's Gabe failed to save the one he knew?

The Soulmate is an incredibly creepy, clever psychological thriller. I was in this story's grip from the very start. A dual timeline gives the reader an outline of the characters' lives prior to an incident and an explanation of their connection to one another. The main twist of the story is a drastic change in one of the characters that I failed to foresee. The pace was fast throughout, but wow, those last chapters sent literal chills down my spine.

Sally Hepworth's style of writing is very strong and addictive. This was definitely one of the "can't-put-down" novels that I've read this year. While the story was not insanely original, it was extremely compelling.

Thank you, NetGalley for a free and advanced copy of the novel.

I should start by saying I'm a pretty picky thriller reader. It seems to take a lot for a thriller to impress me or for it to be memorable to me. I can't tell you the amount of thrillers I've read where I can't even remember what happened the next week. I found The Soulmate to be a fairly enjoyable listening experience (the narrator is great!), but even now, just a couple weeks after I finished, I barely remember the ending. But I do know that I didn't love the ending and that it didn't feel very believable to me.

The book is about Gabe and Pippa, a married couple living in their dream home with their two daughters. The house is right next to a cliff, which sounds like an absolutely gorgeous location. But it also happens to be a popular place to commit suicide. Gabe has seen many people standing on the edge and has gone out to talk them out of jumping. Until one day when he goes out to talk to a woman and can't save her. Pippa is watching out the window and something about it just looks weird to her.

We hear from a couple different perspectives, including the dead woman who is narrating part of the book after her death (I did love that). Parts of the book just felt convoluted to me and a lot of tropes were introduced. I didn't love the way mental illness was handled and even the talk about ADHD felt very off to me.

Overall, I think readers who enjoy quick domestic thrillers will connect with this. But if you're looking for a memorable thriller that will really wow you, this probably won't be it.

To me, Sally Hepworth's books are more domestic dramas with a side of mystery rather than a crazy twisty thriller. And this one is no exception: a character-driven mystery involving two couples who appear to have it all. But underneath the secrets, lies and a suspicious death unravels everything.

Here, Hepworth explores marriage: how the bounds of love, honesty, and trust are tested in a marriage. She questions what a “soulmate” means and does that definition differ between couples.

Short chapters with dual POVs and past/present timelines create a highly binge-able domestic thriller. I thought the POV of the deceased character cleverly paints the full picture. If you’re a Sally Hepworth fan, you will not be disappointed.

Thank you to netgalley for a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This concept was very intriguing to me but I could not finish it unfortunately. Nothing at all was wrong with the book I just realized I can't handle reading thrillers at the moment. The story was very interesting and I wanted to see where it went, my friends would love to read this book!

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.

I listened along to the audiobook while reading my eARC. I’m glad I did this because I think if I had just listened to the audiobook, I might have been confused. I did enjoy the narration though and felt that the audiobook helped move the story along.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for advanced copies in exchange for my honest review.

I have read two other Sally Hepworth books and (full disclosure) I only rated them 2 stars. But, the plot and the cover of The Soulmate drew me in and I figured that because it was an audiobook, I had nothing to lose. It was a gamble that paid off.
I really enjoyed this audiobook. I liked the dual narration. I was pleased with the dual POV and timelines. This book was much more thrilling than the others I had read. Each chapter ends with a cliffhanger. There are twists I didn’t expect. There are some red herrings. Everything you could want in a suspenseful thriller.
The setting of this story is fabulous. I immediately pictured this home on the cliff and I loved that I was able to see myself there in the story.
I will be posting this review on Instagram, Goodreads and Amazon.

This book seemed like a mess to me. I haven't enjoyed Hepworth as much as I used to. It just feels like the stories are a jumble of twists and characters. This book starts off GREAT- I'm intrigued by a couple that lives near a cliff and has to constantly call the police because it's a place people love to use to end their lives. Husband Gabe is the whisperer, though- he will often go out and talk to the person on the cliff until the police arrive. Until.. he's unable to talk one person off the cliff. And the secrets surrounding this person involve both Gabe and Pippa and both fear they'll be prosecuted for this person's death. The book pops back and forth from past to present to tell the story and I normally like this story vehicle. It just didn't work here.
Pippa seemed preening and clingy and Gabe was 'just so perfect' but also terribly imperfect and Hepworth worked in turns that made me squint in confusion at the end of each chapter.
I listened to an audio arc and the narrators Barrie Kreinik; Jessica Douglas-Henry did a great job- loved both voices.

The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth


This was a great audiobook to listen to. There were different points of view, different time lines, and it kept my interest all the way through.

It points out that all marriages are good and bad, and you never really know what really happens in other people’s marriage.

I would recommend this for anyone who enjoys mysteries where the story evolves slowly and keeps you reading or listening until it is done.

This was narrated by Barrie Kreinik; Jessica Douglas-Henry.

Sally Hepworth never fails to deliver. I highly recommend this audiobook.

Thank you to @netgalley and @macmillanaudio for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

A few too many twists, a fairly absurd ending, and honestly, not a single likeable character. Even the little kids were intolerable.

The Soulmate is a different kind of thriller, but I really enjoyed it. More psychological than dramatic, it sure made me think about people and their motives. Gabe and Pippa live in a cottage by a cliff that is known as a popular suicide spot, and Gabe regularly talks people down from the cliff. The book describes this as a quiet, peaceful place to live and hints that their lives weren't always like this, but really, it doesn't sound peaceful at all to me! It is a great setting for a story though, rich in both beauty and dark gothic elements. Sally Hepworth's stories are always interesting and this one is her most thought provoking yet, with characters full of contrast and difficult life choices.
Barrie Kreinik and Jessica Douglas-Henry did a fantastic job of narrating the audiobook, they really embodied Pippa and Amanda's personalities in telling both their stories. It's a credit to both the narrators and the author that I listened to the entire book in less than a day.

I’m usually it a fan of domestic thrillers but enjoyed this one. It kept me entertained and guessing to the end.

**4.5-stars rounded up**

The Soulmate is the latest release from the Queen of the Whiplash Reveal, Sally Hepworth. As I quickly rediscovered with this story, Hepworth likes to keep you shook.

In this story we mainly follow Gabe and Pippa, a married couple with a beautiful cliffside home. Unfortunately, that cliffside sometimes attracts people with unsavory intentions. Gabe has talked people off that ledge more than once. In fact it has happened so often they've even received coaching from the local police on the proper steps to take when they encounter a possible jumper. Because of this, when they spot a woman on the ledge one day, it seems almost natural for Gabe to go out and approach her. To try to help.

Pippa is initially watching her husband talking to the woman. She hopes he'll be able to talk her back from the edge. Pippa turns her head, just for a moment and when she looks back, the woman is gone, Gabe's arms left reaching into empty space.

As the inquiry into the woman's death begins, it is revealed that Gabe actually knew her, unbeknownst to Pippa. What was said on the cliff that day? Did Gabe have a motive to push her? If so, what could it possibly be. Pippa is hurt, scared and confused. The couple has no secrets, do they?

I listened to this audiobook in one day. Once I started, I was quickly pulled into this web of ever growing secrets and reveals. It was impeccably told. Hepworth drew me in from the start with a fascinating premise and an interesting couple. Pippa and Gabe were so glossy on the surface, but I just knew there was more to them both than was initially revealed. Boy, was I right!!

I love how Hepworth frames her stories. The pace and reveals are so much fun, you cannot help but be sucked into the lives of her characters.

This is the third novel I have read from this author and I have felt that way about every one of them. The plots are just so compelling, it's almost impossible to stop. Every chapter leaves you wanting more; more answers, more drama, more revelations. It's a whole experience.

I would absolutely recommend Hepworth's work to anyone who enjoys twisted Domestic Dramas with enough scandals, lies and secrets to keep your head spinning.

Thank you so much to the publisher, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. I had a ton of fun reading this and look forward to whatever wicked web Hepworth is going to spin for us next!!!

This was a great book. I loved the suspense and the buildup until the end with another twist in the second to last chapter that I didn't see coming. I highly recommend this books to everyone that likes domestic thrillers.