Member Reviews
I will read anything Sally Hepworth writes! I love her short chapters and compelling stories with characters you aren’t sure whether you like or dislike. This story is so propulsive and I love that she give you a few twisty breadcrumbs at a time to keep the story moving quickly. The ending really surprised me, which I loved! I can’t wait to see what else she writes.
This thrilling tale of true love and heartbreak was a real page turner. I’m usually good at predicting how the plot will go, but this one left me guessing. I also liked both of the main characters. Phipps made a few bad choices, but she learned from them by the end. I don’t mind characters who make mistakes because it makes them more relatable. Amanda was also a likable person. Her advantage was that she was an omniscient entity which helped to pull the story together. On a mine note, I appreciated how the kids were so realistic. They were a mix of good and misbehaved like all kids. The ending really tied it all together. Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy.
This story had me hooked for the first 30% I couldn’t read fast enough but then it kinda dragged for me. The overall story was good but I just wish there was more twists and turns throughout or it be a shorter story.
I love the tension in Sally Hepworth books! I'm not sure why I enjoy being stressed out in this way, but apparently, I do. This one starts with a dark, ominous feeling almost from page one. We have a couple that has recently purchased a home on a cliff. It has a beautiful view, but also has an unfortunate reputation for being a known suicide spot for cliff-jumpers. One of the new homeowners, Gabe, has taken it upon himself to try to talk people down from the ledge on several occasions. Until, one day, he is unsuccessful. As the story progresses, we learn that things aren't quite what they seem and nearly everyone has a secret relating to this suicide.
I read over half of this book in one sitting. I thought the pace slowed down a bit in the middle, but the twists and secrets kept me interested. I also did not predict the ending and I love to be surprised. 4 stars!
*Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an ARC for review purposes.
This is the first novel I've read by the Australian writer Sally Hepworth, but certainly not my last. This author seriously brings everything to the table. There were so many twists and turns that I found myself thinking that there was no possible way that the book could be tied up in a satisfactory manner, but it definitely was.
Pippa and Gabe live on the coast with their daughters just across the road from a cliffside known as "the Drop" that is known to be a popular spot for suicide jumpers. Gabe has managed to talk a number of them out of jumping, but one night things go wrong.
This novel is about two marriages and the deep connection that each couple has with one another. It is a wild ride, and I can easily imagine an excellent tv series made from it. Highly recommend for lovers of puzzles and tangles, and thrillers that have just the right amount of tension. Good luck putting it down!
Thanks very much to the publisher, MacMillan, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC copy.
Pippa, a lawyer, is married to Gabe, currently a stay at home Dad of two.
They have 2 daughters Freya and Asha. They moved to Portsea into a coastal home that is near a deadly cliff that several people come to jump to their suicidal deaths.
One night after dinner, Gabe & Pippa see a person through their kitchen window and Gabe goes to see who it is.
Max is married to Amanda. Max is also Gabe’s ex-boss.
His wife comes to the cliff and falls to her death.
It’s a slow burn of domestic suspense,filled with murder and mental health stuggles. It did take me a while to get into it.
Much thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and Author for this ARC to read and review, I did enjoy it very much.
3.5 Stars
The Soulmate
A Novel
by Sally Hepworth
I did LOVE this mystery very much. I gave a very crushing review, not meant for The Soulmate at all. My deepest apologies to the writer Sally Hepworth, the publisher, and NetGalley. This book was so very very well written. It did have me locked into each page. I saw how so many people went down the wrong road and things became tragic. I was jaw-dropped in the last few chapters.
Again, my apologies, as I was posting for another on Amazon and realized my huge mistake!!
This book was a page turner. I couldn’t put it down. So many unexpected twists and turns. The plot was very unique and kept my interest throughout the entire book !
I’m a big fan of Sally! I love the way she writes books & how she develops characters. I always think she does a fantastic job! I also really love that the chapters are pretty short- that usually allows for you to get through her books faster IMO!
This book was just not it for me. It was a thriller, it wasn’t mysterious, or even suspenseful. I didn’t care for the story line, or for the voice of someone who was dead. (I found that pretty odd.) I thought the ending of fine, but didn’t send shock waves like her books usually do. I also felt like This book had more curse words and more sexual content than her other books did..
My favorite characters were the two little sisters- they were sweet as pie.
Thank you St. Martin's Press, Sally Helpworth and NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Thrilling. Addictive. Captivating.
This book was a true, heartbreaking, tragically beautiful love story of two couples who in the end found happiness of their own accord .
In this book Sally explores the misrepresentation of marriages and the difference between what you see, and whats actually going on behind closed doors .
All the details are carefully planted via the "before" and "after" of Pippa and Amanda . Each has their own story to tell . And you get little drops of the entirety that leaves you hanging on and begging for more . The short chapters help with the over all flow and easygoing nature of reading this book.
Though heavy material, the story keeps you hanging on for dear life .
Trigger warnings include mental illness.
Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the killer ARC !
“Sometimes, the road to our destination leads us in a direction we don’t want to take. But does it matter, in the end, if it gets us where we want to go?”
Is there anything you wouldn’t do for your soulmate?
Praise for Sally Hepworth! In her newest novel, The Soulmate, which examines marriages – the good, the bad, and how far you may go for your family, Hepworth delivers a page-turning domestic thriller. This gripping tale follows Pippa and Gabe, living in what they thought would be their dreamhouse, but which looks out onto a cliff, known as The Drop, where numerous people come to end their own lives. Gabe, charmer he is, has convinced 7 people not to jump – until one night, when a woman commits suicide with Gabe standing nearby. However, when Pippa finds out that the woman was Amanda, Gabe’s old boss’s wife, she has more questions – especially because Gabe lied to the police about knowing the jumper.
Told in dual point of views from Pippa and Amanda, this book had it all! – drama, twists, infidelity, money, power, and love and family. Filled with dramatic, domestic suspense, this is a thriller that you will quickly read and enjoy. As more information comes out, Pippa and Amanda both learn how “dangerous it can be, thinking that you know someone.”
I was consumed by this book from page one and read it within a two-day period – which is rare for me with work and kid’s activities. Hepworth’s characters stand out, and she really tries to convey what it is like for individuals living with mental illness – and the toll on the immediate family as well. “Funny how love can remain, despite everything.”
I’m surprised I didn’t put the ending of the book together sooner, but that just goes to show you how well Hepworth writes! This book combines love and marriage with the deeper aspects of marriage, such as truth, trust, loyalty and the like. Reminds me that things are not always how they appear on the outside looking in. I will recommend this novel and buy it when it comes out in April 2023 to pass around my friends to read. 4.7 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC! All opinions are my own – my only complaint is that I didn’t read it sooner!
“We trust people based on the strangest, most arbitrary things, none of which have any bearing on whether or not you are inherently good.”
Hepworth does it again!
When Gabe and Pippa move to their dream cottage off near the edge of a cliff, they find themselves waking up to breathtaking views ... but also? The cliff is a known place for individuals to take their lives. Gabe quickly becomes known as a savior, having talked numerous individuals out of jumping....
.... until he doesn't.
..... and there is a connection to that person that both Gabe and Pippa have.
I could not put this book down! The ending was shocking (I'm still not fully sure what to think) and everyone wasn't who you thought they were. I love Hepworth's ability to divulge just enough throughout the book to keep engaged (and unable to put the book down).
Thank you, Netgalley for the ARC of this book!
While I enjoyed the fast-paced nature of this book, I overall did not feel like it fit into either mystery or thriller for me. too many small twists are incorporated throughout the story that once The Big Twist was revealed at the end, it offered no shock value or real relevance to the story. I did like the dual perspective narration from two women in vastly different marriages, and thought the exploration of their relationships with their husbands and their roles in their marriages was an interesting theme.
I love Sally Hepworth's books and this one was not short of truly enjoyable. Thank you for the advanced copy. I couldn't put the book down.
What a wonderfully written 5 star book that I couldn’t put down! This book kept me up past my bedtime because I couldn’t wait to see how it ended. This is a fast read because the words flow so smoothly. This book is full of surprises that make you wonder how a wife could be so loyal to her husband/soulmate. The husband and wife characters are fully developed making you feel like they are friends of yours. I highly recommend this book! Thanks to @NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC of this book in return for my honest review!
First, thank you Net Galley for the ARC of this book. Second, Sally Hepworth absolutely killed it with this book. This might be my favorite of hers so far. Perfect amount of suspense mixed in with relatable family dynamics. The complex layers of the story are so well done by the author, which I’ve come to love about her style. The character development, of each of the characters is multi layered as well, and keeps you drawn into the story. The portrayal of mental health and the impact on family members was accurate and also well done. I definitely recommend this!
I'm in the vast minority here, but I really disliked this book.
And I'm not going to be harsh. I just think Sally Hepworth isn't the writer for me because I've never liked any the books I've read of hers. This particular offering (IMO) was boring, over-the-top bordering on absurdist, repetitive and had naïve characters that made ridiculous decisions.
Based on all the other glowing reviews, I recommend reading this book for yourself if you think the plot sounds interesting, you've liked Hepworth's other books, if you're a fan of domestic thrillers.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Told in alternating POV’s The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth is a twisty , domestic thriller full of lies and secrets but with a strong focus on loyalty , fidelity and marriage . A brilliant read which I thoroughly enjoyed!
I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
Was Amanda pushed or did she jump? That is the mystery that Sally Hepworth challenges us with in her latest The Soulmate. I enjoyed this book like I do all of Hepworth’s books. Her characters are always interesting. Trigger Warning: This story deals with mental illness and suicide. The story ties two couples together thru Gabe’s job and Pippa’s dalliance with Gabe’s boss. Pippa and Gabe’s life is a roller coaster of ups and downs which ultimately leads to the moment at the cliff. Like I said I’m a fan of Sally Hepworth. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.
Sally Hepworth's books are always winners and this one is no exception.
Told from the perspective of two wives, one alive and one dead, this thriller keeps you on your toes. As always Sally gives you a story that is full of twists and turns with an explosive ending.
Want to know who really married their soulmate, read on!