Member Reviews
Gabe a Pippa live an idyllic life with their two girls in a beautiful house on a cliff. A very dangerous cliff. A cliff people go to when they want to end their lives. A cliff that Gabe has saved several people from doing just that. Until the day he doesn't. But what Pippa saw thru the window didn't look like his previous attempts to save. It looked more intimate. Who was this lady who jumped (fell, tripped, was pushed?) from the ledge? What does she have to do with Gabe? How will this alter their lives? This book is a fast paced read that will keep you intrigued from page 1.
Review of The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth
Sally Hepworth is one of my absolute auto buy authors. This book will do nothing to change that though it’s definitely not my favorite of hers. Things I like about it was the creepy setting. I also was fascinated by the characters. I found it intriguing how they behaved. I also loved the after timeline from the POV of a dead character. On the somewhat negative side, it was at times slow with not much happening.
Quick synopsis: Gabe and Pippa live on a seaside cliff. It is a popular place for people to come to end their lives. Gabe is often able to stop them. One day it appears that he knew one of the jumpers and Pippa isn’t sure how much Gabe tried to save her. The secrets snd betrayals are then slowly revealed to the readers.
QOTD: are you afraid of heights?
If I could have read this in one sitting I would have done so but I needed to sleep and life can't stop just because I don't want to put a book down. The mostly short chapters each had me wanting to keep on going to the next one. It was a bit of a brain twister as I tried to put the characters at the right place in time during the chapters taking place in the past but this is one book where I kind of enjoyed the challenge. The various times in the past mixed with the present day added to the mystery in a way that I didn't find frustrating.
Gabe and Pippa Gerard have two young daughters and now live in a cottage on a cliff located in a sleepy coastal town outside Melbourne. They've lived in a lot of houses during their short marriage and Gabe's had a lot of jobs since Pippa has known him. Now lawyer Pippa is supporting the family and Gabe is the primary child minder in the family. Things seem to be going well for them, especially since Gabe seems to have found his calling. Their cliff is known as a jump off place for those who don't want to live anymore and since they've lived in this cottage, Gabe has talked seven people out of jumping. He's in the papers and the townspeople know him for being a hero who saves lives.
Then a woman shows up on the cliff, Gage tries talk her down and she goes over the cliff. At least that is what Pippa hopes really happened but she's not sure. Something is not right with what she saw and Gabe is acting strange. Hopefully the police will rule the woman's death a suicide, it was a suicide wasn't it?
We have two narrators, Pippa and the dead woman and we see the events of this story through their eyes, now and in the past. Both woman love their husbands, faults and all. Fidelity and loyalty play a part in this story. Can these women trust their husbands? Can their husbands trust their wives. This is very much a character study and with a huge focus on marriage and partnership. How strong are the bonds within each relationship? Just how much can each partner take?
Pub Apr 4, 2023
I received an eARC from Netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.
I didn't see that reveal coming. I have enjoyed several of Sally Hepworth's past books but this one topped it. The story and twists had me sitting for hours on out to finish the book. Can't wait until her next book is released.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Publication date: April 4, 2023
The Soulmate is my first Sally Hepworth book and it definitely won’t be my last! This book was fast paced, twists at every corner and characters that you love to hate!
Gabe and Pippa have lives at the “Cliff House” for just over a year now. After all that they have been through as a couple, moving out here has allowed them to put their pasts behind them and start fresh. The Cliff seen from their front windows is a well known suicide spot and Gabe has become somewhat of a local hero for the number of people he’s talked down from making the jump.
One night Gabe isn’t so convincing and the woman he tries to keep from jumping, goes over anyway. As questions arise once the identity of the woman becomes public, Pippa realizes Gabe and the woman have a connection and it’s no longer clear if she jumped or was pushed.
Told in dual timeline (Then and now), readers are taken on a roller coaster of emotions and betrayal until everyone’s secrets are revealed. This was a great read, a 5 star that I would recommend for any fan of twisty murder/mystery/drama.
#NetGalley #thesoulmate #sallyhepworth
A fun page-turner to sink into, though far from my favorite Sally Hepworth novel. While not entirely unpredictable, I found the book hard to put down.
I was annoyed with Pippa for the first half but gradually warmed up to her and her (seemingly naive) way of thinking. I was also initially skeptical of the storytelling (re: Amanda's POV) as it uses a technique that I'm not a fan of, but was fully sold by the end.
Ultimately, the author pulled everything off well by sufficiently developing both characters, exploring the complexities of marriage and even delivered a bit of an emotional punch. I really liked the final chapter and ending.
What the book lacks in twists and unpredictability is made up for by how compulsively bingeable it is. I enjoyed what a breezy read this was and just like its vivid setting, it's truly the perfect escape
This is my first Sally Hepworth novel, and I am not sure I understand all they hype. It may be me, but I felt like there were a lot of questions that were left, and a lot of unrealistic happenings.
I was excited to jump into this novel, but soon the middle of it slowed drastically. During this time, there was extremely poor portrayal of mental illness, including a glaring misdiagnosis. Most of the character are hard to relatable to, and extremely shallow, even the children. There is a lack of understanding reality with the characters. Why would a couple move to a house so close to a cliff nicknamed "the drop"? Does this not seem completely unreasonable, and irresponsible? The marriages at the center of this novel seem more about fascination, infatuation, and convenience than being soulmates. The police being involved in the novel seemed like an after thought and fluff. There was a small twist towards the end that had very little thrill in it for me.
The narrators of the audio book were fantastic. They made the slow parts move faster, and helped the overall feel of the book.
I want to thank Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC, and Macmillan Audio for an advanced audiobook.
Thanks to Net galley for an ARC of this book.
A quick read with short chapters, dual POV and timelines. The first half kept me reading, but then it begins to bog down and become somewhat repetitive. None of the characters were particularly likable so it wasn't a real hit with me..
Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for this ARC.
This was a wild read. It is something to sink your teeth in. I wasn't sure I like it but I'm glad I read it. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
A very interesting book alice book was written. I like how they went back and forth and time. Pippin was married to g a b a. He worked with a man named mark Cam ENCE who was married to Amanda.. This would have a lot of twist in terms in this book and I like how they went now. Then they went back to the passed and it was like a short story but it was all tied together. Pick and was the one who took care of everything but gabriel had a lot of problems. Gabriel also had a child out of wedlock and Pippin Allow the child to live with them with the other daughter. This was like a murder mystery love story all rolled into one. It all starts with Gabriel going out with Amanda was at the cliff were a lot of people committed suicide and somehow shef She fell. This is when the story got really interesting and you found out. How Max was not really who he seemed to be working as well As well as gabriel. It was interesting how the book's title was soulmate and we'll find out why this was meant to be in this book at the end.
I was provided a free advanced copy of this book by @netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
Sally Hepworth does it again with a twisted, surprising, thrilling story about marriage, secrets and betrayals.
Gabe and Pippa have an idyllic life in a beautiful house on a cliff in a coastal town! At least, that's how it appears from the outside. In reality, there are some tensions, and struggles they are working through. And that house by the cliffs, is right next to a popular spot for people to end their life. Gabe becomes good at talking people down from their choices, until one night, when Pippa glances away for a minute, and a lady goes over the edge, with Gabe's outstretched hands making it unclear what happened. When it comes to light that she was the wife of his former boss, there are more questions than answers!
What happened on the cliff? How did they get to this point? What secrets have they been keeping from each other?
This is a story where things get revealed piece by piece, and even at the end, there is new information being revealed!
I enjoyed this story and how we are given glimpses of the story in the present and past from multiple perspectives.
I was late in finishing, so lucky for you it was published this week! If you have never read one of Hepworth's books, pick this one up! And then go read her others!
#NetGalley #TheSoulmate
I’ve meant to read something from Sally Hepworth for quite awhile now. The Soulmate was a great choice and I plan to read more from her. The characters were so interesting and I went back and forth on which ones I liked or even believed. It was one of those books I couldn’t put down because I just had to know what was going on. It’s a great mix of suspense, murder, mystery lots of secrets and romance with some twists. I definitely recommend it. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this new book.
Ohhhhhhhhh my my my. I love Sally Hepworth. In typical fashion, tons of twists, turns, and somehow every loose end is tied up with a pretty bow at the end. Loved it! 5 stars. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Soulmate was a page turner from the start. Pippa, Gabe and their 2 daughters live in a house on a cliff where individuals go to take their own lives. Gabe has a special way with those attempting to jump and since he has moved into this house, he has saved all until Amanda. The story is told in dual time lines and dual POV. One is of Amanda and the other is of Pippa. Throughout the story we read about Pippa and Gabe and Amanda and Gerrard and how their lives intersect. There are secrets between each couple and each person that unfold in many layers. This is a fast-paced mystery that will give you many things to think about. It dives into some deep subject matter concerning mental health that was inspired by actual people and events.
The author really builds tension throughout this one, and slowly gives the reader reveals throughout. Paired with it’s short chapters, this made for a really quick read. The sense of danger and mystery was palpable from the very beginning, and it definitely kept me on edge as I was reading. I also appreciated the way the characters were developed! There were some plot reveals and some iffy language used regarding mental illness that gave me pause, but the authors note cleared up a lot of my hesitations and I was glad those issues were addressed.
Sally Hepworth writes great books, and The Soulmate had me from the first page. This book is told from the viewpoints of Pippa, a mom married to Gabe and who lives by a cliff, and Amanda, a woman who dies from a fall from the cliff. With the use of flashbacks, the story builds to its shocking conclusion. I loved all the twists and turns and the way the story wove the past to the present. Thanks to NetGalley for the copy of this book!
Thank you to NetGalley, Sally Hepworth and St Martin’s press for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.
You definitely have to suspend reality for a bit reading this one, but honestly that didn’t bother me. It was unique and there was enough twists to keep me guessing. I enjoyed the short bite sized chapters that allowed me to read this one quickly.
Sally Hepworth knows how to create suspenseful, page-turning books. I have come to love her character development and how she always leaves me guessing.
Pippa and Gabe, parents to two young girls, recently moved into their dream home - a cottage on a cliff. However, their new home has a reputation for attracting those who want to end their lives. Since moving there, Gabe has found a way to talk people out of jumping and his efforts have been noticed by the media. However, that all changes one night when he can't save someone. Pippa learns that Gabe knew the victim and as she replays the event in her mind, she starts to question herself, did this person jump or was she pushed?
The story is told from the point of view of Pippa, Gabe's wife and Amanda, the wife of Gabe's boss. These are two women who may have found and married their soulmates, but you are going to have to decide that for yourself. Their stories will provide insight into the past and how the story all finally comes together.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thought and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Read this book if you love Lisa Jewell, Liane Moriarty, and Alice Feeney–domestic suspense novels with an actual mystery to solve.
Gabe and Pippa Gerard have moved into their dream house, a cliffside cottage overlooking the sea. Unfortunately, their home’s location attracts would-be suicides, and Gabe has become adept at gently talking them away from the cliff and back to safety. One night, however, Gabe fails to talk a woman back and, worse, the story he tells police conflicts with what Pippa thinks she saw from the window. Who is Amanda, and what’s her connection to Gabe and Pippa? What did Pippa see, and is her husband telling the truth?
Hepworth teases out Amanda’s story, alternating her viewpoint–past and present–with Pippa’s. I’m sometimes leery of afterlife narrators–not everyone can be Alice Sebold. However, I enjoyed Hepworth’s narrators, and the way she kept the mystery alive and twisting to its conclusion. This is a domestic thriller that maintains the suspense all the way to the end. 5 out of 5 peaches.
3.5 star
This book was pretty good. Moved a little slow at times. Liked most of the characters but didn’t really see why these women loved the men so much. The depiction of mental illness was handled really well. The only “twist” was the one at the very end and I actually didn’t even think about it. Would definitely be willing to give this author another shot.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my free copy in exchange for an honest review.