The cottage was suppose to be a new start for Gage and Pippa. It was a clean slate from the past. Until the past shows up on the cliff outside the cottage and now nothing will be the same.

This book explores 2 marriages and the highs and lows of each. Leading to 1 question How well do you really know your spouse?

I found this pretty average tbh and easily forgettable. I enjoyed Hepworth's last book but this one just missed the mark for me. Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book!

A quick domestic suspense! I usually love Sally Hepworth's books, but this one was just okay for me. I loved the setting of the cliff side home in the outskirts of Melbourne.. Loved the two POVs, Amanda and Pippa. The ending was okay and it felt a little rushed.

This was my first book by Sally Hepworth and I was blown away by this book. This book had my at the first chapter and I couldn't put it down. This book pulls in as if you are right there in the story. I loved it so much.

Do you remember the first author who liked one of your posts? For me, it was Sally Hepworth back when I had less than 100 followers and had no idea what I was doing. But I fell in love with one of her earlier books and was gushing in a post. Time to gush again because once again, she wrote a book that I just loved. The Soulmate is a psychological thriller about a couple who lives near a cliff known for suicides and they get caught up in one. This book is filled with deceit, scandal, betrayal and secrets, all pushing the envelope as to how far would you go for your soulmate. I loved the tension and the red herrings thrown in along the way. I loved the sweet and humorous bits to break up the stress. And I loved that I couldn’t stop reading because it was so addicting and I was so invested and had to know what was happening. Another winner.

This is my first full Sally Hepworth novel. I definitely liked all of the twists and turns that kept happening throughout the book - One minute I am thinking "Oh, this must be what happened," then the next I am thinking, "Wait... it must have been something else."

This book is about marriage, relationships, and family. While labeled as a thriller, you could also add in a bit of romance as well.

Pippa and Gabe, a married couple with 2 little girls, live in their dream house that resides on a cliff, a cliff that is a popular suicide drop-off. Gabe is usually able to stop people from taking their lives, except this time, when a woman falls to her demise. However, are things really what they seem?

Throughout the book, you hear from Pippa and the woman who went over the cliff, both in the present day and the past. As the story goes on, you learn more and more about their lives, their loves, and keep guessing as to what has happened.

While it took me a while to get into the book, once I got to about 20%, I got more interested. Definitely worth the read.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for an ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest opinion.

Many writers have a formula they follow, and readers turn to them for that predictable but loved read. It's not that Sally Hepworth doesn't have a style. Her books will usually feature a death, possibly a murder, but it will not be the sole focus of the book. There will definitely be family drama. But her storylines are all over the place! I've often wondered, where does she come up with these creative ideas? I saw her speak at a writer's festival recently and she mentioned she has ADD (sorry if I have the acronym wrong), and maybe an active brain explains the variety of subject matter. In any case, I always know I am in for an interesting read when I open, or listen to, a Sally Hepworth book. The Soulmate was no exception.

A couple and their two children live in a house in a posh area out of Melbourne, and the house has a dramatic coastline view as it is situated atop a cliff. Unfortunately, after they move in, they find out this is a spot used by those who wish to kill themselves, taking a step off the cliff into oblivion. Gabe, Pippa's husband, has successfully talked seven people out of jumping. Then one day he doesn't, and his wife Pippa sees a woman fall to her death as Gabe reaches for her.

Gabe and Pippa and their two daughters have the perfect family`and the perfect life, or do they? Hepworth's skill as an author is in full display here, as she peels back the layers of their lives. She takes us back into the past, then into the present, as we discover that things sometimes are not what they seem. There were at least a couple of occasions where as Hepworth led us toward a discovery, I thought I knew where the story was going. Then, bang! I was so wrong, and my mouth dropped in surprise!

Once I got about three quarters of the way through the story I couldn't stop reading, and it kept me up way too late last night! I thoroughly enjoyed this read, and I got a hint of what the next book will be about (when I was at the writer's festival) and it sounds amazing!

Thank you to Sally Hepworth, her publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of Soulmate.

I really enjoyed The Soulmate for the most part.

This is my second book by Hepworth and I really enjoy her writing. As with her first book, I was expecting this to be a little more thriller-y. The Soulmate really does have a thriller sort of narrative structure, with a past/present storyline and even a character narrating from the great beyond.

Ultimately, this was more fiction with suspense elements, even a philosophical bent as the book explores the concept of a soulmate.

The characters were all very flawed which could either be frustrating to some readers or allow for some great book club discussions.

I did really find this an enjoyable read even if it wasn't exactly what I was expecting.

I could not put my kindle down with this one! Told in alternating voices and Then and Now settings, this book had short chapters that kept me turning the pages and flying through this book. I have read numerous Sally Hepworth novels and I believe the secret to her success is that her novels have all the elements of a thriller - twisty, propulsive, can't put it down - but then at the core of her novels we get honest, real, sometimes difficult & tragic looks at relationships. In this one we delve deep into the dynamic of two marriages and I was invested in these characters even though they were incredibly flawed.

There were also a couple WHAAAAAT moments that really surprised me and caused me to change what I thought was going on throughout the novel which I love. It was a fast-paced, incredibly enjoyable read and I recommend to anyone who is looking for a page turning novel to read in one sitting or over a lazy weekend.

Thank you to Netgalley & St. Martin's press for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Have you read The Soulmate yet? What did you think? What is your favorite Sally Hepworth book?
___⁣
GOODREADS SYNOPSIS: Get ready for a thrilling, addictive novel about marriage, betrayal, and the secrets that push us to the edge in Sally Hepworth's The Soulmate.

There’s a cottage on a cliff. Gabe and Pippa’s dream home in a sleepy coastal town. But their perfect house hides something sinister. The tall cliffs have become a popular spot for people to end their lives. Night after night Gabe comes to their rescue, literally talking them off the ledge. Until he doesn’t.

When Pippa discovers Gabe knew the victim, the questions spiral...Did the victim jump? Was she pushed?

And would Gabe, the love of Pippa’s life, her soulmate...lie? As the perfect facade of their marriage begins to crack, the deepest and darkest secrets begin to unravel.

From the beginning I was convinced this would be a very straightforward domestic suspense novel. I was definitely wrong because there were a lot of unexpected twists and turns along the way. Personally, I was a little disappointed by the ending, hence the lower star rating. I think a lot of thriller lovers will enjoy this one though, so I would likely recommend this to others. I did really enjoy getting a POV from our deceased character.

Another amazing novel by Sally Hepworth. I started to read the book, then switched to the audiobook. What a fantastic story. I was shocked at the twist at the end - didn't see that coming at all! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. I've already been recommending this one.

I love books by Sally Hepworth. Just when you think this book has gotten as twisty and strange as possible, you realize that there are still more twists! I liked The Soulmate a lot!

ally Hepworth is always good for a domestic suspense that keeps you on your toes. Much like other novels I have read by her (The Mother-in-law and The Good Sister) The Soulmate is a story of marriage, murder, mental illness and men behaving badly. There are plenty of secrets, betrayal and twists that will keep you entertained.

Set in a coastal Australian town, Pippa and her husband Gabe seem to have the perfect marriage. Their house butts up to a steep cliff that is known in town for an area that people have jumped off of. Gabe has gotten himself a reputation for de-escalating situations when someone appears to be contemplating ending their life. That is, until he tries to talk a woman down and she ends up falling to her death. Pippa soon discovers that they knew this woman and the story unravels from there.

If you are looking for a popcorn thriller, here is your next read. I found this one fast paced with short chapters, alternating character perspectives (including the perspective of the dead woman-which I thought was a fun touch.)

I was semi-engrossed for the first third of this book, but at the midway mark, the tale began to wander. Soon, I thought I was merely reading about a failing marriage, and there was no excitement in that. The repetitive plot and the mental illness cliché combined to leave me unimpressed with The Soulmate.

The advanced copy was provided courtesy of NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an unbiased evaluation.

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