I've read several of Sally Hepworth's books and enjoy them. Her newest - The Soulmate - was another excellent story.

This story captured my attention from the beginning and held on. Often, books that have multiple time jumps or multiple viewpoints disrupt the narrative, but not in this case. The author did a great job of keeping it cohesive and streamlined.

The characters were interesting and the story kept teasing out just enough to where you think you know what's happening but then has some solid twists with a satisfying ending.

TL;DR: I read it in one afternoon and loved it.

**Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Sally Hepworth for an ARC of this book!**

"You can't reason with your heart; it has its own laws, and thumps about things which the intellect scorns."=Mark Twain

The battle of head vs. heart that permeates the pages of the Soulmate was eerily reminiscent of my OWN personal struggle with how to feel about my reading experience with this one...and I'm still not ENTIRELY sure who won!

The Drop: it sounds like a thrilling theme park ride, but in reality, it's a terrifying and steep cliff, right in the backyard of married couple Pippa and Gabe )and their poor kids...not sure how their nerves survive!). The spot has unfortunately gained some significant notoriety: it is a popular spot for jumpers. Gabe, aside from being devastatingly handsome and dreamy in every way, has ANOTHER natural gift: he is able to talk would be jumpers "off the ledge." Pippa often observes from afar, proud of the man she gets to call her husband...until one day, when she watches one such instance...but rather than a rescue, she witnesses a deadly fall.

Pippa is horrified, of course, but what confuses her is that it LOOKS to her like the victim didn't take a leap...and Gabe's chat with the female stranger seemed different than most. The police determine the jump was indeed a suicide, but the victim's husband is adamant that his wife would NEVER have intentionally ended her life. Pippa then learns that the stranger wasn't exactly a stranger to Gabe...and that final conversation may have been a far cry from helpful. Could the perfect man, the man she knows inside and out, her very best friend be hiding a secret so dark, so dangerous, that it was worth dying for....or even worth KILLING for?

Ever since I had the good fortune to pick up Hepworth's The Mother in Law after rave reviews from some trusted reader friends, I have been enamored with her craft. If there's one thing she does PHENOMENALLY well (and perhaps better than any other domestic suspense writer I read regularly) it's to put the DOMESTIC in domestic suspense in an authentic, no nonsense and often FUN way. Her books are always tinged with humor, the child characters in her books are so real and adorable you feel like they'll be running around the corner towards you at any moment, and she captures the 'normal' (both good and bad) of daily suburban (and at times wealthy suburban) life to a T. Her dialogue is never forced or over the top, and I always feel as though I KNOW her characters (and USUALLY grow to love them...special shout-out to Wally and Fern from The Good Sister...the world needs more of you both!)

Where Hepworth's books sometimes falter for me, however, is in the execution of the 'suspense' itself. I'm not sure why this is, but despite her books having twists, this one in particular didn't feel twisty to me. I also LOVED The Good Sister and even THAT book played out in a pretty straightforward fashion. Although I was surprised at times during this book, I didn't ever feel as though I was properly 'tricked.' I kept waiting for a lot of dramatic 'a ha' moments, but what I got instead felt more like simple explanation rather than revelation.

I also didn't love the back and forth timelines AND the dual POV format for the book: in this case, it just felt like a bit much in terms of literary device and to be honest, the backstory timeline dragged a bit. There is also a thread of the plot that deals with mental health in a somewhat unbelievable way, but buy in from the reader is necessary to serve the plot, so you sort of have to just go with it. That being said, once again I applaud Hepworth for her vulnerability and willingness to include this sort of content without getting preachy OR being over the top...but again, this doesn't necessarily serve the SUSPENSE side of the story. I think her strength is in the domestic side of the street, and I'm curious at this point in time if I might enjoy some of her earlier books (more in this vein, from what I understand) than her current trajectory into suspense: time will tell!

Though my head kept telling me over and over that this was a 3 star read, there is just something indescribable and truly exceptional about Hepworth and her craft that tipped the scales and compelled me to give this book a 4. Perhaps like your high school 'soulmate', it was just 2 Good 2 Be 4 Gotten

3.5 stars, rounded up

Gabe and Pippa Gerard seem to have the perfect life. Two beautiful little girls, a beautiful house and a great marriage. They live in a house on a cliff that is a known place that people jump to their deaths. Gabe has just made the paper for being able to talk people out of jumping, when the next one does jump to her death. Plus, she happens to be the wife of his former employer. What actually happened on the cliff? As the truth comes out, so do the deepest secrets of them all.

This is a great read that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Great characters and plot along with a few surprises. I look forward to more from this author. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for my honest review.

Dual POV, both with dual timelines, but written in a way that is completely enthralling. Great domestic thriller that delves into secrets kept within a marriage from the outside world, and secrets married people keep from each other.

A binge read if there ever was one. Need to lose yourself in something for a long flight or train ride? Pick up this book!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Sally Hepworth, and Netgalley for an advance digital copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Picture perfect couple, Pippa, a lawyer, and her husband Gabe, a stay-at-home dad, along with their two young daughters, have lived in their picturesque house, high cliff in the small seaside town of Portsea for a few months. Unbeknownst to them at them at the time of purchase, the cliff is known as "The Drop," where people go to commit suicide. Even though he hasn't had any training, Gabe has been able to talk suicidal people out of jumping quite of times. Except what happens when he's unable to save someone? And what if Pippa thinks it looks like he pushed them?

At a first glance The Soulmate seems straightforward, like other psychological suspense/thrillers you've read before. It has a dual narrative/timeline, with Pippa and Amanda as our narrators. Set in a small Australian seaside town, it features married couples, families, friends, children, lies, secrets, and betrayal. It's a compelling read and just the kind I like - tense, unsettling, and a bit dark. But it also has more feeling than a lot of other thrillers I've read. The characters are unpredictable and memorable, some of whom you might not like.

Sally Hepworth describes this as "an exploration of the good & bad sides of marriage. What we bring to it. What it brings out in us. A murderous love story." I think it's also about the good and bad sides to a person, because no one is 100% good or 100% bad. It's about what a person is capable of, what they're willing to do, and just how far they will go.

Trigger warnings: Suicide, Mental Health/Illness, Adoption, Cheating, Murder, Death

4 stars
Recommended for fans of:
Psychological Thrillers, Domestic Suspense, Mystery, Women's Fiction, General Fiction, Liane Moriarty

It was fine. For the first 30% or so I was really drawn in - the short chapters were making it fly and I was invested. But then it started to slow down for me. In attempting to constantly reveal new twists and turns it started to feel tired to me. By the end I was finding myself rolling my eyes at the reveals. It was still compelling enough that I wanted to see the ending but this wasn’t a favorite. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance reading copy.

Another hit from Sally Hepworth. Her novels unravel as the story progresses, and The Soulmate is not different. The main characters seem to have it together, but hints at trouble in the pasts let the reader know that all has not always been well.

Unlike some of Hepworth's previous works, I was able to put together where the narrative was headed early on but enjoyed the ride nonetheless. I enjoy the layers of the story, the past and present and differing viewpoints that tell the whole story. I would not rate this as my most favorite of her works, but I remain a fan and Hepworth remains an auto-read for me.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

I loved this book. It might be my favorite Sally Hepworth now (although The Mother-In-Law is hard to top). I love the unique timeline structure of this book. I loved the mystery surrounding Amanda’s death and the little nuggets of suspicion that are dropped a long the way. This book is the perfect example of a book where you could keep saying “just one more chapter” until you’ve suddenly read the whole thing in one sitting (transparency here…I did take 2 days to finish it! Sleep got the best of me.) This book explores love, infidelity, marriage and the part mental illness can plan in all those. And that ending…you just have to read this one!

Read if you like:
▫️domestic suspense
▫️when marriages aren’t what they seem
▫️interesting timelines

I thought this was a really good thriller. It held my attention and I enjoyed reading to find out what happened. I thought the alternating timelines and POVs added to the story. I didn't feel like there were any huge twists but I didn't mind - it was just an easy going, fun thriller, although maybe with the lack of twists, it might be considered more a drama than a thriller? If you are a huge thriller fan, this might not hold up but since I read a lot of romances, I thought this was a nice change of pace!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy. Opinions are my own.

Sometimes I read a psychological suspense novel that I don't really enjoy because none of the characters are likeable. However, that was not the case with The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth. The characters and situations she portrayed were relatable and believable. Even though the setting was Australia, it could certainly have taken place in many other locations. The mental illness theme was skillfully woven into the story. I enjoyed the alternating voices, one of which was that of a deceased character. The best part was the twist I didn't see coming! Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy to read and review.

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.

You know how people say if someone wrote a grocery shopping list they would read it? That is exactly how I feel about Sally Hepworth. The Soulmate is a story that gripped me from the first chapter and didn’t let go until the very last page. It definitely would have been a one sitting read if life did not get in the way. The way the dual points of view come into play, including from one character who has passed away, was done so well that I never found myself confused about who I was reading about or what timeline it was (as some of the story is written of the past).
Highly recommend this read, especially to get out of what was about to be a huge reading slump for me!
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.

Pippa and Gabe Gerard live in Cliff House near Melbourne. They are the parents of 4-year-old Freya and Asha.

Cliff House has a reputation as it situated on a place known as The Drop. Quite often, people have gone there to jump to their death. However, Gabe has been able to talk many people down with his caring way and save them from death. But, tonight when Pippa sees someone at the cliff’s edge, Gabe runs out and Pippa calls the police. But this time Gabe is unsuccessful and the person jumps. What Pippa saw when the person jumped stuns her because she can’t process whether the person actually jumped or was pushed. Gabe is devastated by it saying he wished he could have saved them.

Pippa works as a wills and estate planning lawyer and Gabe is a stay-at-home father. He is outgoing and dearly loves the girls. He helps out at their school and is friendly to everyone.

When the name of the person who jumped is revealed, Pippa is terrified and she and Gabe work hard to get through a recent problem in their marriage.

At times, this a difficult story to keep up with. The chapters are told between now and then by two of the characters. As I started each chapter, I had to take a few seconds to figure out who is talking and when. That’s a bit disconcerting. The story felt a bit unreal and while the author put together an interesting plot, it just didn’t seem quite believable to me. But I have read other books by this author and know that her books are good. Therefore, I am giving this book 4 stars.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

In Sally Hepworth’s latest domestic drama, two women deal with an act of suicide.
Gabe and Pippa’s dream home is at the edge of a cliff. This cliff off a sleepy town is a popular spot for suicide. Most times, Gabe can talk them down before the police can arrive. But one night he can’t save the woman trying to end her life. Pipa finds out that Gabe knew the victim Amanda and didn’t tell the cops. As a lawyer Pipa doesn’t know what to do. Does love or the law win?
The story itself makes you question what people are actually thinking and doing. While you are presented with one thing, we second guess what our narrators are telling us. Can they be trusted? Do they truly understand the people they are describing and talking about? The ambiguity of the characters and their actions spur this domestic thriller.
My favorite part is that Amanda narrates her story from beyond. This gives an interesting insight as the story unfolds. Meanwhile, her story is also told in the past as Hepworth bounces from the past to the present for both women. Some of the past drags on but when Hepworth drops an important tidbit, it’s a shocker that changes how the reader perceives the present.
Overall, this is an enjoyable book.

The Soulmate is a twisty, gripping domestic suspense about Gabe and Pippa who bought their dream house that backs up to a cliff. The cliff is notoriously called “The Drop” due to people coming to jump from the ledge.

Gabe has been able to successfully talk 7 strangers from off the ledge and failed one woman. Pippa is surprised to learn the identity of the woman is Gabe’s former boss’s wife. Gabe doesn’t tell the police that he knew her and Pippa doesn’t tell the police that it looks like Gabe pushed her.

The story is told in Pippa’s and Amanda’s (the deceased woman) POVs. It was interesting and engaging about marriage, mental health, trust and betrayals. I didn’t love the ending but I mostly enjoyed this thriller.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this eARC. The Soulmate is out now.

This was the twistiest thriller! The setting is absolutely one of the characters. I loved the multiple timelines and multiple points of view. Just when I thought I understood what was going on, a big twist was around the corner. I don't read a lot of thrillers because I'm always disappointed by figuring out the twist before the intended time. However, I'm always on my toes until the very end with Sally Hepworth's novels.

This was such a good one! I’ve read The Younger Wife and The Good Sister by this author and really liked them! When I saw she was coming out with a new one, I had to check it out! The book really reels you in and was such a good pace the entire time! I felt interested and drawn in from the start all the way through. I thought this was written great, but I did not like the twist at the end! I did find this one addicting, when I wasn’t reading it - I was thinking about it!! Thank you so much @sallyhepworth @netgalley @stmartinspress for this advanced reader copy! This one hit shelves April 4th! Be sure you check it out soon!

Thank you to Sally Hepworth, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I hate narratives that jump around in time while also switching POV. Those narratives make the worst audiobooks, because if you're distracted for even a moment, you might miss a switch and become confused.

However, this story could not have been told well without a nonlinear chronology. Hepworth uses it to reveal twists brilliantly, to gradually increase the tension and the stakes. I still don't like it, but it's hard to be mad when it's done so well.

I also want to take issue with Amanda's omniscient POV--it felt like cheating somehow--but it was also well utilized. You don't realize how well until the final chapters; without Amanda's POV, we couldn't have understood or sympathized with Max.

I can't decide how to feel about Pippa. On one hand, she seems too stupid to live. On the other, as Pippa herself describes, Gabe was a storm of charm, energy, beauty, and vulnerability that swept her up and carried her like a piece of debris caught in a tornado. She felt like a shade of beige made interesting only by the refractive glow of his neon. And his good did much to mask his bad; he was a good father, and at times he was a good husband and person in general, but his self-centeredness and entitlement, coupled with his mental illness, made him toxic.

I want to judge Pippa for not realizing that sooner--the way they met raised all kinds of red flags for me--but I hesitate because.... No, you know what, I'm judging her. (view spoiler) She was so emotionally needy, her self-esteem and -respect so low, that she was a prime target for someone like Gabe. He gave her a little attention, and she worshiped him for it. She was the perfect enabler for him.

And her stupid, well-intentioned family--they were concerned enough to pick up their lives and move when Pippa did, but they never said anything? There's not wanting to meddle, then there's turning a blind eye. Moving is kind of a big deal, you'd think they'd want to try an honest conversation before it came to that. Were they that afraid of confrontation? What did the mom's mother-in-law do to the mom to make her so afraid of interjecting?

But all that was exactly the point of the book. A portrait of how circumstance and perspective could cloud reality and objectivity, could obscure the obvious.

No, for all I wanted to dislike this book, I have to admit I think it was well and effectively written.

Thank you for the advanced copy of The Soulmate from Netgalley. This is my voluntary review.

I loved this suspenseful women's fiction story. Everything looks ideal on the outside. But when their life reboot turns tragic, the family fault lines grow and crack open. Issues they thought they'd put to rest, reemerge, bringing with them new lies, mistrust, and betrayal.

Told in dual first-person points of view, the story from the present to the past seamlessly, slowly revealing how they all came to be at the cliff's edge. You will think you know who the title is about, but don't be too sure.

The twist at the end will keep you thinking about this for a long time to come.

An unputdownable page turner. Told in the POV's of two wives. Pippa, wife of Gabe and Amanda, wife of Max. One of them is dead. The POV's are told in before the death and after the death. It was a great way to write it because you are never really sure about the "why" it happened until the very end. The book is suspenseful and does have some dark terror in the story. It is amazing how just a lack of communication or a little lie can change the course of people's lives. It touches on the darkness and paranoia of bipolar disease. It also touches on the fact that if you really love someone you tend to overlook or not see their short comings. This is a great read and I highly recommend it.
Thanks to #netgalley, #stmartinspress and @sallyhepworth for an ARC of this great book.