2.5 stars

Before I start, just a quick disclaimer: I’m one of the outliers who didn’t like this book much, so I won’t have too many good things to say about it in my review. If this is going to be an issue for those reading this, then I suggest stopping right here. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Ok, so here’s my unpopular opinion: overall, I really really disliked this book — to the point that I struggled to write this review because I had trouble choosing which of the myriad of “issues” to rant about. Below is just a smattering of things I had a problem with (not all-inclusive of course).

First, the writing, which to me, felt quite different from the previous Sally Hepworth novels I had read. The writing this time around felt stilted and choppy and a bit elementary if I’m being honest. There was a lot of “I did this, then I did that, then I did this” (and by A LOT, I mean pretty much every chapter — there are 87 chapters) — with much of the detail being about unnecessary stuff that had nothing to do with the plot (honestly, does it matter to me that a character ‘went to the supermarket, pulled out a cart, walked down the aisle, put stuff in the cart’? Nope!). What made this worse was that the entire story was told from the first person point of view, so it sounded super awkward to hear the characters describe their own mundane actions (I.e.:“I picked up the laptop, I walked over to the table, I put it down and I opened the lid”). This also made the story feel unnecessarily long and dragged out — which normally wouldn’t be a problem except that this is supposed to be a domestic thriller / suspense novel and mundane details like this bog down the plot.

Speaking of the plot, that was another thing that didn’t work in this story. Many of the plot points felt contrived and forced, but what bothered me the most was the ridiculousness of the main character Pippa’s story arc — for much of the story, I found myself alternating between wanting to slap Pippa (more on this later) and suspending my disbelief every couple pages at the repeated stupidity of some of the characters’ (mostly Pippa’s) actions/behaviors/decisions (wait, she swept his behavior under the rug AGAIN?!?!?!).

And that brings me to what irked me the most about this story — the characters, all of whom weren’t just unlikable (“loathsome” is probably more accurate), but frustratingly so, to the point that I couldn’t bring myself to feel anything but annoyance with all of them (but especially with Pippa). The way Pippa’s character was written, she felt like a caricature rather than a real person. It didn’t make an ounce of sense to me how Pippa was portrayed as a smart, confident lawyer and doting, assured mother of two young daughters one minute, but the next minute, as soon as her husband Gabe walks into the room, she becomes someone who deliberately buries her head in the sand, ignores all red flags (even the obvious ones that even she herself says are problematic), gets defensive whenever anyone says anything remotely critical about Gabe, second guesses and lies to herself over and over (and over and over and over again), and basically adopts an incredibly naive (not to mention frustratingly stupid and irrational) “I can’t live without him so I must turn a blind eye and find excuses for his repeated s**tty behavior regardless of how that negatively impacts me or the kids” attitude. To be honest, Pippa is exactly the type of nonsensical character that I absolutely cannot stand in any story — basically a twisted variation of the “damsel in distress” archetype but a hundred times more annoying because she is actually capable of “saving” herself and getting herself out of the many bad situations she finds herself in, but she chooses (repeatedly) not to do so, then justifies her decisions / actions with one lame excuse after another. To me, it seems that even the author Hepworth finds this behavior problematic, as there is a scene near the later part of the book where Pippa’s sister Kat confronts Pippa about the irrational way she constantly excuses her husband’s behavior/ actions…Kat basically lays into Pippa, asking her point blank “how long [is she] going to live like this?” When Pippa gives a by-her-own-admission pathetic response (the exact quote is “A pathetic response, I know, but the only one I have.”), Kat replies: “Fine. But I can’t support you anymore. Not when you keep acting so damn stupid.” My sentiments (toward Pippa) exactly!!

As I stated earlier, there were a lot of things I disliked about this book and I honestly only touched on a few main ones, but I will stop here. One thing that I did like was the ending, which I thought was done well, but unfortunately, coming at the tail end of the story, it was “too little, too late.” This was also one of those rare instances where, throughout the entire time I was reading, there were multiple moments that I was tempted to DNF the book (I have a rule about finishing every book I start, which I don’t break often, so the fact I felt like DNFing is a big deal for me) — but I ended up plowing through it (albeit painfully).

I think I will be taking a break from Hepworth’s books for the time being, as this one obviously left a bad taste in my mouth and I honestly wasn’t too keen on her previous book, The Younger Wife, either (I detailed the reasons why in my review of that book so if you’re curious, feel free to check out that review). But then again, this is just me and my specific tastes — I didn’t take to this newest book but many others did, so I suggest checking out those reviews as well for a more balanced perspective.

Received ARC from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley.

When Pippa and Gabe moved their family to a new house near a beautiful cliff, they had no idea how the house would change things for them. But as it turns out, the cliff is known as The Drop, and it’s where people come to jump.

The first time they look outside and see a stranger standing on the cliff, Gabe went out to talk to them while Pippa called the police. Gabe managed to talk them down, as he has with several others since. There was even a newspaper article about how many lives he has staved. Now, when Pippa calls the police, she just has to say her name and they know what’s wrong.

But this time, even though Gabe goes to talk to the woman and Pippa calls the police, just like always. But the woman goes over the cliff anyway. Pippa stayed inside the house, keeping an eye on their two young daughters, and she can’t help but feel something was wrong out on the cliff. Gabe had been standing closer to this woman than he usually gets. His hands were up. Pippa can’t put her finger on it, but something feels different about this one.

The police show up to investigate, and Gabe tells a story that is different that what Pippa thought she saw. She’s not sure why he did that, but she doesn’t feel like she can contradict him. She lies about what she saw. And then, a couple of days later, she sees the newspaper article. The police finally named the victim, and the woman was Amanda Cameron, the wife of Gabe’s former boss, Max.

Pippa had no idea that the woman on the cliff had been someone that Gabe knew. But it did make her wonder what exactly happened on The Drop that night. Is it possible that Pippa’s husband had something to do with Amanda’s death? And if he did, what kind of trouble is Pippa in now that she’s lied to the police for him?

The Soulmate is the latest from bestselling Australian author Sally Hepworth. It’s a layered slow-burn thriller that throws the reader into the action, literally, and then carefully goes back through all the secrets of both couples, dropping bread crumbs to the truth until the end. It’s a little crazy and intense, but it all comes together in the end.

I really enjoyed The Soulmate. Narrated by Pippa and Amanda in alternating chapters, both in the past and the present, it tells the story of two marriages. It’s about love and loyalty, mental illness and support systems, fidelity and family. And when you get to the end and all the pieces come together into the bigger picture, it’s a remarkable moment of clarity and awe at what Hepworth has been able to put together. This is an exceptional domestic thriller and a compelling read.

Egalleys for The Soulmate were provided by St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley, with many thanks.

Pippa finally feels like she’s found her happily ever after. The perfect husband (yeah they’ve had their ups and downs but what couple hasn’t) and the perfect home. The only downfall is their perfect home sits on a cliff where people have mad a spot for suicides. Every time Gabe is able to miraculously talk people off the cliff and back to safety until the night he doesn’t. Pippa is at a loss of what she may of saw. Did her husband push the woman or did she jump? Once she learns her husband knew the victim she begins to question his story even more.

This is a very addicting domestic suspense book! So many twists and turns that caught me off guard with each new secret coming to life. I loved having all the different POVs especially that of the victim gave the story an exciting perspective.

The main couple is Gabe and Pippa, who live in a house near a cliff. They have two children. Pippa supports the family financially, and Gabe takes care of the house and the children. Pippa is uneasy about the cliff, which isn't far from their house, and has no barrier. One day she looks out of the house and sees a woman standing near the cliff's edge. Her husband Gabe is with her, and Pippa doesn't find this strange - it's not unusual for him to go out and make sure that the people out there aren't planning on jumping. He has talked several of them down. Except .. there was something different about this time. Suddenly the woman was gone, and her husband is standing there with his hands palm out. Pippa doesn't know what to think. Did he push her? There is much more to this story - Gabe's former job, his boss, missing money, and a deal with the wrong people.

This is one of the most interesting and unusual books I've read in quite a while. It includes themes of marriage, deception, mental illness, infidelity, suicide and forgiveness. I recommend it to everyone who likes a complex story with a lot of suspense. There is also a twist, which I don't want to give away. The hints are very subtle.

My thanks to the publisher St. Martin's Press for a digital review copy of this book. It was my pleasure to voluntarily read and review it.

Sally Hepworth's best book yet! I loved this quick, suspenseful read and have been recommending it all around lately. It's a twisty thriller that doesn't feel heavy or like it's following the same thriller script that has been done before. It is unique, fresh, and just the right amount of terrifying. I enjoyed getting into the plot and picturing the drop/cliff and seaside location. It's filled with love, family, betrayal, and suspense. If you are enjoy reading domestic, psychological thrillers, this is one to pick up!

Sally Hepworth has written some great thrillers, and this was no different. The story of a couple who lives on the edge of a cliff and a husband who has been able to save the lives of many who have gone to the cliff to jump. Except for the latest jumper... quick chapters made this one fly by!

Pippa, her husband Gabe, and their two little girls move into a new house located by a nearby beach. Their house is set back from a cliff drop off that is known for being a suicide spot. When Pippa or Gabe notice a person near the cliff's edge, Gabe goes out to talk to the person while Pippa calls the police. All of the people have walked away from the endeavor and Gabe is somewhat of a local hero. However, when a woman named Amanda falls to her death, and Gabe was with her on the cliff's edge when it happened, the question becomes - did she jump or was she pushed?

This story had a lot of suspense from the beginning and it kept a high level of tension throughout the book. There are two narrators for this novel: Pippa and Amanda. Each chapter begins with who the narrator is and if it takes place in the present or the past. The character of Pippa was easy to get a feel for early on as much of the story is told from her point of view. From the chapters narrated by Pippa, the reader learns about her immediate family, her extended family, and the town in Australia where they live. Pippa also provides some background history of her relationship with her husband Gabe, starting with when they met. Amanda tells her story, both from her perspective of things after she dies, and from before she dies.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #St.Martin'sPress for an eARC of #TheSoulmate by #SallyHepworth - 4 stars

When a woman jumps to her death from a cliff, the couple who witnesses her suicide are horrified. Soon enough, however, the wife begins to suspect her husband is involved. As she works to pick apart their lives, present and past, the wife must face the reality that her “perfect” life isn’t so perfect after all. Author Sally Hepworth’s newest thriller provides a satisfying slow burn in The Soulmate.

Pippa and Gabe Gerard fell love with the house on the cliff when they first saw it, but in the year since moving in Pippa wonders if they made a mistake. Since they’ve joined the neighborhood, seven people have come to the cliff—the Drop, as the locals call it—to jump to their deaths. Did Pippa ever actually think that the cliff would be a romantic setting for starting over?

The one saving grace is that Gabe has turned into a rescuer. Every single time someone has come to the Drop, Gabe has talked to them, listened to them, and convinced them there is a better way to handle their problems. Seven people came to jump, and Gabe has managed to get all seven to change their minds.

On the night that the eighth person comes, Gabe goes outside and Pippa watches him through the window as he approaches the woman. Their conversation seems different compared to those he’s had with previous would-be jumpers. Before Pippa can ask and before Gabe can react, the woman goes over the cliff.

As if her death isn’t bad enough, Pippa soon discovers that she and Gabe knew the woman. Her name was Amanda Cameron, and she was the wife of media mogul Max Cameron. Max was also Gabe’s former boss and the person who fired him. The termination of Gabe’s employment led the move to the seaside town and the house on the Drop.

Pippa had no idea their problems would follow them out of the city, but they start to resurface. Gabe’s behavior has started to become erratic again. Pippa worries about him around their four-year-old daughters, Asha and Freya, and she also worries about Gabe himself. He was always the antidote to all of the hard, sticky things in life…until he lost control.

She also can’t get around the most recent events. Why did Amanda come to the Drop? Why did Gabe have his hands out as if pushing something away? Will Max come after them now? What will happen to Asha and Freya if something happens to her and Gabe? The questions keep plaguing Pippa, forcing her to re-examine everything she thought they’d fixed and wondering if it’s still broken after all.

Author Sally Hepworth is a master of the “thinking” thriller. Even as her plot pushes and pulls Pippa in various directions, Hepworth adds a layer of nuance that will leave readers asking questions about their own relationships long after the book is over. Chapters from Amanda provide insight into the woman before and after her tragedy, but Hepworth is careful to unfold Amanda’s story at just the right speed and time to keep tension high.

The author paces her plot with ease, putting her characters into the most difficult situations that also ring true to life at the same time. The book, though, does contain a few softer spots that might slow it down. Astute readers will probably guess Gabe’s affliction long before it’s officially announced, and the relationship between Amanda and Max comes off as wooden at times. Hepworth was hoping to strike a balance between business partnership and marriage for the two, but the novel wobbles in those attempts in some scenes.

Regardless, Hepworth has once again created a story and a cast of characters that make it easy to suspend all disbelief. Her title, too, induces careful consideration of what it means to meet and stay with “the one.” The small touches—for example, the relationship between the girls, particularly Asha, and Pippa—ground the novel in reality. Readers will feel like they know these characters personally, always a win for any author.

For those eagerly awaiting Sally Hepworth’s newest work, the wait is worth it.

Pippa and Gabe have a blissful like: they are deeply in love, with two beautiful daughters and the beach house of their dreams. But behind this beautiful home is something sinister -a cliff that is a notorious spot for suicide attempts, known as the Drop. Gabe has made himself a local hero by saving countless people from this making dark decision, constantly talking people off both the literal and metaphorical cliff. Until one day, he can’t save someone. And this someone isn’t just a stranger like the rest; she has a connection to Gabe and Pippa that has everyone wondering if she actually jumped, or if she was pushed.

Sally Hepworth is a queen when it comes to multiple perspectives, twists, and familial drama. She is able to make each character meaningful and sprinkle in the mystery like breadcrumbs throughout the story, giving glimpses of the characters true colors without ruining the surprising moments. The final moments were twists I did not see coming at all. Thank you to Net
Galley for the advanced copy! This book is officially out now.

The Soulmate
Author Sally Hepworth

Thank you, @librofm, for my #gifted alc, and @netgalley & @stmartinspress, for my e- arc! This was my first Sally Hepworth read, and I loved it! The Soulmate was narrated by Barrie Kreinik and Jessica Douglas- Henry, and it was flawless!

You never know what goes on behind closed doors, and appearances aren't always what they seem...

Gabe and Pippa, who have a co-dependent marriage, move to a cliffside home outside of Melbourne, seeking a fresh start and a beautiful place to raise their two girls. What they didn't know is that the cliff in their backyard is a common place where people go to end their lives. Gabe, a charismatic man, becomes a local hero as he can help convince many not to jump. All but one mysterious woman, and as Pippa watches their interaction from the house and sees the woman jump, she swears she also sees Gabe's arms thrust outward as if he may have pushed her...

What follows are Pippa's doubts as she journeys through the unknown present and gives readers a glimpse into their past and the intricacies of their marriage.

Told in alternating point of views between Pippa and Amanda, the woman that jumped, The Soulmate is an intense novel about marriage, betrayal, secrets, and lies. The lies we even tell ourselves in order to convince us otherwise.

The beginning was much more intense than the ending, and I did see a few twists coming, but overall, The Soulmate was a dark and thrilling novel that had me gripped until the end!

4,5 stars!

Sally Hepworth has me in a GRIP and I can't get out. I devour her books every single time and am always wrong when I try to predict what I think the twists will be. She once again, proved I know nothing about writing thrillers when she took her twists and turns in The Soulmate. I have ~thoughts~ about Gabe and how his character played out but since this has to be spoiler free so I'll just say I am mad!!!

Sally has taken the domestic thriller template and has thrown it out the window. She created a new thriller in this category that focused so heavily on the topics of mental illness, suicidal ideation, and casual white collar crimes. I loved how everything was weaved together so well in a novel that covered A LOT of ground.

All that to say, I highly recommend this for your next binge in two sittings thriller choice! Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Sally Hepworth for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Pub day is April 4th, 2023.

I think the format of this book was excellent. It was so smart to show the dual POV and dual timeline—especially having it from only the female perspectives. This went to places I wasn't expecting but it was a really interesting ride.

Wow. What a story. The twists, the secrets. Wow. I really loved this book. It kept me entertained and totally enthralled to keep reading and having to know the answers to my questions.

Give me a books with dual point of views, two different timelines, and suspense that will keep you up at night and you have yourself a 5 star read. Sally Hepworth has done it again and this time it was soooo good I could not put it down!

Sally Hepworth books always writes the suspense book that will keep you on your toes and also keep you up all night. This story of love, marriage, mental health and secrets will have you staying up all night to know how it ends.

I always say if there is a twist I did not see coming and could not figure out, that is a 5 star for me and even thought I did see some of it coming, some of the twists threw me for a loop.

I want to thank St. Martins Press and Netgalley for granting me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth will take you on a journey of secrets, betrayal and the effects on a marriage. Gabe and Pippa’s dream home is located on a cliff, unfortunately the cliff is well known for those lost souls that feel the only way out of their lives is to jump. But Gabe has found himself to be the cliff whisperer, he has literally talked people down from the edge, until he doesn’t. This victim is different, because he knows her. As the victim’s name is released, and Pippa and others find out who she is and how Gabe knows her, questions start to spiral, did she jump or was she pushed? Would Gabe ever tell the truth about what happened, even when Pippa realizes he withheld some vital information to the police? When secrets are revealed, even the perfect marriage can fall apart at the seams.

The story is narrated by two characters, Pippa and Amanda. The stories were well written and easy to follow along, keeping the reader engaged in both the past, present and a little bit of purgatory. These characters are very complex, and honestly not very likeable. There is a lot going on in these marriages, and most of it is not good. There are infidelities, lies, secrets, addiction, mental illness, and death. It’s all sort of dark, and does get into the nitty gritty of the effects these issues have on a marriage.

I enjoyed this novel. It was fast paced and easy to read chapters that will keep you engaged until the twists at the end. I would like to thank Netgalley, St Martin’s Press and Sally Hepworth for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was excited to read Sally Hepworth’s latest novel and it was worth the wait. This is one of those stories where all the main characters have secrets—even those who seem the nicest.

What kind of family decides to buy a cottage that looks out over a cliff that is a popular suicide point? Evidently the Gerard family, who felt the location had more beauty and peacefulness to offset the sordid history of the place.

Eventually Gabe Gerard becomes known for his ability to save individuals from jumping to their death and he is written about in the local paper. But one day, a woman comes to the cliff and Gabe fails to keep her from falling to her death.

The woman was not just any woman. She was someone with a connection to the Gerard family. I loved the point of view the dead woman gives to the story. Each of the characters has something to hide and as the story progresses readers see what a tangled web they have made together.

I was hooked from the start and the story moved at a brisk pace. The ending was one I could not have predicted. Loved it!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advance copy. I’m happy to recommend this and give my honest review.

Like other of Sally Hepworth’s books, this is not as much of a thriller as it appears, but has some elements of suspense. There is a lot more to it than a typical thriller, and I really enjoyed it!
*
Synopsis: Gabe and Pippa live with their two kids in their dream house on a cliff in a seaside town, until one day a woman shows up and despite Gabe’s efforts to save her, she jumps off the cliff, committing suicide. Except Pippa thinks she saw something else.
*
More than anything else, this was a treatise into the importance of mental health, of all kinds - suicidal thoughts obviously, but also bipolar disorder, postpartum depression, psychosis, and so on. There’s a lot of positive messages that I found really powerful, how it all came together.
*
As far as the suspense, it did require some suspense of disbelief, but I really liked it! I really liked the alternating POVs, the alternating timelines, and I even really liked the POV (after she died) of the woman who jumped, which I did not expect. And when you finally find out the reason for the title, it’s so touching.
*
Definitely recommend!

4/5⭐️

Solid thriller/mystery. I enjoyed the coastal Australian setting and liked the two POVs with two separate timelines. This coupled with short chapters really made the story move along nicely. I am also a big fan of family dynamics and drama in thriller and really enjoyed how this one didn’t play into the hysterical/crazy woman plot.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review!

This story is as it’s core about two women in different types of marriages. One ends up dead and there are alternating POVs and timelines. I really liked the POV of the character who died in the beginning and how she slowly shed light on everything that happened. That being said, this felt like it dragged a bit at times. While the author explicitly stated a character didn’t do things because of their mental illness, it certainly felt that way at times. A good book and an easy beach read

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this book and the storyline was incredibly original! It’s about a family that lives in a house near a cliff that is notorious for people committing suicide. I don’t want to give to much away because there are lots of twists that will make your head spin and I’d hate to spoil the fun for future readers! If you like psychological thrillers with unreliable narrators, be sure to check this book out!