Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for accepting my request to read and review The Soulmate.

Published: 04/04/23

It's publication day -- Sally Hepworth did not disappoint me. I was not aware that I had been approved for both the audiobook and the E-book. I saw them when I went to pull up to review. I'm going to discuss the elephant in the room: I did not notice two narrators. I was not confused at any point. Does that mean the narrators did a great job? I think so. Getting the name for this review is when I saw there were two.

From page one I was hooked, and was really happy to see the storytelling play out. The story is not over-the-top. After I finished I was playing the book back in my mind, and realized there really was only one possible cringe-worthy moment, but that is debatable and for spoilers sake and really because this is new being released today, no details. The story makes sense, and as a reader these are my favorite books. I love good storytelling. Imagine meeting your neighbors for the first time and over the years all that you share. That is this book.

Hepworth does throw in a few F words, and I was stymied. I had to take a minute after the second one, and lose the conversation I was having with myself about quotas and are authors paid a few extra bucks for using profanity. She used them in a juvenile way. I was asked my thoughts thus far during some YouTube reading sprints, and the hosts laughed. I explained an automatic loss of one star for F words. Standards are subjective.

Overall, I enjoyed The Soulmate, and my time with the book was well used.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and St. Martin's Press for the gifted e-book ❤️

Read if you like: Multiple POVs, past and present timelines, slow burns, short chapters

This book was good but SO slow to me. It felt like 500+ pages instead of 300ish. I liked some of the twists. I HATED how the author portrayed ADHD. Every time it was mentioned it bothered me. The author made the husband almost like a caricature of someone with ADHD, in my opinion. Besides that the characters were well-developed. The story was interesting. I recommend this!

Gabe and Pippa have left the city behind for a quiet life on a cliff on the coast. Unfortunately, the cliff, called The Drop, attracts a lot of suicide jumpers looking to end their life. Gabe has saved lives on more than one occasion. Then one day, a mysterious lady jumps off the cliff even as Gabe is trying to save her and so the mystery begins and deepens. From the popular queen of suspense, one more domestic drama and suspense novel which keeps you guessing till the end. The story is told in alternating timelines and is an easy enjoyable read. Definitely one to pack for spring break or your summer vacation!!

Thank you Netgalley, St Martin's Press and Sally Hepworth for the ARC.

This was a very enjoyable read. Told from the perspective of two women, in both the past and present. I truly stayed up far past my bedtime because I couldn’t put it down. Well developed characters, twists and turns, plenty of suspense, all pulled together by a great author. Highly recommended! I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next in the series. I received a complimentary copy of this book and chose to write a voluntary, unbiased review.

The Soulmate starts with a successful family impacted by a stark event. I loved the two perspectives and different timelines, as you guess what motives people have around an unfortunate death. The characters were flawed and real, and I liked the pacing - it kept me involved without making every other page some shock factor. I didn't quite see the end coming and liked the way the narrative closed out.

4.5
I'd like to thank Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is one of those authors you just want to pick up and read. Such a suspenseful book that kept my attention the whole way through. I loved all the twists and turns throughout the story and not only the dual pov's but also how the timeline went from then and now. It was just done so right. This book keeps you intrigued from the start. Recommended to those who love thrillers.

The Soulmate is a psychological thriller that delves deep into relationships and marriage. And just how far will you go into believing what your partner tells you?

Told in two different voices and backforth timelines we read the book through Pippa's and Amanda's viewpoints. There's a lot to process in this book and a lot of twists that do keep the pace fast and thrilling.

The subject line of this book is heavy and is enjoyable. I read this book today in one sitting, and it's very difficult to put it down.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for this book.

CW: Suicide, mental illness, infidelity, and mentions of drinking

Sally Hepworth is a must read author for me and she always delivers. She serves up relatable characters, complex plots, and twists I never thought to expect.

The Soulmate was an interesting read and pretty unique. The characters weren't particularly likeable but they were definitely human and I kept wanting to give Gabe passes because he was a good dad. But, this is one of those novels that's an onion and as each layer is peeled, you just know you don't have the full story yet. I was so frustrated with Pippa for her naivety but in true Hepworth fashion, I was still rooting for her.

I loved peeling back the layers on this one and it went places I never would have expected at the beginning.

I listened to the audio and thought the narrators were great. They do have Australian accents (which is a plus for me!) but I listened a bit slower than my usual speed just so I didn't miss a single word.

If you love a fast paced, contemporary novel with a bit of thrill, Hepworth is your gal and The Soulmate will be a stellar choice.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy,

QUICK BITS
•Slow burn
•Domestic thriller
•Short chapters
•Emotional impact

REVIEW
I knew fully well when I picked this one up that there was a better chance that I didn't like it than I did.

However, the last Hepworth I read fully worked for me, so I decided even though domestic thrillers are not my cup of tea, I'd take the chance.

To my delight...this was for me.

What really made this book for me was the writing. There was this level of flare added to every part of this book that just piqued something in my brain.

Every character and situation had just this little bit of nuance that made me intrigued in a way most domestic thrillers lack.

I really enjoyed that there were 2 POVs from 2 different timelines, yet laid out in a way that was easily to follow and digest (AND they were short chapters, ugh YES, I love short chapters).

There were times for me that I wished it moved a little faster and that there was a bit more dynamics propelling the plot, but in the end it won me over.

As you will see from my SOS and impact ratings this turned out to be surprisingly impactful (see below for more details).

RATINGS
7 Characters
7 Atmosphere
10 Writing Style
7 Plot
6 Pace
6 Intrigue
7 Enjoyment
2 SOS Bonus
2 Impact Bonus
TOTAL= 50+4= 54/14= 3.86

2.00/5.00 SOS Rating (scale of surprise)
--I feel like there were little easter eggs that I missed in this one and ultimately found myself surprised by what unfolded in the end. It didn't feel like a twist, but I think that's a good thing in this case as it ties into the emotional impact.

2.00/5.00 Impact Rating
--Disclaimer that I rarely apply my impact rating for thrillers, but this one did something to me. The title and where the story went still has me pondering the purpose of this book in a way I would not have expected.

3.75/5.00 Rounded Rating

I feel like like this book had a little bit of everything in it! And it has a twist on the good and bad sides of marriage. I read in the acknowledgements that Sally got the idea while on lockdown during the pandemic, when marriages really were put to the ultimate test! I thoroughly enjoyed this read!

The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth

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.

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My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5/5

Happy publication day to this book!

I loved this book! It was fast paced and the chapters were short which made it easy to fly through. I read it in a day! It has multiple POV and tension that keeps you guessing throughout the entire book. Everytime you think you have something figured out another plot twist appears. It was gripping and the characters held so many secrets I didn’t know who was telling the truth. I absolutely adored the acknowledgments and how this book came to be. So thank you for that little tip bit Sally Hepworth. Such a thrilling ride!!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

#bookstagram #readersofinstagram #arcs #sallyhepworthauthor #thriller

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the opportunity to read The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth early. Please be advised that suicide topics can be found in this book if this triggers you. As with all of the Hepworth books I've read, the story sucks you in and you don't want to put it down. I loved the different view points and shifting timeline as the story comes together. It wasn't too far fetched a some thrillers can be and there are certainly some unexpected twists. It wasn't my favorite by her but it was worth the read.

What a great book! The story centers around a young couple with preschool daughters who buy a house overlooking the ocean, alongside "The Drop" - a cliff where many people come to commit suicide.
As they go about their daily lives, we glimpse their activities and the love they have for each other. Pippa is an attorney who specializes in wills and estate, while Gabe is the stay at home dad who takes the girls to preschool and otherwise cares for the family's needs.
Gabe is featured as a local hero for having talked down several people from jumping off The Drop. One night, however, Pippa sees a woman heading toward the edge and Gabe rushes outside to talk her down. Unfortunately, he is unsuccessful and she jumps to her death...And then the story takes off!
Told in alternate short chapters from the perspectives of Pippa and Amanda (the victim) providing their back stories (Then) as well as the current events they are experiencing or seeing in Amanda's case (Now), this book grabbed me! The stories were well developed, plausible, believable and thoroughly unexpected. There were twists and turn throughout the story and they all made sense! The ending was perfect - it tied up the loose ends in an understandable way, it brought closure to the main issues, and affirmed the values that each character believed in.
Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for an ARC of this wonderful book which will certainly be on my book clubs recommendation lists,

Sally Hepworth always blows me out of the water with her books.
This one was no different.

It was a fast pace issue after issue. And once you think you know what's happening she drops a bomb and you have to rethink everything. I couldn't put it down.

If ypu haven't read any of her books what are u doing with yourself go read all of her books.

Thanks to Netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review

"Everything is not what it seems.."

I enjoyed this mystery thriller! With dual perspectives and short chapters, this thriller was a quick read.

Read in physical and audio format, I was either quickly turning the pages, or wrapped up in the narration with each end of chapter cliffhanger.

I liked the atmosphere of the story, with the small town setting and the eerie cliffs. The family dynamics created a very layered style of character development that I really enjoyed. The past and present timelines provided unique perspectives of the characters, with sudden and intermittent plot twists. There were also several aspects of this novel that I did not predict, and I definitely appreciated that as a reader!

I would definitely recommend this one!

I was hooked on this book from the first chapter. I loved how there were short chapters with a few different POVs and an alternating timeline of "before" and "after". It was fun to find out more secrets from each character as we got deeper into the story and there were so many twists. Also, that ending! Sally Hepworth never disappoints!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this one a lot! It’s my first Sally Hepworth read and I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I really liked about it was that it’s a thriller, but with this massive undercurrent of love and what that love might cost a person. I found parts of it so sweet, and parts of it so sad - it’s not the type of thriller that’s scary, it’s more about uncovering what happens and putting the pieces together like a puzzle. I liked the ending and it was not what I expected.

“To society, there is nothing purer than a family with small children. Except, perhaps, being elderly and enjoying gardening. We trust people based on the strangest, more arbitrary things, none of which have any bearing on whether or not you are inherently good. The Hegartys have no idea what we are capable of. No one does.”

The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth has everything I want from a domestic thriller: love, loss, and betrayal; secrets, death, and lies; suspense, twists, and turns. Hepworth’s unique use of POV provided readers with dramatic irony without giving too much away, and the conclusion left me sufficiently chilled, yet satisfied.

Synopsis:
Gabe and Pippa love their cottage on the coast. They live close to family, their neighbors are lovely, and their beautiful home is a mere walk away from their daughters’ school, the surf, and the local restaurant. It’s their perfect house, their perfect chance to start over after moving from the city. There’s only one problem: The Drop.
Right outside their backdoor lives the tall cliffs that overlook the ocean, an unfortunately popular spot where people come to end their lives, dropping hundreds of feet into treacherous, rocky waters. Since moving to the cottage, Gabe has successfully saved numerous people from the drop, spending hours literally talking them off the ledge. He’s turned into a hometown hero, becoming friendly with the police and doing interviews with the local paper. Until he fails.
One night, Pippa watches from the kitchen window as Gabe approaches their most recent visitor, having already alerted the police and ushering the girls into the family room. But instead of his usual routine, Pippa sees Gabe and the woman begin to argue, and when she glances away, the woman jumps, leaving Gabe on the edge of the cliff, hands reaching out to grab her.
Suddenly Pippa and Gabe’s perfect life is shattered, with old cracks in their marriage resurfacing and questions of innocence whispering in the backs of everyone’s mind. And when Pippa discovers Gabe knew the victim, she starts to wonder if his hands were reaching to save Amanda, or pushing her off.
Told from Pippa’s present perspective and Amanda’s point of view leading up to The Drop as well as what she sees from the afterlife, Hepworth weaves a shocking and thrilling story that leaves Pippa questioning everything, even her supposed soulmate.

Thoughts:
I absolutely loved this book. From the very first chapter I was hooked, and when the point of view shifted to the victim’s perspective from the afterlife, I was sold. Having the dramatic irony provided by Amanda’s afterlife observations paired with Pippa’s frantic, existential spiral made the story that much more compelling. I enjoyed both narrators, and found myself sympathizing for both their situations, despite being on opposite sides.
The gasp-worthy reveals were perfectly balanced with moments of domestic normalcy, and even twists set up from the beginning were executed so well that I was still surprised when they happened. I loved the Australian setting, as well as Pippa’s family as the cast of side-characters.
The Soulmate is my first Sally Hepworth read, but I will definitely be back for more. For fans of Gillian Flynn, Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen, and Geneva Rose, this twisty, psychological, domestic thriller is a heart-pounding read.

PUB DAY BOOK REVIEW: The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book Moods: secrets, murder, betrayal, love, family

Thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this ARC!

This book was twisty, and I couldn't put it down! I fell in love with the characters, Pippa and her family are charming. The two little girls are so cute. Gabe is handsome and interesting. I thought I had this book figured out, but I didn't. I was intrigued by their cottage on the cliff, the cliff that is a popular suicide spot, and Gabe, who can talk them down and of the cliff... then one day Gabe can't save a girl. Did she jump? Did he push her? This is definitely one to pick up!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by a favorite, Sally Hepworth - 5 stars!

Pippa and Gabe have moved to their dream house with their two young daughters. They didn't realize that the cliff behind their house was called The Drop, and was a popular place for people to jump to their death. Gabe was becoming known as a hero because he had talked down quite a few people since they moved in. But when a woman was on the cliff one evening, Pippa watched her fall from inside their home. When it turns out that Gabe knew the woman and didn't tell the police the truth, it's just the start of the questions.

Sally Hepworth has done it again and written a twisty thriller that you won't be able to put down. I loved the different points of view of both Pippa and Amanda, the dead woman, as we learn all the secrets and backstories. There's a central theme running through both women's lives and marriages of loyalty and fidelity, although at what cost? Don't miss this one! As an unsolicited aside, if you aren't on Sally Hepworth's newsletter email list, you must change that! Not sure I've ever met an author, or any woman, who is so honest along with her trademark dark humor.